Show 1 1 ADDRESS by general D ff wells tabernacle july auly 1854 FRIENDS we are met in commemoration of the important historical fact that on the of july seven years ago a band of brethren came to this place seeking a home an asylum where they might rest awhile aw hile from their arduous and toilsome march aud and feel secure from the wrath of wicked reckless lessa infuriated men who had bad in times pt pursued and hunted them with relentless fury and driven tais their from the abodes of civilization directed by the same god who led moses aud and the children of lara elout from the land of egypt they with our Efe loved president at their head located in this valley this becomes an important fact from its associations ciati ons fraught as it is with momentous consequences to us as a people transplanting us as from 1 the narrow limits of a of single agle city to a large territory I 1 in which we are fast becoming a mighty people we perceive the hand dealing of a wise and beneficent god in this who has said by the I 1 mouth of his prophet pio phet that it was his business to provide for his saints this also furnishes a 8 strong illustration of high heavens economy in overruling over ruling and turning the wrath of man to its I 1 service and praise and from seeming ill still I 1 educing good ffoyd 1 this day in reality is the anniversary of our I 1 birthday birth day as a free people we pay may say bay that it has been a bloodless conquest and yet ow our path he has not been strewn with flowers as witness the I 1 farling parting pang when exhausted strength hue has been laid aid low in the dust and bitter tu haw have only been dried in view of a better future we this day rejoice together in union and harmony in peace and prosperity and as ur the sun of gladness has arisen upon our horizon so may it never sod again become darkened by the masits of aai sorrow arow abir the storms of perse persecution persecute cuth u be permitted to obscure its genial rays ray we now possess a country for our oar present necessities and purposes s institutions which we have received fro from in gairo Godt bro his prophets and u wei under the broad folds of our glorious I 1 constitution american freedom we now itow have the privilege of worshipping wor shipping god according to the dictates of our own consciences and no one to disturb or make us afraid what more can we ask what morean more scan we expect the balance rests with ourselves if we would be happy if we would be great have the tha knowledge and wisdom of god and be prospered it remains with us to pursue that course to perform those duties and to live that life lif a which shall cou conspire spire to produce those blessings the kingdom will advance and bring with it the treasures treas of knowledge wisdom and and power just so fast as the lord finds that he has a people ready willing and capable of receiving and bearing it off if we would hasten the time for the coming of the son of man with power and great glory we must increase our diligence hasten basten ourselves in the attainment of every perfection and by our purity and excellence bring unto ourselves oure elves it If eavens excellence excel leuce and purity I 1 my friends fript ide this is a day of rejoicing with the saints anywhere anAr and here where in this sacred place of worship we mingle together ithe the old and the young in IB offering to our god Go draise kratse and thanksgiving for his hia kind mercies aua blessings As we mingle in our amusements and ri rejoicings rejo Jo icings and participate pate together in our cele celebration brition of this day and the realization of our dependence upon him who has wrought out our salvation and brought ps Us to an all inheritance in this goodly land amid scenes scenes of joy and prosperity it is alwa aiwas a well to remember and acknowledge acan the kind hand of providence from whom we receive every good and perfect gift etow can we well express the overflowing gratitude of our oar hearts heart to the giver of cfall all good for what we thin day behold thousands chousa i n ds of children in a single city of lesi ilhan lea than seven ven years growth convened under their respective banners hearing bearing a motto expressive of their views and sen sell ti ments intention and designs each bosom welling swelling with pride and gratitude that they too alethe are the children of the kingdom unto whom pertains the oro a of G god od concerning israel my young friends how shall we reciprocate what shall we do to advance the glorious cause canise of truth make ourselves useful and fulfil fulfill the measure of our creation upon the earth I 1 answer it is for us to be obedient hearken unto the counsel of our pt parents rents and leaders to keep the commandments of god itis to qualify ourselves to follow some useful occupation to be industrious in acquiring knowledge and not spend our time in useless visiting dad and lounging about in idleness it is to have every moment devoted to some useful employment to serve rye god and walk humbly before him bim blameless in all of his ordin ancis be true to god and his servants follow in the dictates of wisdom and experience be patient and courteous toward each other be persevering virtuous honest and faithful in short be good faithful saints of the most high god if we do this we shall always enjoy the bless bleas ings of a good conscience void of offence offense toward god and man let our alin aim be for god and an exaltation in his hia kingdom kerp keep our minds constantly directed to the attainment of this object and no matter what may becal us here below we shall he be safe in the arms armmor of our blessed redeemer I 1 who suld said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven does our father in heaven view us with approbation this day let us look to it each one oi of us that we do dd nothing either in thought word or deed neither this nor any other day 0 but that he can look d down 10 wn u upon on us with approbation let not folly no nor wize wickedness driehs be comm committed bitted in israel test lest we be e called upon to put away the workers of iniquity from pur our midst and thua theas cleanse israel from sin on and guilt young men and youths just rising to take a part in the af affairs airs oi of men if you follow in the precepts of wisdoms wis doin and abide in the counsel ot truth you shall have strength according to your dalp dagand and the mountain torrent shall not be more fier fierce ceto to ell encounter than you when the enemy ahaU again lapin biar hakius hosts for battle the mountain roe shall swifter nor more agile in its right flight than you yon in scaling the mountain hot height ens ht 0 or p lea leaping ends ing the deep dark chasm made by a thousand a ud floods nothing shall present a barrieros barrie roo high too rugged or so difficult that you cannot surmount it if As physical strength shall be given so shall mental strength and ability androu and you will increase and strengthen until you can fathom the deep sciences and unfold the mysteries of eternity to you also ye maidens of israel is it not an honor to be numbered among the daughter zion unto you this invitation extends to make yourselves useful in the drama of life qualify yourselves also for the part which may tie ba allotted you on to perform in the kingdom of our oar god preserve Fre preserve serve yourselves in purity and the perfection of every virt virtue a a let your time be fully occupied iu ill some useful employment and altho you may bof be called upon to encounter the fierce contest of the world as your brothers fu fathers authers or husbands yet your path shall so closely entwine itself with thelis as to strengthen nourish and sustain them be a present help in every time of need and when the storm clouds shall lower and fierce persecution rage be enabled by united unite d faith and energy to bid defiance to mormon fees whether they come in form of men in hostile array or or the more insidious and stealthy manner manner odelous demons of od emous from the arch and subtle intriguer and deceiver of the human race 1 yes fair maidens if you would have loveliness encircle your brow and beauty adorn your forms let the gems of virtue truth and sincerity sparkle your eyes and adorn your minds with knowledge and wisdom let excellence goodness and industry embellish your lives and the star of your glory shall never wane nor the promised inheritance to dwell among the gods be withheld proving to god and man the kindest blessing blaa aing MO heaven could mod in life a treasure trea oure and in death a friend I 1 this is an age of progress and if we would keep pace with the times we must progress be also the youth of other states territories or nations must not outstrip us no in the arts and sciences nor in anything that eliat is calculated to adorn life aud and become usef man situated tie as we are so far distant from the emporium of letters and commerce some may think that this is difficult to avoid but it is in not so BO it is easy not only to keep pace with but outstrip them even in the race of progress aa our advantages aye simply the have not the burden of tras trash acre and nonsense to wade throb at the begin ning which others have the mind is therefore more free to act and can conceive more real truth and imbibe more real knowledge in a given time and altho we may not yet possess every facility for our advancement still we are more thau than compensated pen sated by the wholesome influence of virtue and religion rules regulations and aad institutions freed from the bigotry superstitions dogmas and follies of ages we moreover breathe the pure mountain air and drink from the cool mountain stream and dwell in a lighter and purer atmosphere not only physically but socially and moral ly are these advantages and do they contribute to correct thinking if they are and if they do then we have certainly no cause to complain if we will AI only avail ourselves of the opportunities which we poss possess east take the good and reject the evil abide in the light and truth and und apply ourselves we need have no fears but that we shall excel and time will show in regard to our moral and social congress Con greas are so often trying to legislate about they are welcome to all of their moral and social rules and regulations religious or otherwise nor do I 1 suppose that we shall try to legislate about them altho we have just about eis as much right to as aa they have about ours the argument is opportune I 1 could not wish for atter illustration for the subject under cons consideration than the already muddy and be clouded brains which some of the present congrow congress exemplified upon this very subject one might suppose that the spirit hit at ai lent least of the WOO clergymen upon the ketr nebraska asks and kansas bill had bad found its way into their minds and left its im with them what other item of religious faith atcy y will wid next seek to interfere with is left for time to determine amine but bat I 1 should expect that women would be prohibited from or Sha kerum excuse me my mv friends for alluding to such a subject upon an occasion like this but the absurdity of undertaking to legislate upon the morality of our social relations and religious institutions imperceptibly led me to make a comment upon it if it is an indication of a righteous feeling among them there may may be some small hapep of them yet but it 11 smacks snacks rather much of the to be genuine as aa the parrot said when the devil taugh thim prayers I 1 hope you will accept of my apology and I 1 will refrain our pilgrim fathers bithers Fi when they landed on plymouth rock constituted constitute da a band tie true yet by uniting rich resources wit with h en energy ergy and determined perseverance witness what wha t it amounted to new En glands rocks and hills were peopled large cities sprung into existence and she sends her sons and daughters too into every state they are the first upon the confines of civilization exploring the deep forest and wide spread prairie stemming missouria Mis souris flood and t traversing oceans wide domain the sons of the pilgrim fathers are everywhere here today to day are congregated thousands of them who feel the same spirit of freedom which emulated them to flee from under the oppressors rod and beyond the tyrants grasp OUT our pioneers unlike our revolutionary fathers did not dissolve their political ties but more than our pilgrim fathers red fled from persecution aution and planted their standard like them free freeto to all to flee unto here we hope to preserve american me rican Freedo Freedom into to ourselves and others althon was not preserved to us in the land of our our nativity here we hope to be prospered and increased in knowledge wisdom and power enabled to preserve our rights and our liberties as did our revolutionary fathers when opp became too onerous and tyranny ranked too high but Buti 1 forbear let us do our duty to ourselves our country and our god be vigilant in the preservation of virtue and truth and leave the event with the god of nations Nat ioni who shut teth and no man can open oud and opens and no man can shut |