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النشر الإلكتروني

A Remarkable Statement

On the 22nd of June, 1894, a temple workers' excursion of the workers in the Salt Lake Temple was arranged to Brigham City, Utah, the home of President Lorenzo Snow, president of the Salt Lake Temple at that time. Nearly three carloads of people joined the excursion, and a detailed account of their three days' outing appeared in the August, 1894, number of the Young Woman's Journal. President Snow considered it "a sacred excursion and one that would leave behind a trail of peace and glory that would refresh and enlighten for many months thereafter." Among those who were present were President Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Franklin D. Richards, Zina D. Young, Bathsheba W. Smith, Minnie J. Snow, Edward Stevenson, Margaret P. Young, Emmeline B. Wells, Lucy W. Kimball and many others. During the Sunday services a remarkable statement was made by President Wilford Woodruff, predicting calamities that were to come upon the nations of the earth:

"President Woodruff was filled with the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, on this occasion, so much so that it not only thrilled his own voice, but shook the hearts of his hearers. He began his remarks by saying:

"I should not try to speak to this congregation tonight, as I have spoken twice before today; but there are duties resting upon me that I must attend to. And I want to ask this congregation a question: When I have the vision of night opened continually before my eyes, and can see the mighty judgments that are about to be poured out upon this world, when I know these things are true, and are at the door of Jew and Gentile; while I know they are true, and while I am holding this position before God and this world, can I withold my voice from lifting up a warning to this people, and to the nations of the earth? I may never meet with this people again; I cannot tell how that may be. But while I live and see these things continually before my eyes, I shall raise my warning voice. Now, the question I wanted to ask you is this: Over the millions of people on this earth, there hangs a cloud of darkness almost entirely upon their shoulders. Can you tell me where the people are who will be shielded and protected from these great calamities and judgments which are even now at our doors? I'll tell you. The priesthood of God who honor their priesthood, and who are worthy of their blessings, are the only ones who shall have their safety and protection. They are the only mortal beings. No other people have a right to be shielded from these judgments. They are at our very doors; not even this

people will escape them entirely. They will come down like the judgments of Sodom and Gomorrah. And none but the priesthood will be safe from their fury. God has held the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. But I want to tell you now, that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out. Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. Remember this, and reflect upon these matters. If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we'll have protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety. Read the scriptures and the revelations. They will tell you about all these things. Great changes are at our doors. The next twenty years will see mighty changes among the nations of the earth. You will live to see these things, whether I do or not. I have felt oppressed with the weight of these matters, and I felt I must speak of them here. It's by the power of the gospel that we shall escape,'

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Daniel Hanmer Wells

President Daniel H. Wells, whose portrait supplies the frontispiece of the ERA, was born at Trenton, Oneida, Co., New York, on the 27th of October, 1814. He died in Salt Lake City, on the 24th of March, 1891.

His family have made a commendable practice of celebrating his birthday by a reunion of all its members annually for over forty years. They were pioneers in this observance. This year being the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, the family is making some extra efforts suitably to commemorate the occasion. Among other things that are being done in honor of their patriarchal ancestor, who gave much of his life to sacred work in the Temples, they have prepared lists of their dead kindred in such numbers that every son and daughter that can do so will have the privilege of officiating for a hundred names.

Then a genealogical and historical family pageant is being arranged in which groups of the children and grandchildren will be shown representing interesting periods and events in the family lineage back to the time of the first American ancestor, Gov. Thomas Wells, of Connecticut, 1636-1660. This period embraces ten generations of which Daniel H. Wells was the sole male representative of the seventh, in the direct line, which would have

expired in the eighth had he not embraced the gospel, so-called "Mormonism." Through his conversion and acceptance of all its principles he infused a new life in the old stock, and as a result there are now living over one hundred and fifty of his descendants with their married relations.

President Wells was a great lover of his family, and they in turn, have always loved and honored his memory.

The Latter-day Saints as a people in their various fields of endeavor also honored him as their faithful servant, counselor and friend. He was chosen by them to the following offices and positions of trust, and became distinguished in them all, for his capacity, sterling ability and fidelity. He commanded the respect and had the confidence of the people equally in his industrial, civil, military and ecclesiastical offices; and his memory is cherished among them to the present day:

Justice of the Peace and Alderman, Nauvoo, Ill., 1837-1846.
Attorney General, State of Deseret, 1849-50.

Member Utah Legislature, 1851-64; 1880, 1882.

Lieutenant-General Nauvoo Legion, 1852-1887.

Mayor, Salt Lake City, 1866-1876.

Chancellor University of Deseret, 1867-1878.

Second Counselor to President Brigham Young, 1857-1877.
Counselor of the Twelve Apostles, 1877-1891.

Superintendent of Public Works, 1848-1864.

President European Mission, 1864-65; 1884-87.
President Manti Temple, 1888-1891.

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A Day of Prayer

Peace in Europe will be the subject of the prayers of the people of the United States on Sunday, October 4, according to a proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson issued September 8, 1914, as follows:

A DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE NATION

Proclamation of the President of the United States

Whereas, great nations of the world have taken up arms against one another, and war now draws millions of men into battle whom the counsel of statesmen have not been able to save from the terrible sacrifice; and

Whereas, in this as in all things it is our privilege and duty to seek counsel and succor of Almighty God, humbling ourselves

before him, confessing our weakness and our lack of any wisdom equal to these things; and

Whereas, it is the especial wish and longing of the people of the United States, in prayer and counsel and all friendliness, to serve the cause of peace;

Therefore, I. Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do designate Sunday, the fourth day of October next, a day of prayer and supplication, and do request all God-fearing persons to repair on that day to their places of worship, there to unite their petitions to Almighty God, that overruling the counsel of men, setting straight the things they cannot govern cr alter, taking pity on the nations now in the throes of conflict, in his mercy and goodness showing a way where men can see none, he vouchsafe his children to heal again and restore once more that concord among men and nations without which there can be neither happiness nor true friendship nor any wholesome fruit of toil or thought in the world; praying also to this end that he forgive us our sins, our ignorance of his holy will, our wilfulness and many errors, and lead us in the paths of obedience to places of vision and to thoughts and counsels that purge and make wise."

Oliver Cowdery's Last Letter

The following letter from Elder Samuel W. Richards, enclosing one from the late Oliver Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, appeared in the Deseret News, in March, 1884. This is believed to be the last letter written by Mr. Cowdery, and for that reason bears a peculiar interest. It is a plain and pointed testimony concerning the restoration of the Holy Priesthood by heavenly messengers, from one who participated in the glorious manifestations from on high:

Editor Deseret News:

SALT LAKE CITY,
March 21, 1884.

I take the liberty to hand you the accompanying communication, written by Oliver Cowdery, as a direct testimony of the facts therein set forth by myself personally, at the time indicated by the date affixed. At that time he, with his family, was spending a few days with me at my then residence in Misouri, as he was on his way to visit David Whitmer and family in Richmond, Mo., prior to his contemplated departure for Salt Lake City that coming spring, to spend the remainder of his days with, and in laboring for, the Church. As he was about to take his leave, after several days of most interesting and familiar conversation with me, he penned, with his own hand and in my pres

ence, the testimony and statement herewith, which I deem worthy of record. SAML. W. RICHARDS.

OLIVER COWDERY'S LETTER.

While darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people; long after the authority to administer in holy things had been taken away, the Lord opened the heavens and sent forth his word for the salvation of Israel. In fulfilment of the sacred Scripture the everlasting Gospel was proclaimed by the mighty angel (Moroni), who, clothed with the authority of his mission, gave glory to God in the highest. This Gospel is the "stone taken from the mountain without hands." John the Baptist, holding the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood; Peter, James and John, holding the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, have also ministered for those who shall be heirs of salvation, and with these ministrations ordained men to the same Priesthoods. These Priesthoods, with their authority, are now, and must continue to be, in the body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Blessed is the elder who has received the same and thrice blessed and holy is he who shall endure to the end. Accept assurances, dear brother, of the unfeigned prayer of him who, in connection with Joseph the Seer, was blessed with the above ministrations, and who earnestly and devoutly hopes to meet you in the celestial glory. OLIVER COWDERY.

To Elder Samuel W. Richards,
January 13th, 1849.

The Language of Kings

In an issue of Harper's Magazine published in 1904, J. C. Thompson collected a large number of Tennyson's "Suppressed Poems," some of surprising beauty. Of the one quoted below and referring directly to America, Mr. Thompson rightly asks, "What reason can Tennyson have had for suppressing such stanzas as these?

"Gigantic daughter of the West,

We drink to thee across the flood;
We know thee most, we love thee best,
For art thou not of British blood?

"Should war's mad blast again be blown,
Permit not thou the tyrant Powers
To fight thy mother here alone;

But let thy broadsides roar with ours.

"O rise, our strong Atlantic sons,

When war against our freedom springs!
O speak to Europe through your guns,
They can be understood by kings."

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