| Show SUNDAY SERVICES elder joseph E taylor of the stake presidency presided over the services at the tabernacle sunday afternoon nov 31 1897 the choir sang the hymn come roe dearest lord descend and dwell iby by faith and love in every breast prayer was offered by elder adam L i the choir further sang saner ag great reat lord indulge my humble claim thou art my hope my joy my rest elder HW hial B hales a recently re missionary from new zealand was introduced to the congregation as k the first speaker he said he had v labored in that land for something over three years and was pleased to r report the australasian mission in good r condition during the last year about souls had been added to the church and in als all the church had to its credit ahu spin that at land something over mem fibers elder hales had the satisfaction f of S knowing that in his bis labors he be him t elt had bad been fully converted to the aspel ospel os pel 1 he knew that joseph smith 1 was wag a prophet of god and knew also saat the blessings promised unto the faithful were following those who tried q ao 50 to live up to the commandments of rood elder aurelius was t next speaker he began by referring V ato ta the sorrow borrow and the joy attendant fr r upon the call of young elders to go fy mt and preach the gospel sorrow at their leaving home to be cast adrift v among the nations and joy at their ref turning ing after an absence of some years eswa their loved ones onea at home the 51 illing calling of missionaries said the speak 1 wf er had a highly beneficial effect upon the latter day saints it caused them 0 tb o pray for those who had gone abroad V dad and thus brought them in closer comit If with the father their going H vat into the nations to preach the p gospel also helped to build up those who agbo were called and increased their aith h 1 to the extent of making them f wm and steadfast in the gospel ot of gift 2 irist t the preaching of the gospel c ab alao 80 attended with blessings unto vo s those who would believe and obey it win uch that to the extent they corned with the commandments of the j just to that extent would they isaa ISA 1 L blessed 3 and comforted of the lord toder miner pointed out the duties and requirements of latter day saints and ane blessings following their obeal ce he spoke of that which was pecked ard t e I 1 of them in view of the wo S 5 V instruction and revelation re iki from 1 time to time from those i alty and urged d a all to grow 5 ln in a knowledge of the chilt the 11 expectations of the IL 1111 L be fully reaped reali ted and te rdward promised might tall fall 4 upon them when they had finished their work here upon the earth elder Claud claudius V spencer next addressed the congregation he spoke of the marvelous work and a wonder that the lord had established here upon the earth in these latter days the church of christ said mad he had been set up in the earth for the last time never more to be thrown down or given to another people its introduction in these times however was not without its obstacles and hindrances from the people of the world joseph smith the prophet who had been the instrument in the hands of the lord in bringing I 1 this abou scoffed at and ridiculed by the world at large when he made known the establishment of the church of christ upon the earth darth through direct revelation from on high the opposition brought to bear with reference to the introduction of mormonism was so strong and compact that had it not been for the spirit of the holy ghost which was with the saints it would have withered and finally disappeared rather than have grown and progressed as it had done the lord was with his people he had protected them in the work of the kinstry upon the earth and in his mysterious way had so shaped affairs in the earth as to make it possible forthe for the perpetuation of the gospel and the preaching of the same together with the gathering out of the honest in heart to the place which god had appointed elder spencer referred to early day trials and tribulations calling attention to the uninviting condition of the salt lake valley when the pioneers made their entrance into it today however things were vastly different the barren places had been made fruitful and the entire valley now blossomed as the rose things were well with the people of god said the speaker and would continue so if they would remain firm and steadfast to the truth elder gcorge M cannon was the next next speaker he recalled incidents connected with the entrance of the pioneers into this valley as recounted some time ago by president wilford woodruff they had been in the valley but a few hours when president brbgham young pointed out the spot w where here the temple should be built that temple had now been erected and many other things predicted by the come to pass precisely as formerly testified of the works of the pioneers were an index to the character of those people they had gone forth in the fear f ear of god and had performed many wonderful deeds in his name elder cannon referred to the many blessings of which the saints should be partakers par takers citing particularly the gift of the discernment of spirits which said he would keep the saints in the gathof path of right and safety in its possession they would know the right from the wrong and be able to shun evil lift in order that they might follow the other the saints should aim to be united they should love one another and endeavor to love their neighbors as themselves these were the two great commandments upon which all others were based and in their observance a foundation would be laid for a life of at purity and holiness class lass distinction should not find a place among the saints it was contrary to the mind and will of the father who in his superior judgment was no respecter re of persons and rewarded men as their works of righteousness merited elder george A smith addressed the congregation he began by explaining the order of the priesthood in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints doing this particularly tor for the benefit of those present who were not 1 acquainted with the order of the church the church had been organized after the pattern in vogue anciently and those upon whom the priesthood was conferred were required to live lives of purity and holiness in conducting their meetings said the sv speaker eaker the saints called their speakers from the ranks of the priesthood be they deacons teachers priests elders seventies apostles or first presidents the priesthood which they held carried with it the blessings of the father and in addressing the people of god they depended wholly upon the spirit of god for the remarks which they might make unto the people elder smith called attention to the station occupied by the prophet joseph when he was called to introduce the gospel upon the earth while a son of poor parents he was a lad of superior wisdom notwithstanding the fact that his scholastic training was not equal to the average the saints were a blessed people said the speaker and they should strive to appreciate the goodness of the father unto them from time to time the choir and congregation sang our god we raise to thee thanks for thy blessings free benediction was pronounced by president joseph F smith |
