Show sunday services religious services were held at the tabernacle salt lake city sunday april 1890 commencing a at It 2 p m counselor charles W benrose tirs presiding the choir and congregation sang the hymn commencing redeemer of israel our only delight on whom for a bles slug we call prayer by elder john morgan the choir sang how dark and gloomy was the night when satan did his powers array the priesthood of the seventeenth ward officiated in the administration of the sacrament ELDER WILLIAM SPRY was called to address the congregation he said it was a pleasure to him to again have the privilege of meeting with the saints it is 18 the desire of my heart that the spirit of the lord will zest lest upon me for I 1 know that I 1 cannot speak to your edification unless I 1 am guided by that spirit I 1 realize that that spirit is in the midst of the saints and I 1 rejoice rebolo I 1 in a meeting with yuu you a privilege v I 1 do not have very often for my calling takes me from among you but I 1 know I 1 receive strength from f assembling wilh the saints roc we are often denominated a peculiar people we are willing to ad admit aikin that we are different from the world generally in our religious faith we believe the words of the biord desus that if we fave him we will keep his commandments we are willing to prove to the world that we love him by keeping so far as we have strength the laws he be has revealed we understand there is a straight and narrow path in which we should walk for righteousness but we also understand that god gives us strength to walk therein my associations with the world have taught me that they do not view the gospel as we do and they speak all manner of evil against us falsely jesus said ill if ye were of the world the world would love his own but inasmuch as ye are not of the world the world hate you the saints are scorned by those who hold in derision the commandments of the lord jesus the latter day saints sainte believe the word of god and are willing to abide by the results of obedience to it they believe that communication should exist between heaven and earth through certain channels the baet that this communication is not believed in by the world generally does not shake the faith of the saints for they know whence they received their testimony of the truth the time will come when the saints will be known for what they are a people who endeavor to serve god and are being made tc suffer for righteousness sake the almighty has promised that there will be a change e from the present condition arif and the saints have an implicit confidence in his word there may be some principles which we believe in that the world reject but our is in the principles set forth in the bible the book upon which professed christian denominations base their faith we also believe in revelation and in the word of goj god contained in other records than the bible we stand that the gospel is to the world that it is for every nation kindred tongue and aad people we we hold no monopoly on the blessings of the lord but they are free to all who will obey his will we have been made partakers par takers of heavenly gifts and are willing that all others should partake of the same therefore we are extending the gospel to them in harmony with the saying of the lord freely ye have received freely give the gospel is 18 to every one who will accept of it the lord is no respecter of persons and offers the plan of salvation to all people to every person is given his free agency to choose the path ath he will pursue it is left wita with men to say whether they will follow the paths oaths of righteousness or not there is no compulsion in the gospel of christ I 1 mu must alone take the responsibility a of my own actions avery every one will be rewarded according to his hid merits we respect the world in their rights and we only ask that our rights be respected bethem by them they can acceptor reject the gospel as they see fit but they should not forget foet that the elders who proclaim procla fm the word of god to them have been sent out by authority of the lord of the earth and those who reject their testimony will have to meet it at the judgment bar of god the elders are warning the world to repent and to turn unto god they are warning mankind of impending judgments they are held responsible fur the faithful discharge of 0 their duty auty and if they perform their labor properly their garments are free from the blood of this generation there seems to be few who accept the now corn dared with the experience of forty or fifty years ago then hen many heard the word and gladly received it and have partaken partaker par taken of its blessings now there are but few among the nations nation Is who will givy give heed to the plan of salvation yet there is a great labor to perform iu in warning mankind of that which is to come the elders are sometimes called to suffer great indignities but their testimony does not waver they know they are engaged in a labor of love in obedience to the call of the divine mas ter they know that his promises to those who follow him are fulfilled the gospel plan is that divine favors follows conformity to the law of god if the law to is not observed the blessing to is not received upon this principle the elders promise that those who do the will of the lord will know of the divinity of the message aud and in no instance does this promise fail cheis the conditions are complied this knowledge has been given to the latter day saints aud and thoy they bear witness to it I 1 bear my testimony given to me by the spirit of god that this th Is is his work and will triumph the gospel has been restored never to be taken away it will stand though the powers of earth and hell combine against it it is the truth from heaven and will be established this I 1 know and this testimony can be obtained by all who do the will of the father may his blessing rt upon us that we may keep his commandments mand ments and receive a salvation in his presence APOSTLE H CANNON next addre addressed sped the congregation he stated that the testimony of elder spry was true I 1 know that this gospel is the truth and will bring salvation to all who liv live p according to the light contained therein I 1 also know that it will condemn those who reject it not that it will consign people to eternal perdition but they will meet the reward of their deeds and according to the light which has been shed on them will they be judged it will not condemn those who are ignorant the heathen will not be judged by the law until they have heard it B time will come when a all it agee 0 hear the testimony ol 01 of the e gospel pe that they may be judged according to the same T the alte lord will work many wonder fu ful things in this age in connection with the testimony of the elders today the door is closed in many nations but the day will come when the way will be opened we look for a time when christ will reign overall over all nations we alone are not the subjects of his care he is overruling the actions of men to bring to pass his great designs he is working among the nations by bringing about great changes in north america for in stanie stane recently the aret great empire of brazil was changed to a republic this was brought about in a day and without bloodshed in europe also there are strange workings for the emancipation of mankind the Lordis lord is not pleased leased with his children being in candage bondage one to another in this land he has established the greatest and best government of human framing and these same divine principles are causing thrones to totter this is the work of god who is preparing the way in the earth for men to accept and practice the principles of righteousness it would seem that it would take a long time to change long established governments in europe but nothing is impossible to god and he may bring such events about in a day as he did iu in brazil the history of ancient nations gives us examples of his great power Belsh aizar ridiculed the great god ai d thought he could not be overthrown but in the midst of his revelry came the handwriting on the wall and in one night his power had vanished in this age the lord will bring judgment to those who reject him he will convince the nations that he rules the universe he does not desire the destruction of his children but is calling them to partake freely of the bread of life but cities and nations are few in number who turn to the lord from their iniquities we have it recorded that nineveh did the people there repented of their sins to the surprise of the prophet sent to warn them the lorl turned judgment from them and they were saved today there is a warning voice in the midst of the earth telling the inhabitants how to avert the wrath to come by walking in the paths pa th a of righteousness B but ut how few there are who give heed to the world aregi veu the opportunity to test the truth of this warning but wo unto those who heed not the message which is beina being delivered by the servants of god go the saints have accepted the warning and are warning their neighbors the prophecies made by the prophet joseph smith have b been aeu and are now k being e in fulfilled and those nut not yet fulfilled fullil fulfilled led will be he has predicted the glorious future of this government under the constitutional tut ional principles revealed from god he warned the people of the great rebellion he also told of a time when the constitution C U M y ution would bf be disregarded jad ny of its lt provisions but he 1 when the saints would hold d aloft its principles CIEs and save it from destruction the be saints bel believe levein in upholding the laws law they believe they have the right to worship god according to the dictates of their consciences they have never sought to oppress their fello fellows wei they are seeking for truth they have been unwise in many circumstances but it has been lecause because of the weaknesses of men and not be dause of the failure of the principles they had received they have sought to mete out justice to all this is still their aim and it has been recognized by many not of our faith if the sai ants shall ever reach a position where they will rule it is to be hoped they will not in turn become oppressors of the weak our principles principles teach us a perfect plan 0 of life let do us cleave closely to them that men may ajay see our good work and glorify god let us not profess one thing and practice another but let us be what we claim meek and h humble u able followers folio were of jesus let us be saints in every walk of life and carry out the higher law of life we hive have received greater light through the revelations of god let us not reject this greater light I 1 believe there are many in the world who will receive a laintz greater reward than some professed professed essed sainta because the former M have e lived nearer to the light they had let us walk in humility and not be puffed up in pride then will our father lead us in the path of life and give us the victory in truth miss chrissie C lawson sang a solo oh rest in the lord and the choir sang the anthem 0 be joyful benediction was offered by elder seymour B young |