Show sunday services religious services were held in the he tabernacle salt lake city sunday dec 22 1889 commencing at 2 p m counselor C W penrose presiding the choir and congregation sang let us pray gladly ray pray in the ho house be of J jehovah e ph ovah prayer by elder L H fateh ft teh the choir sang player payer is the souls sincere desire uttered or unexpressed the priesthood of the twenty sec andward ond ward officiated in the administration of the sacrament COUNSELOR JOHN W YOUNG addressed the congre congregation congregate gati on in speake speaking ng to the latter day saints I 1 do so 80 with those fedeli feelings i which an elder usually has when called upon to bear his testimony no exertion to which I 1 am accustomed either mental or physical is so great as of speaking jug to a congregation in this building I 1 regard the present as a very important time to the latter day saints it is fraught with great events we live in the most important age of which we know anything and the sal saints ants have need to be thankful for the adversary is a more determined manner than ever before seemingly to destroy the work of god we witness today a very strange bombina combination of circumstances among us we are being tested to see if we have that teb testimony of jesus which we say we have we are being assailed by our enemies who are spreading SPread hig floods of falsehood about us in traveling in the world I 1 have had opportunities of seeing why it Is that so much prejudice exists against us it is because the truth con arning us is not known and because falBe falsehoods hoods without stint have been circulated about us by our enemies calumnies Calum nies are invented and published and dished about us to an astonishing antoni hing extent we must not forget our duty to the outside world we must remember that it is our duty to preach the goabel to the rieb rich and affluent as well as to the poor until thedoor we do this the world wi will not be left without excuse 1 we are called disloyal to the principles C ples of our government but we know that this charge chad go is not a tru true a one ne it has been my lot to take part in D a national campaign of recent datti date and I 1 found nothing incompatible rl with my religion in entering heartily an and earnestly into the contest test I 1 found that I 1 bould with perfect consistency with my religion take au an active part in the politics of tty MY country when I 1 have compared corn pared my mv loyalty to my country with the patriotism of other meni have found that I 1 was not lacking in devotion to my government and its institutions ty the early teachings I 1 re calved from my mother were calculated to plant in my bearta love of day y country there is nothing in the religion of the latter day saints which tends to render them untrue in their relations with this govern it is true that in times past some of our speakers have treated somewhat warmly upon the subject of our sufferings and the opposition we have endured but ia ha all such a by our representative men the intention has never been to censure the pation nation or its institutions but to condemn the acts of men there are many good and banor bonor i lle ble men in this country but the greater portion of 6 our ur countrymen are seeking after the things of this world while we here in these mountains are seeking to live according to a higher type of christianity than the world is acquainted with APOSTLE J ir II SMITH next spoke the gospel is 18 to be preached to all the world and then we are told the end enck comes this has not dot been fully accomplished by us it is true that many different countries have been reached by us but there are millions upon theearta the earth who have never heard beard r learned the wise and the higher classes have scarcely deigned to listen to the testimony of our missionaries sion aries to whom tle the homes of the wealthy have not as a rule been open but the poorer and middle classes have to some extent received our elders I 1 am satisfied that the time will come when our missionaries will have their way opened to reach the wealthier and more intelligent classes it is only in times of peril or alarm perhaps that the rich and so called intelligent classes will deign to investigate this work but the fact that we still exist and are engaged in spreading abroad the work we are engaged in must in the nature of things attract the attention tP of all classes for the work we are promulgating is IR as a great light on a high place if our eldera in their humility cannot reach all classes god will find a way away to attract universal attention to the principles of life and salvation we need have little concern per in the contest coni test waged age ainsil this work it is gods busin to protect it and he will make the wrath of man inan to praise him we malpass may pass through experiences that will try us but this work is gods anti and he will take care of it that which god has committed to us is the truth it forebodes foreboder fore bodes ill to none but good to all god has haa never failed nor will he ever fall fail to answer the prayers of those who approach him in righteousness and faith notwithstanding the dark outlook now before the saints god will overrule all for their good and will bring to raw aass the atrium h of those who continue faithful Weare we are interested in the welfare olour of our country and the man who says boys the latter day sainta are disloyal to our govern government M dt is a liar before godair godor our heavenly father has us to uphold its principles and institutions PRESIDENT GEORGE Q CANNON addressed the congregation I 1 am much gratified to see so large an attendance here today in view of the stormy weather it is an evidence that the saints are striving to do their duties the testimonies of the brethren this afternoon are true as thousands of us know if this work which is called mormonism 12 continues to flourish it can only be by the power and blessing of god this work has survived the opposition arrayed against it and if it could have been would long since have been destroyed at times it has seemed as if we have had bad all we could bear but never at any time have we had more strength has been given us according to our needs this work will continue to grow and spread until it shall accomplish all that god designs it shall what people could have borne what we wel have when we think that more than of our leading men have been imprisoned how our women and chil dren have been tried what inducements are offered to the saints to abandon their religion the intense opposition we are having to endure it will become apparent that we are sustained ned by a superhuman power or we could not bear up it seems to me that I 1 have never seen a time when the bulk of the latter day saints were more determined to live their religion than they are today I 1 believe the disposition to keep the commandments command of god is as strong among the saints today as ever and I 1 thank god that he has given them this spirit and alid I 1 hope the saints will continue willing to make every sacrifice even to life itself rather than forsake the prin caples of the gospel if this people are not the church of god where can it be found we shall have tc look for far IV it in vain throughout throughput Christe christena nm today priest and people bow crown to the shrine of popularity priests preach by their learning and for hire dire but god will show that he is the same yesterday today toda yand and forever that time has wrought rought no cb change in him and that he has not gone where his children cannot reach I 1 him he will also show that H his 1 8 son jesus has not lost interest in our am sal salvation we have been led jn in consequence of the peculiarity of our position to give notice to the latter iwylla Ia day ylla saints that that on tomorrow the twenty ety third of december the an niver sary of the birth of the prophet joseph jo h smith mth ft a fast should be pro cozed claimed throughout all the church and that solemn prayer brayt r should be offered unto god the eternal father by all of us for his blessings to be bestowed upon us under 5 our peculiar circumstances I 1 speak of this before I 1 sit down in order that it may be impressed upon the minds of the saints who are here today I 1 have felt for a long time mys myself elfand and in so speaking of thi this s I 1 bi believe I 1 0 only rk y vo voice ic e th s sentiments e n of my brethren and sisters that we should get together and fast and pray unto god our heavenly father for his blessings to be given unto us I 1 wish the people would read when they go home the last chapter of the first book cf nephi also the four chapter of the same book M ier er read a porton portion of the kid substantially I 1 need not dot read any more there are many promises connected with what I 1 have haaf read and the wo words da I 1 have read abundantly prove that jose joseph I 1 h smith was a prophet for in this chapter are foretold the very events now coming to pass the courts are taking a course in their rulings and decisions proving that joseph smith was a prophet beyond all controversy tt it looks as though our enemies are determined to destroy the work of god I 1 11 t looks as though they would use every means in their power to strike down this people and to deprive them of every right and every liberty that they enjoy and we vaa cati look in vain to nian man for any succor we need not expect it the 11 line ue of demarest demarcation jo it as the prophets have forstater for stated between the mother of abomination and the charsh h of the lamb of god is being drawn more distinctly and prove brov shar at the present time probably than it has ever been since we have becia an organized community lot let us come together tomorrow in fasting and prayer and let jet us pray for those who are ignorantly fighting this work that they may be led to desist I 1 desire to see the lord fulfil fulfill his promises I 1 dynow know he will do this but we must take a cour course seto to place ouro ourselves elves right before him PRESIDENT 0 W PENROSE made an announcement of the time the fast would begin and clote cloe and of the holding of meetings in the city wards the choir sang the anthem who is like unto thee 0 lord Bene dicron by apostle H J grant |