Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-11

| Gathering genealogical statistics and
accompanying temple work, with bap-
tism for the dead as the principal ordi-
| nance. was the principal theme at the
tabernacle services Sunday afternoon,
J In charge of the officers Of the Geneal-
| oglcal Society of Utah. the speakers
| being President Anthem IL. Lund,
| Elders Joseph T. Smith. Jr, Charles
| w Penrose and Francis NJ. Lyman.
President Anthem II. Lund was in
| charge Of the services. The choir and
| congregation sang America" The in
| vocation was offered by Elder Arnold
| Schulthess. The choir sang an
anthem.
PRIEST. A. II. LUND.
President Lund of the Genealogical
| Society OF Utah said the redemption Of
the dead In the restoration Of the Cos
pei In these latter days Is In fulflment
OF the Biblical prophecy OF Malachi
where he predicted the turning OF the
hearts OF the children to the fathers.
The society is no money-making
scheme; II Is entirely for spiritual pur-
poses. This meeting was called for
the purpose Of talking upon this ques-
ton, which Joseph Smith said was the
grandest OF all.
ELDER JOSEPH r. SMITH, JR.
Elder Joseph +. Smith, Jr., said in
part:
Prediction was made by Malachi, the
prophet, concerning the coming OF the
Lord OF hosts In the latter days. when
he VIII reign on earth a thousand years
and the Lord has sent into the world
messenger to prepare the way. Some
thought this prophecy referred to the
coming OF John, the forerunner of the
Savior. but it rfers to his coming IN
these days. In that day the wicked
cannot abide the presence of the Lord,
and that was not the condition in the
Savior's day.
1t was understood by the prophets Of
old that in the latter days there should
be restitution Of all things and all
peoples should be saved. We believe
we are living in that great day. Many
OF the ancient predictions have already
been fulfilled. Joseph Smith was called
and ordained OF God to stand at the
head OF this dispensation. and the keys
ana authority of ministering, OF re-
pentance. of baptism were delivered to
him, the keys OF all the dispmsations.
The righteous are being gathered out
OF the world before the arm of the
Lord shall fall upon the nations The
tribes OF Israel and Ephraim are being
gathered from the nations OF the earth.
Many OF the Jews are now turning
their faces toward the Holy Land:
colonies are being established there,
and this once cursed land is again be-
coming fruitful and ut for habitation,
fulfilling another prediction. In due
time the ten tribes shall return from
the north.
Through the restoration OF the priest
hood OF Elijah, the Lord is turning the
hearts OF the children to the fathers.
SO important is this work that unless II
be performed the whole earth will be
smitten With n curse.
Our temples are built for this pur-
pose and work for those who died
without the privilege OF embracing tho
gospel upon the earth Is being per
formed. The Lord. himself taught the
gospel to the spirits in prison. The
dead who repent OF their sins will be
redeemed. We are baptized for the
dead, performing ordinances which will
admit them into the heavenly kingdom.
The turning OF the hearts of the chill
dren TO the fathers Is still further man
fest in the establishing OF genealogical
societies and the energetic work OF
thousands Of individuals compiling
vital statistics and records OF the dead.
In 1884. eight years after Elijah re-
stored his prie sthood. the first genealog-
ical society in the world was organ
lied. The work has spread since then,
and today there are thousands of socie-
ties and people engaged I'm the work
The Genealogical Society Of Utah was
organized in 1894. by the First presl-
dency to assist in gathering records OF
the dead. More interest should be
shown by our people in this highly i'm
portant matter.
The choir sang the anthem. "Hosan-
ma"
ELDER c. w. PENROSE.
Elder Charles w Penrose said he had
been closely associated with the gem
ealogical society and he considered IL
of utmost Importance, not only to us.
but to our ancestry who have preceded
us beyond the veil.
Our religion is a practical religion
from beginning to end which is not
yet-faith. repentance, baptism, laying
on Of hands, work in our temples-all
are practical.
Paul, IN speaking 10 the Hebrews,
closes with and they without us
should not be made perfect" We arc
looking forward To when the whole
human family viii be linked together
from Adam down TO the last. Certain
works and ordinances are necessary to
bring this about, and baptism for the
dead is one of the important duties
which devolves upon the L.atter-day
Saints I'm this connection Paul asked
why baptize for the dead II the dead
rise not7 This shows such work was
performed In Pauls day. We now have
four temples in which this work and
these ordinances for the dead are being
administered by the living descendants.
The genealogical society Is 10 gather
Information from the four quarters OF
the earth. The elders abroad have
many calls 10 look up this genealogical
work. That Is not their calling. They
may look up records for families and
friends. but the society Is organized
through which this particular work
should be performed A life member
ship in the society may he secured for
si0 and much valuable information
may be obtained from the society. The
time will come when there will be
agencies Of this society throughout the
world. information viii come IN shoals.
and the living and the dead viii be
Joined together until the day OF the
final contamination.
PRIEST. r. NJ. LYMAN
Prest. Francis NJ. Lyman said when
people come into a house Of worship
they are expected 20 remain until the
close OF the services, which is not over
an hour and half, or two hours nj
the longest, and II is an offense gen
orally considered throughout Christian
churches. for people 10 disturb the wor-
ship by getting up and going out. It
grievee the Spirit Of tho Lord n there
be disturbance In our gatherings.
II IL wonderful what truths arc
taught here today, such are not heard
-. - "A. L.