Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-27
LARGE ATTENDANCE
!. AT THE TABERNACLE.
President A. H. Lund and Elder
Heber J. Grant the Speakers
Yesterday.
THE MUSIC WAS EXCELLENT.
Mission of Savior. the Apostnsy, Res
toration of Gospel and Life of
Joseph Smith Spoken OF.

Yesterdays services In the tabernacl,
In commemoration Of the birth OF tn,
prophet Joseph Smith. the enniversar,
OF which occurred last Thursday. wcr,
marked by large attendance which
nearly filled the large auditorium. A
larger number than usual OF the gen.
ertal authorities Of tho Church were
present on the stand. and interesting
addresses were given by President
Anthon H. Lund. and Elder Hcber J
Grant of the council of twelve.
A feature of the musical exercises
was tho excellent quartet. 20 Give me
Back My Prophet Dear" sung by
James Monear Hyrum, ]. Chrlsten-
sen, David Kirk and Andrew Peter
I. son. The other hymns were praise 10
the Man. by the choir and congrega-
tion; "Sing Q sing the Wondrous
Story" by the choir. and THE Restora-
ton Of the Gospel" sung by the choir
. at the close.
John NJ. knight of the Ensign stake
presidency offered the opening prayer
and President Joseph F. Smith pro-
nounced the benediction.
President Lunds address dealt with
the mission of the Savior, the apostasy
which was predicted by the Apostle
Paul, the III INC last dtS
which was also predicted by John
the Revelator. and the birth and
labors OF Joseph Smith, the man
chosen to fulfill Johns prediction.
In Elder Grants address were ad-
vanced a number of impressive rea-
sons for believing in and accepting
Joseph Smith as the prophet of the
nineteenth century.
There were present of the general
authorities Presidents Joseph F
Smith. John r Windcr and Anthon H
Iund. Also Elders John Henry Smith,
Heber J Grant. Rudger Clawson.
George S. Richards. Orson F, Whitney
and Anthony w. WINS of the council
of twelve.
A synopsis of both addresses follows:
PRIEST. A. H. LUND.
President Lund said we celebrated
the birth of the Savior yesterday. and
n the exact day is unknown 1t matters
little so that we know that he came
and made reconciliation between God
and man.
Although his coming was announced
and he came to his own. yet they re-
ceiyed him not, but for all that the
glorious words said In connecuon VIII i,
his coming, Peace on earth, good VIII
to man." have been since repeated by
succeeding ages to the present time.
he grew up like men and at the age
of 30 years he began his ministry. His
doctrines were vastly different from
those taught by others around him.
He summarized the law of God as fol-
lows: Love God with all thy heart
and thy neighbor as thyself. He was
BETRAYED by ono OF his close friends and
gave his life on the cross for his
brethren Death could not hold him,
and he was resuIrected and sat down
at the right hand of God. 1t was testi-
lxok h
come In like manner as he had ascend
cd When he left the earth. the care OF
the Church rested upon men whom he
left to direct its affairs The Church OF
Christ and its authorized ministers
were then on the earth. and they car
ried the word to the nations. They.
however, looked forward to a general
apostasy.
President Lund here read from Paurs
cpistle to the Thessalonians where he
stated that the second coming of Christ
would not come until there had first
been a falling away. Paul also warned
Timothy, saying that In the last days
perilous times would come. John on
Patmos was also shown that certain
power would arise. make war with the
Saints, and overcome them. He was
also shown, as recorded in the 18th
chapter that an angel should fly
through tho midst of heaven having
the everlasting gospel to preach to
those who dwell on the earth. This
was for all people and for every ma
tion.
What John predicted above has been
fulfilled in the birth OF Joseph Smith
which occurred 104 years ago last
Thursday He was made an instru-
mcnt in the hands OF God to accom-
plish his purposes In the last days. He
was born In Vermont of goodly parents.
An examination of the records shows
this. in spite of statements to the
contrary. His ancestors werc pros
porous though Joseph's father. through
over confidence in men, had lost means.
and at Joseph's birth the family were
poor At the age of IA Joseph found
himself surrounded by a great religious
revival. by which he was led to go and
ask God which of all the churches were
true. A glorious vision of the Father
and Son was given him and he was
told to join none of the churches. Later
he was given other visions.
who quoted various passages OF Scrip
ture to him. including lisa. Il. l and .,
and also passages In regard to saliva
tion to the dead. Last of all he told
him about the plates on which was en-
graved a record OF the ancient peoD,o
OF America, means of translating them
being furnished by God. In addition
to the testimony of Joseph Smith in re-
gard to this record we have IL other
witnesses, who testify In clear language
that they know IT Is true. (Prcsidsnt
Lund here read the testimony OF the
three witnesses). Some of the wit
nesses afterwards left the Church and
were dealt with by Joseph Smith.
which, II there had been fraud and de-
ception. he would have been afraid
to do for fear that the fraud might he
exposed 1t is strange thing that all
of the three witnesses fell away from,
the Church. Oliver Cowdery asked TO
come back into tho Church, and he had
to do the game as any other member
would have TO do. What could Induce
oliver Cowdery to come back IL he
knew Joseph Smith was a false pro
phet? He was with the prophet in
the revelations OF those early days. IN
cident To the establishment OF the
Church. If there was anything wrong