Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-08
Special Exercises Are Well At
tended Despite Lateness
OF Season.
ELDER 8. S. HlNCKLEY SPEAKS
Delivers Interesting Nddress ON Origin
And Divinity OF "Mormonism'
Praises Pioneers.

In spite OF the lateness OF the season
there was a good attendance Of visitors
at the special service for tourists al
the tabernacle yesterday afternoon.
The exercises. which were In charge Of
Elder c. S. Martin. began promptly at
o'clock and lasted until about 4
/ o'clock
After the opening prayer by Elder
! Thomas Giles. the musical program was
| announced. consisting Of the Pilgrims
Chorus from Tannhauscr." by Wagner.
Batistes Communion in c." and Il
need thee every hour. arranged by the
performer. The closing selection was
the TaDnhauser march. by Wagner. All
OF the selections were much appreci-
ated
The speaker was Elder b. S. Hinckley
Of the Liberty stake presidency. who
delivered an excellent sketch Of the orr
gin Of Mormonism. At the outset Of
his remarks. Elder Hinckley explained
that tho purpose OF the special serv-
ice for tourists was to allow visitors
an opportunity of hearing the organ,
and also to satisfy the desire many
people had to hear something about
the Mormon faith.
Like other Christian faiths the Nor
mon religion inculcates benevolence,
and all the Christian virtues I'm mat
ters OF belief IL differs in some respects
from the rest Of the world. but it's
fruits are such that its advocates are
willing to submit II TO the judgment
OF unbiased men anywhere. Il was
also said that on account OF the ear
nestness Of its advocates the people
were sometimes accused OF being mar
row.
or DIVINE ORIGIN.
Elder Hinckley stated that the origin
OF Mormonism. though humble, was
marvellous. and bore evidence OF its d.
Vinity He then gave lucid and sue
cinct account Of the first vision Of Jo-
seph Smith. and the events leading M
to it, Also the appearance Of the an
gel Moroni and the revealing OF the
plates TO the boy prophet The or
ganization OF the Church in 1890, and
the martyrdom Of Joseph Smith in ls4i
were also alluded to.
The speaker then bore a tribute Of
praise TO the pioneers who entered the
valley s. years ago. The hardships
of the Journey. and the difficulties in
cident TO settling the desert wastes
were enlarged upon, ana the reason Ao4
the growth Of the Church in spite OF
all the attacks made upon IL, was ex-
planned TO be not because Of the astutc-
ness of few leaders, but because tho
work is of God, and this fact is knowg
by every member of the Church in good
standing. Because OF this fact the
work cannot be destroyed.
Some Of the beliefs OF the latter
day saints were then touched on. II
was said that the Latter-day Saints
have implicit faith that God is not
afar off. He hears and answers prayers
OF his children whom he has placed on
the earth for a glorious purpose. LAle
was said to be but a span in the cycle
Of eternity.
Elder Hinckey also touched on the
charge OF disloyalty which has been
urged in some quarters against inc
I.atter-day Saints. He asserted that
N any church endorses the governments
Of the United states and believes in
the men who laid its foundation, II is
Ire Mormon Church. God inspires his
children everywhere TO accomplish his
purposes, and 10 do good, ana many
of them have been without the pale or
the Church George Washington ana
Abraham Lincoln were both sustained
bv God in their callings.
In conclusion he bore testimony 10
the fact that faith in God leads 70
great endeavor In support OF Whlch
he instanced the accomplishments OF the
pilgrim fathers. as well as the pioneers
of salt Lake valley.