Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-31
THE CHURCH GROWING.

a t the close of the old year. tho
tenth of the new century. the Nom
bers of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Lattcr-day Saints have every reason
for gratitude and joy, whether they
look backward upon what has been ac-
complished, or forward toward the
work yet to be done. individually the
Saints may have many failings and
shortcomings: they may be weak In
many respects and far from having
reached the great ideal set before them
in the revelations: many may even
have fallen by the waysdc; but the
Church has remained true to Its mis-
sion to proclaim the second advent
and the establishment of the Nllllennial
reign of the Son of God, and the pres
cnce of the Lord in the Church is
manifest now as always. The Church
was founded after the most glorious
manifestation of the Deity ever vouch-
saved to man. This was repeated In
the temple at Kirkland. And that prc-
scnce has never departed from tho
church Under the fostering care OF
the ever-prcsent Redecmar the Church
mas been led through the wilderness,
as israel OF old. to u land OF promise.
1t has expanded and became establish
cd in the mountain tops. It's mes
sehsers have gone to the utternost
parts of the world. In membership the
church has increased from year to
year. In intelligence and clearer
understanding of tho wonderful mes
sage delivered through the prophct
Joseph it has advanced. ana is still
advancing. Spiritually there has also
we believe been marked progress. The
Saints, as a rule. are faithful and
united, and their confidence in their
Leaders as men of God is firm.
The world itself testincs to the
Wonderful growth of the Church. There
was time when the world fondly
cherished the idea that personal an
noyance of the Prophet Joseph would
dispel the illusion" But it did not.
Then it was thought that mobs could
destroy the Church. But mobs.
Though they did their worst. were
Then the machinery OF
state governments was turned against
the Church but that, too, proved
futile. The leaders of the anti
Mormon propaganda have tried the
powerful machinery of the United
states government, but to no avail.
To-day there seems to be II concerted
effort to stir up foreign governments
AGAINST the Church. We have met
with such efforts though feeble. in
England, In Germany, in Sweden, in
Norway. An anti-"Mormon" agitator
In Scotland. II. =, frecc recently got
"a meeting in Edinburgh to adopt n
resolution calling the attention Of the
Home Secretary to the "prosclyti2ng
work of the agents of Mormopism IN
Great Britain, and asking TINT as
Germany had forbidden the Mormon
to prosecute their propHEauda in
Germany SO also should Great Britain
act, II such action seemed warranted"
land thus the unti-"Mormons" are
tcstifNing to the wonderful growth of
the Church, IN their frantic efforts
against the progress Of the kingdom
OF God they now call upon the most
powerful governments OF the world
to lend them hand and become
prosecutors. They feel instnctivoy,
that both individuals ana mobs arc
powcrleas.
10 the Lattcr-day Saints this is one
or the signs OF the tine rhey can see
In 1t tho fnlfilmrnt OF the prophecies
made concerning this work from the
begimIng Il should be mn incentive
TO more falrrrpl work Cor tha air,
fusion of trotl7 among rNa eufllrgu If
men, hr'nrSa those stIor,s AFRO not IN
". VAN. but bearing fruit, The world !