| Show LAID TO REST today september 8 the remains of president wilford woodruff were laid to rest followed by a vast concourse of 0 citizens of every age and social standing of different political affiliations and religious beliefs from all parts of the state and they were drawn together not by a desire to witness a gorgeous display or pompous ceremonies for they all knew that the funeral rites of the church are in full harmony with the sublime simplicity of the gospel and that the memory of the departed could best be honored by making the last solemn services simple as his entire life has been tree free f from rom ostentation they gathered because they loved and esteemed president druff wilford Wll tord the faithful vry seldom it falls to the lot of mortal man to occupy exalted positions and yet retain the glood will ot of all but such was the honesty integrity faithfulness and personal worth of the departed prophet pioneer and leader that ot of him it was often said that he had no enemies no wonder then that a vast multitude should gather to pay their last respects to him president wilford woodruff belonged to the little band of martyr crowned pioneers to which the nation some day will acknowledge its indebtedness he was one of the heroes who crossed the western border of civilization and fearlessly marched a thousand miles into the wilds of the american deserts planting the standard of freedom in the mount mountain aln vall valleys erys he and his companions demonstrated to the world the possibilities of a region as large as an empire and which but for their efforts would have remained who knows how long the great american desert very few of the present generation realize what hardships these early empire builders suffered while everything needed tor for existence had to be wrested from bom a seemingly unfriendly nature but few can form an idea of the nature ot of the faith that sustained them day by day in their efforts to redeem this country but the results of their prayers their falth faith their labors are nw now before the world wilford woodruff was one of the chiefs in the struggle carried on here in these valleys in the interest of civilization and as such he is entitled to recognition in the history of the american republic among the latter day d lay sal saints t s wll lord ford woodruff has of I 1 late ate ye years rs occupied a distinguished position he was the last living of the apostles that were ordal ordained ned to that exalted office in the days of joseph the prophet in this respect he was a link between the Senie generation ration that witnessed the rise of ate church in this dispensation and another generation which very soon will know the prophet of god and his as aa mo octaves clates oc tates only from history he was the apostle john of this age there are others in the midst of the saints who uke luce wilford woodruff were personally acquainted with the prophet joseph and whose pres presence enbe among them is esteemed precious on account of their long loag faithful services in the of god but their circle is becoming narrower every year and their activity will before long be in another sphere in one sense their places awig the saints cannot be filled hence it is with intense feelings that their departure one by one is in watched by those who remain to con tissue the labor they go well commenced it Is a comfor comforting Ung thought though that the church in this dispensation has been given back to the earth never again to be overcome by the adversary the lord himself has placed all the safeguards needed around the church for its perpetuation on it was not thus in the age following that of the first apostles of jesus the early fathers had great disadvantages to overcome and were favored with but few advantages comparatively many of them were converted from paganism and had their minds filled with the notions of the various philosophical schools they were crouching under a load of fables and false philosophy which they were never fully able to throw oft off very often in their controversies with the assailants of christianity they drew from heathen philosophy the materials for fair their replies replica instead of from that inspiration which had guided the apostles their ignorance of the bible is most conspicuous some of them rejected books now received as genuine and accepted spurious documents in their stead their thedr method of interpretation was often no more than a mystic allegorizing by which the scriptures were made to teach anything the imagination of the expounder might happen to see in it then persecution carried off the best beat men of the age leaving the burden on shoulders not always strong enough for the task all these causes and others operated against the preservation er of the primitive church from error and resulted in the course of time in the removal of the child to the throne of god in this age all is different the priesthood with all its keys and ordinances and powers remain with the church A faithful record has been kept and is accessible the spirit of revelation remains a true light in the darkness so while the saints with a feeling of deep sorrow bid farewell to their leaders as they depart from them they at the same time know that the work of the lord to is progressing both on earth and in heaven with gratitude to the almighty for the won irful work accomplished by president wilford woodruff and for the assurance they have that it is an everlasting one they bid him farewell may the reunion with saints above be glorious and the rest of the body sweet until the morning of resurrection |
