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Show ... WITHIN THE SILENT ' TOMB BODY OFiiVERNE PRESTON LAI01TO REST The Preston Home Scene of Great Grief Apostle . -- O. F. Whitneyand Others in Beautiful Language Lan-guage Depict the Workings of Providence--Casket Covered With Beautiful Flowers, g Funeral servfcea oer Uio remains of Vcrno Monroe Preston were held Tuesday lit the family residence In this city at 2 o'clock i. in,. It was a hnppy thought that prompted the holding of tho services at that place. The old I'rcaton home that has been known as such from tho tlmo before Logan was a cfty and from tho time Cnchc county was settled. Tho old land mark a cherished spot where 'li the family from Bishop Preston and his wlfo Harriet Preston, down to the young generation of today, have shared shar-ed together their sorrows and their Joys. At the old homo where Verne Preston jiiBt one week ago kissed his mother a fond farewell, Tuesday amid a beautiful embankment of flowers, his friends, relntlves, class mates and playmates assembled to pay a parting tribute to his memory, and after many eloquent tributes to his character and goodness, and a multitude of earnest, ear-nest, sincere, manifestations of heartfelt heart-felt sympathy for the grief stlcken mother and relatives, kind and loving L hands conveyed nil that was mortal from the cherished haunts of his childhood to his last resting-place in tho city cemetery. The services were beautiful and lm-' lm-' prpsslvo. Scats and chairs wero plac- en on me spacious mwu mm i6u I crowd assembled. The flowers were I most beautiful and In abundance. The - speakers all sensed tho sadness of tho occasion and wore Inspired tp utter words of comfort and consolation. The music was beautiful and throughout tho services was such that It could not help but comfort and console those who wore almost heart broken and bowed down In grief and sorrow. A musical number was rendered under un-der the direction of Prof. George W. Thatcher. Opening prayer was offered by President WtUlam Budge. Another musical number was rendorod and Bishop Josoph E. Wilson, Jr., Intro-tluced Intro-tluced Eldor John D. Spencer of Salt Lako City as the first speakor. He said In part tho taking away of this young man is somothlng we cannot understand. under-stand. We only know, and It is our faith that makes us know and keeps us right. It cannot be that this is an accldont. There must bo somo divine providence behind It. Tho great pow-er pow-er that notes even tho falling of a tiny sparrow, Is tho faith that shapes our ends. It cannot bo that those who sin can llvo on and that this little woman, pure and spotless, Is without tho pale of God's mercy. It must bo so, It i3 so, and our faith tells us it Is true, that this young man In tho full bloom of his young-manhood was taken away for somo good purpose. Thero Ib a wiso purpose In this apparent calamity. calam-ity. It cannot bo nn accident and will redound to tho bonctit of tho boreaved. If thero can bo anything comforting to this family beyond tho palo of this homo, It Is everywhere becauso they havo frlonds with warm hoarts and comforting words everywhere who sympathize with them In this thoiT , hour of sad bcreavomcut. Prosldont O. II, Budge reforred very i feelingly to tho character of tho de ceased and of tho family, and said thu death of the young man was sad becauso be-causo we have not yet been nblo to ovorcomo tho wcaknossos of tho flesh. It Is on nccount of our weaknesses that wo sorrow and mourn nnd' If It wero not for our weaknessos thoro would bo no sorrow. It Is a grout consolation con-solation to bo sensible to tho fact that this boy has been a, good boy all the days of his lifo. It Is a groat consolation con-solation to know tho lifo ho has lived. U has been said a hundred times In Lonn during tho pait two daya that ho was cno of tho best boys In I-ogan. Ho wot given In tho first place to a good father and mother I and has nlways lived a good lifo. His I was n righteous spirit, The spirit world is governed by righteousness nnd he,goes to tnko his place in that great congregation of righteous spirits- A violin solo was then rendered by Prof. Splckcr, accompanied by Mrs Splcker. , Apostle Orson K. Whitney was tho next speaker Ho said, "There ure somo things wo do not know, nnd It Is wisely ordered no doubt. This may seem n Btrnnge philosophy where knowledge Is so much appreciated nnd sought nfterfond where knowledge is recognized as a power. Hut dlvlno phll osophy very frequently overturns human hu-man philosophy nnd in thu light of such facts it Is better that we should not know. "In the wisdom of a wise creator and a kind nnd merciful father we have been placed In n world where wo are required to believe without knowing. know-ing. He who spako ns never man spoke gave us tho doctrine that it is more blessed to bcllovo without seoing, nnd without knowing and without with-out hearing than even to know bofore tho proper time comes to know. Ho gave this Instruction on tho occasion of his appcarnnco In his risen body to his dcclples at Jerusalem. Hu had told thorn that ho -would lay down his body and take it up again. He told them 'that-'ho must drink of tho bit ter cup that his father had prepared for him, and that ho must go Into tho gravo and that he would rise the third day and become the nuthor of salvation, and eternal lifo to all men who would believe on him, and yet when tho calamity, bocalled, befell .them so weak was their faith and confidence con-fidence In his words to them that they thought it was tho end of all things and that everything that lie had spoken had failed. They said, "let us go back to our nets. It is all ovor, tho kingdom of God is no more," nnd In fact that -very hour he appeared to them and showed them the prints of the nails In his hands and feet, and bid them see him, hear him and feel him In order that they might have the knowledgo that he had risen from the dead. Because It is tho privilege of certain ones to know what is to other men a mystery nnd which they are required to believe without knowing. know-ing. "Who were these men to whom he appeared? Thoy woro special witnesses witness-es chosen from the, wprld to bear a special testimony to the world that they know wnoreof they spoke; that ho diod and hnd risen, again. That was their message to humanity. They had a right to know and all the world to whom thoy woro sent to preach that gospel wero required to believe ou their words, and not domnnd to know until tho propor tlmo should como, Why? He gave ns a reason when ono of his apostles doubted stating that ho would not believe unless un-less ho could feel the prints of tho nails and thrust his hnnd into tho wound In his side. When tho Savior camo to hlra and said, "Thomas roach hither thy hand nnd feel of tho prints In my hands and feet and tho wound In my sido, bo not faithless but bo-llcving." bo-llcving." Thomas obeyed nnd was convinced. Then it wns that tho Savior Sav-ior said, "Thomas thou art blessed because thou hast seen, but blessed are they thut believe because they have, not seen" Strange philosophy. One would think that to know was better than to bellovo, nnd so It Is whim, the proper time comes to know. For knowledge Is power, but until that tlmo comes It Is bcltbr to bollevo than to know, because belief implies trust. Implies the reaching out qfter Ood, nnd It Is by faith that 'we gain our strength and development, ono of the groat objects for which' We camo to earth. "Soine time wo'll-understand Somo Continued on;Pag k. ' ' v thin The Silent Tomb J& 'tD1 " H "Jv ' -Body of Verne Preston II .; Laid to Rest HJ 'CoDtlnilod from IMge 1) f ' H, K ' time wo alinll know, and nil the mys HjK .4 ta-rles lll lie imnle plain, anil until U " kiting tint- come lo make tlicm plain 19 . - - -Jit'tU l.ettei to liollew wltliuul ut'olnt,', HL7I ' , .'elioul hoirliiR, wltliouf'kriowliiK nnd n k-op on khIiiIdk In Riowtil and do- i f v vlopment, which vie emtio hoio to IE " S.Ht()lll0lHll. (loil H RU'llt ptllpOHC Wllg 5-k'uiiiii)IhIk'(I In thin sphere of our jl -(jxlHtriirp when tlw Fplilt entered the gj '" tuirjynutl became n IhliiR koiiI. After fj , t.hat thou MresiRth nnd development m fj 1iii tlio ureal object of our earthly ox- Im Lf-u-nco, nnil uck'iIii that development Hi , t jy trupt k, lij believing, by Borvlng H ; Jod and by groping for the Unlit bo B : ro npcnl(. Just uk vtho flower roadie W : ' x.ifU-1- tlio minllght, and thoro would !Hc no grow tli, there would bo no do j vi'lnpmcnt If we know nil, for know V.-ilge would 3 allow up faith nnd destroy de-stroy the opportunity for oxporlonco, i xintl growth, and Ood In bin wisdom rnntfi to tin tlio mission to botlovo ffor our Rood, for pur development, be- J ' uiisc fnl th lends to knowledge y lly Uotlu of the blttor wo shall J-""" " iVnow tho sweet by being loft to our- I jMt'liTs wo shall grow stronger, nnd H4'ji -f , aniline time wo nhnll know, H'Q ! "'SoiiH'llino when alt life's lussons have BE .men learned, H j i -A ud sun and stars forevermore havn 1 '''' H 3 ' "JTI-o things which our weak Judgment B Jj hero havo spurned, H f. 'The .things o'er which wo grlovo H ? with lnshes wot, - H ' ' Will nnli before us, out of life's dark :, nigiit, H l -te Htftrs shine moBt In deepe. tints H f of bine; HtM 'JVTid we shall see how all Clod's plans Hi, - wore right, Hj "And how what seemed leproof was H ' "floye most true. H'j "" fenil wo shall see how, while we flown Hfh P nd 'sigh, H&' j"f3od's plans go on as best for you jt and me; VI ow when we called, He heodod not Uyl ,our cr-. H) 51eeauso Ills wisdom to tho end H could sec. Hi t -"l e'en as prudent parents disallow Ht.j , ' ' "fno much of sweet to craving lmby- HS' " ' " hood, I 3 (d. iicrhaps, is keoplng from us B& now B'J I.ifo's sweetest things, because It ll svjcli'i(!th good 1, .-"V'i H ,u, ,r ""int'H'nes commlnglod with ffi "f life's 1ne, II ' Wc find the wormwood ,nnd rebel H and shrink, H J Ko -mo a wiser band than yours or H mine i - 0J"S out tMls portion for our lips ''lo drink; v. AukI If somo friend we loo Is lying K iow, .And human kisses cannot roach her ! lace, , ' Ofc, ilo not blame the loving Knthpr ' ftO, mm wear join sorrow with obedient k ; '"" H( ' :imi y ha sho-Uy know that H . lengthened breath, H l's not the denrest gift Uod Bends his Hp .friend; And that Bomctinios the sable pall of death Conceals the fAlrest boon Ills love can Bend. v If wo could push ajar ;tlio gates of life, And stand within nnd nil (Sod's workings see, We could iuteipiet nil this doubt and strife. And for encb mystery could find a key. . i i tint not todny. Then bo content poor henit! Clod's plans, like Utiles, puro nnd white, 'Unfold; Wo must not tear tho close-shut loaves apart; Tlmo will revoal the calyxes of gold. And If, through patient toll, we reach the land Whero tired feet, with sandals loosed, loos-ed, may rest, When wo shall clearly know and understand, un-derstand, I think that we will sny: "God knew best." Hut there are somo things my friends that wo do know. God has not left ub comfoi Ileus uur without knowledge concerning his designs nnd purposes. Wo know many things becauso God lias revealed them to us and our faith Is already strengthened by knowlcdgo concerning him, and one great thing that wo do know, when wo live near enough to God, Is that this earth It. not our homo, Is not our benvon, nnd I bcllovo It wo fully sensed this, fully realized It and took It moro to homo It would sustain us, nnd nssnugo our sorrows, and llghton our burdens, and dlspol ninny of our cares. If we pould only remember that this earth, though It Is destined to become our heaven. Is not ir home nt the present pres-ent time, nud Is not our homo from whence wo enmo, when wo cume forth from our fnthor and mother In heaven heav-en Wc reverse tho ordor of things, that Is what causes us to sigh and mourn nud become broken hearted nnd discouraged and disheartened nt Umes. Wo nro all tho tlmo looking for the pei feet In the midst of tho Imperfect. Imper-fect. Wo attach too much Importance to this life nnd Its nffnlrs, and Its possessions pos-sessions nnd Its concerns; not hut what they nro Important, not but what this life is nn Important epoch In God's plan of the Journey of a com-pleto com-pleto llfo, but It Is when we make tho things of this world our chief euro and beok no the kingdom of God that tho things of this world nro tho hard est. It Is becauso our Ideals arc shattered shat-tered that wo do not understand these things. Hut Saints of God do not believe that this Is tho end of their existence, because thoy havo born In their hearts that light which teaches them that this Is not our homo. That they camo here to school, It does not matter what wo call It, but wo are away from homo, and what we call death In simply the summons from tho Father to como back homo and It does not matter when it comos, It does not matter how It comos. We would rather It would not como In a painful way, lu a sudden shock, and no doubt we would rather It would come when we doslro It. and when It would bo most acceptable to us. But this world was mado for exporlenco nnd development and wo nro baffled by tho happenings of our dally lives In this sphere of existence. No wonder wo aro baffled ,no wonder won-der wo do not understand, but all Is for our good, and If wo believe the gospel, nnd aro Saints of God. we will trust la God andhave faith in him Id spite of theso things. If It were all ar-ninged ar-ninged to suit our own desires where would be our experience; whero would be our development If thore were no trials In this life? If everything went on like a summer dream, If our lives had nothing but aunshlne and apparent appar-ent earthly successes, where would be the experience for which wo came to this school. I for one am content to leave the'sc things In (he hands ol God who doeth nli things well. My sister here Is content to leave them so. This family is content to leave them so. Their bollef In God Is so strong ,tho!r fnlth Is so well groundeO that they nro content to leave these mysteries In the hands of the great teacher, the kind, merciful father who doeth nil things well, he who notes even tho sparrows fnll. I am not a believer In a world of chance, that there aro such things ns accidents I doubt not, but I do not belfovo It possible pos-sible for us to disci Imlnatc between the accident and tho designed. The dropping of nn acorn may seem an accident but when wo look nt the great oak wo do not think of an accident, ac-cident, but rather do wc think the designer de-signer has somo great purpose behind It. Wo must lenvo those things In the hands of God. Wo do not believe thnt this world Is run by chance. Nothing happens by chance, or necidently, but It Is by grace and permission of Him 'who knows every hair of bur heads. No, my brothers nnd sisters we do not believe In a God of eliance, but cur God Is our kind, wlso, merciful heneiily fnthor who ddetli'lill things well, and ho Is such n ninrftei' of the situation that nothing can happen by tho hand 67 man unless God peimlts it. JS" 7 i 'I he spenkcr then recited tlio gieat lesson -on faith from the1 llfo of Job and said :"In this day our father has hot left us without knowledge for, slnco thnt day ho has' rcVcaled why men and women suffer. It wat to the Prophut Joseph Smith that he made this" great reason plain. Joseph was lying chained on tho floor of a dungeon, dun-geon, his pcoplo had been scatteied, and smitten and afflicted. He himself sentenced to death, lying tboie In chains, calls in agony to God and God mako plain to him tho reason why. He portrays nil the Imaginary trials they may be called upon to pass through and then Bays, "Though the very mouth of hell should gapo open ulda after theeo, kuowost thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, nnd ahnll be for thy good." Lowell sas- "TIs sorrow builds tho shining ladder tip, who's golden rounds suo our infirmities." Thus wo nio not loft Ignorant regarding re-garding somo things, whllo Nsome things remain a mystery for a wlso purpose; other things have been made perfectly plain. Theso havo been beautifully beau-tifully written In a poem by a Mormon Mor-mon poet. 1 Oh, My Father, thou that dwellest, In that high and glorious place, When shall Irognln thy presence, And again behold thy face. In thy holdy habitation, Did my spirit onco reside, In my first primeval childhood, Was I nurtured near thy side? For a wise and glorious purpose. Thou hast placed mo here on earth, And withheld tho recollection -Of my formor friends and birth, Yet ofttlmes n secret- something. Whispers you're a stranger here. And I felt that I had wandered, From a more exalted sphere, i I had learned to call theo father, Thro' thy spirit from on high, Uut until the key of knowledgo Wns restored, I knew not why, In tho heavens, are parents single? No, the though makes reason stare, Truth Is reason, truth eternal, Tells mo I've a mother there. When I leave this frail existence, And I lay this mortal by, Father, mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high? Then nt length, when I've completed, All you sent me forth to do, With your mutual approbation Let me come nnd dwell with you. I hnvo a father nnd a mother In Heaven. Not only my eternal father and mother, hut my parents have passed pas-sed Into the spirit world. I have n wlfo and children there. You have husbands, wives, children nnd loved ones thnthnve gone before. We expect to meet them, nnd will meet them, If wo are faithful. Death has no terrors for me. When nnd how thnt Is God's own business. When do I wish to go? When do I desire to rejoin my loved ones thoro? When I have completed all that I was sent forth to do nnd not one day sooner. I nnd you and all of us aro In the hands of God and when his summons comes and school Is out and ho says come home, thnt Is our tlmo to die. That Is tho best time to die. It Is the right tlmo to dlo. Mny God pour out his comforting spirit upon this poor mother. Wo sympathize sym-pathize with her mid we would do what little wo can for tho comfort of this Blrlcken- household, nnd wo look to tho Lord of Henicn to pour In the balm to her heart and soul, and he will do so, nnd I feel to say to her, God bless her, and I do bless her In tbp name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May ho sanctify to our good every Buffering nnd every trlnl nnd trlbula tlon nnd lead us along tho pathway of right and truth, Amen. Illshop Joseph 13. Wilson, Jr., said: IJrothers and sisters, I concur nnd endorse en-dorse all that has been said here today. to-day. As a member of the bishopric of this ward I can testify through experience ex-perience and associations to tho good qualities of this young man. I do not heeltato to testify to you that he Is pure nnd clean, and returns to hts God as pure and clean as he came here. Not desiring to prolong tho services I sincerely hope and triiBt and pray that tho Lord will bless those who mourn on this occasion, that they may be comforted by the spirit of God. Bo-foro Bo-foro closing In behalf of the family and -thoso who nre boreaved I desire to thank you my brothers nnd sisters for your sympathy and for tho expression ex-pression of your loo on this occasion and for everything that you have done, is my prayer In the name of Josus. Amen. After another musical selection the benediction was pronounced by Elder John F, Bennett. Tho pall bearers were: Eastman Hatch, Joseph Seymour Quinney, James B. LInford, Guy Poulsen, Eugene Eu-gene Stewart and Scott Budge. President Serge P. Balllf dedicated the grave. |