CHRONICLES OF UTAH. ball, the Twelve Apostles assisting in removing the first earth preparatory for the foundation of the Temple. The Mayor of the city, J. M. Grant, represented the city, and assisted in the imposing ceremonies. A good idea of the comparative value of real estate at this time, may be formed from the following advertisement: "For sale or rent. The house and premises, consisting of three city lots, under good fence, adobie house, 16 by 40, adobie stable, 16 by 22, on Emigration St., S. W. corner of the 11th Ward, opposite the cedar post. The whole premises can be rented for $8 per month, or bought immediately for $500 in cash or stock." From February 14th to Conference time, a great deal of work had to be done in the preparation of the ground for laying the foundation of the Temple. The committee of arrangements, by order of Lieut. Gen. D. H. Wells, detailed guards and escorts: Capt. David Pettigrew, in command of a body of "Silver Greys," Capt. P. C. Merrill, with a company of the 11th Regiment, infantry; Col. Duzette, to muster and arrange the several bands for duty; Maj. Gen. J. M. Grant, marshal of the day. The sixth of April was a very lovely day, "the sun, the sky, the atmosphere, the earth, appeared neither too cold nor too hot, nor lukewarm; all seemed filled with life, real life; adapted in all their Several temperaments to each soul, to cheer and make happy every individual of the many thousands of aged, middleaged and youth, who had assembled from the near and remote parts of this inhabited valley." After the opening of Conference in the Tabernacle, the general authorities of the Church proceeded to the Temple ground. The First Presidency laid the Southeast corner stone of the Temple; the Presiding Bishop and Council, with the Presidents and Council of the Lesser Priesthood, laid the southwest cornerstone; the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with the First Presidency of The Seventies, and the President and Council of the Elders quorum, laid the 79 northeast cornerstone; the northwest cornerstone was laid by the Presidency of the High Priests quorum, with the President of the Stake and High Council. The southeast cornerstone was dedicated by President Heber C. Kimball; after an oration by Presiding Bishop Hunter; Bishop Cordon dedicated the southwest cornerstone; the northwest cornerstone was dedicated by Elder G. B. Wallace, after an address by John Young, President of the High Priests quorum; the northeast cornerstone was dedicated by Elder Orson Hyde, after an address by Elder Parley P. Pratt, both of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After prayer by President B. Young, the procession returned to the Tabernacle. The First Presidency, Brigham Young, Heber Chase Kimball and Willard Richards; Presiding Patriarch, John Smith; the Twelve Apostles, O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt, John Taylor, W. Woodruff, E. T. Benson, G. A. Smith, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, L. Snow, E. Snow and Franklin D. Richards were present at this Conference; Orson Pratt being away on a mission to the States; Presidents of the Seventies, Joseph Young, L. W. Hancock, Z. Pulsipher, H. Herriman, B. L. Clapp, A. P. Rockwood and J. M. Grant; Presidents of the High Priests quorum, John Young, R. Cahoon and G. B. Wallace; President of the Stake, David Fullmer; Clerk of Conference, Thos. Bullock; Reporter, G. D. Watt; Superintendent of Public Works, D. H. Wells; Architect, Truman O. Angell. The Indians gave some trouble during the month of April, thirty mounted men left Salt Lake City for the southern counties on the twenty-sixth. Governor Brigham Young, as Indian Agent, was also very active in taking steps for the safety of the people in the settlements. The early part of the year 1853 was a time of intense activity in Zion, the laying of the foundation of the Temple; the building of the Temple wall; the construction of the railroad from the quarry at Red Butte to the Temple, for the pur pose of hauling rock for building purposes; the enlargement of the Lord's Storehouse or Tithing Office; the finishing of the Social Hall, and other public buildings, besides a large number of stores and private residences, made a large amount of labor. Besides this, the brethren were actively engaged abroad in missionary labors; Brother Orson Pratt, in the City of Washington, directed the energies of the Elders in the States, in the midst of which labors, the Seer was projected and published. Home manufacturing was not lost sight of, and efforts continued to be made, under many difficulties, for the purpose of supplying the wants of the rising community. Beta. OPPOSITION. STRONGER than the east wind, more powerful than the wave of the ocean, is the principle which this term implies. Whichever way we may turn to investigate, there we find opposition, in some shape, to resist every effort. In a multiplicity of ways it permeates every form of nature, and is omnipresent. In one form, where it resists inanimate objectsand sometimes those having life-it is called "friction," "resistance," and the like; but when opposed to morality--truth, virtue, holiness-this principle is termed "unrighteousness," "an offence," "an evil," etc. And it is in this latter phase that we wish more particularly to notice it. The first opposition to truth, and to the happiness and well-being of the human family, originated in the heavens, when Lucifer, a son of the morning, ungratefully resisted the laws of heaven and those that were to govern the earth, coming out in open rebellion against God. Prior to this time some of the details of a great and glorious plan for the experience, learning, redemption, salvation and ultimate exaltation of the families of God, was heralded abroad, which, when the hosts of heaven heard, they broke forth together with shouts of joy; and the stars, mingling their voice in the grand chorus, hymned praises to the Almighty King. Here was bliss indeed. But how changed the scene! Satan, once a bright and rising star, conceived jealousy in his heart. He was ambitious, and craved a power he was incapable of wielding. He chose rather to do his own stubborn will, than the divine will of the Father. Like many characters of the present generation, he doubtless thought he was enslaved because he was, in a manner, checked from following the bent of his own vain and wicked imaginations. This acrimonious spirit he succeeded in infusing into the minds of others, until a third part of the hosts of heaven rebelled. This secession resulted in Satan and his allies being overcome, thrust from the realms of light down to earth, whence they became the Devil and his angels. Overcome, but not entirely shorn of power, he still continues his opposition to truth and righteousness, which first took form in the garden of Eden. Through subtlety and vain philosophy this arch fiend beguiled our first parents; and following that act, put selfishness and malicious envy into the heart of Cain, who shed his brother's innocent blood; who also then went into fellowship with those who loved lies and secret abominations. From the dawn of creation till now has this power of darkness and opposition been at work, swaying and tossing the soul of man, like a frail bark on the crest of an angry wave; and, Oh, how many have fallen by a stroke of its strong arm! However, "It is impossible but that offences will come," says Jesus. And why so? Let the great Prophet, Lehi, answer: "For it must needs be that there is opposition in all things. If not so, righteousness could not be brought about; neither wickedness; neither holiness nor misery; neither good nor bad." All must aste the bitter, that they may know the sweet. OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON. It is certain that opposition is here on the earth and enters into every avocation or pursuit that may engage our attention. It is the mountain that has to be climbed, on whose summit sits excellence and fame; it is that error mingled with truth, from which it has to be separated, that we may garner knowledge; it is that evil temptation besetting mankind, which has to be shunned to escape moral ruin; and lastly, it is the world, the flesh and the devil, which have to be overcome and subdued, if man would inherit eternal happiness. A continued battling against this power serves to keep our swords bright. Like the finely tempered tool that is applied to a swift revolving emery-wheel, the latter, by its friction, polishes, brightens and makes keen the edge of the former, so that it becomes a useful instrument in the hands of a skilful workman. So likewise do individuals who come in contact with evil, or rather resist that which is opposed to good, become learned, experienced, bright and useful members in society. In a practical way, opposition is said to be life in business; but, technically speaking, it is not the case. It is the very opposite to life-even death. But where this principle exists in connection with trade, men who are thus engaged are spurred on to increased action, and are made wiser, gaining a valuable | 81 experience by stemming the tide; whereas, those who have not the courage and judgment to withstand its encroachments are overwhelmed and ruined. "It must needs be that offences come: but woe unto them by whom they come." The youth of our Territory have offences, forces, oppositions, evils, etc., to fight against, in the form of dramshops and other haunts of vice-immoralities, deceitful men, base publications, and things of a like character, that insinuate themselves before the notice, as stealthily as a tiger approaches his prey. These are the tools of the opposition that Satan is using to drive men-and especially the Saints-from their garden of eden, and to bring them under his ban, where every pleasure is a mock, happiness a cheat, and life an endless woe. But the overcoming of opposition-which means a continual warfare against evil— will serve to brighten the intellect, polish the manners, increase the knowledge, elevate and ennoble; placing the hero of such a battle in the front rank of a royal society; and finally transplanting him to courts above, where he will eternally mingle with the nobility of heaven. 7. B. K. The man who is satisfied with himself and his attainments should be wrapped up in the cerecloth of his self-conceit and be hid away on a mummy-shelf.—Pr. OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON. I. NEARLY all the objections raised against the contents of the Book of Mormon, may be classed under three heads; they are either puerile, insincere or dishonest. We will not waste the time of the readers of the CONTRIBUTOR by any lengthy consideration of objections of the first class; but in our investigations will consider those that at first sight have an appearance of plausibility; though in reality, when thoroughly examined, are found to be mere shadows without foundation, or assertions without reason. A late anti-"Mormon" writer makes the following somewhat lengthy argument to prove that "the Book of Mormon conflicts with the Bible." He says: "The Book of Mormon locates the death of Christ on the wrong day of the month to agree with the Bible. In the book of Helaman, Samuel, the Lamanite prophet, fortells a sign to be witnessed, indicating the time of the death of Christ, this sign to consist of three days darkness. And in the Book of Nephi, we read, 'And it came to pass in the thirty-fourth year, in the first month, in the fourth day of the month......then behold there was darkness upon the face of the land......and it came to pass that it did last for three days.' the prophecy of Samuel affirmed that the darkness should begin 'in the day that he shall suffer.' Nephi affirms that it began in the thirty-fourth year, in the fourth day of the month; so this locates the death of Christ on the 'fourth' day of some month." To this we answer that it certainly locates it on the fourth day of the first month of a certain Nephite year; but as the Bible says nothing about the Nephite year, this statement cannot conflict with that sacred record. But the objector continues: I. "He did not die on the fourth day of the Jewish month (and that was the time they brought from Jerusalem), for he died at the passover, which falls on the fourteenth day of the first month. Here the Bible and the Book of Mormon are ten days at variance. Which is right?" 2. "Though the Nephites are said to have reckoned their years from the coming of Christ, beginning nine years after he came, there is no intimation of a change in the counting of months; but if there were, and the first month was commenced with the birth of Christ, by taking Christmas as a starting point (Dec. 25th), the 'fourth day' from this epoch, would be Dec. 29th, for the death of Christ, three months too early to agree with the Bible, which says he was crucified at the passover.' 3. "If they counted their time from the birth of Christ as given in the Bible, instead of the time given by tradition, the disagreement is just as great; for Gabriel visited Mary in the sixth Jewish month, answering to the latter part of August and the first part of September, nine months after which Christ was born; that is, in the latter part of May or the first part of June; which would make the fourth day' of the 'first month,' reckoned from the epoch, over two months too late to agree with the Bible time of Christ's death. On this point, the Bible and Book of Mormon are irreconcilably in conflict, whether we allow the Book of Mormon to use Jewish time or to count from Christ's birth.” Here ends the quotation. It is possibly true that the Nephites originally reckoned their years according to the Jewish system; but it is positively stated in the Book of Mormon that before the death of the Savior they changed their mode of reckoning at least once, probably oftener. They changed it, beyond all controversy at the birth of Christ, and most probably did so when the monarchy gave way to the republic or rule of the Judges; for the reader will find in the annals of that period that the date of an occurrence is almost always stated as having taken place in the "first," "fourth," "sixteenth," etc., as the case might be, "year of the reign of the Judges," and not as previously "from the time Lehi left Jerusalem." And it is altogether probable that before that date (B. C. 91) the Nephites commenced their year with the anniversary of Lehi's departure, and not with the first day of the old Jewish year. However this may be at the time of which we are writing, the Nephites had changed their reckoning. We are told by Nephi II Nephi ii: 8: "Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ," Therefore, without Jesus was born on the first day of the | first month of the Jewish year, which is not claimed, this must have inevitably made a change in the commencement of the Nephite year, and the statement of the writer in the Book of Mormon simply amounts to this, that Christ's death took place in the thirty-fourth Nephite year after his birth, and on the fourth day of the first month. There is nothing to prove that the Nephite and Jewish years were of the same length, indeed it is not known what was the exact length of the years of either of the peoples. The Book of Mormon is silent on this subject with regard to the Nephite, and as the Jewish year was partly lunar and partly solar, their years varied in length, their months commenced at OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON. different times, extra months had to be added at certain periods; so, with our present information, there is no possible way of comparing the years of the two peoples. And consequently no one can prove the assertions of the writer we have quoted, that there is a conflict in the statements of the two sacred books. The writer, makes a statement that though the Nephites changed the reckoning of their years from the coming of Christ "there is no intimation of change in the counting of months." We answer that one would necessarily follow the other. If Christ was born on the tenth day of the second Jewish month, then that tenth day of the second month would be the first day of the first month of the new Nephite year, and all days would be changed one month and ten days. The only possible time, as shown before, when Christ could have been born and not produced a change, had the Nephites been then reckoning their years according to the Jewish calendar, which cannot be proven, would have been for him to have been born on the first day of the first month of the Hebrew year. Our objector talks about Christmas day (Dec. 25th) as though it were the true birthday of the Savior. He knows, and all students know, that it has long since been demonstrated that Christ was not born on that day, nor on any day in mid-winter, so his agreements, based upon that idea, are all valueless. They are insincere and he knows it. At any rate, the Nephites did not begin their year in mid-winter, as shown in the following statement: The last day of the year B. C. 67 was made eventful by a great battle between the Nephites and Lamanites, on the borders of the land Bountiful. So great were their labors and the heat of the day, that sleep over powered both armies at night, when Teancum, the Nephite general, crept into the camp of the Lamanites, and slew their King." As the land Bountiful is north of the equator their seasons would be the same as ours, and it is quite improbable that at mid-winter the heat would be so excessive as to produce the effect, on both 83 armies, recorded in the Book of Alma, (chapters fifty-one and fifty-two.) The third objection is dishonest as the others are groundless. He says "Gabriel visited Mary in the sixth Jewish month." He had no authority "for any such statement." In the first chapter of Luke we have an account of the visits of the angel Gabriel that preceded the births of John the Baptist and the Holy Redeemer. The heavenly messenger promised the Priest Zacharias a son, who should be remarkable as the forerunner of the Savior. With the details of this event our readers are doubtless familiar. The inspired writer then continues: "And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.' And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent etc. A little farther on the angel says: "And, behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren." No twisting of the English language can make this the sixth month of the Jewish year; it might be any month so far as Luke's statement goes; it was simply the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. Thus the objections vanish in thin air and no conflict is found between the two sacred records. Geo. Reynolds. Freedom consists in this-that every man shall do whatever he likes, without injury to another. We take less pains to be happy than to appear so. La Rochefoucauld. None but the guilty can be so long and completely miserable.--Goldsmith. If you wish to be really happy, take a good deal of outdoor exercise, very little advice, and never run in debt. It is only by labor that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought that labor can be made happy; and the two can not be separated with impunity.Ruskin. |