Show A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER THESE are times that try by mens men's souls The elements of the spiritual world seem to be in commotion in correspondence with the tumult of the material elements and ond the up- up upheavals upheavals up upheavals In society We are ap- ap approaching approaching ap approaching nearer and nearer to the grand consummation The tribulations tribulations tribulations of the latter days predicted by bythe bythe bythe the Savior are upon us as har har- V J I of the end Patience 1 g endurance firmness and faith are essentials to our victory over the powers of evil which are raging with great wrath because they know they have but a short time The opposition waged against the day Latter day Saints which in some respects is continuous bursts out anew at different periods and andI I requires extra exertion on their part to meet and overcome it Such a time is the present It seems as though the floodgates of the nether regions had been thrown J wide open to let loose the foul tide of calumny an and the fierce forces of the Evil One At the same time inducements seductive in their nature and alluring alluring ing in their thelt tendency come by way of temptations into paths of apparent apparent apparent ent ease and plenty to win the Saints to the side of the world with t the flesh and the devil drawing in inthe inthe inthe the same direction Clouds s trials difficulties fes struggles struggles contumely disfranchisement and the worlds world's hostility threaten threaten on the one band hand while the sirens siren's song of sunshine pleasure and sensuous drifting down the smooth stream of life Ilfe is heard on the other A clear head a strong heart a firm spirit and undoubting faith are needful to every Latter-day Latter Saint t in su h seasons as the present lest failure and those who have manfully withstood previous trials be overcome by those of the present and so lose the great reward We all need the sustaining Hand of Omnipotence no matter how strong we may be or how well equipped for the battle with prin prin and powers and spiritual wickedness in Jo high places If God be with us we are sure to pre pre- prevail prevail prevail vail But of ourselves we cannot f hope for victory It is therefore necessary th that t we humble ourselves before the Lord and seek in faith that aid without which we will be weak indeed Weare We are pleased pleas d to announce nee that the First Presidency of the Church have set apart the next anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith Smith- Smith December as as a day of fasting and of solemn prayer All the Latter day Latter Saints throughout these them mountains are requested to to join in supplicating the Lord on that day for His Holy Spirit tobe to be poured out in great power upon His servants and all an the Saints as a witness thAt He is Js still wIth them Also that the enemies of Zion may thay be confounded in their wicked works and designs and that f t r l L i iJ J the hearts of the rulers and people of n tion may be softened to the end that they may be induced to todeal todeal todeal deal justly and mercifully with the Saints an and be willing willing- willingto to hear our cause and grant to us those tho rights righta and privileges which belong to cUi- cUi citizens citi citizens zens who are true to the Constitution Constitution tion a and nd institutions of the United States The art The fast is to commence at sundown sun sun- sundown down on the and con con- continue continue con continue u until til sundown of the and it is expected that the mem merr- members merry members y bers of the Church will have bave special prayer meetings at home home and In their ward assemblies and andin andin andin in those places set apart for those purposes The Presidency of the Salt Lake Litke Stake of Zion desire the Bishops in the different diff rent wards tomake to tomake make arrangements for meetings on the instant according to their respective circumstances instances I In n this city it is recommended that in ad- ad addition addition ad addition to the regular meetings on Sunday evening the morning and afternoon meetings be beheld beheld heM held on the an and that In tb the early morning ng and between the meetings on that day prayer meet meet- meetings meetings meetings ings be held in the p places ces specially set apart for that object r All An this should be done in the spirit of meekness and faith There ought to be no expressions or desires for wrath and judgment upon those who have persecuted reviled and falsely accused us and anti who seek to oppress us but rather that they may turn from their wicked ways and be led to do right It is to be hoped that all business f places conducted or controlled by byI I members of the Church will be beI I closed on the so that per per- persons persons sons OnS employed there may be free to fast and ami p pray y and attend the meet meet- meetings meetings meetings ings that will be convened This is isan isan isan an important matter and the results that will surely ly accrue will be of vastly more value than gold and and any material rests interests that may be involved That our God is approachable and ready to hear and help lp His people when they draw dra near to him aright has been abundantly demonstrated in our experience Let Letus Letus Letus us come to Him on this occasion as s directed by His servants servants servants ants and nd we shall receive an another ther proof of the truth of the doctrine of His Son When two or three of you are agreed touching anything and y ye ask it in my name it shall be granted unto you Ask and andye andye andye ye shall re receive eive seek arid avid ye shall find knock nock and the door shall ahall be opened opened unto you 3 rte |