[Continued From Page 376, Vol. 17.]
We talk sometimes about the Priesthood. Who are we? Who are these
Latter-day Saints before me today? Are they not the Priesthood? Are
you not, really and truly, a kingdom of Priests? Do you not belong to
the First Presidency, the Twelve, the High Priests, the High Council,
the Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, or hold some office in the
Church and kingdom of God? Is not this really and truly a fact? To a
very great extent it is, not exclusively or entirely. Have you not
received this Priesthood? Are you not responsible to God to carry out
his purposes and designs, so far as they have been committed unto you,
in relation to the building up and establishing of his kingdom and the
introduction of righteousness upon the earth? Are you not engaged in
these things? If you are not you ought to be, this is your calling and
profession. What shall we do then? Humble ourselves before God, every
one of us. We all need it. Humble yourselves, repent of your sins, and
evils, and waywardness, of your iniquities, falsehood, covetousness,
pride, haughtiness and corruptions of every kind, and lay them aside,
and become men of truth, integrity, virtue, purity and honor, that
your hearts and spirits and feelings may be pure before God. Say to
the Lord—"Search me, oh God, and prove me, and if there is any way of
wickedness within me bid it depart, and let me live my religion, honor
my God, walk in obedience to his laws, magnify my Priesthood, and
prepare myself and my posterity for an inheritance in the kingdom of
God. Let me associate myself with those men of God who have gone
before, and with God, and with Jesus, who is the Mediator of the New
Covenant, that, all combined, we may roll on the work of God, and accomplish his purposes here upon the earth."
Why, some of these men you heard Elder Hyde talking about here the
other day are beginning to visit the Lamanites. Somebody asked me why
they did not come to some of us. Said I—"I do not know, but I think
that if I was the father of these folks I should go to them first,
seek after them first." But no matter, let them operate and us
operate, and God operate, and don't let us stand in the way of God.
Let us humble ourselves; let us reverence the Priesthood and honor
those who are keeping the command ments of God and managing the affairs
of his Church and kingdom on the earth. Let us operate also with the
living Priesthood of all ages; with Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah,
Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Prophets, Jesus, his Apostles,
with Ether, Jared and his brother—Lehi, Alma, Moroni, Mormon, the
Prophets and Apostles on this continent, and men that have held the
same Priesthood that we do, and with them help our heavenly Father to
establish and roll on this kingdom; to save the living and the dead
and bring in everlasting righteousness, in the name of Jesus. Amen.