Show impressive UNANIMITY has characterized all threat great movements when at the time of the exodus from nauvoo the cormons mormons Mor Ator mons were seen leaving their cultivated fields and busy workshop sto try the unknown regions of the west amid sterile wastes savage beasts and men still more savage there was something impressive in their movements leaving behind them the buds and bloom of an advanced civilization there was no doubt much to make them dis discontent contents ed but faith burned brightly on the alter of every heart and so with joyous steps they set out on their long march to the then desolate shores or of americas dead sea no doubt as the long line of emigrant wagons slowly disappeared over the rolling prairies of iowa the beholder was struck with their unanimity if wo we read history correctly we find this thid trait of character is ever aver manifest in all great religious movements when the tribes of israel marched down to the shores of the red hed sea with pharaoh his chariots and horsemen pursue pursuing ng them there was a scene of rather impressive unanimity when nehemiah iab and his companions returned k from babylon and rebuilt tile the temple and walls of jerusalem no BO doubt thought there WAS too much unal unanimity amity among the jews if we accept even a pagans cesti testimony to n y in regard to the early christian church h u h we find the same marked characteristic the younger pany is IB his letters to the emperor Trajan says that nothing could induce one of those early disciples to sacrifice to idols though he had bad threatened them with the most terrible tortures and death and in many cases had executed his bis threats yet the unanimity with which those early saints kept their covenants was so impressive on mind that be suspended all judicial proceedings ce and wrote a letter to the emperor for advice on almost every page of history may be found other illustrations the swiss fighting for their liberty under unde tb the e sh shadows of the high all alps s the dutch deluging their country rather than submit to the demands of alva tile the Covenant ers refusing to comply with the conditions prescribed b king jamet james and cromwell slid and his ironsides charging the royal troops on the bloody field of marston moor are familiar illustrations some of the noblet no blast acts in the great drama of Aine iRan history derive their chief glory from the of the actors the puritans signing a civil and abid social compact before leaving the cabin of tae Mayl mayflower lower should not he be forgotten toe the signing of the declaration of independence is another striking st g example each of these adners had his own peculiar ilia r views mch each state her own separate interests yet these things were laid aside or ignored in the presence of that more important and all ab absorbing g theme them e national unity so also in regard Mormonism to in t this his thinking busy working age thousands of honest men and women have laid aside their hopes and plans of life their pleasant homes lucrative situations and sympathy of early friends that they might devote their lives to at least what whai they believe to be the cause of truth and the best interests of humanity while it is admitted by some of the foremost of living writers that the world is witnessing an ebb tide of religious sentiment it is not to be wondered at that some persons whose egotism is only oaly equalled equal led by their narrow mindedness should affect surprise or disgust at mormon unanimity ani mity J H W salt lake city sept 16 1887 |