| Show sunday services religious services were held bold at the tabernacle salt lake city sunday december 1891 commencing at 2 p m president angus M cannon pre presiding the choir and congregation sang the hymn commencing L how firm a foundation ye saints of the lord Is ie I 1 laid aid for your faith in his excellent wo d prayer was offered by bi elder george A woolley the choir sang he died I 1 the great redeemer died and Isra israels ells daughters wept around the priesthood of the twelfth ward officiated in the administration of the sacrament APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH addressed the congregation he realized that unless we cau enjoy the influence of the holy spirit it would be impossible to spear speak for the edification of the saints and he therefore desired the congregation to give him their aid by prayer aud faith that he might have the guidance of that spirit during the time he be might be led to occupy on a day like the present the speaker felt that we have full claim on our father in heaven to give us the instruction we need as we have exhibited our faith in coming out in such inclement weather we have shown our good will and can claim abuls abundant dant spiritual soi ritual food from him the speaker had no particular subject on his mind upon which to speak but was dependent on the of the spirit our father has promised to those who rely on him in seeking to speak to his people that they shall be given what co 6 say the speaker had recently visited some of the settlements to in arizona where he bad the privilege of mingling with the saints enjoying their hospitality and speaking to them the saints in that section of country are as a rule in iii the enjoyment ot of the spirit of god while they have many trials and apparent sacrifices the lord has been good to them and they enjoy his presence in a greater degree than many in more favored localities where the people have the privilege of of frequent bent visits of the presiding brethren rey they are Teason reasonably ably prosperous temporally and desirous ot of living according to the requirements of the gospel aade As we mingle with the people we see 10 variety of circumstances both in a worldly and a religious sense and we ate discover cover that where the saints sainte are possessed of little worldly wealth they seem to enjoy the companionship of the spirit more than where they are in a position position to secure to themselves good g circumstances As a rule in poverty the saints are more conscientious to in the observance of the requirements of our faith in abstaining from those things which are forbidden by our heavenly father and I 1 in it seeking that t companionship which can make saints happy why this should be so is hard to understand but we can easily discover as we mingle with the saints that there is a tendency boad abong ong some of those who are well to doffny can enjoy opt only the necessaries but the lux luxuries u r of life to grow lax in the observance of the principles of the religion which we have espoused many things which were regarded with abhorrence in the past axe afe today indulged in with seemingly very verv little compunction of conscience many of the requirements of the gospel are looked upon as of little moment it seems to be natural to drift with the current and not to notice where we are drifting to the speaker reI referred to his experience on his bis first mission when he came in contact with people in extreme poverty his big hert was readily touched and if he had anything whereby he could minister to their want he unhesitatingly put it in their hands he found however that he gradually grow grew mere more cold as the sight eight of them became more familiar this condition has no doubt been noticed by all who have had bad any experience in this direction if we let down the bars bare against evil influences we will gradually become more and more familiar with the evil and at last we will look with contempt upon things which we formerly considered sacred upon the saints who are called to preach the everlasting gospel to the world a great responsibility rests extreme care is therefore required it may be asked whether many of the things our father has given us for yur pur purification and enlightenment and by which the saints sainta were actuated in the past are not becoming obsolete or altogether dying out such a practice an aa family prayers for instance seems to be unknown in many places many never ask a on the food unless in the presence 1 of some visitor on whom they can lay jay the responsibility by conversation with some children it may be learned that family prayer Is something unknown to them and they will perhaps wonder why a blessing is asked on the food only when there is a stranger present many people pay no attention to the word of wisdom there to is scarcely a table set upon which are not tu to be found things forbidden by the law of the lord lora many brethren have accustomed themselves to the use of tobacco in various forms and others use intoxicating liquors and have grown careless to other forms of transgression n the speaker had bad visited the southern part of the territory he had bad found six a ix families who did not presume to pray either morning or evening family devotion seemed to have been forgotten when he had bad asked for the privilege of kneeling down with them and ask goj god to bless their homes and had done so the children seemed surprised A reformation is surely necessary among the sa saints is the principles of the gospel should be explained and the people exhorted to attend to their prayers thereto there is no reason if men and women will seek to enjoy the influence of the holy spirit why irby that influence should not be felt wherever woe wao rever they go in the daily walks of life it if we live jive as we should the power of god will be communicated to our surroundings profanity in speech is vulgarity and very debasing yet many people are given to the vicious habit but if the elders will do their duty y their will ett 0 1 among uch such men and women those boo will won feel that they will have to use uee more modesty in their language and more cati caution tion in doing that which is wrong reformation will come conae by this means lor for it can be brought about only by unity of effort by who have learned their duties and are willing to them the speaker had dwelt upon these conditions yet from his bis acquaintance with the people he be believed there were more salute saints who earnestly tried to live their religion than there ever were before at as any time while many were apparently drifting away yet there were many who were as devoted as aa they ever were in their lives cherew there la and will be a continued growth in overe overcoming oming the evils of the world with which we are brought iu contact the regeneration of the human family is gradual As the seeds of truth shall find their way into the hearts of 9 men they will bring about that great change until the work shall be accomplished and righteousness abound among the children of men there are I 1 now many opportunities before us on our right hand and on the left are those who are car careless elem but who may be reached and eventually added to te the number who are trying todo their duties every christian man and woman should endeavor to bring about a change chang etor for the hotter better in every condition of life and bring joy and happiness to families where reigns do we fully sense the condition that now exists and the responsibility that teats rests on us in regard to our own in every comer corber almost temptations abound there are abandon ed women and vicious men temptations present themselves on all hands bands to the rising generation are we gathering those who are placed in our watch eare striving to establish within their breasts a resting place for the spirit of our father in heaven these are questions in which we should leel feel a deep interest our circumstances are greatly changed and will continue to ta change possibly for some time to come business chances chance are opened up and partnership with those not identified with our faith are entered into but it if we can build our children up firmly on the rook rock the impress impresa of their faith in god will be roani manifest fest wherever they go and it will be the means of bringing into the fold hundreds of those who now have no regard for the gospel gospe the speaker had found many opportunities of con with men who never before would listen to him and expound the th gospel to them and so have no doubt all of us are we taking advantage of such opportunities in the past we have been regarded as an exclusive people even by those who have lived in our own midst we were looked upon as lacking sociability but the time has boa now come com when our religion is no longer treated as a football to everybody it ft is not to be expected that all mankind will accept our faith but it to is to be hoped that the conditions now surrounding us will he fraught with blessings to our fel as an to ourselves the sneaker expressed his joy in the opportunities that had been opened up he did not feet feel despondent but be aved ed aba M door had been opened 1 before the saints of god their faith shallie ghyll be pronounced and 11 finally nally allmen all men shall recognize to same the beauty of the gospel of the son of god I 1 rejoice the speaker said in this gospel and hope my faith way may never slacken but that I 1 may fool feel in the future as in the past willing to build up the work in which we are engaged the destiny of the faith committed to us the bringing about the regeneration of the children of men and it shall bring life eternal to all who accept it and live according to its requirements for years we have stood in an un uncomfortable position but the clouds are pa passing ising the spirit of bitterness is giving way and the time cannot be far distant when the saints can mingle with the people of the world and be treated with respect may we be able to act wisely and be prompted by a spirit of forbearance of longsuffering long suffering of love my testimony is that this is the work of our father and god looking back onabe on the year now drawing to a close we find it to have been a very important one many changes have taken place but those who are familiar with the work and designs of the almighty can see that circumstances are being shaped by a wise hand god gods godla la plans and purposes can not be narrowed down to our limits his words must still be carried to the whole world we may sometimes have thought the time achand at hand to close the missions in foreign cun 0 un tries but we have but commenced to carry the good seed out which will ultimately be scattered among all the nations of the earth the choir sang the anthem song of the redeemed benediction was denounced pr bounced noun ced by elder seymour B young |
