There is something novel as well as interesting in the contemplation
of the subject that has been referred to by brother Folsom. The ideas
entertained by the Latter-day Saints are different from those believed
in by any other people upon the face of the earth; and there is a
feeling and spirit resting upon the Saints that is not known nor
experienced among any other people. The way we have been led is very
peculiar and differs entirely from anything else that exists anywhere
in the world. Our gathering together, the kind of Gospel that is
preached, the disposition and feeling to build Temples, a strong
impression that seems to rest upon all the people, is something in
itself very remarkable.
Now in relation to our gathering, who is there anywhere else in the
world that feel as the Latter-day Saints do? You do not find it
anywhere, and nothing but the Spirit of God operating upon the minds
of the people could have induced them to gather together as they have
done. This spirit was imparted, as the Holy Ghost is, by the laying on
of hands, through the medium of the Priesthood. And this peculiarity
seemed all the more striking at first, for as soon as the principle of
the gathering was first preached, the people needed no convincing
argument, for the Spirit of the Lord had revealed it to them, and they
knew it was true. And it mattered not where people heard it, or in
what language it was preached, they immediately had a strong, fervent
desire to gather to Zion, to assemble with the Saints and worship with
them. And however foolish many of us have acted since that time, yet
these were the feelings that welled up in our bosoms; and they came
because of certain principles having been developed through Joseph
Smith. You that are acquainted with the history of Joseph Smith well
know that in the Temple in Kirtland, among other visions,
manifestations and administrations he received was one in which the
Prophet Moses appeared to him, who committed to him the keys of the
gathering dispensation. It was he who led the exodus of Israel in
former times, and like all other men who have held the holy Priesthood
and have been faithful in the discharge of their duties, he not only
administered in time but continues to minister in eternity. And hold ing the keys of this Priesthood, he was the proper person
to confer them upon the Prophet Joseph; and on doing so, he told
Joseph, that he had bestowed upon him "the keys of the gathering of
Israel from the four parts of the earth and the leading of the Ten
Tribes from the land of the north." And this was in fulfillment of a
significant scripture which says, "That in the dispensation of the
fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him."
Hence, after men had been baptized for remission of sins, and had
hands laid upon their heads for the reception of the Holy Ghost by
those holding this Priesthood and authority, of which this was one of
the principles, they began immediately to have the feeling to gather
to Zion. This has been spoken of by ancient men of God as one of the
events of the latter days. One of the Prophets referring to it says,
"I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring
you to Zion. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." It was through
this principle and this ordination, with the spirit attending it,
first conferred upon Joseph Smith, and afterwards upon the believers
of the Gospel by obedience thereunto, through the administration of
baptism and of the laying on of hands by the Elders, that brought the
people together as they are today. Wherever this Gospel has been
preached, believed and obeyed, this desire to leave the lands of their
nativity, to gather with the Saints, has been strongly manifested; and
so strong has it been, that I have had men offer to bind themselves to
my service for quite a length of time, or willing to do anything
required of them, provided they could be assisted to the gathering
place of the Saints. And it was to meet this universal want that the
Perpetual Emigrating Fund was gotten up, which has been the means of
bringing out to this country thousands of people, the majority of
whom, perhaps, by their own exertions, never could have accumulated
the necessary amount of means to have brought themselves here; and as
each one was required, after being assisted, to refund the amount
received for this purpose, others could realize its benefits in like
manner, and thus the fund became perpetual.
Temple building is another characteristic associated with this Gospel
that is in itself peculiar. We are here, as Jesus was, not to do our
own will, but the will of Him who sent us; and, as he was, so we are
expected to do and perform such things as may be required of us by the
Almighty. This is really the position we occupy as Latter-day Saints,
if we could fully comprehend the situation. There are certain powers
and privileges, rights, immunities and blessings connected with this
Gospel that do not exist anywhere else, and this is one of them. We
are told that the Gospel brings life and immortality to light, and
without it there is no correct knowledge of life and immortality. We
did not understand either our own position, nor the position of the
world; we could not comprehend anything of God, or the laws of God, or
the laws of life, until we became acquainted with the Gospel. Every
good and every perfect gift proceeds from God, in whom there is no
variableness or shadow of turning. And the world generally are
ignorant of God. Why? Because we are told that no man knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God. And if they cannot
obtain a knowledge of God only by the Spirit of God, unless they
receive that Spirit they must remain ignorant of these principles. And
it matters not what the learning, what the intelligence, what the
research, the philosophy, or religion of man may be, the things of God
cannot be comprehended, except through and by the Spirit and
revelations of God. And this can only be obtained through obedience to
the principles which God has and shall ordain, sanction and
acknowledge. And hence, in these last times, he first communicated a
knowledge of himself to Joseph Smith, long ago, when he was quite
young. Who in that day knew anything about God? Who had had any
revelations from Him, or who knew anything in relation to the
principles of life and salvation? If there were any persons I never
heard of them, nor read of them, nor never met them. But when the Lord
manifested himself to Joseph Smith, presenting to him his Son who was
there also, saying, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him;" he then
knew that God lived; and he was not dependent upon anybody else for
that knowledge. He saw him and heard his voice, and he knew for
himself that there was a God, and of this he testified, sealing his
testimony with his blood. The evidence of the existence of God that he
received, none but God could impart. Well, what was the result? He
told him how others might obtain the same knowledge of him and of his
laws; and he made him acquainted with a medium through which he could
obtain a knowledge of these things. And how did he do it? By
communicating unto him a knowledge of the everlasting Priesthood, and
send ing that Priesthood to reveal unto him the laws and the ordinances
thereof. Hence, as early as September 21st, 1823, an angel said to
Joseph Smith, "Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood." He was
informed there had to be a certain ordinance attended to, viz.,
baptism. And as John the Baptist had held the keys of that Priesthood,
in generations gone and past, he was sent to confer upon him and upon
Oliver Cowdery what is known as the Aaronic Priesthood, which
authorized them to baptize each other for the remission of sins. And
this heavenly messenger did come and did so ordain them, on May 15th,
1829, saying—"Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I
confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the
ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism
for the remission of sins; and this shall never again be taken from
the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the
Lord in righteousness." (D C., page 100.) And what next? It was
necessary then that other institutions should be introduced and other
principles developed; and consequently the Apostles Peter, James and
John appeared, bringing, and conferring on their heads the Melchizedek
Priesthood, which holds the keys of the mysteries and revelations of
God, and by which they could lay their hands upon men for the
reception of the Holy Ghost. And when they received this gift, it
"brought things past to their remembrance, led them into all truth and
showed them things to come;" it opened up communication between the
heavens and the earth, whereby others, as well as Joseph Smith, could
know that God lived, and obtain for themselves through the
administration of the ordinances, a knowledge of their
acceptance with him, and of their relationship to him, and also obtain
a knowledge of heavenly as well as earthly things. So that first,
Joseph Smith having received this knowledge that God lived, and others
through the medium that God ordained were accorded the same privilege.
Thus there was opened up a communication with the heavens; not only
with Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and those immediately associated
with them, but with those also who received the Gospel; and as the
Scriptures say, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name; which
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God." And they received that Spirit whereby they were able
to comprehend the principles of truth; and as the Apostle John says,
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. But
the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but, as the same anointing teacheth
you of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath
taught you, ye shall abide in him." How did they receive this
anointing? By repenting of their sins, by being baptized by one having
the authority of God for the remission of sins, and by having hands
laid upon their heads for the reception of the Holy Ghost. They
received this spirit precisely in this manner, and hence they had this
knowledge for themselves; which knowledge all Latter-day Saints have
who are living their religion, walking humbly and obediently before
God. Hence, this is a part of what we term the Gospel; it is part of
what we call the principles of life, or the laws of life, for it leads
to life, it leads to God, it leads to a knowledge of the laws of God,
and a knowledge of the principles of truth, and to an acquaintance
with those principles which are calculated to exalt and ennoble
mankind both in time and through all eternity. There is nothing new in
it, and yet there is. It is called the new and everlasting Gospel.
Singular, that an everlasting thing should be new. But it is a
principle that has existed with God, or with the Gods, if you please,
in the eternities, and it has been communicated from time to time to
the children of men. And although we have a great amount of
intelligence, learning and science, and everything else considered
worthy among men, yet we have nothing in all of this that gives a
knowledge of the laws of life. It needs a development from God to
unravel these things, and make us acquainted with our true position.
Hence although it is new to us, it is nevertheless an everlasting
principle. We are mortal and immortal beings, we have to do with time
and also with eternity. And as the things of the future are hidden
from men and can only be known through the medium of the Gospel, this
means was made use of by the Almighty for the introduction of the
principles of truth and the placing of mankind in the position to
acquire a knowledge of him and his laws. Having been put in this
position, we, every one of us, men and women who are living our
religion, preserving ourselves in the purity of the Gospel and acting
honorably and honestly before God and man, have a right to know and
understand for ourselves the principles of truth which we have
embraced. I well remember a remark that Joseph Smith made to me up wards of forty years ago. Said he, "Elder Taylor, you have
been baptized, you have had hands laid upon your head for the
reception of the Holy Ghost, and you have been ordained to the holy
Priesthood. Now, it you will continue to follow the leadings of that
spirit, it will always lead you right. Sometimes it might be contrary
to your judgment; never mind that, follow its dictates; and if you be
true to its whisperings it will in time become in you a principle of
revelation, so that you will know all things." That agrees precisely
with some of the remarks of John in the passage I have quoted to you.
"Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things, and
need not that any man teach you; but the same anointing teacheth you
all things." Now, that which John taught was the everlasting Gospel,
and that which Joseph Smith taught was the everlasting Gospel. That
which John taught has been forgotten long ago by the people, they are
not in possession of it and consequently they cannot comprehend it.
And hence when Joseph Smith revealed it, he preached the new and
everlasting Gospel; new to the generation that lives, and everlasting
because it has existed in all ages and times when God has revealed
himself to the human family.
But to return to this singular thing of Temple building, which I will
refer to again. Why do we want to build these Temples? Some of us
hardly know; but we do want to build it. What a most singular thing!
Just consider the amount of labor that has already been performed
throughout this Territory. Surely the people have some motive in view.
The mechanic or the laborer does not go to work unless he gets a
recompense of some kind. When men devote themselves to any kind of
labor, whether mental, physical, mechanical or scientific, they have
some particular object in view. So it is also in relation to these
matters. I have already referred to it; but many of us can hardly
realize why it is that we are engaged in these things.
I will go back again and refer to another manifestation. We find,
among others that appeared to Joseph Smith was Elijah the Prophet; and
what did he come for? His special mission was to "turn the hearts of
the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the
fathers." And the same scripture informs us of his coming "before that
great and terrible day of the Lord." What is meant by this, say the
world? It means that we are the offspring of God; it means, as the
scriptures say, that God is the Father of the spirits of all flesh; it
means that we have to do with eternity as well as time; it means that
we have to do with things past, with things present and with things to
come; it means that being the children of our Heavenly Father, we are
or ought to be under his government, yielding obedience to him, and
that we ought to operate with him in extending mercy and love and
salvation to the living and the dead, according to certain laws
unknown to men generally; but known unto God and now revealed again by
him for the salvation of our race. It means that God is the Father of
the human family and is interested in the whole of his progeny, these
that now exist and those who have passed away. It means that there are
certain laws in the heavens that all men have to do with that must be
complied with, if not in time in eternity. It means that all men who
have lived and died without a knowledge of the Gospel, shall be placed
on the same plane as ourselves through the plan he has provided,
giving all of his children, whether living or dead, an equal
chance to avail themselves of the means of salvation; and that we are
to operate in their behalf, working out certain ordinances for them
which they are now incapable of doing for themselves. It means that as
God feels interested in the welfare of all his family, men in the
flesh who are in possession of his spirit and the light of eternity,
having come to a knowledge of him and his eternal laws, should
cooperate with him in the accomplishment of this object. And it means
too that if he has conferred the Gospel and the power thereof and the
Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, sending his messengers from the
heavens for this purpose, that it is not for a phantom, it is not for
a plaything to be trifled with at pleasure; but it is that we should
operate with God and with the Priesthood who lived before us, in the
accomplishment of the things of God on the earth. That is what it
means. And hence, says he, when EliJah comes he will "turn the hearts
of the fathers to the children," etc. It is not for mankind to come
and live and exist a little while to be blotted out and nothing more
of them; but it is that they should be enlightened by the Spirit of
God, that they should sympathize with and have regard for all the human
family living and dead, feeling desirous to promote their happiness and
welfare, as he himself does. How often when abroad preaching this
Gospel have I heard men say, and you have heard the same sentiment
expressed, "If this is true what has become of our fathers? Are they
to be lost forever?" And then you know they have certain peculiar
ideas about hell and damnation, the lake of fire and brimstone into
which a certain portion of the human family are to be cast to be
forever burning and never to be consumed. And if our doctrine be true
they think it would be cruel that this state of things should exist.
Why, God is more merciful than man is, he possesses more sympathies
with human nature than man does or ever did, one with another. The
Lord has been feeling after the welfare of mankind all the day long,
from the first commencement of the world to the present time. But
there are certain eternal laws among the Gods in the eternal worlds
which render it necessary that mankind shall go through certain
ordeals and observe certain ordinances and be governed by certain laws
before they can be exalted in the kingdom of God. And as Satan has
been operating in opposition to the Lord's designs, and having so far
succeeded in drawing men after him, it became necessary that these
ordinances that God has instituted should be introduced and that man
should be governed by them. Hence it was necessary that a Redeemer
should be provided, which was perfectly understood by one of the
Prophets who said, "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have
found a ransom." Who was he? When Jesus appeared, says John, "Behold
the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." He was the
ransom.
What about the others, they who have died without a knowledge of the
Gospel? They are amply provided for. The Lord has shown us that we
must build Temples in which to officiate for them. We have commenced
to do so, and our fathers have already commenced to feel after us,
manifesting themselves by dreams and visions, and in various ways to
those most interested in their welfare. And having inaugurated this
state of things for our guidance that we have today, with Presidents,
Apostles, Presidents of Stakes, High Councils, High Priests,
Seventies, Bishops, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons and
the various organizations of the Church; it is for us each one to
operate in our sphere under the direction of the Almighty; and feel
not only for ourselves, but for others, as Abraham did, and as Isaac
and Jacob did, we should have a desire to bless our posterity after
us; and God has shown us how to do it, and has bestowed his
Patriarchal authority with power to bless. He has appointed this
through the Priesthood and sealing ordinances. That which is joined
together no man can put asunder, and what is bound on earth is bound
also in heaven; and also a great many other things of a similar nature
in relation to ourselves. The moment a man gets enlightened by the
Spirit of God and begins to comprehend himself, be begins to feel for
the welfare of others. "I have a wife, what shall I do to save her? I
have children, what can I do for them?" And by and by his comprehension
expands, and he commences at once to reach after his father, and his
grandfather, and friends and relatives who have passed away; and his
feelings if they were expressed would be, What can I do for them to
help them? Yes, he has revealed to us that we can render valuable aid
to our dead friends and ancestors, and, as I have said, the Lord has
shown us that in order for them to receive the benefit of our
services, Temples must be built, and they must be dedicated to God and
accepted of him; and through the medium of those sacred structures and
the ordinances performed therein, there is to be a uniting and welding
together of all principles and peoples, and without them this great
work cannot be done.
Brother Folsom, who has just been speaking to you of his recent labors
in the Manti Temple, says he never felt better in his life than when
engaged there. What is the reason? He has been engaged in the service
of God; and there is no happiness among men to be compared with the
joy and satisfaction that the Gospel imparts; it lifts us up from the
sublunary things of time and sense, and we feel that we are gods, even
the sons of God, and that he is our Father; and we know that we have a
hope that blooms with immortality and eternal lives, and we feel that
we are in the hands of God, and that he will guide and direct us and
sustain us and bear us off triumphant under all circumstances; and we
feel joyous and happy in the contemplation of these things. And then
it is necessary that the Lord should have introduced this Gospel, or
shall I say he never could have saved the human family that have gone?
Yes, I will say that; because there are certain laws in relation to
these things which must be obeyed; the Lord himself is governed by
them, and we must be governed by them. And hence when Elijah came and
laid his hands upon Joseph Smith, conferring upon him that Gospel
which was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, he
received it, and the spirit of it we have received; and that is why we
want to build Temples. And in this regard we are associated with those
in the heavens in carrying out the plan that was contemplated and
designed by the gods before the world was, in relation to the
formation of the earth, and in relation to peopling it, and then with
regard to its redemption and the salvation of its inhabitants and
everything pertaining to it, until it shall be celestialized and
celestial beings inhabit it. And we are operating, or should do so,
and we will when we know ourselves, operate with the holy angels and
with the holy Priest hood, that has existed before, doing our
part on the earth while they are performing theirs in the heavens.
Could we do anything unless God helped us? No, we could not. You might
preach until the tongue cleaved to the roof of your mouth, urging the
people to build Temples, but unless the spirit of Elijah rested upon
them they never would do it. And sometimes people think now that it
interferes with the dollars and dimes and their monetary calculations;
but what of that? God is interested in these things, and he does not
care much about the dollars, for the gold and the silver, and the
cattle upon a thousand hills are his, the earth in its fullness
belongs to him; the heavens are his throne and the earth his
footstool, and he manages and directs according to the counsel of his
own will. And as we send our ministers to the nations of the earth to
perform certain missions designed by the Priesthood on the earth; so
does God in the eternal heavens employ those of his servants around
him in the accomplishment of the same grand object.
Do you think that this Gospel would have stood the opposition it has
met with, and that this people could have lived under the calumny and
reproach, the vituperation, hatred and persecution that has been
raised against them by men, unless God had been with us? No; we should
have been scattered like the chaff before the wind, long, long ago.
But God has sustained us, and has said to all men and will continue to
say, Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and here shall thy power
be stayed. Our strength is in God, and not in man. Many and many a
time have I seen the wrath of man turned away, when it was thought its
power would crush us, and that too by one principle. What was that?
Jesus, when in the flesh, taught his disciples how to pray; and the
Lord has also instructed us how to pray. And we have the consolation
of knowing that our prayers have availed with him, for we have seen
our enemies foiled, frustrated, discomfited and scattered, who sought
our destruction, and their plans utterly fail, and that too when to
all human appearances we were going to be submerged and overwhelmed by
their fury. And so long as we continue to fear Him, observe his laws
and keep his commandments, all their plans will fail from this time
henceforth and forever [the congregation said, Amen], for God is on
our side, and He will uphold us and never forsake us.
To return again to the subject of Temple building. I may talk about it
from now until tomorrow, and then not get a quarter through, for
there are so many things connected with it. But we feel now that we
want to build Temples that we may administer in them. Brother Woodruff
has been operating a long time in the Temple at St. George; and you
have perhaps heard him testify of visits that he has had from the
spirit world, the spirits of men who once lived on the earth, desiring
him to officiate for them in the Temple ordinances. This feeling is
planted in the hearts of the people; and the Priesthood in the heavens
are watching over us; they are ministering spirits sent forth to
minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, says the Apostle;
and if we were not the recipients of their ministrations and watchful
care, we should be in a poor condition. They are operating in the
heavens, and we are on the earth; they without us cannot be made
perfect, neither we without them; it requires the combined and
united efforts of both parties, directed by God Himself to consummate
the work we are engaged in.
I will here show you the difference between the operations of men and
those of the Lord, in regard to the human family. Men make war one
upon another, they kill and destroy and make waste. This work of
killing and destruction is even now going on among the Russians and
Turks. And it is only a short time since the Germans and French were
doing the same thing; and it almost seems like the recollections of
yesterday, when our own nation were imbruing their hands in each
other's blood, when the cries of widows and orphans, of bereaved
fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters were heard throughout our
land, and when want and misery, pain and sorrow were depicted on the
faces of so many because of man's inhumanity to his fellow man. What
do the Scriptures say? "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his
blood be shed." What right has any man to interfere with the life of
another man?
Now I will go back to show you how the Lord operates. He destroyed a
whole world at one time save a few, whom he preserved for his own
special purpose. And why? He had more than one reason for doing so.
This antediluvian people were not only very wicked themselves, but
having the power to propagate their species, they transmitted their
unrighteous natures and desires to their children, and brought them up
to indulge in their own wicked practices. And the spirits that dwelt
in the eternal worlds knew this, and they knew very well that to be
born of such parentage would entail upon them selves an infinite amount
of trouble, misery and sin. And supposing ourselves to be of the
number of unborn spirits, would it not be fair to presume that we
would appeal to the Lord, crying, "Father, do you not behold the
condition of this people, how corrupt and wicked they are?" Yes. "Is
it then just that we who are now pure should take of such bodies and
thus subject ourselves to most bitter experiences before we can be
redeemed, according to the plan of salvation?" "No," the Father would
say, "it is not in keeping with my justice." Well, what will you do in
the matter; man has his free agency and cannot be coerced, and while
he lives he has the power of perpetuating his species? "I will first
send them my word, offering them deliverance from sin, and warning
them of my justice, which shall certainly overtake them if they reject
it, and I will destroy them from off the face of the earth, thus
preventing their increase, and I will raise up another seed." Well,
they did reject the preaching of Noah, the servant of God, who was
sent to them, and consequently the Lord caused the rains of heaven to
descend incessantly for forty days and nights, which flooded the land,
and there being no means of escape, save for the eight souls who were
obedient to the message, all the others were drowned. But, says the
caviller, is it right that a just God should sweep off so many people?
Is that in accordance with mercy? Yes, it was just to those spirits
that had not received their bodies, and it was just and merciful too
to those people guilty of the iniquity. Why? Because by taking away
their earthly existence he prevented them from entailing their sins
upon their posterity and degenerating them, and also prevented
them from committing further acts of wickedness. And was it just to
send them to hell, to be eternally burning up in fire, never to be
consumed? We do not know anything about that part of it, that is
sectarianism, and is no part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Suffice it
to say, they were put into prison and the doors were so securely
locked that they could not be unfastened until the right time had
arrived. The Prophets understood this, and spoke of it.
What next? God still felt after them; and he said, in speaking of the
Savior, that he was to come. And what to do? "To bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening
of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year
of the Lord." This was the nature of his mission to the earth. And
what do the Scriptures tell us he did? "Being put to death in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached
unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient when once
the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah." Were they
redeemed? Yes, if Jesus preached the Gospel to them, and which he most
assuredly did. If a man kill another, does he know how to redeem him
afterwards? No, he does not; therefore men have no right to assume the
prerogatives of God, and hence the Scriptures say that "no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him." You may get the priest or priests
to pray for him and pack him off to heaven the moment he breathes his
last here; but such prayers avail not; he will never get there, but
will go to the place appointed unto him. Here then is the difference
between the dealings of God with man, and the dealings of man one with
another.
We are moved upon to build Temples. There is one now building in
Logan, Cache Valley. I was up there two weeks ago, and was much
gratified to find the work being pushed forward so energetically and
so spiritedly. Since the early part of June, I think upwards of
$30,000 has been expended by the people of that and two other Stakes
in making the necessary arrangements for the building of this Temple.
We find the same spirit existing among them as we found in St. George,
and in Sanpete, and here, and, in fact, as we find everywhere among
the Latter-day Saints; and I am much gratified to see the people thus
moved and acted upon. In the Millennium, a duration of one thousand
years, we shall be actively engaged administering for the dead, and
assisting God to fix up accounts with the inhabitants of the earth.
Before closing I wish to add a few words in regard to matters
associated with our position here, which is a very important one
before angels and the people. We stand in an important position in
this respect, we are the sons and daughters of God; if we obey his
laws and keep his commandments, proving ourselves valiant and true to
his cause, we shall be heirs, "heirs of God and joint heirs of Jesus
Christ; and if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him, that
all may be glorified together in the eternal worlds." Now, then, if we
can perform a work of this kind, and secure the approbation of God,
and the cooperation of the holy Priesthood, then we will be doing
something that will not only be acceptable to Him and to the holy
angels, but to our name, and fame, our honor and happiness and glory,
and to the increase of our dominion there will be no end. But if we give way to folly and to vanity, to covetousness and pride or
to evil, to wickedness or corruption of any kind, the hand of God will
be over us, our candlestick will be removed out of its place, the
light within us will take its departure, and darkness will take its
place; and oh, how great will be that darkness! How often have I seen
men whom I have known in this Church, and whom I have respected as
honorable, make shipwreck of their faith, lose the Spirit of God and
go into darkness. When they turn aside, after having received certain
light and intelligence, can you lead them back? No, you cannot. They
have no desire for it, and you cannot implant that desire within them.
What does Paul say? "For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew
them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God." We do not want to be in that fearful condition. Let us be
careful, then, what we do and what we say, and how we act and live.
Let us treat one another in a right and proper manner, not seek to
oppress and defraud, or rob one another of property, or of honor, or
of char acter, or anything else; but let us all copy after the Son of
God, walking in all humility and meekness, feeling rather to suffer
wrong than do wrong, and ever be desirous to promote each other's
happiness and welfare. Do not let us be censorious, or oppressive, or
tyrannical, or exacting; but cultivate the spirit of kindness and
charity, and seek continually for the Spirit of God to lead and direct
us. Every morning that we arise, dedicate ourselves to God, and ask
his blessing upon us through the day, that we may be preserved from
evil, folly and vanity. Let us be governed and influenced by the
counsels we receive from our Bishops and presiding authorities; and
let us pray for them, that they may be kept pure and holy; and fail
not to supplicate the Father in behalf of the Twelve, for we are poor,
weak creatures, and need the faith and prayers of the Saints, and the
help and favor of the Almighty, and we ask an interest in your
prayers, that we may be led in the paths of life; for none of us can
do anything unless God be with us.
Brethren and sisters, God bless you, and lead you in the paths of
life, that you may be prepared for an inheritance in the celestial
kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus. Amen.