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Show Tabernacle Meeting. A very large cODgregation uditaru-bUd uditaru-bUd in the tabernacle on Sunday lost, on the occasion of the renewal ol Sabbath meetings there. President D. H. Wells was the unit speaker. Ha said it ,wa8 gratifying grati-fying to meet again under such I favorable auspices, after a discontinuance discontinu-ance of the tabernacle . meetings for several months. Events were transpiring trans-piring which seemed to be hidden from the majority of the world. God had communicated his gospel to man for the salvation of all who would receive and obey it. The word had gene forth, aud a few had been touched by the light of eternity and were preparing for the Son of Man to come and take dominion over the earth. That day was fast approaching, approach-ing, and tho saints wore preparing for it by using their efforts to sustain sus-tain the prinoiples ot righteousness, righteous-ness, to gather out the righteous from among the wicked, that God might have a people to perform a work for those who were dead, also to establish a bettor order of society, one that would be more iu consonance with the law of heaven. The saints had C3mo here to follow the ways of the Lord and "walk in hia paths," and not to learn and obey the precepts of die wicked. The evidences in favor of the latter-day work ware overwhelming, over-whelming, and everything around the eainU spoke in toues of tnunder in proof of their declarations to the world. God was inviting the peopln, us in the days of old, to "Couir. drink of the waters of life freely, : without money and without price,'' j and the saints were doing their nlmnAl tn aAnrl ihi. J7 . lL honest in heart among the nations of the earth. The Bpeaker then urged the speedy completion of tbe temple in this city, that the saints in this vicinity might enjoy the privileges offered in the house of the Lord without traveling bo fur as they had to at present. Elder Joseph E. Taylor then addressed ad-dressed the congregation. The saints bad received testimony upon leeti-linony, leeti-linony, and knowledge upon knowl edge, ant light had been multiplied unto them, and they claimed to be directed by revelation from heaven, and spoke with pride of a priesthood held by them. It was strange that 40,000,000 American people should be so much troubled about a mere baud- j tul of Latter-day Saints numbering 1 only about 200,000 souls, rheatrenglhj of the saints did not, however, consist I in their numbers, as a prophut of old j had said that "oue should chase a ' thnilnrl nnft tvrr. n,,t l.n .1 - J 1 to fligat." The practices of tho saints might be diflered from by the world, but that would not disprove that they were active in obedience to the commands com-mands of heaven. Differences of 'opinion on matters of principle had always existed; theSavior's course was not endorsed by the Jews, neither was that of the people of God ever acceptable accept-able to the world around them, but this made no diflerence as long as they were righteous, for God would give them the victory. President Brigham Young then arose and addressed the congregation. He said he felt under obligations to be happy and satisfied at having the privilege of standing here to speak to the Latter day Saints. He was also satisfied with his labors during the six months be had been absent. VTere the Saints here satisfied with their labors during the same period? This was a question they might an- awer for themselves. If they had doue well, they certainly bad cause to bii satisfied; if they had not, their own consciences would be their judges. He . knew the saints wouli like to henr concerning things in the south. Those who bad been to St. George had enjoyed a blessed time. The saints had been striving and laboring almost half a century for the privilege of entering a house of God, and oulutaimg for those of their ineuds who had slept without the gospel. The sensations whicu hod pervaded the hearts of the saints wlhie in the temple could hot be described to the understanding of any but those who had shared in those blesaingd in the houoa of God. These things could not be realized except by those who shared and enjoyed them. The Huly Spirit of God had ! testified to tbrm that their labor was accepted ol heaven. It the remainder of the youth could have enjoyed what a few bad recently been partakers of, they would withdraw from the frivolities frivoli-ties of this life aud turn unto the things of God. When be reflected that the children of men were sent on to this eaith for the purpose of gaining the experience that the angels bad obtained, it seemed remarkable to him thst people would stoop to do many things which some did. At times he felt so exercised that be chattened the saints very severely, but he wished to say "I have no chastisement for any who do not deserve it." How easy it was to give way lo falie spirita, and to vcru for the things ol the earth. It the saints, would clingjto and practice the priucipies of heaven which they had embraced, there would be no need for chastisement-; but' in the prone condition con-dition of man to wander in the ways of darkness, it was always neceesary for the Father, through his son Jesus Christ and the holy spirit, to chasten tho saints iu order to keep them in the line of ibeir- duty, towar Is his work. II the people here were enjoying enjoy-ing the holy spirit he was glud of it, for then there would be no necessity to urge t:iem from Sabbath to Sabbath to complete the temple now in process pro-cess of erection. Some might won der, . in view of outside influences, whether the gospel would stand and triumph. He would say to them, " Have no fears on that point !" Too saints were looking for the coming of the son of man, and if they would overcome siu iu themselves, they would gain power over sin in tnose around them, for it would be by the saints becoming sanctifietT in thn truth, through their usefulness, that the earth would be redeemed. "What does tho world say about your humble servant? Many things! Some say that I am not fit to live; the righteous do not say so, but the wicked do, and they would trvko my life if they had the power, but I fear them not; I stand iu L.e nlace whern God has set me, and my strength and trust are in bim." Said they had massacred the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum, and the result would b that God would oome out of his hiding place and vex the nation who the cup of their iniquity was full. The sorrows iu dieted on the aunts had not been so great as the suHerings of their wnemies, whom God had punished. It was sometimes oocensary that God nbould use tho outside world m in-struments in-struments in scourging and chastening chasten-ing the suinte. "It must nomle be that ofirnces come," men had cruci I fied the Savior, his death had to be brought about for the solvation of the ' world. What was the duty of the saints when persecuted, todonuthhig only preach the gospel to their persn-eutors, persn-eutors, send salvation to the nations of the earth, build up Zion and live faithful to the gospel. If God should see it necessary that any of bis servants should seal their testimony tes-timony with their blood, all was. right, they would; gq intq the arms of God aud reap an eternal reward. It the saints would live as faithfully as they had powor to do, God would hasten his work in righteousness, right-eousness, for thin depended much on tho progress of tliom who embraced em-braced lha gospul. President Young then referred to the proueness of some to drink, others to swear, smoke and associate with the ungodly. un-godly. It was also a shame for the ladies ia Zion to yearn after the fashions of the world. He had no fears respecting the triumph of the work of God, the only thiug any one bad to fear was his own caroloss ness, lest he might bo among the foolish virgins when the Saiior should come. God would iievor commit the fulntaa of the earth to the saints until they had sanctified themaeWes as far as lay iu ihsir p war. He sometimes felt thaukful that the saiuta did not yet have lbs judging of the world, for they were not prepared to do so righteously; they did not pos seas sufficient knowledge lo judge the nations, but would have to learu aud become sanctified in their liven before this wonld be given them. Ha then aunouueed that two days' meetings would be UelJ in the tabernacle taber-nacle iu this city commencing un Saturday, My 12lU. |
