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Show SUNDAY SERVICES. Elder J. E. Taliiagc the i-pcaWr at the TaWreaclf. Religious services were held In the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, May 25, 1SW, commencing at 2 p. ui., Counselor Joseph E. Taylor presiding. The choir sang the hjmu beginning: begin-ning: Cssse wc Ibit sate i&e Lori. Aad kt ear j ke taowa. Prayer by Elder George G. By-water. By-water. The choir sang: Heboid the Mount ot Olives read' And on IU Up Mcutac tttad. Tho Priesthood of the First Ward officiated in the administration admin-istration of the Sacrament. l.LDElt JAM1S E. TALMAI.K was called to address the congregation. congrega-tion. He spoke of the exercise of faith, the first principle of revealed theology, and the necessity for the Saints uniting their faith, that in their assemblages they may receive instruction Inspired by the Holy Glio-t Eve-ry Elder til Israel has a right to that inspiration, if lie Is in the line of his duly. It may be that he is left to contemplate ujeu principles generally known to tho people, but the subject will be that list adaj ted to the circumstances of the congreg itkin. We may become so extreme iu our desires as to have no interest in that with which we are familiar. Such a habit is detrimental detri-mental to the mind. It is unbecoming unbe-coming to always bo seeking after the miraculous. There are Ics? sans to be learned from the everyday every-day events of life lessons of incalculable value. Weshould uot be oblivious to the miracles that go on around us. Is it not a wouuer for us to witne-s thegreat accomplishments accom-plishments exhibited to us through tbu ues of steam and electricity? And may we not, in failing to observe ob-serve such as these, neglect our true iducatluu? I do not consider it a calamity for men to die, after accomplishing ac-complishing their work; but' I do think It a calamity for the spirit to become old. It frequently happens that men grow old Is, their spirits before they reach middle life, nud become callois to the beautlen of nature. They'are unable to enjoy these beauties as they did when they were young. I reganl this etiudl tlon as a calamity. I think that man is a philosopher w hose spirit is always fresh. He sees and hears, aud reads, as age comes on him, w 1th a more serious mind, but w itli just as intense enjoyment as at any time iu lib) iast rvcurJ. It is to be regretted, but it is true that the Lord lias become unpotii-lar unpotii-lar among me u, n ho scent to consider con-sider it au evidence of shallowness to ackiiow ledge the hand of God In ail things. Vit there iiavc been men who have not been backward in acknowledging theiowerof God In their great achievements. It was our Heavenly Father who inspired Ctilumlius to go forth and discover this continent. This event was levealed to the Ncpilito Pro,.het by the Iord, hundreds of j cars before It occurred. It was tho same io er of inspiration that im-jilknl im-jilknl the great students of science in their wonderful discoveries. It was the I'jucr of inspiration that touched the tongues of all the great orators of antiquity. Whether tl.ry aekuo Ieugrd it or not, their git came from God. Because He endows en-dows one of His children with a talent, the t os-esK.r is not compellid to use it In any articular line. It may be usee! to o)potc the lairpoecs of God, but hu whouses it thusmest nice t a just judgment. Great me n of hl-torv hare e,iven praise to God fr their success. The famous explorer of leda), Stanley, relates an experience ex-perience he iiad in the wilds of Africa. He wasalmcstovercone, aud called upon God to deliver hlrj, covenanting that ho should-txj dilivered he would tistlfy to His power. Stanley testifies that his deliverance came through the power of the Almighty. The principles which our Father reveals are such that all who will can under-tand them. Tney al! relate-, however, to actions rather than to professions. Testimonies, that consist of words ate liable j to fi.il, but the testimony cf a man's actions cannot lie destine de-stine ed. Our Father requires us to follow him In unmodified humility. The mail who praises his own accomplishments ac-complishments is liable to be deprived de-prived of the attributes tliat give him prestige. The man who rrrts on his ow n iow ers, or upon those of his fellow men, Is weak indeed; but he w ho relies on his God, mh1 shown by his actions that lie means what 1 hesaj , is a tower of strength. The grent Proihet Enoch was weak among his fellows, but In doing do-ing the bidding of his Father, the wondrous mner of God was with him. Tins power has uot grown less, arid we see it manifested mani-fested in the experiences ol the Killers of Israel. Power is given to man just as he learns how to use It righteously. God will uot Increase the power of these who use what they havo for unrighteous purpose. When the Latter-day Saints liaru learned to use intlueuce and power righteeusly, then they will receive It. I cannot say w hat the reasons arethat brought the people to tliiir present op; retcel condition, but I think it Ui-cessary to teach them the great lesson of obedience to principles princi-ples of truth. The ieop!e here are the opIc of God. The Saints have much to learn before they cxercie great wer among their fellows. They have Ittssed through terrililuexricnces. rheyliave been driven from their homes, and witnessed tho slaving of tho-e nearest and dearest to them. If they had power today, would they raise their hands against those w ho have oppressed them? Do we realize the lesson that vengeance is the Lord's? When that lesson is thoroughly learned, then will the Saints be liberated from oppression. Why are our people thrown into dungeons when they have committed ted no crime? It is because tin v are the pcolo of God. If they were not, there would be no necessity of uiarhnling the forces cf the world against them. But how foolish fool-ish it is, if they arc the vo lu of God, for men to tty to overcome them. Can mail hoiv to measure arms with the great Jehovah? It Is written today by the highest tribunal of our land that the people of the United States aru eugagisl In a battle with tho Church of Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that the eyes of the w orld are upon us? The people of this great nation, raised by the power of God, are engaged in a coutrove rsy with the Ciiurrh of Chrit. Was there ever suchareconi made before iu the world's history? The completion of that record will be written iu the triumph of the powers of truth and Justice. Latter day Silnts, do we deserve this name a Saint, a holy one? "o Saint will stoop to an ungodly action. The Almighty has demonstrated demon-strated that He is very jealous of holy things of that whteh Is consecrated conse-crated by divine authority for aspe-clal aspe-clal purpose. When Belshazzar endeavored to use the vessels from the Temple, with His own finger the Almighty wrote the terrible edict on the wall. MountSlnal was made holy for a purpose, and those who went beyond certain founds wero vlidted with death. The Sabbath Sab-bath also was made holy. When David was given an opportunity to slay Saul, when the latter was ur-sulug ur-sulug him, he did net do II, because Saul vas tho Lord's anointed. Many other Instances could be cited to show that the Lord will not toleralo tho desecration of holy things. His vengeance will come, sooner or later, upon those who engage en-gage in works of evil. When tbo people of this nation seek to uproot the bulwarks of liberty, lib-erty, they know not what they are doing. But they will be taught the lesson. Our enemies know the Saints will not resent injuries, and they seem determined that oureuf. ferings shall be complete. But they will learn that it Is a dangerous experiment ex-periment toralsetbeirbandaagalnst the great Jehovah. May we as Saints so conduct ourselves that we will be worthy of the name, and have the power and favor of God to abide with us forever. The choir sang tho anthem: llow uauurot npoa the mountain!. The closing prayer was oflered by Bishop Win. B. Preston. |