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THE DESERET WEEKLY.
Truth and Liberty.
No. 17. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, APRIL 13, 1895. VOL. L.

PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
said: I feel that all our hearts this
morning should be filled with grati-
tude and thanksgiving to God, our
Heavenly Father, for the blessings
which we as a people enjoy. A long
generation, as men count time, has
passed away with all its events con-
nected with the last dispensation of the
fullness of times, in our day and gen-
eration. The Church of Christ has
been organized in fulfilment of the
revelations of God, which were given by
men who were moved upon by the gift
of the Holy Ghost in their day and
generation. Many nations and the
islands of the sea have heard the proc-
lamation of the Gospel. The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has been organized, not only here, but
among many nations, and tens of
thousands of the sons of God have been
gathered together, here in the land of
Zion. The Gospel has been preached
according to the promises of God unto
the nations, by men who have been
called and sent forth to warn the in-
habitants of the earth of those great
events which are to come to pass before
the coming of the Son of Man.

We ourselves have passed through
many of those scenes which have been
prophesied of by the ancient Patriarchs
and Prophets called of God, and today
we dwell here in the mountains of
Israel. The Lord has enabled His people
to rear temples to the name of the Most
High God, here and in other parts of
the earth; here the dead have been re-
deemed and the living blessed, and the
promises of God have been carried out
according to His words to holy men
from Abraham to Joseph Smith. I
feel myself that we should be filled
with gratitude for the blessings we en-
joy from time to time. I hope and
pray that while we assemble together
we may enjoy the Spirit of God and
our hearts be united together as the
heart of one man; that our prayers
may be drawn out before the Lord, that
His blessings may be with us and that
those who speak to us may do so by
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and
the power of God.

I feel to thank God for myself that
I have lived to see this day and have
mingled with the brethren for so many
years, and my life has still
been preserved so that I may
endeavor to do something with the
Saints for the redemption of the chil-
dren of men. I hope and pray that
the blessings and power of God may
rest upon the Apostles and Elders and
the Saints of God while we are to-
gether upon this occason. This is my
desire and prayer unto the Lord my
God in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.