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the work of the Lord is progressing in that part. Three new members were initiated into the fold of Christ on Sunday, 22nd ult. They were baptized in Reading Public Baths by Elder Ezra T. Benson, and were confirmed at the evening service.

President William A. Budge reports another baptism in the Scottish conference. The ceremony was performed in the Townhead Baths, Glasgow, January 4th, 1908, when four persons from Stenhousemuir were received into the fold. Elder James Ritchie officiated.

The Gift of Interpretation.-Elder Orson M. Rogers, who is at present laboring in Grahamstown, Cape Colony, South Africa, sends us the following interesting item of missionary experience: "An incident occurred a few days ago that may prove interesting and faith-promoting to the readers of the STAR. Elder C. P. Rockwood and I have visited a Dutch family once every week for about two months. We talked about many of the principles of the gospel to the lady and her children, but the husband being away on the farm, we did not have the pleasure of talking with him until the occasion of which I write, an occasion which, I am sure, I shall never forget, because the power of God was made manifest in a remarkable manner. As stated, the family is Dutch, but we had always talked in English as the lady and her children understand and talk that language very well. Very few Boers, however, care to discuss religion in English, and the husband of this family proved no exception. As soon as he was introduced to us he started asking us questions, all in Dutch, about ourselves and our religion. Neither Elder Rockwood nor I understand one Dutch word from another, but on the occasion to which I refer we were blessed with the spirit of interpretation, which enabled us to understand that language. Our host was prejudiced against the Latter-day Saints, and wanted explanations of our beliefs and practices. A sweet influence soon came over us, and we answered his questions just as if he had spoken in our own tongue. When he was speaking directly to me I understood him well, but could not tell one word he said. When he addressed himself to Elder Rockwood I could not understand him at all. Nor could I understand when his daughter or wife tried to interpret. Thus we had the gift of interpretation of tongues, and by thus being blessed we were able to talk on the principles of 'Mormonism' for nearly two hours, removing the prejudice from the gentleman's mind so that we were able to teach him true doctrine. We spoke to him in English, which he understands, but would not speak. God blessed us and we understood his native tongue. Truly this was a manifestation of one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in I. Cor. 12: 10, and we left the house rejoicing in our ever increasing testimony of God's goodness and power."

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Interesting Meetings. On Saturday January 4th, 1908, Presidents Charles W. Penrose and Thomas S. Gregson went to Preston and attended the funeral of Mr. Thomas Shaw, recently deceased, whose wife and some of the children are members of the Church, and who was himself a firm believer in the gospel, but was too feeble on account of sickness to be baptized. President Penrose addressed the relatives and friends at the home of the deceased, and they all went to the New Cemetery, where they sang "O My Father," at the interment. On Sunday morning they assembled in the meeting room of the branch, where he preached a funeral discourse to them and the saints assembled, and much consolation was imparted to the bereaved.

He then went by train to Burnley, where it had been announced he would speak at the evening meeting. The hall was filled with saints, investigators and strangers, every seat being occupied. President Gregson addressed the congregation and was followed by President Penrose in a discourse which was listened to with close attention by all who were present. Officers of the Relief Society, which had been recently organized, were then set apart by Presidents Penrose and Gregson as follows: Mary Brearley, president; Emma Owens, second counselor; Agnes Simpson, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. Bertha Simpson, who had been selected as first counselor, not being able to attend the meetings and perform the duties of the office, it was left vacant until the society could meet and fill the vacancy, when it is expected that a secretary or treasurer will be chosen, so that the two offices will not be filled

by one person. Sisters Annie Baldwin and Mary Heap were already selected to act as teachers. After some instructions had been given to the society the meeting was closed. The singing, led by Brother Owens, was of a highly pleasing character.

The work has been greatly prospered under the direction of the local, priesthood, with Elder Walter Thompson as branch president. Several baptisms have been solemnized and prospects are very bright for the extension of the work of the Lord at that place. Much good is expected to accrue, at both Preston and Burnley, from the meetings that were held on Sunday last.

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EDITED, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CHARLES W. PENROSE, 295 EDGE LANE,

LIVERPOOL:

FOR SALE IN ALL THE CONFERENCES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS'

MILLENNIAL STAR.

[ESTABLISHED 1840.]

"Try to be something in the world, and you will be something; aim at excellence, and excellence will be attained. This is the great secret of success and eminence."-BOLLEAU.

No. 3, Vol. LXX.

Thursday, January 16, 1908.

Price One Penny.

THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD TO HIS CHILDREN IN FORMER AND LATTER DAYS.

THE sacred historians Matthew, Mark and Luke have recorded a miraculous case of healing which took place in the early part of Christ's ministry. A woman who had suffered for twelve years with a disease peculiar to her sex, and who had spent all her means in doctors' fees and medicine, without receiving any relief, on hearing of the wonderful cures which had been effected by the Son of God upon afflicted mortals who believed in Him, decided to go to the Great Physician. Like many others who have sought the Savior, she found an obstacle in the way-He was surrounded by a great multitude of people. This, however, did not deter her from her purpose. She was a woman of exceeding great faith, and "all things are possible to them that believe." She joined the throng and gradually made her way to the front. Being unable to reach the Lord so as to tell Him of her affliction, and to request that His Divine power be exercised in her behalf, she said, "I know that if I could but touch the hem of his garment, I would be healed." This, soon after, she was able to accomplish, and to her unbounded joy she found herself relieved of her affliction. The Master, perceiving that healing virtue had gone out of Him,

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turned to the trembling woman, and addressed her as follows: "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

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Christ, in sending forth His divinely-commissioned representatives to preach the everlasting gospel, gave them power to perform similar mighty works. In His instructions to them He said: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." The "Acts of the Apostles" contain accounts of many remarkable healings wrought by the servants of the Lord, through faith in the Holy One of Israel. "God," we are informed, "wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

With the restoration of the gospel to the Prophet Joseph Smith came the same Divine power, the same supernatural spiritual manifestations. By revelation, given to Joseph the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 22nd and 23rd, 1832, the Lord said:

"Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins shall receive the Holy Ghost;

"And these signs shall follow them that believe.

"In my name they shall do many wonderful works;

"In my name they shall cast out devils;

"In my name they shall heal the sick;

"In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;

"And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;

"And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them. "And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.

"But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak of them before the world, for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation." (Doc. and Cov. 84: 64-73.)

In this revelation the Lord strictly forbids His servants to boast of the miracles which He would work through them; and more than that: they are not even to speak of them before the world. From which it is evident that He does not desire anyone to join His Church because of some sign or wonder that he might witness. Does this counsel sound like that of a deceiver, a false prophet? Had Joseph Smith been ambitious for fame, had he been anxious to gather around him a large following, he would not have placed such restrictions upon His disciples. Like the avaricious father who said to his son, "My son, get riches; get them honestly if you can, but get them anyhow," so Joseph Smith would have said to the missionaries: "Brethren, make converts; make them honestly if you can; make them without the promise of signs and wonders, if possible; but if not, then promise them that they shall behold miracles."

In all parts of the earth where the gospel has been preached by the elders of Israel, and the people have exhibited faith in the Lord and in His servants, the signs promised by the Messiah have followed. Why should anyone, professing Christians especially, manifest surprise at this? Do not the sick and afflicted of to-day stand as much in need of the healing power of God as did their unfortunate fellow-mortals in the first century of our era? Is not Christ the same to-day as He was then? Is faith less efficacious now than it was in the early days of Christianity? Has the Almighty closed His ears to the prayers of His suffering children? No, God is the same yesterday, to-day and forever. True faith has the same power to-day as it had in the beginning, and always shall have. But the world, as a whole, has lost faith in Jehovah, and the people fail to receive His blessings because of their unbelief.

Every spiritual gift spoken of in the New Testament and enjoyed by the former-day saints has been enjoyed by the saints of the latter-days. The Lord wrought as many mighty works under the hands of His servant Joseph Smith as were ever wrought by any of His servants in ancient times. As we have already pointed out, through faith the sick were healed in the days of Paul by the use of handkerchiefs and aprons which the apostle blessed and sent to them. It was the same with Joseph Smith. On the morning of July 22nd, 1839, the Prophet arose from a sick bed. On every hand he found saints prostrated with sickness, caused, no doubt, by the hardships to which they had been exposed after their expulsion from Missouri. The power of God rested mightily upon His servant, and the Prophet went forth administering to the sick and commanding them in the name of the Lord to arise and walk. This they did, leaping for joy and praising God as did the lame man who was healed by the Apostle Peter. Later in the day a stranger rode almost breathlessly into the town of Commerce. He said he had heard that Joseph Smith was raising the dead and healing all the sick, and that his wife had urged him to go in search of Mr. Smith and request him to come and heal their twin children, who were about five months old, and dangerously ill. Addressing the stranger, the Prophet said, "I cannot go, but I will send some one." He then went to Elder Wilford Woodruff, and handing him a pocket handkerchief, said, "You go and heal those children. Take this handkerchief, and when you administer to them, wipe their faces with it and they shall recover." Elder Woodruff did as he was commanded, and the children were healed.

And from that time up till the present the power of God has been with His people. Almost every issue of the MILLENNIAL STAR for several months past has contained testimonies concerning the power of God which has been made manifest in the conversion of men and women during the year just ended and to many remarkable cases of healing which have been wrought in His name. Here

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