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Show CKurcIi THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, APRIL' 21, 19 M. BRIGHAM YOUNG The Man and His Work s of Mormonism BY ELDER CLYDE a EDMONDS Of the Granite Stake High Council Beliefs of Miormon Church Story of the Restoration Joseph Smiths Accomplish- -. men ta Why a Peculiar Peo-th- e Mor-pie ? Tenets o mon Faith, ' I TABEBKACIiE j SUM DAT, ADDRESS APRIL IS, 1SS4, tpiirMchliif fie responsibility wttici Is nun this afternoon, I have1' realised that 1 ww to uyieU to a mixed audtenee. Sy that, 1 mean that there are perhaps a tew vlattora in tha who are not ot our faith nd doubtlee they are ot lot knowing something the background ot bur faith, in audition to seeing thle great! and and unique auditorium and eeekngTaber-nacie hearing the world famed baae choir. my and I organ aaeumption upon the fact thatsat-in my travels I find my greatest isfaction in learning of other peoand ple, what they are doing, thinking, and why. It I may bo bleeaed to do ho. 1 ahould like to briefly recount a few of the basic facta around which our faith to built aad on which It stands, and, time permitting, to touch upon and homo of tha principle of our faith which make no a different, or, if you will, a pecu- IN ea doe-trln- liar ' -- 3 M people. Belief Explain The Church of Jeeus Christ of Detter-da- y Salnta ta. we believe, tha vehicle through which tha Al- mighty haa uaberod In the dlepennation of tho fulnoaa of tlmaa Thin, la Itoelf, ta ono ot tho peculiar thing about ua No other vect or hag group within my knowledge made auch a claim. a record-Ingif the the agee, Through of tho Bible are true and wo believe them to bo true God baa . st various times, vial tad tho earth, . and la communion with hb proph-et- a and rlgbteoua oervanta has gtv-- n aeveral dlapeneaUona ot tho Gospel to hb poo pi. Pint he gave tho Ooopol to Adam for tho guidance ot hb posterity: then again It who given to Noah, and again to to Abraham, then to Moses and John ' tho Elba and then came reBaptist, preaching a gospel of acting pentance and baptlem. and Savior, of tho aa a Jeeus Christ, who gave to mankind tho Gospel la tho meridian of ttma Wo believe, and declare unto tho world, that the dispensation of the fulness lof times has been ushered and In through a much maligned mbunderataod modern prophet, Josmith seph CHm History 'Let mo tell you, the story, Ao a blaokground. and without argumentation, I would Ilka to point out to 'you that with the passing of the lost ot the A poet lea chosen his by Jesus to minister amongremdbclpies and followers, tho nant of tha Church drifted, through untold persecution, more ot less as a ship without a rudder, and as the oenturles passed, moved Into what w call tho dark agoa a time when men needed light, but. because they wore kept In Ignorance, failed to And It. man Than came the ora in which concourage aad living tf groat crusaders, If you pleas viction roe up to clear away tbo barriers of Intolerance and Iterance, -men whose courage and banting pave and experience fitted them tocome. the way tor greater things to Churches grew up under baders and reformers such as Calvin, wither.; Wesley and others. These were the Protestant groupa who fore-runn- er A Testimony I am convinced that any Intelligent person who will consider an tha historical facto must that are now available of conclude that tho Book In tha Mormon was produced the at and manner, way aad time aad place and under- the circumstances declared by Joseph Smith. Ho did not. himself, possess The ability to produce the book, either by Inherited or Influence; environmental neither did ho have the help it of anyone In its creation, was reproduced In a limited time and when be waa still leas than twenty-fou- r years of age. This booh b tbo greatest objective of Immortality and divine Intervention that! has been given to tbe world since the fife, death and resurrection of our Savior. Dr. Tran-t- a W. Xirkham. fought for religious freedom aad tha right to worship aa their consciences might dictate. Retigkms Revival Without recounting their mtgra. tiona from one .country .to another until they tended on the free soft of America, men found themselves. In the early part of the nineteenth century, hi the midst of a great revival, with religious fervor running at fever heat, and men were being called to accept Christ as their Redeemer. But the paths to aa salvation were as numerous and the churches and doctrines were equally confusing. teachings There waa really more confusion being given the 'people than enlightenment. One young fellow, a Department By Preston Nibley v V " Y t fourteen year old ted, recognized that ho was a victim of all this confusion, and was a f a loss to know where to turn for the trUth. To complicate matters, part of bis family had Joined the Presbyterian church, but be. aomehow.1 felt a leaning to the Methodist faith. Btlll. he was in doubt. Hia youthful mind and heart were unsettled and uncertain. Joseph He had ben taught to read the scriptures, and he did ao prayer-ft- lv and thoughtfully. He was i roundly Impressed with the declaration of Apostle James In the first chapter f hb epistle, beginwhich ning with the fifth rene, reads " if any of you bek wisdom. let him ask of God. that giVeth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. "But let him aak lit faith, for he that nothing wavering, wavereth ta like a wav of the driven oca, with wind and the z tossed." Hla youthful mind was not tainted with thy sophistries of mon; ho was a humble, trusting, sincere youngster, with abounding faith. "Surely,- - be meditated, "If I ever needed counsel and guidance, It l now, and hero b a great promise to thorn who aak with unwavering faith." In hla own simpla story, he tells us that he had never prayed vocally, but hla heart burned with a desire to ask for wisdom and for guidance, and he finally selected a groe near his In home Ontario Manchester, Countv New York, as the spot where he felt he would be out of sight or bearing, and where he could supplicate the lord for tho help which ho needed. No words of min could tell tho atory with tho same simple frankness and honesty with which Josejh Smith himself, has told it, and with your indulgence, I shall, read briefly from hb recording. He says: "After 1 bad retired to tbo place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so when Immediately I was seised upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an influence over m astonishing a to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and It seemed to m for a time aa If I were loomed to sudden -- -- destruction. all my pow"But, er to callexerting upon God to deliver me out of the power of . this enemy which had seised upon mo, and at the very moment .when I .zaa ready to sink Into and abandon despair to destruction not tomyself an but to the powimaginary er of someruin, actual being from tho unseen r world, who had I ! such marvelous power as had never before felt In any being Juat at this moment ot great alarm, I saw a of light exactly over my pillar bead, above the brightness ot the sun, which defended gradually until a 11 upon me. "It no aoooer appeared than I found myself delivered from the tntnij which held me bound. 'When tho light rested me saw I two upon personages, a hose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above m in tho air. One of thorn spaks unto me, calling mo by name, and said, pointing to tho other This is my beloved Bon. bear him! Receive Inatrnction Then followed a conversation In which Jo sep asked hlch sect ho should Join,regarding and ho wag told that b should Join non of them, because, though they had a form of godllneao. they denied the power thereof, and that tho I rofeasora of religion war corrupt In that they drew near unto tho Lord with their II pa, but tbelr hearts wars far from him. Ho was given aumeroua Instructions, aad it was made known to him thatthrough him a great hnd marvsl( Continued on Pag Seven) , j. s fr.www. 1BirghhNv.AA.k..wAvkoojegn j, J. - -- HAYDENS MIBB, PORT BYRON ,hr Um Here hi where Brigham Young worked in ihe eorlr '20 hb marriage to Miriam Works, He waa engaged ta Oie manufacture paints nud wooden pulls. prospoke In tongues Some CHAPTER ;. PART III , nounced it genuine and from to note that th Lord, and others pronouncTl'u Interesting to me ed It of the devil. the little branch In Mendon waa "W proceeded to Kirtland Church the second place in tho and stopped at John P. waa where tho gift of tongues who had Just arrived Greene's mad manifest, and aa nearly u there with hia family. W I can learn, Brigham was the first took a few minutes, rested recipient of It. can say that their some refreshments and startFew people see the Prophet. W ed to the feelings, when they entered went to his father's bouse and Church, a ere as Brigham expresslearned that he was In th ed hia woods chopping. Wo Immedi"I felt, yes, I can leave my went to tho wood where ately father, my brothers and sister w found the Prophet and two thoy and alfe and children, if of hta brothers, chopor three will not servo thd Lord and go ping and hauling wood. Her with me." Journal of Discourswaa full at the privimy Joy es, Vol. 4, p. Jfl. lege ot shaking the hands re-of Miriam however, fortunately. the Prophet of God. and ao Young waa of tho same belief ceived th aura testimony, by In May her husband, and early the spirit of prophecy, that ha waa baptised. foil vlng. ahe,. too, was all that any man could But not long waa ahe to partake him to be, as a true believ newIn the of tho Joy they found happy to se prophet. Ha wraa fatal mally espoused goepel. The had us mads us welcome. We and seised ady of "eoneumptlon" of soon returned to hla house, he Septemon tho eighth her, and same Millennial leavaccompanying ua year, ah died,daughber, the Btar, Vol. 2ft. p. 42 ft. ing Brigham with two little The above describes on hlstorlo ters Elisabeth, born September 24, and Vllate, meeting. Here waa a young mao, 12S. in PortBjron. to be the great leader of destined birth1 born June (Brigham's a great people, Journeying aeverday also). 1230, in Mendon. "In borrowed miles In hundred al her expiring momenta," Brigham '! ah clothes, to meet the Prophet of him says In hla autobiography, found he and chosen religion, clappod her hands and praised the But wood." and hauling Brother called "chopping Bord and upon when Brigham shook his Jiand ho Kimball and all around to P raise "received the sure testimony" that the Bord." a prophet. thb man waa Indeed The sad occasion of the death of does choose tho was probably what Truly the Almighty bio wlf world to conthis enof weak to the leave things prompted Brigham found the wise. Who, in all tho vironment ot hla home for a short cirworld, wor in mor humble days after Miriam waa trip. A few cumstances that day than - these to burled, . find him setting out aald bo ? men Klrt-lantwo It may young viait the Prophet Joseph at that at th tlm of this meeting Ha had never seen tbe th Prophet Joseph waa not quit had lived they Prophet, although 27 years of age, hnd Brigham a within York Now In for years. few months before had turned IB few miles of each comparatively, Further describing the events of found other. Hla two little girls had this memorable day, Brigham a home in tho family ot his friend, y Heber C. Kimball. Brigham gav a few of th ihe "In evening he he had; away almost everything brethren came in and we conlooked forward alone to preaching tho thing dedversed upon he had together tho gospel. Apparently of the Kingdom. He (Joseph) icated hla life to the cause. SpeakIn my m to pray; called upon ing of Ills early experiences he one spoke in tongues. A prayer I we aald: our arose from soon as "When 1 went to Kirtland I knees the brethren flocked had not a coat In the world, hla around him, and asked for previous to this I had given of gift Ha opinion concerning the me. away everything I possessed tongues that was upon that I might be free to go was the pur tord them It forth and proclaim tho plan of Adamic language. Bom said salvation to the Inhabitants ot to him they expected ho would th earth. Neither had I a condemn tho gift brother Brig-hashoe to my feet, and I had to had, but he aald. 'No, it borrow a pair of panto and a la of God, and th time will Journal of Dispair of boots." when Brother Brigham some 128. Vol. 2, courses, p. Young will preeldo over this Further describing bis trip to Th latter part of thla Church." Kirtland ho says: conversation was In my ab"Brother Heber C. Kimball sence." Millennial' Star, Vol. took his horse and wagon, brother Joseph Young and myft, p 419. The Prophet Joseph had never and self accompanying him, see heard Ihe gift of tongues until he started for Kirtland to heard It from Brigham that day, the Prophet Joseph. We t tailand by the gift of prophecy he knew ed many friends on the way that a great man and a great leadand some branches of tbe er had Joined hla standard. Church. Wo exhorted them and prayed with them and I (Continued Next Week) d. oi Intimate Stories On Council Of Twelve Begins Next Week One hundred yearn ago next February 14, the First Twelve Apostles of the Church were chosen. Since (hat time there have been n total of 56 Apostles in that quorum including many of the outstanding lenders of the Church, among Uirm being the dx presidents of the Church since Joseph Smith To cause the lives and accomplishments of these men to live in the minds of Church members an article treating each one individually will appear in the Church Section each Saturday, beginning next week and continuing to February It, of next year. These articles will have behind them the authority of the Church Historian, and will be valuable for preservation. |
