| Show SUNDAY SERVICES religious services were held in the tabernacle sunday sept alth 1887 commencing at 2 p in president angus M cannon presiding the choir sang the hymn were not ashamed to own our lord and nd worship him on earth prayer was offered by elder elias morris the choir and congregation sang the hymn praise to the man who communed with jehovah jesus anointed that prophet and seer the priesthood of the eighth ward officiated in the administration of the Sacrament eldir ELDER WM P AFFLECK was called to address the tion he said he be felt weak in appearing before the people but as it was his duty as an elder in israel he responded to the call if he were not satisfied of the truth of the gospel he would not appear in III the capacity he be did on the present occasion in his the speaker had had considerable experience in preaching the truth and when he be had trusted in the almighty he had never neter been confounded though he be had been opposed by learned men when te he and his y youthful companions were comparatively illiterate it took more than practice before the public to make a man a preacher of righteousness it required a private private life il in n obedience to the lords commands the saints were spoken against and hated today to day because they were teachers of righteousness and the world were in dark darkness Dess the saints expected to meet this ibis hatred and to continue to battle tor for truth till wickedness should be subdued the speaker had seen many manite manifestations stations of t the he power of god and had experienced persecution for bearing testimony to the present times were of great importance so a great that holy men of old had desired to live in this age th 9 great rest event of the latter days was to be the establishment of the kingdom of god which did not net now dow sear bear rule on the earth its reign of righteousness would be brought about through the instrumentality of the honest in heart the hypocrite and deceiver would have no partia part la that work for theford ord knew the dishonesty of their I 1 intentions which would be made known sooner or later the almighty had commanded the saints to love their theia neighbors as themselves he knew he be had not yet learned this lesson tor for he could not love a vile and corrupt man he desired to be humble before the lord and to follow in his ways he had been blessed by obeying the counsel of the servants or of god whose priesthood and authority be honored he was not a man inan worshipper but realized this duty in acknowledging all proper authority he knew there was nothing that could shake the faith of true latter day saints weak and humble bumble though they be god would strengthen and bless them and the honest and pure in all the earth and would overcome ever come the evil BISHOP JAMES JAMBS WATSON said he be desired the frithof faith of the saints while he addressed them his test mony was that god had bad made clear to his understanding understand edg that what the world called mormonism was the plan of salvation for the human family thirty years ago when he first heard the elders of israel proclaim this message of the gospel which had been restored to earth through the prophet joseph he wondered greatly for he be had been taught that the visitation of angels prophets and inspired men was done aone away aud ard thit that in the bible was the whole plan of salvation but in comparing the to him nw new doctrine with the leae teachings gs of the the bible he found thatis that it was identical with witia the gospel t therein ein proclaimed claimed on reflection and I 1 investigation sti gation hie he saw the discrepancy between the abe doctrines of professed christianity and those of the ake bible there was one quotation made by the mormon elders that gave him an opportunity to test the validity of their claim and that was the promise of the savior that they who did his fathers will should know of the doctrine having learned that the doctrines taught by the latter day saints were the same in in every particular as those taught by christ he be decided to test the authority ut bority of the mor mons mon so ito to make the claim they did he adopted this course firmly intending that it if he be received the testimony he would follow the amor mor mons it if not he be would oppose them he received the ordinances which church and it was not long before he received from the lord an unmistakable testimony that he be had bad obeyed the will of the almighty his mind was enlightened and he be received an understanding der standing of the truth which caused him to rejoice greatly in the bless blessings 1 1 1 3 the lord had bestowed upon 1 him 1 1 gs from that time the testimony of the truth had been with him and as he began to comprehend the principles of BRI salvation he realized that the world had been without the gospel tor for many centuries there was one serious consideration with him when he first joined the church and that was what would become ol oi those who had died without hearing the gospel he soon afterwards heard beard the doctrine of balt baptism ism tor for the dead and turning to his bis bible tor for the first time saw it there he read of the thief on the cross and of his going to paradise w whither hither the savior went as peter had said to preach the gospel goo ea to them that are dead that they might live according to god in the spirit and be judged ac cording according to men in the flesh having carried the message of salvation to the spirits in prison jesco burst the bands ban s of death and gained th the victory c t 0 r yo over ver the grave this principle cie opened 0 p e e d to the speaker a field w which ih caused ed hi him in great rejoicing for it was a f full ull answer to toe the great question which had troubled him he then understood that as christ had bad died for the world so BO also could a vicarious work be performed for those who had died without hearing the message of salvation this doctrine had been a dead letter to the world which like many other truths had been restored to the knowledge of men in the present e nt a age ge the tha gospel dospel taught that all mankind were children of the same father and that he had provided for them a reward of glory according to the earnestness nest ness and faithfulness and righteousness they maui manifest fest in their mortal career As paul had said there was a glory of the sun and of the moon MOOD and of the stars those who heard the law were judged by the law the gospel exhorted all to repentance that they might partake of the mercy of god which extended to all his children the spirit of god called all men to righteousness and when they heeded it they were filled wita rejoicing beyond description no man could love god and hate his fellowman tel fel lowman the speaker exhorted the saints to in increased creased d diligence I 1 linee in serving the lord and laboring fo er for the salvation of themselves and their fellowmen fel PRESIDENT ANGUS M CANNON said raid it caused rejoicing to hear the testimonies ti of the truth god had not apo spoken ken in vain to the pr prophet ophee jose joseph ph smith and restored his authority to earth wherever the elders of the church had proclaimed the gospel the spirit of god had testified ot of its truth it was the power of god baft baw salvation to all that believed believed jesus said the sheep knew the voice of the god shepherd and a stranger they would not follow the saints had heeded the true call the apostles in ancient days taught christ and him crucified and when the people believed they were commanded to re pent BHO and be baptized and were promised the holy ghost those who repented ted of their sins received the promised blessing those who were not of the jews as with cornelius who was a Gentile were also permitted to receive of the gospel and of the manifestation of the power of the almighty these received the holy ghost as had the apostles and became b disciples of the lord the gospel was taken irom the jews and turned burned unto the gentiles many of toe the latter received of the tb testimony of the crucil crucified led redeemer the gospel was finally taken from the narth earth but had been restored in the latter days andi those who accepted it were called to come out of Babylo Babylon nand ancl humility and aad righteousness before god the latter day saints had haa obeyed this call and gathered to the vales of the rocky bocky mountains there they to serve god that they may be free from the blood of this generation they were building temples in which could be performed ordinances for the salvation of the living and the dead they thep were proclaiming the gospel by their teachings and example the lord worked through his hi priesthood which had been restored to earth ro no man could coald officiate ate in this priesthood but in the name bame of jesus the only name by which men could be saved those who would not forsake all for jesus sake were not worthy of him so spike the savior of mankind and he promised eternal life tp tid those who suffer in his cause president ident cannon exhorted the saints to cultivate the love of their fellow beings in their hearts and to glorify their father by works of righteousness it was only by this means that they could secure the bless blessings ingi promised to the faithful the elders of the church forsook all and went among the nations of the earth leaving their loved ones and taking their lives in ID their hands preached christ and him crucified to mankind in this they glorified rifled god in the courage they man ested in braving all dangers for the salvation of mn mankind kind may god strengthen then the saints in such noble endeavors whether at home or abroad and save the pure in beart the choir sane an anthem and benediction edic tion was pronounced by patriarch john smith |
