SUNDAY, DEC. 15, 1907

Regular Sunday services commenced at 2:10 P./M. Bishop Hart and Coun. Green and Clark present. Bishop Hart conducting exercises. Fair congregation – about 45 present.

Choir sang hymn, “Softly beams the sacred dawning” &c. Prayer was offered by Coun. Green. Choir sang hymn, “Come let us anew, our journey pursue” &c.

Sacrament was administered by Elders I.W. Merrill and A.R. Green. Elder Z. Ballantyne was asked to speak – Felt great responsibility in speaking to saints, but are under responsibility to respond. Spoke of elders who stay from meeting for fear they be called to speak; thought they refused by staying away. Those who accept priesthood are under responsibility to respond to call to preach, is one of things that go with ordination. There is one thing that makes it still harder to be teacher, great many people who seem to think person ought to live up to all he teaches. Believe, with them, ought to be aim of everyman to live up to all requirements of gospel.

It is frequently remarked that so-and-so preaches good but don’t live up to it; do not think all live up to all they preach, but it is our duty to preach. Believe this the proper view to take of it; with that understanding, that I do not live up to all I preach, believe it privilege of elders to be inspired by Holy Spirit; if can, will inspire us to speak those things the Lord would have us speak. With our worldly things, when we arise to speak, find we need support of those to whom we speak. Feel that those who come here, come to be taught; commandment is that not permitted to speak our will, but those things that come in our hearts.

If harmony of spirit are more apt to speak those proper things. believe we live in day when Lord has set his hand to gather Israel; time spoken of in scriptures when promise was made to tribe of Ephraim that this would be accomplished. Lord use Ephraim to push people to ends of earth. question in my mind how Ephraim come to be separated from other tribes. When Israel came out of Egypt, were 12 tribes; occupy the land for 600 years; at close of reign of Solomon dissatisfaction arose in tribes. When Solomon died, his son succeeded him. Ephraim sent delegation to see king to seek to reduce taxes and etc. King counseled with old men, counseled to listen to words of tribe; sent to young men for counsel, they said tell the people “my little finger shall be as my father’s thigh” &c. Tribe went back and separated; became known as Israel; remained at warfare for long time; 10 tribes taken captive by Assyrian king; whither they went, no man knoweth. Said they would go to land where man never been; have not been heard of since.

How do our missionaries find converts? Patriarchs say converts are of tribe of Ephraim. some say other nine tribes went up near the north pole. so far as I know, there is no good foundation for believing the lost tribes are up around the north pole.

Prophet Jeremiah says they shall come from the north country. This the only scripture that bears out this idea. When people come from Utah to Idaho it is said they have gone to the north country. Prophet may have said, if not gone so far north, “gone to north country.” Understand scriptures say they have gone to land where man never dwelt.

Scientists go back to scripture for history. Is difficult to say where sons of Noah were assigned; Shem occupy Africa. In looking into assigning of nations of these sons, nothing to show that country was occupied farther north than north of Black sea and southern part of Russia. No people occupy north country of Russia, Sweden, Norway as high as 100 years before Christ. Believe England was settled before that time. Thought Germany, and surrounding countries a land where man never dwelt. Tribes said to occupy a year and a half in making the journey; the pioneers crossed the plains in 6 months. Were 200,000 when taken captive by Assyria, if that many go out of Judah, probably half million go into the north country.

Think country of the north a region of ice, totally unfit, inhospitable and not fit for human habitation. Has never been explored. Recent explorations go 87 degrees north, only 3 degrees north of that; found a country of snow and ice. How did a great people get in a country north of that? Not more country north of what explored than in state of Idaho. Half million left, what would be their population now? That is the question to consider. Some people think they are north beyond the ice. There is just one word in the Compendium to make me think they are beyond ice. Says when they come, shall come from north country, ice shall flow down before them. Only thing in scripture on this.

In Book of Mormon, says, when Jesus visited Nephites, said he was going to visit lost tribes; time would come when writing of Jews be united to Nephites’ record, and those of twelve tribes be together.

If Jesus visited a lost country, how is it no one has found that land? Israelites always have been farmers, how come to go away north to occupation totally at variance with their manner of living? They were not led by inspiration; I do not believe any miraculous thing happened in their journey. It is a stumbling block to me to think they occupy a country we know nothing about.

Recent historian says people in Norway and that one like God came among them. Ancient religion was overturned similar to that of what happened when Christ came among the Nephites after his resurrection and established his church. The same tradition is said to exist among Scandinavian people of a similar visit. church government of these people is very similar to that of our church today. They have 10 districts, with the divisions and subdivisions, this said by historian not acquainted with Book of Mormon, or church work.

This “Oda,” said to come from the east, and traces his descent to King David. This is said of Scandinavians who invaded England. Another peculiar thing of this history, is that it says nothing of a people in this northern country, but all at once they invade England, and other countries, also the Roman Empire. This occurred to me because we are said to be of the 10 t5ribes. Are consecrated to spread the gospel; have many things to occupy our time, yet this is our mission.

For this purpose we hold Sunday school and meetings of different organizations, to teach the boys and girls this fact.

Our mission to gather out the house of Israel wherever found. Trust we will be able to live correctly and do our duty.

Clarence Richardson followed – Spoke a few moments; said his parents were Mormons and he was interested in the work, more especially that of Sunday school. Received a joy obtained in no other place.

Told of good times experienced in Ogden Sunday school union meetings when Apostle David McKay closed a series of lectures.

Bishop Hart announced that he would be in the meeting house the next two days to settle tithing. Encouraged the saints to come and see how their tithing accounts stood. told how temples and the church generally was built up by tithing funds. Lord places us on earth as stewards over part of the earth. Only as we use to render account of our stewardship. Scripture says that if in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. if this is all, what use building temples or teaching these principles, only for the good of society. Where is reward of those who do the work; as in knowledge they have of gospel. Want to say this to you, and say it in all sincerity, want you and all to take principles of the church and compare them with other churches, many man ought to be willing to make this test, if he think anything of counsel; take the Bible and compare every principle as established by Saviour; we find them in harmony with the teachings of our church in every particular. Then take other churches and compare, you will have no hesitation saying which appeals to your reason as being the correct plan. Have nothing to say against people of other churches. They think they are doing right; same in Saviour’s day, would not accept his teachings. This makes no difference, if false, nothing can change the effect. Scripture says we understand these things by spirit of God; this is the position of Latter-day Saints and those of the world.

If one principle wrong, cannot substantiate it from holy writ. Ought to be sure, otherwise will suffer for our actions along these lines; don’t do this (pay tithing) because asked, but because you want to. Do have pride in seeing this ward one of leading wards of stake.

Choir sang hymn, “O ye mountains high,” &c. Benediction by Counselor E.O. Clark.

J.H. Yearsley, Clerk