| Show at the meeting house ahe meeting was called to order at 10 0 by president A 0 smoot the choir sang long ilio vall will rend tn the klieg descend u i uia iraln etc was offered bv elder isaac bullock i the choir sans praise y the lord 1 Us raise your i hearts and voices in praise etc PRESIDENT DAVID addressed the congregation we had met together according to the proclamation of the president of our nati onto return thanks to our Heavenly Father for his manifest blessings during the past year it is the custom of the civilized nations of of the world to meet together and return thanks foi goda meiches and blessings it is our duty to and return abanks to god for all the blessings we enjoy this eartle belongs to pur heavenly father and we are dependent upon him we should not only return thanks to god once a year for the bread we eat the water we drink the air we breath and alie other blessings we enjoy but we should do so every day of jur lives SMOOT it was right in accordance with the request of the president of our nation to meet cr and express thanks to our heavenly father for the prosperous year that was past in every particular has our nation been blessed in the mercantile world prosperity has reigned and success has crowned the ot the artisan and the agriculturist we have had somewhat of a stir in the political world there lias been a total political revolution in the nation such as hag not been known since the great contest between the north and the south but with the exception of this little breeze has been peaceful and prosperous sp erous of course the hate of the nation still hangs over the latter day saints but as a people we have prospered our flocks and herds have been multiplied ot cobrae a few have met with misfortune but peace and prosperity lias attended the great ma j arity our peace been almost like a river flowing steadily on to the ocean and I 1 would to god that our righteous feea waa ako the waves of the ocean at present the nation is somewhat disturbed over the fear of an indian uprising the president and his cab anent are considering consid eing alie question and the united states army have been placed on the alert but I 1 trust this tromble ill goon passover pae without any bloodshed the indians claim they are not disturbing anybody and do not intend to if they desire to have their crazy dances that is their business let us remember on this day that it is our duty to return thanks not only in public but also in private PRESIDENT H II 11 felt that the latter day saints biad every cause to feel thankful for the blessings that had been bestowed upon them he believed ali at the lord had favored this nation above all nations of the world alie dealings of an all wise providence have blessed this nation with a rapid progress the earth haa abundantly yielded forth its precious minerals and products the nation itself has been blessed until it lias not an equal upon eartle I 1 eay that we have great reason to heavy hand of oppression that has been laid upon us there is an anchor of hope for the latter day saints that will eventually bring victory to them I 1 view the situation is ona that ivill eventually bring this people to the front the constitution ution and the declaration of independence pen dence were the result of oppression in view of these facts I 1 think we can afford to wait with patience for the manifestations of god W II 11 bousenberry BERRY rejoiced in being one of those who had met on this day to re reburn thanks to our god it is now acme years sence the pilgrim fathers landed on the coasts of america they inaugurated this custom of returning thanks to god for his blessings As descendants wo are hon oring this dav it is a custom that is peculiar to our nation and I 1 am sorry to see that tins dav has been ive ovea to a tain extent to sports and perhaps to fe gatins satins the latter day saints have been placed ander similar circumstances to those in which the pilgrim fathers n ere placed all the labors performed by them kae been duplicated in this country ELDIR WILLIAM H KING felt that the day saints had numberless things to for not only in alie lanas we and the fruits for ahe gospel I 1 think that aliis custom of returning re thanks to god on certain days of tap beir lias prevailed in nearly all civilized nations in ancient greece and rome in ei apt and other nations thi custom was celebrated and in old mother england we find that days were set apart for this therefore I 1 say that it has been a custom that has been common in nearly all nations of civilization bod has indeed been bounteous to us and we should praise his name and our gratefulness to him should multiply ith our years the choir sang doxology benediction waa pronounced by bishop J f johndon John pon |
