The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-17
|MORMONS DEDICATE
FIRST CHURCH HERE
Senator SmOOt Delivers Prin-
cipal Address i'm New Edi-
flee in Brooklyn.
CONGREGATION OF $50
Latter Day Saints Now Have
$50 Followers in State, Says
Walter MOnsOn.

The first Mormon church to be erected
In New York state was dedicated yester-
day in Brooklyn Elder Reed Smoot
OF the Quorum OF the Twelve Apostles, 4"
better known az United States Senator
from Utah, offered the dedicatory prayer
and delivered the principal address.
"Our church is the church OF God" he
said ....
The little chapel which Is unique but
simple Of line, stands at Gates and
franklin avenues. Three hundred and
fifty members and friends, including
many children, crowded into II. few
soldiers and sailors were preeens
The church of God. which is the
Church Of Jesus Christ OF the Latter
Day Saints" said Elder Smoot. never
will be directed by any man who Is not
in full accord with all the teachings
that God has revealed These teachings
we have for years undertaken to spread
over the world
The success that has attended our
missionaries is Marvellous steady
growth-and ! am glad 1t is. for we
want no man or woman to join our
church who does not feel that it is God s
work. And we want none to join for
any reason than that they are con-
WINGED that in so doing they are follow
ing the voice of conscience and believe
that their actions will be acceptable to
God and be for the furtherance OF His
work on earth"
Urges Seven Day Religion.
Elder Smoot urged closer contact, II
possible. with God through the medium
OF prayer. Life eternal" he said. els
the greatest gift OF God. don't want
a man or woman to 60 out who would
bring reproach upon the name of our
church You can't live or do as other
people do. The Gospel OF Jesus Christ
must be in every act OF your life seven
days a week.
every member OF our church IL not
perfect-far from II. But IL one does a
wrong. Il IL heralded all over as the
act OF member OF the church. The
same law might he broken many times
by others and never word spoken OF
the other denominations. We want TO
live and have our people live 80 as
never TO bring the blush OF shame to the
face of any member
The Mormon church. he added. was as
God wished his church to he. active
virile. strong and everybody interested
in it, He was thankful to my Father
in Heaven that I was born a member OF
the church" and taught not to use to-
bacco or liquor and Ito be moderate in
all things
Church u 50 Years Old.
The time will come. as predicted by
the prophets. when scourges will visit
the earth" continued Elder Smoot. See
what has happened already as a result
Of the influenza epidemic. When they
come, lie who has kept his body clean
| and not poisoned it's blood. who has
lived by the teachings of the prophets
both modern and old. will stand and not
| be taken
Walter r. Monson. president OF the
Fla stern States Mission, also spoke. He
said afterward that the Brooklyn
! church was eighty-nlne years old. hav.
| ing arisen originally at Fayette, Seneca
! County, New York. Its growth, he said
was the result Of missionary effort. i
! has $50 members. There are 400 mem.
bers Of the Mormon church In New York
| city. divided into two congregations
There are $50 members in the State II
seven congregations.
The hymn I'VE Thank Thee. q God
| for a Prophet" sung by the congrega
! ton. representing persons OF all station,
| OF life closed the services. The "Arti
| cles Of Faith with the name JOSEPH
| Smith printed beneath them. occupied
| a conspicuous place on the programme
| There were services last night. A ser
vice nag Of fifty-one stars and an Ameri
can flag hung on the wall above tn,
| altar