Show 3 i saefa life a iff Sacrifice ol NO BLESSINGS WITHOUT the subject of elder K 0 discourse the usual sabbath services of tho church of jesus christ of latter day saints were held in tho meetinghouse meeting house on sunday afternoon at 2 president A 0 smoot presiding the choir sang the hymn on page hark the song of jubilee loud as mighty thunders roar prayer was offered by elder V L halliday tho choir then sang the hymn 0 god th eternal father who dwells amid the eliy tho sacrament was administered by the bishopric of tho fourth ward ELDEB KG desired to bear a truthful testimony by the aid of the spirit of god of tho mighty work the father is performing in these days tho administration of alie sacrament of which we have been partaking this afternoon is not a custom as probably many might suppose these emblems chiria we stretch out our hands to receive are something more than this they are part of the grand pro gramme that load us up to our creator so far as the outward form is concerned tharo is no display what is the principle competed with these simple ceremonies which we have been observing they are the emblems of the sufferings an d death of christ administered after tho pattern set by our lord on tho last night he spent on this earth ahou ho met with his apostles and instituted and administered the sacrament to them one of those around him was a traitor and it was at the partaking of this ordinance that the sign was given by beaus as to how the traitor should be known this sacrament brings to our mind the agony of tho holy one of israel in offering up his life not for his sins but for tho sins of the whole world ali promise in connection with the sacrament cac is that if we partake of it we will be privileged to receive of it with our lord in the kingdom of his father blessed thought to know that we can sit downa with jesus and with him partake of the sacrament anew when christ said to his apostles that there was one among them who should betray him tho faithful of his apostles asked him Is it I 1 whenever I 1 partake of tho sacrament I 1 am led to think of this sayin gand the question comes forcibly to my biad what am I 1 going to do am I 1 going to prove true to my lord how do I 1 stand I 1 do not mention those things in a spirit of with the idea of making myself out to be better than you but I 1 mention these things to show yon the anxiety that should fill us in regard to our position before tho lord the kingdom of god centers around this great sacrifice the ages past had been looking forward to that great moment when the sacrifice was consummated on mount calvary tho worlds and tho inhabitants thereof suffered at that sacrifice and those that aro to coma will also reflect upon it with feelings of sympathy it was sacrifice that ave us our existence upon tho earth it was sacrifice that brought us from our primeval childhood and caused us to come here to prove our devotion to god Is there anyone of us that has never been called upon to sacrifice to prove our integrity to the kingdom of god we brought into tho threshold of the gospel on the backs of friends or was it not through sacrifice has it been sunshine and prosperity since that day when we determined to take upon us the name of christ and down into the waters of baptism has it not been a life of sacrifice and yet in all wo net been blessed tho human heart has proved tho great battle field of the integrity of man in all agos where there was no historian present to chronicle tho struggles there enacted there was no eye save the eye of god to i witness the agony of the sacrifice am I 1 talking mystery or do you not comprehend tho words I 1 say bato you arise ye men and women fand testify if these are not tho facts from the time the plan of salvation was formed when the foundations of the earth wore laid and all the morning stars shouted together for i oy sacrifice has brought forth the blessings of heaven not one of us was seat liero without the understanding that we should be tried it has been a sacrifice fico over since tho creation men of god patriarchs and prophets have sacrificed their lives for tho work of god and tho salvation of humanity joseph smith the prophet of the latter days was ono of these ho was a chosen vessel a foreordained fore ordained to come here in tho iest dispensation to establish the work of god and restore salvation to all the to seal his testimony with his blood he was called upon to sacrifice fico his lito what anro the sacrifices of riches of houses and lands compared to tho sacrifice of our lives for the sake of fallen humanity god demands us to sacrifice our dearest feelings and all wo prize for the accomplishment of his purposes wb hate got to be contrite we havo got to be humble we have got to be prayerful wo have in fact got to be like clay in the hands of the potter to bo and fashioned by the master hand into vessels meet for his purposes we have got to take up our cross and follow christ no matter where we are led if it bo to the gates of death every characteristic te that stands between us and our god has got to be destroyed we have got to stop our drinking our smoking our desire for angrand izing wealth conr evil speaking and nse above everything that is displeasing in the sight of god no monument will be reared for our glory no man will know our true sacrifice but god will take notice of all our actions and our reward will be the possession of thrones and powers and principalities the eternal beauties of which no man can comprehend thy beauties of gods mercy will be with us at all times if we will subdue our enemies and lay ourselves before god in humility we stand much in ngod of the charities of our heavenly father therefore lot me admonish you to avoid talking of the sacred interests of the holy priesthood on street corners and live near to the lord remembering at all times that sacred things should be held sacred let us refuse to talk about the organizations izat ions of the kingdom of god upon the streets let us be careful in these things and give no cause for offense and above all things give no cause for the displeasure of a just god the speaker closed with a fervent admonition to the saints to remain faithful to the end that they might obtain eternal life and be accepted at last as the faithful children the choir saag the anthem great are thy works jehovah benediction was pronounced by president D john |