| Show JOSEPH SMITH THE PROPHET today Is ie the eighty seventh anniversary of the birth of a man I 1 in n many respects re the most moat remarkable the nineteenth century has haa produced we refer to joseph prophet who was boru born in sharon windsor county vermont Dc december ember 1805 the various incidents of his hie event ful career are engraved un on the hearts of the salute saints who loved the mau man and cherish his bis memory with affectionate reverence revert cac the world at large to is also aleo familiar to some extent at least with his biography for he was one of the few whose greatness great nebs neis atu acted universal attea attention tion and wh se name will be found prominent on the pages of hia tory for ages agee how he be by heaven was chosen a special messenger to the world the faithful performance of this work under the greatest difficulties and the final sealing of the testimony with his death as a martyr belong to the annals of the kingdom of god on OB earth and they form one of the most important chapters in ecclesiastical history of all time it would seem eminently proper today to reflect for a few mm moments eats on the work which joseph the prophet was wae called to perform in this age like who gathered pa the children ot of israel and led them to the land ot of premise ise joseph the prophet sounded aun ted the call to the scattered israel anu ano who beard it and believed esponde and came with joyful bearbe to the land at ove others choice in the sight eight of the lord a land undoubtedly selected anti and since the time of its ito discovery by the divine providence prepared for this purpose like eluass ely ah who thundered his bis solemn warnings against kings and nations that transgressed th the laws of him who is the ring king of kings and lord of ef lords joseph the prophet lifted his warning voice in ID the midst of the nations of the earth deol ring the will and the desires dealores of the almighty hla his appearance in the world burst forth as in ful ailment of the le vision and I 1 saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with 1 a cloud and a rainbow was upon bis bead and his bis see ace was as it were the sun and and his bis feet as pillars of fire and he had bad in his hand a little book and swore by him that liveth for ever and ever who created heaven and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therein therein are and the sea and the things which are therein that there should be time no longer but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of god should be finished as he lass has declared to his servants the prophets Prop heits 11 rev x 17 1 7 like john the baptist who came to prepare the way for the completion of an old eld dispensation aud the foundation of a now new and more gl orlou eo joseph the prophet came to usher in a new dial dis onea tion more glorious than any ot of the preceding he came the herald of that m of seers have spoken in glorious terms from the beginning of the world the dispensation of the fullness of times for the accomplishing of this thin great work he be was endowed with the most extraordinary powers from above as am might naturally be expected lie he wao one of the few human beings who have ken been permitted to commune with jehovah face to face as a friend to a friend angels visited him and instructed ted him to his prophetic view was opened as a book the past fact the future nay even the veil that hidi from our wondering g ze the eternity was partial partia liy y withdrawn before him and like paul he saw and heard inexpressible things for the description iou of which human language ill IH inadequate power over demons and sickness and death was given to him as ail to the ancient erit servants of the lord and all these superhuman endowments be like his master used for the benefit oi 01 his fellowmen lowman fel and the cause whose faithful fai faith thul ml servant he was no wonder that those who knew him beat should love him most moist through him the lord was pleased to give his children a knowledge of things eternal that truly basseth understanding a knowle knowledge oge tat brings peace joy happiness to the heart through nis ais teachings death has been deprived of its terror the living have been brought to comprehend the glorious truth that the mercy of god en dureth lor for ever and is efficient for salvation even behind the veil and through him we have learned to expect that the time is at hand band when the earth shall be purified and mankind live on it as ae before the fall in a universal brotherhood the whole world has already commenced to reap the benefits of the brief years in which the great pro photo earthly career was comprehended ane truths he so fear fearlessly lessy and without hesitation pr claimed are gradually leavening mankind and shaping i uman thought it is perceptible that many cf 0 those who despise the name of the prophet have accepted his doctrines and m ii re preaching the truths he fizet first proclaimed and this work will go on until the whole human family finally shall be pr pared to accept them was it not the same with the work of the earlier prophets sail aad the savior himself Him seli notwithstanding the fact that the world at first rejected him yet his work went on until the existing systems had to give way to christianity josephs josepa s fate in the world was waa similar to that of all those who have been the special messengers of the almighty he was misunderstood 4 envied hated and murdered yet 12 e conquered through all for even his bis death was a victory and he be still lives live in the memory of the people of god he shall live as long as there to is one left on earth who is trying to serve god acco according arding to his revealed will and in celestial glory he shall live in all eternity well may the saints of god remember today with deep gratitude their beloved prophet well way may they with firm arm determination continue to serve him whom joseph declared to us up for whom he lived and in whose service he be died |
