I am thankful to have the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day
Saints, this afternoon in this Taber nacle. I trust that I may be able
to impart a few words of instruction to you, inasmuch as I shall be
assisted so to do by the Holy Spirit; without this aid, I am
aware that I would not be qualified to speak to your edification.
We have met this Sabbath day for the purpose of offering up our
Sacrament to the Most High God, to worship him; and while we are thus
engaged, let me request you, my brethren and sisters, to call in the
wanderings of your minds, and implore His Holy Spirit to rest upon us,
that our worship may be acceptable unto the Lord, and truly beneficial
unto ourselves; for, as we have learned, all blessings flow from Him,
and that we are dependent upon him for every good thing that we
receive.
We are a blessed people in having received a knowledge of the plan of
salvation; for we are in a position to improve our condition, day by
day, by the instruction we receive, inasmuch as we are desirous to be
found obedient to all the requirements of God concerning us. We have
commenced to walk the strait and narrow way which, we are told,
leads to the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there
be that find it. The fact of our having found the way of life, ought
to inspire in our hearts a desire to learn all that is necessary for
us to know in order to enable us to continue in the way, serving our
God with all our hearts. I presume these are the feelings of my
brethren and sisters present today. You, doubtless, want to know what
the Lord requires of us, in the hope of overcoming every imperfection
and folly, and every evil that we are subject to while in the flesh.
The Lord has told us in our day, through the mouth of his servant
Joseph, that a man cannot be saved in ignorance. This one item itself
is very important for us to continually bear in mind, for it is
calculated to stimulate us to seek after that knowledge and wisdom
that come from God, which will enable us, under all circumstances, to
decide between right and wrong, and eventually lead us back to His
presence. And, having attained to a portion of that knowledge that we
are seeking after, we are doubtless willing to live according to and
practice it in our lives. For everything that is right and pleasing in
the sight of God, is not likely to produce an evil; on the contrary,
its natural fruit is good. By doing right, by carrying out the will of
God, we injure nobody; but on the other hand, we are then in a
condition to bless and benefit others. We have already demonstrated
this fact. We all know that the more nearly we live to the Lord, the
better we feel, and the greater the degree of happiness that exists in
our midst, and we exert an influence for good wherever we go. I have
known people whose religious belief has led them to imagine that
salvation was not to be obtained short of what we term the spirit
world. But we have learned that the principles of righteousness
produce happiness in this world as well as in the world to come.
So far as the religious world is concerned it seems to be perfectly
understood by all classes and all denominations, that it makes but
little difference what mode of worship is chosen or adopted, so that
the individuals themselves are suited; the idea as to whether the
service they aim to render Him be acceptable and approved of him or
not, does not seem to be worthy of their consideration, in fact it is
never questioned.
There were many creeds existing when the Savior was upon the earth,
having for the foundation of their faith the Old Testament. Since his
day many have had, and do have an existence, and the saying of
the Savior is just as applicable today as when he spoke it. "Strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it." Jesus told it precisely as it is, and he knew
whereof he spoke. The Christian world, as a whole, will find when they
get through with this life, that this, as well as many other sayings
and teachings of the Savior, is full of significance, and they will
find out, too, that it is true, a truth that cannot be changed or done
away. It is not everybody that will find the gate, neither will the
creeds of men nor the notions of men enable them to find it. God
himself has a voice in the matter; he has provided the way, it is
according to his appointment, which is no more or less than the plan
devised and foreordained in the heavens and before the foundations of
the earth. This Gospel plan cannot be changed or altered; it is the
"narrow way" and the only way by which man can serve God acceptably.
If, therefore, it be according to the plan that men, in order to
become bearers of his message, should first themselves obey certain
unchangeable requirements, and then be commissioned of him, before
they could be authorized to preach his word and will to their fellow
men, and thereby become virtually his servants, such requirements must
be complied with, it will never do for individuals who disregard these
requirements and who are wholly unauthorized of him, to go forth and
act as ministers sent of God to declare the way of life to the
children of men. Neither would it answer for persons to accept the
doctrines of these men, however popular and acceptable to man they may
be, for God, with whom all of us have to do, will not countenance
them. The service we render him must be done according to his will, if
done in some other way, he will not approve of it. The ordinances
pertaining to his holy Temples must be performed only as he has
directed, and in the place that he has commanded, unless the Lord
reveals otherwise. This is consistent with reason. If we, for
instance, employ people to serve us, we want to dictate their labors,
and we want them to do just as we wish them, and not as they may
desire to do. And how much more so with our heavenly Father. If our
services be not acceptable to God, we are not serving him; then whose
servants are we? Says the Savior, "he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad." And again, "he that is not for me, is against me."
And the Apostle Paul says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."
Therefore, my brethren, let us duly consider the importance of this,
fearing the services we do may not be of "obedience unto
righteousness," and consequently lost unto us, and prove to be in
opposition to the will of our heavenly Father. We must conform our
will unto his will; the Savior himself did this, and he sought to do
no more, nor no less. And if we serve him acceptably it must be as he
is pleased to direct, not as we might please unless we please to do as
he wishes us to do.
When we understand the true position we occupy as the children of God,
and not of this world, we shall find that we occupy a peculiar
position.
We have to learn something, and we have to learn through the proper
channel what the Lord requires of us; and when we have learned this,
we must be ready and willing to comply with it, whatever it may be.
And if the world did but know it, this is the mission given
unto us to this earth, that we might learn, in this earthly School,
things we could not learn elsewhere. And in order that we may learn
correctly we must be willing to be taught by those who are competent
to teach, and we must accept and study the lessons provided for us.
Nearly half a century ago, when the Lord first commenced to reveal the
principles of salvation to us his children, he began to tell us what
was coming upon the earth; he predicted the overthrow of the kingdoms
of this world, and he commissioned and sent forth his servants to bear
testimony of his second coming and reign on the earth. He told us of
earthquakes, of famine and pestilence, and of other judgments that
must eventually overtake the wicked in their unrighteousness, and that
was said at a time when the world was crying peace. But people are as
blind concerning the fulfillment of prophecy in these days as they were
anciently, when the Savior said of them, "they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Such has been the
condition of all generations, notwithstanding the revelations, given
to them have been plain and positive, and many have been fulfilled and
many are being fulfilled. As it was with the overthrow of the Jews, so
will it be in these last days. The Lord will fulfil his word, and he
will fulfil all that he has said concerning his coming, whether we are
prepared or not. He will overturn the kingdoms of this world, and will
establish his kingdom, and the world of mankind cannot prevent it. It
is for us to prepare ourselves for the dispensation of his
providences by doing right, not by thinking so, or guessing so, or
may be so, but by knowing what is right. We have the opportunity to
learn what right is, and what is required of us, and we have the power
to do it; and if we do not do it, surely we shall be found wanting. In
comparison, we will be like unto the foolish virgins whose lamps had
gone out, and who, when the time came for them to appear ready to go
forth to meet the Bridegroom, whom they were waiting for, found they
had no oil in their lamps; and while they were seeking to renew their
stock, the bridegroom came and they were too late to meet him. There
are a great many things pertaining to us, Latter-day Saints, that
should occupy our serious attention. It is an easy matter to make
mistakes unless we are very careful; and if we do make mistakes we
will find ourselves more or less injured, and astray from the right
path, and devoid of that portion of the Holy Spirit that we otherwise
might enjoy.
So far as this world is concerned, some people look upon it as a
horrid world, a world full of pain, sorrow and suffering. I do not
regard it as such. I consider it a blessed world, a glorious world,
which affords us very many privileges. What other place is there
besides this world where we can obtain remission of sins? That
ordinance belongs to this life and this world and to no other. And a
great many things pertaining to this world we can do here, but which
we cannot do after we pass behind the veil. If we attend to the duties
of this life in the time and season thereof, not leaving undone
anything which we are able to do, all will be well with us hereafter;
but if we fail in the performance of our duties here, we certainly
shall regret and perhaps mourn our negligence when we shall have
passed away; and besides we shall then have to depend upon others to
do things in our behalf, which we might have done ourselves. Let us
improve our opportunities here, and appreciate them as fully
we ought to. They are great and glorious, and if we not make a good
use of them, we will certainly be sorry when we pass away, and what
makes it more serious is that we do not know when, if ever, we shall
cease to be sorry. This probation is short, and when we shall have
done everything in our power to do, using our very best exertions to
fulfil every obligation and duty, we shall then no more than be
prepared. The more we learn and understand pertaining to the things of
God, the more sensible we will become of the importance of being
careful and determined, on our part, never to yield to the spirit of
indifference or be guilty of committing an act that is wrong. We
should be astonished if a messenger from the eternal world could be
influenced to commit an act of folly or wrong. As saints of God we
ought to be so firm, and have that determination in connection with
our knowledge, that we could not be moved by any influence or power to
do a wrong, however trivial. What is at stake in regard to this
matter? Everything so far as our exaltation is concerned. This is
something that we should think of and bear in mind in all our
associations and situations in life, being careful and cautious that
we do not produce an evil that will live longer than we do. Seeing
that we are all the time subject to temptation, and consequently to do
wrong, we ought to be determined in our own hearts, never to allow any
wrong that we may do to live longer than we do; let us see that no
evil, however small, finds place in our hearts; but rather cultivate
the good fruit in all of our associations in this life, feeling
thankful that we have the privilege of laboring for the cause of right
and truth, and of developing these principles within us.
We are called upon now to build Temples. I can say with great pleasure
that, so far as my knowledge extends among the Latter-day Saints, that
they, as a whole, are willing to perform this labor. We have, through
the goodness and mercy of God, learned that Temples are for an
important use, and that without them we cannot, in our present
condition, receive certain blessings necessary to our salvation and
exaltation in the Kingdom of God. Why so? Because the Lord has
ordained that those blessings shall be administered in such places,
and which, if not performed as he has directed, are without effect.
These are things that we understand, because the Lord has enlightened
us through his Holy Spirit. It has been a common saying in the world
that the Latter-day Saints were led blindly of the Prophet Joseph;
after his death it was said they were the dupes of the Prophet
Brigham; and now it may be said that we yield blind obedience to
President Taylor. But, as Latter-day Saints, we understand it is every
man's privilege and every woman's privilege to know for themselves
that these men were and still are servants of the living God, and that
it is, therefore, God who leads and directs them. And if any belonging
to this church are not satisfied on this point, it is because they are
not living up to their privileges; and to all such, if there be any, I
would say it is time you were obtaining this knowledge; it is time
that every man and woman, claiming membership in the church and
kingdom of God, were enabled to rise up and bear testimony to the
world, if necessary, that they do know that God has set his hand to
build up his kingdom, and that it has been established in the earth in
our day, and that we have been permitted to receive it. When we
can bear this testimony, it will not be, "I guess so," or "may be
so;"
but it will be "Verily, thus saith the Lord."
I can say now, as I have often said before you and before the world,
that I know for myself that God has established his kingdom on the
earth in these days, and that he requires obedience to the laws of his
kingdom and that he not only requires it, but that it is our duty to
willingly and gladly submit to his will whatever it may be, for he can
require nothing of us only that which will be for our good, and that,
too, which we must perform in order to purify ourselves to enter into
the Celestial kingdom. "Well," one may say, "But the world do not
believe it." I know the world did not believe Noah, when he preached
unto them for the space of 120 years that if they did not receive his
testimony, the Lord would send a flood of water upon them. The world
did not believe Jesus the Son of God, when he told them the future of
Jerusalem. I know, too, that, so far as history informs us, the world
never has received the testimonies of the servants of God, neither do
they believe now what is being preached to them by his servants. But
for all that the Lord has always fulfilled his word, and by it the
righteous have been saved, and the disobedient destroyed. And we know
that he will bring to pass all that has been spoken by the mouth of
his servants, whether the world believe or not. And, as the people of
God, who have been simple-minded enough to receive the message he has
sent unto us, we have the consolation of knowing that while wickedness
and abomination and all who delight therein, will be swept away from
the earth, according to the decree of the Almighty, his saints, with
their children, will live to increase and spread abroad and ultimately
fill the whole earth. Let us cultivate within us the knowledge of God,
by living according to the light we have received; and let us ever
appreciate the privileges that this world affords us of learning good
and evil, and of being able to distinguish between that which is right
and that which is wrong. We have the power, if faithful, to overcome
evil and opposition and all the powers of darkness, and of sanctifying
ourselves before the Lord through his truth, and of preparing
ourselves while on this earth to inherit his glorious presence in the
world to come.
That this may be our happy lot, is my prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
- Charles C. Rich