Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-19

j
we desire once more to say a few
words to the Latter-day Saints by
way Of DIR usual Christmas greetings. We
shall not attempt to enter into a discussion Of
the doctrines of the Church, or the principles Of
the Gospel,Which have been SO abundantly Civ
ento thepeople BY the Apostles and Elders OF the
Church throughout Zion and the world We
see on every hand unnistakable evidences OF
the hand-dealingg of the Lord with His peo-
pie comprising the Church of Jesus Christ of
latter-day Saints, and with all the people COM
posing the great nation Of which we are a
part, Not only the people of Utah and adjoin-
ing states and territories. but the whole people
Of our country at large, have been remarkably
blessed with multitude of blessings through
out the year. Prosperity has prevailed i'll
every part of the land, notwithstanding the
financial furry which for a time threatened
serious consequences to the business Of the
country The seasons have been proptious
and the honest laborer has generally reaped
abundant returns for his intelligent labors. The
world at large has been free from the devast-
ating effects of war, although it has not been
altogether free from strife ana the smiles and
appreciation Of the Lord have been shed abroad
upon the face Of the earth in remarkable de-
gree and, we think, especially so in all parts
OF the world where effort is being made by
His servants to lay the foundations of His
work anG spread the knowledge of truth and
the coming and glory Of His kingdom to the
children of men, The tendency of the ma
tons to submit their disputes and differences
to boards of arbitration instead Of deadly con-
f1lct on the battlefield, and the peace confer
ences that have been held in the past with more
or less success, and will be continued in the
future, are indeed very gratifying signs Of the
permanent establishment Of peace and the
cessation Of war. We believe this hoped for
condition among the nations is sure to come,
that righteousness will prevail in every land
and the word Of the Lord will be proclaimed
without fear or hindrance among all nations,
tongues, and peoples.
THE LABORS OF THE ELDERS.
The Elders Of the Church have labored zeal
ousy and faithfully to proclaim the message
life and salvation, both OF temporal and
spiritual nature, in all of their mission fields,
and have done much towards the establish
nlent OF truth and brotherly love; for the spirit
of peace, justice, mercy and righteousness
ernanates from the Elders and spreads abroad
upon the people among whom they labor Their
mission is one of we'll doing and love for their
fellow-1nen. They carry unto the people the
Gospel of Christ, which through obedience to
its preccpts will save and cxalt them in His
kingdom, that will eventually be established
and have universal sway throughout the earth
as the ancient prophets have foretold
The demand for efficient laborers in the var
ious mission fields has for long time been
far greater than we have been able to supply
However it has been our aim to keep sufficient
Elders in the various nations where we have
missions established to carry on the work Of
the Lord intelligently and successfully, that
there may be no unnecessary delay i'll the
spread Of the Gospel among the people, for
we realize that it is to be preached i'll power
among all nations i'll this dispensation. We
have at present Elders laboring in Europe, Asia
Africa and many OF the islands Of the sea as
we'll as throughout the American hemisphere.
Considering the great number of lders that
are kept constantly in the mission fields ex-
ceedingly few of them have proved themselves
unworthy of the glorious mission to which they
have been called, and few have laid down
their lives while thus laboring in the Masters
cause. And while Our hearts go out in sym
patty to the bereaved kindred and families OF
those faithful Elders thus called home we can
not but be thankful in the knowledge that