I am glad to enjoy the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day
Saints in this Tabernacle in Con ference, under circumstances so
favorable. I have been much interested in listening to the
instructions we have heard this day. They are words of
encouragement to the faithful, they strengthen the weak, they enkindle
within us all the fire that burns yet not consumes; and we are
stimulated to continue in the good fight of faith despite every
opposing power.
We embraced the principles of the everlasting Gospel in various lands,
and we gathered here for the express purpose of learning further of
his ways that we might walk in his paths. It therefore is plain and
easy to understand the great obligation that we have placed ourselves
under, an obligation that becomes the more serious and important as we
count the years of our membership in this Church, and as we have had
opportunity. To become efficient laborers in the kingdom, is that we
learn the mind and will of God concerning us, and then go forth and do
it to the very best of our ability and power. Unless we seek the Lord
with our whole heart, willing to sacrifice all for him and his cause,
we cannot be wholly accepted of him.
We are told by revelation that all blessings are to be enjoyed upon
the principles by which his kingdom can be built up, and upon no
other. It would be in vain for us to imagine that we are going to
enjoy the blessing of the celestial world by adopting any principles
we may choose, or that may be suitable to our own peculiar ideas and
feelings. Then the first lesson for us to learn is how we can best
become acquainted with the wishes of our Father, how we can best use
our time and our talents to subserve the interests of his cause here
upon the earth. We have entered the door of the kingdom, and that is
about all. The actual work we have only commenced, and who cannot see
that it is of the greatest importance that we organize ourselves that
we may the better prosecute our labors! We pray that the will of God
may be done on earth as in heaven. What does it avail us if we do not
seek first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness? And how can
we obey this divine injunction unless we seek in the right and proper
way to establish its principles in our hearts and lives, giving that
kingdom and its government a foundation, a chance to develop itself
into the proportions it eventually will do.
The tendency of mankind generally is to gratify a craving for this
world's goods, adopting such ways as will best secure to them their
heart's desire; this really is their aim and object of life. When we
reflect that we live in this important age, when God our heavenly
Father has again spoken to the children of men, revealing to them his
designs and purposes and the only way to be saved, it is time for us
to awake to a sense of duty and prepare ourselves in all readiness,
for he does not speak in vain; all must be fulfilled even as it is
written, whether we individually take part in it or not.
The Lord will have a people trained in the school of experience until
they shall be prepared to receive him when he shall come to dwell upon
the earth for the space of a thousand years. This we understand; we
have been taught it by divine instruction, and it is for us to be
willing to be taught and to be used in accomplishing the preparatory
work. He has also declared by the voice of his servants whom he has
raised up, and by his own voice, that the wicked and those who delight
in abominations he will overthrow as individuals and as nations; and
in the place thereof he will have a righteous people who will
fear and obey him in all things. This has been preached to the world
now for nearly half a century, and we are still declaring it. We know
not how many will hearken to this warning voice, but we do know that
history informs us that Noah preached one hundred and twenty years,
warning the people of threatened judgments, preaching to them the way
of life, with but very little success. The word of the Lord through
Noah was verified and fulfilled even as he had declared it.
The words of the Lord were lamentably fulfilled on the heads of his
chosen seed, because they rejected the same Gospel message which was
sent unto them. And the Lord has said that in the last days his word
should be verified as in former times. True, the message might be
lightly esteemed, and they that bear it, as well as those that receive
it, may be set at nought, just in the manner that his word and people
always have been treated by the world of mankind generally.
This Latter-day work has been commenced by an illiterate, unlearned
boy; but like the leaven that was put into the measures of meal, it
has worked until already it attracts not only the attention of men of
high and low birth, but of nations. And although its advocates have,
as a general thing, been persons of humble birth and of limited
education, where has appeared the man that has succeeded in gainsaying
them, and proving false the principles they teach? That individual is
yet to be found; he cannot be found nor never will be, for it is the
truth, we bear the new and the everlasting Gospel which is
incontrovertible. And still, with all this before the world, how few
comparatively hearken to and obey the message! And how many
imperfections we find existing among us! We need careful and gradual
training, to be taught a little now and again; and many times we find
ourselves almost ready to relinquish our hold on eternal life, having
need to be converted again to the truth; and yet we call ourselves
Latter-day Saints.
The question that ofttimes arrests my attention is, if we receive not
the truth as it is presented to us here, will we be willing to
hereafter? Some people imagine that when we pass from this stage of
our being we shall all be in a condition to receive truth whether we
received or rejected it while upon this earth. It is by reason of our
agency that we reject truth and accept evil; and we will find when we
go hence that we shall still be possessed of the same agency; and if
we were not willing to receive the truth in this world, what assurance
have we that our agency will not lead us to reject truth hereafter. If
Latter-day Saints cannot endure to the end, if they cannot in their
hearts receive as well as practice all of the principles of the Gospel
as they are made known to them by his servants, it is folly in the
extreme for us to allow ourselves to believe that by rejecting certain
principles here we will be able to practice them in the world to come.
We will also find that there are certain things that can be preformed
in this world, that peradventure cannot be attended to anywhere else.
Baptism by immersion is an ordinance essential to salvation; it is the
door to the kingdom and none can be saved without it; and it is an
ordinance that strictly belongs to this life. There are also certain
ordinances essential to our exaltation in our Father's kingdom that
can be performed only in Temples, except in certain peculiar
circumstances; and in order that we should derive their benefit we are
called upon to erect these sacred edifices. These are ordinances
all-important in their nature that belong to this life, they must be
attended to here, that we might be prepared to enter upon the duties
of the life to come.
There is one matter that has received a great part of my attention
particularly of late, that is the conforming of my will to the will of
God, not only pertaining to things spiritual but also to things
temporal associated with my everyday life. And it appears to me that
we as a people have now reached that stage of the latter-day work when
this same question is brought right home to the minds of all who claim
membership in the Church and kingdom of God. There is one thing he
will require of us, that is to prove by example as well as precept
that we love him beyond any and everything else; he will require that
we establish beyond a doubt that our affections and hearts are his,
and that to do his bidding and further the interests of his cause is
our greatest and fondest desire.
There seems to be throughout the world a great love for wealth. It is
true that riches ofttimes secure ease, comfort and enjoyment. But
then these are indulgences that belong only to this life; as no man
brought anything into the world, so none will take anything away. What
then may we expect to enjoy in the hereafter? Such blessings only as
are secured unto us through the sealing ordinances of the holy
Priesthood which reach behind the veil. While reflecting on this,
would it not be well for us, as Latter-day Saints, to also imagine, if
we can, our feelings if through unworthiness on our part we should
find ourselves in the next world disappointed. I think that when we
consider these things, that compared with our eternal happiness
everything else is small and of little moment.
There is much required at our hands, we have not only to labor for
ourselves, but for our dead friends, whom we shall meet sooner or
later. If when we renew our acquaintance with them we can tell them
that we officiated in the Temple ordinances for them, it will afford
us joy as well as them; but if when we shall meet them we are not the
bearers of such welcome intelligence, feelings of remorse will
overtake us in not having done our duty, when opportunity was afforded
us to do so. These are some of my reflections relative to some of our
present and immediate duties.
I am pleased to say that wherever I go I perceive a willingness on the
part of the people to build Temples, and also to become united in
establishing ourselves upon such a basis as will make us independent
of the surrounding world, producing and manufacturing everything we
need for use and wear, and thus become self-sustaining; so that when
Babylon shall fall we may sustain no loss.
There has never been a generation of time so important as the one in
which we live. Our prospects too are peculiarly and unusually
encouraging, for the Gospel we preach will never be taken away from
the earth, and as long as we prove faithful we will maintain our
rights which God has given us. There is a prospect too of our
posterity living when peace for the space of a thousand years shall be
on this earth, when the Savior and holy beings will visit with men in
the flesh, and then his glory will surround the habitation of the
Saints. I know of no previous dispensation that had such encouraging
and glorious prospects.
Then let me say to the Latter-day Saints, let us practice the
principles of our holy religion, be willing to be directed and used
for the good of our Father's cause, in whatever capacity we may be
placed, and be servants and Saints of God in very deed. And that this
may be our happy lot is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
- Charles C. Rich