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Source: Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 31 Page: 572 (~1887)

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572 after that the entire assembly, standing, sang "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet," followed by "Old Hundred," the very dome of the Temple answered back the swelling, heart-felt melody that poured forth in one inspired volume, and the Holy Spirit bore witness of heaven's acceptance of the work of that important and blessed occasion. God was there.

The reports of the ministry from nearly all quarters were most encouraging, and all indications pointed forward to a glorious future for the church near at hand.

We have no hesitancy in saying that the outlook for the church was never before so bright as now, and that if the ministry and membership press steadily forward as best they can, in the spirit of love and godly zeal, wonderful victories for Christ and his people will be won in all parts of the land.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 34, p. 273.

May 11, 1887, Elder Wheeler Baldwin died at the residence of his daughter, six miles north of Stewartsville, Missouri, at the age of ninety-four years. Elder Baldwin was one of the early defenders of the church, uniting therewith on January 8, 1831, in Ohio. He was ordained to the office of high priest June 4, 1831, and was one of the elders who went up to Independence soon after, at the time that the land of Zion was dedicated and the corner-stone of the temple laid. He had constantly adhered to the faith he embraced so long ago.

As a fitting conclusion to this chapter we quote the following article under the title of "What has the Reorganization done?" by President Joseph Smith:

It has saved the faith of hundreds in original Mormonism.

It has proved that evil, wrong-doing, crime, and debauchery do not justly belong in the faith and practice to Latter Day Saints.

It has restored the confidence of hundreds in their fellow men, and shown that a man may be clothed upon with the priesthood, or authority to act in the name of Christ, without being given to evil practices by which his fellows are wronged and defrauded.

It has sent its elders into nearly all parts of the United States where the early elders of the church had gone, and there set about the work of redeeming the name of the church from the odium cast upon it by the advocates and practicers of polygamy.

It has won respect for its doctrines in those places where its elders have been heard.

It is spreading the doctrines of primitive Mormonism in every place where elders can go, and in doing this it has made clear the difference between Utah Mormonism and the primitive faith of the church.

It has built up, since 1860, over four hundred branches, extending from

(page 572)

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