Show OLD YEAR AND NEW to rus BUN over the great events in detail that have transpired in 1888 would require many massive volumes all that can be done in a few brief words is to grasp the general aspect of that division of time there is one thing with which it is impossible for the latter day sainte to avoid being struck that the shaping of all human affairs denotes that we are indeed living in the latter days and that the prophetic gift must have rested upon the prophet joseph smith mith to a marvelous degree there is not a general or special phase of society which he did not specifically refer to as a condition not far remote from the time the prediction relating to it was uttered these events cono constitute tute indicators directed to the antion of still greater changes which are to precede the coming of the lord among these conditions are the preparation of the nations for a gigantic coming struggle rumors of war which are the precursors of 4 ahe actuality offensive and defensive organizations in civil society fulfilling the prediction in the book of mormon concerning the development in the latter days of c a great division among the people secret combinations whose aim la Is the destruction st of the social fabric as a whole including wholesale murder in theia their modes of operation the growing disposition toward violent lawlessness and crimes of the most blood bloodcurdling curdling atrocity and barbar ity the incipient outcroppings outcrop pings in this country which forebode a coming war of races destructions on the sea and phenomenal and disastrous battles of the elements on land the tendency of vaulting ambition to override the commonest rights of humanity and many other sinister elements that are am sapping the foundations and testing the stability of human institutions it may be that we weare are liable to be deemed pessimistically inclined by alluding to the cloudy portion of the passing year associated with a pros proa glance no less heavy we are not alone in such reflections the nature of current events is causing deep concern in the minds of hosts of thinking people throughout the world but while much has happened during the past year that has inflicted untold misery upon multitudes of people and may portend woes boes still deeper and more extensive in the near future there has been much for which to render thanks and praise to the giver of all good indeed it is a question whether the most calamitous events should cause those who are honestly seeking to pursue a godly course to be despondent these conditions indicate the nearness of the he bright and glorious era which will dawn upon the world and in one sense should lead the righteous to rejoice because of the approach of their redemption the latter day saints have special reasons for rejoicing in many respects by faith they can see beyond the Jar barkness kness of the night the dawn of the coming day some borne of the brethren who have borne the heat and burden of the day have passed to their rest in the paradise of god where they operate cooperate co in the he work ork of redemption with the visible church on earth many have been cast into prison and still languish there others are in exile while these and other circumstances have dis comforted and dis dia burbel the people the blessings of the lord Lor dhave have been plentiful in many respects among them has been a general time of prosperity pro while faith is being increased bolex peri ence abroad the gospel has spread with remarkable potency 68 especially ally among the lost sheep of the he house of df israel ss on the islands of the sea and the saints may take this comforting assurance home to their hearte heart that whatever happens at home or OB abroad of a general character will conduce to the establishment lish ment of gods truth on earth however contrary the aspect of this proposition may appear at the time ime of the occurrence for the work of the he father is about to begin among all nations to prepare the way for the redemption of israel while we can look back upon 1888 as 49 one of the most wonderful years in the history of our planet there is good ground for anticipating that its successor will not be beane one whit behind behind it t in that respect we live in a remarkable time and events are about to happen that will cause the ears of the inhabitants of earth to tingle f the righteous will take spirit for their guide and not be moved |