Show mm LECTURE attempt to prove divine griffin of mormonism scriptural references that bear out the statements of the lecturer no insuperable difficulties in the way of believing the divinity of the foundation of the mormon church the tabernacle was literally packed last evening on the occasion of the second discourse of the series delivered under the auspices of the mutual improvement pro associations of the city tue arrangement for the seating of the people was as complete as it be made yet the aisles were filled with those compelled to stand the subject was are there any insuperable difficulties in accepting the facts in anich mormonism had its origin elder john nicholson was the speaker and so closely held the audience that none departed until after the clore of the benediction the choir under the guidance of mr squire coop did themselves proud and during one part of the last anthem the large audience hung breathlessly on the strains that sounded as an echo from the worlds beyond the speaker always logical and emphatic was at bis best A brief synopsis of his remarks is given below he stated that whether or not thre were any insuperable da faculties to belief in the facts in which has its origin facts were stated in the first lecture depended greatly on the mind of the individual who was listening if determined to disregard all evidence an insurmountable difficulty would at once be presented otherwise not the first lecture dealing with the facts it became hia task to prove them reasonable these facca were the appearance pe arance of the father and son the visit of the angel moroni then that of john the baptist then that of peter dameri and john and finally the organization of the church in all its completeness one of the main reasons for doubting these facts ie that it is too wonderful to be true this might be so to one who did not believe in sacred writ but to a christian it could not be too wonderful tor beliel as christianity is based on facts fully as wonderful lie cites the story af the conception and birth of jesus christ his remarkable death and its purposes bis resurrection and appearance to bia disciples hie remarkable miracles including the raising of the dead also the miracles performed by the disciples all this when it ie evidently true that but a email part of all that was done has been written A number of the prophets of old bad seen this day and the yet future he cited the gathering of israel yet to be tul filled in which such wonderful things shall occur that it shall no more be said the lord livett that brought up the children of israel out of bo land of egypt but the lord liveth that brought up the children of israel from the land ot the north and from all the lands whither lie had driven them what can be more wonderful than the necessity of greater miracles than those which were performed in bringing them out of the land of egypt daniel prophesied that at a certain period in the worlds history pointing directly to our day the god ot heaven shall beet up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people hence the facts in which mormonism had its origin are not too wonderful for a christian to believe next the speaker stated that joseph smith claimed to be a restorer of truth and laid down the axiom that the reliability of one fact is proven by other relative facts and then proceeded to prove these facts there are two great events in relation to our planet that baand out prominent above all others they are first the initiatory peopling of this earth and second the introduction of this the great and last dispensation of the fullness of times each were of equal importance in the first god walked and talked with man it wag necessary then in order to show the character ot god it is necessary today in order to show the general conception of god he read the article of the protestant faith there is but one living and true god everlasting without body parts or passions and there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the father the son and the holy ghost the speaker showed this to le a misconception and by ample quotations from the sacred writings the bible proved that god was in bodily form and that man was aber him it this be accepted as true then two things were proven true in the first fact the visit ol 01 the father and the bon it revealed the nature and character and form of god and proved joseph smith to bu what he claimed a restorer of truth from a christian standpoint therefore there existed no insuperable obstacle to believing the first fact in speaking of the second the visit of the angel moroni the speaker cleared up another ly that angels are winged beings and generally of the demele showed that they were fellow servants with those who held the priesthood they were men as we though in a more glorified state messengers from heaven juat such beings as would be the prophet joseph or brigham young or john taylor were they tai appear with power and clearness he showed that the power of redemption was as broad as eternity itself and embraced not only the living but the dead how jesus preached to the dead that they be judged according to men in the flesh and live according to god in the spirit how moroni quoted the words oi malachi 1 I will bend you eligih the prophet he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fa there staling that this prophecy was soon to be fulfilled ahe speaker testified that it was falmlen in the kirtland temple in 1836 if it be true that there is none bolher name under heaven by which men can be saved except that of jesus christ his goabel must be preached to all that are dead who have had no opportunity of hearing of him and believing on him the reason for placing man here was that it should be lor his ad vintage and that it debould result in ahe greatest possible good to him hence the necessity of preaching the gospel to the dead for the redemption of these who may now hear and accept the principles of eternal life but perform the outward ordinances of the gospel we are rearing eacret edifices where the work may be vicariously performed for them as jesua did it for the whole human family if you will accept it this makes of us saviours Savi ours on mount zion related some of the discoveries of relics of an ancient on this continent none of which throw any shadow on the book of mormon bat strongly sustain it he quoted the following from a letter of the noted archaeologist dr augustus lb pang eon in ft letter written may 4 1896 retarding the book of mormon and the revelations of and books ot the mayas I 1 cannot imagine how the author ef the book come to know things concerning ancient america so similar to those found in the mava writings and from what source he obtained his knowledge and in dec 29 1896 1 I told them speaking to european scientists that the book of mormon contains many interesting facts regarding ancient america none either in europe or america can disprove the statements contained in the book of mormon as to the people who lived on this continent in remote ages this man does not bellve in the divinity of the book of mormon and has written thus not from a religious but a eciek deific standpoint the speaker took up the visit of john the baptist and later that of peter james and john and proved that they were in order and absolutely necessary tu bring in the authority of the priesthood for it wag not upon the earth nor could it be found among a people who does not believe in revelation but say that it has ceased for revelation is the only mode by chich authority can be imparted john the baptist brought in the authority to baptize by immersion for the of sine the method and object of baptism were briefly discussed and proven to be true according to the bible in all of which joseph smith was to be a restorer of lost truth among other things the speaker called attention to the fact that so far as evidences went we had far greater proof today of the divinity of this than we have of that which has been handed down to us by tradition and writings of men through past ages in elf sing be addressed the young people and showed them how they could obtain a testimony for themselves of the truth of this work for jesus said if any man will do my will bd ceball know of the doctrine whether it be of god or whether 1 speak of myself and added what I 1 have told you tonight is the truth so help me god |