,,gospel ,,doctrine 99 99 99 99 ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,sermons ,,and ,,writings ,,of ,,joseph ,f4 ,,smith ,sixth ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,deseret ,,news ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,utah #aiai ,,preface ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith was so long in the public service of the ,church that his published sermons and writings would fill many volumes4 ,the difficult problem of the compilers of this volume has been to make a collection of extracts that would do full justice to the man and that1 at the same time1 could be contained in a volume of moderate size4 ,every reader who knows ,church literature will note the shortcomings of the work2 and none more than the compilers4 ,however1 incomplete as it may be1 this collection is well worth while1 for it contains a wealth of gospel wisdom1 to instruct1 comfort1 and inspire the ,saints4 ,the literature of the ,church has been carefully and systematically searched to discover all of ,president ,smith's public writings and sermons4 ,those of a historical nature have not been used in this collection1 as they may well be made into another volume4 ,the compilers give their thanks to the many who1 with hearts full of love for ,president ,smith1 have helped in the work4 ,the work has reaffirmed to us that prophets1 speaking for ,god1 are with us4 ,the ,compilers4 ,,introduction ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith incidentally stated on one occasion that when he should pass away1 unlike many of his brethren1 he would leave no written work1 by which he might be remembered4 ,it was his modest way of viewing his own ministry and literary labors1 for ,president ,smith would live in the hearts of the people even if he had said nothing for the printed page2 but on the contrary1 it was discovered that there are volumes in print1 though at that time it had not been gathered and was therefore not so well known4 ,one of the compilers of this volume1 ,dr4 ,john ,a4 ,widtsoe1 listening to his remark1 thought to himself1 certainly it cannot be true that he has left no written work4 ,he then decided to look into his published writings and sermons1 conceived the idea of making extracts from them and arranging these extracts by subjects and in chapters1 in the form of a book4 ,the result is this splendid volume now presented to the public under the title ,,gospel ,,doctrine4 ,doctor ,john ,a4 ,widtsoe interested his brother1 ,prof4 ,osborne ,j4 ,p4 ,widtsoe1 also ,albert ,e4 ,bowen1 ,doctor ,f4 ,s4 ,harris1 and ,joseph ,quinney1 in the work of compiling and classifying from the voluminous writings and sermons of ,president ,smith1 such extracts as would bear upon the subjects chosen for consideration--subjects covering a wide range in gospel doctrine and philosophy1 as taught by the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,lorenzo ,n4 ,stohl generously paid the expenses of the work4 ,without price1 and as a matter of love for the work in hand1 these brethren proceeded with the compilation1 had four typewritten copies prepared1 nicely bound and titled1 and were privileged1 sometime before the death of the ,president1 to offer him the first typewritten copy of the work1 with their love and gratitude for his life1 his example1 and his inspired teachings1 as well as for his gentle kindness and constant helpfulness to each of them4 ,needless to say1 the presentation and the work were gladly accepted and gave ,president ,smith great delight4 ,the ,committee on ,study for the ,priesthood ,quorums1 being apprised by the compilers of the work1 conceived the idea1 under the initiative of ,elder ,david ,o4 ,mc,kay1 of the ,council of the ,twelve1 of making it a text book for the ,priesthood4 ,the volume is now presented to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood ,quorums of the ,church for their study and consideration4 ,to accompany it is ,a ,guide for the direction of teachers and students1 and adopted for convenience in reference and study4 ,the sermons and writings of ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith teach1 in wisdom and moderation1 practically every essential doctrine of the ,latter-day ,saints concerning the present life and the life hereafter4 ,not only that1 but they abound in helpful counsel and advice on everyday practices in right living1 stated in simple and persuasive language4 ,president ,smith's sermons and writings breathe the true spirit of the ,gospel1 are sound as gold in tenet and precept1 and express the will of the ,master in every word4 ,gathered1 classified1 arranged1 and printed as in this volume1 they constitute a compendium of the doctrine and teachings of the ,church that we believe will stand as a safe guide for its members for generations to come4 ,in presenting this compilation to the public1 we are confident that every reader will be fully repaid in its perusal1 containing1 as it does1 rich and vital selections from the sayings1 teachings and sermons of one of the foremost prophets of the ,lord in the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,,committee ,,on ,,courses ,,of ,,study ,,for ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,may1 #aiai4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,i ,truth1 the ,foundation ,our ,hope ,founded on ,truth--,the ,gospel ,founded in ,truth--,truth1 the ,foundation--,man ,saved by ,truth--,gospel ,truth ,cannot be ,superseded--,man's ,greatest ,achievement--,truth and ,righteousness ,will ,prevail--,reality of the ,faith of the ,saints--,meaning of ,science--,all ,truth ,from ,god--,the ,saints ,may ,know the ,truth--,how ,truth ,may be ,known--,how ,man ,lays an ,imperishable ,foundation of ,truth--,reward of ,all ,honest ,people--,the ,gospel is ,simple--,our ,knowledge is ,limited--,blessings for the ,love of ,truth ,,chapter ,,ii ,the ,eternal ,nature of the ,church1 the ,priesthood1 and ,man ,eternal ,nature of ,plan of ,salvation--,gospel ,principles are ,eternal--,pre-existing ,states--,spirit ,memories--,the ,immortality of ,man--,man ,eternally ,responsible--,our ,indestructible1 ,immortal ,identity--,no ,new ,principles in the ,gospel--,fountain of ,truth--,eternity of the ,spirit of man--,purposes of ,almighty ,unchangeable ,,chapter ,,iii ,revelation ,value of the ,spirit of ,revelation--,the ,spirit of ,inspiration--,the ,spirit of ,revelation ,enjoyed by ,all--,new ,revelation--,when to ,expect ,new ,revelation--,how the ,lord ,reveals ,his ,purposes ,concerning the ,church--,modern ,revelation is ,necessary--,theory and ,divine ,revelation--,revelation and ,legal ,evidence--,proper ,channels for ,revelation--,the ,doctrine and ,covenants--,how to ,read the ,bible--,persecution ,follows ,revelation ,,chapter ,,iv ,free ,agency ,the ,latter-day ,saints a ,free ,people--,the ,use of ,freedom and ,human ,judgment--,latter-day ,saints ,should ,exercise ,free ,agency--,how to ,obtain ,blessings of ,god ,,chapter ,v ,god and ,man ,god has ,directed ,his ,latter-day ,work--,a ,personal ,knowledge of ,god--,god ,speaks to the ,honest in ,heart--,god ,constantly ,mindful of us--,god's ,will to ,exalt ,man--,god's ,right to ,rule in the ,world--,the ,lesson in ,natural ,calamities--,extent of ,god's ,power--,beware of ,limiting ,god--,misfortune and ,evil ,not ,attributable to the ,will of ,god--,god's ,warfare--,we are in ,god's ,image--,god's ,rest--,importance of ,being ,under the ,influence of the ,holy ,spirit--,holy ,ghost1 ,holy ,spirit1 ,comforter--,god ,inspires ,man to ,know and to ,do--,trust in ,god--,i ,know that ,my ,redeemer ,lives--,our ,personal ,responsibility--,the ,church a ,democratic ,institution--,how to ,secure ,god's blessings--,jesus is the ,son--,jehovah1 the ,first-born--,nothing ,temporal with ,god--,the ,important ,consideration ,,chapter ,,vi ,the ,purpose and the ,mission of the ,church ,the ,kingdom of ,god ,defined--,mormonism ,defined--,the ,mission of the ,church--,the ,plan of ,life ,restored--,our ,mission is to ,save--,the ,gospel ,message--,we are as ,leaven--,man ,insignificant ,compared to ,cause--,where the ,gospel ,spirit ,leads--,the ,fruits of ,true ,religion--,latter-day ,saints ,possess the ,spirit of ,salvation--,may ,israel ,flourish--,the ,work of the ,lord ,will ,grow--,the ,kingdom of ,god to ,continue--,zion ,established to ,remain--,the ,progress of ,god's ,work ,cannot be ,stopped--,divinity of the ,gospel--,the ,gospel ,all ,comprehensive--,let ,your ,light ,shine--,no ,cause for ,worry--,the ,gospel a ,shield from ,terror--,the ,gospel ,trumpet--,what ,church ,leaders ,advocate--,our ,message one of ,love--,whence8 ,whither8--,latter-day ,saints are ,law-,abiding ,,chapter ,,vii ,the ,first ,principles of the ,gospel ,how the ,sinner ,may be ,cleansed--,fallacy of ,death-,bed ,repentance--,the ,change that ,comes with ,repentance and ,baptism--,the ,necessity of ,baptism--,when to ,baptize ,children--,through ,atonement ,sins are ,washed away--,conditions for ,baptism--,the ,first ,principles of the ,gospel ,,chapter ,,viii ,the ,church and the ,man ,the ,church in ,advance of ,its ,members--,the ,gospel the ,most ,important ,thing--,personal ,advancement is ,help to the ,church--,covenants of the ,latter-day ,saints--,a ,privilege to be ,associated with the ,church--,worth of a ,standing in the ,church--,importance of ,having ,names on ,church ,records--,secret ,organizations--,secret ,societies--,gossip--,we ,want to be ,known as ,we are--,treatment of ,those ,who ,will ,not ,obey the ,law of the ,church--,latter-day ,saints ,must be ,thinkers and ,workers--,the ,identity of the ,church ,unchanged--,no ,classes or ,nationalities in the ,church--,no ,neutrals in the ,church--,don't ,have ,religious ,hobbies--,wealth ,does ,not ,bring ,church ,favors--,the ,gospel ,causes ,disturbance--,having ,done ,all1 ,stand--,not ,naturally ,religious--,strive to be as ,broad as the ,gospel--,search and ,ye shall ,find--,the ,spirit of ,religion--,the ,meaning of ,success--,what is to ,become of ,such as ,me8--,rest for the ,peaceable ,followers of ,christ--,harmony--,character1 ,mettle1 and ,mission of the ,latter-day ,saints ,,chapter ,,ix ,priesthood ,god is at the ,helm--,distinction ,between ,keys of the ,priesthood and ,priesthood--,conferring the ,priesthood--,an ,authoritative ,declaration--,the ,church ,not ,man-made--,what is the ,priesthood8--,the ,priesthood--,definition1 ,purpose and ,power--,mission of the ,priesthood--,what are the ,keys of the ,priesthood8--,sanctity of the ,ordinances of the ,priesthood--,on ,church ,government--,a ,blessing and an ,explanation of the ,priesthood--,the ,privilege of the ,priesthood to ,bless--,the ,priesthood ,greater than ,any of its ,offices--,necessity of ,organization--,acceptance of the ,priesthood a ,serious matter--,how ,authority ,should be ,administered--,authority ,gives ,enduring ,power--,ministry ,should ,know its ,duties and the ,use of ,authority--,how ,officers in the ,church are ,chosen--,a ,word to ,bishops--,jurisdiction of ,quorums of ,priesthood--,jurisdiction in ,stakes and ,wards--,duties of ,those ,engaged in the ,ministry--,the ,purpose and the ,duty of the ,church3 ,qualities of ,leaders--,leaders ,must be ,courageous--,duties of ,officers of the ,church--,truth ,will ,unite ,us--,words to ,church ,officers--,officers to ,set the ,example--,duty of the ,holy ,priesthood--,how to ,vote on ,church ,propositions--,order of ,voting for ,officers of the ,church--,officers ,dependent on ,voice of ,people--,nearly ,all ,male ,members ,hold the ,priesthood2 ,responsibility--,many hold the ,melchizedek ,priesthood--,priesthood ,quorums' ,responsibilities--,what is ,priesthood8--,where and ,how ,counsel ,should be ,sought--,parents ,should be ,consulted--,proper use of ,titles of the ,priesthood--,all ,officers of the ,priesthood ,necessary and ,should be ,respected--,checks ,upon ,church ,members--,the ,priesthood ,should ,know ,section #ajg of the ,doctrine and ,covenants--,who is ,fit to ,preside8--,obligations of the ,priesthood--,how ,honor for ,those ,who ,bear the ,priesthood is ,begotten--,priesthood ,membership ,rolls--,all ,should ,exercise ,their ,authority--,the ,leaders in ,israel--,a ,testimony of ,joseph ,smith and ,his ,successors--,goodness of the ,leaders of the ,church--,divine ,missions of ,presidents of the ,church--,the ,presidents of the ,church ,have ,been ,inspired--,when to ,organize the ,first ,presidency--,first ,presidency ,not ,necessarily ,apostles--,the ,priesthood and ,its ,offices--,authority of the ,president of the ,church--,relation of ,members of ,first ,presidency--,duties of ,apostles--,testimony of the ,apostles--,the ,presiding ,bishopric--,when to ,submit ,questions to the ,general ,authorities--,no ,need to ,point ,out ,defects of ,church ,leaders--,help the ,general ,authorities--,temporal ,support of ,general ,authorities--,a ,blessing ,upon ,stake ,presidencies and ,other ,officers--,counsel to ,stake ,presidents and ,bishops--,duties of ,stake ,presidents--,duty of ,high ,councils--,duties of ,patriarchs--,duties of ,high ,priests--,duties of ,high ,priests' ,quorums--,duty of ,high ,priests--,purpose and ,duties of ,seventies--,duty of ,seventies--,duties of ,seventies--,seventies' ,quorums to be ,replenished from ,elders' ,quorums--,elders to ,proclaim ,gospel--,duties of ,elders--,authority of the ,bishops and ,other ,presiding ,officers--,duties of ,bishops--,bishops and ,lesser ,priesthood ,should be ,active--,duties of the ,lesser ,priesthood--,lesser ,priesthood--,the ,work of the ,bishopric--,dignity of ,teachers' ,calling--,value of ,teachers' ,work--,the ,restoration of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood--,tribute to ,heber ,c4 ,kimball--,tribute to ,erastus ,snow--,purpose of ,visits of ,church ,leaders ,,chapter ,x ,spiritual ,gifts ,the ,gift of ,tongues--,the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper--,order of ,administering to the ,sick--,the ,use of a ,testimony--,purpose and ,practice of ,testimony ,bearing--,the ,temporal and the ,spiritual ,not ,separate--,spiritual and ,temporal ,salvation--,the ,gospel ,designed for ,temporal ,benefits1 ,also--,the ,spirit ,needs ,food ,,chapter ,,xi ,obedience ,obedience an ,eternal ,principle--,how to ,rise ,above the ,weakness of ,mortality--,obedience to ,church ,ordinances ,indispensable--,obedience ,brings ,light and ,freedom--,blessings from ,obedience ,,chapter ,,xii ,prayer ,pray ,every ,day--,pray ,in ,wisdom--,keep the ,spirit of ,prayer--,true ,prayer--,how to ,pray--,an ,address on ,prayer--,practical ,prayer and ,healing--,pray for the ,authorities--,blessings ,follow ,prayers--,correct ,our ,neglects ,,chapter ,,xiii ,tithing2 the ,poor2 ,industry ,why the ,law of ,tithing was ,instituted--,essential ,nature of the ,law of ,tithing--,the ,law of ,tithing a ,test--,the ,law of ,tithing1 the ,law of ,revenue--,tithing--,the ,widow and ,her ,tithing--,the ,widow and ,tithing--,who ,receive ,church ,help ,should be ,tithe ,payers--,use of ,tithing--,commercialism and ,tithing--,tithing ,used ,carefully and ,full ,accounts ,kept--,books ,open to ,tithe-,payers--,we ,should ,sympathize with the ,unfortunate--,charity to be ,accepted ,only ,when ,necessary--,cease to ,waste ,time2 ,cease to be ,idle--,gospel ,blessings ,obtained by ,labor--,idlers ,have ,no ,place in ,zion--,a ,message of the ,latter-day ,saints on ,behalf of the ,poor ,,chapter ,,xiv ,temperance2 the ,sabbath ,man ,should ,be ,master of ,his ,appetites--,moderation--,temperance--,h ow to ,teach ,temperance--,use of ,tobacco and ,strong ,drinks--,do ,not ,smoke--,the ,saloon--,defeat the ,liquor ,interests--,vitality and ,patent ,medicines--,stamp ,out ,profanity and ,vulgarity--,saturday's ,work2--,purpose of the ,sabbath--,the ,meaning of ,sunday--,what ,shall ,we ,do on the ,sabbath ,day8--,necessity of ,sunday ,worship--,be ,wise in ,all ,you ,do--,the ,nature and ,purpose of ,fasting--,keeping the ,sabbath ,holy--,do ,not ,rob the ,sabbath ,day--,man ,must ,be ,master of ,himself ,,chapter ,,xv ,many ,duties of ,man ,the ,object of ,man's ,existence--,we ,deal with the ,lord--,necessity for ,all to ,accomplish their ,missions--,god ,honors ,those ,who ,honor ,him--,qualifications of ,latter-day ,saints--,perfection in ,our ,sphere--,let ,every ,man ,live to ,bear ,closest ,inspection--,need of ,individual ,responsibility--,conquer ,ourselves ,first--,let ,us ,conquer ,ourselves--,charity the ,greatest ,principle--,look for ,good2 ,not for ,evil--,estimate ,men by their ,noble ,deeds--,let ,us ,sustain ,one ,another--,do ,not ,bear ,malice ,against ,one ,another--,honor ,yourselves and ,your ,neighbors--,avoid ,courts--,let ,us ,live ,our ,religion--,let ,us ,be ,true to the ,faith--,church ,duties are ,paramount--,we ,should ,study the ,gospel--,encourage ,singing--,cultivate ,singing--,be ,free ,from ,debt--,what the ,lord ,requires of ,his ,saints--,cultivate ,gratitude--,back-biting--,do ,not ,inflict ,wounds1 ,but ,heal ,wounds--,use ,good ,language--,do ,not ,destroy ,life ,wantonly--,commencement ,address--,our ,main ,purpose of ,life--,how to ,love ,your ,neighbor--,question of ,church ,leaders--,the ,sin of ,ingratitude ,,chapter ,,xvi ,marriage1 the ,home and the ,family ,necessity of ,marriage--,marriage1 ,god-,ordained and ,sanctioned--,righteousness and ,necessity of ,marriage--,male and ,female ,enter ,heaven--,marriage to ,replenish the ,earth--,eternal ,marriage--,eternity of the ,family ,organization--,importance of ,marriage ,within the ,church--,no ,marriage in ,heaven--,plural ,marriage ,forbidden--,further ,statement--,marriage and ,large ,families ,desirable--,be ,true to ,your ,wives and ,children--,respect the ,rights of ,others--,mutual ,treatment of ,husband1 ,wife and ,children--,we ,should ,be ,examples to ,our ,families--,the ,truest ,greatness--,parents ,responsible for their ,children--,the ,father1 the ,presiding ,authority of the ,family--,duties of ,fathers--,motherhood the ,foundation of ,home and ,nation--,husband's ,success ,dependent ,upon ,wife's ,fitness--,duty of ,parents--,watch ,your ,children--,duty to ,teach ,children--,what to ,teach ,your ,children--,what ,children ,should ,be ,taught--,training of ,children at ,home and in ,sunday ,school--,teach ,children the ,gospel--,teach ,children the ,story of ,jesus' ,death--,wise ,giving to ,children--,do ,not ,place ,children ,under ,pledges--,children ,have ,equal ,rights with ,elders in the ,house of the ,lord--,don't ,mortgage ,your ,houses--,no ,substitute for the ,home--,worship in the ,home--,the ,basis of a ,true ,home--,the ,ideal ,home--,foundation of ,all ,good in ,home--,secure ,homes--,own ,your ,homes--,do ,not ,mortgage ,your ,homes--,evils of ,mortgaging--,our ,first ,duty to ,our ,household--,unchastity1 a ,dominant ,evil--,degrees of ,sexual ,sin--,purity--,three ,threatening ,dangers--,the ,gospel the ,greatest ,thing--,duty of ,husband to ,wife--,wives and ,husbands in ,eternity--,importance of ,filial ,affection--,family ,government by ,love--,the ,home and the ,child ,,chapter ,,xvii ,amusements and ,fashions ,youth ,should ,look ,forward--,proper ,amusements--,proper ,character of ,amusements--,social ,duties--,the ,danger of ,pleasure ,hunting--,harmful ,effects of ,bad ,books--,proper ,reading--,raffling and ,gambling--,games of ,chance--,the ,evil of-,cards--,wasting ,time with ,cards--,card ,playing--,stop ,card ,playing--,pernicious ,nature of ,card ,playing--,cards in the ,home--,evil ,fashions--,improper ,fashions--,exclusive ,clubs ,among ,church ,members--,a ,lesson for the ,boys ,,chapter ,,xviii ,love ,your ,enemies ,we ,are ,not ,discouraged--,i ,forgive ,all ,men--,we ,leave ,our ,enemies in ,god's ,hands--,leave ,results in ,god's ,hands--,our ,debt to ,our ,enemies--,a ,prayer for ,our ,enemies--,the ,golden ,rule--,why the ,world ,does ,not ,love ,us--,love ,one ,another--,keep ,aloof from the ,wicked--,the ,enemies to ,fear ,,chapter ,,xix ,education and ,industrial ,pursuits ,we ,are ,ever ,learning--,address on ,ignorance--,the ,value of ,practical ,education--,practical ,education ,advocated--,boys ,should ,be ,taught the ,arts of ,industry--,manual ,training and ,agriculture--,agriculture and ,mechanic ,arts in ,church ,schools--,we ,should ,study ,agriculture--,dignity of ,agriculture--,encourage ,forestry--,young ,women ,should ,have ,practical ,preparation for ,life--,object of ,church ,schools--,value of ,church ,schools--,purpose of ,church ,schools--,the ,church ,ample for ,all ,necessary ,organizations--,develop ,faculties in ,church ,organizations--,the ,foundation of ,prosperity--,the ,object of ,cooperation ,,chapter ,,xx ,missionaries ,how ,missionaries ,are ,called--,requirements of ,prospective ,missionaries--,the ,kind of ,men ,wanted for ,missionaries--,necessary ,qualifications of ,missionaries--,further ,qualifications of ,missionaries--,what ,missionaries ,should ,teach--,what and ,how to ,teach--,not ,all ,men ,ready to ,accept the ,gospel--,our ,people ,generous to ,missionaries--,advice to ,missionaries--,missionaries and the ,word of ,wisdom--,caution to ,missionaries--,health of ,missionaries ,to ,be ,guarded--,missionaries ,in ,ill ,health--,care of ,returned ,missionaries--,work for ,returned ,missionaries--,duty of a ,person ,called on a ,mission ,,chapter ,,xxi ,false ,teachings ,the ,devil's ,knowledge--,the ,enemy of ,truth ,always ,arrayed ,against ,this ,work--,why the ,truth is ,hated--,only ,those ,who ,deny the ,faith ,contend--,beware of ,false ,teachers--,where to ,expect ,false ,doctrines--,knowledge of ,sin ,unnecessary--,retreat from ,evil--,the ,law of ,recompense--,sympathy with ,criminals--,the ,crime of ,witchcraft and ,other ,superstitions--,superstitious ,practices--,the ,messiah ,craze--,one ,mighty and ,strong ,,chapter ,,xxii ,auxiliary ,organizations ,definition of ,auxiliary ,organizations--,place of ,auxiliary ,organizations in the ,church--,relation ,between ,authorities of ,ward and ,auxiliary ,organizations--,purpose and ,duties of ,relief ,society--,objects of the ,relief ,society--,duties and ,purpose of the ,relief ,society--,the ,relief ,society--,object of ,sunday ,schools and ,church ,schools--,the ,teacher ,essential in ,sunday ,school ,work--,the ,first ,qualification of a ,sunday ,school ,teacher--,the ,principle of ,sabbath ,school ,teaching--,the ,stake ,sunday ,school ,board--,the ,importance of ,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,work--,the ,field of the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations--,purpose of ,mutual ,improvement ,associations--,the ,fountain of ,truth--,purpose and ,duties of ,religion ,classes--,teachers ,must ,believe in ,jesus ,christ ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,political ,government ,the ,ten ,commandments--,the ,laws of ,god and the ,laws of the ,land--,no ,nationalities in the ,church--,the ,latter-day ,saints ,loyal to the ,united ,states--,loyalty to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states--,proud of the ,united ,states--,origin and ,destiny of the ,united ,states3 ,loyalty of the ,latter-day ,saints--,saints to ,serve ,god--,guided by ,god to the ,west--,true ,patriotism--,importance of ,national ,patriotism--,the ,church ,not ,partisan--,the ,church ,loyal--,latter-day ,saints ,are ,good ,citizens--,church ,not ,responsible for ,political ,parties--,the ,church ,not ,in ,politics--,shun the ,spirit of ,mob ,violence--,the ,danger of ,mobs--,the ,basis of ,labor ,unions--,cause of ,war--,attitude ,towards ,war--,we ,want ,peace--,when ,peace ,shall ,come--,peace on ,earth1 ,good ,will to ,men--,the ,key to ,peace--,god ,strives with ,warring ,nations--,conduct of the ,boys in the ,army--,message to the ,boys in ,war ,service ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,eternal ,life and ,salvation ,eternal ,life and ,salvation--,close ,relation of the ,next ,life--,condition in a ,future ,life--,spiritual ,death--,the ,unpardonable ,sin--,the ,resurrection--,nature of ,ministering ,angels--,redemption ,beyond the ,grave--,nature of ,death--,the ,resurrection--,on the ,resurrection--,resurrection and ,final ,judgment--,condition of ,children in ,heaven--,status of ,children in the ,resurrection--,address at ,funeral ,services of ,mary ,a4 ,freeze--,the ,resurrection--,work for the ,dead--,temple ,ordinances ,unchanged--,care and ,need of ,temples--,preaching the ,gospel in the ,spirit ,world--,vision of the ,redemption of the ,dead--,moderation in ,burial ,displays--,who ,cannot be ,reached by the ,gospel--,principle of ,baptism for the ,dead ,,chapter ,,xxv ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet ,the ,reality of ,joseph's ,vision--,joseph ,smith's ,name ,will ,never ,perish--,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith--,prediction of ,joseph ,smith ,fulfilled--,joseph ,smith the ,boy--,joseph ,smith a ,restorer--,plural ,wives of ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet--,what ,does the ,martyrdom of ,joseph and ,hyrum ,teach ,us--,divine ,authority of ,joseph ,smith and ,his ,successors--,god's ,guiding ,hand ,seen in ,church ,history ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,personal ,testimonies and ,blessings ,a ,testimony--,this is ,god's ,work1 a ,testimony--,a ,testimony--,the ,pledge of ,my ,life--,a ,blessing--,a ,testimony--,i ,know that ,my ,redeemer ,lives--,testimony ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith ,an ,appreciation--,reminiscences--,a ,biographical ,sketch--,last of the ,old ,school of ,veteran ,leaders ,gospel ,doctrine #a ,chapter ,i ,,truth1 ,,the ,,foundation ,,our ,,hope ,,founded ,,on ,,truth4 ,our hope of salvation must be founded upon the truth1 the whole truth1 and nothing but the truth1 for we cannot build upon error and ascend into the courts of eternal truth and enjoy the glory and exaltation of the kingdom of our ,god4 ,that cannot be done4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41,a #aiag1 p4 #c4 ,footnote ,a3 ,october ,conference ,report4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,founded ,,in ,,truth4 ,i have no fears in my heart1 or mind1 that that which is called ,mormonism--which is indeed the gospel of ,jesus ,christ--will not bear the scrutiny of science and the researches of the learned and literate into all truth4 ,the gospel of ,jesus is founded in truth4 ,every principle of it is susceptible of demonstration beyond any just reason for contradiction4 ,the ,lord is doing his work and will do it1 and no power can stay it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #abg4 ,,truth ,,the ,,foundation4 ,we believe in righteousness4 ,we believe in all truth1 no matter to what subject it may refer4 ,no sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject4 ,we are willing to receive all truth1 from whatever source it may come2 for truth will stand1 truth will endure4 ,no man's faith1 no man's religion1 no religious organization in all the world1 can ever rise above the truth4 ,the truth must be at the foundation of religion1 or it is in vain and it will fail of its purpose4 ,i say that the truth is at the foundation1 at the bottom and top of1 and it #b entirely permeates this great work of the ,lord that was established through the instrumentality of ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet4 ,god is with it2 it is his work1 not that of man2 and it will succeed1 no matter what the opposition may be4 ,we look now at the opposition arrayed against the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and smile1 so to speak1 with feelings of confidence1 doubly assured by the experience of the past1 in comparison to the feelings that possessed the souls of our fathers and mothers in the early days of the ,church1 when they were but a handful1 with all the world arrayed against them2 just a few poor1 homeless people1 driven from their possessions1 cast out from the communities in which they sought to establish themselves and build their homes4 ,when ,i think of our people1 thrust into the wilderness wandering and seeking for a place where the soles of their feet might rest1 and see1 then1 the world arrayed against them1 and think of the little chance that appeared before them1 for success and the accomplishment of their purposes1 ,i wonder that more of them did not tremble and falter than did2 but some of them were true in the midst of it all1 even unto death4 ,if it had been necessary for them to have been martyred for the truth1 willingly would they have given their lives1 as they gave all else that they possessed in the world1 for the knowledge they had of the divinity of the work in which they were engaged4 ,are we as faithful today8 ,are we as devout as our fathers were8 ,oh1 my ,god1 help me to be as true as they were6 ,help me to stand as they stood1 upon the pedestal of eternal truth1 that no power on earth1 or in hell1 may remove me from that foundation4 ,this is my prayer to the ,lord for my own sake1 and it is my prayer to him for every ,latter-day ,saint throughout the length and breadth of the world4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41,a #aiji1 p4 #g4 ,footnote ,a3 ,april ,conference ,report4 ,,man ,,saved ,,by ,,truth4 ,we have no ill feelings in our #c hearts toward any living creature4 ,we forgive those who trespass against us4 ,those who have spoken evil of us1 and who have misrepresented us before the world1 we have no malice in our hearts toward them4 ,we say1 let ,god judge between them and us2 let him recompense them for their work4 ,we will not raise a hand against them2 but we will extend the hand of fellowship and friendship to them1 if they will repent of their sins and come unto the ,lord and live4 ,no matter how malicious they may have been1 or how foolish they may have acted1 if they will repent of it we will receive them with open arms and we will do all we can to help them to save themselves4 ,i cannot save you2 you cannot save me2 we cannot save each other1 only so far as we can persuade each other to receive the truth1 by teaching it4 ,when a man receives the truth he will be saved by it4 ,he will not be saved merely because some one talks to him1 but because he received and acted upon it4 ,the gospel is consistent1 it is common sense1 reason1 revelation2 it is almighty truth from the heavens made known to man4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hf4 ,,gospel ,,truth ,,can ,,not ,,be ,,superseded4 ,there is no science1 nor philosophy1 that can supersede ,god ,almighty's truth4 ,the ,lord has said1 ,my word is truth1 and indeed it is2 and ,i believe that the ,latter-day ,saints know enough about the word of ,god to know it is his word when they see it and shun whatever is not2 and that they win abide by the word of ,god1 for it is truth4 ,as the ,savior said1 ,if ye continue in my word1 then are ye my disciples indeed2 and ye shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4 ,i believe that the ,latter-day ,saints1 and especially the leading men in ,israel1 have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the principles of the gospel that they know the truth1 and they are made free by its possession--free from sin1 free from error1 free from darkness1 from the traditions of men1 from vain philosophy1 and from #d the untried1 unproven theories of scientists1 that need demonstration beyond the possibility of a doubt4 ,we have had science and philosophy through all the ages1 and they have undergone change after change4 ,scarcely a century has passed but they have introduced new theories of science and of philosophy that supersede the old traditions and the old faith and the old doctrines entertained by philosophers and scientists4 ,these things may undergo continuous changes1 but the word of ,god is always true1 is always right4 ,i want to say to you that the principles of the gospel are always true--the principles of faith in ,god1 of repentance from sin1 of baptism for the remission of sins by authority of ,god1 and the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost2 these principles are always true and are always absolutely necessary for the salvation of the children of men1 no matter who they are or where they are4 ,these principles are always true1 and you cannot get away from them4 ,no other name1 under heaven1 is given1 but that of ,jesus ,christ1 by which you can be saved or exalted in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,no man can enter into the kingdom of heaven except he be born again of the water and of the ,spirit4 ,these principles are indispensable1 for ,god has declared them4 ,not only has ,christ declared them by his own voice1 and his disciples from generation to generation1 in the olden time1 but in these latter days1 they have taken up the same testimony and declared these things to the world4 ,they are true today as they were true then1 and we must obey these things4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 pp4 #g1 #h4 ,,man',s ,,greatest ,,achievement4 ,the greatest achievement mankind can make in this world is to familiarize themselves with divine truth1 so thoroughly1 so perfectly1 that the example or conduct of no creature living in the world can ever turn them away from the knowledge that they have obtained4 ,in the footsteps of the ,master1 the greatest of all the teachers that this world has ever received1 is the #e safest and surest course to pursue that ,i know of in the world4 ,we can absorb the precepts1 the doctrines and the divine word of the ,master1 without any fear that the exemplar will fail of carrying out and executing his own precepts and fulfilling his own doctrines and requirements4 ,from my boyhood ,i have desired to learn the principles of the gospel in such a way and to such an extent that it would matter not to me who might fall from the truth1 who might make a mistake1 who might fail to continue to follow the example of the ,master1 my foundation would be sure and certain in the truths that ,i have learned1 though all men else go astray and fail of obedience to them4 ,we all have heard of people who have pinned their faith to the arm of flesh1 who have felt that their belief1 their confidence and their love for the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ would be shattered1 if their ideals--those possibly who first taught them the principles of the gospel--should make a mistake1 falter or fall4 ,i know of but ,one in all the world who can be taken as the first and only perfect standard for us to follow1 and he is the ,only ,begotten ,son of ,god4 ,i would feel sorry indeed1 if ,i had a friend or an associate in this life who would turn away from the plan of life and salvation because ,i might stumble or make a failure of my life4 ,i want no man to lean upon me nor to follow me1 only so far as ,i am a consistent follower in the footsteps of the ,master4--,juvenile ,instructor1 #aiae1 ,vol4 #ej1 pp4 #gch1 #gci4 ,,truth ,,and ,,righteousness ,,will ,,prevail4 ,i do not expect any victory1 any triumph1 anything to boast of1 to come to the ,latter-day ,saints1 except upon the principles of righteousness and of truth4 ,truth and righteousness will prevail and endure4 ,if we will only continue to build upon the principles of righteousness1 of truth1 of justice1 and of honor1 ,i say to you there is no power beneath the celestial kingdom that can stay the progress of this work4 ,and as #f this work shall progress1 and shall gain power and influence among men1 so the powers of the adversary and of darkness will diminish before the advancement and growth of this kingdom1 until the kingdom of ,god1 and not of men1 will triumph4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #d4 ,,reality ,,of ,,the ,,faith ,,of ,,the ,,saints4 ,there is no doubt in the minds of ,latter-day ,saints in relation to the existence and personage of the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 who is the ,father of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4 ,there is no doubt in the minds of ,latter-day ,saints that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god1 being begotten of the ,father in the flesh4 ,and there is no ,latter-day ,saint in all the world but knows as truly and as fully as ,god can impart that knowledge to the soul of man1 that he shall live again after death1 and that men and women shall be associated together as ,god has ordained1 and they have been united by his power1 to dwell together forever and forever2 and they shall know as they are known1 they shall see as they are seen1 and they shall understand as ,god understands2 for they are his children4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #ci4 ,,meaning ,,of ,,science4 ,true science is that system of reasoning which brings to the fore the simple1 plain truth4 ,the ,savior of the world was pre-eminently the ,scientist of this earth1 and the truths he uttered #aijj years ago have withstood the assaults of science and prejudice and hate4--,logan ,journal1 ,logan1 ,february #f1 #aiab4 ,,all ,,truth ,,from ,,god4 ,let us sustain the cause of ,zion4 ,let no man speak lightly of the principles of the gospel4 ,let no one treat lightly the ordinances of the house of ,god4 ,let no one hold in derision the ,priesthood that the ,lord has restored to the earth1 which is the authority that he has given unto men4 ,let no man look contemptuously upon the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints as it has been established in the earth through the instrumentality of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 #g whom the ,lord raised up when he was but a child to lay the foundation of the same4 ,let no man treat these things lightly or doubtingly2 but let every man seek earnestly to understand the truth and teach his children to become familiar with those truths of heaven that have been restored to the earth in the latter-days4 ,i believe with all my soul in ,god the ,father and our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4 ,i believe with all my might1 mind and strength in the ,savior of the world1 and in the principle of redemption from death and sin4 ,i believe in the divine mission of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,i believe in all the truth that ,i know1 and ,i believe that there are many principles of eternal truth that still lie hidden from me and from the understanding of men1 which will yet be revealed by the power of ,god unto his faithful servants4 ,i believe that the ,lord has revealed to the children of men all that they know4 ,i do not believe that any man has discovered any principle of science1 or art1 in mechanism1 or mathematics1 or anything else1 that ,god did not know before man did4 ,man is indebted to the ,source of all intelligence and truth1 for the knowledge that he possesses2 and all who will yield obedience to the promptings of the ,spirit1 which lead to virtue1 to honor1 to the love of ,god and man1 and to the love of truth and that which is ennobling and enlarging to the soul1 will get a cleaner1 a more expansive1 and a more direct and conclusive knowledge of ,god's truths than anyone else can obtain4 ,i tell you this1 because ,i know it is true4 ,the ,lord ,almighty lives2 he made the heavens and the earth1 and the fountains of water2 and we are his children1 his offspring1 and we are not here by chance4 ,the ,lord designed our coming1 and the object of our being4 ,he designs that we shall accomplish our mission1 to become conformed to the likeness and image of ,jesus ,christ1 that1 like him1 we may be without sin unto salvation1 like him we may be filled with pure intelligence1 and like him we may be exalted to the right #h hand of the ,father1 to sit upon thrones and have dominion1 and power in the sphere in which we shall be called to act4 ,i testify to this doctrine1 for the ,lord has made me to know and feel the truth of it from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet4 ,i love good1 honorable men--even men who may be mistaken1 as far as their judgment is concerned1 but who try to do right2 ,i love them for the reason that they are my brethren1 the sons of my ,father1 and ,i would that they might all see the truth as it is in ,christ ,jesus1 and accept it1 and receive all the benefits of it1 in time and throughout all eternity4 ,if the ,lord has revealed to the world the plan of salvation and redemption from sin1 by which men may be exalted again into his presence and partake of eternal life with him1 ,i submit1 as a proposition that cannot be controverted1 that no man can be exalted in the presence of ,god and attain to a fulness of glory and happiness in his kingdom and presence1 save and except he will obey the plan that ,god has devised and revealed4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 pp4 #he1 #hf4 ,,the ,,saints ,,may ,,know ,,the ,,truth4 ,to the faithful ,latter-day ,saint is given the right to know the truth1 as ,god knows it2 and no power beneath the celestial kingdom can lead him astray1 darken his understanding1 becloud his mind or dim his faith or his knowledge of the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it can't be done1 for the light of ,god shines brighter than the illumination of a falsehood and error2 therefore1 those who possess the light of ,christ1 the spirit of revelation and the knowledge of ,god1 rise above all these vagaries in the world2 they know of this doctrine1 that it is of ,god and not of man4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #i4 ,,how ,,the ,,truth ,,may ,,be ,,known4 ,it is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeketh after a sign4 ,show me ,latter-day ,saints who have to feed upon miracles1 signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the ,church1 and #i ,i will show you members of the ,church who are not in good standing before ,god1 and who are walking in slippery paths4 ,it is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth1 but it is by humility and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of ,god4 ,when ,i as a boy first started out in the ministry1 ,i would frequently go out and ask the ,lord to show me some marvelous thing1 in order that ,i might receive a testimony4 ,but the ,lord withheld marvels from me1 and showed me the truth1 line upon line1 precept upon precept1 here a little and there a little1 until he made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet1 and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me4 ,he did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this1 nor did he have to speak with the trump of an archangel4 ,by the whisperings of the still small voice of the ,spirit of the living ,god1 he gave to me the testimony ,i possess4 ,and by this principle and power he will give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth that will stay with them1 and it will make them to know the truth1 as ,god knows it1 and to do the will of the ,father as ,christ does it4 ,and no amount of marvelous manifestations will ever accomplish this4 ,it is obedience1 humility1 and submission to the requirements of heaven and to the order established in the kingdom of ,god upon the earth1 that will establish men in the truth4 ,men may receive the visitation of angels2 they may speak in tongues2 they may heal the sick by the laying on of hands2 they may have visions and dreams2 but except they are faithful and pure in heart1 they become an easy prey to the adversary of their souls1 and he will lead them into darkness and unbelief more easily than others4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 pp4 #dj1 #da4 ,,how ,,man ,,lays ,,an ,,imperishable ,,foundation ,,of ,,truth4 ,but the men and the women who are honest before ,god1 who humbly plod along1 doing their duty1 paying their tithing1 and exercising that pure religion and undefiled before #aj ,god and the ,father1 which is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their afflictions and to keep oneself unspotted from the world1 and who help look after the poor2 and who honor the holy ,priesthood1 who do not run into excesses1 who are prayerful in their families1 and who acknowledge the ,lord in their hearts1 they will build up a foundation that the gates of hell cannot prevail against2 and if the floods come and the storms beat upon their house1 it shall not fall1 for it will be built upon the rock of eternal truth4 ,i pray that this vast congregation will build upon this imperishable foundation1 upon the principle expressed by the words of ,joshua1 as for me and my house1 we will serve ,god1 and as also expressed by ,job1 though he slay me1 yet will ,i trust in him4 ,if you have that spirit toward ,god and his work in these latter days1 you will build steadily and slowly1 it may be1 but surely1 upon a foundation that will endure throughout the countless ages of eternity4 ,and if you do not get any great manifestations1 you need not worry about it4 ,you will get the testimony of ,jesus ,christ in your hearts1 and you will know ,god and ,jesus whom he has sent1 whom to know is life eternal1 just as well as those who receive visions4 ,for those who do receive visions1 the devil will try to make them believe that they were delusions1 and if they commit sin1 he will be sure to make them believe it4 ,god bless you1 is my prayer4 ,amen4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #db4 ,,reward ,,of ,,all ,,honest ,,people4 ,in some instances you will find examples of people out in the world who do not know as much as you do of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 who have not the testimony of the ,spirit in their hearts1 as you have1 of the divinity of ,christ and of ,joseph ,smith1 who are just as devout1 just as humble1 just as contrite in spirit1 and as devoted to what they know1 as some of us are1 and they will be rewarded according to their works1 every one of them1 and will receive reward far surpassing anything that they dream of4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #h4 #aa ,,the ,,gospel ,,is ,,simple4 ,some subjects are in themselves1 perhaps1 perfectly harmless1 and any amount of discussion over them would not be injurious to the faith of our young people4 ,we are told1 for example1 that the theory of gravitation is at best a hypothesis1 and that such is the atomic theory4 ,these theories help to explain certain things about nature4 ,whether they are ultimately true can not make much difference to the religious convictions of our young people4 ,on the other hand1 there are speculations which touch the origin of life and the relationship of ,god to his children4 ,in a very limited degree that relationship has been defined by revelation1 and until we receive more light upon the subject we deem it best to refrain from the discussion of certain philosophical theories which rather destroy than build up the faith of our young people4 ,one thing about this so-called philosophy of religion that is very undesirable lies in the fact that as soon as we convert our religion into a system of philosophy1 none but philosophers can understand1 appreciate1 or enjoy it4 ,god1 in his revelation to man1 has made his word so simple that the humblest of men1 without special training1 may enjoy great faith1 comprehend the teachings of the gospel1 and enjoy undisturbed their religious convictions4 ,for that reason we are averse to the discussion of certain philosophical theories in our religious instructions4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #df1 pp4 #bjh1 #bji1 ,april1 #aiaa4 ,,our ,,knowledge ,,is ,,limited4 ,our methods in speculation and reasoning about the things of ,god may often be harmless2 but if we depart from the simplicity of ,god's word into a spirit of rationalism1 we become the victims of vanity1 which endangers the true spirit of worship in the human heart4 ,it is not easy for men to give up their vanities1 to overcome their preconceived notions1 and surrender themselves heart and soul to the will of ,god which is always higher than their own4 ,the dangers of religious #ab speculations are as great today as they were in the days of ,christ1 and if we would avoid these dangers we must adhere to the simplicity of our religious beliefs and practices4 ,when men and women realize they are getting into deep water where their footing is insecure1 they should retreat1 for they may be sure that the course they have been taking will lead them more and more away from their bearings which are not always easy to regain4 ,the religion of the heart1 the unaffected and simple communion which we should hold with ,god1 is the highest safeguard of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,it is no discredit to our intelligence or to our integrity to say frankly in the face of a hundred speculative questions1 ,i do not know4 ,one thing is certain1 and that is1 ,god has revealed enough to our understanding for our exaltation and for our happiness4 ,let the ,saints1 then1 utilize what they already have2 be simple and unaffected in their religion1 both in thought and word1 and they will not easily lose their bearings and be subjected to the vain philosophies of man4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #df1 p4 #bfi1 ,may1 #aiaa4 ,,blessings ,,for ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,truth4 ,if you love the truth1 if you have received the gospel in your hearts1 and love it1 your intelligence will be added upon1 your understanding of truth will be expanded1 become larger than in any other way4 ,truth is the thing1 above all other things in the world1 that makes men free--free from indolence and carelessness1 free from the fearful consequences of neglect1 for it will be a fearful consequence1 if we neglect our duty before the living ,god4 ,if you will learn the truth and walk in the light of truth1 you shall be made free from the errors of men and of crafts2 you will be above suspicion and above wrong-doing of every description4 ,god will approve of you and bless you and your inheritances1 and make you prosper and flourish like a green bay tree4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ajb1 ,december1 #aiag4 #ac ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,eternal ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,church1 ,,the ,,priesthood1 ,,and ,,man ,,eternal ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,plan ,,of ,,salvation4 ,i feel this morning as ,i have felt all my life1 but ,i feel it stronger this morning1 perhaps1 than ever before1 that there is nothing under the heavens of so much importance to me or to the children of men as the great plan of life and salvation which was devised in the heavens in the beginning1 and which has been handed down from period to period through the inspiration of holy men called of ,god until the day of the coming of the ,son of ,man1 for this gospel and this plan of salvation was revealed to our first parents4 ,the angel of ,god carried to them the plan of redemption1 and of salvation from death and sin that has been revealed from time to time by divine authority to the children of men1 and it has undergone no change4 ,there was nothing in it1 in the beginning1 that was superfluous or unnecessary2 nothing in it that could be dispensed with2 it was a complete plan devised in the beginning by the wisdom of the ,father and the holy ones for the redemption of the human race and for their salvation and exaltation in the presence of ,god4 ,it was taught more fully1 and exemplified more perfectly in the being1 the life and mission1 the instruction and doctrine1 of the ,son of ,god1 than ever before1 unless there may be an exception in the days of ,enoch2 but through all the generations of time1 the same gospel1 the same plan of life and salvation1 the same ordinances1 burial with ,christ1 remembrance of the great sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the world and for man's redemption1 have been handed down from time to time1 from the time of the creation4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #b4 #ad ,,gospel ,,principles ,,are ,,eternal4 ,faith in ,god is an irrevocable principle1 just as much as thou shalt not kill2 thou shalt not steal2 thou shalt not commit adultery4 ,repentance of a sin is an eternal principle1 and is as essential in its place1 and is as much an integral part of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ as3 thou shalt not kill1 or1 thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,baptism for the remission of sin1 by one having authority1 is an eternal principle1 for ,god devised it1 and commanded it1 and ,christ himself was not above obeying it2 he had to obey it in order to fulfil the law of righteousness4 ,and then the rites of the ,priesthood of the ,church1 as the ,lord has revealed them1 and the principles that underlie the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 are irrevocable1 unchanging and unchangeable4 ,we talk of the everlasting gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 which is the power of ,god unto salvation1 and these principles in and of themselves are eternal principles1 and will last while life1 or thought1 or being last1 or immortality endures4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #aa4 ,,pre-,,existing ,,states4 ,mrs4 ,martha ,h4 ,tingey1 ,president1 ,y4 ,l4 ,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,,dear ,,sister3 ,the ,first ,presidency have nothing to advance concerning pre-existing states but that which is contained in the revelations to the ,church4 ,the written standards of scripture show that all people who come to this earth and are born in mortality had a pre-existent1 spiritual personality as the sons or daughters of the ,eternal ,father4 7,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,chap4 #c1 verses #e-g47 ,jesus ,christ was the ,firstborn4 ,a spirit born of ,god is an immortal being4 ,when the body dies the spirit does not die4 ,in the resurrected state the body will be immortal as well as the spirit4 ,speculations as to the career of ,adam before he #ae came to the earth are of no real value4 ,we learn by revelation that he was ,michael1 the ,archangel1 and that he stands at the head of his posterity on earth 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,sec4 #ajg3ec-ef47 ,dogmatic assertions do not take the place of revelation1 and we should be satisfied with that which is accepted as doctrine1 and not discuss matters that1 after all disputes1 are merely matters of theory4 ,your brethren1 ,,joseph ,f4 ,,smith1 ,,anthon ,h4 ,,lund1 ,,charles ,w4 ,,penrose1 ,first ,presidency4 --,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #bc1 pp4 #afb1 #afc1 #aiab4 ,,spirit ,,memories4 7,letter written to ,elder ,o4 ,f4 ,whitney who was a missionary in ,england47 ,i heartily endorse your sentiments respecting congeniality of spirits4 ,our knowledge of persons and things before we came here1 combined with the divinity awakened within our souls through obedience to the gospel1 powerfully affects1 in my opinion1 all our likes and dislikes1 and guides our preferences in the course of this life1 provided we give careful heed to the admonitions of the ,spirit4 ,all those salient truths which come home so forcibly to the head and heart seem but the awakening of the memories of the spirit4 ,can we know anything here that we did not know before we came8 ,are not the means of knowledge in the first estate equal to those of this8 ,i think that the spirit1 before and after this probation1 possesses greater facilities1 aye1 manifold greater1 for the acquisition of knowledge1 than while manacled and shut up in the prison-house of mortality4 ,had we not known before we came the necessity of our coming1 the importance of obtaining tabernacles1 the glory to be achieved in posterity1 the grand object to be #af attained by being tried and tested--weighed in the balance1 in the exercise of the divine attributes1 god-like powers and free agency with which we are endowed2 whereby1 after descending below all things1 ,christ-like1 we might ascend above all things1 and become like our ,father1 ,mother and ,elder ,brother1 ,almighty and ,eternal6--we never would have come2 that is1 if we could have stayed away4 ,i believe that our ,savior is the ever-living example to all flesh in all these things4 ,he no doubt possessed a foreknowledge of all the vicissitudes through which he would have to pass in the mortal tabernacle1 when the foundations of this earth were laid1 when the morning stars sang together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy4 ,when he conversed with the brother of ,jared1 on the ,mount1 in his spiritual body1 he understood his mission1 and knew the work he had to do1 as thoroughly as when he ascended from the ,mount of ,olives before the wondering gaze of the ,jewish disciples1 with his resurrected1 glorious and immortal body4 ,and yet1 to accomplish the ultimatum of his previous existence1 and consummate the grand and glorious object of his being1 and the salvation of his infinite brotherhood1 he had to come and take upon him flesh4 ,he is our example4 ,the works he did1 we are commanded to do4 ,we are enjoined to follow him1 as he followed his ,head2 that where he is1 we may be also2 and being with him1 may be like him4 ,if ,christ knew beforehand1 so did we4 ,but in coming here1 we forgot all1 that our agency might be free indeed1 to choose good or evil1 that we might merit the reward of our own choice and conduct4 ,but by the power of the ,spirit1 in the redemption of ,christ1 through obedience1 we often catch a spark from the awakened memories of the immortal soul1 which lights up our whole being as with the glory of our former home4--,contributor1 #ahhc1 ,vol4 #d1 pp4 #aad1 #aae4 ,,the ,,immortality ,,of ,,man4 ,we are called mortal beings #ag because in us are seeds of death1 but in reality we are immortal beings1 because there is also within us the germ of eternal life4 ,man is a dual being1 composed of the spirit which gives life1 force1 intelligence and capacity to man1 and the body which is the tenement of the spirit and is suited to its form1 adapted to its necessities1 and acts in harmony with it1 and to its utmost capacity yields obedience to the will of the spirit4 ,the two combined constitute the soul4 ,the body is dependent upon the spirit1 and the spirit during its natural occupancy of the body is subject to the laws which apply to and govern it in the mortal state4 ,in this natural body are the seeds of weakness and decay1 which1 when fully ripened or untimely plucked up1 in the language of scripture1 is called the temporal death4 ,the spirit is also subject to what is termed in the scriptures and revelations from ,god1 spiritual death4 ,the same as that which befell our first parents1 when1 through disobedience and transgression1 they became subject to the will of ,satan1 and were thrust out from the presence of the ,lord and became spiritually dead1 which the ,lord says1 is the first death1 even that same death which is the last death1 which is spiritual1 which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when ,i shall say1 ,depart1 ye cursed6 ,and the ,lord further says1 ,but behold1 ,i say unto you1 that ,i the ,lord ,god gave unto ,adam and unto his seed that they should not die as to the temporal death1 until ,i the ,lord ,god should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption 7from the first death71 through faith on the name of mine ,only ,begotten ,son4 ,and thus did ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 appoint unto man the days of his probation2 that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life1 even as many as would believe2 and they that believe not1 unto eternal damnation1 for they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall1 because they repent not4 ,from the natural death1 that is the death of the body1 and #ah also from the first death1 which is spiritual1 there is redemption through belief on the name of the ,only ,begotten ,son1 in connection with repentance and obedience to the ordinances of the gospel1 declared by holy angels1 for if one believe1 he must also obey2 but from the second death1 even that same death which is the first death1 which is spiritual1 and from which man may be redeemed through faith and obedience1 and which will again be pronounced upon the wicked when ,god shall say1 depart1 ye cursed1 there is no redemption1 so far as light on this matter has been revealed4 ,it is written that all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men who receive me and repent2 but the blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost1 it shall not be forgiven unto men4 ,if men will not repent and come unto ,christ1 through the ordinances of his gospel1 they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall1 but must remain forever subject to the will of ,satan and the consequent spiritual darkness or death unto which our first parents fell1 subjecting all their posterity thereto1 and from which none can be redeemed but by belief or faith on the name of the ,only ,begotten ,son and obedience to the laws of ,god4 ,but1 thanks be to the eternal ,father1 through the merciful provisions of the gospel1 all mankind will have the opportunity of escape1 or deliverance1 from this spiritual death1 either in time or in eternity1 for not until they are freed from the first can they become subject unto the second death1 still if they repent not they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall1 and will continue subject to the will of ,satan1 the first spiritual death1 so long as they repent not1 and thereby reject ,christ and his gospel2 but what of those who do believe1 repent of their sins1 obey the gospel1 enter into its covenants1 receive the keys of the priesthood and the knowledge of the truth by revelation and the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and afterwards turn away wholly from that light and knowledge8 ,they become #ai a law unto themselves1 and will to abide in sin2 of such it is written1 whoso breaketh this covenant1 after he hath received it1 and altogether turneth therefrom1 shall not have forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come4 ,and again1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 concerning all those who know my power1 and have been made partakers thereof1 and suffered themselves1 through the power of the devil1 to be overcome1 and to deny the truth and defy my power--they are they who are the sons of perdition1 of whom ,i say that it had been better for them never to have been born1 for they are vessels of wrath1 doomed to suffer the wrath of ,god1 with the devil and his angels in eternity2 concerning whom ,i have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come1 having denied the ,holy ,spirit after having received it1 and having denied the ,only ,begotten ,son of the ,father--having crucified him unto themselves1 and put him to an open shame4--,doc4 and ,cov4 #gf3ca-ce4 ,now1 there is a difference between this class and those who simply repent not and reject the gospel in the flesh4 ,of these latter it is written1 they shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead1 through the triumph and the glory of the ,lamb1 and shall be redeemed in the due time of the ,lord after the sufferings of his wrath4 ,but of the others it is said1 they shall not be redeemed1 for they are the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power4 ,the others1 never having been redeemed from the first1 cannot be doomed to the second death1 or in other words cannot be made to suffer eternally the wrath of ,god1 without hope of redemption through repentance1 but must continue to suffer the first death until they repent1 and are redeemed therefrom through the power of the atonement and the gospel of salvation1 thereby being brought to the possession of all the keys and blessings to which they will be capable of attaining or to which they may be entitled1 through the mercy1 justice and power of the everlasting ,god2 or1 on the other #bj hand1 forever remain bound in the chains of spiritual darkness1 bondage and banishment from his presence1 kingdom and glory4 ,the temporal death is one thing1 and the spiritual death is another thing4 ,the body may be dissolved and become extinct as an organism1 although the elements of which it is composed are indestructible or eternal1 but ,i hold it as self-evident that the spiritual organism is an eternal1 immortal being1 destined to enjoy eternal happiness and a fulness of joy1 or suffer the wrath of ,god1 and misery--a just condemnation1 eternally4 ,adam became spiritually dead1 yet he lived to endure it until freed therefrom by the power of the atonement1 through repentance1 etc4 ,those upon whom the second death shall fall will live to suffer and endure it1 but without hope of redemption4 ,the death of the body1 or natural death1 is but a temporary circumstance to which all were subjected through the fall1 and from which all will be restored or resurrected by the power of ,god1 through the atonement of ,christ4 ,man existed before he came to this earth1 and he will exist after he passes from it2 and will continue to live throughout the countless ages of eternity4 ,there are three classes of beings2 or rather1 man exists in three separate conditions1 before and after his probation upon this earth--first1 in the spirit or pre-existent state2 second1 in the disembodied state1 the condition which exists after the dissolution of the body and spirit until the resurrection take place2 and third1 in the resurrected state4 ,for instance1 some two thousand years before the coming of ,christ into the world to sojourn in the flesh1 he showed himself to the brother of ,jared and said1 ,behold1 this body1 which ye now behold1 is the body of my spirit2 and man have ,i created after the body of my spirit2 and even as ,i appear unto thee to be in the spirit1 will ,i appear unto my people in the flesh4 ,he further declared1 ,behold1 ,i am he who #ba was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people4 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ4 ,here ,jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit1 even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body1 even as he showed himself unto the ,nephites--that is1 prior to his coming in the flesh4 ,this ,i consider typical of the first condition of all spirits4 ,again it is written1 ,for ,christ also hath once suffered for sins1 the just for the unjust1 that he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened by the ,spirit3 by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison3 which sometime were disobedient1 when once the longsuffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah1 while the ark was a preparing1 wherein few1 that is1 eight souls were saved by water1 etc4 ,thus we see that while the body of our ,savior slept in the tomb1 he went in the spirit and preached his glorious gospel to the spirits in prison1 who were disobedient in the days of ,noah1 and were destroyed in the flesh by the flood4 ,this was their second condition or state in the spirit1 awaiting the resurrection of their bodies which were slumbering in death4 ,marvel not at this3 saith ,jesus1 for the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his the ,redeemer's voice1 and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4 ,in reference to the third condition or state1 we will refer to the account given of the risen ,redeemer before his ascension4 ,john tells us that he appeared unto his disciples three times after his resurrection1 on which occasions he ate bread1 broiled fish and honeycomb1 and opened the eyes of their understanding1 that they began to comprehend the ,scriptures and the prophecies concerning ,christ4 ,but when he appeared unto them they were terrified and affrighted1 and supposed that they had seen a spirit4 ,and he said unto them1 ,why #bb are ye troubled8 and why do thoughts arise in your hearts8 ,behold my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself3 handle me1 and see2 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 as ye see me have4 ,here is presented the true type of the resurrected being4 ,and after this manner are all those who have their resurrected bodies1 and there are many of these1 for we are told in the scriptures that the graves were opened1 and many bodies of the ,saints which slept arose and came out of the graves1 after his resurrection1 and went into the holy city and appeared unto many4 ,this class of beings dwell in heaven1 or in the paradise of the just1 having been counted worthy to come forth in the first resurrection1 even with ,christ1 to dwell with him and to be associated with the members of the kingdom of ,god and his ,christ4 ,these comprise the three conditions or estates of man in heaven4 ,not all1 however1 of the disembodied spirits enjoy the same privileges1 exaltation and glory4 ,the spirits of the wicked1 disobedient1 and unbelieving1 are denied the privileges1 joys and glory of the spirits of the just and good4 ,the bodies of the ,saints will come forth in the first resurrection1 and those of the unbelieving1 etc41 in the second1 or last4 ,in other words1 the ,saints will rise first1 and those who are not ,saints will not rise until afterwards1 according to the wisdom1 justice and mercy of ,god4 ,christ is the great example for all mankind1 and ,i believe that mankind were as much foreordained to become like him1 as that he was foreordained to be the ,redeemer of man4 ,whom ,god did foreknow--and whom did he not foreknow8--he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his ,son1 that he might be the firstborn among many brethren4 ,it is very plain that mankind are very far from being like ,christ1 as the world is today1 only in form of person4 ,in this we are like him1 or in the form of his person1 as he is the express image of his ,father's person4 ,we are therefore in the form of ,god1 physically1 and may #bc become like him spiritually1 and like him in the possession of knowledge1 intelligence1 wisdom and power4 ,the grand object of our coming to this earth is that we may become like ,christ1 for if we are not like him1 we cannot become the sons of ,god1 and be joint heirs with ,christ4 ,the man who passes through this probation1 and is faithful1 being redeemed from sin by the blood of ,christ1 through the ordinances of the gospel1 and attains to exaltation in the kingdom of ,god1 is not less but greater than the angels1 and if you doubt it1 read your ,bible1 for there it is written that the ,saints shall judge angels1 and also they shall judge the world4 ,and why8 ,because the resurrected1 righteous man has progressed beyond the pre-existent or disembodied spirits1 and has risen above them1 having both spirit and body as ,christ has1 having gained the victory over death and the grave1 and having power over sin and ,satan2 in fact1 having passed from the condition of the angels to that of a ,god4 ,he possesses keys of power1 dominion and glory that the angel does not possess--and cannot possess without gaining them in the same way that he gained them1 which will be by passing through the same ordeals and proving equally faithful4 ,it was so ordained when the morning stars sang together1 before the foundations of this earth were laid4 ,man in his pre-existent condition is not perfect1 neither is he in the disembodied estate4 ,there is no perfect estate but that of the risen ,redeemer1 which is ,god's estate1 and no man can become perfect except he become like the ,gods4 ,and what are they like8 ,i have shown what ,christ is like1 and he is like his ,father1 but ,i will refer to an undoubted authority to this people1 on this point3 ,the ,father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's2 the ,son also2 but the ,holy ,ghost has not a body of flesh and bones1 but is a personage of ,spirit1 were it not so1 the ,holy ,ghost could not dwell in us4 7,doc4 #bd and ,cov41 ,sec4 #acj47 ,there is not time to refer to the many scriptural passages which might be cited in proof of these important facts1 enough already have been referred to1 to place the matter beyond a doubt4 ,it is believed by many1 in the ,christian world1 that our ,savior finished his mission when he expired upon the cross1 and his last words on the cross1 as given by the ,apostle ,john--,it is finished1 are frequently quoted as evidence of the fact2 but this is an error4 ,christ did not complete his mission upon the earth until after his body was raised from the dead4 ,had his mission been completed when he died1 his disciples would have continued fishermen1 carpenters1 etc41 for they returned to their several occupations soon after the crucifixion1 not yet knowing the force of their holy calling1 nor understanding the mission assigned them by their ,master1 whose name would soon have been buried with his body in the grave to perish and be forgotten1 for as yet they knew not the scripture1 that he must rise again from the dead4 ,but the most glorious part of his mission had to be accomplished after the crucifixion and death of his body4 ,when on the first day of the week some of the disciples went to the tomb with certain preparations for the body of their ,lord1 they were met there by two men clothed in shining garments1 who said unto them1 ,why seek ye the living among the dead8 ,he is not here1 but is risen4 ,remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in ,galilee1 saying1 ,the ,son of ,man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified1 and the third day rise again4 ,and not until then did the disciples remember these words of the ,savior1 or begin to understand their meaning4 ,why were they thus forgetful and seemingly ignorant of all they had been taught by the ,savior respecting the objects of his mission to the earth8 ,because they lacked one important qualification1 they had not yet been endowed with power from on high4 ,they had not yet obtained the gift of the #be ,holy ,ghost4 ,and the presumption is1 they never would have received this important and essential endowment had ,christ's mission been completed at the time of his death4 ,it may seem strange to some who may not have reflected on this matter fully1 that the disciples of ,christ were without the gift of the ,holy ,ghost until after his resurrection4 ,but so it is written1 notwithstanding the ,savior on one occasion declared1 blessed art thou ,simon1 etc41 for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee1 but my ,father which is in heaven4 ,while ,jesus was with them he was their light and their inspiration4 ,they followed him by sight1 and felt the majestic power of his presence1 and when these were gone they returned to their nets and to their various occupations and to their homes saying1 we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed ,israel1 but the chief priests and our rulers have delivered him to be condemned to death1 and have crucified him4 ,no wonder that ,jesus exclaimed unto some of them1 ,o fools1 and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken4 ,if the disciples had been endowed with the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 or with power from on high1 at this time1 their course would have been altogether different from this1 as the sequel abundantly proved4 ,if ,peter1 who was the chief apostle1 had received the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the power and testimony thereof prior to the terrible night on which he cursed and swore and denied his ,lord1 the result would have been very different with him1 for then he would have sinned against light and knowledge1 and against the ,holy ,ghost1 for which there is no forgiveness4 ,the fact1 therefore1 that he was forgiven1 after bitter tears of repentance1 is an evidence that he was without the witness of the ,holy ,ghost1 never having received it4 ,the other disciples or apostles of ,christ were precisely in the same condition1 and it was not until the evening of the day on which ,jesus came out of the grave that he bestowed upon #bf them this inestimable gift4 ,john gives a careful description of this important event which concludes as follows3 ,then said ,jesus to them again1 ,peace be unto you3 as my ,father hath sent me1 even so send ,i you4 ,and when he had said this1 he breathed on them1 and saith unto them1 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost3 whose soever sins ye remit1 they are remitted unto them1 etc4 ,this was their glorious commission1 and now were they prepared to receive the witness of the ,spirit--even the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,yet they were told to tarry in ,jerusalem1 until they were endued with power from on high1 which they did4 ,jesus further told them that if he went not away the ,comforter--that is1 the ,holy ,ghost--would not come unto them1 but if he went away he would send him1 and he it was who should testify of ,christ1 and of the ,father1 and bring to their remembrance all things whatsoever he had commanded or taught them1 and it should lead them into all truth4 ,thus we see that the resurrection from the dead1 not only of ,christ1 but of all mankind1 in the due time of the ,lord2 the endowment of the apostles with the ,holy ,ghost1 and their glorious commission from ,christ1 being sent out by him as he was sent by the ,father2 the opening of the eyes of the disciples to understand the prophecies of the ,scriptures1 and many other things did ,jesus after he cried out upon the cross1 it is finished4 ,further1 the mission of ,jesus will be unfinished until he redeems the whole human family1 except the sons of perdition1 and also this earth from the curse that is upon it and both the earth and its inhabitants can be presented to the ,father redeemed1 sanctified and glorious4 ,things upon the earth1 so far as they have not been perverted by wickedness1 are typical of things in heaven4 ,heaven was the prototype of this beautiful creation when it came from the hand of the ,creator1 and was pronounced good4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bc 7#ahhc71 pp4 #afi-age1 delivered ,june #ah1 #ahhb4 #bg ,,man ,,eternally ,,responsible4 ,man will be held responsible in the life to come for the deeds that he has done in this life1 and will have to answer for the stewardships entrusted to his care here1 before the judge of the quick and the dead1 the ,father of our spirits1 and of our ,lord and ,master4 ,this is the design of ,god1 a part of his great purpose4 ,we are not here to live a few months or years1 to eat1 drink and sleep1 then to die1 pass away and perish4 ,the ,lord ,almighty never designed man to be so ephemeral1 useless and imperfect as this4 ,i would pity the being who had such a conception as this of the ,creator of the starry heavens1 the planets1 and the world on which we dwell1 poor as it is in glory in comparison to the many others created4 ,is it conceivable that one possessing such power1 majesty1 intelligence1 light and knowledge would create a world like this and people it with beings in his own image and likeness only to live and grovel through a short1 miserable existence1 then die and perish8 ,no such thing6 ,there is no death here1 but there is life6 ,god is the ,god of the living1 and not of the dead4 ,he is the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob1 and of the ancient prophets4 ,they live6 ,they live not only in the words they spoke1 the predictions they made1 and in the promises handed down from generation to generation to the children of men2 they live not only in the record they made1 in the doctrines that they taught1 and in the hope that they held out for redemption1 atonement and salvation1 but they live in spirit1 in entity1 as they lived here4 ,they are prophets1 as they were prophets here1 the chosen of ,god2 patriarchs1 as they were here2 possessing the same identity1 the same entity2 and by and by1 if not already1 they will possess the same bodies they possessed while journeying in mortality4 ,those bodies will become purified1 cleansed1 and made perfect2 and the spirit and the body will be reunited1 never more to be separated1 never again to taste of death4 ,this is the law #bh and the promise of ,god1 and the words spoken to his ancient prophets1 come down to us through the generations that have followed4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ceg1 ,feb41 #aiah4 ,,our ,,indestructible1 ,,immortal ,,identity4 ,what a glorious thing it is to know and be true to that which has been revealed in these latter times through the instrumentality of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,it was revealed anciently by the ,savior himself1 and he exemplified that glorious principle of which ,i wish to say a few words1 and which has been renewed and emphasized more especially in these latter days through ,joseph ,smith--,i refer to our identity1 our indestructible1 immortal identity4 ,as in ,christ we have the example1 he was born of woman1 he lived1 he died1 and he lived again in his own person and being1 bearing even the marks of the wounds in his flesh1 after his resurrection from the dead--so also a testimony has been given to you1 in later days1 through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and others who have been blessed with knowledge1 that the same individual ,being still lives and will always live4 ,jesus is possessed of immortality1 and eternal life2 and in evidence of his existence and his immortality1 and in evidence of the great and glorious truths of the gospel which he taught1 the death which he died1 and the resurrection that he wrought from the dead1 he has revealed himself and borne his own record and testimony to those who have lived and still live in this day and age4 ,what a glorious thought it is1 to me at least1 and it must be to all who have conceived of the truth or received it in their hearts1 that those from whom we have to part here1 we will meet again and see as they are4 ,we will meet the same identical being that we associated with here in the flesh--not some other soul1 some other being1 or the same being in some other form1 but the same identity and the same form and likeness1 the same person we knew and were associated with in our mortal existence1 even to the #bi wounds in the flesh4 ,not that a person will always be marred by scars1 wounds1 deformities1 defects or infirmities1 for these will be removed in their course1 in their proper time1 according to the merciful providence of ,god4 ,deformity will be removed2 defects will be eliminated1 and men and women shall attain to the perfection of their spirits1 to the perfection that ,god designed in the beginning4 ,it is his purpose that men and women1 his children1 born to become heirs of ,god1 and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ1 shall be made perfect1 physically as well as spiritually1 through obedience to the law by which he has provided the means that perfection shall come to all his children4 ,therefore1 ,i look for the time when our dear ,brother ,william ,c4 ,staines1 whom we all knew so well1 and with whom we were familiar for years--,i was familiar with him1 all my life1 just as ,i was familiar with ,aunt ,rachel here all my life1 and do not remember the time when ,i did not know her--,i look for the time1 ,i say1 when ,brother ,staines will be restored4 ,he will not remain the crippled and deformed ,william ,c4 ,staines that we knew1 but he will be restored to his perfect frame--every limb1 every joint1 every part of his physical being will be restored to its perfect frame4 ,this is the law and the word of ,god to us1 as it is contained in the revelations that have come to us1 through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,the point in my mind which ,i desire to speak of particularly is this3 ,when we shall have the privilege to meet our mother1 our aunt1 our sister1 this noble woman whose mortal remains lie here now1 but whose immortal spirit has ascended to ,god from whence it came1 when that spirit shall return to take up this tabernacle again1 she will be ,aunt ,rachel in her perfection4 ,she will not always remain just as she will appear when she is restored again to life1 but she will go on to perfection4 ,under that law of restoration that ,god has provided1 she will regain her perfection1 the perfection of her youth1 the perfection of her glory and of her #cj being1 until her resurrected body shall assume the exact stature of the spirit that possessed it here in its perfection1 and thus we shall see the glorified1 redeemed1 exalted1 perfected ,aunt ,rachel1 mother1 sister1 saint and daughter of the living ,god1 her identity being unchanged1 as a child may grow to manhood or womanhood and still be the same being4 ,i want to say to my friends1 my brethren and sisters1 and to the kindred1 that the ,lord ,almighty has revealed these truths to us in these days4 ,we not only have it in the written word1 we have it in the testimony of the spirit of ,god in the heart of every soul who has drunk from the fountain of truth and light1 and that witness bears record of these words to us4 ,what else would satisfy us8 ,what else would satisfy the desire of the immortal soul8 ,would we be satisfied to be imperfect8 ,would we be satisfied to be decrepit8 ,would we be satisfied to remain forever and ever in the form of infirmity incident to age8 ,no6 ,would we be satisfied to see the children we bury in their infancy remain as children only1 throughout the countless ages of eternity8 ,no6 ,neither would the spirits that did possess the tabernacles of our children be satisfied to remain in that condition4 ,but we know our children will not be compelled to remain as a child in stature always1 for it was revealed from ,god1 the fountain of truth1 through ,joseph ,smith the prophet1 in this dispensation1 that in the resurrection of the dead the child that was buried in its infancy will come up in the form of the child that it was when it was laid down2 then it will begin to develop4 ,from the day of the resurrection1 the body will develop until it reaches the full measure of the stature of its spirit1 whether it be male or female4 ,if the spirit possessed the intelligence of ,god and the aspirations of mortal souls1 it could not be satisfied with anything less than this4 ,you will remember we are told that the spirit of ,jesus ,christ visited one of the ancient #ca prophets and revealed himself to him1 and he declared his identity1 that he was the same ,son of ,god that was to come in the meridian of time4 ,he said he would appear in the flesh just as he appeared to that prophet4 ,he was not an infant2 he was a grown1 developed spirit2 possessing the form of man and the form of ,god1 the same form as when he came and took upon him a tabernacle and developed it to the full stature of his spirit4 ,these are truths that have been revealed to us4 ,what for8 ,to give us intelligent hope2 to give us intelligent aspiration2 to lead us to think1 to hope1 to labor and accomplish what ,god has aimed and does aim and design that we should accomplish1 not only in this life1 but in the life to come4 ,i rejoice exceedingly that ,i know and have known nearly all my life such a noble woman4 ,i do not remember the first time that ,i saw ,aunt ,rachel1 ,i can't recall it2 it seems to me ,i always knew her1 just as ,i knew my mother in my childhood and all the way through life2 and ,i rejoice exceedingly in this testimony of the ,spirit of the ,lord that has come to us through revelation in the latter days4 ,through this testimony ,i am confident that ,i shall see ,aunt ,rachel1 by and by2 and when ,i go--and ,i expect to go1 perhaps1 long before she shall recover this tabernacle--,i expect to meet her there4 ,i expect to meet the same individual that ,i knew here4 ,i expect to be able to recognize her1 just as ,i could recognize her tomorrow1 if she were living4 ,i believe ,i will know just exactly who she is and what she is1 and ,i will remember all ,i knew about her2 and enjoy her association in the spirit as ,i did in the flesh2 because her identity is fixed and indestructible1 just as fixed and indestructible as the identity of ,god the ,father and ,jesus ,christ the ,son4 ,they cannot be any other than themselves4 ,they cannot be changed2 they are from everlasting to everlasting1 eternally the same2 so it will be with us4 ,we will progress and develop and grow in wisdom and understanding1 but our #cb identity can never change4 ,we did not spring from spawn4 ,our spirits existed from the beginning1 have existed always1 and will continue forever4 ,we did not pass through the ordeals of embodiment in the lesser animals in order to reach the perfection to which we have attained in manhood and womanhood1 in the image and likeness of ,god4 ,god was and is our ,father1 and his children were begotten in the flesh of his own image and likeness1 male and female4 ,there may have been times when they did not possess the same intelligence that they possessed at other times4 ,there are periods in the history of the world when men have dwindled into ignorance and barbarism1 and then there were other times when they have grown in intelligence1 developed in understanding1 enlarged in spirit and comprehension1 approaching nearer to the condition and likeness of their ,father and ,god1 and then losing faith1 losing the love of ,god1 losing the light of the ,spirit and returning again to semi-barbarism4 ,then again1 they have been restored1 by the power and operation of the ,spirit of the ,lord upon their minds1 until they again reached a degree of intelligence4 ,we have reached a degree of intelligence in our dispensation4 ,will this same degree of intelligence1 that now exists throughout the world1 continue to exist8 ,yes2 if the world continue to abide in the light that has been shed abroad in the world by the ,father of light1 with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning4 ,but let them deny ,god1 let them deny truth1 let them depart from righteousness1 let them begin again to wallow in wickedness and transgression of the laws of ,god1 and what will be the result8 ,they will degenerate2 they will again recede possibly into absolute barbarism1 unless they repent1 and the power of ,god will be again restored to them and they be again lifted up by that light which shines and is never dim1 except to men who shut their hearts and eyes and ears against it and will not receive it4 #cc ,i did not expect to enter into any lengthy discourse4 ,i thank ,god for my relationship and acquaintance with this noble1 good mother4 ,i expect to be associated with her throughout all the ages to come1 if ,i can be as faithful as she has been4 ,i desire to be1 and that isn't all--with the help of ,god1 ,i intend to be faithful1 as she has been faithful1 that in the end ,i may be worthy to dwell where she will dwell1 with the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 with her husband with whom she was associated here in the flesh1 with her son and her children1 from generation to generation4 ,i expect to be associated with them in the mansions that are prepared for the righteous1 where ,god and ,christ are1 where those shall be who believe in his name1 who receive his work and abide in his law6 ,oh6 that ,i could be instrumental in the bands of the ,lord in bringing every loved soul unto him1 for there are souls that are still lacking1 whom ,i love1 and if it were possible1 how ,i would love to be instrumental in the band of the ,lord in bringing those loved souls to a knowledge of this truth1 that they might receive of its glory1 benefits and blessings1 in this life and in the life to come4 ,from my childhood1 ,i have always tried to be a savior on ,mount ,zion1 a savior among men4 ,i have that desire in my heart4 ,i may not have been very successful in my ambition to accomplish this work1 but ,i have desired it1 and ,i still desire that ,i may be instrumental in helping to spread this truth to the earth's remotest bounds and the testimony of it to the children of men in every land4 ,i know it is true4 ,it appeals to my judgment1 to my desires1 and to the aspirations of my soul2 ,i want my family2 ,i want those the ,lord has given to me2 ,i want them now2 ,i want them forever6 ,i want to be associated with them forever4 ,i do not want them to change their identity4 ,i do not want them to be somebody else4 ,this idea of theosophy1 which is gaining ground even among so-called ,christians1 in these latter days1 is a fallacy of the deepest kind4 ,it is absolutely repugnant #cd to the very soul of man to think that a civilized1 intelligent being might become a dog1 a cow1 a cat2 that he might be transformed into another shape1 another kind of being4 ,it is absolutely repulsive and so opposed to the great truth of ,god1 that has been revealed from the beginning1 that he is from the beginning always the same1 that he cannot change1 and that his children cannot change4 ,they may change from worse to better2 they may change from evil to good1 from unrighteousness to righteousness1 from humanity to immortality1 from death to life everlasting4 ,they may progress in the manner in which ,god has progressed2 they may grow and advance1 but their identity can never be changed1 worlds without end--remember that2 ,god has revealed these principles1 and ,i know they are true4 ,they assert their truth upon the intelligent mind and soul of man4 ,they embrace or embody that which the ,lord has planted in our hearts and souls to desire1 and to give it unto us4 ,they put us in the way of receiving that which we most desire and most love1 that which is most necessary and essential to our happiness and exaltation4 ,they take of the things of ,god and give them to us1 and they prepare us for the future1 for exaltation and for eternal happiness1 a reward which all the souls in the world desire1 if they are correct in their lives and thoughts4 ,it is only the vicious and the truly wicked who do not desire purity2 they do not love purity and truth4 ,i do not know whether it is possible for any soul to become so debased as to lose all regard for that which is pure and chaste1 good and true and godlike4 ,i believe that there still lingers in the heart of the most vicious and wicked1 at times at least1 a spark of that divinity that has been planted in the souls of all the sons of ,god4 ,men may become so corrupt that they do not have more than mere glimpses of that divine inspiration that strives to lead them toward and to love good2 but ,i do not believe there is a soul in the world that has absolutely lost all conception #ce and admiration of that which is good and pure1 when he sees it4 ,it is hard to believe that a human being may become so depraved that he has lost all desire that he might also be good and pure1 if it were possible2 but many people have abandoned themselves to evil and have come to the conclusion that there is no chance for them4 ,while there is life there is hope1 and while there is repentance there is a chance for forgiveness2 and if there is forgiveness1 there is a chance for growth and development until we acquire the full knowledge of these principles that will exalt and save us and prepare us to enter into the presence of ,god the ,father1 who is the ,father of our spirits1 and who is the ,father in the flesh1 of his ,only ,begotten ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 who joined divine immortality with the mortal1 welded the link between ,god and man made it possible for mortal souls1 on whom the sentence of death had been placed1 to acquire eternal life1 through obedience to his laws4 ,let us1 therefore1 seek the truth and walk in the light as ,christ is in the light1 that we may have fellowship with him1 and with each other1 that his blood may cleanse us from all sin4 ,may the ,lord comfort my brother ,heber1 and ,i know he will4 ,brother ,heber does not feel that there is any death here4 ,i don't think ,i could weep for sorrow4 ,i could give way to tears just now1 but they would not be tears of sorrow1 of mourning1 or of grief1 for this good soul4 ,they would only express the love ,i have for her2 they would only indicate my feelings toward her1 for the noble and pure example she set before me and all who have known her4 ,i could weep for joy in the knowledge that ,i possess that she1 in her spirit life and being1 is and will be associated with all those who have been endeared to her by the persecutions1 the experiences and the trials through which she has had to pass in this world4 ,with them she is rejoicing today1 as one born of death into life everlasting4 ,she is not dead2 she lives6 ,what greater proof do you want of that fact #cf than to see her lifeless form8 ,who is she8 ,this is her casket4 ,this is her mortal tenement2 this is but the clay that enveloped the immortal1 living ,aunt ,rachel1 the living spirit4 ,the spirit has fled4 ,her spirit1 the immortal part1 has departed from this tabernacle2 hence1 this tabernacle lies here lifeless and ready to return to mother earth from whence it came1 but to be restored again1 every element to be recalled and re-formed in its perfect frame1 when ,aunt ,rachel will come and take possession of it and inherit it forever1 just as ,christ came and took up his body that was not suffered to see corruption1 and inherited it in its immortal state1 never to be separated again2 so it will be with her4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 p4 #eia1 ,june1 #aiji4 ,speech at the funeral services of ,rachel ,grant1 mother of ,president ,heber ,j4 ,grant4 ,,no ,,new ,,principles ,,in ,,the ,,gospel4 ,we have no new principle to advocate2 but we have come to preach the gospel of life and salvation1 to testify to the divinity of our ,lord and ,savior1 ,jesus ,christ1 and of the divine mission of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 through whose instrumentality the truth was restored in this dispensation4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ih1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,foundation ,,of ,,truth4 ,we hear frequently of men who throw discredit on the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior and ,redeemer1 because some of the principles1 doctrines1 and philosophy which he taught are said to have been spoken before his day by heathen philosophers4 ,a variety of examples are sometimes quoted to show that the ideals which have grown from the doctrines of ,christ are a direct development of what is found in the teachings of the ,old ,testament1 particularly in the ,psalms and in the second part of ,isaiah4 ,but1 on the other hand1 it is just as certain that these ideals receive a finish and an enrichment1 by the touch of the ,savior1 vastly beyond and above what they possessed before1 and also they are placed #cg on deeper and firmer foundations4 ,this1 let it be said to begin with1 is because they were his before they were ever uttered by man4 ,even in the five distinctive and characteristic topics generally considered by commentators original in the teachings of ,jesus1 we find little if anything new1 except the enlargement4 ,these are named as1 the ,fatherhood of ,god1 the ,kingdom of ,god2 subjects or members of the ,kingdom2 the ,messiah1 the ,holy ,ghost2 and the ,trinity of ,god4 ,but the idea of the ,fatherhood of ,god was not unknown either to the ,pagans or to ,israel4 ,zeus1 from the time of ,homer1 had borne the name father of gods and men4 ,but1 both in ,jewish and ,pagan literature1 the idea was superficial and meant little more than originator 7,gen4 #a3bf72 and in the old ,jewish scripture ,god is more particularly called the ,father of his people1 ,israel 7,deut4 #ad3a2 ,isaiah #fc3af74 ,but in the teachings of ,christ there is a fuller embodiment of revelation in the word ,father1 and the application which he makes of the ,fatherhood of ,god invests his life with supreme tenderness and beauty4 ,as an example3 ,in the old scripture1 we are told1 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear him 7,psalm #ajc3ac72 but by the interpretation of ,jesus1 the love of ,god as ,father extends beyond these limitations even to those who are unthankful and evil3 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you2 that ye may be the children of your ,father which is in heaven2 for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good1 and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust 7,matt4 #e3de74 ,but love ye your enemies1 and do good1 and lend1 hoping for nothing again2 and your reward shall be great1 and ye shall be the children of the ,highest2 for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil 7,luke #f3ce74 #ch ,and so with other doctrines of ,christ2 while perhaps not new they are enriched by the addition of fuller1 broader1 more loving conceptions of ,god and his purposes2 in which compulsion was eliminated1 and lowly service1 love1 and self-sacrifice were substituted and made the true forces of an acceptable life4 ,even the answer to the lawyer's question1 often called the eleventh commandment3 ,master1 which is the great commandment in the law8 had been given to the children of ,israel 7,lev4 #ai3ai71 over two thousand years before its perfected meaning was impressed upon the learned ,pharisee 7,matt4 #bb3cd1 #dj74 ,but what of all this8 ,are we therefore to discredit the teachings of the ,savior8 ,verily no4 ,let it be remembered that ,christ was with the ,father from the beginning1 that the gospel of truth and light existed from the beginning and is from everlasting to everlasting4 ,the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost1 as one ,god1 are the fountain of truth4 ,from this fountain all the ancient learned philosophers have received their inspiration and wisdom--from it they have received all their knowledge4 ,if we find truth in broken fragments through the ages1 it may be set down as an incontrovertible fact that it originated at the fountain1 and was given to philosophers1 inventors1 patriots1 reformers1 and prophets by the inspiration of ,god4 ,it came from him through his ,son ,jesus ,christ and the ,holy ,ghost1 in the first place1 and from no other source4 ,it is eternal4 ,christ1 therefore1 being the fountain of truth1 is no imitator4 ,he taught the truth first2 it was his before it was given to man4 ,when he came to the earth he not only proclaimed new thought1 but repeated some of the everlasting principles which had been heretofore only partly understood and enunciated by the wisest of men4 ,and in so doing he enlarged in every instance upon the wisdom which they had originally received from him1 because of his superior abilities and wisdom and his association with the ,father and the #ci ,holy ,ghost4 ,he did not imitate men4 ,they made known in their imperfect way what the inspiration of ,jesus ,christ had taught them1 for they obtained their enlightenment first from him4 ,christ taught the gospel to ,adam1 and made known his truths to ,abraham and the prophets4 ,he was the inspirer of the ancient philosophers1 ,pagan or ,israelite1 as well as of the great characters of modern times4 ,columbus1 in discovery2 ,washington1 in the struggle for freedom2 ,lincoln1 in emancipation and union2 ,bacon1 in philosophy2 ,franklin1 in statesmanship and diplomacy2 ,stephenson1 in steam2 ,watts1 in song2 ,edison1 in electricity1 and ,joseph ,smith1 in theology and religion1 found in ,christ the source of their wisdom and the marvelous truths which they advocated4 ,calvin1 ,luther1 ,melanchthon1 and all the reformers1 were inspired in thoughts1 words1 and actions1 to accomplish what they did for the amelioration1 liberty and advancement of the human race4 ,they paved the way for the more perfect gospel of truth to come4 ,their inspiration1 as with that of the ancients1 came from the ,father1 his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 the one true and living ,god4 ,this may also truthfully be said concerning the ,revolutionary fathers of this nation1 and all who have in the ages past contributed to the progress of civil and religious freedom4 ,there is no light nor truth which did not come to them first from him4 ,men are mere repeaters of what he has taught them4 ,he has voiced no thoughts originating with man4 ,the teachings of ,jesus did not begin with his incarnation2 for1 like truth1 he is eternal4 ,he not only inspired the ancients1 from the beginning1 but when he came to earth he reiterated eternal1 original truth1 and added gloriously to the revelations men had uttered4 ,when he returned to the ,father he still took and does take an interest in his children and people1 by revealing to them new truths1 and by inspiring their #dj actions2 and1 as men grow in the knowledge of ,god1 they shall become more and more like him unto the perfect day1 when his knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters cover the deep4 ,it is folly1 therefore1 to discredit the ,savior on the grounds that he has uttered nothing new2 for1 with the ,father and the ,spirit1 he is the author of that which persists--the truth--that which has been1 that which is1 and that which will continue forever4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #aj1 pp4 #fbg-fcj1 #aijf-g4 ,,eternity ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,man4 ,again1 where are we going8 ,we come here and sojourn in the flesh a little season and then we pass away4 ,every soul that is born into the world will die4 ,there is not a soul that has escaped death1 except those upon whom ,god has passed1 by the power of his ,spirit1 that they should live in the flesh until the second coming of the ,son of ,man2 but they will eventually have to pass through the ordeal called death2 it may be in the twinkling of an eye1 and without pain or suffering2 but they will pass through the change1 because it is an irrevocable edict of the ,almighty4 ,in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die4 ,this was the edict of the ,almighty and it pertains to ,adam--that is1 all the human race2 for ,adam is many1 and it means you and me and every soul that lives and that bears the image of the ,father4 ,we shall all die4 ,but is that the end of our being8 ,if we had an existence before we came here we certainly shall continue that existence when we leave here4 ,the spirit will continue to exist as it did before1 with the additional advantages derived from having passed through this probation4 ,it is absolutely necessary that we should come to the earth and take upon us tabernacles2 because if we did not have tabernacles we could not be like ,god1 or like ,jesus ,christ4 ,god has a tabernacle of flesh and bone4 ,he is an organized being just as we are who are now in the flesh4 ,jesus ,christ #da was born of his mother1 ,mary4 ,he had a fleshly tabernacle2 he was crucified on the cross1 and his body was raised from the dead4 ,he burst the bonds of the grave and came forth to newness of life1 a living soul1 living being1 a man with a body1 and with parts and with spirit--the spirit and the body becoming a living and immortal soul4 ,you and ,i have got to do the same thing4 ,we must go through the same ordeal in order to attain to the glory and exaltation which ,god designed we should enjoy with him in the eternal worlds4 ,in other words1 we must become like him2 peradventure to sit upon thrones1 to have dominion1 power and eternal increase4 ,god designed this in the beginning4 ,we are the children of ,god4 ,he is an eternal being1 without beginning of days or end of years4 ,he always was1 he is1 he always will be4 ,we are precisely in the same condition and under the same circumstances that ,god our heavenly ,father was when he was passing through this or a similar ordeal4 ,we are destined to come forth out of the grave as ,jesus did1 and to obtain immortal bodies as he did--that is1 that our tabernacles are to become immortal as his became immortal1 that the spirit and the body may be joined together and become one living being1 indivisible1 inseparable1 eternal4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 pp4 #acj1 #aca4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,almighty ,,unchangeable4 ,the purposes of the ,almighty are unchanged and unchangeable4 ,his laws endure1 and he is the same yesterday1 today and forever4 ,his purposes will ripen and be consummated and his designs be completed4 ,therefore1 if we do not conform to his will1 obey his laws and yield to his requirements in this world1 we will be consigned to the prison house1 where we will remain until we pay the debt to the uttermost farthing4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 #ahge1 p4 #gjh4 #db ,,chapter ,,iii ,,revelation ,,value ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,revelation4 ,the man who possesses the spirit of revelation can realize whether he is a sinner1 whether he is prone to evil1 whether he is magnifying his standing before the ,lord1 or not1 better than a man who has not the ,spirit of the ,lord in him1 can he not8--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #g4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of--,,inspiration ,,of ,,revelation--,,by ,,whom ,,enjoyed4 ,and the spirit of inspiration1 the gift of revelation1 does not belong to one man solely2 it is not a gift that pertains to the ,presidency of the ,church and the ,twelve apostles alone4 ,it is not confined to the presiding authorities of the ,church1 it belongs to every individual member of the ,church2 and it is the right and privilege of every man1 every woman1 and every child who has reached the years of accountability1 to enjoy the spirit of revelation1 and to be possessed of the spirit of inspiration in the discharge of their duties as members of the ,church4 ,it is the privilege of every individual member of the ,church to have revelation for his own guidance1 for the direction of his life and conduct2 and therefore ,i aver--and ,i believe ,i may do so without any reasonable chance for it being gainsaid or opposed that there is not another church in the world1 or an organization of religious people1 who are so universally spiritual in their lives1 and who are so universally entitled to the gifts of the ,spirit of ,god as are the members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,you are all entitled to revelation4 ,it is your privilege to have it revealed to you whether ,i am a servant of ,god or a servant of men2 whether ,i am in the discharge of my duty or not2 whether ,i1 as a #dc presiding officer in the ,church1 am acting in the discharge of my duty acceptable to you and the ,lord4 ,it is your privilege to have revelation in regard to this1 and to know the truth yourselves4 ,and it is my privilege to have revelation from ,god1 as an individual1 for my own temporal guidance1 and ,i repeat again that there never was a time on the earth1 since the ,church was organized1 when the spirituality of the people of ,god was greater than it is today4--,apr ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #e4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,revelation ,,enjoyed ,,by ,,all4 ,i believe that every individual in the ,church has just as much right to enjoy the spirit of revelation and the understanding from ,god which that spirit of revelation gives him1 for his own good1 as the bishop has to enable him to preside over his ward4 ,every man has the privilege to exercise these gifts and these privileges in the conduct of his own affairs1 in bringing up his children in the way they should go1 and in the management of his farm1 his flocks1 his herds1 and in the management of his business1 if he has business of other kinds to do2 it is his right to enjoy the spirit of revelation and of inspiration to do the right thing1 to be wise and prudent1 just and good in everything that he does4 ,i know that this is a true principle1 and ,i know that ,i know it1 too2 and that is the thing that ,i would like the ,latter-day ,saints to know4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #i1 #aj4 ,,new ,,revelation4 ,so far as ,i know there is not an ordinance of the ,church now enjoyed or practiced that was not revealed to the ,church by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,i know of no new doctrine that has been revealed4 ,principles that were revealed to the ,prophet ,joseph have grown and developed more fully and clearly to the understanding2 but we have received nothing new that ,i know of4 ,yet1 if we should receive something new1 through the proper channels of the ,church1 we should be as ready and willing to receive it as we were1 or would be1 to receive the same at #dd the hands of the ,prophet ,joseph himself4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #dg4 ,,when ,,to ,,expect ,,new ,,revelation4 ,we have nothing that is not in common with the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,we know nothing1 and we will preach nothing to the people except that which the ,lord ,god has revealed1 and we advise and counsel those who are in authority1 and whose duty and business it is to teach and preach the principles of the gospel to the world and to the ,latter-day ,saints1 to confine their teachings and their instructions to the word of ,god that has been revealed4 ,there is a great deal that has been revealed that has not yet been lived up to1 ,i assure you4 ,there is a great deal yet remaining to be learned4 ,there is a great deal that is yet to be taught in the spirit of instruction1 and there is a great deal that has been revealed through the ,prophet ,joseph and his associates that the people have not yet received in their hearts1 and have not yet become converted to as they should4 ,when we obey and are capable of observing the precepts of the gospel and the laws of ,god and the requirements of heaven1 which have already been revealed1 we will be far better off and nearer the goal of perfection in wisdom1 knowledge and power than we are today4 ,when that time comes1 then there are other things still greater yet to be revealed to the people of ,god4 ,until we do our duty1 however1 in that which we have received1 until we are faithful over the things that are now committed into our hands1 until we live our religion as we have it now1 as the ,lord has given it to us1 to add commandments1 to add light and intelligence to us over that which we have already received1 which we have not yet fully obeyed1 would be to add condemnation upon our heads4 ,it is enough for us to live in the light of present inspiration and present revelation and for each individual member of the ,church to keep the commandments of the ,lord and labor in the ,church as the ,spirit may give him and her guidance in the #de performance of duty4 ,every soul of us is entitled to inspiration from ,god to know what is our duty and how we are to do it4 ,we have not learned it yet1 not all of us1 but we are in a fair way to learn4 ,the ,lord is still patient2 he is long-suffering2 he is full of love and graciousness towards all1 and we are doing a little better all the time4 ,i believe we are a little more faithful in the performance of our duties than we have been in the past2 yet there is great room for improvement4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 p4 #e4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,reveals ,,his ,,purposes ,,concerning ,,the ,,church4 ,and ,i know this1 that ,god has organized his ,church in the earth1 and ,i know that when he designs or purposes to make any change in the matter of governing or controlling or presiding over the affairs of his ,church1 that he will make the change1 and he will make it in such a way that the whole people of the ,church1 who are doing right1 will understand and accept it4 ,i know that the ,lord will not raise up ,tom1 ,dick1 or ,harry1 here1 there and everywhere1 claiming to be ,christ1 or one mighty and strong1 claiming to be inspired and called to do some wonderful thing4 ,the ,lord will not deal with men in that way2 that while the organization of the ,church exists1 while quorums and councils of the ,priesthood are intact in the ,church1 the ,lord will reveal his purposes through them1 and not through ,tom1 ,dick1 or ,harry4 ,put that in your little note books now1 and remember it2 it is true4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #aj4 ,,modern ,,revelation ,,is ,,necessary4 ,we are to understand1 then1 that ,god does not1 and will not further make known his will to men2 that what he has said suffices8 ,his will to ,moses and ,isaiah and ,john is abundant for modern followers of ,christ8 ,the ,latter-day ,saints take issue with this doctrine1 and pronounce it illogical inconsistent1 and untrue1 and bear testimony to all the world that ,god lives and that he reveals his will to men who believe in him and who obey his commandments1 as much in our day as at any #df time in the history of nations4 ,the canon of scripture is not full4 ,god has never revealed at any time that he would cease to speak forever to men4 ,if we are permitted to believe that he has spoken1 we must and do believe that he continues to speak1 because he is unchangeable4 ,his will to ,abraham did not suffice for ,moses1 neither did his will to ,moses suffice for ,isaiah4 ,why8 ,because their different missions required different instructions2 and logically1 that is also true of the prophets and people of today4 ,a progressive world will never discover all truth until its inhabitants become familiar with all the knowledge of the ,perfect ,one4 ,how shall men become acquainted with the knowledge of the ,father8 ,only as he reveals it to them4 ,now if we are permitted to believe that the ,lord revealed himself to the ancients of whose deeds we read in the ,holy ,scriptures1 it seems to me that there is no good reason for believing that it is not necessary that he should reveal himself in this day to others who desire to be guided by his ,spirit and inspiration4 ,every new truth which grows into living action in the lives of men is a revelation in itself from ,god1 and without the revelation of additional truth1 men would not progress in this world1 but1 left to themselves1 would retrograde1 being cut off from the light and life of the great fountain of all intelligence1 the ,father of all4 ,what is revelation but the uncovering of new truths1 by him who is the ,fountain of all ,truth8 ,to say that there is no need of new revelation1 is equivalent to saying that we have no need of new truths--a ridiculous assertion4 ,now1 as to the usefulness of modern revelation1 that has been referred to above1 in the brief treatment of its need1 and it is no sign that revelation is useless because it is not proper that it should be accepted in the courts4 ,render unto ,caesar the things that are ,caesar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's4 ,revelation given for the personal knowledge or guidance of any person should not be given #dg to the public1 either in a civil or religious capacity2 but because it might be 7and in such cases is7 considered improper for public use1 it is no sign that even such revelation is useless to the person for whom it is intended4 ,it might be said in passing1 however1 that the revelation which the ministers were so troubled about1 turned out to be correct and in conformity with the evidence1 and the decision of the court and jury4 ,our testimony is that ,god lives1 and that he speaks by his power to men who seek him and believe in him1 thus making known his will to them in matters that pertain1 not only to his true ,church1 but in matters that pertain to each individual who seeks him4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #hje4 ,,theory ,,and ,,divine ,,revelation4 ,our young people are diligent students4 ,they reach out after truth and knowledge with commendable zeal1 and in so doing they must necessarily adopt for temporary use1 many theories of men4 ,as long1 however1 as they recognize them as scaffolding useful for research purposes1 there can be no special harm in them4 ,it is when these theories are settled upon as basic truth that trouble appears1 and the searcher then stands in grave danger of being led hopelessly from the right way4 ,there are so many demonstrated1 practical1 material truths1 so many spiritual certainties1 with which the youth of ,zion should become familiar1 that it appears a waste of time and means1 and detrimental to faith and religion to enter too extensively into the undemonstrated theories of men on philosophies relating to the origin of life1 or the methods adopted by an ,allwise ,creator in peopling the earth with the bodies of men1 birds and beasts4 ,let us rather turn our abilities to the practical analysis of the soil1 the study of the elements1 the productions of the earth1 the invention of useful machinery1 the social welfare of the race1 and its material amelioration2 and for the rest cultivate an abiding #dh faith in the revealed word of ,god and the saving principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 which give joy in this world and in the world to come eternal life and salvation4 ,philosophic theories of life have their place and use1 but it is not in the classes of the ,church schools1 and particularly are they out of place here or anywhere else1 when they seek to supplant the revelations of ,god4 ,the ordinary student cannot delve into these subjects deep enough to make them of any practical use to him1 and a smattering of knowledge in this line only tends to upset his simple faith in the gospel1 which is of more value to him in life than all the learning of the world without it4 ,the religion of the ,latter-day ,saints is not hostile to any truth1 nor to scientific search for truth4 ,that which is demonstrated1 we accept with joy1 said the ,first ,presidency in their ,christmas greeting to the ,saints1 but vain philosophy1 human theory and mere speculations of men we do not accept1 nor do we adopt anything contrary to divine revelation or to good common sense1 but everything that tends to right conduct1 that harmonizes with sound morality and increases faith in ,deity1 finds favor with us1 no matter where it may be found4 ,a good motto for young people to adopt1 who are determined to delve into philosophic theories1 is to search all things1 but be careful to hold on only to that which is true4 ,the truth persists1 but the theories of philosophers change and are overthrown4 ,what men use today as a scaffolding for scientific purposes from which to reach out into the unknown for truth1 may be torn down tomorrow1 having served its purpose2 but faith is an eternal principle through which the humble believer may secure everlasting solace4 ,it is the only way to find ,god4 ,science and philosophy through all the ages have undergone change after change4 ,scarcely a century has passed but they have introduced new theories of science and philosophy1 #di that supersede the old traditions and the old faith and the old doctrines entertained by philosophers and scientists4 ,these things may undergo continuous changes1 but the word of ,god is always true1 is always right4 ,the principles of the gospel are always true1 the principles of faith in ,god1 repentance from sin1 baptism for the remission of sins by authority of ,god1 and the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost--these principles are always true1 and are always absolutely necessary for the salvation of the children of men1 no matter who they are and where they are4 ,no other name under heaven is given but that of ,jesus ,christ1 by which you can be saved or exalted in the kingdom of ,god4 ,not only has ,god declared them1 not only has ,christ declared these principles1 by his voice to his disciples1 from generation to generation1 in the old time1 but in these latter days1 they have taken up the same testimony and declared these things to the world4 ,they are true today as they were then1 and we must obey these things4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 p4 #edh4 ,,revelation ,,and ,,legal ,,evidence4 ,recently a man charged with the murder of another man was examined before a committing magistrate in ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,the father-in-law of the murdered man1 during the examination on the part of the ,state1 related a conversation had between himself and the accused soon after the commission of the crime4 ,during the conversation1 according to newspaper report1 the father-in-law of the murdered man laid the crime at the door of the accused4 ,in the cross-examination the attorney for the defendant pressed the witness as to how he knew that the accused was guilty of the crime4 ,the reply1 as given in the press1 was1 because ,god had revealed it to him4 ,it does not appear from the further proceedings in the case that the testimony was excepted to or withdrawn1 or that the magistrate informed the witness that such evidence was incompetent and could not be received4 ,the statement #ej gave rise to comment in the press and has been the subject of discourse from the pulpit4 ,of course1 every person must know that such evidence is not admissible in a court of law1 and if it had been in a trial before a jury it would have been the duty of the judge to order the testimony stricken out1 and in the charge to the jury1 they would have been warned to disregard it altogether4 ,in view of the probability that there are those who may persist in the association of such evidence with the religious body of which the witness is a member1 it may be proper to say1 without discrediting in the least the witness' conviction of the revelation he had received1 that no member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints should1 for one moment1 regard such testimony as admissible in a court of law1 and to make the case perfectly clear it may be further stated that such evidence would not be permissible even in a ,church court1 where rules of evidence1 though not so technical1 are founded largely upon the same principles that govern the rules of evidence in a court of law4 ,any attempt1 therefore1 to make it appear that such evidence is in keeping with the tenets of the ,mormon faith is wholly unjustified4--,juvenile ,instructor1 p4 #aad1 ,feb4 #ae1 #aijb1 ,vol4 #cg4 ,,proper ,,channels ,,for ,,revelation4 ,it has sometimes been sorrowful to see respected members of the ,church1 men who should know better1 allow themselves to become the tools of seductive spirits4 ,such men seem1 for the time at least1 to lose sight of the fact that the ,lord has established on earth the ,priesthood in its fulness2 and that by direct revelation and commandment from heaven2 that he has instituted an order or government that is beyond the capacity1 and that is superior to the wisdom and learning and understanding of man1 so far1 indeed1 that it seems impossible for the human mind1 unaided by the ,spirit of ,god1 to comprehend the beauties1 powers1 and character of the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,it seems difficult for men to comprehend the workings #ea of the priesthood1 its legitimate authority1 its scope and power2 and yet by the light of the ,spirit it is easily comprehended1 but not understanding it1 men are easily deceived by seductive spirits that are abroad in the world4 ,they are led to believe that something is wrong1 and the next thing that transpires1 they find themselves believing that they are chosen specially to set things right4 ,it is very unfortunate for a man to be taken in this snare2 for be it understood by the ,latter-day ,saints that as long as the servants of ,god are living pure lives1 are honoring the priesthood conferred upon them1 and endeavoring to the best of their knowledge to magnify their offices and callings1 to which they have been duly chosen by the voice of the people and the priesthood1 and sanctioned by the approval of ,god1 so long as the ,lord has any communication to make to the children of men1 or any instructions to impart to his ,church1 he will make such communication through the legally appointed channel of the priesthood2 he will never go outside of it1 as long1 at least1 as the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints exists in its present form on the earth4 ,it is not the business of any individual to rise up as a revelator1 as a prophet1 as a seer1 as an inspired man1 to give revelation for the guidance of the ,church1 or to assume to dictate to the presiding authorities of the ,church in any part of the world1 much less in the midst of ,zion1 where the organizations of the priesthood are about perfect1 where everything is complete1 even to the organization of a branch4 ,it is the right of individuals to be inspired and to receive manifestations of the ,holy ,spirit for their personal guidance to strengthen their faith1 and to encourage them in works of righteousness1 in being faithful and observing and keeping the commandments which ,god has given unto them2 it is the privilege of every man and woman to receive revelation to this end1 but not further4 ,the moment an individual rises up assuming the right to #eb control and to dictate1 or to sit in judgment on his brethren1 especially upon those who preside1 he should be promptly checked1 or discord1 division and confusion will be the result4 ,every man and woman in this ,church should know better than to yield to such a spirit2 the moment that such a feeling presents itself to them they should rebuke it1 as it is in direct antagonism to the order of the priesthood1 and to the spirit and genius of this work4 ,we can accept nothing as authoritative but that which comes directly through the appointed channel1 the constituted organizations of the priesthood1 which is the channel that ,god has appointed through which to make known his mind and will to the world4 ,through ,joseph1 then1 the ,lord revealed himself to the world1 and through him he chose the first elders of the ,church--men who were honest in their hearts2 men who he knew would receive the word1 and labor in connection with ,joseph in this great1 important undertaking2 and all that have been ordained to the priesthood1 and all that have been appointed to any position whatever in this ,church have received their authority and commission through this channel1 appointed of ,god1 with ,joseph at the head4 ,this is the order1 and it could not be otherwise4 ,god will not raise up another prophet and another people to do the work that we have been appointed to do4 ,he will never ignore those who have stood firm and true from the commencement1 as it were1 of this work1 and who are still firm and faithful1 inasmuch as they continue faithful to their trust4 ,there is no question in my mind of their ever proving themselves unfaithful1 as a body1 for if any of them were to become unworthy in his sight1 he would remove them out of their place and call others from the ranks to fill their positions4 ,and thus his priesthood will ever be found to be composed of the right men for the place1 of men whose backs will be fitted for the burden1 men through whom he can work and regulate #ec the affairs of his ,church according to the counsels of his own will4 ,and the moment that individuals look to any other source1 that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of ,satan1 and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil2 they lose sight of the true order through which the blessings of the priesthood are to be enjoyed2 they step outside of the pale of the kingdom of ,god1 and are on dangerous ground4 ,whenever you see a man rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the ,lord to the ,church1 independent of the order and channel of the priesthood1 you may set him down as an impostor4 ,god has not called you to go out to the world to be taught1 or to receive revelations through apostates or strangers2 but he has called and ordained you and sent you forth to teach and lead people in the paths of righteousness and salvation4 ,now1 how should it be8 ,i will tell you4 ,in the first place every person should know that the gospel is true1 as this is every one's privilege who is baptized and receives the ,holy ,ghost4 ,a man may be grieved in his feelings because of some difficulty between himself and ,president ,taylor1 or ,cannon1 or myself2 he may have feelings in his heart which lead him to think that he could not sustain us in his faith and prayers2 but if this should be the case1 what is the course for him to pursue8 ,he should say in his heart1 ,god has established his kingdom1 and his priesthood is upon the earth2 and notwithstanding my dislike for certain men1 ,i know that the gospel is true1 and that ,god is with his people2 and that if ,i will do my duty and keep his commandments1 the clouds will roll by1 and the mists will disappear1 the ,spirit of the ,lord will come more fully to my relief1 and by and by ,i will be able to see--if ,i am in error1 wherein ,i erred1 and then ,i will repent of it1 for ,i know that every wrong thing will yet be made right4 ,i think all men should feel that way4 ,never is there but one appointed at a time to hold the #ed keys of the kingdom of ,god pertaining to the earth4 ,while ,christ remained on the earth he held them2 but when he departed1 he committed them to ,peter1 he being the president or chief of the apostles2 and it was his right to direct and to receive revelation for the ,church1 and to give counsel to all the brethren4 ,after ,satan and wicked men had prevailed against the ,church1 crucified the ,savior and killed the apostles1 the keys of the kingdom were taken from the earth4 ,john the ,revelator describes it most clearly4 ,and from that time until ,joseph ,smith was called by the voice of the ,almighty1 and ordained to hold those keys1 no man held them upon the earth that we know of4 ,it is true the ,lord did appoint other ,twelve upon this continent1 and his ,church flourished and prospered in this land for many years1 but the ,lord declared that ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 and the ,twelve that walked with him at ,jerusalem1 held the presidency over them4 ,god may reveal himself to different nations1 and establish among them the same gospel and ordinances as he did anciently1 if necessity require1 but if these nations should be joined together there would be one head1 and all the rest would be subordinate4 ,so that from the time that the keys of this priesthood were taken from the earth until they were received by ,joseph ,smith1 no man ever possessed that priesthood1 nor the keys thereof1 with authority to build up the ,zion of ,god1 and prepare a church or people for the second coming of ,christ1 as a bride is adorned for the bridegroom1 unless it may have been among the lost tribes1 yet of this we have no knowledge1 but if so they would receive those keys necessary to administer in the ordinances of the gospel for their salvation4 ,we know not of their existence or the condition in which they are placed4 ,the gospel that is given to them is suited to their needs and conditions1 and is for their salvation1 not ours2 and yet1 it will be the same gospel4 ,and ,god will not call one from them to give to us the priesthood1 or to give to us the keys and #ee blessings1 or to point out the organizations of the kingdom of ,god1 because he has established that priesthood here1 and we have it4 ,if he has any communication to make to us he will send his messengers to us4 ,and in this way he will deliver his law and give his mind and will to the people4 ,he will do it through the ordained channels of the priesthood which he acknowledges and which he has established in the earth4 ,he will go nowhere else to do it1 neither will he send us to them1 unless they should be without the priesthood and it becomes necessary to take the blessings of the gospel to them1 and ,i presume that will be the case4 ,when ,joseph received the keys of the priesthood1 he alone on the earth held them2 that is1 he was the first1 he stood at the head4 ,it was promised that he should not lose them nor be removed out of his place1 as long as he was faithful4 ,and when he died1 ,president ,young was chosen by the voice of the people1 and sanctioned by the voice of ,god4 ,he held the priesthood which was after the order of the ,son of ,god1 with the keys which pertain to the presidency of that priesthood upon earth4 ,he received it from the hands of ,joseph1 directly from him or by his authority2 and he held it until his death4 ,when he died1 that mantle fell upon ,john ,taylor1 and while he lives he will hold that authority1 inasmuch as he is faithful4 ,so it was with ,president ,brigham ,young2 he held it on condition of his faithfulness4 ,if any man in that position should become unfaithful1 ,god would remove him out of his place4 ,i testify in the name of ,israel's ,god that he will not suffer the head of the ,church1 whom he has chosen to stand at the head1 to transgress his laws and apostatize2 the moment he should take a course that would in time lead to it1 ,god would take him away4 ,why8 ,because to suffer a wicked man to occupy that position would be to allow1 as it were1 the fountain to become corrupted1 which is something he will never permit4 #ef ,the moment a man says he will not submit to the legally constituted authority of the ,church1 whether it be the teachers1 the bishopric1 the high council1 his quorum1 or the ,first ,presidency1 and in his heart confirms it and carries it out1 that moment he cuts himself off from the privileges and blessings of the priesthood and ,church1 and severs himself from the people of ,god1 for he ignores the authority that the ,lord has instituted in his ,church4 ,these are the men that generally get crotchets in their heads1 that get inspiration 7from beneath71 and that are often so desirous to guide the ,church1 and to sit in judgment upon the priesthood4 ,the only safe way for us to do1 as individuals1 is to live so humbly1 so righteously and so faithfully before ,god that we may possess his ,spirit to that extent that we shall be able to judge righteously1 and discern between truth and error1 between right and wrong2 and then we shall know when a decision is rendered against us that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred1 we are in error1 and that the decision is right2 and although we may1 at the time1 not be fully able to see and feel its justness1 yet will be constrained to say that inasmuch as there are sixteen chances against one for me to be wrong1 ,i will gracefully and1 humbly submit4 ,the pith of the matter is3 the ,lord has established his ,church1 organized his priesthood1 and conferred authority upon certain individuals1 councils and quorums1 and it is the duty of the people of ,god to live so that they shall know that these are acceptable unto him4 ,if we begin to cut off this one and that one1 and set their authority aside1 we may just as well at once set ,god aside1 and say that he has no right to dictate4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bd1 pp4 #ahg-aid1 #ahhd1 ,ogden1 ,june #ba1 #ahhc4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,and ,,covenants4 ,i say to my brethren that the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants contains some of the most glorious principles ever revealed to the world1 some that have been revealed in greater fulness than they were #eg ever revealed before to the world2 and this1 in fulfilment of the promise of the ancient prophets that in the latter times the ,lord would reveal things to the world that had been kept bidden from the foundation thereof2 and the ,lord has revealed them through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #i4 ,,how ,,to ,,read ,,the ,,bible4 ,that which characterizes above all else the inspiration and divinity of the ,scriptures is the spirit in which they are written and the spiritual wealth they convey to those who faithfully and conscientiously read them4 ,our attitude1 therefore1 toward the ,scriptures should be in harmony with the purposes for which they were written4 ,they are intended to enlarge man's spiritual endowments and to reveal and intensify the bond of relationship between him and his ,god4 ,the ,bible1 as all other books of ,holy ,writ1 to be appreciated must be studied by those spiritually inclined and who are in quest of spiritual truths4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dg1 p4 #bjd1 ,april1 #aiab4 ,,persecution ,,follows ,,revelation4 ,i do not believe there ever was a people who were guided by revelation1 or acknowledged of the ,lord as his people1 who were not hated and persecuted by the wicked and the corrupt1 and perhaps no people were ever more persecuted than this people would be if it were in the power of the enemy today to persecute us as it was in the power of ,nero and the ,romans to persecute the ,saints in their day4 ,there never was a time when it was more fixed and determined in the heart of the wicked to fight against and destroy the kingdom from the earth than now1 and their failure will be due only to the impossibility of the task they have undertaken4 ,and this is an evidence to everyone that ,god's priesthood is here1 that many of the ,saints are magnifying their calling and honoring the priesthood and also the ,lord1 both with their lives and with their substance1 which are his4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 p4 #gjh1 #ahge4 #eh ,,chapter ,,iv ,,free ,,agency ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,a ,,free ,,people4 ,we will now present before the conference the names of the general authorities of the ,church1 with the earnest desire that all the members of the ,church present1 who by reason of their good standing before the ,lord are entitled to the privilege1 will express their will according to the ,god-given agency that every man in the world enjoys1 and which is not lessened1 but rather increased1 in all those who have made covenant with ,god by sacrifice and through obedience to the principles of the gospel4 ,the freedom of the ,latter-day ,saints has never been curtailed nor lessened one whit by their becoming members of the ,church of ,christ4 ,rather has it been enlarged4 ,there are no freer people upon the face of the earth today than the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,they are bound to the ,church by no ties or strings1 but by their own conviction of the truth4 ,and whenever a man makes up his mind that he has had enough of what is called ,mormonism1 all he has to do is to make it known1 and we will sever the bond that unites him with the body and let him go his own way1 only bearing toward him the feeling of sympathy and true brotherly kindness1 and wishing him still the mercies of ,god4 ,we will cry1 ,father1 have mercy upon him1 because he knows not what he is doing4 ,for when a man denies the truth1 when he departs from the right way1 when he rejects the right of ,god to counsel in the affairs of men1 he is either ignorant or wilfully wicked1 and it only excites our pity for him4 ,as the ,savior cried upon the cross1 so we will cry in the same spirit1 ,father1 forgive him2 have mercy upon him2 for he knows not what he does4 #ei ,therefore1 we expect only those to vote at this time who are members of the ,church in good standing1 but all such we do expect to vote1 according to their own free will1 whether it be yea or nay4 ,however1 we wish it distinctly understood that no question upon these matters will be discussed in this conference2 for this is not the place to discuss questions of difference or of feeling that we may possess one towards another4 ,still we can manifest our approval or our disapproval by the uplifted hand2 and if there are any disapprovals1 we will have them heard and adjusted later on1 but not here4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #hd4 ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,freedom ,,and ,,human ,,judgment4 ,i think that in the realms of liberty1 and the exercise of human judgment all men should exercise extreme caution1 that they do not change nor abolish those things which ,god has willed and has inspired to be done4 ,it has been in this realm of freedom1 and the exercise of human judgment that most of the evils that have occurred in the world have been done--the martyrdom of ,saints1 the crucifixion of the ,son of ,god himself1 and much of the apostasy and departure from the work of righteousness1 and from the laws of ,god1 have occurred in this realm of freedom and the exercise of human judgment4 ,god in his boundless wisdom and gracious mercy has provided means1 and has shown the way to the children of men whereby1 even in the realms of freedom and the exercise of their own judgment1 they may individually go unto ,god in faith and prayer1 and find out what should guide and direct their human judgment and wisdom2 and ,i do not want the ,latter-day ,saints to forget that this is their privilege4 ,i would rather that they should seek ,god for a counselor and guide1 than to follow the wild harangues of political leaders1 or leaders of any other cult4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #da-db4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,should ,,exercise ,,free ,,agency4 ,we desire that the ,latter-day ,saints will exercise the liberty #fj wherewith they have been made free by the gospel of ,jesus ,christ2 for they are entitled to know the right from the wrong1 to see the truth and draw the line between it and error2 and it is their privilege to judge for themselves and to act upon their own free agency with regard to their choice as to sustaining or otherwise those who should exercise the presiding functions among them4 ,we desire the ,latter-day ,saints at this conference to exercise their prerogative1 which is1 to vote as the ,spirit of the ,lord prompts them on the measures and the men that may be presented unto them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #gc4 ,,how ,,to ,,obtain ,,blessings ,,of ,,god4 ,there are blessings which pertain to the gospel of ,jesus ,christ and to the world to come1 which cannot be secured by personal influence1 nor be bought with money1 and which no man by his own intelligence or wisdom can obtain except through compliance with certain ordinances1 laws and commandments which have been given4 ,and it is well1 in my judgment1 for the ,latter-day ,saints to continue to bear in mind that the inestimable blessings of the gospel have been bestowed upon them through their faith1 that a remission of sins has been obtained by baptism and repentance1 and that it is only through continuing faithful that they can retain the gifts and blessings which pertain to eternal life4 ,there are many blessings1 however1 which are common to the human family1 which all enjoy1 without regard to their moral status or religious convictions4 ,god has given to all men an agency and has granted to us the privilege to serve him or serve him not1 to do that which is right or that which is wrong1 and this privilege is given to all men irrespective of creed1 color or condition4 ,the wealthy have this agency1 the poor have this agency1 and no man is deprived by any power of ,god from exercising it in the fullest and in the freest manner4 ,this agency has been given to all4 ,this is a blessing that ,god has bestowed upon the world of mankind1 upon all #fa his children alike4 ,but he will hold us strictly to an account for the use that we make of this agency1 and as it was said of ,cain1 so it will be said of us2 ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 and if thou doest not well1 sin lieth at the door4 ,there are1 however1 certain blessings which ,god bestows upon the children of men only upon the condition of the rightful exercise of this agency4 ,for instance1 no man can obtain a remission of his sins but by repentance1 and baptism by one having authority4 ,if we would be free from sin1 from its effects1 from its power1 we must obey this law which ,god has revealed1 or we never can obtain a remission of sins4 ,therefore1 while ,god has bestowed upon all men1 irrespective of condition1 this agency to choose good or evil1 he has not and will not bestow upon the children of men a remission of sins but by their obedience to law4 ,therefore1 the whole world lies in sin and is under condemnation1 inasmuch as light has come unto the world and men will not place themselves in a proper position before the ,lord4 ,and this condemnation rests with tenfold force upon all who have yielded obedience to this law1 and have once received a remission of their sins1 but have returned unto sin1 and have forgotten or disregarded the covenants they made in the waters of baptism4 ,all men are blessed with the strength of their bodies1 with the use of their minds1 and with the right to exercise the faculties with which they are endowed in a way that seemeth good to their sight1 without regard to religion4 ,but ,god has not and will not suffer the gift of the ,holy ,ghost to be bestowed upon any man or woman1 except through compliance with the laws of ,god4 ,therefore1 no man can obtain a remission of sins2 no man can obtain the gift of the ,holy ,ghost2 no man can obtain the revelations of ,god2 no man can obtain the priesthood1 and the rights1 powers and privileges thereof2 no man can become an heir of ,god and a joint heir with ,jesus ,christ1 except through compliance with the requirements of heaven4 ,these are universal #fb blessings1 they are great and inestimable privileges which pertain to the gospel and to the plan of life and salvation1 which are open and free to all on certain conditions1 but which no persons beneath the heavens can enjoy1 but through walking in the channel that ,god has marked out by which they can obtain them4 ,and these privileges and blessings when obtained may be forfeited1 and perhaps lost for all eternity1 unless we continue steadfast in the course that is marked out for us to pursue4 ,it is well1 in my judgment1 that the ,latter-day ,saints do not lose sight of the great privilege that has been bestowed upon them4 ,no man can become a citizen of the kingdom of ,god but by entering in at the door2 there are thousands and tens of thousands1 aye1 millions of people who will never become citizens of the kingdom of ,god in this world1 because they fail to exercise the agency and the power that have been given to them1 in the right direction4 ,nevertheless1 they enjoy many of the blessings that are bestowed upon the world in common4 ,the sun shines upon the evil and the good2 but the ,holy ,ghost descends only upon the righteous and upon those who are forgiven of their sins4 ,the rain descends upon the evil and upon the good2 but the rights of the priesthood are conferred1 and the doctrine of the ,priesthood distils as the dews of heaven upon the souls of those only who receive it in ,god's own appointed way4 ,the favor of heaven1 the acknowledgment of the ,almighty of his children upon the earth as his sons and his daughters1 can only be secured through obedience to the laws which he has revealed4 ,riches1 or the wealth of the world1 cannot purchase these things4 ,simon ,magus desired to purchase the power to bestow the ,holy ,ghost1 but ,peter said unto him1 ,thy money perish with thee4 ,these blessings1 powers and privileges are not to be purchased except by the atonement of ,christ2 they are not to be obtained by personal influence1 wealth1 position or power1 or in any other way except the #fc direct way in which ,god has decreed that they should be obtained4 ,now1 so long as the ,latter-day ,saints are content to obey the commandments of ,god1 to appreciate the privileges and blessings which they enjoy in the ,church1 and will use their time1 their substance1 in honor to the name of ,god1 to build up ,zion1 and to establish truth and righteousness in the earth1 so long our heavenly ,father is bound by his oath and covenant to protect them from every opposing foe1 and to help them to overcome every obstacle that can possibly be arrayed against them1 or thrown in their pathway2 but the moment a community begin to be wrapt up in themselves1 become selfish1 become engrossed in the temporalities of life1 and put their faith in riches1 that moment the power of ,god begins to withdraw from them1 and if they repent not the ,holy ,spirit will depart from them entirely1 and they will be left to themselves4 ,that which was given them will be taken away1 they will lose that which they had1 for they will not be worthy of it4 ,god is just1 as well as merciful1 and we need not expect favors at the hand of the ,almighty except as we merit them1 at least in the honest desires of our hearts2 and the desire and intent will not always avail unless our acts correspond4 ,for we are engaged in a literal work1 a reality2 and we must practice as well as profess4 ,we must be what ,god requires us to be1 or else we are not his people1 nor the ,zion which he designs to gather together and to build up in the latter days upon the earth4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bd1 #ahhd1 pp4 #agc-agh4 #fd ,,chapter ,v ,,god ,,and ,,man ,,god ,,has ,,directed ,,his ,,latter-,,day ,,work4 ,it has not been by the wisdom of man that this people have been directed in their course until the present2 it has been by the wisdom of him who is above man1 whose knowledge is greater than that of man1 and whose power is above the power of man2 for it is unto ,god1 our ,father1 we are indebted for the mercies we have enjoyed and for the present prosperous condition of the people of ,god throughout this intermountain region and throughout the world4 ,the hand of the ,lord may not be visible to all4 ,there may be many who cannot discern the workings of ,god's will in the progress and development of this great latter-day work1 but there are those who see in every hour and in every moment of the existence of the ,church1 from its beginning until now1 the overruling1 almighty hand of him who sent his ,only ,begotten ,son to the world to become a sacrifice for the sin of the world1 that as he was lifted up so he1 by reason of his righteousness and power and the sacrifice which he has made1 might lift up unto ,god all the children of men who would hearken to his voice1 receive his message1 and obey his law4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #b4 ,a ,,personal ,,knowledge ,,of ,,god4 ,we are not dependent for this upon the written word1 nor upon the knowledge possessed by the ancient prophets and apostles4 ,we depend only upon ,god as he reveals himself today and administers unto men by the power of his ,holy ,spirit4 ,and all men in the world1 not only the ,latter-day ,saints1 but those who have never embraced the gospel1 have the same privilege that we have1 if they will take the course which ,god #fe has marked out4 ,it is their privilege to come to the knowledge of this truth and to understand these things for themselves4 ,we have derived this knowledge from the ,lord1 not from man4 ,man cannot give this knowledge4 ,i may tell you what ,i know but that is not knowledge to you4 ,if ,i have learned something through prayer1 supplication1 and perseverance in seeking to know the truth1 and ,i tell it to you1 it will not be knowledge unto you4 ,i can tell you how you obtain it1 but ,i cannot give it to you4 ,if we receive this knowledge1 it must come from the ,lord4 ,he can touch your understanding and your spirits1 so that you shall comprehend perfectly and not be mistaken4 ,but ,i cannot do that4 ,you can obtain this knowledge through repentance1 humility1 and seeking the ,lord with full purpose of heart until you find him4 ,he is not afar off4 ,it is not difficult to approach him1 if we will only do it with a broken heart and a contrite spirit1 as did ,nephi of old4 ,this was the way in which ,joseph ,smith1 in his boyhood1 approached him4 ,he went into the woods1 knelt down1 and in humility he sought earnestly to know which church was acceptable to ,god4 ,he received an answer to his prayer which he offered from the depths of his heart1 and he received it in a way that he did not expect4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #ga4 ,,god ,,speaks ,,to ,,the ,,honest ,,in ,,heart4 ,everywhere the ,spirit of the ,lord whispers to the honest in heart who are faithful1 and gives to them the assurance that his hand is stretched out continually over his people2 that1 as in the past1 he has preserved them and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies1 so in the future he will continue to preserve and deliver them1 and he will make the wrath of the wicked to praise him and to accomplish the more speedily his purposes4 ,we have every evidence to convince us that the work of the ,lord is a reality1 a living1 active1 progressive work in the earth4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #e4 ,,god ,,constantly ,,mindful ,,of ,,us4 ,i desire to express #ff to you1 my brethren and sisters1 who are here today1 my firm and fixed conviction that ,god1 the eternal ,father1 is constantly mindful of you4 ,he is mindful of his people throughout all this land1 and he will reward you according to your faithfulness in observing the laws of righteousness and of truth4 ,no man need fear in his heart when he is conscious of having lived up to the principles of truth and righteousness as ,god has required it at his hands1 according to his best knowledge and understanding4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #b4 ,,god',s ,,will ,,to ,,exalt ,,men4 ,we believe that ,god's will is to exalt men2 that the liberty that comes through obedience to the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the greatest measure of liberty that can come to man4 ,there is no liberty that men enjoy or pretend to enjoy in the world that is not founded in the will and in the law of ,god1 and that does not have truth for its underlying principle and foundation4 ,it is error that makes bondsmen4 ,it is untruth that degrades mankind4 ,it is error and the lack of knowledge of ,god's laws and ,god's will that leaves men in the world on a par with the brute creation2 for they have no higher instincts1 no higher principle1 no higher incentive1 no higher aspiration1 than the brute world1 if they have not some inspiration that comes from a higher source than man himself4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #d4 ,,god',s ,,right ,,to ,,rule ,,in ,,the ,,world4 ,i believe in ,god's law4 ,i believe that it is his right to rule in the world4 ,i believe that no man has or should have any valid objection in his mind to the government of ,god1 and the rule of ,jesus ,christ1 in the earth4 ,let us suppose1 for a moment1 that ,christ were here and that he was bearing rule in the world4 ,who would come under his condemnation8 ,who would be subject to his chastening word8 ,who would be in disharmony or unfellowship with ,god8 ,would the righteous man8 ,would the virtuous man8 ,the pure and virtuous woman8 ,the pure and honest in heart8 ,the upright8 #fg ,the straightforward8 ,those who do the will of heaven8 ,would they be in rebellion to ,christ's rule1 if he were to come here to rule8 ,no4 ,they would welcome the rule and reign of ,jesus ,christ in the earth4 ,they would welcome his law and acknowledge his sovereignty1 they would hasten to rally to his standard and to uphold the purpose and the perfection of his laws and of his righteousness4 ,who would1 then1 be recreant to the rule of ,christ8 ,the whoremonger1 the adulterer1 the liar1 the sorcerer1 he who bears false witness against his neighbor1 he who seeks to take advantage of his brother1 and who would overcome and destroy him for his own worldly gain or profit2 the murderer1 the despiser of that which is good1 the unbeliever in the eternities that lie before us1 the atheist1 perhaps1 although ,i think that he would not be so far from ,christ as some who profess to be teachers of his doctrines and advocates of his laws4 ,it would be the rebellious1 the wicked1 those who would oppress their neighbors and enslave them if they could4 ,such as these would be the people who would not welcome the reign of ,jesus ,christ4 ,are there any who profess to be ,latter-day ,saints in this class1 and would fear to have ,christ reign and rule8--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #d4 ,,the ,,lesson ,,in ,,natural ,,calamities4 ,there are1 in the great world of mankind1 much social and civil unrighteousness1 religious unfaithfulness1 and great insensibility to the majesty1 power1 and purpose of our eternal ,father and ,god4 ,in order1 therefore1 that he may bring the sense of himself and his purposes home to the minds of men1 his intervention and interposition in nature and in men's affairs1 are demanded4 ,his aims will be accomplished even if men must be overwhelmed with the convulsions of nature to bring them to an understanding and realization on of his designs4 ,as long as conditions remain as they are in the world1 none is exempt from these visitations4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints1 though they themselves tremble #fh because of their own wickedness and sins1 believe that great judgments are coming upon the world because of iniquity2 they firmly believe in the statements of the ,holy ,scriptures1 that calamities will befall the nations as signs of the coming of ,christ to judgment4 ,they believe that ,god rules in the fire1 the earthquake1 the tidal wave1 the volcanic eruption1 and the storm4 ,him they recognize as the ,master and ,ruler of nature and her laws1 and freely acknowledge his hand in all things4 ,we believe that his judgments are poured out to bring mankind to a sense of his power and his purposes1 that they may repent of their sins and prepare themselves for the second coming of ,christ to reign in righteousness upon the earth4 ,we firmly believe that ,zion--which is the pure in heart--shall escape1 if she observes to do all things whatsoever ,god has commanded2 but1 in the opposite event1 even ,zion shall be visited with sore affliction1 with pestilence1 with plague1 with sword1 with vengeance1 and with devouring fire 7,doctrine and ,covenants #ig3bf74 ,all this that her people may be taught to walk in the light of truth and in the way of the ,god of their salvation4 ,we believe that these severe1 natural calamities are visited upon men by the ,lord for the good of his children1 to quicken their devotion to others1 and to bring out their better natures1 that they may love and serve him4 ,we believe1 further1 that they are the heralds and tokens of his final judgment1 and the schoolmasters to teach the people to prepare themselves by righteous living for the coming of the ,savior to reign upon the earth1 when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that ,jesus is the ,christ4 ,if these lessons are impressed upon us and upon the people of our country1 the anguish1 and the loss of life and toil1 sad1 great and horrifying as they were1 will not have been endured in vain4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #i1 #aije-f1 pp4 #fea-fed4 #fi ,,extent ,,of ,,god',s ,,power4 ,i do not believe in the doctrine held by some that ,god is only a ,spirit and that he is of such a nature that he fills the immensity of space1 and is everywhere present in person1 or without person1 for ,i can not conceive it possible that ,god could be a person1 if he filled the immensity of space and was everywhere present at the same time4 ,it is unreasonable1 a physical1 a theological inconsistency1 to imagine that even ,god the eternal ,father would be in two places1 as an individual1 at the same moment4 ,it is impossible4 ,but his power extends throughout the immensity of space4 ,his power extends to all his creations1 and his knowledge comprehends them all1 and he governs them all and he knows all4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #d4 ,,beware ,,of ,,limiting ,,god4 ,beware of men who come to you with heresies of this kind1 who would make you to think or feel that the ,lord ,almighty1 who made heaven and earth and created all things1 is limited in his dominion over earthly things to the capacities of mortal men4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #d4 ,,misfortune ,,and ,,evil ,,not ,,attributable ,,to ,,the ,,will ,,of ,,god4 ,we have it enunciated in the revelations to ,joseph the ,prophet1 in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 that the ,lord is greatly displeased only with those who do not confess or acknowledge his hand in all things1 and obey not his commandments4 ,many things occur in the world in which it seems very difficult for most of us to find a solid reason for the acknowledgment of the hand of the ,lord4 ,i have come to the belief that the only reason ,i have been able to discover by which we should acknowledge the band of ,god in some occurrences is the fact that the thing which has occurred has been permitted of the ,lord4 ,when two men give way to their passions1 their selfishness and anger1 to contend and quarrel with each other1 and this quarrel and contention leads to physical strife and violence between them1 it has been difficult for me to discover the hand of the ,lord #gj in that transaction2 other than that the men who thus disagree1 quarrel and contend with each other1 have received from ,god the freedom of their own agency to exercise their own intelligence1 to judge between the right and wrong for themselves1 and to act according to their own desire4 ,the ,lord did not design or purpose that these two men should quarrel1 or give way to their anger to such an extent that it would lead to violence between them1 and1 perhaps1 to bloodshed4 ,god has never designed such a thing as that1 nor can we charge such things to the ,almighty4 ,people become sick1 suffer pain1 sorrow and anguish4 ,they linger for months1 and perhaps for years1 in feebleness of body and of mind4 ,the question arises in them3 ,why does the ,lord suffer it8 ,is the hand of ,god in that suffering8 ,has ,god designed persons to suffer8 ,has he touched them with his hand of affliction8 ,has he caused the evil that has come to them8 ,too many of us are inclined to think1 or lean toward the feeble thought1 that the illness that comes to us1 the afflictions that we suffer1 the accidents that we meet with in life1 and the troubles that beset us on our way in the journey of life1 are attributable either to the mercy or the displeasure of ,god4 ,sometimes we are prone to charge ,god with causing our afflictions and our troubles2 but if we could see as ,god sees1 if we could understand as he understands1 if we could trace the effects back to the cause1 and that truly1 by the spirit of correct understanding1 we would unquestionably discover that our troubles1 or suffering1 or affliction are the result of our own indiscretion or lack of knowledge1 or of wisdom4 ,it was not the band of ,god that put affliction and trouble upon us4 ,the agency that he has given to us left us to act for ourselves--to do things if we will that are not right1 that are contrary to the laws of life and health1 that are not wise or prudent--and the results may be serious to us1 because of our ignorance or of our determination to persist in that which we desire1 rather than #ga to yield to the requirements which ,god makes of us4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bj1 p4 #hba1 ,july1 #aiag4 ,,god',s ,,warfare4 ,god is the greatest man of war of all1 and his ,son is next to him1 and their warfare is for the salvation of the souls of men4 ,it would not be necessary for them to use violence or force1 nor to permit their children to use violence nor force in order to conquer if they would but humble themselves1 and obey the truth4 ,for1 after all1 nothing will conquer1 nothing will win but the truth2 and so far as the wars that are going on in the world are concerned1 we not only want to see peace established among the children of men1 but also justice1 but above all things1 truth1 that justice1 peace and righteousness may be built upon this foundation and not depend upon the covetousness1 pride1 vanity1 evil desire1 and just for power in man4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #abi4 ,,we ,,are ,,in ,,god',s ,,image4 ,when ,brother ,penrose shall pray1 he will pray unto the ,father of our ,lord and ,savior1 ,jesus ,christ1 in whose image and likeness we are made1 or were born into the world1 and in whose likeness and image we are1 for we are ,god's children1 and therefore must resemble his ,son in person1 and also spiritually1 so far as we will obey the principles of the gospel of eternal truth4 ,for1 we were foreordained and predestined to become conformed to his likeness through the wise and proper use of our free agency4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #h4 ,,god',s ,,rest4 ,the ancient prophets speak of entering into ,god's rest2 what does it mean8 ,to my mind1 it means entering into the knowledge and love of ,god1 having faith in his purpose and in his plan1 to such an extent that we know we are right1 and that we are not hunting for something else1 we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine1 or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive4 ,we know of the doctrine that it is of ,god1 and we do not ask any questions of anybody about it2 they are welcome to #gb their opinions1 to their ideas and to their vagaries4 ,the man who has reached that degree of faith in ,god that all doubt and fear have been cast from him1 he has entered into ,god's rest1 and he need not fear the vagaries of men1 nor their cunning and craftiness1 by which they seek to deceive and mislead him from the truth4 ,i pray that we may all enter into ,god's rest--rest from doubt1 from fear1 from apprehension of danger1 rest from the religious turmoil of the world2 from the cry that is going forth1 here and there--lo1 here is ,christ2 lo1 there is ,christ2 lo1 he is in the desert1 come ye out to meet him4 ,the man who has found ,god's rest will not be disturbed by these vagaries of men1 for the ,lord has told him1 and does tell us3 ,go not out to seek them3 ,go not out to hunt them2 for when ,christ shall come1 he will come with the army of heaven with him in the clouds of glory1 and all eyes shall see him4 ,we do not need to be hunting for ,christ here or ,christ there1 or prophets here and prophets there4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #h4 ,,importance ,,of ,,being ,,under ,,the ,,influence ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,the one thing now that ,i desire to impress upon the minds of my brethren bearing the ,holy ,priesthood is that we should live so near to the ,lord1 be so humble in our spirits1 so tractable and pliable1 under the influence of the ,holy ,spirit1 that we will be able to know the mind and will of the ,father concerning us as individuals and as officers in the ,church of ,christ under all circumstances4 ,and when we live so that we can hear and understand the whisperings of the still1 small voice of the ,spirit of ,god1 let us do whatsoever that ,spirit directs without fear of the consequences4 ,it does not make any difference whether it meet the minds of carpers or critics1 or of the enemies of the kingdom of ,god1 or not4 ,is it agreeable to the will of the ,lord8 ,is it compatible with the spirit of the great latter-day work in which we are engaged8 ,is the end aimed at likely to advance the ,church and to strengthen it in the earth8 ,if its #gc trend is in that direction1 let us do it1 no matter what men may say or think4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #hf4 ,,holy ,,ghost1 ,,holy ,,spirit1 ,,comforter4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 who is a member of the ,trinity in the ,godhead1 has not a body of flesh and bones1 like the ,father and the ,son1 but is a personage of ,spirit4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec4 #acj3bb47 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 or ,spirit of ,god1 both of which terms are sometimes used interchangeably with the ,holy ,ghost1 is the influence of ,deity1 the light of ,christ1 or of ,truth1 which proceeds forth from the presence of ,god to fill the immensity of space1 and to quicken the understanding of men4 7,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec4 #hh3f-ac47 ,if a man is baptized and ordained to the ,holy ,priesthood1 and is called upon to perform duties which pertain to that priesthood1 it does not follow that he must always have the ,holy ,ghost in person present with him when he performs his duty1 but every righteous act which he may perform legally will be in force and effect1 and will be acknowledged of ,god1 and the more of the ,spirit of ,god he possesses in his ministrations1 the better for himself1 and those will not suffer any loss unto whom he administers4 ,therefore1 the presentation or gift of the ,holy ,ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time1 when he is worthy of it and desires it1 the power and light of truth of the ,holy ,ghost1 although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment4 ,the ,holy ,ghost as a personage of ,spirit can no more be omnipresent in person than can the ,father or the ,son1 but by his intelligence1 his knowledge1 his power and influence1 over and through the laws of nature1 he is and can be omnipresent throughout all the works of ,god4 ,it is not the ,holy ,ghost who in person lighteth every man who is born into the world1 but it is the light of ,christ1 the ,spirit of ,truth1 which proceeds from the source of intelligence1 which #gd permeates all nature1 which lighteth every man and fills the immensity of space4 ,you may call it the ,spirit of ,god1 you may call it the influence of ,god's intelligence1 you may call it the substance of his power1 no matter what it is called1 it is the spirit of intelligence that permeates the universe and gives to the spirits of men understanding1 just as job has said4 7,job #cb3h2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #hh3c-ac47 ,every elder of the ,church who has received the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands1 by one having authority1 has power to confer that gift upon another2 it does not follow that a man who has received the presentation or gift of the ,holy ,ghost shall always receive the recognition and witness and presence of the ,holy ,ghost himself1 or he may receive all these1 and yet the ,holy ,ghost not tarry with him1 but visit him from time to time 7,doc4 and ,cov41 ,sec4 #acj3bc72 and neither does it follow that a man must have the ,holy ,ghost present with him when he confers the ,holy ,ghost upon another1 but he possesses the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and it will depend upon the worthiness of him unto whom the gift is bestowed whether he receive the ,holy ,ghost or not4 ,now ,i repeat--the ,holy ,ghost is a personage of spirit1 he constitutes the third person in the ,trinity1 the ,godhead4 ,the gift or presentation of the ,holy ,ghost is the authoritative act of conferring him upon man4 ,the ,holy ,ghost in person may visit men and will visit those who are worthy and bear witness to their spirit of ,god and ,christ1 but may not tarry with them4 ,the ,spirit of ,god which emanates from ,deity may be likened to electricity1 or the universal ether1 as explained in our manual1 which fills the earth and the air1 and is everywhere present4 ,it is the power of ,god1 the influence that he exerts throughout all his works by which he can effect his purposes and execute his will1 in consonance with the laws of free agency which he has conferred upon man4 ,by means of this ,spirit every man is enlightened1 the #ge wicked as well as the good1 the intelligent and the ignorant1 the high and the low1 each in accordance with his capacity to receive the light2 and this ,spirit or influence which emanates from ,god may be said to constitute man's consciousness1 and will never cease to strive with man1 until man is brought to the possession of the higher intelligence which can only come through faith1 repentance1 baptism for the remission of sins1 and the gift or the presentation of the ,holy ,ghost by one having authority4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 p4 #chi1 ,march1 #aiji4 ,,god ,,inspires ,,man ,,to ,,know ,,and ,,to ,,do4 ,i am inclined to acknowledge the hand of ,god in all things4 ,if ,i see a man inspired with intelligence1 with extraordinary ability and wisdom1 ,i say to myself he is indebted to ,god for that wisdom and ability2 and that1 without the providence or interposition of the ,almighty1 he would not have been what he is4 ,he is indebted to the ,lord ,almighty for his intelligence1 and for all that he has2 for the earth is the ,lord's and the fulness thereof4 ,god originated and designed all things1 and all are his children4 ,we are born into the world as his offspring2 endowed with the same attributes4 ,the children of men have sprung from the ,almighty1 whether the world is willing to acknowledge it or not4 ,he is the ,father of our spirits4 ,he is the originator of our earthly tabernacles4 ,we live and move and have our being in ,god our heavenly ,father4 ,and having sprung from him with our talents1 our ability1 our wisdom1 we should at least be willing to acknowledge his hand in all the prosperity that may attend us in life1 and give to him the honor and glory of all we accomplish in the flesh4 ,we are particularly dependent upon the ,almighty for everything we possess of a worldly character4 ,there is not a man on the earth possessed of the wisdom or power of himself to cause even a spear of grass to grow1 or to produce a kernel of wheat or of corn1 or any fruit1 vegetable1 or any material whatever which is essential for the #gf sustenance1 the happiness and the well-being of a human creature in the world4 ,it is true we can go to the earth1 we find it prepared to a certain extent1 and we cultivate1 plow and plant1 and we reap the harvest2 but ,god has ordained that the fruits of our labor shall be in subjection and in obedience to certain laws which he himself controls1 and which he has kept out of the power of man4 ,man may boast of having a great deal of wisdom2 of having accomplished a great deal in this nineteenth century2 but1 if he did but know it1 he derives the ability by which he accomplishes these things from ,god his ,father1 who is in heaven4 ,he does not possess the power in and of himself4 ,i read a ,scripture something like this3 that there is a spirit in man4 ,now1 if that should stop here1 there would not be perhaps anything very remarkable about man2 for the spirit of man knoweth only the things of man1 and the things of ,god are discerned by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but while there is a spirit in man1 it is further stated that the inspiration of the ,almighty giveth them understanding4 ,there is not a man born into the world1 but has a portion of the ,spirit of ,god1 and it is that ,spirit of ,god which gives to his spirit understanding4 ,without this1 he would be but an animal like the rest of the brute creation1 without understanding1 without judgment1 without skill1 without ability1 except to eat and to drink like the brute beast4 ,but inasmuch as the ,spirit of ,god giveth all men understanding1 he is enlightened above the brute beast4 ,he is made in the image of ,god himself1 so that he can reason1 reflect1 pray1 exercise faith2 he can use his energies for the accomplishment of the desires of his heart1 and inasmuch as he puts forth his efforts in the proper direction1 then he is entitled to an increased portion of the ,spirit of the ,almighty to inspire him to increased intelligence1 to increased prosperity and happiness in the world2 but in proportion as he prostitutes his energies for evil1 the inspiration of the ,almighty is withdrawn from #gg him1 until he becomes so dark and so benighted1 that so far as his knowledge of ,god is concerned1 he is quite as ignorant as a dumb brute4 ,again1 where are we going8 ,we come here and journey in the flesh a little season1 and then we pass away4 ,every soul that is born into the world will die4 ,there is not a soul that has escaped death1 except those upon whom ,god has passed1 by the power of his ,spirit1 that they should live in the flesh until the second coming of the ,son of ,man2 but they will eventually have to pass through the ordeal called death2 it may be in the twinkling of an eye1 and without pain or suffering2 but they will pass through the change1 because it is an irrevocable edict of the ,almighty4 ,in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die4 ,this was the edict of the ,almighty1 and it pertains to ,adam--that is1 all the human race--for ,adam is many1 and it means you and me and every soul that lives and that bears the image of the ,father4 ,we shall all die4 ,but is that the end of our being8 ,if we had an existence before we came here1 we certainly shall continue that existence when we leave here4 ,the spirit will continue to exist as it did before1 with the additional advantages derived from having passed through this probation4 ,it is absolutely necessary that we should come to the earth and take upon us tabernacles2 because if we did not have tabernacles we could not be like ,god1 nor like ,jesus ,christ4 ,god has a tabernacle of flesh and bone4 ,he is an organized being just as we are1 who are now in the flesh4 ,jesus ,christ was born of his mother1 ,mary4 ,he had a fleshly tabernacle4 ,he was crucified on the cross2 and his body was raised from the dead4 ,he burst the bonds of the grave1 and came forth to newness of life1 a living soul1 a living being1 a man with a body1 with parts and with spirit--the spirit and the body becoming a living and immortal soul4 ,you and ,i have to do the same thing4 ,we must go through the same ordeal in order to attain to the glory and exaltation which ,god designed #gh we should enjoy with him in the eternal worlds4 ,in other words1 we must become like him2 peradventure to sit upon thrones1 to have dominion1 power and eternal increase4 ,god designed this in the beginning4 ,we are the children of ,god4 ,he is an eternal being1 without beginning of days or end of years4 ,he always was1 he is1 he always will be4 ,we are precisely in the same condition and under the same circumstances that ,god our heavenly ,father was when he was passing through this1 or a similar ordeal4 ,we are destined to come forth out of the grave as ,jesus did1 and to obtain immortal bodies as he did--that is1 that our tabernacles are to become immortal as his became immortal1 that the spirit and the body may be joined together and become one living being1 indivisible1 inseparable1 eternal4 ,this is the object of our existence in the world2 and we can only attain to these things through obedience to certain principles1 through walking in certain channels1 through obtaining certain information1 certain intelligence from ,god1 without which no man can accomplish his work or fulfill the mission he has come upon the earth to fulfill4 ,these principles are the principles of the gospel of eternal truth1 the principles of faith1 repentance1 and baptism for the remission of sins1 the principle of obedience to ,god the eternal ,father2 for obedience is one of the first principles or laws of heaven4 ,without obedience1 there can be no order1 no government1 no union1 no plan or purpose carried out4 ,and that obedience must be voluntary2 it must not be forced1 there must be no coercion4 ,men must not be constrained against their will to obey the will of ,god2 they must obey it because they know it to be right1 because they desire to do it1 and because it is their pleasure to do it4 ,god delights in the willing heart4 ,i am looking forward to the time when ,i shall have passed away from this stage of existence1 there ,i shall be permitted to enjoy more fully every gift and blessing that has #gi contributed to my happiness in this world2 everything4 ,i do not believe that there is one thing that was designed or intended to give me joy or make me happy1 that ,i shall be denied here after1 provided ,i continue faithful2 otherwise my joy cannot be full4 ,i am not now speaking of that happiness or pleasure that is derived from sin2 ,i refer to the happiness experienced in seeking to do the will of ,god on earth as it is done in heaven4 ,we expect to have our wives and husbands in eternity4 ,we expect our children will acknowledge us as their fathers and mothers in eternity4 ,i expect this2 ,i look for nothing else4 ,without it1 ,i could not be happy4 ,the thought or belief that ,i should be denied this privilege hereafter would make me miserable from this moment4 ,i never could be happy again without the hope that ,i shall enjoy the society of my wives and children in eternity4 ,if ,i had not this hope1 ,i should be of all men most unhappy1 for if in this life only we have hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most miserable4 ,and all who have tasted of the influence of the ,spirit of ,god1 and have had awakened within them a hope of eternal life1 cannot be happy unless they continue to drink of that fountain until they are satisfied1 and it is the only fountain at which they can drink and be satisfied4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #be1 #ahhd1 pp4 #ea-fj4 ,,trust ,,in ,,god4 ,the need of one's having a keen knowledge of the truth is paramount4 ,so also is it that every ,latter-day ,saint should have a deep-rooted conviction of the justice of ,god1 and an implicit confidence and faith in his being and mercy4 ,to rightfully understand the gospel and to be able to keep his commandments such knowledge is absolutely necessary4 ,let each person ask himself if in his soul there is a sharp and immovable conviction of these facts4 ,could anything that might occur to you1 or that might take place in the ,church1 or with her officers or authorities1 change your faith in the purposes1 and in the #hj absolute justice and mercy1 of the ,lord1 or in the saving power of his gospel1 the message of his salvation8 ,if so1 your faith is not deep-rooted1 and there is strong need of your becoming convinced4 99 99 99 ,no person can realize the fulness of the blessings of ,god1 unless he can approach1 in some degree1 at least1 the standard of faith in ,god's justice1 exemplified in the examples quoted4 ,he must have founded in his own soul belief and confidence in the justice and mercy of ,god4 ,it must be individual1 no man can act for another4 ,lessons of this class need be taught and held up before the youth of ,zion1 to bring forcibly to their minds the truth which alone will make them free and able to stand firm in the faith4 ,let them1 as they are called together in their assemblies1 present themselves before ,god1 and be reminded of his gracious benefits1 in bringing forth the ,book of ,mormon1 in the scenes of ,kirtland1 in ,zion1 in ,nauvoo1 in the trying days of the exodus1 and in the wilderness4 ,this that they might count the mercies of ,god in his promises1 and behold how past affliction and sore trial have been turned to the well-being of his people2 and so renew their covenants1 filled with a deep-rooted1 immovable conviction of the goodness and mercy of the ,lord4 ,each individual must learn this lesson1 it must be impressed upon his soul1 so deep1 and be so well-founded that nothing can separate him from a knowledge of the love of ,god1 though death and hell stand in the way4 ,god is good2 his promises never fail2 to trust implicitly his goodness and mercy is a correct principle4 ,let us1 therefore1 put our trust in him4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 p4 #ec1 ,nov41 #aijd4 ,i ,,know ,,that ,,my ,,redeemer ,,lives4 ,it is by the power of ,god that all things are made that have been made4 ,it is by the power of ,christ that all things are governed and kept in place that are governed and kept in place in the universe4 #ha ,it is the power which proceeds from the presence of the ,son of ,god throughout all the works of his hands1 that giveth light1 energy1 understanding1 knowledge1 and a degree of intelligence to all the children of men1 strictly in accordance with the words in the ,book of job3 ,there is a spirit in man2 and the inspiration of the ,almighty giveth them understanding4 ,it is this inspiration from ,god1 proceeding throughout all his creations1 that enlighteneth the children of men2 and it is nothing more nor less than the spirit of ,christ that enlighteneth the mind1 that quickeneth the understanding1 and that prompteth the children of men to do that which is good and to eschew that which is evil2 which quickens the conscience of man and gives him intelligence to judge between good and evil1 light and darkness1 right and wrong4 ,but the ,holy ,ghost1 who bears record of the ,father and the ,son1 who takes of the things of the ,father and shows them unto men1 who testifies of ,jesus ,christ1 and of the everliving ,god1 the ,father of ,jesus ,christ1 and who bears witness of the truth--this ,spirit1 this ,intelligence1 is not given unto all men until they repent of their sins and come into a state of worthiness before the ,lord4 ,then they receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of the hands of those who are authorized of ,god to bestow his blessings upon the heads of the children of men4 ,the ,spirit spoken of in that which ,i have read is that ,spirit which will not cease to strive with the children of men until they are brought to the possession of the greater light and intelligence4 ,though a man may commit all manner of sin and blasphemy1 if he has not received the testimony of the ,holy ,ghost1 he may be forgiven by repenting of his sins1 humbling himself before the ,lord1 and obeying in sincerity the commandments of ,god4 ,as it is stated1 ,every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me1 and calleth on my name1 and obeyeth my voice1 and keepeth my commandments #hb shall see my face and know that ,i am4 ,he shall be forgiven1 and receive of the greater light2 he will enter into a solemn covenant with ,god1 into a compact with the ,almighty1 through the ,only ,begotten ,son1 whereby he becomes a son of ,god1 an heir of ,god1 and a joint heir with ,jesus ,christ4 ,then if he shall sin against the light and knowledge he has received1 the light that was within him shall become darkness1 and oh1 how great will be that darkness6 ,then1 and not till then1 will this ,spirit of ,christ that lighteth every man that cometh into the world cease to strive with him1 and he shall be left to his own destruction4 ,the question is often asked1 ,is there any difference between the ,spirit of the ,lord and the ,holy ,ghost8 ,the terms are frequently used synonymously4 ,we often say the ,spirit of ,god when we mean the ,holy ,ghost2 we likewise say the ,holy ,ghost when we mean the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is a personage in the ,godhead1 and is not that which lighteth every man that cometh into the world4 ,it is the ,spirit of ,god which proceeds through ,christ to the world1 that enlightens every man that comes into the world1 and that strives with the children of men1 and will continue to strive with them1 until it brings them to a knowledge of the truth and the possession of the greater light and testimony of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if1 however1 he receive that greater light1 and then sin against it1 the ,spirit of ,god will cease to strive with him1 and the ,holy ,ghost will wholly depart from him4 ,then will he persecute the truth2 then will he seek the blood of the innocent2 then will he not scruple at the commission of any crime1 except so far as he may fear the penalties of the law1 in consequence of the crime upon himself4 ,and that ,i am in the ,father1 and the ,father in me1 and the ,father and ,i are one4 ,i do not apprehend that any intelligent person will construe these words to mean that ,jesus and his ,father are one person1 but merely that they #hc are one in knowledge1 in truth1 in wisdom1 in understanding1 and in purpose2 just as the ,lord ,jesus himself admonished his disciples to be one with him1 and to be in him1 that he might be in them4 ,it is in this sense that ,i understand this language1 and not as it is construed by some people1 that ,christ and his ,father are one person4 ,i declare to you that they are not one person1 but that they are two persons1 two bodies1 separate and apart1 and as distinct as are any father and son within the sound of my voice4 ,yet1 ,jesus is the ,father of this world1 because it was by him that the world was made4 ,even ,christ himself was not perfect at first2 he received not a fulness at first1 but he received grace for grace1 and he continued to receive more and more until he received a fulness4 ,is not this to be so with the children of men8 ,is any man perfect8 ,has any man received a fulness at once8 ,have we reached a point wherein we may receive the fulness of ,god1 of his glory1 and his intelligence8 ,no2 and yet1 if ,jesus1 the ,son of ,god1 and the ,father of the heavens and the earth in which we dwell1 received not a fulness at the first1 but increased in faith1 knowledge1 understanding and grace until he received a fulness1 is it not possible for all men who are born of women to receive little by little1 line upon line1 precept upon precept1 until they shall receive a fulness1 as he has received a fulness1 and be exalted with him in the presence of the ,father8 ,the spirit without the body is not perfect1 and the body without the spirit is dead4 ,man was ordained in the beginning to become like ,jesus ,christ1 to become conformed unto his image4 ,as ,jesus was born of woman1 lived and grew to manhood1 was put to death and raised from the dead to immortality and eternal life1 so it was decreed in the beginning that man should be1 and will be1 through the atonement of ,jesus1 in spite of himself1 resurrected from the dead4 ,death came upon us without the exercise of our #hd agency2 we had no hand in bringing it originally upon ourselves2 it came because of the transgression of our first parents4 ,therefore1 man1 who had no hand in bringing death upon himself1 shall have no hand in bringing again life unto himself2 for as he dies in consequence of the sin of ,adam1 so shall he live again1 whether he will or not1 by the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ1 and the power of his resurrection4 ,every man that dies shall live again1 and shall stand before the bar of ,god1 to be judged according to his works1 whether they be good or evil4 ,it is then that all will have to give an account for their stewardship in this mortal life4 ,now1 my brethren and sisters1 ,i know that my ,redeemer lives4 ,i feel it in every fiber of my being4 ,i am just as satisfied of it as ,i am of my own existence4 ,i cannot feel more sure of my own being than ,i do that my ,redeemer lives1 and that my ,god lives1 the ,father of my ,savior4 ,i feel it in my soul2 ,i am converted to it in my whole being4 ,i bear testimony to you that this is the doctrine of ,christ1 the gospel of ,jesus1 which is the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,it is ,mormonism4--,sermon in ,tabernacle1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,march #af1 #aijb4 ,,our ,,personal ,,responsibility4 ,if there is one principle of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ that goes directly to the very foundation of justice and righteousness1 it is that great and glorious and ,god-like principle that every man will have to render an account for that which he does1 and every man will be rewarded for his works1 whether they be good or evil4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ajd4 ,,the ,,church ,a ,,democratic ,,institution4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is the most democratic institution in the world4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ajj4 ,,how ,,to ,,secure ,,god',s ,,blessing4 ,if we desire a continuation of the blessings of the ,lord1 we must do his will #he and obey the laws on which his blessings are predicated4 ,there is no other way to obtain his blessings4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ii1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,the ,,son4 ,jesus ,christ is not the ,father of the spirits who have taken or yet shall take bodies upon this earth1 for he is one of them4 ,he is the ,son1 as they are sons or daughters of ,elohim4 ,so far as the stages of eternal progression and attainment have been made known through divine revelation1 we are to understand that only resurrected and glorified beings can become parents of spirit offspring4 ,only such exalted souls have reached maturity in the appointed course of eternal life2 and the spirits born to them in the eternal worlds will pass in due sequence through the several stages or estates by which the glorified parents have attained exaltation4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ai1 p4 #idb4 ,,jehovah1 ,,the ,,firstborn4 ,among the spirit children of ,elohim1 the first-born was and is ,jehovah1 or ,jesus ,christ1 to whom all others are juniors4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ai1 p4 #idj ,,nothing ,,temporal ,,with ,,god4 ,we ought to be united in all things temporal as well as spiritual4 ,with ,god all things are spiritual4 ,there is nothing temporal with him at all1 and there ought to be no distinction with us in regard to these matters4 ,our earthly or temporal existence is merely a continuance of that which is spiritual4 ,every step we take in the great journey of life1 the great journey of eternity1 is a step in advance or in retrogression4 ,we are here in mortality1 it is true2 but we are ahead of that condition we occupied before we came here and took upon us mortality4 ,we are a step in advance of our former state4 ,what is the body without the spirit8 ,it is lifeless clay4 ,what is it that affects this lifeless clay8 ,it is the spirit1 it is the immortal part1 the eternal being1 that existed before it came here1 that exists within us1 and that will continue to exist that by and by will redeem these tabernacles and bring #hf them forth out of the graves4 ,the whole mission of ours is spiritual4 ,the work we have to do here1 although we call it temporal1 pertains alike to our spiritual and our temporal salvation4 ,and the ,lord has just as much right to dictate1 to counsel1 to direct and guide us in the manipulation and management of our temporal affairs1 as we call them1 as he has to say one word in relation to our spiritual affairs4 ,so far as he is concerned there is no difference in this regard4 ,he looks upon us as immortal beings4 ,our bodies are designed to become eternal and spiritual4 ,god is spiritual himself1 although he has a body of flesh and bone as ,christ has4 ,yet he is spiritual1 and those who worship him must do so in spirit and truth4 ,and when you come to separate the spiritual from the temporal1 see that you do not make a mistake4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bc1 ,july #af1 #ahhd1 p4 #dff4 ,,the ,,important ,,consideration4 ,the important consideration is not how long we can live1 but how well we can learn the lessons of life1 and discharge our duties and obligations to ,god and to each other4 ,one of the main purposes of our existence is that we might conform to the image and likeness of ,him who sojourned in the flesh without blemish--immaculate1 pure1 and spotless6 ,christ came not only to atone for the sins of the world1 but to set an example before all men1 and to establish the standard of ,god's perfection1 of ,god's law1 and of obedience to the ,father4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 #aiag1 p4 #ajd4 #hg ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,purpose ,,and ,,the ,,mission ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,defined4 ,what ,i mean by the kingdom of ,god is the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 over which the son of ,god presides1 and not man4 ,that is what ,i mean4 ,i mean the kingdom of which ,christ is the ,king and not man4 ,if any man object to ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 being ,king of ,israel1 let him object1 and go to hell just as quick as he please4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #i4 ,,mormonism ,,defined4 ,i desire to say that ,mormonism1 as it is called1 is still1 as always1 nothing more and nothing less than the power of ,god unto salvation1 unto every soul that will receive it honestly and will obey it4 ,i say to you1 my brethren1 sisters and friends1 that all ,latter-day ,saints1 wherever you find them1 provided they are true to their name1 to their calling and to their understanding of the gospel1 are people who stand for truth and for honor1 for virtue and for purity of life1 for honesty in business and in religion2 people who stand for ,god and for his righteousness1 for ,god's truth and his work in the earth1 which aims1 for the salvation of the children of men1 for their salvation from the evils of the world1 from the pernicious habits of wicked men and from all those things that degrade1 dishonor or destroy2 or tend to lessen the vitality and life1 the honor and godliness among the people of the earth4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 p4 #e4 ,,the ,,mission ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,our mission has been to save men4 ,we have been laboring all these eighty-odd years of the ,church to bring men to a knowledge of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 to bring them to repentance1 to obedience #hh to the requirements of ,god's law4 ,we have been striving to save men from error1 to persuade them to turn away from evil and to learn to do good4 ,now if our enemies will only charge us with doing this1 all right2 and if they wish to oppose us for doing this1 that is their business2 but when they charge us with doing that which we have not done1 believing that which we do not believe1 practicing that which we have never practiced1 then ,i pity them4 ,i pity them because they are doing it in ignorance1 or because they are wilfully disposed to misrepresent the truth4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #c1 #d4 ,,the ,,plan ,,of ,,life ,,restored4 ,it is the plan of life that the ,almighty has restored to man in the latter days for the salvation of the souls of men1 not only in the world to come1 but in our present life1 for the ,lord has instituted his work that his people may enjoy the blessings of this life to the utmost2 that they should be saved in this present life1 as well as in the life to come1 that they should lay the foundation here for immunity from sin and all its effects and consequences1 that they may obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of ,god beyond this vale of tears4 ,the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the power of ,god unto salvation1 and it is absolutely necessary for every man and woman in the ,church of ,christ to work righteousness1 to observe the laws of ,god1 and keep the commandments that he has given1 in order that they may avail themselves of the power of ,god unto salvation in this life4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #b4 ,,our ,,mission ,,is ,,to ,,save4 ,our mission is to save1 to preserve from evil1 to exalt mankind1 to bring light and truth into the world1 to prevail upon the people of the earth to walk righteously before ,god1 and to honor him in their lives and with the first fruits of all their substance and increase1 that their barns may be filled with plenty and1 figuratively speaking1 that their presses may burst out with new wine4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #aah4 #hi ,,the ,,gospel ,,message4 ,i rejoice exceedingly in the truth4 ,i thank ,god every day of my life for his mercy and kindness1 and loving care and protection that have been extended to all his people1 and for the many manifestations of his peculiar mercy and blessings that have been extended unto us throughout all the length and breadth of the land and through all the years since the organization of the ,church1 on the #fth of ,april1 #ahcj4 ,the ,lord1 about that time1 or soon after1 decreed a decree which he said his people should realize1 that they should begin from that very hour to prevail over all their enemies1 and1 inasmuch as they continued to be faithful in keeping his laws he had given unto them1 it was decreed that they should prevail until all enemies were subdued--not subdued by violence1 nor the spirit of contention nor of warfare1 but subdued by the power of eternal truth1 by the majesty and power of ,almighty ,god1 but by the increased power of the righteous and of the upright covenanted people of ,god--should be magnified and increased1 until the world shall bow and acknowledge that ,jesus is the ,christ1 and that there is a people preparing for his coming in power and glory to the earth again4 ,we carry to the world the olive branch of peace4 ,we present to the world the law of ,god1 the word of the ,lord1 the truth1 as it has been revealed in the latter day for the redemption of the dead and for the salvation of the living4 ,we bear no malice nor evil toward the children of men4 ,the spirit of forgiveness pervades the hearts of the ,saints of ,god1 and they do not cherish a desire or feeling of revenge toward their enemies or those who hurt or molest them or seek to make them afraid2 but on the contrary1 the ,spirit of the ,lord has possession of their spirits1 of their souls1 and of their thoughts2 they forgive all men1 and they carry no malice in their hearts toward any1 no matter what they have done4 ,they say in their hearts1 let ,god judge between #ij us and our enemies1 and as for us1 we forgive them1 and we bear no malice toward any4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #b4 ,,we ,,are ,,as ,,leaven4 ,while it may be said1 and it is in a measure true1 that we are but a handful in comparison with our fellowmen in the world1 yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the ,savior spoke1 that will eventually leaven the whole world4 ,we have ample assurance of the fulfilment of this thought in the growth and development of the cause from its incipiency until the present1 for it has steadily and increasingly progressed and developed in the earth1 from a mere half dozen of men1 seventy-nine years ago1 until today the members of the ,church may be numbered by the hundreds of thousands4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #b4 ,,man ,,insignificant ,,compared ,,to ,,cause4 ,we are learning the great truth that man is insignificant in his individuality1 in comparison to the mighty cause which involves the salvation of the children of men1 living and dead1 and those who will yet live in the earth4 ,men must set aside their own prejudices1 their own personal desires1 wishes and preferences1 and pay deference to the great cause of truth that is spreading abroad in the world4--,apr ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #b4 ,,where ,,the ,,gospel ,,spirit ,,leads4 ,the spirit of the gospel leads men to righteousness2 to love their fellowmen and to labor for their salvation and exaltation2 it inspires them to do good and not evil1 to avoid even the appearance of sin1 much more to avoid sin itself4 ,this is indeed the spirit of the gospel1 which is the spirit of this latter-day work1 and also the spirit that possesses those who have embraced it2 and the aim and purpose of this work is the salvation1 the exaltation1 and the eternal happiness of man1 both in this life and in the life to come4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r1 #aiji1 p4 #d4 ,,the ,,fruits ,,of ,,true ,,religion4 ,the fruits of the ,spirit of ,god--the fruits of the spirit of true religion--are #ia peace and love1 virtue and honesty1 and integrity1 and fidelity to every virtue known in the law of ,god1--while the spirit of the world is vicious4 ,read the #eth chapter of ,galatians1 and there you will discover the difference between the fruits of the ,spirit of ,god and the fruits of the spirit of the world4 ,that is one of the great and chief differences between ,mormonism1 so-called1 and the theology of the world4 ,if ,mormonism is anything at all more than other religions1 it is that it is practical1 that the results of obedience to it are practical1 that it makes good men better men1 and that it takes even bad men and makes good ones of them4 ,that is what ,mormonism will do1 if we will only permit it to do it1 if we will bow to its mandates and adopt its precepts in our lives1 it will make us the sons and the daughters of ,god1 worthy eventually to dwell in the presence of the ,almighty in the heavens4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #hf4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,possess ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,salvation4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints possess the spirit of salvation1 and not the spirit of destruction2 the spirit of life1 not the spirit of death2 the spirit of peace1 not the spirit of disunion2 the spirit of love for their fellow beings1 not the spirit of hate4 ,and for the enjoyment of this spirit by the ,saints of the ,most ,high1 we all have great cause to render praise and thanksgiving to him who has so ordered it1 and has given to us humility to receive that measure of his ,spirit which inclines our hearts to good and not to evil4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #b4 ,,may ,,israel ,,flourish4 ,may ,israel flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains1 and assemble together unto the place which ,god has appointed1 and there prosper1 multiply and replenish the earth1 and thence spread abroad throughout the land2 for the time will come when we will find it necessary to fulfil the purposes of the ,almighty by occupying the land of ,zion in all parts of it4 ,we are not destined to be confined to the valleys of the mountains4 #ib ,zion is destined to grow1 and the time will come when we will cry aloud1 more than we do today1 ,give us room that we may dwell6--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #aah4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,will ,,grow4 ,the kingdom of ,god and the work of the ,lord will spread more and more2 it will progress more rapidly in the world in the future than it has done in the past4 ,the ,lord has said it1 and the ,spirit beareth record2 and ,i bear testimony to this1 for ,i do know that it is true4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #g4 ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,to ,,continue4 ,the kingdom of ,god is here to grow1 to spread abroad1 to take root in the earth1 and to abide where the ,lord has planted it by his own power and by his own word in the earth1 never more to be destroyed nor to cease1 but to continue until the purposes of the ,almighty shall be accomplished1 every whit that has been spoken of it by the mouths of the holy prophets since the world began4-,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb4 p4 #b4 ,,zion ,,established ,,to ,,remain4 ,zion is established in the midst of the earth to remain4 ,it is ,god ,almighty's work1 which he himself1 by his own wisdom1 and not by the wisdom of man1 has restored to the earth in the latter days1 and he has established it upon principles of truth and righteousness1 of purity of life and revelation from ,god1 that it can no more be thrown down or left to another people1 so long as the majority of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will abide in their covenants with the ,lord and keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world1 as all members of the ,church should keep themselves4 ,then it will be as ,god has decreed1 perpetual and eternal1 until his will is accomplished and his purposes fulfilled among the children of men4 ,no people can ever prosper and flourish very long unless they abide in ,god's truth4 ,there is nothing1 no individuality1 no combined influence among men1 that can prevail over the truth4 ,the truth is mighty and it will prevail4 ,it may be slow in the consummation of its purpose1 in the #ic accomplishment of the work that it has to do1 but it is and will be sure2 for the truth cannot and will not fail1 for the ,lord ,almighty is behind it4 ,it is his work1 and he will see to it that it is accomplished4 ,the kingdom is the ,lord's1 and the ,lord is capable of taking care of it4 ,he has always taken care of it4 ,i want to say to you that there never was a time since the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 when a man led the ,church1 not for one moment4 ,it was not so in the days of ,joseph2 it was not so in the days of ,brigham ,young2 it has not been so since2 it never will be so4 ,the direction of this work among the people of the world will never be left to men4 ,it is ,god's work1 let me tell you1 and ,i hope you will put it down in your memoranda1 and do not forget that it is the ,almighty that is going to do this work1 and consummate it1 and not man4 ,no man shall have the honor of doing it1 nor has any man ever had the power to do it of himself4 ,it is ,god's work4 ,if it had been the work of man1 we would have been like the rest of the world1 and it would not have been true of us that ,god has chosen us out of the world1 but we would be a part of it1 and ,hail fellow1 well met1 with it2 but it is true that ,god has chosen us out of the world2 therefore we are not of it2 therefore they hate us and they will fight us and say all manner of evil against us falsely1 as they have ever done from the beginning4 ,and they will continue to seek the destruction of the ,latter-day ,saints1 and to feel towards us in the future1 as they have felt in the past4 ,now1 don't you forget it1 my brothers and sisters4 ,when you go home1 if you have not been in the habit of doing it1 or if you have neglected your duty1 when you go home today or to your homes in distant settlements1 carry this injunction with you3 ,go into your secret chambers--go into your prayer-rooms--and there by yourselves1 or with your family gathered around you1 bow your knees before ,god ,almighty in praise and in thanksgiving to him for his merciful providence #id that has been over you and over all his people from the inception of this work down to the present3 ,remember that it is the gift of ,god to man1 that it is his power and his guiding influence that have accomplished what we see has been accomplished4 ,it has not been done by the wisdom of men4 ,it is proper we should give honor to those who have been instrumental in bringing to pass much righteousness4 ,they are instruments in ,god's hands1 and we should not ignore that they are such instruments1 and we should honor them as such2 but when we undertake to give them the honor for accomplishing this work and take the honor from ,god who qualified the men to do the work1 we are doing injustice to ,god4 ,we are robbing him of the honor that rightfully belongs to him1 and giving it to men who are only instrumental in the hands of ,god in accomplishing his purposes4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,the ,,progress ,,of ,,god',s ,,work ,,cannot ,,be ,,stopped4 ,now1 we are thankful to the ,lord that we are counted worthy to be taken notice of by the devil4 ,i would fear very much for our safety if we had fallen into a condition where the devil ceased to be concerned about us4 ,so long as the ,spirit of the ,lord is enjoyed by you1 so long as you are living your religion1 and keeping the commandments of the ,lord1 walking uprightly before him1 ,i assure you that the adversary of souls will not rest easy2 he will be discontented with you1 will find fault with you1 and he will arraign you before his bar2 but that will not hurt you very much if you will just keep on doing right4 ,you do not need to worry in the least1 the ,lord will take care of you and bless you1 he will also take care of his servants1 and will bless them and help them to accomplish his purposes2 and all the powers of darkness combined on earth and in hell cannot prevent it4 ,they may take men's lives2 they may slay and destroy1 if they will2 but they cannot destroy the purposes of ,god nor stop the progress of his work4 ,he has stretched #ie forth his hand to accomplish his purposes1 and the arm of flesh cannot stay it4 ,he will cut his work short in righteousness1 and will hasten his purposes in his own time4 ,it is only necessary to try with our might to keep pace with the onward progress of the work of the ,lord1 then ,god will preserve and protect us1 and will prepare the way before us1 that we shall live and multiply and replenish the earth1 and always do his will2 which may ,god grant4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,divinity ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,somewhat unexpectedly ,i am called to stand before you1 but ,i do so with pleasure1 as ,i have a testimony to bear to the work we are engaged in2 and it gives me pleasure when an opportunity is afforded to give expression to my feelings in relation to that work4 ,that we have the gospel and have enjoyed its blessings1 and that the ordinances of the gospel have been administered to us as ,latter-day ,saints1 there are thousands of witnesses in this territory and in many places in the world can testify4 ,the testimony of the truth of this work is not confined to one or to a few2 but there are thousands who can declare that they know it is true1 because it has been revealed to them4 ,we as a people are increasing in numbers1 and the ,lord ,almighty is increasing his blessings upon us1 and the people are expanding in their understanding and in the knowledge of the truth4 ,i feel grateful to my heavenly ,father that ,i have been permitted to live in this generation1 and have been permitted to become acquainted1 somewhat1 with the principles of the gospel4 ,i am thankful that ,i have had the privilege of having a testimony of its truth1 and that ,i am permitted to stand here and elsewhere to bear my testimony to the truth that the gospel has been restored to man4 ,i have traveled somewhat among the nations preaching the gospel1 and have seen something of the conditions of the world1 and to a certain extent have become acquainted with the feelings of men1 and with the religions of the world4 ,i #if am aware that the gospel1 as revealed in the ,bible1 cannot be found in the world2 the ordinances of that gospel are not administered in any church except the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,if we make ourselves acquainted with the tenets of the religious world we shall find that they have not the gospel nor its ordinances2 they have a form of godliness1 and ,i have no doubt1 are as sincere as we who have obeyed the gospel as revealed from heaven in these days4 ,but they are devoid of the knowledge which we possess1 and it is from the fact that they deny the source by which they might receive this knowledge--namely1 revelation from ,jesus ,christ4 ,in their minds they have closed up the heavens2 they declare that ,god has revealed all that is necessary1 that the canon of scripture is full1 and that no more will be revealed4 ,believing thus1 they close up the avenue of light and intelligence from heaven2 and this will continue so long as they continue in their present course of unbelief4 ,they will not listen to the testimony of men who tell them that the ,lord lives and that he is able to reveal his will to man today1 as ever4 ,they will not heed this testimony1 consequently they close the door of light and revelation4 ,they cannot advance1 nor learn the ways of ,god nor walk in his paths4 ,we testify that the barriers which separated man from ,god have been overcome1 that the ,lord has again communicated his will to man4 ,but1 says one1 how shall we become acquainted with these things8 ,how can we know that you are not deceived8 ,to all such we say1 repent of your sins in all sincerity1 then go forth and be baptized1 and have hands laid upon you for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the ,spirit will bear record to you of the truth of our testimony1 and you will become witnesses of it as we are1 and will be able to stand forth boldly and testify to the world as we do4 ,this was the path pointed out by ,peter and the apostles on the day of ,pentecost1 when the ,spirit of the ,lord ,almighty #ig rested upon them with great power to the convincing of the hearts of the people who cried out1 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do8 ,and ,peter said unto them1 ,repent1 and be baptized1 every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this was the counsel given them1 and inasmuch as they obeyed it1 they were entitled to the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit which would bring peace and happiness1 reveal to them their duties1 and enable them to understand their relationship to ,god4 ,if we look at the condition of the world today1 we must come to the conclusion that peace is not likely soon to be established on the earth4 ,there is nothing among the nations that tends to peace4 ,even among the religious societies the tendency is not to peace and union4 ,they do not bring men to a knowledge of ,god2 they do not possess the one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 and one hope of their calling that are spoken of in the ,scripture4 ,every man has gone according to his own notions1 independent of revelations1 and hence1 confusion and division exist2 their churches are broken up1 and they are quarreling and contending with one another4 ,and as it is in the religious1 so it is in the political world2 they are all divided1 and the more energy they put forth to make proselytes1 the greater are their contentions1 and the further they go from the mark4 ,this is the condition they have been in1 and the course they have been pursuing for almost eighteen hundred years1 until today they have become so divided that ,i think it would puzzle anyone to tell how many religious denominations there are in ,christendom4 ,there are thousands1 too1 who1 in consequence of the strife and contention among the religious sects1 have become entirely skeptical respecting religion of every kind1 and they have concluded that there is no ,god2 at any rate1 that there is no ,god among ,christians--that all religionists are fanatics and are deceived4 ,the sectarian systems #ih of religion are calculated to lead men of reflection and intelligence into skepticism1 to cause them to deny all interference of ,god with men and their affairs1 and to deny even his right to interfere4 ,the ,lord ,almighty is the ,creator of the earth1 he is the ,father of all our spirits4 ,he has the right to dictate what we should do1 and it is our duty to obey1 and to walk according to his requirements4 ,this is natural1 and perfectly easy to be comprehended4 ,the gospel has been restored to the earth1 and the priesthood again established1 and both are enjoyed by this people2 but those unacquainted with the working of the gospel and the priesthood look upon us with wonder1 and are astonished at the union that exists in our midst4 ,we move as a man1 almost2 we hearken to the voice of our leader2 we are united in our faith and in our work4 ,the world can not understand this1 and they behold it with wonder4 ,let me tell my brethren and friends that this is one of the effects of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we have become united in our faith by one baptism2 we know that ,jesus ,christ lives1 we know that he is our ,savior and ,redeemer2 we have a testimony of this1 independent of any written books1 and we testify of these things to the world4 ,this unison in the midst of the people called ,latter-day ,saints1 and their prosperity1 are hard for a great many to understand4 ,i have1 however1 heard it said1 that we boast that we are not so wealthy as our neighbors4 ,but when our circumstances1 and the condition of our country when we came here1 are considered1 ,i think this statement cannot be sustained4 ,when we came here we were penniless1 and we have not had the advantages of wealth or commerce to help to enrich us1 but all we possess is the result of our own physical labor and the blessing of ,god4 ,we have labored under great disadvantages in freighting our goods and machinery over these vast plains1 and besides this we have had a barren #ii soil and drouth to contend with1 and when all these things are considered1 ,i think we have been prospered more than any other people4 ,and as it has been in the past so will it be in the future--we will increase1 and extend our borders1 for this is the work of ,god2 we are his people1 and he will continue to bless us as he has done hitherto4 ,our business is to learn our duties one towards another and towards our leaders4 ,this is a lesson that we seem rather slow to learn4 ,but it should be with us3 when our leaders speak1 it is for us to obey2 when they direct1 we should go2 when they call1 we should follow4 ,not as beings who are enslaved or in thraldom2 we should not obey blindly1 as instruments or tools4 ,no ,latter-day ,saint acts in this manner2 no man or woman who has embraced the gospel has ever acted in this way2 but on the contrary men and women have felt to listen cheerfully to the counsels of the servants of ,god1 as far as they were able to comprehend them4 ,the difficulty is not in getting the ,latter-day ,saints to do right1 but in getting them to comprehend what is right4 ,we have obeyed the counsels of our leaders because we have known they have been inspired by the ,holy ,spirit and because we positively have known that their counsels have been given for our good4 ,we do know and have always known that our leaders have been inspired with wisdom superior to that which we possess4 ,for this reason we take hold of everything they present to us for the good of ,zion4 ,we are engaged in the great latter-day work of preaching the gospel to the nations1 gathering the poor1 and building up ,zion upon the earth4 ,we are working for the triumph of righteousness1 for the subjugation of sin and the errors of the age in which we live4 ,it is a great and glorious work4 ,we believe it is right to love ,god with all our hearts1 and to love our neighbors as ourselves4 ,we believe it is wrong to lie1 steal1 commit adultery1 or do any act forbidden by the gospel of ,christ4 ,we believe in all the teachings of the #ajj ,savior and in everything that is good and moral1 and calculated to exalt mankind or to ameliorate their condition1 to unite them in doing good4 ,these are among the principles of the gospel1 and these principles have been taught to us from the commencement of our career as members of this ,church4 ,these principles are carried out among us to an extent not to be found among any other people4 ,we do not believe in worshiping ,god or being religious on the ,sabbath day only2 but we believe it is as necessary to be religious on ,monday1 ,tuesday and every day in the week1 as it is on the ,sabbath day2 we believe that it is necessary to do to our neighbors as we would they should do unto us1 during the week as it is on the ,sabbath4 ,in short1 we believe it is necessary to live our religion every day in the week every hour in the day1 and every moment4 ,believing and acting thus1 we become strengthened in our faith1 the ,spirit of ,god increases within us1 we advance in knowledge1 and we are better able to defend the cause we are engaged in4 ,to be a true representative of this cause a man must live faithful to the light that he has2 he must be pure1 virtuous and upright4 ,if he comes short of this he is not a fair representative of this work4 ,the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the perfect law of liberty4 ,it is calculated to lead man to the highest state of glory1 and to exalt him in the presence of our heavenly ,father1 with whom is no variableness1 neither shadow of turning4 ,if there is any folly to be seen in the midst of this people1 it is the folly and weakness of man1 and is not because of any failing or lack in the plan of salvation4 ,the gospel is perfect in its organization4 ,it is for us to learn the gospel1 and to become acquainted with the principles of truth1 to humble ourselves before ,god that we may bring ourselves into subjection to his laws1 and be continually willing to listen to the counsels of those whom the ,lord has appointed to guide us4 #aja ,we know that ,god has spoken2 we testify of this4 ,we stand as witnesses to the world that this is true4 ,we ask no odds of any man1 community or nation on the face of the earth in relation to these things4 ,we bear a fearless testimony that they are true4 ,we also bear testimony that ,brigham ,young is a prophet of the living ,god1 and that he has the revelations of ,jesus ,christ2 that he has guided this people by the power of revelation from the time he became their leader until the present1 and he has never failed in his duty or mission4 ,he has been faithful before ,god1 and faithful to this people4 ,we bear this testimony to the world4 ,we fear not1 neither do we heed their scorn1 contempt1 or sneers4 ,we are used to it4 ,we have seen it and heard it1 and have become inured to it4 ,we know that the ,one in whom we trust is ,god1 for it has been revealed to us4 ,we are not in the dark1 neither have we obtained our knowledge from any man1 synod or collection of men1 but through the revelation of ,jesus4 ,if there be any who doubt us1 let them repent of their sins4 ,is there any harm in your forsaking your follies and evils1 and in bowing in humility before ,god for his ,spirit1 and in obedience to the words of the ,savior1 being baptized for the remission of sins1 and having hands laid upon you for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 that you may have a witness for yourselves of the truth of the words we speak to you8 ,do this humbly and honestly1 and as sure as the ,lord lives1 ,i promise you that you will receive the testimony of this work for yourselves1 and will know it as all the ,latter-day ,saints know it4 ,this is the promise2 it is sure and steadfast4 ,it is something tangible2 it is in the power of every man to prove for himself whether we speak the truth or whether we lie4 ,we do not come as deceivers or impostors before the world2 we do not come with the intention to deceive1 but we come with the plain simple truth1 and leave it to the world to test it and get a knowledge #ajb for themselves4 ,it is the right of every soul that lives--the high1 low1 rich1 poor1 great and small1 to have this testimony for themselves inasmuch as they will obey the gospel4 ,jesus in ancient times sent his disciples forth to preach the gospel to every creature1 saying they that believed and were baptized should be saved1 but they that believed not should be damned4 ,and said he1 ,these signs shall follow them that believe3 ,in my name shall they cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents2 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,these are the promises made anciently1 and there are thousands in this territory and in this congregation who can bear testimony that they have realized the fulfilment of these promises in this day4 ,the healing of the sick among us has become so common that it is apparently but little thought of4 ,we have also seen the lame made to walk1 and the blind to receive their sight1 the deaf to hear1 and the dumb to speak4 ,these things we have seen done by the power of ,god and not by the cunning or wisdom of men2 we know that these signs do follow the preaching of the gospel4 ,yet these testimonies of its truth are but poor and weak when compared with the whisperings of the still small voice of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the latter is a testimony that none who enjoy it can deny2 it cannot be overcome1 for it brings conviction to the heart that cannot be reasoned away or disproved1 whether it can be accounted for on philosophical principles or not4 ,this testimony comes from ,god and convinces all to whom it is given in spite of themselves1 and is worth more to men than any sign or gift beside1 because it gives peace and happiness1 contentment and quiet to my soul4 ,it assures me that ,god lives1 and if ,i am faithful ,i shall obtain the blessings of the celestial kingdom4 ,is this unscriptural or contrary to reason or to any revealed truth8 ,no1 it is in compliance with and in corroboration #ajc of all revealed truth known to man4 ,the ,lord ,almighty lives1 and he operates by the power of his ,spirit over the hearts of the children of men and holds the nations of the earth in his hands4 ,he created the earth upon which we dwell1 and its treasures are his2 and he will do with us according as we merit4 ,as we are faithful or unfaithful1 so will the ,almighty deal with us1 for we are his children1 and we are heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ4 ,we have a glorious destiny before us2 we are engaged in a glorious work4 ,it is worth all our attention1 it is worth our lives and everything the ,lord has put into our possession1 and then ten thousand times more4 ,indeed1 there is no comparison1 it is all in all1 it is incomparable4 ,it is all that is and all that ever will be4 ,the gospel is salvation1 and without it there is nothing worth having4 ,we came naked into the world and shall go hence the same4 ,if we were to accumulate half the world1 it would avail us nothing so far as prolonging life here1 or securing eternal life hereafter4 ,but the gospel teaches men to be humble1 faithful1 honest and righteous before the ,lord and with each other1 and in proportion as its principles are carried out so will peace and righteousness extend and be established on the earth1 and sin1 contention1 bloodshed and corruption of all kinds cease to exist1 and the earth become purified and be made a fit abode for heavenly beings2 and for the ,lord our ,god to come and dwell upon1 which he will do during the ,millennium4 ,the principles of the gospel which the ,lord has revealed in these days will lead us to eternal life4 ,this is what we are after1 what we were created for1 what the earth was created for4 ,the reason that we are here is that we may overcome every folly and prepare ourselves for eternal life in the future4 ,i do not think that a principle of salvation is available only as it can be applied in our lives4 ,for instance1 if there is a principle calculated in its nature to save me from the penalty of any crime1 it will avail me nothing #ajd unless ,i act upon it this moment4 ,if ,i do this and continue to do so1 ,i act upon the principle of salvation1 and ,i am secure from the penalty of that crime and will be forever1 so long as ,i abide by that principle or law4 ,it is just so with the principles of the gospel--they are a benefit or not1 just as they are or are not applied in our lives4 ,then let us be faithful and humble2 let us live the religion of ,christ1 put away our follies and sins and the weaknesses of the flesh1 and cleave to ,god and his truth with undivided hearts1 and with full determination to fight the good fight of faith and continue steadfast to the end1 which may ,god grant us power to do is my prayer in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,discourse1 ,nov4 #ae1 #ahfh1 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ab1 pp4 #cbf-ccb4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,all ,,comprehensive4 ,the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ embraces all the laws and ordinances necessary for the salvation of man4 ,paul declared it to be the power of ,god unto salvation to everyone that believeth4 ,no man can be saved in opposition to its saving ordinances1 but must receive each ordinance in the spirit of humility and faith4 ,technically1 the term gospel signifies good news1 and is said to be taken from1 or founded on1 the annunciation of the angel who appeared to the shepherds at the time of the ,savior's birth1 declaring1 ,behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,in the theological sense1 the gospel means more than just the tidings of good news1 with accompanying joy to the souls of men1 for it embraces every principle of eternal truth4 ,there is no fundamental principle1 or truth1 anywhere in the universe1 that is not embraced in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and it is not confined to the simple first principles1 such as faith in ,god1 repentance from sin1 baptism for the remission of sins1 and the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 although these are absolutely essential to salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of ,god4 #aje ,the laws known to man as the laws of nature1 through which the earth and all things on it are governed1 as well as the laws which prevail throughout the entire universe1 through which heavenly bodies are controlled and to which they are obedient in all things1 are all circumscribed and included in the gospel4 ,every natural law or scientific principle that man has truly discovered1 but which was always known to ,god1 is a part of the gospel truth4 ,there never was and never will be any conflict between truth revealed by the ,lord to his servants1 the prophets1 and truth revealed by him to the scientist1 who makes his discoveries through his research and study4 ,there is a great deal that is taught in the religions of the world as gospel truth that the ,lord never did reveal1 and which is not in harmony with revealed religion4 ,there is also much that is taught in the world of science that the ,lord never did reveal1 which is in conflict with the truth4 ,a great deal that man has put forth as scientific theory is founded in error and therefore cannot prevail4 ,the conflict between religion and science is founded in error and therefore cannot prevail4 ,the conflict between religion and science is due to the fact that there are many ideas advanced in false forms of religion and false conclusions reached by men of science4 ,truth and error can never agree2 but truth1 no matter where it is found1 is consistent and will always harmonize with every other truth4 ,the ,lord stated it as follows3 ,for intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence2 wisdom receiveth wisdom2 truth embraceth truth2 virtue loveth virtue2 light cleaveth unto light2 mercy hath compassion on mercy1 and claimeth her own4--,doctrine and ,covenants #hh3dj4 ,the ,lord has revealed that man was formed in his image and that we are his offspring4 ,this is a glorious gospel truth4 ,anything that we may be taught1 whether in false forms of religion or in the field of science in conflict #ajf with this great truth cannot endure1 for it is error4 ,it may be cherished for a season and seem to prevail1 as many falsehoods have done in the past when put forth as truth1 but the time will come when all theories1 ideas and opinions which are not in harmony with that which the ,lord has declared1 must come to an end2 for that which remains and will endure and abide forever1 will be the truth1 even the gospel of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ea1 pp4 #afd1 #afe1 ,march1 #aiaf4 ,,let ,,your ,,light ,,shine4 ,christ1 teaching his disciples1 called attention to the importance of their position and place in the world4 ,though poor and despised of men1 yet he told them they were the salt of the earth1 the light of the world4 ,then he encouraged them to effort and achievement by showing them that their exalted position would avail them little1 unless they made proper use of their high callings4 ,these conditions and instructions apply admirably to the ,latter-day ,saints1 who are indeed the salt of the earth1 and in whom is vested the gospel light of the world2 who1 as the apostle said of the ,former-day ,saints1 are a chosen generation1 a royal priesthood1 an holy nation1 a peculiar people2 that they should show forth the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light4 ,but all this availeth little or nothing1 unless the ,saints consider themselves of some consequence1 and let their light shine1 collectively and individually2 unless they are model in their behavior1 honest1 zealous in the spread of truth1 tolerant of their neighbors1 having your conversation honest among the ,gentiles2 that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers1 they may by your good works1 which they shall behold1 glorify ,god in the day of visitation4 ,one fault to be avoided by the ,saints1 young and old1 is the tendency to live on borrowed light1 with their own hidden under a bushel2 to permit the savor of their salt of knowledge #ajg to be lost2 and the light within them to be reflected1 rather than original4 ,every ,saint should not only have the light within himself1 through the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 but his light should so shine that it may be clearly perceived by others4 ,men and women should become settled in the truth1 and founded in the knowledge of the gospel1 depending upon no person for borrowed or reflected light1 but trusting only upon the ,holy ,spirit1 who is ever the same1 shining forever and testifying to the individual and the priesthood1 who live in harmony with the laws of the gospel1 of the glory and the will of the ,father4 ,they will then have light everlasting which cannot be obscured4 ,by its shining in their lives1 they shall cause others to glorify ,god2 and by their well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men1 and show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #h1 pp4 #fj-fb1 #aijd-e4 ,,no ,,cause ,,for ,,worry4 ,the ,saints and their leaders have redeemed the waste places1 founded ,christian homes1 churches1 and schools2 established industries--because of the very nature of their necessities4 ,why should they not be permitted to enjoy the fruits of their toils1 and why be sneered at and condemned for their energy and enterprise1 and especially by men who prove themselves to be hypocrites and liars1 who live on what others have produced8 ,are the ,saints to be condemned because they have appropriated the land1 paid for it by hard labor1 cultivated and made the best out of it by their united strength1 under the inspired direction of wise leaders8 ,it will be noted that it is not the people who are complaining1 for they have been assisted in many ways to better themselves by such leaders2 but it is the ministers1 who have no interest whatever1 either in our material or spiritual advancement4 ,and then again1 #ajh are such leaders to be condemned because they have directed and led the way in these things8 ,had they not done so1 whence would our enterprises1 our temporal salvation1 have come8 ,never by the help of sectarian ministers1 that much is true1 at least4 ,no2 young man1 you need not be troubled over ministerial accusations against this people1 nor over what the people of the world say against us4 ,i have no fears for the ,church from these sources1 but ,i confess ,i have fears when our young men begin to weaken1 and to take sides against their fathers2 to profess to think that the priesthood is selfish and self-seeking2 to follow lies and accusations rather than plain truth2 to join in derision against the leaders of the ,saints1 and to laugh when unfriendly editors and ministers hold them up to ridicule4 ,i fear1 when young men deny the truth and follow falsehood2 when they become self-sufficient1 unvirtuous1 worldly and proud2 when the sterling qualities of their fathers are derided by them2 when they seek the plaudits of men of the world rather than the kingdom of ,god and his righteousness4 ,there is no genuine truth in the arraignment of the ,church and her officers by the ministers1 but much to you1 young men1 in the way you look upon it1 and in your acts and decisions4 ,especially without careful consideration1 should you pay no attention to the accusation of ministers1 to whom with force the sentiment of ,emerson applies3 ,we want men and women who shall renovate life and our social state1 but we see that most natures are insolvent--cannot satisfy their own wants1 have an ambition out of all proportion to their practical force1 and so do learn and beg day and night continually4 ,i say that nothing can bring peace to our young men in this world save the triumphs of the principles of truth which have been revealed of ,god to the ,latter-day ,saints1 for our doctrines are the practical precepts of the gospel of #aji ,jesus ,christ1 and to behold its triumph should be the overpowering ambition and desire of every righteous soul4 ,this is spiritual salvation which includes the temporal4 ,seek to know the worth thereof1 and let these men's ravings be put under your feet4 ,remember that when a man lives with ,god his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the brook and the rustle of the corn4 ,the ,saints and their leaders strive diligently to this end4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 p4 #cjc1 ,february1 #aijd4 ,,the ,,gospel ,a ,,shield ,,from ,,terror4 ,we hear about living in perilous times4 ,we are in perilous times1 but ,i do not feel the pangs of that terror4 ,it is not upon me4 ,i propose to live so that it will not rest upon me4 ,i propose to live so that ,i shall be immune from the perils of the world1 if it be possible for me to so live1 by obedience to the commandments of ,god and to his laws revealed for my guidance4 ,no matter what may come to me1 if ,i am only in the line of my duty1 if ,i am in fellowship with ,god1 if ,i am worthy of the fellowship of my brethren1 if ,i can stand spotless before the world1 without blemish1 without transgression of the laws of ,god1 what does it matter to me what may happen to me8 ,i am always ready1 if ,i am in this frame of understanding mind and conduct4 ,it does not matter at all4 ,therefore ,i borrow no trouble nor feel the pangs of fear4 ,the ,lord's hand is over all1 and therein ,i acknowledge his hand4 ,not that men are at war1 not that nations are trying to destroy nations1 not that men are plotting against the liberties of their fellow creatures1 not in those respects at all2 but ,god's hand is not shortened4 ,he will control the results that will follow4 ,the will overrule them in a way that you and ,i1 today1 do not comprehend1 or do not foresee1 for ultimate good4 ,he foresees the end as he foresaw that war should come upon all nations of the world1 and as the ,prophet has declared it would4 ,the ,lord knew it would come4 ,why8 ,because he knew what the world was doing4 #aaj ,he knew the trend of the spirits of men and of nations4 ,he knew what the results would be1 in time4 ,he knew when the time would be1 and the results that would be manifest1 and so he declared it by the voice of his servants1 the prophets2 and now we see the fulfilment of the predictions made by the servants of ,god1 as they were inspired to utter them1 when they declared that the time would come to pass when war would be poured out upon all nations--not to fulfil the purposes of ,god1 but the purposes of the nations of the earth in consequence of their wickedness4 ,it may be a very difficult thing for me1 with the range of words that ,i possess1 to express my thoughts and to explain my full intent2 but ,i repeat to you that the ,lord ,god ,almighty is not pleased1 nor was it his purpose or design1 or intent1 to foreordain the condition that the world is in today2 nor did he do so4 ,he foresaw what would come1 by the conduct of men by their departure from the truth1 by their lack of the love of ,god1 and by the course that they should pursue1 inimical to the well-being of his children4 ,he foresaw what would be1 but he had given them their agency1 under which they are bringing it to pass4 ,the results of it1 eventually1 will be overruled for the good of those who shall live after1 not for the good of those who shall destroy themselves because of their wicked propensities and crimes4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bj1 p4 #hbg1 ,july1 #aiag4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,trumpet4 ,if we are in the line of our duty1 we are engaged in a great and glorious cause4 ,it is very essential to our individual welfare that every man and every woman who has entered into the covenants of the gospel1 through repentance and baptism1 should feel that as individuals it is their bounden duty to use their intelligence1 and the agency which the ,lord has given them1 for the promotion of the interests of ,zion and the establishment of her cause in the earth4 ,it matters not how devout1 honest1 or sincere we might #aaa be in the profession of our faith in ,god1 or in the system of religion we might have adopted1 and which we believe to be the everlasting gospel1 without repentance and baptism and the reception of the ,holy ,ghost1 which constitute the new birth1 we are not of the family of ,christ1 but are aliens1 estranged from ,god and his laws1 and in this fallen condition we shall remain1 whether in the body or in the spirit1 for time and for eternity1 unless we render obedience to the plan devised in the heavens for the redemption and salvation of the human family4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints may say1 we were taught this doctrine by the elders in our native lands1 and we believed it and repented of our sins1 and were baptized1 and we received the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 which was a testimony to us that we had done the will of the ,father1 and since then our testimonies have often been confirmed through the manifestations of the power of ,god1 and the renewal of his ,spirit in our hearts4 ,why1 therefore1 say they1 is it necessary to refer to these things now8 ,we perhaps forget1 in consequence of the things of time1 which so tempt our fallen nature1 that having been born anew1 which is the putting away of the old man sin1 and putting on of the man ,christ ,jesus1 we have become soldiers of the ,cross1 having enlisted under the banner of ,jehovah for time and for eternity1 and that we have entered into the most solemn covenants to serve ,god and to contend earnestly for the establishment of the principles of truth and righteousness on this earth continually while we live4 ,in referring to the subject of baptism as essential to salvation1 it may be asked by some1 what would become of those who heard not the gospel and who therefore had not the opportunity of being baptized1 claiming as we do that the gospel was taken from the earth in consequence of its being rejected when proclaimed by ,jesus and his apostles8 ,i would say to such1 that ,god has made ample provision for all his #aab children1 both the ignorant and the learned2 those who have not had the gospel preached to them in the flesh1 will hear it in the spirit1 for all must have the plan of salvation presented to them for their acceptance or rejection before they can become amenable to the law4 ,in connection with this work is that spoken of concerning ,elijah the prophet1 namely1 ,the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers1 and the hearts of the fathers to the children1 which if not done the whole earth will be smitten with a curse4 ,the kingdom of ,god must be erected upon the principles which ,christ has revealed1 upon the foundation of eternal truth2 ,jesus himself being the chief cornerstone4 ,those holy and sublime principles must be observed and honored in our lives1 in order that we may obtain an exaltation with the sanctified in the kingdom of ,god4 ,the beauty of these principles is that they are true1 and the satisfaction derived from their adoption is the knowledge which we receive convincing us of this fact4 ,we have not believed a fable1 neither are we cherishing a cunningly devised scheme1 but we have been inducted into the truth1 having ,christ for our head1 who is our forerunner1 our great ,high ,priest and ,king4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is a personage who acts in ,christ's stead4 ,just before the risen ,redeemer left the earth he commanded his disciples to tarry in the city of ,jerusalem until they should be endowed with power from on high4 ,they did so1 and agreeable to promise1 the ,comforter came whilst they were met together1 filling their hearts with unspeakable joy1 insomuch that they spake in tongues and prophesied2 and the inspiring influence of this holy being accompanied them in all their ministerial duties1 enabling them to perform the great mission to which they had been called by the ,savior4 ,i know that ,god lives and that he has revealed himself4 #aac ,i know that the ,holy ,ghost has been conferred upon the children of men1 and that the gospel has been restored to the inhabitants of the earth in its fulness4 ,i know that the ,holy ,priesthood1 which is the power of ,god delegated to man1 has been restored to the earth4 ,i do know that ,god has delivered his people and that he will continue to deliver us and lead us on in his own peculiar way from conquest to conquest1 from victory to victory1 until truth and righteousness gain the ascendency in this his earth1 inasmuch as we remain true to him and to one another4 ,it is the fool who has said in his heart1 ,there is no ,god1 and it would indeed be a weak and foolish mind that would rest satisfied without knowing beyond a doubt the ,author and ,source of his religion1 when the opportunity of ascertaining the fact is extended to him4 ,i know the fruits of my religion are good1 they are flavored with the sweets of heaven1 and they impart health and life to the soul1 and ,i know that ,god1 the ,creator of heaven and earth1 is its author4 ,no man need wonder whether this be really true or not1 for all may know for themselves2 all may partake of the fruits of the vine and eat and live2 all may drink of the eternal spring1 and thirst no more4 ,these things ,i declare to you to be true and faithful4 ,i have been acquainted with them from my youth1 and ,i have felt their influence from my childhood4 ,i have seen the effect of their opposite1 and ,i know whereof ,i speak4 ,i cannot deny these things1 neither can any man who has ever known them1 although he may apostatize from the ,church1 except he deny himself and his ,god4 ,the man who embraces what is called ,mormonism1 but which is really the gospel of the ,son of ,god1 and lives according to its precepts1 will never lie nor steal2 he will not dishonor his parents nor despise his poorer brethren2 he will never1 no never1 speak against the ,lord's anointed nor be ashamed to own his ,god1 to whom he owes homage and #aad gratitude now and forever2 he will never do a dishonorable act1 nor fail to acknowledge ,god in all things1 neither will he refuse to render implicit obedience to the revelations of ,god which are applicable to him4 ,it is true1 man may err in judgment1 he may be wanting in many things because of his fallen nature1 but the system of salvation is perfect4 ,jesus1 the ,only ,begotten of the ,father1 in whom there is no blemish1 is its author2 he is the standard to all the world1 and will be forever4 ,he had power to lay down his life and take it up again1 and if we keep inviolate the covenants of the gospel1 remaining faithful and true to the end1 we too1 in his name and through his redeeming blood1 will have power in due time to resurrect these our bodies after they shall have been committed to the earth4--,april #h1 #ahgf1 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ah1 pp4 #bga-bgg1 #ahgg4 ,,what ,,church ,,leaders ,,advocate4 ,we wish to advocate the principle of unity1 the love of ,god and neighbor1 the love of a purpose that is great1 ennobling1 good in itself1 and calculated to exalt man and bring him nearer to the likeness of the ,son of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ih1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,our ,,message ,,one ,,of ,,love4 ,we bring a message of love4 ,we wish to show how much we love you1 and to find out how much you love us in return4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ih1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,whence8 ,,whither8 ,we want to know where we came from1 and where we are going4 ,where did we come from8 ,from ,god4 ,our spirits existed before they came to this world4 ,they were in the councils of the heavens before the foundations of the earth were laid4 ,we were there4 ,we sang together with the heavenly hosts for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid1 and when the plan of our existence upon this earth and redemption were mapped out4 ,we were there2 we were interested1 and we took a part in this great preparation4 ,we were unquestionably present in #aae those councils when that wonderful circumstance occurred when ,satan offered himself as a savior of the world if he could but receive the honor and glory of the ,father for doing it4 ,but ,jesus said1 ,father1 thy will be done1 and the glory be thine forever4 ,wherefore1 because ,satan rebelled against ,god1 and sought to destroy the agency of man1 the ,father rejected him and he was cast out1 but ,jesus was accepted4 ,we were1 no doubt1 there1 and took part in all those scenes1 we were vitally concerned in the carrying out of these great plans and purposes1 we understood them1 and it was for our sakes they were decreed1 and are to be consummated4 ,these spirits have been coming to this earth to take upon them tabernacles1 that they might become like unto ,jesus ,christ1 being formed in his likeness and image1 from the morn of creation until now1 and will continue until the winding up scene1 until the spirits who were destined to come to this world shall have come and accomplished their mission in the flesh4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 #ahhd1 ,vol4 #cc1 p4 #acj4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,are ,,law-,,abiding4 ,i wish to enter here my avowal that the people called ,latter-day ,saints1 as has been often repeated from this stand1 are the most law-abiding1 the most peaceable1 long-suffering and patient people that can today be found within the confines of this republic1 and perhaps anywhere else upon the face of the earth2 and we intend to continue to be law-abiding1 so far as the constitutional law of the land is concerned2 and we expect to meet the consequences of our obedience to the laws and commandments of ,god like men4 ,these are my sentiments briefly expressed1 upon this subject4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 #ahhb1 ,vol4 #ca1 p4 #bbf4 #aaf ,,chapter ,,vii ,,the ,,first ,,principles ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,,how ,,the ,,sinner ,,may ,,be ,,cleansed4 ,you cannot take a murderer1 a suicide1 an adulterer1 a liar1 or one who was or is thoroughly abominable in his life here1 and simply by the performance of an ordinance of the gospel1 cleanse him from sin and usher him into the presence of ,god4 ,god has not instituted a plan of that kind1 and it cannot be done4 ,he has said you shall repent of your sins4 ,the wicked will have to repent of their wickedness4 ,those who die without the knowledge of the gospel will have to come to the knowledge of it1 and those who sin against light will have to pay the uttermost farthing for their transgression and their departure from the gospel1 before they can ever get back to it4 ,do not forget that4 ,do not forget it1 you elders in ,israel1 nor you1 mothers in ,israel1 either2 and1 when you seek to save either the living or the dead1 bear it in mind that you can only do it on the principle of their repentance and acceptation of the plan of life4 ,that is the only way in which you can succeed4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,fallacy ,,of ,,death-,,bed ,,repentance4 ,i do not believe in the ideas that we hear sometimes advanced in the world1 that it matters but little what men do in this life1 if they will but confess ,christ at the end of their journey in life1 and that is all-sufficient1 and that by so doing they will receive their passport into heaven4 ,i denounce this doctrine4 ,it is unscriptural1 it is unreasonable1 it is untrue1 and it will not avail any man1 no matter by whom this idea may be advocated2 it will prove an utter failure unto men4 ,as reasonable beings1 as men and women of intelligence1 we cannot #aag help but admire and honor the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 which is the doctrine of ,god1 and which requires of every man and woman righteousness in their lives1 purity in their thoughts1 uprightness in their daily walk and conversation1 devotion to the ,lord1 love of truth1 love of their fellowman1 and above all things in the world the love of ,god4 ,these were the precepts that were inculcated by the ,son of ,god when he walked among his brethren in the meridian of time4 ,he taught these precepts2 he exemplified them in his life1 and advocated continually the doing of the will of him that sent him4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #c4 ,,the ,,change ,,that ,,comes ,,with ,,repentance ,,and ,,baptism4 ,that change comes today to every son and daughter of ,god who repents of his or her sins1 who humble themselves before the ,lord1 and who seek forgiveness and remission of sin by baptism by immersion1 by one having authority to administer this sacred ordinance of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,for it is this new birth that was spoken of by ,christ to ,nicodemus as absolutely essential that men might see the kingdom of ,god1 and without which no man could enter into the kingdom4 ,each of us can remember1 perhaps1 the change that came into our hearts when we were baptized for the remission of our sins4 ,perhaps it is not proper for one to speak of himself or of his own experiences1 because there may be those within the sound of my voice who object to a man speaking of himself1 and especially when he shall say any good of himself2 yet ,i speak not of myself1 ,i speak of the influence and power of the ,holy ,spirit that ,i experienced when ,i had been baptized for the remission of my sins4 ,the feeling that came upon me was that of pure peace1 of love and of light4 ,i felt in my soul that if ,i had sinned--and surely ,i was not without sin--that it had been forgiven me2 that ,i was indeed cleansed from sin2 my heart was touched1 and ,i felt that ,i would not injure the smallest insect beneath my feet4 ,i felt as if ,i wanted to do good #aah everywhere to everybody and to everything4 ,i felt a newness of life1 a newness of desire to do that which was right4 ,there was not one particle of desire for evil left in my soul4 ,i was but a little boy1 it is true1 when ,i was baptized2 but this was the influence that came upon me1 and ,i know that it was from ,god1 and was and ever has been a living witness to me of my acceptance of the ,lord4 ,oh6 that ,i could have kept that same spirit and that same earnest desire in my heart every moment of my life from that day to this4 ,yet many of us who have received that witness1 that new birth1 that change of heart1 while we may have erred in judgment or have made many mistakes1 and often perhaps come short of the true standard in our lives1 we have repented of the evil1 and we have sought from time to time forgiveness at the hand of the ,lord2 so that until this day the same desire and purpose which pervaded our souls when we were baptized and received a remission of our sins1 still holds possession of our hearts1 and is still the ruling sentiment and passion of our souls4 ,though at times we may be stirred to anger1 and our wrath move us to say and do things which are not pleasing in the sight of ,god1 yet instantly on regaining our sober senses and recovering from our lapse into the power of darkness1 we feel humble1 repentant1 and to ask forgiveness for the wrong that we have done to ourselves1 and perchance to others4 ,the great1 earnest1 overwhelming desire1 which is born of the truth and of the witness of the ,holy ,spirit in the hearts of the people who obey the truth1 assumes sway and again takes possession of our souls1 to lead us on in the path of duty4 ,this is my testimony and ,i know it is true4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 pp4 #fe1 #ff4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,of ,,baptism4 ,the ,light has come to the world1 and he who will not see it shall be condemned4 ,the truth is here1 and shall men living now be heard to complain hereafter that they have not the truth in their hearts8 #aai ,certainly not4 ,it is here for all who will seek it1 and it shall be to their undoing if they do not obtain it4 ,the ,savior said to ,nicodemus1 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god1 and that is true today4 ,a man must be born from ignorance into truth1 today1 before he can expect to see any difference between a ,latter-day ,saint and another not of the faith4 ,if he is not so born1 he is more blind than the one whom ,christ healed1 for having eyes he sees not1 and having ears1 hears not4 ,is there any difference between the baptized and the unbaptized man8 ,all the difference in the world1 ,i tell you1 but it is only discernible through the ,spirit4 ,it is a vast difference too great for one not in possession of the ,spirit to comprehend4 ,take two men1 they may be equals in point of goodness1 they may be equally moral1 charitable1 honest and just1 but one is baptized and the other is not4 ,there is a mighty difference between them1 for one is the son of ,god redeemed by compliance with his laws1 and the other remains in darkness4 ,the ,scriptures say that a rich man would hardly enter the kingdom of heaven1 but it does not mean that riches will condemn a man1 not at all4 ,god is pleased to see us acquire riches1 for he intends ultimately to give to us the whole earth as an eternal inheritance1 but it is the love of riches that kills4 ,a great gulf separates those who enter the house of the ,lord and take wives1 and those who do not thus marry--a tremendous gulf1 but to the unspiritual eye no difference is apparent4 ,i thank ,god for ,mormonism1 so-called2 it is the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,it is the duty of every ,latter-day ,saint to know of its truth and to exemplify it4 ,its destiny is to overwhelm error and supplant it with righteousness and peace4--,from a sermon1 given in ,logan1 ,feb4 #b1 #aiji4 #abj ,,when ,,to ,,baptize ,,children4 ,we confess to having been considerably surprised when attending one of our latest ,sunday ,school conventions on learning that in some wards in the ,church only once or twice in each year are opportunities given to the children of the ,saints to be baptized4 ,we hold the opinion that in every stake of ,zion there should be opportunity for baptism every day of every month and every month in every year1 for we believe that it is an admirable practice where parents1 in conformity with the revelations of ,god1 have taught their children in the first principles of the gospel--faith1 repentance and baptism1 to have them baptized on their birthdays1 when they arrive at the age of eight years4 ,this practice has many advantages4 ,in the first place1 when a child is baptized on his birthday1 he has no difficulty in remembering the day when that sacred ordinance was performed in his case4 ,again1 it prevents the tendency manifested by some people to delay and postpone duties that are always best performed in their proper time and season4 ,when once a child has passed the eight-year mark1 there appears no particular necessity for the immediate performance of the ordinance1 and the parents are apt to put it off from day to day and from week to week1 until months have passed over1 and the matter is not attended to4 ,should it so happen that in this interval the child is taken by the ,lord1 then this rite has to be performed in his behalf after his departure from our midst4 ,how much better it is that the child have the opportunity of doing this all-important work for himself or herself6--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 p4 #ccg1 ,june #a1 #aije4 ,,through ,,atonement ,,sins ,,are ,,washed ,,away4 ,when we commit sin1 it is necessary that we repent of it and make restitution as far as lies in our power4 ,when we cannot make restitution for the wrong we have done1 then we must apply for the grace and mercy of ,god to cleanse us from that iniquity4 #aba ,men cannot forgive their own sins2 they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins4 ,men can stop sinning and can do right in the future1 and so far their acts are acceptable before the ,lord and worthy of consideration4 ,but who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others1 which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves8 ,by the atonement of ,jesus ,christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away2 though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool4 ,this is the promise given to you4 ,we who have not paid our tithing in the past1 and are therefore under obligations to the ,lord1 which we are not in position to discharge1 the ,lord requires that no longer at our hands1 but will forgive us for the past if we will observe this law honestly in the future4 ,that is generous and kind1 and ,i feel grateful for it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #db4 ,,conditions ,,for ,,baptism4 ,no person can be properly baptized unless he has faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and has repented of his sins1 with a repentance that need not be repented of4 ,but faith comes by hearing the word of ,god4 ,this implies that the candidate must be taught4 ,efficient teaching and preparation must precede the ordinance1 so that the candidate may have a proper appreciation and conception of its purposes4 ,the call to baptism1 in the mission of our ,savior1 was always preceded by instructions in the doctrines which he taught4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 p4 #bff4 ,,the ,,first ,,principles ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,as ,latter-day ,saints we have every reason to rejoice in the gospel1 and in the testimony we have received concerning its truth4 ,i repeat1 we have reason to rejoice and to be exceeding glad1 for we possess the testimony of ,jesus1 the spirit of prophecy1 which the people of the world know nothing about1 nor can they1 without obedience to the gospel4 ,jesus thoroughly understood this matter1 and fully explained #abb it when he said1 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,on first reflection1 it would seem that anything so clear1 reasonable and tangible could be easily made plain to the understanding of all men4 ,hence the feeling that has prompted many of the ,latter-day ,saints to believe1 after their minds have been enlightened by the ,spirit of ,god--everything being made so plain and clear to them1 that they had only to tell their friends and kindred what they had learned and they would gladly receive it4 ,but how disappointed1 after they had presented to them the truths of heaven in simplicity and plainness1 to hear them say1 ,we cannot see it6 or1 ,we do not believe it6 or perhaps bitterly oppose it1 which is by far the most common practice of the world4 ,they cannot understand it4 ,why8 ,because1 as ,jesus has said no man can see the kingdom except he is born again4 ,you may preach the gospel to the people but unless they humble themselves as little children before the ,lord1 acknowledging their dependence upon him for light and wisdom1 they cannot see or sense it1 although you may preach to them in as great plainness as it is possible for the truth to be conveyed from one person to another4 ,and should any believe your testimony it would only be belief4 ,they would not see as you see--nor comprehend it1 as you do--until they yield obedience to the requirements of the gospel1 and through the remission of their sins receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,then they1 too1 can see as you see1 for they have the same spirit2 then will they love the truth as you do1 and may wonder why they could not comprehend it before or why it is that there can be anybody with common intelligence that cannot understand truth so plain and forcible4 ,first1 then1 it is necessary to have faith in ,god1 faith being the first principle in revealed religion1 and the foundation of all righteousness4 ,faith in ,god is to believe that he is1 and that he is the only supreme ,governor and independent ,being1 in whom all fulness #abc and perfection and every good gift and principle dwell independently1 and in whom the faith of all other rational beings must centre for life and salvation2 and further1 that he is the great ,creator of all things1 that he is omnipotent1 omniscient1 and by his works and the power of his ,spirit omnipresent4 ,not only is it necessary to have faith in ,god1 but also in ,jesus ,christ1 his ,son1 the ,savior of mankind and the ,mediator of the ,new ,covenant2 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 who bears record of the ,father and the ,son1 the same in all ages and forever4 ,having this faith1 it becomes necessary to repent4 ,repent of what8 ,of every sin of which we may have been guilty4 ,how shall we repent of these sins8 ,does repentance consist of sorrow for wrong doing8 ,yes1 but is this all8 ,by no means4 ,true repentance only is acceptable to ,god1 nothing short of it will answer the purpose4 ,then what is true repentance8 ,true repentance is not only sorrow for sins1 and humble penitence and contrition before ,god1 but it involves the necessity of turning away from them1 a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds1 a thorough reformation of life1 a vital change from evil to good1 from vice to virtue1 from darkness to light4 ,not only so1 but to make restitution1 so far as it is possible1 for all the wrongs we have done1 to pay our debts1 and restore to ,god and man their rights--that which is due to them from us4 ,this is true repentance1 and the exercise of the will and all the powers of body and mind is demanded1 to complete this glorious work of repentance2 then ,god will accept it4 ,having thus repented1 the next thing requisite is baptism1 which is an essential principle of the gospel--no man can enter into the gospel covenant without it4 ,it is the door of the ,church of ,christ1 we cannot get in there in any other way1 for ,christ bath said it4 ,sprinkling1 or pouring1 is not baptism4 ,baptism means immersion in water1 and #abd is to be administered by one having authority1 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,baptism without divine authority is not valid4 ,it is a symbol of the burial and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 and must be done in the likeness thereof1 by one commissioned of ,god1 in the manner prescribed1 otherwise it is illegal and will not be accepted by him1 nor will it effect a remission of sins1 the object for which it is designed1 but whosoever hath faith1 truly repents and is buried with ,christ in baptism1 by one having divine authority1 shall receive a remission of sins1 and is entitled to the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands4 ,only those who are commissioned of ,jesus ,christ have authority or power to bestow this gift4 ,the office of the ,holy ,ghost is to bear record of ,christ1 or to testify of him1 and confirm the believer in the truth1 by bringing to his recollection things that have passed1 and showing or revealing to the mind things present and to come4 ,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you4 ,he will guide you into all truth4 ,thus1 without the aid of the ,holy ,ghost no man can know the will of ,god1 or that ,jesus is the ,christ--the ,redeemer of the world1 or that the course he pursues1 the work he performs1 or his faith1 are acceptable to ,god1 and such as will secure to him the gift of eternal life1 the greatest of all gifts4 7,john #ad3bf2 #f3ac47 ,but1 says an objector1 have we not the ,bible1 and are not the ,holy ,scriptures able to make us wise unto salvation8 ,yes1 provided we obey them4 ,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness2 that the man of ,god may be perfect1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works4 ,the good works are the great desideratum4 ,the ,bible itself is but the dead letter1 it is #abe the ,spirit that giveth life4 ,the way to obtain the ,spirit is that which is here marked out so plainly in the ,scriptures4 ,there is no other4 ,obedience1 therefore1 to these principles is absolutely necessary1 in order to obtain the salvation and exaltation brought to light through the gospel4 ,as to the question of authority1 nearly everything depends upon it4 ,no ordinance can be performed to the acceptance of ,god without divine authority4 ,no matter how fervently men may believe or pray1 unless they are endowed with divine authority they can only act in their own name1 and not legally nor acceptably in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 in whose name all these things must be done4 ,some suppose this authority may be derived from the ,bible1 but nothing could be more absurd4 ,the ,bible is but a book containing the writings of inspired men1 profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness1 as such we hold it is sacred2 but the ,spirit1 power and authority by which it is written cannot be found within its lids1 nor derived from it4 ,for prophecy came not in old time by the will of man2 but holy men of ,god spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if by reading and believing the ,bible this authority could be obtained1 all who read the ,bible and believed it would have it--one equally with another4 ,i have read the ,bible1 and ,i have as good reason for believing it as any other man1 and do believe it with all my heart2 but this does not give me authority to teach men in the name of the ,lord1 nor to officiate in the sacred ordinances of the gospel4 ,were the ,scriptures the only source of knowledge1 we would be without knowledge for ourselves1 and would have to rest our hopes of salvation upon a simple belief in the testimonies and sayings of others4 ,this will not do for me2 ,i must know for myself1 and if ,i act as a teacher of these things1 ,i must be clothed with the same light1 knowledge and authority as those were who acted in a similar calling anciently4 ,else how could ,i declare #abf the truth and bear testimony as they did8 ,what right would ,i have to say1 thus saith the ,lord1 and call upon man to repent and be baptized in the name of the ,lord8 or1 that ,this ,jesus hath ,god raised up from the dead1 whereof we all the apostles are witnesses8 ,and1 therefore1 let all men know assuredly that ,god hath made that same ,jesus1 who was crucified1 both ,lord and ,christ4 ,no man1 without the ,holy ,ghost1 as enjoyed by the ancient apostles can know these things1 therefore cannot declare them by authority1 nor teach and prepare mankind for the salvation of ,god4 ,god ,almighty is the only source from whence this knowledge1 power and authority can be obtained1 and that through the operations of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,scriptures may serve as a guide to lead us to ,god1 and hence to the possession of all things necessary to life and salvation1 but they can do no more4 ,having profited by this example1 and done the works commanded by both ,christ and his apostles1 ancient and modern1 ,i am happy of the privilege to declare to the inhabitants of the earth that ,i have received this testimony and witness for myself4 ,i do know that these things are true4 ,jesus1 my ,redeemer1 lives1 and ,god hath made him both ,lord and ,christ4 ,to know and to worship the true ,god1 in the name of ,jesus--in spirit and in truth--is the duty of man4 ,to aid and qualify him for this service is the duty and office of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,man may fail through faltering and unfaithfulness1 but the ,spirit of ,god will never fail1 nor abandon the faithful disciple4 ,i can say as one who has tried the experiment--for it may be called an experiment to the beginner--that all who will take the course and accept the doctrine thus marked out will1 through faithfulness1 become acquainted with the truth1 and shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,god or of man1 and will rejoice in it as all good1 faithful ,latter-day ,saints do4 ,here is an ordinance which we are now administering1 #abg the ,sacrament of the ,lord's supper2 it is a principle of the gospel1 one as necessary to be observed by all believers1 as any other ordinance of the gospel4 ,what is the object of it8 ,it is that we may keep in mind continually the ,son of ,god who has redeemed us from eternal death1 and brought us to life again through the power of the gospel4 ,before the coming of ,christ to the earth1 this was borne in mind by the inhabitants of the earth to whom the gospel was preached1 by another ordinance which was a type of the great sacrifice that should take place in the meridian of time4 ,hence1 ,adam1 after he was cast out of the garden1 was commanded to offer sacrifices to ,god2 by this act1 he and all who participated in the offerings of sacrifices1 were reminded of the ,savior who should come to redeem them from death which1 were it not for the atonement wrought out by him1 would forever exclude them from dwelling in the presence of ,god again4 ,but in his coming and death1 this commandment was fulfilled2 and he instituted the ,supper and commanded his followers to partake of this in all time to come1 in order that they may remember him1 bearing in mind that he had redeemed them1 also that they had covenanted to keep his commandments and to walk with him in the regeneration4 ,hence it is necessary to partake of the ,sacrament1 as a witness to him that we do remember him1 are willing to keep the commandments he has given us1 that we may have his ,spirit to be with us always--even to the end1 and also that we may continue in the forgiveness of sins4 ,in various dispensations there are various differences in regard to certain requirements of the gospel4 ,for instance1 in the day of ,noah1 when he preached the gospel to the antediluvian world1 he was given a special commandment to build an ark1 that in case the people would reject him and the message sent unto him1 that himself and all who believed on him might be saved from the destruction that awaited them4 ,in this dispensation there is a principle #abh or commandment peculiar to it4 ,what is that8 ,it is the gathering of the people unto one place4 ,the gathering of this people is as necessary to be observed by believers1 as faith1 repentance1 baptism1 or any other ordinance4 ,it is an essential part of the gospel of this dispensation1 as much so as the necessity of building an ark by ,noah1 for his deliverance1 was a part of the gospel of his dispensation4 ,then the world was destroyed by a flood1 now it is to be destroyed by war1 pestilence1 famine1 earthquake1 storms and tempest1 the sea rolling beyond its bounds1 malarious vapors1 vermin1 disease and by fire and the lightnings of ,god's wrath poured out for destruction upon ,babylon4 ,the cry of the angel unto the righteous of this dispensation is1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues4 7,revelation #ah3d47 ,we believe also in the principle of direct revelation from ,god to man4 ,this is a part of the gospel1 but it is not peculiar to this dispensation4 ,it is common in all ages and dispensations of the gospel4 ,the gospel cannot be administered1 nor the ,church of ,god continue to exist1 without it4 ,christ is the head of his ,church and not man1 and the connection can only be maintained upon the principle of direct and continuous revelation4 ,it is not a hereditary principle1 it cannot be banded down from father to son1 nor from generation to generation1 but is a living1 vital principle to be enjoyed on certain conditions only1 namely--through absolute faith in ,god and obedience to his laws and commandments4 ,the moment this principle is cut off1 that moment the ,church is adrift1 being severed from its ever-living head4 ,in this condition it cannot continue1 but must cease to be the ,church of ,god and1 like the ship at sea without captain1 compass or rudder1 is afloat at the mercy of the storms and the waves of ever contending human passions1 and worldly interests1 pride and folly1 finally to be wrecked upon the strand of priestcraft and superstition4 ,the religious #abi world is in this condition today1 ripening for the great destruction which awaits them1 but there is an ark prepared for such as are worthy of eternal life1 in the gathering of the ,saints to the chambers of the ,almighty1 where they shall be preserved until the indignation of ,god is passed4 ,marriage is also a principle or ordinance of the gospel1 most vital to the happiness of mankind1 however unimportant it may seem1 or lightly regarded by many4 ,there is no superfluous or unnecessary principle in the plan of life1 but there is no principle of greater importance or more essential to the happiness of man--not only here1 but especially hereafter1 than that of marriage4 ,yet all are necessary4 ,what good would it be to one to be baptized and receive not the ,holy ,ghost8 ,and suppose he went a little further and received the ,holy ,ghost1 thereby obtaining the testimony of ,jesus1 and then stopped at that1 what good would it do him8 ,none whatever1 but would add to his condemnation1 for it would be as burying his talent in the earth4 ,to secure the fulness of the blessings we must receive the fulness of the gospel4 ,yet men will be judged and rewarded according to their works4 ,to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not1 to him it is sin4 ,those who receive a part of the gospel with light and knowledge to comprehend other principles1 and yet do not obey them1 will come under this law2 hence1 condemnation will be added unto such1 and that which they did receive may be taken from them and added to those who are more worthy4 ,obedience is a requirement of heaven1 and is therefore a principle of the gospel4 ,are all required to be obedient8 ,yes1 all4 ,what1 against their will8 ,o1 no1 not by any means4 ,there is no power given to man1 nor means lawful1 to be used to compel men to obey the will of ,god1 against their wish1 except persuasion and good advice1 but there is a penalty attached to disobedience1 which all must suffer who will not obey the obvious truths or laws of heaven4 ,i believe in the sentiment of the poet3 #acj ,know this1 that every soul is free ,to choose his life and what he'll be2 ,for this eternal truth is given1 ,that ,god will force no man to heaven4 ,he'll call1 persuade1 direct aright1 ,and bless with wisdom1 love and light1 ,in nameless ways be good and kind1 ,but never force the human mind4 ,is it a difficult task to obey the gospel8 ,no4 ,it is an easy matter to those who possess the spirit of it4 ,most of this congregation can testify that the gospel yoke is easy1 and the burden light4 ,those who have embraced it will be judged according to their works therein1 whether they be good or evil4 ,to such as are untrue to their covenants it may be said1 by and by1 ,depart from me6 ,in vain will they plead their former good works and faith4 ,why8 ,because the race is not to the swift nor the battle always to the strong1 but to him that endures faithful to the end4 ,we must save ourselves from this untoward generation4 ,it is a continual labor1 but the strength of the righteous will be sufficient for their day4 ,jesus said1 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions4 ,there is a glory1 or mansion1 of which the sun is typical1 another of which the moon is typical1 and still another like unto the stars1 and in this latter the condition of its occupants will differ as the stars differ in appearance4 ,every man will receive according to his works and knowledge4 ,these are they who are of ,paul1 and of ,apollos1 and of ,cephas4 ,these are they who say they are some of one and some of another--some of ,christ and some of ,john1 and some of ,moses1 and some of ,elias1 and some of ,esaias1 and some of ,isaiah1 and some of ,enoch2 but received not the gospel1 neither the testimony of ,jesus4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #gf3ajj-aja47 ,thus1 impartial justice will be meted out unto all1 and none will be lost but the sons of perdition4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ad1 p4 #bff4 #aca ,,chapter ,,viii ,,the ,,church ,,and ,,the ,,man ,,the ,,church ,,in ,,advance ,,of ,,its ,,members4 ,the modern ',mormon' is far in advance of ',mormonism'4 ,the very reverse of this statement is the truth4 ,mormonism is far in advance of the modern or any other class of ,mormons4 ,for not one member of the ,church in one hundred1 and perhaps not a single member in the whole ,church is able to reach the high standards of faith1 virtue1 honor and truth inculcated in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #da1 p4 #add1 ,march #a1 #aijf4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,the ,,most ,,important ,,thing4 ,the religion which we have espoused is not a ,sunday religion2 it is not a mere profession2 it is a most--,i was going to say--a most terrible reality--and ,i believe ,i would be justified in using that expression1 because it savors of life unto life or of death unto death4 ,if it is1 and pardon me for using that expression1 if it is what we profess it to be1 what we have embraced it for1 what we believe it to be as members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 it is the most important thing in the world to us1 and the results to us in this world and in the world to come will depend upon our integrity to the truth and our consistency in observing its precepts1 in abiding by its principles1 and its requirements4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #b4 ,,personal ,,advancement ,,is ,,help ,,to ,,the ,,church4 ,whoever will labor for his own welfare1 for his own salvation and upbuilding in the knowledge of those principles which draw men nearer to ,god and make them more like unto him1 fitting them better for the performance of the duties required at their hands1 is in like manner building up the ,church4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #b4 #acb ,,covenants ,,of ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints4 ,among the covenants are these1 that they will cease from sin and from all unrighteousness2 that they will work righteousness in their lives2 that they will abstain from the use of intoxicants1 from the use of strong drinks of every description1 from the use of tobacco1 from every vile thing1 and from extremes in every phase of life2 that they will not take the name of ,god in vain2 that they will not bear false witness against their neighbor2 that they will seek to love their neighbors as themselves2 to carry out the golden rule of the ,lord1 do unto others as they would that others should do unto them4 ,these principles are involved in the covenants that the people have made in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and it is expected that the officers and presiding authorities in the ,church shall see to it that the members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will keep these covenants that they have made with the ,lord1 and that they will observe these principles and adapt them to their lives and carry them out1 that they may be indeed the salt of the earth2 not salt that has lost its savor and is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men1 but salt that has its savor and that is wholesome2 that the people of ,god may be a light unto this generation and unto the world2 that men may see your good works and glorify your ,father which is in heaven2 and that1 notwithstanding enemies who are filled with the spirit of persecution and who say all manner of evil things against the ,latter-day ,saints1 those who have entered into the covenant of the gospel1 will keep the commandments of the ,lord1 will obey the dictates of the ,spirit of the ,lord unto them1 will work righteousness in the earth1 and will go right on in the path that ,almighty ,god has marked out for them to pursue1 fulfilling and accomplishing his will and his purposes concerning them in the latter day4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 pp4 #d1 #e4 #acc ,a ,,privilege ,,to ,,be ,,associated ,,with ,,the ,,church4 ,i esteem it a great privilege to be permitted to live and be associated with my brethren and sisters in the great cause in which we are engaged4 ,personally1 ,i have nothing but this cause to live for1 for the rest of my life4 ,it has been very much1 almost entirely1 the object of life with me1 ever since my childhood2 and ,i am very thankful that ,i have had the privilege of being connected with the missionary work of the ,church1 and ,i hope and trust that ,i may be able to continue in this ministry the remainder of my days4 ,i feel in my heart that there is nothing greater for me1 or for any other man living than to be identified with the cause of truth1 and ,i verily believe that we are engaged in the cause of truth1 and not error4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #b4 ,,worth ,,of ,a ,,standing ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,my standing in the ,church is worth to me more than this life--ten thousand times4 ,for in this ,i have life everlasting4 ,in this ,i have the glorious promise of the association of my loved ones throughout all eternity4 ,in obedience to this work1 in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i shall gather around me my family1 my children1 my children's children1 until they become as numerous as the seed of ,abraham1 or as countless as the sands upon the seashore4 ,for this is my right and privilege1 and the right and privilege of every member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints who holds the priesthood and will magnify it in the sight of ,god4 ,without it1 there is death and desolation--disintegration and disinheritance2 without it there may be a chance to become a ministering spirit1 a servant unto servants throughout the endless ages1 but in this gospel there is a chance to become a son of ,god1 in the image and likeness of the ,father and of his ,only ,begotten ,son in the flesh4 ,i would rather take my boys and my girls to the grave1 while they are innocent1 than to see them entrapped in the wickedness1 the unbelief #acd and the spirit of apostasy so prevalent in the world1 and be led away from the gospel of salvation4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #acf1 #acg4 ,,importance ,,of ,,having ,,names ,,on ,,church ,,records4 ,some people may not care very much whether their names are recorded or not but this comes from ignorance of the consequences4 ,if their names are not recorded they will not only be cut off from the assistance which they would be entitled to from the ,church1 if they needed it1 but they will be cut off from the ordinances of the house of ,god2 they will be cut asunder from their dead and from their fathers who have been faithful1 or from those who shall come after them who shall be faithful1 and they will be appointed their portion with the unbelievers1 where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,it means that you will be cut off from your fathers and mothers1 from your husbands1 your wives1 your children1 and that you shall have no portion or lot or inheritance in the kingdom of ,god1 both in time and in eternity4 ,it has a very serious and far-reaching effect4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #dg4 ,,secret ,,organizations4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is good enough for me and my family1 and ,i have no time nor means to associate myself with organizations that are not of this ,church and which have simply for their objective the laying up of something for my wife to have after ,i am dead4 ,i cannot afford to do it for this reason3 the ,lord has seen fit to give me from day to day just sufficient for my needs1 and if ,i were to join these associations for the purpose of looking after the future of my family1 ,i would be compelled to neglect paying my tithing1 and present duties1 because ,i would not have means enough to pay my tithing and my dues for these associations4 ,we have known members of the ,church1 who1 when they were asked why they did not pay their tithing1 confessed that they were associated with organizations of one kind and another1 #ace wherein they were compelled to pay weekly or monthly certain sums of money2 they had been associated with these institutions for a number of years1 and had put quite a lot of money in them2 and now1 if they did not continue to pay their dues they would lose all they had put in1 then in case of death their families would lose the premium4 ,from this you can see they are in bondage to these secret organizations1 and if they want to pay tithing they cannot do it4 ,well1 if they do not1 they will be among those whose names will not be found recorded in the books of the law of the ,lord and who will not have inheritance in the ,zion of ,god4 ,furthermore1 we have called some of these men to go on missions1 but they could not go to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth4 ,why8 ,because they belonged to certain secret associations1 and they were compelled to be at work all the time in order to pay their dues1 or they would lose what they had put in them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #dj4 ,,secret ,,societies4 ,it is a well known truth that the counsel of the ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 in all cases1 has been and is against our brethren joining secret organizations for any purpose whatsoever1 and that wherever any of them have already joined1 they have been and are counseled to withdraw themselves from such organizations1 as soon as circumstances permit and wisdom dictates4 ,in taking this position1 there has not been1 neither is it intended that there shall be1 any controversy with the societies1 and with their aims and objects4 ,the merits of the various orders are not considered at all2 their aims may be ever so worthy and their objects ever so commendable4 ,that matter does not enter into the discussion1 so far as a member of our ,church is concerned4 ,the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is true1 and is a power unto salvation1 temporal and spiritual4 ,a man who complies in every respect therewith has everything that any society can #acf offer1 with countless truths and consolations added3 ,but seek ye first the kingdom of ,god1 and his righteousness2 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,the ,church is divinely organized1 and in that organization there is provision for the development and practice of every virtue known1 every charity revealed4 ,for this reason and for its promise of eternal life and glory1 the gospel1 and the ,church divinely established for its promulgation1 should be nearer and dearer to a follower of ,christ than all other things4 ,no man can serve two masters2 for either he will hate the one1 and love the other2 or else he will hold to the one and despise the other4 ,ye can not serve ,god and ,mammon4 ,the members of our ,church who have faith to heed the advice of the authorities thereof1 will not ally themselves1 under any pretense1 with any organization not instituted by the ,lord for the building up of ,zion4 ,neither will they1 for any consideration1 allow themselves to imbibe the spirit of the world1 or be tempted to lose their faith1 which will be the result with those who divide their interests1 devoting some to other organizations4 ,this is the testimony of those who have joined and who have later withdrawn4 ,nothing can be permitted in the members that is calculated to bring division and weakness to the ,church1 yet those who have been led to join other institutions should not be dealt with harshly1 but should be made to understand the position of the ,church1 and where it is so understood1 they should shape their affairs for withdrawal1 in humility and repentance1 from that which threatens their standing4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 p4 #cje1 ,february1 #aijc4 ,,gossip4 ,the ,mormon creed3 ,mind your own business1 is a good motto for young people to adopt who wish to succeed1 and who wish to make the best use of their time and lives4 ,and when ,i say young people1 it includes as well aged and middle aged men and women4 #acg ,let it be remembered that nothing is quite so contemptible as idle gossip4 ,byron said a good thing when he put into the mouth of ,don ,juan these words3 ,in fact there's nothing makes me so much grieve ,as that abominable tittle-tattle1 ,which is the cud eschewed by human cattle4 ,how idle to go about whispering mysterious words here and there--words often without foundation in fact1 but uttered with injurious intent1 and perhaps with the idea of creating for the whisperer some imaginary respect1 because of his supposed possession of special knowledge4 ,but such action seldom bodes good1 or sets upon the round of human lips sentiments of appreciation for the excellent1 the beautiful1 and the true1 in a brother1 neighbor1 or friend4 ,such gossip and meddling constantly hold to view the defects of its subjects1 and the scandals that are born fly as upon the wings of eagles4 ,to be thus engaged is a positive injury1 also1 to the person so employed1 because1 by constantly holding the defects of others in his own mind1 he ruins his own ability to see and appreciate the virtues of his fellows1 thus stifling his nobler self4 ,it is so very much better for a person to strive to develop himself by observing all the good points he can find in others1 than to strangle the growth of his better self by cherishing a fault-finding1 sullen1 and intermeddling spirit4 ,the scriptures support this thought4 ,the great ,psalmist says in substance in the fifteenth psalm3 ,he that backbiteth not with his tongue1 nor doeth evil to his neighbor1 nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor1 shall abide in the tabernacle of the ,lord1 and never be moved4 ,to abide in the tabernacle of the ,lord is to enjoy his ,holy ,spirit4 ,now1 he that taketh up a reproach against his neighbor is in great danger of losing the ,spirit of the ,lord4 #ach ,but my neighbor has done this1 that or the other that is forbidden by the law of the ,church1 or good usage1 why should ,i not set him right8 says one4 ,let that one ask himself3 ,is it my business8 ,the answer will suggest itself3 ,if it is not my business1 let me be wise enough to mind my own business4 ,for he that refraineth his lips is wise1 and he that uttereth a slander is a fool2 and1 further1 the ,lord declares through the ,psalmist3 ,whoso privily slandereth his neighbor1 him will ,i cut off4 ,let it be the aim of the ,saints to cultivate the spirit of generosity and good-will1 such as was exemplified in the life of ,christ1 and proclaimed when the angels heralded abroad the message3 ,peace on earth1 to men good will1 and which has been reiterated in the modern restoration of the gospel4 ,watch constantly for that which is worthy and noble in your fellowman4 ,it makes a person better to see and speak of good in his neighbor2 while there is unbounded delight in observing the effect that a few words of appreciation and encouragement have upon men1 women1 and children with whom we associate4 ,let those try it who really wish to get the genuine sweets out of life4 ,the meddler1 the gossip1 the fault-finder1 on the other hand1 soon ruin their own capacity for observing the better side of human nature2 and1 not finding it in others1 search in vain for its influence in their own souls4 ,there is a wonderful field in the organizations of the ,church for the cultivation of all the virtues of the human heart4 ,it is the business of every officer and member of the ,church1 and of her associations and organizations1 to lead out in doing good2 to stand first in serviceable practices in the gospel's atmosphere of sunshine and peace2 to lift up and not cast down2 to encourage and not to repress2 to dispense joy1 and to drown sorrow2 to refrain their lips from slander and backbiting1 and1 by sweet temper and kind words1 to unfold the better side of human nature2 to mind #aci their own business1 and not to unduly criticise1 and not to find fault1 nor to delight in tale-bearing1 scandal1 envy1 and gossip4 ,this advice heeded1 our social ethics would soon show wonderful improvement2 happiness1 beauty of disposition1 love1 and moral cleanliness1 would increase among the ,saints2 the ,spirit of ,god would delight to dwell in their midst1 and the best qualities of the people would unfold and develop like the rose in the warm sunshine of ,june4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 p4 #chh1 ,march1 #aijc4 ,,we ,,want ,,to ,,be ,,known ,,as ,,we ,,are4 ,we want to be known as we are4 ,we want to be seen in our true light4 ,we want the world to become acquainted with us4 ,we want them to learn our doctrine1 to understand our faith1 our purposes1 and the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,we would like them to know something about the origin of this work1 but we desire that they shall see this work in the true spirit of it1 and the only way this can be brought about is by the inquiring intelligent world coming in contact with us--those indeed who are disposed to love truth and righteousness1 and whose eyes are not so blinded that they can not see the truth when it is presented before them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #c4 ,,treatment ,,of ,,those ,,will ,,not ,,obey ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,it has occurred to me somewhat in this way3 that the body of the ,church is likened to the body of a man1 and you know men do sometimes get their systems a little deranged--that is to say1 sometimes they are flea-bitten4 ,fleas bite them and mosquitoes bite them and cause little swellings to rise on their face and hands4 ,sometimes they have boils upon them1 and carbuncles1 sebaceous tumors and other excrescences1 that only need the application of the lance to get out the humor from them or to excise them from the body1 or cut them off and let them go1 so that the body may be cleansed from their poisonous effect4 #adj ,it is so with the ,church4 ,from time to time there are characters who become a law unto themselves and they follow the bent of their own sweet will until they get themselves into a condition mentally and spiritually that they become a menace to the body ecclesiastic4 ,in other words1 they become like a boil1 tumor1 or carbuncle on the body1 you have to call in the surgeon to apply the knife to cut them out that the body may be cleansed from them2 and this has been the case from the beginning4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #e4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,must ,,be ,,thinkers ,,and ,,workers4 ,to be ,latter-day ,saints men and women must be thinkers and workers2 they must be men and women who weigh matters in their minds2 men and women who consider carefully their course of life and the principles that they have espoused4 ,men cannot be faithful ,latter-day ,saints unless they study and understand1 to some extent at least1 the principles of the gospel that they have received4 ,when you hear people1 who profess to be ,latter-day ,saints1 running off on tangents1 on foolish notions and one-horse1 cranky ideas1 things that are obviously opposed to reason and to good sense1 opposed to principles of righteousness and to the word of the ,lord that has been revealed to men1 you should know at once that they have not studied the principles of the gospel1 and do not know very much about the gospel4 ,when people understand the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 you will see them walking straightforward1 according to the word of the ,lord and the law of ,god1 strictly in accordance with that which is consistent1 just1 righteous1 and in every sense acceptable to the ,lord who only accepts of that which is right and pleasing in his sight2 for only that which is right is pleasing unto him4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 #aiaj1 p4 #gb4 ,,the ,,identity ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,unchanged4 ,we have a double guide and a double assurance in reaching our correct conclusions concerning the perfect identity of the #ada ,church now and the ,church in the days of its first prophet4 ,the spirit of loyalty and devotion1 together with love for the work of building up ,zion1 characterize the ,saints1 while the devil rages now in the same manner that he did then4 ,the spirit1 on both sides of the controversy1 is so identical that it is hard to imagine that any thoughtful ,latter-day ,saint can be deceived over the situation as it exists today4 ,by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,the devil caused men to rage over the ,nauvoo ,house1 the building of the ,nauvoo ,temple1 the ,prophet's ,nauvoo brick store1 and the material prosperity of the ,saints in that beautiful city on the banks of the ,mississippi2 he causes men to rave over so-called commercialism today4 ,envy was rampant then4 ,it is just as deadly now4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 p4 #dig1 ,august #ae1 #aije4 ,,no ,,classes ,,or ,,nationalities ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,the brotherhood and common interests in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints are among the great characteristics of our faith1 and whatever1 therefore1 tends to establish class distinction either in society or nationalities should be discouraged in every way possible4 ,god is no respecter of persons1 neither does he glorify one class to the disadvantage of another4 ,a striking peculiarity of the ,saints gathered from all parts of the earth is that they are almost universally of the blood of ,ephraim4 ,if they have received the ,holy ,ghost they are of one spirit1 so that whatever creates a discord in the spirit and unity of the ,saints is of evil origin4 ,the ,spirit of ,god never begets strife1 nor does it set up and insist on distinctions among those who have been its recipients4 ,there has been in some people's minds the thought that this or that nationality was entitled to certain recognition because of its large numbers or prominence in certain respects4 ,the affairs of the ,church are not carried on with #adb respect to what is good or bad policy--there is no policy in the ,church1 but that of wisdom and truth1 and everyone of its members should thoroughly understand that distinctions both in classes and nationalities are odious and out of harmony with the discipline and spirit of ,church government4 ,if a man of one or another nationality is honored by any important call1 it is because of the spirit in the man1 and not because of his nationality1 and the ,saints may be certain that when any man makes a demand for recognition it is an assumption on his part1 and is not in harmony with the life and spirit of our ,master4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #feh1 ,november #a1 #aijb4 ,,no ,,neutrals ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,in ,christ's ,church we cannot be neutral or inert4 ,we must either progress or retrograde4 ,it is necessary for the ,latter-day ,saints to keep pushing on in order that they may keep their faith alive and their spirits quickened to the performance of their duties4 ,let us remember that we are engaged in ,god's work--and when ,i say ,god's work1 ,i mean that we are engaged in the work which the ,almighty has instituted in the earth for our salvation individually4 ,every man should be laboring for his own good and as far as possible for the good of others4 ,there is no such thing in the science of life as a man laboring exclusively for himself4 ,we are not intended to be alone in time nor in eternity4 ,each individual is a unit in the household of faith1 and each unit must feel his or her proportion of the responsibility that devolves upon the whole4 ,each individual must be diligent in performing his duty4 ,by doing this1 and keeping himself pure and unspotted from the world1 he assists others to keep themselves pure and unspotted4 ,for instance1 a man who is faithful in observing the ,sabbath day and in attending to the duties of that day will at least set an example unto all with whom he is associated4 ,the man who is prayerful before the #adc ,lord will set an example before all others who see and know his conduct4 ,the man who is honest in dealing with his neighbor will set an example for good4 ,those who do this are genuine representatives of ,zion2 they are the children of ,god indeed and of a truth1 and there rests with them the spirit of light and the love of ,god4 ,they are in a saved condition1 and will continue to be in a saved condition so long as they continue to observe the principles of the gospel4 ,it is useless for us to mourn over the evils that we ourselves have caused1 unless by repentance we may make restitution for the evils we have done4 ,it is a terrible thing for men and women to allow themselves to go so far in the neglect of duty that evils will result from their misconduct which they will be powerless thereafter to eradicate or to make restitution for4--,sermon1 ,sunday1 ,june #ab1 #ahih4 ,,don',t ,,have ,,religious ,,hobbies4 ,brethren and sisters1 don't have hobbies4 ,hobbies are dangerous in the ,church of ,christ4 ,they are dangerous because they give undue prominence to certain principles or ideas to the detriment and dwarfing of others just as important1 just as binding1 just as saving as the favored doctrines or commandments4 ,hobbies give to those who encourage them a false aspect of the gospel of the ,redeemer2 they distort and place out of harmony its principles and teachings4 ,the point of view is unnatural4 ,every principle and practice revealed from ,god is essential to man's salvation1 and to place any one of them unduly in front1 hiding and dimming all others is unwise and dangerous2 it jeopardizes our salvation1 for it darkens our minds and beclouds our understandings4 ,such a view1 no matter to what point directed1 narrows the vision1 weakens the spiritual perception1 and darkens the mind1 the result of which is that the person thus afflicted with this perversity and contraction of mental vision places himself in a position to be tempted of the evil #add one1 or through dimness of sight or distortion of vision1 to misjudge his brethren and give way to the spirit of apostasy4 ,he is not square before the ,lord4 ,we have noticed this difficulty3 that ,saints with hobbies are prone to judge and condemn their brethren and sisters who are not so zealous in the one particular direction of their pet theory as they are4 ,the man with the ,word of ,wisdom only in his brain1 is apt to find unmeasured fault with every other member of the ,church who entertains liberal ideas as to the importance of other doctrines of the gospel4 ,there is another phase of this difficulty--the man with a hobby is apt to assume an ,i am holier than thou position1 to feel puffed up and conceited1 and to look with distrust1 if with no severer feeling1 on his brethren and sisters who do not so perfectly live that one particular law4 ,this feeling hurts his fellow-servants and offends the ,lord4 ,pride goeth before destruction1 and an haughty spirit before a fall4--7,prov4 #af-ah47 ,there are some great truths in the plan of redemption that are fundamental4 ,they cannot be ignored2 none others can be placed before them4 ,the fatherhood of ,god1 the efficacy of the atonement of our ,lord and ,savior1 the restoration of the gospel in these latter days1 must be accepted with our whole hearts4 ,we cannot compensate for a lack of faith in these essential doctrines by the most absolute abstinence from things unhealthful1 by the rigid payment of tithing on our anise and cummin1 or by the observance of any other outward ordinance4 ,baptism itself without faith in ,god avails nothing4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 pp4 #agf-agg1 ,march1 #aijb4 ,,wealth ,,does ,,not ,,bring ,,church ,,favors4 ,the idea should never gain ground that the rich man in the ,church is entitled to any more consideration than the humblest #ade member4 ,men of superior virtues and powers1 whether those virtues and powers be represented in the ability to gain wealth1 to acquire education1 or to display genius and wisdom1 will always occupy a commanding place in the social1 the business1 and religious world4 ,it is one thing1 however1 to respect wealth and its powers1 and quite another to become mere sycophants to it4 ,neither the ,church1 nor its blessings nor favors1 have ever been1 from its organization1 submissive to or purchasable by the mammon of this world4 ,no man need to hope that he can buy the gifts of ,god4 ,those who attempt to buy the treasures of heaven will perish1 and their wealth will perish with them4 ,wealth may wield an undue influence and gain prestige in society1 even though its possessor may be greatly wanting in moral worthiness4 ,and being a power in itself1 may be a danger through the opportunities for corruption and seduction4 ,those1 therefore1 who have listened to the fallacious arguments of the advantages of wealth and its power1 independent of virtue1 have in store for them a great disappointment if they act upon any such false theories4 ,the trouble is1 that young men are very apt to mistake a friendly and cordial greeting to those in possession of wealth for a genuine friendship and sincere confidence4 ,the unworthy rich should be as much the object of our pity as the unworthy poor4 ,those who imagine that wealth may be substituted for virtue are certainly doomed to disappointment2 and yet men sometimes foolishly and enviously suggest that the highest social recommendation and religious standing as well as the sincere friendship of the pure in heart are subject to the command of the mammon of unrighteousness4 ,the money offered by ,simon the sorcerer to the apostles for the gifts they possessed was spurned by them1 and a curse was pronounced both upon him and his wealth4 7,see #adf ,acts #h3ad-bc7--;,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 pp4 #eic1 #eid1 ,october #a1 #aije4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,causes ,,disturbance4 ,in truth the gospel is carrying us against the stream of passing humanity4 ,we get in the way of purely human affairs and disturb the current of life in many ways and in many places4 ,people who are comfortably located and well provided for1 do not like to be disturbed4 ,it angers them1 and they would settle things once for all in the most drastic manner4 ,the effects of certain causes are so unlike anything we have ever known that we are not safe in making philosophy our guide2 much less are we safe in making those our guide who have some sort of selfish philosophy which they are anxious that others should follow4 ,those who defend us1 do so not infrequently with an apologetic air4 ,the ,saints are never safe in following the protests and counsels of those who would have us ever and always in harmony with the world4 ,we have our particular mission to perform2 and that we may perform it in consonance with divine purposes1 we are running counter to the ways of man4 ,we are made unpopular4 ,the contempt of the world is on us1 and we are the unloved child among the peoples of the earth4 ,,having ,,done ,,all1 ,,stand4 ,there are people who are courageous in doing all they can to bring about certain results4 ,they will combat evils and resist the wrongs that are inflicted upon them and upon others2 but when they have been defeated1 when they see a just cause suffer1 and evilly disposed men triumphant1 they give up4 ,what is the use8 ,that is the question uppermost in their minds4 ,they see wicked men apparently successful4 ,they see men of evil repute honored by their fellowmen until they are almost persuaded that fate has her rewards for wrong doing4 ,with them1 what appears to be a lost cause inspires no hope4 ,it is lost1 they say1 and we shall have to make the best of it1 and #adg let it go4 ,they are at heart discouraged4 ,some almost question the purposes of ,providence4 ,they have the courage of men who are brave at heart1 but they have not the courage of faith4 ,how different it was with ,paul6 ,he had labored fearlessly1 he had delivered a divine message1 he had resisted the enemy1 and they apparently triumphed over him4 ,he was taken prisoner and subjected to humiliating treatment by the administrators of the law4 ,he was in bonds1 and death awaited him1 but he was still courageous4 ,his was the courage of faith4 ,read these stirring words of his sent to the ,ephesians1 recorded in ,ephesians #f3ac1 sent when most men would have thought their cause lost3 ,wherefore take unto you the whole armour of ,god1 that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day1 and having done all1 to stand4 ,after we have done all we could do for the cause of truth1 and withstood the evil that men have brought upon us1 and we have been overwhelmed by their wrongs1 it is still our duty to stand4 ,we cannot give up2 we must not lie down4 ,great causes are not won in a single generation4 ,to stand firm in the face of overwhelming opposition1 when you have done all you can1 is the courage of faith4 ,the courage of faith is the courage of progress4 ,men who possess that divine quality go on2 they are not permitted to stand still if they would4 ,they are not simply the creatures of their own power and wisdom2 they are instrumentalities of a higher law and a divine purpose4 ,others would quit1 they would avoid trouble4 ,when it comes1 it is to them most unfortunate4 ,it is really too bad4 ,in their minds1 it might have been avoided4 ,they want to square themselves with the ,world4 ,the decree of the world has gone forth1 why withstand it8 ,we have withstood evil1 they say1 and it has overwhelmed us4 ,why stand longer8 ,such men read history1 if at all1 only as they make it2 they cannot see the hand of ,god in the affairs of #adh men1 because they see only with the eye of man and not with the eye of faith4 ,all resistance is gone out of them--they have left ,god out of the question4 ,they have not put on his whole armor4 ,without it they are loaded down with fear and apprehension1 and they sink4 ,to such men everything that brings trouble seems necessary4 ,as ,saints of ,god1 it is our duty to stand1 even when we are overwhelmed by evil4 ,and ,i give unto you a commandment1 that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good1 that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of ,god2 ,for he will give unto the faithful line upon line1 precept upon precept2 and ,i will try you and prove you herewith2 ,and whoso layeth down his life in my cause1 for my name's sake shall find it again1 even life eternal2 ,therefore be not afraid of your enemies1 for ,i have decreed in my heart1 saith the ,lord1 that ,i will prove you in all things1 whether you will abide in my covenant1 even unto death1 that you may be found worthy2 ,for if ye will not abide in my covenant1 ye are not worthy of me4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #ih3aa-ae74--;,juvenile ,instructor1 ,aug4 #ae1 #aijd1 ,vol4 #ci1 pp4 #dif1 #dig4 ,,not ,,naturally ,,religious4 ,some people persist in saying on occasion that they are not naturally religious4 ,do they mean by this that attending meetings1 taking part in ward worship1 teaching and preaching1 are not congenial to them8 ,or1 do they mean more8 ,perhaps the moral restrictions governing an active worker in the ,church are not congenial to them4 ,they reason that it is better to make no pretensions than to make more than one can live up to2 and so they excuse themselves by declaring they are naturally not religious4 ,but religion is not outward show and pretense1 and #adi being religious does not altogether consist in compliance with outward forms1 even when these are the ordinances of the gospel4 ,neither is it an unfailing sign that a person is conscientious who takes an active part in organizations of the ,church4 ,evil men may use these for selfish and wicked purposes4 ,i have known men who joined our organizations for such ends1 and men who have been baptized who never repented4 ,then what is religion8 ,james declares3 ,pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this3 ,to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world4 ,this may be interpreted as meaning that a person who is religious is thoughtful to the unfortunate1 and has an inner spirit that prompts to deeds of kindness and to the leading of a blameless life2 who is just1 truthful2 who does not1 as ,paul says1 think more highly of himself than he ought to think2 who is affectionate1 patient in tribulation1 diligent1 cheerful1 fervent in spirit1 hospitable1 merciful2 and who abhors evil and cleaves to that which is good4 ,the possession of such a spirit and feeling is a true sign that a person is naturally religious4 ,the ,church's outward ordinances and requirements are but necessary--yet they are necessary--aids to the inner spiritual life4 ',the ,church itself1 the organization1 meetings1 ordinances1 requirements1 are only helps1 but very necessary helps1 to the practice of true religion --schoolmasters to direct us in the way of eternal light and truth4 ,young men1 do not say that you are not naturally religious1 and so make that an excuse for evil deeds and forbidden acts1 and for not identifying yourselves with the organizations of the ,church1 and by such course perhaps smothering the ,spirit of ,god within you1 possessed as a birthright1 or received through the servants of the ,lord by the imposition of hands4 ,be rather religious both in appearance and in reality1 remembering what true religion means4 #aej ,even as the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy1 so is the possession of the knowledge that you love purity1 righteousness1 honesty1 justice and well-doing1 an indisputable evidence that you are naturally religious4 ,search your hearts1 and you will find deep down that you possess this knowledge4 ,then encourage its growth and development to the gaining of your own salvation4 ,the ,church and its quorums and organizations will help you1 and the living1 loving ,god will add his bounteous blessings4--,improvement ,era1 #aije-f1 ,vol4 #i1 pp4 #dic-die4 ,,strive ,,to ,,be ,,as ,,broad ,,as ,,the ,,gospel4 ,the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 properly taught and understood1 inculcates broadness1 force1 and power4 ,it makes intellectually broad and valiant men4 ,it gives to men good1 sound judgment in affairs temporal as well as spiritual4 ,there are reasons why it is worth a young man's while to embrace it4 ,outside of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 as taught by the ,latter-day ,saints1 and sometimes within the fold1 we frequently look about us and see people who incline to extremes1 who are fanatical4 ,we may be sure that this class of people do not understand the gospel4 ,they have forgotten1 if they ever knew1 that it is very unwise to take a fragment of truth and treat it as if it were the whole thing4 ,while the first principles of the gospel1 faith in ,god1 repentance1 baptism for the remission of sins1 and the laying on of hands for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost1 the healing of the sick1 the resurrection1 and for that matter1 all the revealed principles of the gospel of ,christ are necessary and essential in the plan of salvation1 it is neither good policy nor sound doctrine to take any one of these1 single it out from the whole plan of gospel truth1 make it a special hobby1 and depend upon it for our salvation and progress1 either in this world or in the world to come4 ,they are all necessary4 ,it should be the desire of the ,latter-day ,saints to become #aea as big and broad as the gospel which has been divinely revealed to them4 ,they should1 therefore1 hold themselves open to the acceptance of all the truths of the gospel that have been revealed1 that are now being revealed1 and that will be revealed hereafter1 and adopt them in the conduct of their daily lives4 ,by honorable and upright living1 by obedience to the commandments of ,god1 and by the aid of the ,holy ,spirit1 we shall place ourselves in a position to work out our own salvation here and hereafter1 with fear and trembling1 it may be1 but with absolute certainty4 ,this is a work that makes every soul who engages in it big and broad4 ,it is a life-work worth the while of every man in the world4-- ,improvement ,era1 #aiaa-ab1 ,vol4 #ae1 pp4 #hdc-hde4 ,,search ,,and ,,ye ,,shall ,,find4 ,the fact is that every principle of healing1 every principle of the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 and of ,god1 which have been manifested to the ,saints in all ages1 have been bestowed upon the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,there is no principle1 there is no blessing1 there is no advantage1 there is no truth in any other religious society or organization1 which is not included in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ as taught by ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet1 and after him by the leaders and elders of this ,church2 but it requires some effort on our part1 some exertion1 some devotion1 to learn of and to enjoy these things4 ,if we neglect them1 we are1 of course1 not the recipients of the blessings that follow effort1 and that come from a thorough understanding of these principles4 ,hence it is that others may come in among us and advocate their ideas which1 though not comparing with ours in plainness1 instruction1 and truth1 are yet listened to by people who are made to believe that all these things are new1 and not contained in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ as taught by the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,this is a fearful fallacy1 and one that should be guarded against by everyone who loves the gospel4 #aeb ,in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will be found to a greater extent than in any other church1 the principles of life and salvation2 and if we search them out of our literature and learn them for ourselves1 have them confirmed by the ,spirit1 by right living1 and make them a part of ourselves1 we shall find greater comfort and richer blessings greater treasures of everlasting life than in any other teachings that may be given to us by any other organization upon the earth4--,improvement ,era1 ,may1 #aiji1 ,vol4 #ab1 p4 #efa4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,religion4 ,a serious time will come in every life4 ,there is a parting of the ways4 ,what you indulge in will lead you up or down4 ,i have no hesitancy in declaring in the name of the ,lord that the spirit which leads you to complain that you are bored in attending the worshiping assemblies of the ,saints has led or will lead you astray2 and1 on the other hand1 that the young people who cultivate the true spirit of worship1 and find happiness and pleasure in the associations of the ,saints1 and who care enough for ,god and religion to support the ,church and attend the meetings1 are the people whose moral and spiritual influence will control public sentiment and govern the state and nation4 ,in any conflict with indifference and the spirit of worldly pleasure1 moral influence and religious earnestness will always conquer and rule4--,improvement ,era1 ,october1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #f1 p4 #idd4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,success4 ,there are daily evidences of a growing tendency among the masses of the civilized world to regard success in life purely from the standpoint of material advancement4 ,the man who has a beautiful home and a large income is looked upon as a successful man4 ,people are constantly talking about the winners of fortune in the contest for wealth4 ,men who are successful in obtaining the honors bestowed by their fellowmen are envied as among the most fortunate4 ,everywhere men hear the word #aec success dwelt upon as if success were defined in a word1 and as if the highest ambition of men and women was the advancement of some worldly ambition4 ,all this rage about success simply indicates the gross materialism of the age in which we live4 ,here is what a ,state ,commissioner of ,education says to a graduating class3 ,you need not expect that people will stand aside because you have come4 ,they are going to crowd you1 and you will have to crowd them4 ,they will leave you behind unless you leave them behind4 ,the meaning of such talk is that to be successful you must take advantage of your fellowmen2 you must crowd them out and leave them behind2 and all because if you do not take advantage of them they will take advantage of you4 ,after all1 what is success1 and who are competent to judge8 ,the great masses who lived in the days of ,jesus would have said that his life was a stupendous failure1 that his life and teachings ended in inglorious defeat4 ,even his disciples were disappointed in his death2 and their efforts to perpetuate his name and teachings were covered with ignominy and contempt4 ,it was centuries before the success of his life became apparent to the world4 ,we can easily comprehend1 therefore1 how it has taken centuries to accomplish achievements that were set in motion by some obscure or despised personage4 ,the triumph1 therefore1 of ,jesus would have been looked upon by his generation as one of the paradoxes of history4 ,when the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith was slain1 his enemies rejoiced in what they considered the inglorious ending of his life4 ,they were sure that all he had done would end with him1 and so they could pronounce his life a burlesque and a failure4 ,it will be seen from these instances that the contemporaries of a man are not always competent to say whether his life has been a success or a failure4 ,a sound #aed judgment must await future generations1 perhaps future centuries4 ,if your neighbor today is a poor widow who rears1 amid the greatest struggles and in unbearable poverty1 three or four or half a dozen children1 ,perhaps no one would say of her life that it was a success1 and yet there may be in her offspring the embryo of future greatness1 future generations may cover her motherhood with glory4 ,after all1 one's success must be determined more by the eternal 7as well as the present7 needs of man1 than by temporary standards which men erect in pursuance of the spirit of the age in which they live4 ,certainly nothing is more fatal to our well being than the notion that our present and eternal welfare is founded upon the wealth and honors of this world4 ,the great truth enunciated by the ,savior seems very generally to be lost sight of in this generation1 that it will profit a man nothing though he should gain the whole world1 if he lose his own soul4 ,the standard of success as declared by the word of ,god1 is the salvation of the soul4 ,the greatest gift of ,god is eternal life4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,sept4 #ae1 #aijd1 ,vol4 #ci1 pp4 #efa-efb4 ,,what ,,is ,,to ,,become ,,of ,,such ,,as ,,me4 ,that there are many good people in the world who believe the principles of the gospel as taught by the ,latter-day ,saints and yet1 through circumstances and environment1 are not prepared publicly to accept the same1 is evidenced by the following extract from a letter written by a reverend gentleman3 ,what is to become of such as ,i1 who believe this about you1 and yet are tied and bound by circumstances such as mine8 ,here ,i have been a minister for fifty-five years4 ,i cannot change now if ,i would4 ,in answer to the question1 ,what is to become of such #aee as me8 let it be said that every person will receive his just reward for the good he may do and for his every act4 ,but let it be remembered that all blessings which we shall receive1 either here or hereafter1 must come to us as a result of our obedience to the laws of ,god upon which these blessings are predicated4 ,our friend will not be forgotten for the kindness he has extended to the work and the servants of the ,lord1 but will be remembered of him and rewarded for his faith and for every good deed and word4 ,but there are many blessings that result from obeying the ordinances of the gospel1 and acknowledging the priesthood authorized of the ,father and restored to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 that cannot be obtained until the person is willing to comply with the ordinances and keep the commandments revealed in our day for the salvation of mankind4 ,the true searcher will see and understand this truth and act upon it1 either in this world or in the world to come1 and not until then1 of course1 may he claim all the blessings4 ,the earlier he accepts1 the earlier will he obtain the blessings1 and if he neglects to accept the laws in this world1 knowing them to be true1 it is reasonable to suppose that disadvantages will result that will cause him deep regret4--,improvement ,era1 #aiab-ac1 ,vol4 #af1 pp4 #gj-gb4 ,,rest ,,for ,,the ,,peaceable ,,followers ,,of ,,christ4 ,i desire to call the attention of the ,latter-day ,saints to the words of the ,prophet ,moroni1 who says1 in speaking of his father's instructions to the ancient saints upon this continent3 ,wherefore ,i would speak unto you that are of the ,church1 that are the peaceable followers of ,christ1 and that have obtained a sufficient hope1 by which we can enter into the rest of the ,lord1 from this time henceforth1 until ye shall rest with him in heaven4 ,this is a very significant passage4 ,the rest here referred #aef to is not physical rest1 for there is no such thing as physical rest in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,reference is made to the spiritual rest and peace which are born from a settled conviction of the truth in the minds of men4 ,we may thus enter into the rest of the ,lord today1 by coming to an understanding of the truths of the gospel4 ,no people is more entitled to this rest--this peace of the spirit--than are members of the ,church4 ,it is true that not all are unsettled4 ,not all need to seek this rest1 for there are many who now possess it1 whose minds have become satisfied1 and who have set their eyes upon the mark of their high calling with an invincible determination in their hearts to be steadfast in the truth1 and who are treading in humility and righteousness the path marked out for the ,saints who are complacent followers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,but there are many who1 not having reached this point of determined conviction1 are driven about by every wind of doctrine1 thus being ill at ease1 unsettled1 restless4 ,these are they who are discouraged over incidents that occur in the ,church1 and in the nation1 and in the turmoils of men and associations4 ,they harbor a feeling of suspicion1 unrest1 uncertainty4 ,their thoughts are disturbed1 and they become excited with the least change1 like one at sea who has lost his bearings4 ,where would you have people go who are unsettled in the truth8 ,the answer is plain4 ,they will not find satisfaction in the doctrines of ,men4 ,let them seek for it in the written word of ,god2 let them pray to him in their secret chambers1 where no human ear can hear1 and in their closets petition for light2 let them obey the doctrines of ,jesus1 and they will immediately begin to grow in the knowledge of the truth4 ,this course will bring peace to their souls1 joy to their hearts1 and a settled conviction which no change can disturb4 ,they may be well assured #aeg that he that heareth in secret will reward them openly4 ,let them seek for strength from the ,source of all strength1 and he will provide spiritual contentment1 a rest which is incomparable with the physical rest that cometh after toil4 ,all who seek have a right to1 and may enter into1 the rest of ,god1 here upon the earth1 from this time forth1 now1 today2 and when earth-life is finished1 they shall also enjoy his rest in heaven4 ,i know that ,christ is the ,only ,begotten ,son of ,god1 that he is the ,redeemer of the world1 that he was raised from the dead2 and that as he arose1 so shall every soul bearing the image of ,god arise from the dead and be judged according to his works1 be they good or evil4 ,in the never-ending eternities of our ,father in heaven1 the righteous shall rejoice1 while the association and love of their families and friends shall glorify them through the ages that are to come4 ,joy and rest unspeakable will be their reward4 ,these are some of the doctrines of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ which the ,latter-day ,saints believe4 ,i don't wish for anything better2 ,i desire to be satisfied in these1 and to possess that peace and joy which spring from the contemplation of the opportunities and truths that are embraced in this gospel4 ,were ,i to seek for other truths1 where would ,i go8 ,not to man4 ,i must know for myself1 from the source which provides these blessings and gifts2 but what more would ,i ask for than a knowledge of the resurrection1 that ,i shall be made whole of my sins and become perfect in ,christ ,jesus1 through obedience to his gospel8 ,is any doctrine more reasonable and more compatible with free agency than this8 ,it is true that ancient philosophers taught us many morals1 but where1 in all the philosophy of the world1 have we better teachings than in the gospel of ,christ which has been revealed to us1 and which we hold and are #aeh made partakers of8 ,no doctrine was ever as perfect as that of ,jesus4 ,christ perfected every principle that had hitherto been taught by the philosophers of the world2 he has revealed to us the way of salvation1 from the beginning1 and through all the meanderings of this life to never-ending exaltation and glory in his kingdom1 and to a newness of life therein4 ,he has taught us that man is a dual being1 the offspring of ,god1 and that the body and the spirit1 blended in one immortal soul1 is eventually to stand in the presence of its ,maker1 and see as it is seen1 and know as it is known4 ,whenever the ,lord speaks to man1 he speaks to his immortal soul1 and satisfaction and unsurpassing peace and joy come to all who listen4 ,happy is the man1 indeed1 who can receive this soul-satisfying testimony1 and be at rest1 and seek for no other road to peace than by the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ4 ,his gospel teaches us to love our fellowmen1 to do to others as we would have others do to us1 to be just1 to be merciful1 to be forgiving1 and to perform every good act calculated to enlarge the soul of man4 ,his perfected philosophy teaches also that it is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong1 and to pray for our enemies and for those who despitefully use us4 ,there are no other gospels or systems of philosophy that bear these marks of divinity and immortality4 ,you may hunt the philosophies of the world in vain for any code of ethics that insures the peace and rest that may be found in his comprehensive1 yet simple1 gospel4 ,to the young man or the young woman who is at a loss to know what to do1 among all the various teachings that are extant in the world1 ,i would say3 ,search the ,scriptures1 seek ,god in prayer1 and then read the doctrines that have been proclaimed by ,christ in his sermon on the mount1 as found in ,matthew1 and as reiterated to the ancient #aei saints upon this continent 7,,iii ,nephi74 ,having studied these splendid standards1 and searched deeply the significance of these matchless sentiments1 you may defy the philosophies of the world1 or any of its ethics to produce their equal4 ,the wisdom of men is not to be compared with them4 ,they lead to the rest of the peaceable followers of ,christ1 and enable mankind to become perfect as he is perfect4 ,no other philosopher has ever said as ,jesus said1 ,come unto me4 ,from the beginning of the world until the present time1 no other philosopher has ever cried unto the people such words of love1 nor guaranteed and declared power within himself to save4 ,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest1 is his call to all the sons and daughters of men4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints have answered the call1 and thousands thereby have found rest and peace surpassing all understanding2 and this notwithstanding the outward1 fiery ordeals1 the turmoil and the strife1 through which they have passed4 ,they rest in the knowledge that no man could declare or teach such doctrine2 it is the truth of ,god4 ,i thank our ,father that ,i have come to a knowledge of this truth1 that ,i know that ,jesus is the ,christ1 in whom alone there is rest and salvation4 ,as ,god lives1 they are deceived who follow men and their philosophies2 but happy are they who enter into the rest of the peaceable followers of ,christ1 obtaining sufficient hope from this time henceforth until they shall rest with him in heaven4 ,they depend completely upon the saving power of his gospel1 and are therefore at rest in all the tumult of mind and public agitation which besets their way4--,improvement ,era1 #aijc-d1 ,vol4 #g1 pp4 #gad-ah4 ,,harmony4 ,as to harmony1 with special reference to the understanding that the ,latter-day ,saints should have of it1 as affecting the membership of the ,church1 or as subsisting #afj in the quorums of the priesthood1 ,i would say that the harmony that is sought to be established among the ,saints1 and in the membership of the respective quorums is a harmony that comes from seeing eye to eye in all things2 from understanding things alike2 a harmony that is born of perfect knowledge1 perfect honesty1 perfect unselfishness1 perfect love4 ,this is the harmony the ,church would inculcate among its members1 and such the elements from which she would have it arise4 ,it is with harmony as it is with all the ideals of the gospel4 ,the ,saints and elders of the ,church may fail in perfect attainment of them1 in this life1 but they may approximate them4 ,while that is true respecting all the details of the gospel1 and as true of the perfect harmony we seek to attain as of other ideal conditions1 yet we recognize the fact that a certain degree of harmony is essential in the ,church as a working principle4 ,this degree of harmony1 essential in the ,church1 among the members and in the quorums of the priesthood1 is neither hard to understand nor difficult of attainment4 ,neither is it a new principle1 nor peculiar to the ,church of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,it is as old as the society of men4 ,it is common to all men working in community--to parliaments1 congresses1 conventions1 boards1 bureaucracies1 and conferences of all descriptions4 ,in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints this essential harmony consists of such union or agreement as is necessary to the accomplishment of the purposes of the organization4 ,these purposes1 in the main1 are accomplished through the several councils of the priesthood1 and through the conferences of the ,church2 hence1 the work is done by the combined actions of groups of individuals1 and of necessity must be by their agreement or consent4 ,with men of varying intelligence1 judgment1 and temperament1 of course it follows that in the consideration of a given matter there will be a variety of views entertained1 and discussion of the #afa subject will nearly always develop a variety of opinions4 ,all this1 by the way1 is not detrimental to the quality of any purposed action1 since the greater the variety in temperament and training1 of those in conference1 the more varied will be the viewpoints from which the subject in question is considered1 until it is likely to be presented in almost every conceivable light1 and its strength as well as its weakness developed1 resulting in the best possible judgment being formed of it4 ,it is these considerations which doubtless led to the aphorism1 ,in the midst of counsel there is wisdom4 ,it will sometimes happen1 of course1 in the experiences of councils or conferences1 that all present may not be brought to perfect agreement1 with reference to the proposed action2 but upon submission of the question to an expression of judgment1 it is found that a majority of those having the right to decide a given matter determine it in a certain way4 ,and now the question arises1 what shall be the course of those who are in the minority1 those not in the agreement perfectly with the decision8 ,shall they go from the council or conference and contend for their views against the decision rendered and be rebellious and stubborn in adhering to their own judgment1 as against the judgment of the majority of the council or conference who had the right to determine what the action should be8 ,the right answer1 ,i think1 is obvious4 ,the judgment of the majority must stand4 ,if it is the action of the council or conference having the final word upon the subject1 it becomes the decreed action1 the rule or law1 and must be maintained as such until greater knowledge or changed circumstances shall cause those who rightfully established such decision to modify or abolish it4 ,of course1 if a member or members of the minority regard the action of the majority as a violation of some fundamental principle1 or subversive of the inherent rights of men1 against which they conceive it to be a matter of conscience #afb to enter protest or absolute repudiation1 ,i understand it is their right to so proceed2 but this1 let it be understood1 would be revolutionary1 it would be rebellion1 and if persisted in1 could only end in such persons voluntarily withdrawing1 or being severed from the organization4 ,they cannot hope to be retained in a fellowship and enjoy the rights and privileges of the ,church1 and at the same time be making war upon its decisions or its rules and policy4 ,but no power on earth1 certainly no power in the ,church1 can prevent men dissatisfied with the ,church1 from absolutely withdrawing from it2 and such is the disfavor with which the ,church is regarded by the world that such withdrawals would in most cases be rewarded by the applause of the world4 ,or1 if the dissatisfaction of the member be only with the quorum or council of the priesthood with which he is connected1 he would be at liberty to withdraw from that quorum or council1 and still retain his membership in the ,church4 ,on the other hand1 the harmony which ,i spoke of as being essential to the ,church certainly demands that' the ,church shall not tolerate1 and indeed1 if the life of the organization persists1 it cannot tolerate such internal conflicts as those just alluded to1 as they would lead to confusion1 anarchy1 disruption1 and final abolishment of the organization4 ,there is one other element to be considered in this matter of harmony1 as a doctrine of the ,church1 which may not operate in other community efforts of men2 and that is1 the living presence and effective force of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,that ,spirit1 it must be remembered1 is1 by way of preeminence1 called ,the ,spirit of ,truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father4 ,he teaches all things2 and brings to the remembrance of the ,saints all the instructions of the ,master4 ,he guides into all truth1 and as in all truth there is unity or harmony1 so1 it is believed that if the ,saints are in possession of this ,spirit1 the harmony in the ,church of ,christ will #afc be superior to the harmony that can be looked for or hoped for1 in any other organization whatsoever4 ,and because the ,saints have free access to the ,holy ,spirit1 and may walk within his light and fellowship and possess the intelligence which he is able to impart1 a stricter harmony among the ,saints may be insisted upon than in any other organization of men whatsoever4 ,for the same reason1 lack of harmony may be more severely censured and persistent opposition and rebellion more justly denounced and swiftly punished4 ,in all things1 however1 patience and charity must be exercised--and no less in seeking the perfect harmony we hope for1 than in other things4 ,the present state of imperfect knowledge1 the struggle it is for all men to live on those spiritual heights where they may be in communion with ,god1 must be taken into account and due allowance made for human weakness and imperfection4 ,so that1 while the existence of that degree of harmony essential as a working principle in the ,church must always be imperatively demanded1 beyond that1 the ,church1 in the manner of harmony1 may well afford to exercise forbearance and charity towards all its members until the day of more perfect knowledge shall arise upon the ,saints2 a day when1 through a wider effusion and a deeper penetration of the ,holy ,spirit they may be brought to stand in perfect harmony with each other and with ,god4--,improvement ,era1 #aijd-e1 ,vol4 #h1 pp4 #bji-bae4 ,,character1 ,,mettle1 ,,and ,,mission ,,of ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints4 ,we do not look for absolute perfection in man4 ,mortal man is not capable of being absolutely perfect4 ,nevertheless1 it is given to us to be as perfect in the sphere in which we are called to be and to act1 as it is for the ,father in heaven to be pure and righteous in the more exalted sphere in which he acts4 ,we will find in the scriptures the words of the ,savior himself to his disciples1 in which he required that they should be perfect1 even as their ,father #afd in heaven is perfect2 that they should be righteous1 even as he is righteous4 ,i do not expect that we can be as perfect as ,christ1 that we can be as righteous as ,god4 ,but ,i believe that we can strive for that perfection with the intelligence that we possess1 and the knowledge that we have of the principles of life and salvation4 ,the duty of the ,latter-day ,saints1 and the paramount duty of those who are leaders in this work of mutual improvement in the ,church1 is to inculcate in the hearts of the young people these principles of righteousness1 of purity of life1 of honor1 of uprightness and of humility withal1 that we may be humble before ,god and acknowledge his hand in all things4 ,according to his revelations1 he is displeased with those who will not acknowledge his hand in all things4 ,when we look at the imperfections of our fellow beings1 some of the inclinations of those with whom we are intimately associated in the various organizations of the ,church1 and discern in them their natural proneness to evil1 to sinfulness1 to a disregard of sacred things1 and sometimes their inclination to disregard and treat lightly1 if not with contempt1 those things which should be more sacred than life itself1 it makes the task seem almost discouraging1 and it seems impossible for us to accomplish that which we have in view1 and to perform the mission that we have undertaken to our own satisfaction and the acceptance of the ,lord4 ,but what shall we do8 ,shall we quit because there are those with whom we come in contact who are not willing to rise to the standard to which we seek to exalt them8 ,no6 ,someone has said that the ,lord hates a quitter1 and there should be no such thing as quitting when we put our hands to the plow to save men1 to save souls1 to exalt mankind1 to inculcate principles of righteousness and establish them in the hearts of those with whom we are associated1 both by precept and by example4 ,there must be no such thing as being discouraged4 ,we may fail over and over again1 #afe but if we do1 it is in individual cases4 ,under certain conditions and circumstances1 we may fail to accomplish the object we have in view with reference to this individual or the other individual1 or a number of individuals that we are seeking to benefit1 to uplift1 to purify1 to get into their hearts the principles of justice1 of righteousness1 of virtue and of honor1 that would fit them to inherit the kingdom of ,god2 to associate with angels1 should they come to visit the earth4 ,if you fail1 never mind4 ,go right on2 try it again2 try it somewhere else4 ,never say quit4 ,do not say it cannot be done4 ,failure is a word that should be unknown to all the workers in the ,sunday ,schools1 in the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 in our ,primary ,associations1 in the quorums of ,priesthood1 as well as in all the organizations of the ,church everywhere4 ,the word fail ought to be expunged from our language and our thoughts4 ,we do not fail when we seek to benefit the erring1 and they will not listen to us4 ,we will get the reward for all the good we do4 ,we will get the reward for all the good we desire to do1 and labor to do1 though we fail to accomplish it1 for we will be judged according to our works and our intent and purposes4 ,the victim of evil1 or sin1 the one whom we seek to benefit1 but who will not yield to our endeavors to benefit him1 may fail1 but we who try to uplift him will not fail1 if we do not quit4 ,if we continue to try1 failing1 as it were1 or missing one mark1 should not discourage us2 but we should fly to another1 keep on in the work1 keep on doing1 patiently1 determinedly doing our duty1 seeking to accomplish the purpose we have in view4 ,it is the duty of the ,latter-day ,saints1 the duty of those auxiliary organizations of the ,church1 all and each of them1 to teach to the children that are brought within our influence and care the divinity of the mission of ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet4 ,do not forget it4 ,do not let him perish out of your thoughts and minds4 ,remember that the ,lord ,god #aff raised him to lay the foundations of this work1 and the ,lord did what has been done through him1 and we see the results of it4 ,men may scoff at ,joseph ,smith and at his mission1 just as they scoffed at the ,savior and his mission4 ,they may ridicule and make light of and condemn the mission of the ,christ1 and yet with all their condemnation1 their scoffing1 their ridicule1 their contempt and murderous persecution of the ,saints of former days1 ,god's name1 the name of the lowly ,nazarene--he that had not where to lay his head1 he that was scoffed at1 abused1 insulted1 persecuted and driven into concealment and into exile1 time and again1 because they sought his life2 he that was charged with doing good1 by the power of ,satan2 he that was charged with violating the ,sabbath day1 because he permitted his disciples to gather ears of corn and eat them on the ,sabbath2 he that was called a friend of publicans and sinners1 he that was called a friend of winebibbers1 and all this sort of thing2 and at last was crucified1 mocked1 crowned with thorns1 spat upon1 smitten and abused until he was lifted upon the cross1 as they shouted3 ,now1 if thou be the ,son of ,god1 come down6--even the thieves crucified with him mocked and ridiculed him1 and asked him1 if he were ,christ to come down and also deliver them--all this happened to ,jesus1 the ,son of ,god2 but what is the result8 ,look at the so-called ,christian world today4 ,never has there been a name brought to the intelligence of the human race since the foundations of the world that has accomplished so much1 that has been revered and honored so much as the name of ,jesus ,christ--once so hated and persecuted and crucified4 ,the day will come--and it is not far distant1 either--when the name of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith will be coupled with the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 the ,son of ,god1 as his representative1 as his agent whom he chose1 ordained and set apart to lay anew the foundations of the ,church of ,god in the world1 which is indeed the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 possessing #afg all the powers of the gospel1 all the rites and privileges1 the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 and every principle necessary to fit and qualify both the living and the dead to inherit eternal life1 and to attain to exaltation in the kingdom of ,god4 ,the day will come when you and ,i will not be the only ones who will believe this1 by a great deal2 but there will be millions of people1 living and dead1 who will proclaim this truth4 ,this gospel revealed by the ,prophet ,joseph is already being preached to the spirits in prison1 to those who have passed away from this stage of action into the spirit world without the knowledge of the gospel4 ,joseph ,smith is preaching the gospel to them1 so is ,hyrum ,smith1 so is ,brigham ,young1 and so are all the faithful apostles who lived in this dispensation1 under the administration of the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,they are there1 having carried with them from here the holy ,priesthood which they received under the hands and by the authority of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,with that authority1 conferred upon them in the flesh1 they are preaching the gospel to the spirits in prison1 as ,christ directed when his body lay in the tomb1 and he went to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and to open the prison doors to them that were bound4 ,not only are these engaged in that work1 but hundreds and thousands of others4 ,the elders who have died in the mission field have not finished their missions1 but they are continuing them in the spirit world4 ,possibly the ,lord saw it necessary or proper to call them hence1 as he did4 ,i am not going to question that thought1 at least1 not dispute it4 ,i leave it in the hands of ,god1 for ,i believe that all these things will be overruled for good1 for the ,lord will suffer nothing to go to his people in the world that he will not overrule eventually for their greater good4--,improvement ,era1 ,october1 #aiaj1 ,vol4 #ac1 pp4 #ajec-ajfa4 #afh ,,chapter ,,ix ,,priesthood ,,god ,,is ,,at ,,the ,,helm4 ,we are living in a momentous age4 ,the ,lord is hastening his work4 ,he is at the helm2 there is no mortal man at the helm of this work4 ,it is true1 the ,lord uses such instruments as will be obedient to his commandments and laws to assist in accomplishing his purposes in the earth4 ,he has chosen those who1 at least1 have shown a willingness and a disposition to obey him and keep his laws1 and who seek to work righteousness and carry out the purposes of the ,lord4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #c1 #d4 ,,distinction ,,between ,,keys ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood ,,and ,,priesthood4 ,the priesthood in general is the authority given to man to act for ,god4 ,every man ordained to any degree of the priesthood1 has this authority delegated to him4 ,but it is necessary that every act performed under this authority shall be done at the proper time and place1 in the proper way1 and after the proper order4 ,the power of directing these labors constitutes the keys of the priesthood4 ,in their fulness1 the keys are held by only one person at a time1 the prophet and president of the ,church4 ,he may delegate any portion of this power to another1 in which case that person holds the keys of that particular labor4 ,thus1 the president of a temple1 the president of a stake1 the bishop of a ward1 the president of a mission1 the president of a quorum1 each holds the keys of the #afi labors performed in that particular body or locality4 ,his priesthood is not increased by this special appointment1 for a seventy who presides over a mission has no more priesthood than a seventy who labors under his direction2 and the president of an elders' quorum1 for example1 has no more priesthood than any member of that quorum4 ,but he holds the power of directing the official labors performed in the mission or the quorum1 or in other words1 the keys of that division of that work4 ,so it is throughout all the ramifications of the priesthood--a distinction must be carefully made between the general authority1 and the directing of the labors performed by that authority4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #d1 p4 #bcj1 ,january1 #aija4 ,,conferring ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,the revelation in section #ajg1 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 verses #a1 #e1 #f1 #g1 #ba clearly points out that the ,priesthood is a general authority or qualification1 with certain offices or authorities appended thereto4 ,consequently the conferring of the priesthood should precede and accompany ordination to office1 unless it be possessed by previous bestowal and ordination4 ,surely a man cannot possess an appendage to the ,priesthood without possessing the priesthood itself1 which he cannot obtain unless it be authoritatively conferred upon him4 ,take1 for instance1 the office of a deacon3 the person ordained should have the ,aaronic ,priesthood conferred upon him in connection with his ordination4 ,he cannot receive a portion or fragment of the ,aaronic priesthood1 because that would be acting on the idea that either or both of the 7,melchizedek and ,aaronic7 ,priesthoods were subject to subdivision1 which is contrary to the revelation4 ,in ordaining those who have not yet received the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 to any office therein1 the words of ,john the ,baptist to ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 and ,oliver ,cowdery1 would be appropriate to immediately precede the act of ordination4 ,they are3 ,upon you my fellow servants servant1 in the name of ,messiah1 ,i confer the ,priesthood of ,aaron4 ,of course1 it would not necessarily follow that these exact words should be used1 but the language should be consistent with the act of conferring the ,aaronic ,priesthood4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #d1 p4 #cid1 ,march1 #aija4 ,,an ,,authoritative ,,declaration4 ,the ,church of #agj ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is no partisan ,church4 ,it is not a sect4 ,it is ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,it is the only one today existing in the world that can and does legitimately bear the name of ,jesus ,christ and his divine authority4 ,i make this declaration in all simplicity and honesty before you and before all the world1 bitter as the truth may seem to those who are opposed and who have no reason for that opposition4 ,it is nevertheless true and will remain true until he who has a right to rule among the nations of the earth and among the individual children of ,god throughout the world shall come and take the reins of government and receive the bride that shall be prepared for the coming of the ,bridegroom4 ,many of our great writers have recently been querying and wondering where the divine authority exists today to command in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost1 so that it will be in effect and acceptable at the throne of the ,eternal ,father4 ,i will announce here and now1 presumptuous as it may seem to be to those who know not the truth1 that the divine authority of ,almighty ,god1 to speak in the name of the ,father and the ,son1 is here in the midst of these everlasting hills1 in the midst of this intermountain region1 and it will abide and will continue1 for ,god is its source1 and ,god is the power by which it has been maintained against all opposition in the world up to the present1 and by which it will continue to progress and grow and increase on the earth until it shall cover the earth from sea to sea4 ,this is my testimony to you1 my brethren and sisters1 and ,i have a fulness of joy and satisfaction in being able to declare this without regard to1 or fear of1 all the adversaries of the truth4--,this declaration was made on the #hhth anniversary of the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 ,april #f1 #aiah4--;,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #fci4 #aga ,,the ,,church ,,not ,,man-,,made4 ,we believe in ,god1 the ,father of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 the ,maker of heaven and earth1 the ,father of our spirits4 ,we believe in him without reserve1 we accept him in our heart1 in our religious faith1 in our very being4 ,we know that he loves us1 and we accept him as the ,father of our spirits and the ,father of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4 ,we believe in the ,lord ,jesus and in his divine1 saving mission into the world1 and in the redemption1 the marvelous1 glorious redemption1 that he wrought for the salvation of men4 ,we believe in him1 and this constitutes the foundation of our faith4 ,he is the foundation and chief cornerstone of our religion4 ,we are his by adoption1 by being buried with ,christ in baptism1 by being born of the water and of the spirit anew into the world1 through the ordinances of the gospel of ,christ1 and we are thereby ,god's children1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ through our adoption and faith4 ,one of our brethren who spoke today gave out the idea that he knew who was to lead the ,church4 ,i also know who will lead this ,church1 and ,i tell you that it will be no man who will lead the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints2 ,i don't care in what time nor in what generation4 ,no man will lead ,god's people nor his work4 ,god may choose men and make them instruments in his hands for accomplishing his purposes1 but the glory and honor and power will be due to the ,father1 in whom rests the wisdom and the might to lead his people and take care of his ,zion4 ,i am not leading tile ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 nor the ,latter-day ,saints1 and ,i want this distinctly understood4 ,no man does4 ,joseph did not do it2 ,brigham did not do it2 neither did ,john ,taylor4 ,neither did ,wilford ,woodruff1 nor ,lorenzo ,snow2 and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 least of them all1 is not leading the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and will not lead it4 ,they were instruments in ,god's hands in accomplishing what they did4 ,god did it through them4 #agb ,the honor and glory is due to the ,lord and not to them4 ,we are only instruments whom ,god may choose and use to do his work4 ,all that we can do we should do to strengthen them in the midst of weaknesses1 in the great calling to which they are called4 ,but remember that ,god leads the work4 ,it is his4 ,it is not man's work4 ,if it had been the work of ,joseph ,smith1 or of ,brigham ,young1 or of ,john ,taylor1 ,wilford ,woodruff1 or ,lorenzo ,snow1 it would not have endured the tests to which it has been subjected2 it would have been brought to naught long ago4 ,but if it had been merely the work of men1 it never would have been subjected to such tests1 for the whole world has been arrayed against it4 ,if it had been the work of ,brigham ,young or ,joseph ,smith1 with such determined opposition as it has met with1 it would have come to naught4 ,but it was not theirs2 it was ,god's work4 ,thank ,god for that4 ,it is the power of ,god unto salvation1 and ,i want my boys and girls to take my testimony upon this point4 ,and yet1 while we give the honor and glory unto the ,lord ,god ,almighty for the accomplishment of his purposes1 let us not altogether despise the instrument that he chooses to accomplish the work by4 ,we do not worship him2 we worship ,god1 and we call upon his holy name1 as we have been directed in the gospel1 in the name of his ,son4 ,we call for mercy in the name of ,jesus2 we ask for blessings in the name of ,jesus4 ,we are baptized in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we are initiated into the ,church and ,kingdom of ,god in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost1 and we worship the ,father4 ,we seek to obey the ,son and follow in his footsteps4 ,he will lead--no man will ever lead--his ,church4 ,if the time or condition should ever come to pass that a man1 possessing human weaknesses1 shall lead the ,church1 woe be to the ,church1 for it will then become like the churches of the world1 man-made1 and man-led1 and #agc have no power of ,god or of life eternal and salvation connected with it1 only the wisdom1 the judgment and intelligence of man4 ,i pity the world1 because this is their condition4 ,,what ,,is ,,the ,,priesthood8 ,it is nothing more nor less than the power of ,god delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family1 in the name of the ,father and the ,son and the ,holy ,ghost1 and act legitimately2 not assuming that authority1 nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone1 but authority that has been given in this day in which we live by ministering angels and spirits from above1 direct from the presence of ,almighty ,god1 who have come to the earth in our day and restored the ,priesthood to the children of men1 by which they may baptize for the remission of sins and lay on hands for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost1 and by which they can remit sin1 with the sanction and blessing of ,almighty ,god4 ,it is the same power and priesthood that was committed to the disciples of ,christ while he was upon the earth1 that whatsoever they should bind on earth should be bound in heaven1 and that whatsoever they should loose on earth should be loosed in heaven1 and whosoever they blessed should be blessed1 and if they cursed1 in the spirit of righteousness and meekness before ,god1 ,god would confirm that curse2 but men are not called upon to curse mankind2 that is not our mission2 it is our mission to preach righteousness to them4 ,it is our business to love and to bless them1 and to redeem them from the fall and from the wickedness of the world4 ,this is our mission and our special calling4 ,god will curse and will exercise his judgment in those matters4 ,vengeance is mine1 saith the ,lord1 and ,i will repay4 ,we are perfectly willing to leave vengeance in the hands of ,god and let him judge between us and our enemies1 and let him reward them according to his own wisdom and mercy4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #e4 #agd ,,the ,,priesthood--,,definition1 ,,purpose ,,and ,,power4 ,what ,i mean by the ,holy ,priesthood is that authority which ,god has delegated to man1 by which he may speak the will of ,god as if the angels were here to speak it themselves2 by which men are empowered to bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven1 and to loose on earth and it shall be loosed in heaven2 by which the words of man1 spoken in the exercise of that power1 become the word of the ,lord1 and the law of ,god unto the people1 scripture1 and divine commands4 ,it is therefore not good that the ,latter-day ,saints and the children of the ,latter-day ,saints should treat lightly this sacred principle of authority which has been revealed from the heavens in the dispensation in which we live4 ,it is the authority by which the ,lord ,almighty governs his people1 and by which1 in time to come1 he will govern the nations of the world4 ,it is sacred1 and it must be held sacred by the people4 ,it should be honored and respected by them1 in whomsoever it is held1 and in whomsoever responsibility is placed in the ,church4 ,the young men and women and the people generally should hold this principle and recognize it as something that is sacred1 and that cannot be trifled with nor spoken lightly of with impunity4 ,disregard of this authority leads to darkness and to apostasy1 and severance from all the rights and privileges of the house of ,god2 for it is by virtue of this authority that the ordinances of the gospel are performed throughout the world and in every sacred place1 and without it they cannot be performed4 ,those also who hold this authority should honor it in themselves4 ,they should live so as to be worthy of the authority vested in them and worthy of the gifts that have been bestowed upon them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #b4 ,,mission ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,we can make no advancement only upon the principles of eternal truth4 ,in proportion as we become established upon the foundation of these principles which have been revealed from the heavens #age in the latter days1 and determine to accomplish the purposes of the ,lord1 will we progress1 and the ,lord will all the more exalt and magnify us before the world and make us to assume our real position and standing in the midst of the earth4 ,we have been looked upon as interlopers1 as fanatics1 as believers in a false religion2 we have been regarded with contempt1 and treated despicably2 we have been driven from our homes1 maligned and spoken evil of everywhere1 until the people of the world have come to believe that we are the offscouring of the earth and scarcely fit to live4 ,there are thousands and thousands of innocent people in the world whose minds have become so darkened by the slanderous reports that have gone forth concerning us1 that they would feel they were doing ,god's service to deprive a member of this ,church of life1 or of liberty1 or the pursuit of happiness1 if they could do it4 ,the ,lord designs to change this condition of things1 and to make us known to the world in our true light--as true worshipers of ,god1 as those who have become the children of ,god by repentance2 and by the law of adoption have become heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ2 and that our mission in this world is to do good1 to put down iniquity under our feet1 to exalt righteousness1 purity1 and holiness in the hearts of the people1 and to establish in the minds of our children1 above all other things1 a love for ,god and his word1 that shall be in them as a fountain of light1 strength1 faith and power1 leading them on from childhood to old age1 and making them firm believers in the word of the ,lord1 in the restored gospel and priesthood1 and in the establishment of ,zion1 no more to be thrown down or given to another people4 ,if there is anything that ,i desire above another in this world1 it is that my children shall become established in this knowledge and faith1 so that they can never be turned aside from it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #gj4 #agf ,,what ,,are ,,the ,,keys ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood8 ,the priesthood that we hold is of the greatest importance1 because it is the authority and power of ,god4 ,it is authority from heaven that has been restored to men upon the earth in the latter days1 through the ministration of angels from ,god1 who came with authority to bestow this power and this priesthood upon men4 ,i say that the priesthood which is the agency of our heavenly ,father holds the keys of the ministering of angels4 ,what is a key8 ,it is the right or privilege which belongs to and comes with the priesthood1 to have communication with ,god4 ,is not that a key8 ,most decidedly4 ,we may not enjoy the blessings1 or key1 very much1 but the key is in the priesthood4 ,it is the right to enjoy the blessing of communication with the heavens1 and the privilege and authority to administer in the ordinances of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 to preach the gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins4 ,that is a key4 ,you who hold the priesthood have the key or the authority1 the right1 the power or privilege to preach the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 which is the gospel of repentance and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins--a mighty important thing1 ,i tell you4 ,there isn't a minister of any church upon all of ,god's footstool today1 so far as we know1 except in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 who has the keys or the authority to enjoy the ministration of angels4 ,there isn't one of them that possesses that priesthood4 ,but here we ordain boys who are scarcely in their teens1 some of them1 to that priesthood which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and of the gospel of repentance and baptism by immersion for the remission of sin4 ,there is not a minister anywhere else in the world1 ,i repeat1 who possesses these keys1 or this priesthood or power1 or that right4 ,why8 ,because they have not received the gospel1 nor have they received that priesthood #agg by the laying on of hands by those having authority to confer it4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 ,december1 #aiaj1 p4 #agf4 ,,sanctity ,,of ,,the ,,ordinances ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,there appears to be1 among some of our people1 an inadequate conception of the sanctity attending certain of the ordinances of the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,true1 the ministrations of those in authority among us are not attended with the pomp and worldly ceremony that characterize the procedure in other churches so-called1 but the fact that the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is in possession of the priesthood is sufficient to make any and every ordinance administered by due authority within the ,church an event of supreme importance4 ,in performing any such ordinance the one who officiates speaks and acts1 not of himself and of his personal authority1 but by virtue of his ordination and appointment as a representative of the powers of heaven4 ,we do not set apart bishops and other officers in the ,church1 with the show and ceremony of a gala day1 as do certain sectarians1 nor do we make the ordinance of baptism a spectacular display2 but the simplicity of the order established in the ,church of ,christ ought rather to add to than take from the sacred character of the several ordinances4 ,an illustration of the fact that many do not understand the full sanctity of certain ordinances is found in the desire some evince to have them repeated4 ,until within a few years1 it was a very general custom in the ,church to allow a repetition of the baptismal rite to adults before they enter the temples4 ,this custom1 first established by due authority1 and for good cause 7see ,articles of ,faith1 by ,talmage1 #add-adh7 finally came to be regarded by many members of the ,church as essential1 and indeed1 re-baptism was generally looked upon1 though wrongly1 as separate and different from the first ordinance of the gospel--by which alone one may gain entrance to the ,church of ,christ4 ,but the most hurtful feature of this misunderstanding was the disposition #agh of some to look upon the repeated baptisms as a sure means of securing forgiveness of sins from time to time1 and this might easily have led to the thought that one may sin with comparative impunity if he were baptized at frequent intervals4 ,this condition has been changed in the ,church1 and at the present time only those who1 having been admitted to the fold of ,christ by baptism1 afterwards stray therefrom1 or are disfellowshiped or excommunicated by due process of the ,church courts1 are considered as fit subjects to receive a repetition of the initiatory ordinance4 ,these remarks1 it must be understood1 have no reference to the baptisms and other ordinances performed in the temples4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 p4 #ah1 ,january1 #aijc4 ,,on ,,church ,,government4 ,we are governed by law1 because we love one another1 and are actuated by long-suffering and charity1 and good will2 and our whole organization is based upon the idea of self-control2 the principle of give and take1 and of rather being willing to suffer wrong than to do wrong4 ,our message is peace on earth and good will towards men2 love1 charity and forgiveness1 which should actuate all associated with the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,ours is a ,church where law is dominant1 but the law is the law of love4 ,there are rules which should be observed1 and will be observed if we have the spirit of the work in our hearts2 and if we have not the spirit with us1 we have only the form of godliness which is without strength4 ,it is the ,spirit which leads us to the performance of our duties4 ,there are many who know this gospel to be true1 but have not the least particle of the ,spirit1 and therefore are found arrayed against it1 and take no part with the people1 simply because they have not the ,spirit4 ,the priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god is the ruling1 presiding authority in the ,church4 ,it is divided into its various parts--the ,melchizedek and the ,aaronic--and #agi all the quorums or councils are organized in the ,church1 each with special duties and special callings2 not clashing with one another1 but all harmonious and united4 ,in other words1 there is no government in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ separate and apart1 above1 or outside of the holy priesthood or its authority4 ,we have our ,relief ,societies1 ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 ,primary ,associations and ,sunday ,schools1 and we may organize1 if we choose1 associations for self-protection and self-help among ourselves1 not subject to our enemies1 but for our good and the good of our people1 but these organizations are not quorums or councils of the priesthood1 but are auxiliary to1 and under it2 organized by virtue of the holy priesthood4 ,they are not outside of1 nor above it1 nor beyond its reach4 ,they acknowledge the principle of the priesthood4 ,wherever they are they always exist with the view of accomplishing some good2 some soul's salvation1 temporal or spiritual4 ,when we have a ,relief ,society1 it is thus organized4 ,it has its president and other officers1 for the complete and perfect accomplishment of the purposes of its organization4 ,when it meets it proceeds as an independent organization1 always mindful of the fact it is such1 by virtue of the authority of the holy priesthood which ,god has instituted4 ,if the president of the stake comes into a meeting of the ,relief ,society1 the sisters1 through their president1 would at once pay deference to him1 would consult and advise with him1 and receive directions from the presiding head4 ,that head is the bishop of the ward1 the president in the stake1 the presidency of the ,church1 in all the ,church4 ,the ,young ,ladies' and ,young ,men's ,associations1 the ,primary ,associations and the ,sunday ,schools are the same4 ,all are under the same head1 and the same rules apply to each4 ,when the ,young ,men's and ,young ,ladies' ,associations meet separately1 they each have presiding officers1 and they take charge and conduct the business4 ,if the bishop #ahj comes in to either the ,young ,men's or ,young ,ladies' ,association1 due deference is paid him4 ,but in joint association of the ,young ,men's and ,young ,ladies' officers1 there are the two organizations2 the two boards are represented4 ,who shall take the initiative8 ,who shall exercise the presiding function8 ,is the sister to take the initiative and exercise the presiding function8 ,why1 no6 not so1 because that is not in accordance with the order of the priesthood4 ,if the ,young ,men's officers are there1 they hold the priesthood1 and it is their place to take the initiative4 ,if ,i were the president of a ,young ,ladies' ,association1 and we met in joint meeting1 ,i should expect the president of the ,young ,men's ,association to take the initial step1 that he would call the meeting to order1 etc41 because he holds the priesthood1 and should be the head2 then he should not forget that the young ladies have an organization1 and are entitled to perfect and complete representation in the conjoint meetings1 and1 under the priesthood1 should be given charge at least half the time4 ,if he is not in his place1 then let the young lady preside as she would in her own meeting4 ,the ladies should not be discriminated against1 but should have equal chances4 ,there should be no curtailment nor abridgment of these rights1 but every opportunity for their exercise should be given4 ,gallantry would naturally prompt the young men to give even more1 maybe1 than they take themselves1 but they should direct in all these matters1 in the spirit of love and kindness4 ,there never can be and never will be1 under ,god's direction1 two equal heads at the same time4 ,that would not be consistent2 it would be irrational and unreasonable2 contrary to ,god's will4 ,there is one head1 and he is ,god1 the head of all4 ,next to him stands the man he puts in nomination to stand at the head on the earth1 with his associates2 and all the other organizations and heads1 from him to the #aha last1 are subordinate to the first1 otherwise there would be discord1 disunion and disorganization4 ,i am tenacious that all should learn the right and power of the ,priesthood1 and recognize it2 and if they do it1 they will not go far astray4 ,it is wrong to sit in judgment upon the presiding officers4 ,suppose a bishop does wrong1 are we to run away to everyone and backbite and slander him1 and tell all we know or think we know1 in relation to the matter1 and spread it about8 ,is that the way for ,saints to do8 ,if we do so we shall breed destruction to the faith of the young1 and others4 ,if ,i have done wrong1 you should come right to me with your complaint1 tell me what you know1 and not say one word to any other soul on earth2 but let us sit down together as brethren and make the matter right2 confess1 ask forgiveness1 shake hands and be at peace4 ,any other course than this will create a nest of evil1 and stir up strife among the ,saints4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,july1 #aijc1 pp4 #gjd-gjh4 ,a ,,blessing ,,and ,,an ,,explanation ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,the ,lord bless you4 ,from the depths of my soul1 ,i bless you2 ,i hold the right1 the keys and the authority of the ,patriarchal ,priesthood in the ,church4 ,i have a right to pronounce patriarchal blessings1 because ,i bold the keys and authority to do it4 ,it is given to me and my associates to ordain patriarchs and set them apart to give blessings to the people1 to comfort them by promises made in wisdom and the inspiration of the ,spirit of ,god1 of the favor and mercies of the ,lord that they may be stronger in good works1 and their hopes may be realized and their faith increased4 ,and ,i bless you1 my brethren and sisters1 in the cause of ,zion1 with all my soul and by the authority of the priesthood that ,i hold4 ,i hold the priesthood of the apostleship1 ,i hold the high priesthood which is after the order of the ,son of ,god1 which is at the foundation of all priesthood and is he greatest of all priesthoods1 because the apostle and the high priest #ahb and the seventy derive their authority and their privileges from the priesthood which is after the ,son of ,god4 ,all authority comes out of that high priesthood4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #g4 ,,the ,,privilege ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood ,,to ,,bless4 ,we have been told of an incident which occurred a few weeks ago1 when a bishop's counselor 7and therefore a high priest7 from a remote settlement1 while visiting ,salt ,lake ,city1 refused to administer to his sister's child who was dangerously sick1 for the reason that he was outside his own ward4 ,this brother must have had a misunderstanding of the authority of his office1 or he was over diffident4 ,whatever the cause1 he was not justified in his refusal4 ,his authority to bless in the name of the ,lord was not confined to his ward2 no elder's opportunity for doing a purely good deed should be confined to a ward nor to any other limit1 and when he went into a house and the head of that household made such a request of him it was clearly not only his privilege and right1 but his duty to comply4 ,indeed1 we believe that every man holding the priesthood1 in good standing in the ,church1 who owns a home1 is supreme in his own household1 and when another brother enters it1 and he requests the latter to perform any duty consistent with his calling1 the latter should accede to his wishes2 and if there should be anything wrong1 he who makes the request as the head of the house into which the brother has come1 is responsible therefor4 ,if that head of a household asks anything to be done which for the sake of ,church discipline1 or to fulfil the revelations of the ,lord1 should be placed on the records of the ,church1 he should see to it that the necessary details are supplied and recorded4 ,we further believe that the rights of fatherhood in all faithful1 worthy men are paramount1 and should be recognized by all other men holding positions or calling in the #ahc priesthood4 ,to make this idea plainer we will say1 as an example of our idea1 we do not consider it proper in a bishop or other officer to suggest that the son of such a man 7the son himself not being the head of a family1 but living with his father7 be called upon a mission without first consulting the father4 ,the priesthood was originally exercised in the patriarchal order2 those who held it exercised their powers firstly by right of their fatherhood4 ,it is so with the great ,elohim4 ,this first and strongest claim on our love1 reverence and obedience is based on the fact that he is the ,father1 the ,creator1 of all mankind4 ,without him we are not1 and consequently we owe to him existence and all that flows therefrom--all we have and all that we are4 ,man possessing the holy priesthood is typical of him4 ,but as men on earth cannot act in ,god's stead as his representatives without the authority1 appointment and ordination naturally follow4 ,no man has the right to take this honor to himself1 except he be called of ,god through the channels that he recognizes and has empowered4 ,returning to the thought expressed in our opening paragraph1 we recognize that there is a side to the question that must not be lost sight of1 as to ignore that view would be to encourage a condition in the midst of the ,saints pregnant with confusion4 ,we have found occasionally that men blessed with some peculiar gift of the spirit have exercised it in an unwise--shall we say1 improper--manner4 ,for instance3 brethren strongly gifted with the power of healing have visited far and near amongst the ,saints 7to the neglect sometimes of other duties71 until it has almost become a business with them1 and their visits to the homes of the ,saints have assumed somewhat the character of those of a physician1 and the people have come to regard the power so manifested as if coming from man1 and he himself has sometimes grown to so feel1 and not that he was simply an instrument in the hands of ,god of bringing blessings to their #ahd house4 ,this view is exceedingly unfortunate1 when indulged in1 and is apt to result in the displeasure of the ,lord4 ,it has sometimes ended in the brother possessing this gift1 if he encouraged such a feeling1 losing his power to bless and heal4 ,departures from the recognized order and discipline of the ,church should therefore be discountenanced and discouraged4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 pp4 #ej1 #ea1 ,jan4 #ae1 #aijb4 ,,the ,,priesthood ,,greater ,,than ,,any ,,of ,,its ,,offices4 ,there is no office growing out of this priesthood that is or can be greater than the priesthood itself4 ,it is from the priesthood that the office derives its authority and power4 ,no office gives authority to the priesthood4 ,no office adds to the power of the priesthood4 ,but all offices in the ,church derive their power1 their virtue1 their authority1 from the ,priesthood4 ,if our brethren would get this principle thoroughly established in their minds1 there would be less misunderstanding in relation to the functions of government in the ,church than there is4 ,today the question is1 which is the greater--the high priest or the seventy--the seventy or the high priest8 ,i tell you that neither of them is the greater1 and neither of them is the lesser4 ,their callings lie in different directions1 but they are from the same ,priesthood4 ,if it were necessary1 the seventy1 holding the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 as he does1 ,i say if it were necessary1 he could ordain a high priest2 and if it were necessary for a high priest to ordain a seventy1 he could do that8 ,why8 ,because both of them hold the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,then again1 if it were necessary1 though ,i do not expect the necessity will ever arise1 and there was no man left on earth holding the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 except an elder--that elder1 by the inspiration of the ,spirit of ,god and by the direction of the ,almighty1 could proceed1 and should proceed1 to organize the ,church of ,jesus ,christ in all its perfection1 because he holds the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 #ahe ,but the house of ,god is a house of order1 and while the other officers remain in the ,church1 we must observe the order of the priesthood1 and we must perform ordinances and ordinations strictly in accordance with that order1 as it has been established in the ,church through the instrumentality of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and his successors4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #hg4 ,,necessity ,,of ,,organization4 ,the house of ,god is a house of order1 and not a house of confusion2 and it could not be thus1 if there were not those who had authority to preside1 to direct1 to counsel1 to lead in the affairs of the ,church4 ,no house would be a house of order if it were not properly organized1 as the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is organized4 ,take away the organization of the ,church and its power would cease4 ,every part of its organization is necessary and essential to its perfect existence4 ,disregard1 ignore1 or omit any part1 and you start imperfection in the ,church2 and if we should continue in that way we would find ourselves like those of old1 being led by error1 superstition1 ignorance1 and by the cunning and craftiness of men4 ,we would soon leave out here a little and there a little1 here a line and there a precept1 until we would become like the rest of the world1 divided1 disorganized1 confused and without knowledge2 without revelation or inspiration1 and without ,divine authority or power4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #e4 ,,acceptance ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood ,a ,,serious ,,matter4 ,this makes a very serious matter of receiving this covenant and this priesthood2 for those who receive it must1 like ,god himself1 abide in it1 and must not fail1 and must not be moved out of the way2 for those who receive this oath and covenant and turn away from it1 and cease to do righteously and to honor this covenant1 and will to abide in sin and repent not1 there is no forgiveness for them1 either in this life or in the world to come4 ,that is the language of this #ahf book1 and this is doctrine and truth which was revealed from ,god to men through the instrumentality of ,joseph ,smith the prophet4 ,and this word is reliable4 ,it is ,god's word1 and ,god's word is truth2 and it becomes necessary for all those who enter into this covenant to understand this word1 that they may indeed abide in it1 and may not be turned out of the way4 ,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 p4 #fe4 ,see ,doc4 and ,cov4 #hd3cc-da2 ,book of ,mormon1 ,mosiah #e4 ,,how ,,authority ,,should ,,be ,,administered4 ,no man should be oppressed4 ,no authority of the priesthood can be administered or exerted in any degree of unrighteousness1 without offending ,god4 ,therefore1 when we deal with men we should not deal with them with prejudice in our minds against them4 ,we should dismiss prejudice1 dispel anger from our hearts1 and when we try our brethren for membership or fellowship in the ,church we should do it dispassionately1 charitably1 lovingly1 kindly1 with a view to save and not destroy4 ,that is our business2 our business is to save the world1 to save mankind2 to bring them into harmony with the laws of ,god and with principles of righteousness and of justice and truth1 that they may be saved in the kingdom of our ,god1 and become1 eventually1 through obedience to the ordinances of the gospel1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ4 ,that is our mission4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #f4 ,,authority ,,gives ,,enduring ,,power4 ,the ,church has two characteristics--the temporal and the spiritual1 and one is not without the other4 ,we maintain that both are essential and that one without the other is incomplete and ineffectual4 ,hence1 the ,lord instituted in the government of the ,church two priesthoods--the lesser or ,aaronic1 having special charge of the temporal1 and the higher or ,melchizedek1 looking to the spiritual welfare of the people4 ,in all the history of the ,church1 there has never been a time when considerable attention was not given to temporal affairs1 in #ahg the gathering places of the ,saints1 under all the leaders up to the present time as witness the building of ,kirtland1 the settlement of ,missouri1 ,nauvoo1 and the founding of cities and towns in the far west1 our present home4 ,the ,saints have lived and helped each other to live1 have worked out their temporal salvation with zeal and energy1 but withal1 have neither neglected nor forgotten the spiritual essence of the great work inaugurated by divine order1 as witness their temples1 and other houses of worship1 that have marked their every abiding place4 ,and so1 while we have devoted much time to temporal affairs1 it has always been with a view to better our spiritual condition1 it being apparent that the temporal1 rightly understood1 is a great lever by which spiritual progress may be achieved in this earthly sphere of action4 ,besides1 we have come to understand that all we do is indeed spiritual1 for before the ,father there is no temporal4 ,hence1 in our labors of redeeming the waste places1 a strong spiritual vein underlies the outward temporal covering4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #h1 pp4 #fbj1 #fbc1 #aijd-e4 ,,ministry ,,should ,,know ,,its ,,duties ,,and ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,authority4 ,of course it is very necessary that those who preside in the ,church should learn thoroughly their duties4 ,there is not a man holding any position of authority in the ,church who can perform his duty as he should in any other spirit than in the spirit of fatherhood and brotherhood toward those over whom he presides4 ,those who have authority should not be rulers1 nor dictators2 they should not be arbitrary2 they should gain the hearts1 the confidence and love of those over whom they preside1 by kindness and love unfeigned1 by gentleness of spirit1 by persuasion1 by an example that is above reproach and above the reach of unjust criticism4 ,in this way1 in the kindness of their hearts1 in their love for their people1 they lead them in the path of righteousness1 and teach them the way of salvation1 #ahh by saying to them1 both by precept and example3 ,follow me1 as ,i follow our head4 ,this is the duty of those who preside4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #e4 ,,how ,,officers ,,in ,,the ,,church ,,are ,,chosen3 ,a ,,word ,,to ,,bishops4 ,they are faithful men chosen by inspiration4 ,the ,lord has given us the way to do these things4 ,he has revealed to us that it is the duty of the presiding authorities to appoint and call2 and then those whom they choose for any official position in the ,church shall be presented to the body4 ,if the body reject them1 they are responsible for that rejection4 ,they have the right to reject1 if they will1 or to receive them and sustain them by their faith and prayers4 ,that is strictly in accordance with the rule laid down of the ,lord4 ,if any officer in the ,church has my sympathy1 it is the bishop4 ,if any officer in the ,church deserves credit for patience1 for long-suffering1 kindness1 charity1 and for love unfeigned1 it is the bishop who does his duty4 ,and we feel to sustain in our faith and love1 the bishops and counselors in ,zion4 ,we say to the bishoprics of the various wards3 ,be united2 see eye to eye1 even if you have to go down on your knees before the ,lord and humble yourselves until your spirits will mingle and your hearts will be united one with the other4 ,when you see the truth1 you will see eye to eye1 and you will be united4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #d4 ,,jurisdiction ,,of ,,quorums ,,of ,,priesthood4 ,now then1 we have our high priests' quorums or councils1 and we have our seventies' councils1 and our elders1 and then we have the councils of the priests1 teachers and deacons of the lesser ,priesthood4 ,these councils each and all in their organized capacity1 have jurisdiction over the fellowship of the members of these councils--if the member is an elder1 or if a man has a standing in the seventies' quorum1 or in the high priests' quorum1 and he is misbehaving himself1 shows a lack of faith1 a lack of reverence for the position he holds in his council1 or quorum1 his fellowship in that quorum to which #ahi he belongs1 or his standing should be looked after or inquired into1 for he is amenable to his quorum for his good standing and fellowship in it4 ,so that we have the check that the ,lord has placed upon members of the ,church1 and when ,i say members of the ,church1 ,i mean me1 ,i mean the apostles1 ,i mean the high priests and the seventies and elders4 ,i mean everybody who is a member of the ,church4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #f4 ,,jurisdiction ,,in ,,stakes ,,and ,,wards4 ,now again1 the bishoprics1 and the presidents of stakes1 have exclusive jurisdiction over the membership or the standing of men and women in their wards and in their stakes4 ,i want to state that pretty plain--that is to say1 it is not my duty1 it is not the duty of the seven presidents of seventies1 nor of the council of the twelve apostles1 to go into a stake of ,zion and try for membership1 or for standing in the ,church1 any member of a stake or ward4 ,we have no business to do it2 it belongs to the local authorities1 and they have ample authority to deal with the membership in their wards and in their stakes4 ,the bishops may try an elder for misconduct1 for un-,christian-like conduct1 for apostasy1 or for wickedness of any kind that would disqualify him for membership in the ,church1 and they may pass upon him their judgment that he is unworthy of fellowship in the ,church1 and they may withdraw from him their fellowship4 ,then they may refer his case to the presidency and high council1 and it will be the duty of the presidency and high council of the stake to deal with him1 even to the extent of excommunication from the ,church2 and there is no remedy for this1 only the right of appeal to the ,presidency of the ,church4 ,if there may be1 perchance1 any injustice and partiality1 lack of information or understanding on the part of the bishopric1 which may not be corrected and therefore might be perpetuated by the decision of the high council1 and the party aggrieved does not feel that he has had justice dealt out to #aij him1 he then has a right1 under the laws of the ,church1 to appeal to the ,presidency of the ,church1 but not otherwise4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #e4 ,,duties ,,of ,,those ,,engaged ,,in ,,the ,,ministry4 ,i need not say to my brethren engaged in the ministry that it is expected of them that one and all will attend to the labors and be true to the responsibilities that rest upon them in the discharge of their duties as officers in the ,church4 ,we expect that the presidents of the stakes of ,zion will be exemplars to the people4 ,we expect them of a truth to be fathers unto those over whom they preside2 men of wisdom1 of sound judgment1 impartial and just1 men who will indeed qualify themselves1 or who are indeed qualified by their natural endowments and by the inspiration from ,god which it is their privilege to enjoy1 to preside in righteousness and to sit in righteous judgment over all matters brought to their attention1 or that may legitimately belong to their office and calling4 ,we anticipate the same fidelity1 the same faithfulness1 the same intelligent administration of their duties from the bishops and their counselors1 and indeed upon these rests perhaps the greatest possible responsibility1 for the reason that they are expected by their presidencies to attend to the various interests and needs of their people4 ,it is expected of a bishop to know all the people in his ward1 not only those who are faithful members of the ,church1 diligent in the performance of their duties and prominent by their good acts1 but to know those who are cold and indifferent1 those who are lukewarm1 those who are inclined to err and to make mistakes2 and not only these1 but it is expected that the bishops1 through their aides in their wards1 will become acquainted1 not only with their members1 male and female1 but that they will know also the stranger that is within their gates and be prepared to minister solace1 comfort1 good counsel1 wisdom and every other aid possible to be rendered to those who are in need1 whether they are of the household of faith or are #aia strangers to the truth4 ,so that there is a great deal expected of the bishops and their counselors and the elders and lesser priesthood in their wards whom they call to their aid in administering to the people both spiritually and temporally1 and ,i want to remark in this connection that it is the duty of these bishops and of the presidencies of the stakes of ,zion1 together with their high councils1 to administer justice and right judgment to every member of their wards and of their stakes4 ,included in this are the high priests and the seventies and the elders and the apostles and the patriarchs and the presidency of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,no man who is a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 or who has a standing in the ,church as a member1 is exempt from his responsibilities as a member and his allegiance to the bishop of the ward in which he dwells4 ,i am as much bound to acknowledge my bishop as a member of the ward in which ,i dwell1 as the humblest and latest member of the ,church4 ,no man1 who claims to be a member of the ,church in good standing1 can rise above or become independent of the authority that the ,lord ,almighty has established in his ,church4 ,this watch-care of the people1 of their right living1 of their fidelity to their covenants and to the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 belongs to the presidents of stakes and their counselors and the high councils1 or members of the high councils1 to the bishop and his counselors and the teachers of his ward4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #d4 ,,the ,,purpose ,,and ,,the ,,duty ,,of ,,the ,,church3 ,,qualities ,,of ,,leaders4 ,the ,lord bless you4 ,i see before me the leaders of the ,church1 the presiding spirits in the capacity of presidents of stakes1 counselors to presidents of stakes1 high councilors1 bishops and their counselors1 and those who are engaged in our educational institutions and in other responsible positions in the ,church4 ,i honor you all4 ,i love you and your integrity to the cause of ,zion4 ,it is the kingdom #aib of ,god or nothing1 so far as ,i am concerned4 ,i cut no figure personally in this work1 and ,i am nothing except in the humble effort to do my duty as the ,lord gives me the ability to do it4 ,but it is the kingdom of ,god4 ,what ,i mean by the kingdom of ,god is the organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 of which ,jesus ,christ is the king and the head2 not as an organization in any wise menacing or jeopardizing the liberties or rights of the people throughout the world1 but as an organization calculated to lift up and ameliorate the condition of mankind2 to make bad men good1 if it is possible for them to repent of their sins1 and to make good men better4 ,that is the object and purpose of the ,church1 that is what it is accomplishing in the world4 ,and it is very strict in regard to these matters4 ,drunkards1 whoremongers1 liars1 thieves1 those who betray the confidence of their fellowmen1 those who are unworthy of credence--such1 when their character becomes known1 are disfellowshiped from the ,church1 and are not permitted to have a standing in it1 if we know it4 ,it is true that there are none of us but have our imperfections and shortcomings4 ,perfection dwells not with mortal man4 ,we all have our weaknesses4 ,but when a man abandons the truth1 virtue1 his love for the gospel and for the people of ,god1 and becomes an open1 avowed enemy1 it becomes the duty of the ,church to sever him from the ,church1 and the ,church would be recreant to its duty if it did not sever him from communion1 cut him off1 and let him go where he pleases4 ,we would do wrong if we hung on to and tried to nurture such evil creatures in our midst1 no matter what the relationship may be that exists between us and them4 ,therefore1 ,i say again1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ stands for virtue1 honor1 truth1 purity of life1 and good will to all mankind4 ,it stands for ,god the eternal ,father1 and for ,jesus ,christ1 whom the ,father sent into the world1 and whom to know is life eternal4 ,this is what the ,church #aic stands for1 and it cannot tolerate abomination1 crime and wickedness1 on the part of those who may claim to have some connection with it4 ,we must sever ourselves from them1 and let them go4 ,not that we want to hurt them4 ,we do not want to hurt anybody4 ,we never have1 and we do not intend to1 hurt anybody4 ,but we do not intend to be hurt by those who are seeking our destruction1 if we can help it4 ,it is our right to protect ourselves4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #g1 #h4 ,,leaders ,,must ,,be ,,courageous4 ,one of the highest qualities of all true leadership is a high standard of courage4 ,when we speak of courage and leadership we are using terms that stand for the quality of life by which men determine consciously the proper course to pursue and stand with fidelity to their convictions4 ,there has never been a time in the ,church when its leaders were not required to be courageous men2 not alone courageous in the sense that they were able to meet physical dangers1 but also in the sense that they were steadfast and true to a clear and upright conviction4 ,leaders of the ,church1 then1 should be men not easily discouraged1 not without hope1 and not given to forebodings of all sorts of evils to come4 ,above all things the leaders of the people should never disseminate a spirit of gloom in the hearts of the people4 ,if men standing in high places sometimes feel the weight and anxiety of momentous times1 they should be all the firmer and all the more resolute in those convictions which come from a ,god-fearing conscience and pure lives4 ,men in their private lives should feel the necessity of extending encouragement to the people by their own hopeful and cheerful intercourse with them1 as they do by their utterances in public places4 ,it is a matter of the greatest importance that the people be educated to appreciate and cultivate the bright side of life rather than to permit its darkness and shadows to hover over them4 ,in order to successfully overcome anxieties in reference #aid to questions that require time for their solution1 an absolute faith and confidence in ,god and in the triumph of his work are essential4 ,the most momentous questions and the greatest dangers to personal happiness are not always met and solved within oneself1 and if men cannot courageously meet the difficulties1 and obstacles of their own individual lives and natures1 how are they to meet successfully those public questions in which the welfare and happiness of the public are concerned8 ,men1 then1 who are called to leadership should be alarmed at the possession of a disposition filled with forebodings and misgivings and doubts and constant wonderments4 ,clouds1 threatening storms1 frequently rise in the horizon of life and pass by as speedily as they came1 so the problems and difficulties and dangers that beset us are not always met and solved1 nor overcome by our individual effort nor by our efforts collectively4 ,it is not discreditable to a man to say1 ,i don't know1 to questions whose solution lies wholly within some divine purpose whose end it is not given man clearly to foresee4 ,it is1 however1 unfortunate when men and women allow such questions1 questions which time and patience alone can solve1 to discourage them and to defeat their own efforts in the accomplishment of their chosen lives and professions4 ,in leaders undue impatience and a gloomy mind are almost unpardonable1 and it sometimes takes almost as much courage to wait as to act4 ,it is to be hoped1 then1 that the leaders of ,god's people1 and the people themselves1 will not feel that they must have at once a solution of every question that arises to disturb the even tenor of their way4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 p4 #cci1 #aijc4 ,,duties ,,of ,,officers ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,the ,lord here especially demands of the men who stand at the head of this ,church1 and who are responsible for the guidance and direction of the people of ,god1 that they shall see to it that the #aie law of ,god is kept4 ,it is our duty to do this4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #da4 ,,truth ,,will ,,unite ,,us3 ,,words ,,to ,,church ,,officers4 ,the truth will never divide councils of the priesthood4 ,it will never divide presidents from their counselors1 nor counselors from their presidents1 nor members of the ,church from one another1 nor from the ,church4 ,the truth will unite us and cement us together4 ,it will make us strong1 for it is a foundation that cannot be destroyed4 ,therefore1 when bishops and their counselors do not see eye to eye1 or when presidents and their counselors have any difference whatever in their sentiments or in their policy1 it is their duty to get together1 to go before the ,lord together and humble themselves before him until they get revelation from the ,lord and see the truth alike1 that they may go before their people unitedly4 ,it is the duty of the presidents of stakes and high councilors to meet often1 to pray together1 to counsel together1 to learn each other's spirit1 to understand each other1 and unite together1 that there may be no dissension nor division among them4 ,the same with the bishops and their counselors4 ,the same may be said of the councils of the priesthood from first to last4 ,let them get together and become united in their understanding of what is right1 just and true1 and then go as one man to the accomplishment of the purpose they have in view4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,,officers ,,to ,,set ,,the ,,example4 ,the ,lord will make a record also and out of that shall the whole world be judged4 ,and you men bearing the holy priesthood--you apostles1 presidents1 bishops1 and high priests in ,zion--will be called upon to be the judges of the people4 ,therefore1 it is expected that you shall set the standard for them to attain to1 and see that they shall live according to the spirit of the gospel1 do their duty1 and keep the commandments of the ,lord4 ,you shall make a record of their acts4 ,you shall #aif record when they are baptized1 when they are confirmed1 and when they receive the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands4 ,you shall record when they come to ,zion1 their membership in the ,church4 ,you shall record whether they attend to their duties as priests1 teachers or deacons1 as elders1 seventies or high priests4 ,you shall write their works1 as the ,lord says here4 ,you shall record their tithings and give them credit for that which they do2 and the ,lord will determine the difference between the credit which they make for themselves and the credit which they should make4 ,the ,lord will judge between us in that respect2 but we shall judge the people1 first requiring them to do their duty4 ,in order to do that1 those who stand at the head must set the example4 ,they must walk in the right path1 and invite the people to follow them4 ,they should not seek to drive the people2 they should not seek to become rulers2 but they should be brethren and leaders of the people4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #gb4 ,,duty ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,priesthood4 ,it is the duty of this vast body of men holding the holy priesthood1 which is after the order of the ,son of ,god1 to exert their influence and exercise their power for good among the people of ,israel and the people of the world4 ,it is their bounden duty to preach and to work righteousness1 both at home and abroad4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #hc4 ,,how ,,to ,,vote ,,on ,,church ,,propositions4 ,we desire that the brethren and sisters will all feel the responsibility of expressing their feelings in relation to the propositions that may be put before you4 ,we do not want any man or woman who is a member of the ,church to violate their conscience4 ,of course1 we are not asking apostates or non-members of the ,church to vote on the authorities of the ,church4 ,we only ask for members of the ,church in good standing to vote on the propositions that shall be put before #aig you1 and we would like all to vote as they feel1 whether for or against4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hc4 ,,order ,,of ,,voting ,,for ,,officers ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,the ,presidency of the ,church will first express their mind1 thus indicating1 at least in some degree1 the mind of the ,spirit and the suggestions from the head4 ,then the proposition will be submitted to the apostles1 for them to show their willingness or otherwise to sustain the action of the ,first ,presidency4 ,it will then go to the patriarchs1 and they will have the privilege of showing whether they will sustain the action that has been taken2 then to the presidents of stakes and counselors and the high councilors2 then to the high priests 7that office in the ,melchizedek ,priesthood which holds the keys of presidency72 next the traveling elders--the seventies--will be called to express their feelings2 and then the elders2 then the bishoprics of the ,church and the lesser priesthood1 and after them the whole congregation4 ,all the members of the ,church present will have the privilege of expressing their views in relation to the matters which shall be proposed1 by a rising vote and by the uplifted band4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #gc4 ,,officers ,,dependent ,,on ,,voice ,,of ,,people4 ,it is well understood that we meet together in general conference twice a year for the purpose of presenting the names of those who have been chosen as presiding officers in the ,church1 and it is understood that those who occupy these positions are dependent upon the voice of the people for the continuance of the authority1 the rights and privileges they exercise4 ,the female members of this ,church have the same privilege of voting to sustain their presiding officers as the male members of the ,church1 and the vote of a sister in good standing counts in every way equal with the vote of a brother4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #gc4 ,,nearly ,,all ,,male ,,members ,,hold ,,the ,,priesthood2 ,,responsibility4 ,we want the people to understand1 and #aih we would like the world to understand1 the great fact that it is not the prominent leaders of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 that wield all the influence among the people of this ,church4 ,we want it understood that we have fewer lay members in this ,church1 in proportion to the number of our membership1 than you will find in any other church upon the globe4 ,nearly every man in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints holds the ,melchizedek or the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 and may act in an official capacity by authority of that priesthood whenever called upon to do so4 ,they are priests and kings1 if you please1 unto ,god in righteousness4 ,out of this vast body of priests we call and ordain or set apart our presidents of stakes1 our counselors1 our high councilors1 our bishops and their counselors1 our seventies1 our high priests1 and our elders1 upon whom rests the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel of eternal truth to all the world1 and upon whom also rests the great and glorious responsibility of maintaining the dignity1 the honor and the sacredness of that calling and priesthood4 ,so that nearly every male person in the ,church1 who has reached the years of accountability1 is supposed to be1 in his sphere1 a pillar in ,zion1 a defender of the faith1 an exemplar1 a man of righteousness1 truth and soberness1 a man of virtue and of honor1 a good citizen of the state in which he lives1 and a staunch and loyal citizen of the great country that we are proud to call our home4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #gc4 ,,many ,,hold ,,the ,,melchizedek ,,priesthood4 ,although we may enjoy a little advantage over the rest of the congregation1 for my part ,i could stay here a week longer to hear the testimonies of my brethren1 and to give to the world an opportunity to see and know that the priesthood in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is not confined to one man1 nor to three men1 nor to fifteen men1 but that there are thousands of men in ,zion who hold the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 which is after the order of the ,son of ,god1 #aii and who possess keys of authority and power to minister for life and salvation among the people of the world4 ,i would like to give the world an opportunity to see what we are1 to hear what we know1 and to understand what our business is1 and what we intend to do1 by the help of the ,lord4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #gc4 ,,priesthood ,,quorums' ,,responsibilities4 ,we expect to see the day1 if we live long enough 7and if some of us do not live long enough to see it1 there are others who will71 when every council of the ,priesthood in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will understand its duty2 will assume its own responsibility1 will magnify its calling1 and fill its place in the ,church1 to the uttermost1 according to the intelligence and ability possessed by it4 ,when that day shall come1 there will not be so much necessity for work that is now being done by the auxiliary organizations1 because it will be done by the regular quorums of the priesthood4 ,the ,lord designed and comprehended it from the beginning1 and he has made provision in the ,church whereby every need may be met and satisfied through the regular organizations of the priesthood4 ,it has truly been said that the ,church is perfectly organized4 ,the only trouble is that these organizations are not fully alive to the obligations that rest upon them4 ,when they become thoroughly awakened to the requirements made of them1 they will fulfil their duties more faithfully1 and the work of the ,lord will be all the stronger and more powerful and influential in the world4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #c4 ,,what ,,is ,,priesthood8 ,honor that power and authority which we call the ,holy ,priesthood1 which is after the order of the ,son of ,god1 and which has been conferred upon man by ,god himself4 ,honor that priesthood4 ,what is that priesthood8 ,it is nothing more and nothing less than divine authority committed unto man from ,god4 ,that is the principle that we should honor4 ,we hold the keys of #bjj that authority and priesthood ourselves2 it has been conferred upon the great masses of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,it has1 indeed1 ,i may say1 been bestowed upon many who were not worthy to receive it and who have not magnified it1 and who have brought disgrace upon themselves and upon the priesthood which was conferred upon them4 ,the priesthood of the ,son of ,god cannot be exercised in any degree of unrighteousness2 neither will its power1 its virtue and authority abide with him who is corrupt1 who is treacherous in his soul toward ,god and toward his fellowmen4 ,it will not abide in force and power with him who does not honor it in his life by complying with the requirements of heaven4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #c4 ,,where ,,and ,,how ,,counsel ,,should ,,be ,,sought4 ,the attention of the young men in the ,church is called to the need of conforming to the order of the ,church in matters of difficulty that may arise between brethren1 and members and officers1 and also in other things where counsel is sought4 ,the youth of ,zion should remember that the foundation principle in settling difficulties lies in the persons themselves who are in difficulty making the adjustments and settlements4 ,if those who vary cannot adjust their differences1 it is infinitely more difficult1 if not impossible1 for a third or fourth party to create harmony between them4 ,in any event1 such outside parties can only aid the contending persons to come to an understanding4 ,but1 in case it is necessary to call in the priesthood as a third party1 there is a proper order in which this should be done4 ,if no conclusion can be arrived at1 in a difficulty or difference between two members of the ,church1 the ward teachers should be called to assist2 failing then1 appeal may be made to the bishop1 then to the high council of the stake1 and only after the difficulty has been tried before that body should the matter ever come before the general presiding #bja quorum of the ,church4 ,it is wrong to disregard any of these authorized steps1 or authorities4 ,this matter is generally understood in cases of difficulty1 but does not seem to be so well understood in what may be termed smaller1 but nevertheless quite as weighty subjects4 ,we often find instances where the counsel and advice and judgment of the priesthood next in order is entirely overlooked1 or completely disregarded4 ,men go to the president of the stake for counsel when in reality1 they should consult their teachers or bishop2 and often come to the ,first ,presidency1 apostles or seventies1 when the president of their stake has never been spoken to4 ,this is wrong1 and not at all in compliance with the order of the ,church4 ,the priesthood of the ward should never be overlooked in any case where the stake authorities are consulted2 nor should the stake authorities be disregarded1 that the counsel of the general authorities may be obtained4 ,such a course of disregarding the proper local officers is neither in conformity with the ,church instructions and organization1 nor conducive to good order4 ,it creates confusion4 ,every officer in the ,church has been placed in his position to magnify the same1 to be a guardian and counselor of the people4 ,all should be consulted and respected in their positions1 and never overlooked in their places4 ,in this way only can prevail that harmony and unity which are characteristic of the ,church of ,christ4 ,the responsibility also of this great work is thus placed upon the laboring priesthood1 who share it with the general authorities2 and thus likewise1 the perfection1 strength and power of ,church organization shine forth with clearer lustre4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #bcj2 ,jan4 #aijb4 ,,parents ,,should ,,be ,,consulted4 ,one of the first duties that a young man owes in the world is his duty to his father and mother4 ,the commandment which ,god gave early in the history of the ,israelites3 ,honor thy father and #bjb thy mother1 was accompanied with a promise that holds good to this day2 namely3 ,that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee4 ,with obedience naturally comes that respect and consideration for his parents that should characterize a noble youth4 ,they stand as the head of the family1 the patriarch1 the mother1 the rulers2 and no child should fail to consult them and obtain counsel from them throughout his whole career under the parental roof4 ,this feeling should be respected by the ,church4 ,hence1 officers who desire to use the services of a young man in any capacity for the business of the ,church1 should not fail to consult the father before the call is made4 ,we have instances where young men have even been called to fulfil important missions2 their names having been suggested to the ,church by bishops of wards1 or by presidents of quorums1 without the father having been consulted whatever4 ,the parents have been entirely overlooked4 ,this is neither desirable nor right1 nor is it in conformity with the order of the ,church1 or the laws that ,god instituted from the early times4 ,the ,church is patriarchal in its character and nature1 and it is highly proper and right that the head of the family1 the father1 should be consulted by officers in all things that pertain to the calling of his children to any of the duties in the ,church4 ,no one understands as well as the father1 the conditions that surround the family1 and what is best for his children2 his wishes should therefore be consulted and respected4 ,our elders would justly think it wrong to baptize a wife without the consent of her husband1 and children without the consent of the parents4 ,so also1 it is improper for any officer in the ,church to call the children in any family1 as long as they are under the care and keeping of the parents1 to receive any ordination1 or to perform any calling in the ,church1 without first consulting the parents4 #bjc ,the family organization lies at the basis of all true government1 and too much stress cannot be placed upon the importance of the government in the family being as perfect as possible1 nor upon the fact that in all instances respect therefore should be upheld4 ,young men should be scrupulously careful to impress upon their minds the necessity of consulting with father and mother in all that pertains to their actions in life4 ,respect and veneration for parents should be inculcated into the hearts of the young people of the ,church--father and mother to be respected1 their wishes to be regarded--and in the heart of every child should be implanted this thought of esteem and consideration for parents which characterized the families of the ancient patriarchs4 ,god is at the head of the human race2 we look up to him as the ,father of all4 ,we cannot please him more than by regarding and respecting and honoring our fathers and our mothers1 who are the means of our existence here upon the earth4 ,i desire1 therefore1 to impress upon the officers of the ,church the necessity of consulting fathers in all things that pertain to the calling of their sons to the priesthood1 and to the labors of the ,church1 that the respect and veneration which children should show for parents may not be disturbed by the ,church1 nor overstepped by its officers4 ,in this way harmony and good will are made to prevail2 and the sanction of the families and the family life1 on which the government of the ,church is based and perpetuated1 will thus be added to the calls of the holy priesthood1 insuring unity1 strength and power in its every action4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #cjg4 ,feb41 #aijb4 ,,proper ,,use ,,of ,,titles ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,there is also another point in this connection to which attention may profitably be drawn4 ,it is the too frequent use in the ordinary conversation of the ,saints of the titles ,prophet1 ,seer #bjd and ,revelator1 ,apostles1 etc4 ,these titles are too sacred to be used indiscriminately in our common talk4 ,there are occasions when they are quite proper and in place1 but in our every-day conversations it is sufficient honor to address any brother holding the ,melchizedek ,priesthood as elder4 ,the term elder is a general one1 applying to all those who hold the higher priesthood1 whether they be apostles1 patriarchs1 high priests or seventies2 and to address a brother as ,apostle ,so-and-,so1 or ,patriarch ,such-a-,one1 in the common talk of business1 and the like1 is using titles too sacred to be in place on such occasions4 ,it1 in a lesser degree1 partakes of the character of that evil of which we are so often warned--the too frequent use of the name of that ,holy ,being whom we worship1 and of his ,son1 our ,redeemer4 ,to avoid this evil the ,saints in ancient days called the holy priesthood after the great high priest ,melchizedek1 while the royal and correct title is1 ,the priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god4 ,the use of all these titles continuously and indiscriminately savors somewhat of blasphemy1 and is not pleasing to our heavenly ,father4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 p4 #bj2 ,jan4 #a1 #aijc4 ,,all ,,officers ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood ,,necessary ,,and ,,should ,,be ,,respected4 ,i believe it to be the duty of the ,church to recognize and acknowledge every man who holds an official position in it1 in his sphere and in his calling4 ,i hold to the doctrine that the duty of a teacher is as sacred as the duty of an apostle1 in the sphere in which he is called to act1 and that every member of the ,church is as much in duty bound to honor the teacher who visits him in his home1 as he is to honor the office and counsel of the presiding quorum of the ,church4 ,they all have the priesthood2 they are all acting in their callings1 and they are all essential in their places1 because the ,lord has appointed them and set them in his ,church4 ,we cannot ignore them2 or1 if we do1 the sin will be upon our heads4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hf4 #bje ,,checks ,,upon ,,church ,,members4 ,i say that when these members of the ,church are in error or doing wrong1 we have the check on them in the first place in the wards2 bishops look after them2 then their quorums to which they belong have jurisdiction and they are required to look after them1 too1 and then after the quorums look after them the presidencies of the stakes look after them and see that they are helped2 that they are strengthened2 that they are admonished2 that they are warned1 and that they are applauded when they do their duties and keep the commandments of the ,lord4 ,so the ,lord has placed a great many checks upon the members of the ,church with a view to teaching them right principles1 to help them to do right1 to live right and to be pure and clean from the sins of the world1 that the body of the ,church may be perfected1 that it may be free from disease1 from all contagious evils1 just as the body of the man ,jesus ,christ is free from all taint1 evil and sin4 ,so ,god has placed these safeguards in the ,church1 from the deacons to the apostles1 and to the presidency of the ,church1 with a view of persuading men and women to keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world and to help them to be faithful to their covenants entered into with one another and with their ,god4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,the ,,priesthood ,,should ,,know ,,section #ajg ,,of ,,the ,,doctrine ,,and ,,covenants4 ,i now say to the brethren of the priesthood--the high priests1 the seventies1 the elders and the lesser priesthood--magnify your callings2 study the scriptures2 read the #ajgth section of the ,doctrine and ,covenants on priesthood2 learn that revelation1 which was given through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and live by its precepts and doctrine1 and you will gain power and intelligence to straighten out many kinks that have heretofore existed in your minds1 and to clear up many doubts and uncertainties in relation to the rights of the priesthood4 ,god gave that word to us4 ,it is in force today in the ,church and in the #bjf world1 and it contains instruction to the priesthood and the people in relation to their duties1 which every elder should know4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hh4 ,,who ,,is ,,fit ,,to ,,preside8 ,every man should be willing to be presided over2 and he is not fit to preside over others until he can submit sufficiently to the presidency of his brethren4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #aje4 ,,obligations ,,of ,,the ,,priesthood4 ,think what it means to hold keys of authority which--if exercised in wisdom and in righteousness--are bound to be respected by the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost6 ,do you honor this ,priesthood8 ,do you respect the office and honor the key of authority that you possess in the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 which is after the order of the ,son of ,god8 ,will you1 who hold this priesthood1 profane the name of ,deity8 ,would you be riotous1 and eat and drink with the drunken1 with the unbelieving and with the profane8 ,would you1 holding that priesthood1 forget your prayers1 and fail to remember the ,giver of all good8 ,would you1 holding that priesthood1 and possessing the right and authority from ,god to administer in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 violate the confidence and the love of ,god1 the hope and desire of the ,father of all of us8 ,for1 in bestowing that key and blessing upon you1 he desires and expects you to magnify your calling4 ,would you1 as an elder in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 dishonor your wife or your children8 ,would you desert the mother of your children1 the wife of your bosom1 the gift of ,god to you1 which is more precious than life itself8 ,for without the woman the man is not perfect in the ,lord1 no more than the woman is perfect without the man4 ,will you honor the ,sabbath day and keep it holy8 ,will you observe the law of tithing and all the other requirements of the gospel8 ,will you carry with you at all times the spirit of prayer and the desire to do good8 ,will you teach your children the principles of life and salvation #bjg so that when they are eight years old they will desire baptism1 of their own accord8--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 pp4 #aje-f4 ,,how ,,honor ,,for ,,those ,,who ,,bear ,,the ,,priesthood ,,is ,,begotten4 ,if you will honor the holy priesthood in yourself first1 you will honor it in those who preside over you1 and those who administer in the various callings1 throughout the ,church4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #ajf4 ,,priesthood ,,membership ,,rolls4 ,first4--,each quorum should have one roll only and every person holding the ,priesthood should be enrolled in the quorum having jurisdiction in the ward where his ,church membership is recorded4 ,the practice of keeping a supplemental or inactive roll is not approved4 ,second4--,recommends from one quorum to another are not required4 ,the present arrangement for admitting members in the quorum is already published as follows3 ,the certificate of ordination should be carefully preserved by the person ordained2 and1 whenever necessary1 it should be presented to the proper authority as an evidence of his ordination4 ,upon this evidence he should be admitted to membership in the usual manner by the quorum having jurisdiction in the ward or stake where he resides1 provided he has been accepted as a member of the ward4 ,if he does not possess a certificate of ordination1 and the recommend upon which he is received in the ward names his ,priesthood and ordination1 it should be accepted as evidence that he holds that office1 provided there is no evidence to the contrary and provided he has been admitted as a member of the ward in full fellowship4 ,third4--,when a person holding the ,priesthood removes from one ward to another1 and is accepted as a member of the ward into which he moves1 it becomes the duty of the ward clerk to notify the president of the quorum #bjh of the arrival of this person4 ,the new member should present his certificate of ordination as evidence that he holds the ,priesthood1 and upon that certificate he should be presented for admission to membership in the quorum to which members of that ward holding the same ,priesthood belong4 ,it is the duty of the ward clerk to report at the next ward weekly ,priesthood meeting the arrival of any person holding the ,priesthood1 and every such newly arrived member should be enrolled in the proper class1 whether he has attended a class meeting or not4 ,fourth4--,when a member holding the ,priesthood becomes a member of the ward1 the proper quorum officer having jurisdiction should look after him and see that he becomes enrolled in the quorum4 ,fifth4--,it is the duty of the secretary of a ,high ,priests' or ,elders' quorum to prepare certificates of ordination1 and to have them signed by the proper officers1 presented to the ward clerk to be entered upon the ward record1 and then delivered to the persons in whose favor they are issued4 ,seventies' certificates of ordination are issued by the ,first ,council of ,seventy4 ,when a person is ordained a ,seventy1 by any other person than a member of the ,first ,council1 the proper quorum officers should immediately notify the ,first ,council of ,seventy1 requesting a certificate of ordination to be mailed or delivered to the quorum officer1 and after it has been entered on the quorum record and the ward record it should be delivered to the person in whose favor it is issued4 ,sixth4--,when a quorum withdraws its fellowship from one of its members1 a report of the action of the quorum should be sent to the bishop of the ward4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ai1 pp4 #geb-gec4 ,,all ,,should ,,exercise ,,their ,,authority4 ,a deacon in the ,church should exercise the authority of that calling in the priesthood1 and honor that position as sincerely and faithfully as a high priest or an apostle should his calling1 #bji feeling that he bears a portion of the responsibility of the kingdom of ,god in the world1 in common with all his brethren4 ,every man should feel in his heart the necessity of doing his part in the great latter-day work4 ,all should seek to be instrumental in rolling it forth4 ,more especially is it the duty of every one who possesses any portion of the authority of the holy priesthood to magnify and honor that calling1 and nowhere can we begin to do so to better advantage than right here1 within ourselves and when we have cleaned the inside of the platter1 cleansed our own hearts1 corrected our own lives1 fixed our minds upon doing our whole duty toward ,god and man1 we will be prepared to wield an influence for good in the family circle1 in society1 and in all the walks of life4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 p4 #gjh4 ,,the ,,leaders ,,of ,,israel4 ,these mighty men who sit before this stand clothed with power from ,almighty ,god1 are not self-called4 ,they have not been chosen by man4 ,they have not chosen themselves1 but they have been called by the power of the ,almighty to stand in high places in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 as presidents1 as fathers to the people1 as counselors1 as judges1 and as leaders1 walking in the way that the people of ,god should follow them into all truth and into the possession of greater light1 greater power and wisdom and understanding4 ,god bless you1 my brethren4 ,and while you stand united1 as you have stood in the past1 and as you have manifested your union here during this conference1 so ,god will magnify you before your flocks and in the midst of your people1 and will increase your power and your strength to do good and to accomplish his purposes1 until you shall be satisfied with your labors and have exceeding great joy therein2 and your people will rise up and call you blessed1 they will pray for you and sustain you by their faith and good works4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #id4 #baj ,a ,,testimony ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith ,,and ,,his ,,successors4 ,i bear my testimony to you and to the world1 that ,joseph ,smith was raised up by the power of ,god to lay the foundations of this great latter-day work1 to reveal the fulness of the gospel to the world in this dispensation1 to restore the priesthood of ,god to the world1 by which men may act in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 and it will be accepted of ,god2 it will be by his authority4 ,i bear my testimony to it2 ,i know that it is true4 ,i bear my testimony to the divine authority of those who have succeeded the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in the presidency of this ,church4 ,they were men of ,god4 ,i knew them2 ,i was intimately associated with them1 and as one man may know another1 through the intimate knowledge that he possesses of him1 so ,i can bear testimony to the integrity1 to the honor1 to the purity of life1 to the intelligence1 and to the divinity of the mission and calling of ,brigham1 of ,john1 of ,wilford1 and of ,lorenzo4 ,they were inspired of ,god to fill the mission to which they were called1 and ,i know it4 ,i thank ,god for that testimony and for the ,spirit that prompts me and impels me towards these men1 toward their mission1 toward this people1 toward my ,god and my ,redeemer4 ,i thank the ,lord for it1 and ,i pray earnestly that it may never depart from me--worlds without end4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,,goodness ,,of ,,the ,,leaders ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,i have served from my youth up along with such men as ,brigham ,young1 ,heber ,c4 ,kimball1 ,willard ,richards1 ,george ,a4 ,smith1 ,jedediah ,m4 ,grant1 ,daniel ,h4 ,wells1 ,john ,taylor1 ,george ,q4 ,cannon1 and ,wilford ,woodruff and his associates1 and ,lorenzo ,snow and his associates1 the members of the twelve apostles1 the seventies1 and the high priests in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints for more than sixty years2 and1 that my word may be heard by every stranger within the sound of my voice1 ,i want to testify to #baa you that better men than these have never lived within the range of my acquaintance4 ,i can so testify because ,i was familiar with these men1 grew up from babyhood with them1 associated with them in council1 in prayer and supplication1 and in travel from settlement to settlement through our country here1 and in crossing the plains4 ,i have heard them in private and in public1 and ,i bear my testimony to you that they were men of ,god1 true men1 pure men1 ,god's noblemen2 virtuous men who never were either tempted to do evil or tempted others to do wrong1 men whose examples and whose lives were above reproach1 except in what corrupt1 wicked or ignorant men supposed they saw and presumed to denounce as wrong in them4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 p4 #f4 ,,divine ,,missions ,,of ,,presidents ,,of ,,church4 ,i testify to you1 as ,i know and feel that ,i live and move and have my being1 that the ,lord raised up the boy prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 and endowed him with divine authority1 and taught him those things which were necessary for him to know that he might have power to lay the foundation of ,god's ,church and kingdom in the earth4 ,joseph ,smith was true to the covenants that he made with the ,lord1 true to his mission1 and the ,lord enabled him to accomplish his work1 even to the sealing of his testimony with his shed blood4 ,his testimony is now1 and has been1 in force among the children of men as verily as the blood of ,jesus ,christ is in force and a binding testimony upon all the world1 and it has been from the day it was shed until now1 and will continue until the winding up scene4 ,i bear my testimony to you my brethren and sisters1 of the divinity of the mission and work that was accomplished by ,president ,brigham ,young and his associates in fleeing from the wrath that threatened in ,illinois and ,missouri and other places1 into these peaceful vales1 which was done by the will of heaven and by the guiding power of the ,holy ,spirit1 ,president ,young and the pioneers were enabled to lay the #bab foundation of a commonwealth1 the equal of which is scarcely to be found within the borders of our glorious land2 and it was done1 not by the wisdom of ,brother ,brigham1 nor of ,brother ,heber ,c4 ,kimball1 nor of any of their associates1 grand men as they were1 true servants of the living ,god as they were1 faithful and true to their callings1 grand as was their integrity to the cause of ,zion--but back of them1 behind them1 above them and below1 and all around them1 was the power of ,god1 leading and directing them1 and thus consummating his purposes through their instrumentality4 ,we give the honor to our ,father in heaven and we also honor and bless the names of those great and good men whom the ,lord chose to accomplish his purposes1 and through whom he did accomplish his purpose without failure4 ,i bear my testimony to the integrity of ,john ,taylor as one of the purest men ,i ever knew in my life1 a man clean from head to foot1 clean in body and clean in spirit1 free from every vulgar thing1 so common among the children of men4 ,i know whereof ,i speak1 for ,i was with him day and night1 month after month1 year after year1 and ,i bear my testimony of his integrity4 ,he was a martyr with the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,he suffered more than death with ,joseph and ,hyrum1 and the ,lord preserved him and honored him by calling him to take charge of his work for a season in the earth1 thus exalting him to that most glorious and most responsible position that any man could be called to occupy in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i bear my testimony to the faithfulness of ,wilford ,woodruff1 a man in whom there was no guile1 a man honest to the core1 a man susceptible to the impressions of the ,spirit of the ,lord1 a man guided by inspiration in the performance of his duty1 far more than by any gift of wisdom or of judgment that he himself possessed4 ,i bear my testimony to the work that was accomplished by ,president ,lorenzo ,snow1 although it was brief1 yet some #bac of the things which were left for him to do were absolutely necessary in order to relieve his successor and others that may arise in time to come1 from mistakes and errors that had crept in before4 ,as to the present administration of the gospel and of the work of the ,lord ,i have nothing to say4 ,let the work speak for itself1 let the people and the voice of the people of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints say what is being done by the ,lord1 let it not be said by me nor by my counselors and my associates4 ,the ,lord forbid that ,i should ever imagine for one moment that we are of any great importance in this great work of the ,lord4 ,others may be raised up1 and the ,lord can shape their minds4 ,he can qualify them and can humble them1 if need be1 to fit them for the duties and responsibilities that may be required at their hands4 ,i believe that ,zion is prospering1 and that as far as our spiritual life1 our spiritual growth1 and our faith are concerned1 as well as our temporal condition1 we are prosperous1 and all is well in ,zion today4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiag4 ,,the ,,presidents ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,have ,,been ,,inspired4 ,i knew ,president ,brigham ,young1 and ,i bear my testimony to the world that not only was ,joseph ,smith inspired of ,god and raised up to lay the foundations of this great latter-day work1 but ,brigham ,young was raised up and sustained by the power of ,almighty ,god to continue the mission of ,joseph and to accomplish the work that he laid out during his lifetime4 ,i have been connected with ,president ,john ,taylor1 and ,i testify that he also was a man of ,god4 ,he was indeed ,god's mouthpiece4 ,he was a martyr with the ,prophet ,joseph1 for his blood was shed with ,joseph's and ,hyrum's1 but the ,lord preserved his life that he might fulfill the mission unto which he was called to preside over the ,church for a season4 ,i was intimately acquainted with ,president ,wilford ,woodruff1 and ,i bear testimony to the #bad mission of that gracious1 good man4 ,i have also been more or less intimate with ,president ,snow1 and ,i bear testimony that his work was of ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 7,special71 #aija1 p4 #if4 ,,when ,,to ,,organize ,,the ,,first ,,presidency4 ,after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 the ,twelve ,apostles continued as the presiding quorum of the ,church for a number of years2 but finally they were moved upon by the ,holy ,spirit to reorganize the ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 with ,brigham ,young as president1 and ,heber ,c4 ,kimball and ,willard ,richards as his counselors4 ,in reality this organization might have been effected within twenty-four hours after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 but their action was delayed1 until they found by experience that the exercise of the functions of presidency and the government of the ,church by twelve men at the head1 was not only cumbersome but was not fully perfect in the order of the ,holy ,priesthood as established by the ,lord4 ,on the death of ,president ,brigham ,young1 ,president ,john ,taylor followed in some measure the example of his predecessor and it was some time before the ,presidency of the ,church was organized4 ,the ,presidency was finally organized1 however1 with ,john ,taylor as president1 and ,george ,q4 ,cannon and myself as counselors4 ,at the death of ,president ,taylor1 ,president ,woodruff hesitated and he allowed a little time to pass before the ,presidency was again organized4 ,when at last he became convinced that it was his duty1 and necessary in order to carry out the purposes of the ,lord1 he organized the ,presidency of the ,church4 ,at that time he gave a solemn injunction to his fellow servants in relation to this4 ,he desired it understood that in all future times1 when the ,president of the ,church should die1 and thereby the ,first ,presidency become disorganized it would be the duty of the proper authorities of the ,church to proceed at once1 without any unnecessary delay1 to reorganize the ,first ,presidency4 #bae ,as soon as the news reached us of the death of ,president ,woodruff1 who was in ,california at the time1 ,president ,lorenzo ,snow said to me1 it will be our duty to proceed as soon as possible to reorganize the ,presidency of the ,church4 ,as you are aware1 after the burial of the remains of ,president ,woodruff1 he proceeded at once to do this4 ,in this connection ,i may tell you another thing4 ,president ,snow said to me1 you will live to be the ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and when that time comes you should proceed at once and reorganize the ,presidency of the ,church4 ,this was his counsel to me1 and the same was given to the ,twelve ,apostles4 ,in accordance with the principle and with the injunction of ,president ,snow1 within one week after his death the apostles proceeded to designate the new ,presidency of the ,church and we did this strictly in accordance with the pattern that the ,lord has established in his ,church1 unanimously4 ,i desire to read a little from the revelation in relation to the order of the ,holy ,priesthood1 that you may understand our views concerning adhering as nearly as we can to the holy order of government that has been established by revelation through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,we cannot deny the fact that the ,lord has effected one of the most perfect organizations1 in this ,church1 that ever existed upon the earth4 ,i do not know of any more perfect organization than exists in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints today4 ,we have not always carried out strictly the order of the ,priesthood2 we have varied from it to some extent2 but we hope in due time that1 by the promptings of the ,holy ,spirit1 we will be led into the exact channel and course that the ,lord has marked out for us to pursue and adhere strictly to the order that he has established4 ,i will read from a revelation that was given to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 at ,nauvoo1 ,hancock ,county1 ,illinois1 ,january #ai1 #ahda1 which #baf stands as the law of the ,church in relation to the presentations of the authorities of the ,holy ,priesthood as they were established in the ,church1 and from which ,i feel that we have no right to depart4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 7,special71 #aija1 pp4 #gj1 #ga4 ,doctrine and ,covenants #abd3abc-ade4 ,,first ,,presidency ,,not ,,necessarily ,,apostles4 ,we have the council of the first presidency consisting of three presiding high priests who are called of ,god and appointed to preside over the ,church and over the ,priesthood of ,god1 and ,i want to say here that it does not follow and never has followed that the members of the ,first ,presidency of the ,church are necessarily to be ordained apostles4 ,they hold by virtue of their rights as ,presidents of the ,church all the keys and all the authority that pertains to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 which comprehends and comprises all of the appendages to that priesthood1 the lesser priesthood1 and all the offices in the priesthood from first to last and from the least to the greatest4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aiab4 ,,the ,,priesthood ,,and ,,its ,,offices4 ,in the ,era for ,february1 it was stated that several persons who had acted as counselors in the ,first ,presidency had never been ordained apostles4 ,several correspondents have objected to the statement that ,sidney ,rigdon1 ,jedediah ,m4 ,grant1 ,daniel ,h4 ,wells1 ,john ,r4 ,winder1 and others were not ordained apostles4 ,we still maintain1 upon lack of convincing evidence to the contrary1 that none of these brethren was ever ordained an apostle4 ,we do know positively that ,john ,r4 ,winder1 ,sidney ,rigdon1 ,william ,law and ,hyrum ,smith1 all of whom were members in the ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 were never ordained apostles4 ,but1 be that as it may1 however1 the main point we wish to make is this1 that it was not necessary that they should be so ordained apostles in order to bold the position of counselor in the ,first ,presidency4 ,the leading fact to be remembered is that the ,priesthood is greater than any of its offices2 and that any #bag man holding the ,melchizedek ,priesthood may1 by virtue of its possession1 perform any ordinance pertaining thereto1 or connected therewith1 when called upon to do so by one holding the proper authority1 which proper authority is vested in the ,president of the ,church1 or in any whom he may designate4 ,every officer in the ,church is under his direction1 and he is directed of ,god4 ,he is also selected of the ,lord to be the head of the ,church1 and so becomes1 when the ,priesthood of the ,church 7which includes its officers and its members71 shall have so accepted and upheld him4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #ajg3bb47 ,no man can justly presume to have authority to preside1 merely by virtue of his priesthood as is the case with ,joseph ,smith of the reorganized church1 for in addition1 he must be chosen and accepted by the ,church4 ,the reverse was the case with him4 ,such action was repudiated by the ,twelve1 the quorum in authority after the martyrdom1 and by the whole ,church4 ,an office in the priesthood is a calling1 like apostles1 high priest1 seventy1 elder1 and derives all its authority from the priesthood2 these officers hold different callings1 but the same priesthood4 ,the apostolic office in its very nature1 is a proselyting office4 ,when an apostle presides1 he1 like the high priest1 the seventy1 the elder1 or the bishop1 presides because of the high priesthood which has been conferred upon him2 and furthermore because he has been called upon so to do by the acknowledged head of the ,church4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #ajg3bc-cc47 ,and so with the high priest who has been called to officiate in the ,first ,presidency1 in which case he is accounted equal with the ,president of the ,church in holding the keys of the ,presidency 7section #ij3f7 as long as the ,president remains4 ,when he dies1 the calling of his counselors ends1 and the responsibility of ,presidency falls upon the quorum of ,twelve ,apostles1 because they hold the ,holy ,melchizedek ,priesthood and are #bah the next quorum in authority4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #ajg3bd47 ,it is not the apostleship 7,doctrine and ,covenants section #ajg71 but the priesthood and the calling by proper authority which enables any person to preside4 ,every man holding the ,holy ,melchizedek ,priesthood may act in any capacity and do all things that such priesthood holds1 provided he is called upon by proper authority to so officiate2 but he would have no right to depart from the limitations of his office1 unless he is specially called upon by one whose calling1 from those over him up to the head1 would clearly authorize him to give such instructions4 ,it is always to be presumed1 also1 that order will be observed1 and that the servants of the ,lord will not depart from that order1 and call upon men to do things which the law of the priesthood and the nature of their office do not authorize1 unless there is special occasion for it4 ,the ,lord says that all things are governed by law4 7,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #hh3db47 ,it is not consistent1 for instance1 to imagine that the ,lord would call upon a deacon to baptize4 ,witness the calling1 on ,february #ad1 #ahce1 of ,david ,whitmer and ,martin ,harris1 both high priests1 by the ,prophet ,joseph1 in conformity with prior revelation from ,god 7,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #ah7 to search out the ,twelve4 ,they chose the ,twelve1 ordained and set them apart for their exalted callings1 because they were called upon by the prophet of ,god who had been instructed of the ,lord1 and also because these men held the necessary authority of the ,priesthood1 which authority was exercised1 in this case as it should be in all cases1 upon proper calling4 ,the ,doctrine and ,covenants makes it very clear that while each officer in the ,church has a right to officiate in his own standing1 the ,melchizedek ,priesthood holds the right of presidency1 and has power and authority over all the offices in the ,church in all ages of the world1 to administer in spiritual #bai things4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 section #ajg3h47 ,further1 in the same revelation verses #fe and #ff1 we are told3 ,wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the high priesthood to preside over the priesthood1 and he shall be called president of the high priesthood of the ,church3 ,or in other words1 the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the ,church4 ,it is well to remember that the term high priesthood1 as frequently used1 has reference to the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 in contradistinction to the lesser1 or ,aaronic ,priesthood4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #edi1 ,may1 #aijb4 ,,authority ,,of ,,the ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,i have the right to bless4 ,i hold the keys of the ,melchizedek ,priesthood and of the office and power of patriarch4 ,it is my right to bless2 for all the keys and authority and power pertaining to the government of the ,church and to the ,melchizedek and ,aaronic ,priesthood are centered in the presiding officer of the ,church4 ,there is no business nor office1 within the ,church1 that the ,president of the ,church may not fill1 and may not do1 if it is necessary1 or if it is required of him to do it4 ,he holds the office of patriarch2 he holds the office of high priest and of apostle1 of seventy1 of elder1 of bishop and of priest1 teacher and deacon in the ,church2 all these belong to the ,presidency of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and they can officiate in any and in all of these callings when occasion requires4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #g4 ,,relation ,,of ,,members ,,of ,,first ,,presidency4 ,i desire to make another remark or two before we close our conference4 ,i will call your attention to the fact that the ,lord in the beginning of this work revealed that there should be three high priests to preside over the high priesthood of his ,church and over the whole ,church4 7,doctrine and ,covenants #bbj #ajg3bb1 #fd1 #fe1 #ff1 #fg1 #ia and #ib47 ,he conferred upon them all the authority necessary to preside over all the affairs of the ,church4 ,they hold the keys of the house of ,god and of the ordinances of the gospel1 and of every blessing which has been restored to the earth in this dispensation4 ,this authority is vested in a presidency of three high priests4 ,they are three presidents4 ,the ,lord himself so calls them4 7,doctrine and ,covenants section #ajg3bi47 ,but there is one presiding president1 and his counselors are presidents also4 ,i propose that my counselors and fellow presidents in the ,first ,presidency shall share with me in the responsibility of every act which ,i shall perform in this capacity4 ,i do not propose to take the reins in my own hands to do as ,i please2 but ,i propose to do as my brethren and ,i agree upon1 and as the ,spirit of the ,lord manifests to us4 ,i have always held1 and do hold1 and trust ,i always shall hold1 that it is wrong for one man to exercise all the authority and power of presidency in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i dare not assume such a responsibility1 and ,i will not1 so long as ,i can have men like these 7pointing to ,presidents ,winder and ,lund7 to stand by and counsel with me in the labors we have to perform1 and in doing all those things that shall tend to the peace1 advancement and happiness of the people of ,god and the building up of ,zion4 ,if at any time my brethren of the apostleship shall see in me a disposition to depart from this principle1 or a forgetfulness on my part of this covenant that ,i make today before this body of priesthood1 ,i ask them in the name of my ,father1 that they will come to me1 as my brethren1 as counselors in the priesthood1 as watchmen on the towers of ,zion1 and remind me of this covenant and promise which ,i make to the body of the ,church in general conference assembled at this time4 ,the ,lord never did intend that one man should have all power1 and for that reason he has placed in his ,church1 presidents1 apostles1 high priests1 seventies1 elders and the various officers #bba of the lesser priesthood1 all of which are essential in their order and place according to the authority bestowed on them4 ,the ,lord never did anything that was not essential or that was superfluous4 ,there is a use for every branch of the priesthood that he has established in his ,church4 ,we want every man to learn his duty1 and we expect every man will do his duty as faithfully as he knows how1 and carry off his portion of the responsibility of building up ,zion in the latter days4 ,i felt like ,i wanted to say that much to these my brethren who bear the holy priesthood--men who wield influence for the salvation of souls1 who set good examples before the people among whom they dwell1 who teach them the right way1 admonish them from sin1 lead them in the path of duty1 and enable them to stand firm and steadfast in the faith of the gospel1 wherewith they have been made free from sin and from the grasp of ,satan4 ,god bless all ,israel1 is my prayer1 in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r4 7,special71 #aija1 p4 #hb4 ,,duties ,,of ,,apostles4 ,the duty of the twelve apostles of the ,church is to preach the gospel to the world1 to send it to the inhabitants of the earth and to bear testimony of ,jesus ,christ the ,son of ,god1 as living witnesses of his divine mission4 ,that is their special calling and they are always under the direction of the ,presidency of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints when that presidency is intact1 and there is never at the same time two equal heads in the ,church--never4 ,the ,lord never ordained any such thing1 nor designed it4 ,there is always a head in the ,church1 and if the ,presidency of the ,church are removed by death or other cause1 then the next head of the ,church is the ,twelve ,apostles1 until a presidency is again organized of three presiding high priests who have the right to hold the office of ,first ,presidency over the ,church2 and1 according to the doctrine laid down by ,president ,wilford ,woodruff1 who saw #bbb the necessity for it1 and that of ,president ,lorenzo ,snow1 if the president should die1 his counselors are then released from that presidency1 and it is the duty of the ,twelve ,apostles to proceed at once1 in the manner that has been pointed out1 to see that the ,first ,presidency is reorganized1 so that there may be no deficiency in the working and order of the priesthood in the ,church4--,apr ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,apostles4 ,for instance these twelve disciples of ,christ are supposed to be eye and ear witnesses of the divine mission of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is not permissible for them to say1 ,i believe1 simply2 ,i have accepted it simply because ,i believe it4 ,read the revelation2 the ,lord informs us they must know1 they must get the knowledge for themselves4 ,it must be with them as if they had seen with their eyes and heard with their cars and they know the truth4 ,that is their mission1 to testify of ,jesus ,christ and him crucified and risen from the dead and clothed now with almighty power at the right hand of ,god1 the ,savior of the world4 ,that is their mission1 and their duty1 and that is the doctrine and the truth that it is their duty to preach to the world and see that it is preached to the world4 ,where they can not go themselves they are to have the help of others called to their assistance1 the seventies first1 also the elders and the high priests4 ,those who hold the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 who are not otherwise appointed1 are under their direction to preach the gospel to the world and to declare the truth--that ,jesus is the ,christ and that ,joseph is a prophet of ,god1 and was authorized and qualified to lay the foundation of the kingdom of ,god4 ,and when ,i say kingdom of ,god ,i mean what ,i say4 ,christ is the ,king--not man4 ,no man is king of the kingdom of ,god2 ,god is the ,king of it1 and we acknowledge him and him only as ,sovereign of his ,kingdom4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #f4 7,doctrine and ,covenants #ah3bf-cc47 ,,the ,,presiding ,,bishopric4 ,before we get through with the conference1 we expect to bear some reports from #bbc the ,presiding ,bishopric1 who are the temporal custodians of the means of the ,church1 and whose duty it is to account for the receipt and disbursement of these funds2 and you will be surprised1 perhaps1 to learn how generally and universally1 in the ,church1 the means gathered from the tithes of the people are disposed of for the benefit of all the people--and not a few4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #f4 ,,when ,,to ,,submit ,,questions ,,to ,,the ,,general ,,authorities4 ,if you have a question to ask1 or some problem that you are not sure you are able to solve1 ,i would suggest to you that you figure it out yourselves and reach the very best conclusion that you can of the matter2 and then1 if you are still not quite satisfied with it1 and you cannot get sufficient of the ,spirit of the ,lord to reveal to you the absolute truth1 as to whether you are right or wrong1 just submit to us your conclusion1 and we think we can answer that a good deal easier and quicker than we can solve your questions in the way they are generally put to us4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 p4 #de4 ,,no ,,need ,,to ,,point ,,out ,,defects ,,of ,,church ,,leaders4 ,i do not think it is my right or prerogative to point out the supposed defects of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 or ,brigham ,young1 or any other of the leaders of the ,church4 ,let the ,lord ,god ,almighty judge them and speak for or against them as it may seem to him good--but not me2 it is not for me1 my brethren1 to do this4 ,our enemies may have taken advantage of us1 in times gone by1 because of unwise things that may have been said4 ,some of us may now give to the world the same opportunity to speak evil against us1 because of that which we say1 which should not be spoken at all4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 pp4 #abd-abe4 ,,help ,,the ,,general ,,authorities4 ,the general authorities of the ,church will be presented possibly tomorrow1 and if not then1 the next day4 ,we desire the brethren and sisters who come to the conference to come with their hearts full of the spirit of wisdom and of truth1 and if you discern #bbd in us any lack of wisdom or of judgment1 any failure in the performance of our duty1 we desire that those who have superior experience and knowledge1 and greater intelligence1 will do us the honor and favor of coming to us individually and letting us know wherein we come short4 ,we will give a thousand errors1 if we can find them1 or if they exist in us--any moment1 for one truth4--,april ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #h4 ,,temporal ,,support ,,of ,,general ,,authorities4 ,there is not one of the general authorities in the ,church who draws one dollar from the tithes of the people for his own use4 ,well1 you may say1 how do they live8 ,i will give you the key3 ,the ,church helped to support in its infancy the sugar industry in this country1 and it has some means invested in that enterprise4 ,the ,church helped to establish the ,z4 ,c4 ,m4 ,i41 and it has a little interest in that1 and in some other institutions which pay dividends4 ,in other words1 tithing funds were invested in these institutions1 which give employment to many1 for which the ,trustee-in-,trust holds stock certificates1 which are worth more today than what was given for them2 and the dividends from these investments more than pay for the support of the general authorities of the ,church4 ,so we do not use one dollar of your tithing4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #g1 #h4 ,a ,,blessing ,,upon ,,stake ,,presidencies ,,and ,,other ,,officers4 ,may ,god bless the presidents of the stakes of ,zion and their counselors1 and all the officers of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,may he help them to be pure1 holy1 honest1 upright men1 after ,god's own heart1 free from the sins of the world1 broadminded1 full of the love of truth1 charity1 the spirit of forgiveness1 mercy and kindness1 that they may be as fathers indeed in the midst of the people1 and not tyrants4 ,you1 my brethren1 are not called to be masters2 you are called to be servants4 ,let those who would be great among you be the servants of all4 ,let us follow in the footsteps of our ,master1 the ,lord ,jesus #bbe ,christ4 ,he alone is the perfect example for mankind4 ,he is the only infallible rule and law1 way and door into everlasting life4 ,let us follow the ,son of ,god4 ,make him our exemplar1 and our guide4 ,imitate him4 ,do his work4 ,become like unto him1 as far as it lies within our powers to become like him that was perfect and without sin4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #aah4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #ah3ba-be47 ,,counsel ,,of ,,stake ,,presidents ,,and ,,bishops4 ,above all things let me say to the presidents of stakes and counselors and presidents of missions1 and to the bishops and their counselors--let me say to you all1 live exemplary lives1 so that you can each say to the people3 ,come and follow me1 follow my example1 obey my precepts2 be in union with me1 and follow ,christ4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #h4 ,,duties ,,of ,,stake ,,presidents4 ,i want to say to these presidents of stakes who are present3 you have my confidence1 you have my love4 ,i pray for you every day of my life1 and ,i trust that you remember me and my brethren in your prayers4 ,we understand the responsibilities that rest upon you in the discharge of your duties4 ,you are fathers to the people2 that great responsibility rests upon you2 your labors are manifold and sometimes very difficult4 ,we realize the burdens that you have to bear1 the patience that you have to exercise and exhibit in the discharge of your duty1 in order that you may avoid giving offense1 and that you may reconcile the people1 over whom you preside1 to that which is right without using drastic measures4 ,we understand this1 and you have our sympathy1 our fellowship1 our love1 and what strength you may derive from our faith and prayers that you may preside in righteousness over your different stakes of ,zion1 and that your brethren associated with you may be united with you1 and that you may pull together in that which is right and proper for the upbuilding of ,zion #bbf and the defense of the people of ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #h4 ,,duty ,,of ,,high ,,councils4 ,the duty of the high councils of the ,church1 when they are called to act upon questions involving the membership or standing of members of the ,church1 is to find out the truth1 the facts1 and then judge according to the truth and the facts that are brought to their understanding1 always tempered with mercy1 love1 and kindness1 and with the spirit in their souls to save and not to destroy2 our aim should be to build up1 and not to tear down4 ,our calling is to convey the spirit of love1 truth1 peace and good will to mankind throughout the world2 that war may cease2 that strife may come to an end1 and that peace may prevail4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #e4 ,,duties ,,of ,,patriarchs4 ,we have a number of patriarchs in the ,church whose duty it is to bestow blessings upon the heads of those who seek blessings at their hands4 ,they are fathers4 ,they hold the evangelical office in the ,church4 ,it is their business and right to bestow blessings upon the people1 to make promises unto them in the name of the ,lord1 as it may be given them by the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 to comfort them in the hours of sorrow and trouble1 to strengthen their faith by the promises that shall be made to them through the ,spirit of ,god1 and to be fathers indeed of the people1 leading them into all truth4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #d4 ,,duties ,,of ,,high ,,priests4 ,in addition to these organizations we have in each stake of ,zion an organization called the high priests quorum1 to which all high priests of the ,church belong1 including the presidency and the high councilors of the stake1 and also the bishops and their counselors1 all the patriarchs1 and all others who have been ordained to the office of high priest in the ,church1 which office is the office of presidency in the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 not that every man who holds the office of high priest is a president4 #bbg ,only he who is called1 appointed and set apart to preside among the high priests holds the presiding authority and office4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #c4 ,,duties ,,of ,,high ,,priests' ,,quorums4 ,the high priests' quorums should have their regular meetings4 ,they should meet together as often as circumstances will permit or as necessity requires1 and grow and unite together4 ,they should establish their schools of instruction and enlightenment2 for it is the duty of the high priests' quorums to teach the principles of government1 of union1 of advancement and of growth in the kingdom of ,god4 ,they are indeed the fathers of the people at large4 ,in our high priests' quorum are numbered the presidents of stakes and their counselors1 bishops and counselors1 patriarchs1 and all that have been ordained to the office of high priest in the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,all such belong to the high priests' quorum4 ,they come under its supervision1 and they should have a lively union with it1 not a dead connection4 ,they should be united with the quorum in such a way that they give it all the force that they can impart for good4 ,they should give it their individual influence1 their hearty support1 their confidence1 and the benefit of their advice and counsel4 ,they should not pull apart1 nor be disinterested in these matters4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #e4 ,,duty ,,of ,,high ,,priests4 ,every man who holds the office of high priest in the ,church1 or has been ordained a high priest1 whether he is called to active position in the ,church or not--inasmuch as he has been ordained a high priest1 should feel that he is obliged--that it is his bounden duty1 to set an example before the old and young worthy of emulation1 and to place himself in a position to be a teacher of righteousness1 not only by precept but more particularly by example--giving to the younger ones the benefit of the experience of age1 and thus becoming individually a power in the midst of the community in which he dwells4 ,every #bbh man who has light should let that light shine1 that those who see it may glorify their ,father which is in heaven1 and honor him who possesses the light and who causes it to shine forth for the benefit of others4 ,in a local capacity1 there is no body of priesthood in the ,church who should excel1 or who are expected to excel1 those who are called to bear the office of high priest in the ,church4 ,from among those who hold this office are chosen the presidents of stakes and their counselors1 and the high councils of the stakes of ,zion1 and from this office are chosen the bishops1 and the bishops' counselors in every ward in ,zion2 and heretofore1 of this office are those who have been called to take charge of our stake ,mutual ,improvement organizations4 ,those holding this office are1 as a rule1 men of advanced years1 and varied experience1 men who have filled missions abroad1 who have preached the gospel to the nations of the earth1 and who have had experience not only abroad but at home4 ,their experience and wisdom is the ripened fruit of years of labor in the ,church1 and they should exercise that wisdom for the benefit of all with whom they are associated4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,purpose ,,and ,,duties ,,of ,,seventies4 ,the seventies are called to be assistants to the twelve apostles2 indeed they are apostles of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 subject to the direction of the ,twelve1 and it is their duty to respond to the call of the ,twelve1 under the direction of the ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 to preach the gospel to every creature1 to every tongue and people under the heavens1 to whom they may be sent4 ,hence they should understand the gospel1 and they should not be wholly dependent upon our auxiliary organizations for instruction1 neither should they be wholly dependent upon the missionary classes in our ,church schools for their knowledge of the gospel1 and for their qualifications to preach that gospel to the world4 ,they should take up the study of the gospel1 the study of the #bbi scriptures and the history of the dealings of ,god with the people of the earth1 in their own quorums1 and make those quorums schools of learning and instruction1 wherein they may qualify themselves for every labor and duty that may be required at their hands4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,duty ,,of ,,seventies4 ,the seventies have no responsibility of presiding4 ,it is not the calling or duty of their office to preside4 ,they are traveling elders1 and they are to preach the gospel to the world1 under the direction of the twelve apostles1 who constitute the traveling high council of the ,church1 and who are special witnesses of ,jesus ,christ to all the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #gb4 ,,duties ,,of ,,seventies4 ,we have also in the ,church1 today1 ,i am informed1 #adf quorums of seventy4 ,these constitute a body of elders of somewhere in the neighborhood of #aj1jjj men1 whose special duty it is to respond to the call of the apostles to preach the gospel1 without purse or scrip1 to all the nations of the earth4 ,they are minute men4 ,it is expected that they will be ready1 whenever they are called1 to go out in the world1 or to go out to the various organizations of the ,church to fulfil missions and to perform such duties as shall be required of them1 in order that the work of the ,lord and the work of the ministry may be upheld and sustained and carried on in the ,church and throughout the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #c4 ,,seventies ,,quorums ,,to ,,be ,,replenished ,,from ,,elders' ,,quorums4 ,gather in from the elders' quorums those who have proved themselves worthy1 and who have gained experience1 and make seventies of them1 so that the quorum of the seventies may be replenished2 and the aged ones1 whose physical condition will not permit them any longer to do missionary duty in the world1 let them be ordained high priests and patriarchs1 to bless the people and to minister at home4 ,gather in the strong1 the vigorous1 the young1 the able-bodied1 who have the spirit of the gospel in their hearts1 to fill up the #bcj ranks of the seventies1 that we may have ministers to preach the gospel to the world4 ,they are needed4 ,we cannot now meet the demand4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #if4 ,,elders ,,to ,,proclaim ,,gospel4 ,i believe that the elders of ,israel1 and the officers of the ,church1 should devote themselves to the proclamation of the gospel of life everlasting1 and that they should not dwell or seek to dwell upon trivial and nonsensical things1 or upon personal conduct or extraneous affairs4 ,i think they should be dignified and sincere in their spirit and utterances4 ,i think they should be moved by the spirit of truth and of the inspiration of the gospel1 and consider that it is their mission to bear record of ,jesus ,christ1 of ,joseph ,smith1 and of the divinity of the great latter-day work1 the foundations of which ,joseph ,smith was instrumental in the hands of ,god in establishing in the latter days4 ,i believe if our brethren will devote their thought1 their minds and efforts in this direction1 that they will please the ,lord1 they will satisfy the ,saints1 and they will fulfil the object of their mission better than they can possibly do by criticizing themselves or others1 or dwelling on the faults and failings of men4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #abd4 ,,duties ,,of ,,elders4 ,i am not prepared to state how many elders we have in the ,church2 but they are very numerous4 ,it is the duty of this body of men to be standing ministers at home2 to be ready at the call of the presiding officers of the ,church and the stakes1 to labor in the ministry at home1 and to officiate in any calling that may be required of them1 whether it be to work in the temples1 or to labor in the ministry at home1 or whether it be to go out into the world1 along with the seventies1 to preach the gospel to the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #d4 ,,authority ,,of ,,the ,,bishops ,,and ,,other ,,presiding ,,officers4 ,a bishop is the presiding officer of his ward1 and where the bishop is in the ward1 his counselors and those who are members of his ward are subject to his presidency4 #bca ,he cannot yield it up4 ,he cannot give it to another2 or1 if he does1 he violates one of the sacred principles of the government of the priesthood4 ,he may direct his counselors1 the first or the second1 to do his will1 to carry out his wishes1 to execute his desires1 or his commands2 but in so doing the counselor does not act as the bishop1 but he acts under the direction of the presiding authority4 ,he does not act independently of the bishop1 but subordinate to the bishop1 and is subject entirely to the bishop's direction4 ,this principle prevails1 or should prevail1 in the ,sunday school organization of the ,church4 ,we can commission and appoint2 that is1 those who preside can call upon their aids for assistance1 they can direct them to accomplish labors1 but in every instance when they do1 it is by and with and under the consent of the presiding authority1 and by his advice1 but not independently4 ,our missions have not always been organized strictly according to the pattern that the ,lord has given4 ,in a great many instances the presiding elder has been the presiding officer of the mission4 ,but in recent years1 in many instances1 it has been deemed wise1 not only to have a presiding elder in the mission1 but also assistants to the president1 or counselors1 that they may render him such assistance and counsel as he may need4 ,in all these things the presiding officer is the head1 should be regarded in his place1 and his place should be held sacred in the minds of his associates4 ,and no man possessing a correct understanding of the spirit of the gospel and of the authority and law of the ,holy ,priesthood will attempt for a moment to run before his file leader or to do anything that is not strictly in harmony with his wish and the authority that belongs to him4 ,the moment a man in a subordinate position begins to usurp the authority of his leader1 that moment he is out of his place1 and proves by his conduct that he does not comprehend his duty1 that he is not acting in the line of his calling1 and is a dangerous character4 #bcb ,he will set bad examples1 he will mislead1 he will lead others into error1 having fallen into error himself2 indeed1 he is in error the moment he acts contrary to and independent of the direction of his presiding officer2 and if he continues in that course he will go astray entirely1 and those who follow him will follow him astray4 ,we all understand that principle1 ,i think1 and ,i would like to see my brethren and sisters who are connected with the ,sunday school work observe it strictly1 but in the true spirit2 not with any kind of stiff formality or set ways1 but in the true spirit of presidency1 lovingly subject to divine authority1 the authority that ,god has instituted that we may emulate1 the example of the ,son himself1 who came to earth1 and while he possessed majestic power to heal the sick1 to restore sight to the blind1 bearing to the deaf1 and bring the dead to life1 and to accomplish wonderful things1 walking upon the waves1 stilling the storms1 casting out devils1 and multiplying the loaves and fishes1 by which he fed the multitudes of people1 yet in accomplishing all this he declared1 over and over again1 this great principle1 that he came not to do his own will1 but the will of him that sent him1 recognizing in every feature of his message and ministry in the world that ,god was at the head1 and that he did nothing of himself1 but only that which the ,father sent him to do4 ,thus he was acting under the authority of his president or file leader--of him who sent him and commissioned him to accomplish the work he was sent to do4 ,let us follow that spirit and example and adopt that principle in our lives1 then we shall never have presiding elders and officers in the ,church at logger-heads with each other1 contending with each other1 and at cross purposes4 ,they will always be one4 ,they will see eye to eye1 they will understand better the principles of divine government1 the principles of the gospel and the promptings of the ,holy ,spirit4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije 7,sunday ,school71 pp4 #aji1 #aaj4 #bcc ,,duties ,,of ,,bishops4 ,it is expected that the bishop of a ward with his counselors will understand the necessities of every member of his ward4 ,then they have as assistants and helpers a large corps of elders1 and priests1 teachers and deacons of the lesser ,priesthood1 who render assistance to them in the temporal as well as the spiritual affairs of the ,church4 ,it devolves upon the bishopric of the ward to look after the poor1 to minister unto the sick and the afflicted1 and to see that there is no want nor suffering among the people in these organized divisions of the ,church4 ,it is also the duty of these presiding officers in the ,church to look after the spiritual welfare of the people1 to see that they are living moral1 pure and upright lives1 that they are faithful in the discharge of their duties as ,latter-day ,saints1 that they are honest in their dealings with one another1 and with all the world4 ,it is their business to see that spiritual light exists in their hearts1 and that the people under their presidency and direction are living the lives of ,saints1 as far as it is possible for men and women1 in the mortal body1 beset by the weaknesses and imperfections of mankind1 to be ,saints4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 pp4 #b1 #c4 ,,bishops ,,and ,,lesser ,,priesthood ,,should ,,be ,,active4 ,the bishops and the lesser priesthood should be very active and energetic4 ,we should look after the boys who have been ordained deacons1 teachers1 and priests in the ,church4 ,we should find something for them to do in their calling4 ,let them be appointed to active labors in their several spheres4 ,put forward those who have not had experience to accompany those who have1 and give them something to do4 ,let the deacons not only assist to keep the meeting houses in repair and their grounds in proper condition1 but let them be set to work to look after the welfare of the widows and fatherless1 the aged and the poor4 ,many of our young men who are idle1 languishing for the want of something to do1 could be made more useful in helping the poor to clean #bcd up about their homes and make them comfortable1 and helping them to live in such a way that life would be pleasant to them4 ,there is no reason why the members of the lesser priesthood should not be engaged in missions and labors of this kind4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #f4 ,,duties ,,of ,,the ,,lesser ,,priesthood4 ,then we have the lesser priesthood1 who attends to the different temporal matters of the ,church1 consisting of priests1 teachers and deacons1 who labor under the direction of the bishopric in the various wards in which they dwell1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ1 the unifying of the people and bringing them up to the standard of righteousness that they should reach in the flesh1 according to the light they possess and the ability and talent which the ,lord has given them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #d4 ,,lesser ,,priesthood4 ,the bishops should take especial charge of the lesser priesthood1 and train them in the duties of their callings --the priests1 teachers and deacons4 ,our young men should be looked after4 ,the boys1 as soon as it is prudent1 should be called to take part in the lesser priesthood4 ,if it were possible to grade them1 from the deacon to the priest1 and from the priest upward1 through all the offices that will eventually devolve upon them1 it would be one of the best things that could be done4 ,all these things should be looked after by the presiding authorities of the ,church1 especially those who preside over the quorums4 ,i will repeat what ,i said before1 it is expected that every man on whom responsibility is placed will do his duty faithfully and be diligent in the performance thereof4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #f4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,bishopric4 ,the work of the bishopric is both temporal and spiritual4 ,the average bishop gives all his time and efforts for the betterment of the people over whom he presides4 ,the bishop should not try to do all the work that is necessary to be done in his ward4 ,his #bce counselors are there to help him1 and a due portion of the responsibility of the bishop of the ward should be placed upon his counselors4 ,neither is it wise that the bishopric of the ward should feel they are compelled to do all that is necessary to be done in their wards4 ,they should exercise their right to call upon the priesthood to visit the people as teachers and preachers of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ that they may give to all as far as possible an opportunity to exercise their talents and to do good in their wards4 ,it is sometimes advisable to give to each counselor special duties1 and assign each of the counselors his proportion of the responsibilities which belong to the bishopric1 each one doing some special work for which he is adapted1 so that all may be active4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #f4 ,,dignity ,,of ,,teachers' ,,calling4 ,we have had called to our attention1 recently1 the fact that some men who are of long standing in the ,church--indeed1 some of them born and reared in the ,church1 and who are occupying prominent positions in some of the quorums of the priesthood--when their presidents or their bishops of the wards in which they live call upon them to visit the ,saints1 teach the principles of the gospel and perform the duties of teachers1 they coolly inform their bishops that they have graduated from that calling and refuse to act as teachers4 ,brother ,charles ,w4 ,penrose is eighty-two years of age4 ,i am going on seventy-six1 and ,i believe that ,i am older than several of these good men who have graduated from the duties in the lesser priesthood1 and ,i want to tell them and you that we are not too old to act as teachers1 if you will call us to do it--not one of us4 ,there is never a time1 there never will come a time to those who bold the priesthood in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 when men can say of themselves that they have done enough4 ,so long as life lasts1 and so long as we possess ability to do good1 to labor for the upbuilding of ,zion1 and for the benefit of the human family1 we ought1 with willingness1 #bcf to yield with alacrity to the requirements made of us to do our duty1 little or great4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #g4 ,,value ,,of ,,teachers' ,,work4 ,i don't know of any duty that is more sacred1 or more necessary1 if it is carried out as it should be1 than the duties of the teachers who visit the homes of the people1 who pray with them1 who admonish them to virtue and honor1 to unity1 to love1 and to faith in and fidelity to the cause of ,zion2 who strive to settle uncertainties in the minds of the people and bring them to the standard of the knowledge that they should possess in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,may all the people open their doors1 call in the members of their families1 and respect the visit of the teachers to their homes1 and join with them in striving to bring about a better condition1 if possible1 in the home than ordinarily exists4 ,if you can advance1 try to aid the teachers to help you make that advancement4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #adj4 ,,the ,,restoration ,,of ,,the ,,melchizedek ,,priesthood4 ,no man can be exalted unless he be independent4 99 99 99 ,mankind are naturally independent and intelligent beings1 they have been created for the express purpose of exalting themselves4 ,the study of the subject of the ,holy or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 including the ,aaronic1 is one of vast importance to the human family4 ,the student of the true science of theology will readily comprehend the necessity of its existence among men1 for the reason that true theology1 or the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 cannot exist without it4 ,it lies at the foundation of the ,church1 it is the authority by which the ,church is established or organized1 built up and governed1 and by which the gospel is preached1 and all the ordinances thereof designed for the salvation of mankind are administered or solemnized4 ,no ordinance of the gospel can be performed acceptably to ,god or with efficacy to man except by its authority and power1 and certainly there is no ordinance or rite instituted by the ,almighty in #bcg the great plan of redemption which is not essential to the salvation or exaltation of his children4 ,therefore1 where the ,melchizedek or holy ,priesthood does not exist1 there can be no true ,church of ,christ in its fulness4 ,when this priesthood is not found among mankind they are destitute of the power of ,god1 and therefore of the true science of theology1 or the ,church and religion of ,jesus ,christ who is the great ,high ,priest and ,apostle of our salvation4 ,while the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith was engaged in translating the ,book of ,mormon1 in #ahbi1 he and ,oliver ,cowdery became animated over the truths and glorious promises unfolded to them in their work1 and desired to reach out after these blessings before their work was done1 but the ,lord gently admonished them not to be in a hurry2 he said3 ,you must wait yet a little while1 for ye are not yet ordained1 but the promise was given that they should be ordained thereafter1 and they should go forth and deliver the word of ,god unto the children of men1 and he pronounced a woe upon the inhabitants of the earth if they would not then hearken unto their words4 ,the ordinary meaning of the word priesthood1 as generally understood and applied in the world1 signifies a class or body of men set apart for sacred duties1 or holding the priestly office1 or an order of persons composed of priests spoken of or taken collectively4 ,this is not1 however1 the sense in which the words ,melchizedek or holy ,priesthood1 are used here4 ,reference is made in this article to the sacred office itself1 or the principle of power which constitutes the office1 and is the authority by which individuals or the several orders1 or quorums1 as we use the term1 composing the priesthood of the ,church1 may legitimately act in the name of the ,lord2 or the moving1 directing1 controlling1 governing or presiding agency1 right and authority1 which is vested in the ,godhead and delegated unto man for the purpose of his instruction1 initiation into the ,church1 spiritual #bch and temporal guidance1 government and exaltation4 ,that is the ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 which is without father1 without mother1 or descent1 or beginning of days1 or end of life1 which the great high priest1 ,melchizedek1 so honored and magnified in his time that it was called after his name1 in honor to him and to avoid the too frequent repetition of the name of the ,son of ,god4 ,this distinction between the quorums of the priesthood and the priesthood itself should always be kept in mind in the use of the term ,melchizedek or ,holy ,priesthood4 ,the ,holy ,priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god was the original name given to this priesthood4 ,subsequently it was called the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,this priesthood was confirmed upon ,adam1 ,abel1 ,seth1 ,enoch1 ,methuselah1 ,noah1 ,melchizedek1 ,abraham1 ,moses and many others1 and doubtless upon many of the prophets prior to the birth of ,christ1 upon his chosen disciples among the ,jews1 before his crucifixion1 and upon the ,nephite disciples upon this continent1 after his resurrection and ascension on high4 ,these he made his apostles1 to bear witness of him upon both hemispheres and to all the world2 and doubtless the ,savior conferred this priesthood upon other disciples whom he chose from among the other sheep of whom he spoke to the ,nephites1 which were not of the folds of the ,jews or of the ,nephites1 whose records are yet to come forth to bear witness of him1 in the due time of the ,lord4 ,we learn from the revelations that ,god took ,moses1 and the ,holy ,priesthood also1 out of the midst of the children of ,israel4 ,but the lesser or ,aaronic ,priesthood1 which was confirmed upon ,aaron and his seed1 continued among them till the coming of ,christ in the meridian of time4 ,john1 the son of ,zacharias1 was probably the last who held the keys of this ,priesthood among the ,jews4 ,he was raised up and sent as the forerunner of ,christ to prepare the way for his first coming4 ,and he was also sent to the world in this dispensation #bci to begin the work of preparation for ,christ's second advent4 ,there are in the ,church two ,priesthoods1 namely1 the ,melchizedek and ,aaronic1 including the ,levitical ,priesthood4 ,why the first is called the ,melchizedek ,priesthood is because ,melchizedek was such a great high priest4 ,before his day it was called the ,holy ,priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god4 ,the ,melchizedek priesthood holds the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the ,church1 of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven1 of communion with the general assembly and ,church of the first born1 and the presence of ,god1 the ,father1 and ,jesus1 the ,mediator4 ,the ,aaronic priesthood is an appendage to the first1 and holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and the outward ordinances and letter of the gospel1 the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins1 agreeable to the covenants and commandments4 ,the ,melchizedek priesthood which ,christ restored to the earth1 remained among men between three and four hundred years afterwards4 ,when in consequence of transgressions1 apostasy from the true order of the priesthood and ,church of ,christ1 the innovations of priestcraft and paganism1 the true order of ,god was lost1 the holy priesthood was taken from the earth1 and the ,church of ,christ ceased to be among men1 so far as we have any knowledge by revelation or from the history and records of the past4 ,then were fulfilled many predictions of the prophets and apostles1 contained in the word of ,god4 ,among them the word of ,god spoken by ,john1 in the #abth chapter of ,revelations1 and the prophecy of ,amos3 ,behold the days come1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,i will send a famine in the land1 not a famine of bread1 nor a thirst for water1 but of hearing the words of the ,lord3 and they shall wander from sea to sea1 and from the north even to the east1 they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the ,lord1 and shall not find it4 7,amos #bdj #h3aa1 #ab47 ,the proclamation of the word of the ,lord is1 and always has been dependent upon the authority of the holy priesthood4 ,how could they hear without a preacher1 and how shall they preach except they be sent8 ,the ,gentiles among whom the priesthood had been established and the gospel preached1 fell away also after the example of unbelief and the manner of the ,jews1 or children of ,israel4 ,god who spared not the natural branches1 also cut off engrafted ones1 and ,mystery1 ,babylon the ,great1 the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth1 was set up as foretold by the ,prophet ,daniel and the ,apostle ,john4 ,this power made war with the ,saints1 and overcame them1 changed time and laws1 wore out the ,saints of the ,most ,high1 was drunken with their blood and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus1 and destroyed the holy people4 ,but this mystical power1 in turn1 is to be overcome and1 in the due time of the ,lord1 utterly destroyed4 ,before this great event shall occur must come to pass the restoration of the gospel of ,christ1 and the establishment of the kingdom of ,god again on the earth1 with all the powers and blessings of the ,holy priesthood1 concerning which we have the most positive assurances4 ,the declarations of the sacred writers of the ,bible and the ,book of ,mormon not only affirm the restoration of all things spoken of by holy prophets relative to this great event1 but also that this kingdom shall no more be thrown down nor be left to another people1 nor cease until the whole earth shall be filled with the brightness of its glory1 with its truths1 its power1 might1 majesty and dominion1 and that the kingdom and the greatness thereof under the whole heaven will be given unto the ,saints of the ,most ,high ,god1 and they shall possess it forever4 ,the declaration of this truth is even now very galling to the unbelieving world1 and to those who reject the truth2 nevertheless the ,saints will inherit the blessings1 and the #bda word of ,god will come to pass1 however much the wicked object to it or whether we as the beginners in the great cause endure faithful to the end and realize the promise or not4 ,this great and glorious redemption will be consummated through the power and agencies of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,god has ever dealt1 and will always deal1 with the children of men2 for this priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom1 even the key of the kingdom of ,god2 therefore1 in the ordinances thereof1 the of godliness is manifest2 and without the ordinance thereof1 and the authority of the priesthood1 the power of ,god is not manifest unto men in the flesh2 for without this no man can see the face of ,god1 even the ,father and live4 ,the lesser priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel2 which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism1 and the remission of sins1 which continued with the house of ,aaron among the children of ,israel until ,john1 whom ,god raised up1 being filled with the ,holy ,ghost from his mother's womb4 ,he1 ,john1 was baptized while he was yet in his childhood and was ordained by the angel of ,god at the time he was eight days old unto this power1 to overthrow the kingdom of the ,jews1 and to make straight the way of the ,lord before the face of his people1 to prepare them for the coming of the ,lord in whose hand is given all power4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #hd3bf-bh47 ,it was the same ,john who appeared to ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery1 on the fifteenth day of ,may1 #ahbi1 and conferred upon them the ,aaronic priesthood with all its keys and power4 ,the ordination was in the following words3 ,upon you my fellow servants1 in the name of ,messiah1 ,i confer the ,priesthood of ,aaron1 which holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and of the gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 and this shall never be taken again from the earth1 until the sons of ,levi do offer again an offering unto the ,lord in righteousness4 #bdb ,there is nothing said here about the offices of this priesthood4 ,they were an after consideration4 ,i will remark here that the priesthood is greater than the offices which grew out of it1 and are mere appendages to it1 all other authorities or offices in the ,church are appendages to this priesthood--meaning the ,melchizedek ,priesthood4 ,but there are two divisions or grand heads 7not three1 nor many72 one is the ,melchizedek priesthood and the other is the ,aaronic or ,levitical priesthood4 ,the offices in the priesthood are necessary appendages thereof--for the purposes of order and government1 and the duties of these several offices are defined in the revelations and laws and commandments of ,god4 ,this most sacred and important event1 above quoted1 occurred at or near a place called ,harmony1 in ,susquehanna county1 ,pennsylvania1 while ,joseph ,smith was living there1 engaged in the translation of the ,book of ,mormon1 and ,oliver ,cowdery was writing for him4 ,we have not1 unfortunately1 any account so definite1 of the reception by ,joseph and ,oliver1 of the ,melchizedek priesthood as we have the confirmation of the ,aaronic priesthood4 ,but we have positive information and knowledge that they did receive this priesthood at the hands of ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 to whom the keys and power thereof were committed by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and who were commissioned to restore it to the earth in the dispensation of the fulness of times4 ,we cannot fix the exact date when this priesthood was restored1 but it occurred some time between the #aeth of ,may1 #ahbi1 and the #fth of ,april1 #ahcj4 ,we can approximate to within a few months of the exact time1 but no further1 from any of the records of the ,church1 ,joseph1 the ,prophet1 designates the place where their ordination took place1 in his address to the ,saints 7,sec4 #abh3bj7 written in #ahdb1 as follows3 ,again what do we hear8 99 99 99 the voice of ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 in the wilderness between ,harmony1 #bdc ,susquehanna1 county1 and ,colesville1 ,broome county1 on the ,susquehanna river1 declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom of the dispensation of the fulness of times4 ,and in a revelation given ,september1 #ahcj1 referring to ,joseph and ,oliver1 the ,lord said in reference to partaking again of the ,sacrament on the earth1 that the hour cometh that ,i will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth1 and with ,moroni1 99 99 99 and also with ,elias1 99 99 99 and also ,john the son of ,zacharias1 99 99 99 which ,john ,i have sent unto you1 my servants1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 and ,oliver ,cowdery1 to ordain you unto this first priesthood which you have received1 that you might be called and ordained even as ,aaron2 and also ,elijah1 99 99 99 and also with ,joseph and ,jacob1 and ,isaac1 and ,abraham1 your fathers1 by whom the promises remain2 and also with ,michael1 or ,adam1 the father of all1 the prince of all1 the ancient of days4 ,and also with ,peter1 and ,james1 and ,john1 whom ,i have sent unto you1 by whom ,i have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles1 and especial witnesses of my name1 and bear the keys of your ministry1 and of the same things which ,i revealed unto them2 unto whom ,i have committed the keys of my kingdom1 and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times2 and for the fulness of times1 in the which ,i will gather together in one all things1 both which are in heaven and which are on earth4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #bg3e-ac47 ,a revelation given ,april1 #ahcj1 ,sec4 #bj3b1 #c1 says3 ,which commandments were given to ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 who was called of ,god and ordained an apostle of ,jesus ,christ1 to be the first elder of this ,church2 and to ,oliver ,cowdery1 who was also called of ,god1 an apostle of ,jesus ,christ1 to be the second elder of this ,church1 and ordained under his hand4 ,after the ,melchizedek priesthood was conferred upon ,joseph and ,oliver1 by the ancient apostles1 they were commanded to ordain each the other1 as we see by #bdd the above quotation1 and the #ajth and #aath verses of ,section #ba1 ,doctrine and ,covenants4 ,it would appear from the instructions given in the revelations1 dated ,june1 #ahbi1 that the apostleship had been then conferred on ,joseph ,smith1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 and ,david ,whitmer4 ,if this supposition is correct1 it reduces the period of uncertainty when this glorious event actually took place to a few weeks1 or from the middle of ,may to the end of ,june4 ,it is also asserted that ,david ,whitmer supposed the event to have taken place about this time4 ,it is evident1 however1 that ,david received the apostleship under the hands of ,joseph and ,oliver1 and was not present when they received it under the ministration of the ancient apostles4 ,in the first edition of the ,compendium under the heading of ,chronology of the most important events which have transpired in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 from ,a4 ,d4 #ahbj1 to #ahef1 we find the following brief statement3 ,june #f1 #ahca1 the ,melchizedek priesthood was first given4 ,this detached sentence conveys the idea that the ,melchizedek priesthood was not given until fourteen months after the ,church was established4 ,many have been misled and others greatly puzzled over this statement1 knowing that elders were ordained on the #fth day of ,april1 #ahcj1 a year and two months before1 and that the office of an elder comes under the priesthood of ,melchizedek4 ,it is a pity that greater attention is not paid to matters of history1 for then such mistakes would not occur4 ,several errors of this character have crept into history through neglect or want of proper attention to the subjects4 ,the passage of history from which this brief and misleading extract was taken reads as follows3 ,on the sixth of ,june 7#ahca7 the elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring1 came in2 and the conference before appointed1 #bde convened in ,kirtland2 and the ,lord displayed his power in a manner that could not be mistaken4 ,the man of sin was revealed1 and the authority of the ,melchizedek priesthood was manifested1 and conferred for the first time upon several of the elders4 ,now1 if this does not mean that on this occasion several elders received their first ordination1 then it must mean that these several elders who had previously been ordained1 then1 for the first time1 received the power or authority of their ordinations4 ,the words conferred for the first time upon several of the elders1 would seem at first glance to mean that several were then ordained elders1 but taking the complete sentence together1 namely1 ,the man of sin was revealed1 and the authority of the ,melchizedek priesthood was manifested1 and conferred for the first time upon several of the elders1 we naturally conclude that several who had previously been ordained elders1 had not yet received the spirit1 or power1 or authority of their ordinations1 but that now for the first time1 the authority of the priesthood having been manifested1 it fell upon them4 ,it is evident from the context that the word authority as used in this quotation means power4 ,it reads as follows3 ,it was clearly evident that the ,lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done1 and strength according to the race before us1 and grace and help as our needs required4 ,that several persons were ordained on that occasion is directly stated1 as follows3 ,great harmony prevailed2 several were ordained2 faith was strengthened2 and humility so necessary for the blessing of ,god to follow prayer1 characterized the ,saints4 ,one thing is perfectly clear1 and that is1 no reference whatever is here made to the restoration of the ,melchizedek priesthood by ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 which great event occurred1 without doubt1 between ,may and ,july1 #ahbi4 ,however until about the time this conference was held1 the term ,melchizedek priesthood was seldom or never used4 #bdf ,the ,high priesthood1 or the ,holy priesthood1 were the terms generally applied until then4 ,thus this glorious priesthood1 which is after the holiest order of ,god1 has been restored to man in its plenitude and power in the present age for the last times1 and no part of it will be taken from the earth again until the sons of ,levi do offer again an offering unto the ,lord in righteousness1 or until ,god shall gather together in one all things1 both which are in heaven and which are on earth4 ,in conclusion ,i will call the attention of the readers of this to ,sections #e1 #ac1 #bg1 #hd1 #ajg1 #aaj and #abh of the ,doctrine and ,covenants for further reflection on the subject4--,contributor1 ,vol4 #aj1 #ahhi1 pp4 #cjg-caa4 ,,tribute ,,to ,,heber ,c4 ,,kimball4 ,my first remembrance of ,president ,heber ,c4 ,kimball goes back to the days of my childhood4 ,he was a familiar and prominent figure in my mind in ,nauvoo1 ,illinois1 as the father of his sons1 ,william1 ,heber1 and ,david1 with whom1 as a little boy1 ,i was more intimate although the two former were several years my seniors4 ,i also recall him in those early days as the possessor of one of the best homes in the ,city of ,nauvoo1 and as the husband of ,aunt ,vilate ,kimball1 one of the dearest1 kindest1 most motherly souls who ever came within the range of my memory or acquaintance2 and also as the father of ,helen ,m4 ,kimball1 a beautiful young woman1 very much resembling her mother in appearance1 and who was somewhat noted in the ,smith family as being in some way related to it and who1 after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 was married to ,horace ,k4 ,whitney1 and became the mother of our present poet and historian1 ,orson ,f4 ,whitney4 ,one of my most distinct recollections of ,president ,kimball was in the winter of #ahde-f1 in the ,nauvoo temple4 ,my mother1 and her sister1 ,mercy ,r4 ,thompson1 were much engaged in the work going on in the temple that winter1 and #bdg ,president ,kimball was also associated with the work being done there4 ,it was there that my father's children were sealed to their parents and ,president ,kimball officiated4 ,in ,february1 #ahdf1 ,president ,kimball took up the line of march1 with the ,twelve and the ,saints who were driven out of ,nauvoo1 for their long journey into the wilderness1 which eventually led to the occupancy of the valley of the ,great ,salt ,lake1 the settlement of ,utah1 by the ,saints1 and the fulfilment of the prophecy by ,joseph ,smith1 that the ,saints should gather to the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,the incident which more particularly specialized this departure of ,president ,kimball to my mind1 was the fact that my brother ,john1 now the patriarch1 and then a boy of about twelve years1 accompanied ,president ,kimball and family on their pilgrimage into the unknown wilderness1 leaving us in ,nauvoo in great fear and doubt as to whether we should ever see them again or not4 ,this made an indelible impression upon my mind1 and ever since there seemed to be inseverable ties connecting us with ,president ,kimball and his family4 ,in #ahdh we crossed the plains in a subdivision of ,president ,kimball's company4 ,he baptized me in ,city ,creek1 in #ahej1 where the junction of ,east and ,north ,temple streets now is4 ,in ,july1 #aheb1 while attending a meeting which was held in ,salt ,lake ,city1 my mother was taken sick and went to the home of ,president ,kimball1 where she remained during her last illness2 under the care of ,aunt ,vilate4 ,this brought me almost constantly for months directly in contact with ,president ,kimball and family4 ,it was here ,i became more familiar with his home life and habits4 ,i was greatly impressed and moved by his manner of praying in his family4 ,i have never heard any other man pray as he did4 ,he did not speak to the ,lord as one afar off1 but as if conversing with him face to face4 ,time #bdh and again ,i have been so impressed with the idea of the actual presence of ,god1 while he was conversing with him in prayer1 that ,i could not refrain from looking up to see if he were actually present and visible4 ,while ,president ,kimball was very strict in his family1 he was ever kind and tender towards them4 ,i sometimes thought he was even kinder to me than to his own boys4 ,i have heard him reprove them1 but no word of reproof ever fell from his lips upon me4 ,later1 through him1 ,i was sent on my first mission4 ,no better or kinder thing was ever done for me4 ,it gave me four years of experience and seasoning which fixed my whole course of life1 and it came just at the right time to the boy that ,i was4 ,later ,i was associated with him in the ,endowment ,house1 where ,i served with him and under his direction for years4 ,this brought me into the most intimate relation with him1 and gave to each of us the most complete and perfect opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with each other4 ,i learned to love him with the truest love1 and the many evidences of his love and confidences in me are beyond all question4 ,my latest recollections of him are associated with a most unusual call made upon a number of brethren in #ahfa1 by ,president ,brigham ,young1 to accompany him on a mission to ,provo4 ,among these were ,heber ,c4 ,kimball1 ,wilford ,woodruff1 ,abraham ,o4 ,smoot1 ,elijah ,f4 ,sheets1 ,george ,g4 ,bywater and myself4 ,these brethren all located in ,provo with ,president ,young1 and those of the number possessed of means 7,presidents ,young and ,kimball1 and ,elders ,smoot and ,sheets7 proceeded at once to build themselves homes there4 ,it was while ,president ,kimball was engaged in building and preparing a place for a portion of his family in ,provo1 that he met with an accident from which he did not recover1 and soon after1 ,monday1 ,june #bb1 #ahfh1 came his #bdi final summons to meet the actual presence of the gracious ,father1 with whom he had1 in prayer1 so long and truly counseled1 as if face to face with him1 and whom he had devotedly served to the last moment4 ,president ,heber ,c4 ,kimball was one of ,god's noblemen4 ,true as steel to every trust4 ,pure as refined gold4 ,fearless of foes or of death4 ,keen of perception1 full of the spirit of the prophets4 ,inspired of ,god4 ,valiant in the testimony of ,christ2 a lifelong1 undeviating friend and witness of the divine calling and mission of ,joseph ,smith4 ,he was called by the grace of ,god1 ordained by living authority1 and lived and died an apostle of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #bj1 #aiji1 pp4 #bea-beb4 ,,tribute ,,to ,,erastus ,,snow4 ,my earliest vivid recollection of ,elder ,erastus ,snow was in the fall of #ahdh1 just after my arrival in ,salt ,lake ,valley4 ,i had the privilege of listening to a most excellent discourse by him in the bowery at the north side of the old ,pioneer fort4 ,this discourse so impressed itself and the speaker1 upon my mind1 that it and he ever after held a most distinguished place in my memory4 ,as an orator and profound reasoner1 ,i always felt impressed that he had no superior1 especially when he warmed up to his subject1 and entered into his discourse with the full force and energy of his active and vigorous mind4 ,as a counselor1 his wisdom was manifest from every point of view4 ,as a colonizer and builder1 from the pioneer days to the completion of his work1 he was equal to the foremost of his associates4 ,in point of endurance and perseverance in whatever he engaged1 he was untiring and almost inexhaustible4 ,as a legislator or statesman1 he was the peer of any of his associates1 among whom were builders of this commonwealth4 ,one of the marked peculiarities of his character #bej was continuity and perseverance in whatever he undertook to do1 until his object was attained and his purpose accomplished4 ,nothing could turn him aside from the discharge of his duty4 ,he was1 without doubt1 a chosen and an effective instrument in the hand of ,god for the accomplishment of the mission assigned him1 in which he always concentrated his mind1 and threw the whole force of his vigorous and noble spirit4 ,as the head of a numerous family1 he was an example to all mankind4 ,his friendship was always true and boundless4 ,i esteem him as one of the great men1 not only of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 but of the world4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 ,feb41 #aiaa1 p4 #bhj4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,visits ,,of ,,church ,,leaders4 ,we have come to see the condition and the spirit of the ,latter-day ,saints1 and to present ourselves before them2 that they may judge us by what we say and by the spirit we bring1 as to whether we are in fellowship with them and with the ,lord2 and that they may see whether we measure up to the standards that they expect in those who stand at the head of the ,church4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #ih4 #bea ,,chapter ,x ,,spiritual ,,gifts ,,the ,,gift ,,of ,,tongues4 ,the devil himself can appear like an angel of light4 ,false prophets and false teachers have arisen in the world4 ,there is perhaps no gift of the ,spirit of ,god more easily imitated by the devil than the gift of tongues4 ,where two men or women exercise the gift of tongues by the inspiration of the ,spirit of ,god1 there are a dozen perhaps who do it by the inspiration of the devil4 ,bless your souls1 apostates speak in tongues1 apostates prophesy1 apostates claim to have marvelous manifestations4 ,and what is that to us8 ,the trouble is1 we know so little of the truth ourselves1 and we live by it so poorly1 that almost any little jackanapes in the country may rise up and claim he has had a vision or some marvelous dream1 and however absurd or untrue it may be1 he may find believers and followers among those who profess to be ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i believe in the gifts of the ,holy ,spirit unto men1 but ,i do not want the gift of tongues1 except when ,i need it4 ,i needed the gift of tongues once1 and the ,lord gave it to me4 ,i was in a foreign land1 sent to preach the gospel to a people whose language ,i could not understand4 ,then ,i sought earnestly for the gift of tongues1 and by this gift and by study1 in a hundred days after landing upon those islands ,i could talk to the people in their language as ,i now talk to you in my native tongue4 ,this was a gift that was worthy of the gospel4 ,there was a purpose in it4 ,there was something in it to strengthen my faith1 to encourage me and to help me in my ministry4 ,if you have need of this gift of tongues1 seek for it and ,god will help you in it4 ,but ,i do not ask you to be very hungry for the gift of tongues1 #beb for if you are not careful the devil will deceive you in it4 ,he can talk by the gift of tongues as well as the ,lord can4 ,paul did not seem to care much about the gift of tongues either4 ,he said to the ,corinthians3 ,i had rather speak five words with my understanding1 that by my voice ,i might teach others also1 than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue4--#a ,cor4 #ad3ai4 ,so far as ,i am concerned1 if the ,lord will give me ability to teach the people in my native tongue1 or in their own language to the understanding of those who hear me1 that will be sufficient gift of tongues to me4 ,yet if the ,lord gives you the gift of tongues1 do not despise it1 do not reject it4 ,for if it comes from the ,spirit of ,god1 it will come to those who are worthy to receive it1 and it is all right4 ,but this idea of seeking it1 desiring it1 when you don't pay your tithing1 when you don't pray in your families1 when you don't pay your debts1 when you desecrate the ,sabbath day1 and when you neglect other duties in the ,church2 ,i tell you the devil will take advantage of you by and by1 if he does not at first4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #da4 ,,the ,,sacrament ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4 ,the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper is a very important and sacred ordinance2 however simple it may appear to our minds1 it is one which will add to our acceptance before ,god1 or to our condemnation4 ,it was instituted by the ,savior in the place of the law of sacrifice which was given to ,adam1 and which continued with his children down to the days of ,christ1 but which was fulfilled in his death1 he being the great sacrifice for sin1 of which the sacrifices enjoined in the law given to ,adam were a similitude4 ,the ,lord designed in the beginning to place before man the knowledge of good and evil1 and gave him a commandment to cleave to good and abstain from evil4 ,but if he #bec should fail1 he would give to him the law of sacrifice and provide a ,savior for him1 that he might be brought back again into the presence and favor of ,god and partake of eternal life with him4 ,this was the plan of redemption chosen and instituted by the ,almighty before man was placed on the earth4 ,and when man did fall by transgressing the law which was given him1 the ,lord gave to him the law of sacrifice1 and made it clear to his understanding1 that it was for the purpose of reminding him of that great event that should transpire in the meridian of time1 whereby he and all his posterity might be brought forth by the power of redemption and resurrection from the dead1 and partake of eternal life with ,god in his kingdom4 ,for this reason ,adam and his posterity1 from generation to generation1 observed this law1 and continually looked forward to a time when there should be provided for them a means of redemption from the fall and restoration from death to life1 for death was the penalty of the law transgressed1 which man was powerless to avert1 that fiat of ,god being1 ,in the day that thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die1 and this penalty was to follow upon all flesh1 all being as helpless and dependent as he was in this matter4 ,their only hope of redemption from the grave and the power of death was in the ,savior whom ,god had promised1 who should suffer death1 but being without sin1 having himself never transgressed any law1 being without blemish1 pure and holy1 he should have power to break the bands of death and from the grave rise to immortal life1 thereby opening the way for all who should follow him in the regeneration1 to come forth to life again1 redeemed from the penalty of the law1 and from the sin of transgression to eternal life4 ,in anticipation1 therefore1 of this great sacrifice which was to be offered for ,adam and his seed1 they offered sacrifices more or less acceptable1 and in conformity to the pattern given1 in proportion to the knowledge of #bed ,god and of the gospel which they had1 in their faithfulness from generation to generation1 to the days of ,jesus4 ,they would take the firstlings of their flocks1 the best fruits of their fields1 and those things which were emblematic of purity1 innocence1 and perfection1 symbolical of him who was without sin1 and as a lamb slain from the foundation of the world1 and offer sacrifices unto ,god in memory of him1 and the matchless and wonderful deliverance to be wrought out for them by him4 ,undoubtedly the knowledge of this law and of other rites and ceremonies was carried by the posterity of ,adam into all lands1 and continued with them1 more or less pure1 to the flood1 and through ,noah1 who was a preacher of righteousness1 to those who succeeded him1 spreading out in all nations and countries1 ,adam and ,noah being the first of their dispensations to receive them from ,god4 ,what wonder1 then1 that we should find relics of ,christianity so to speak among the heathens1 and nations who know not ,christ1 and whose histories date back beyond the days of ,moses1 and even beyond the flood1 independent of and apart from the records of the ,bible4 ,the ground taken by infidels1 that ,christianity sprang from the heathen1 it being found that they have many rites similar to those recorded in the ,bible1 etc41 is only a vain and foolish attempt to blind the eyes of men and dissuade them from their faith in the ,redeemer of the world1 and from their belief in the ,scriptures of divine truth1 for if the heathen have doctrines and ceremonies resembling to some extent those which are recorded in the ,scriptures1 it only proves1 what is plain to the ,saints1 that these are the traditions of the fathers handed down from generation to generation1 from ,adam1 through ,noah1 and that they will cleave to the children to the latest generation1 though they may wander into darkness and perversion1 until but a slight resemblance to their origin1 which was divine1 can be seen4 99 99 99 #bee ,the ordinances of the gospel have been restored in their purity4 ,we know why the law of sacrifice was given to ,adam1 and how it is that relics of the gospel are found among the heathen4 ,when ,jesus came and suffered1 the just for the unjust1 he that was without sin for him that had sinned1 and was subjected to the penalty of the law which the sinner had transgressed1 the law of sacrifice was fulfilled1 and instead thereof he gave another law1 which we call the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper1 by which his life and mission1 his death and resurrection1 the great sacrifice he had offered for the redemption of man1 should be kept in everlasting remembrance1 for1 said he1 this do ye 99 99 99 in remembrance of me1 for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup1 ye do shew the ,lord's death till he come4 ,therefore this law is to us what the law of sacrifice was to those who lived prior to the first coming of the ,son of ,man1 until he shall come again4 ,therefore1 we must honor and keep it sacredly1 for there is a penalty attached to its violation1 as we shall see by reading the words of ,paul 7#a ,cor4 #aa3bg-cj73 ,wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread1 and drink this cup of the ,lord1 unworthily1 shall be guilty of the body and blood of the ,lord4 ,but let a man examine himself1 and so let him eat of that bread1 and drink of that cup4 ,for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily1 eateth and drinketh damnation to himself1 not discerning the ,lord's body4 ,for this cause many are weak and sickly among you1 and many sleep4 ,and it is even more plainly given in the ,book of ,mormon1 which ,i will read 7,,iii ,nephi #ah3bf-bi73 ,and now it came to pass that when ,jesus had spoken these words1 he turned his eyes again upon the disciples whom he had chosen1 and said unto them1 behold verily1 #bef verily ,i say unto you1 ,i give unto you another commandment1 and then ,i must go unto my ,father1 that ,i may fulfil other commandments which he hath given me4 ,and now behold1 this is the commandment which ,i give unto you1 that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly1 to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily1 when ye shall minister it2 for whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily1 eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul2 therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood1 ye shall forbid him4 ,these are some of the injunctions and commandments that are given in relation to the partaking of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,now let us be careful what we do1 that we may not incur the penalty affixed to the transgression of this law1 remembering that the ordinances which ,god has given are sacred and binding1 that his laws are in force1 especially upon all that have covenanted with him in baptism1 and upon all unto whom they come1 whether they embrace them or not1 as ,jesus said1 ,this is the condemnation of the world1 that light has come into the world1 but ye love darkness rather than light4 ,therefore all men will be held accountable for the use they make of the light which they possess4 ,for this reason we are commanded to preach the gospel unto every creature1 that those who obey and are baptized may be saved1 and those who reject it may be condemned4 ,i bear my testimony to these things4 ,i know that ,joseph ,smith was and is a prophet of the living ,god1 and ,president ,young is also a prophet of ,god1 and that by inspiration and revelation1 and not of man4 ,god bless you1 and help us to be faithful1 is my prayer in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,discourse delivered in the ,thirteenth ,ward ,assembly ,rooms1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,february #i1 #ahgc4 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ae1 pp4 #cbd-cbh4 ,,order ,,of ,,administering ,,to ,,the ,,sick4 ,in the matter of administering to the sick1 according to the order and practice #beg established in the ,church1 care should be taken to avoid unwarranted repetitions4 ,when an administration is made1 and when the blessing pronounced upon the afflicted one has been received1 the ordinance should not be repeated1 rather let the time be given to prayer and thanksgiving for the manifestation of divine power already granted and realized4 ,no limit should be or can be set to the offering of prayer and the rendering of praise to the ,giver of ,good1 for we are specially told to pray without ceasing1 and no special authority of the priesthood or standing in the ,church is essential to the offering of prayer2 but the actual administration by anointing with oil and by the imposition of hands by those who hold the proper office in the priesthood is an authoritative ordinance1 too sacred in its nature to be performed lightly1 or to be repeated loosely when the blessing has been gained4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,january1 #aijb1 p4 #ah4 ,,the ,,use ,,of ,a ,,testimony4 ,the sanctity of a true testimony should inspire a thoughtful care as to its use4 ,that testimony is not to be forced upon everybody1 nor is it to be proclaimed at large from the housetop4 ,it is not to be voiced merely to fill up the time in a public meeting2 far less to excuse or disguise the speaker's poverty of thought or ignorance of the truth he is called to expound4 ,the individual testimony is a personal possession4 ,one cannot give his testimony to another1 yet he is able to aid his earnest brother in gaining a true testimony for himself4 ,the over-zealous missionary may be influenced by the misleading thought that the bearing of his testimony to those who have not before heard the gospel message1 is to convince or condemn1 as the hearers accept or reject4 ,the elder is sent into the field to preach the gospel--the good news of its restoration to earth1 showing by scriptural evidence the harmony of the new message with the predictions of earlier times2 expounding the truths embodied in the first principles of the gospel2 then if he bears his testimony under divine #beh inspiration1 such a testimony is as a seal attesting the genuineness of the truths he has declared1 and so appealing to the receptive soul whose ears have been saluted by the heaven-sent message4 ,but the voicing of one's testimony1 however eloquently phrased or beautifully expressed1 is no fit or acceptable substitute for the needed discourse of instruction and counsel expected in a general gathering of the people4 ,the man who professes a testimony as herein described1 and who assumes that his testimony embraces all the knowledge he needs1 and who therefore lives in indolence and ignorance shall surely discover his error to his own cost and loss4 ,a gift from ,god1 if neglected1 or unworthily used1 is in time withdrawn2 the testimony of the truth will not remain with one who1 having received1 uses not the sacred gift in the cause of individual and general advancement4 ,search out the truth of the written word2 listen for and receive the truth declared by living prophets and teachers2 enrich your minds with the best of knowledge and facts4 ,of those who speak in his name1 the ,lord requires humility1 not ignorance4 ,intelligence is the glory of ,god2 and no man can be saved in ignorance4 ,study and strive to acquire the knowledge that leads toward1 and the wisdom that shall reach1 the goal of life eternal4 ,your testimony as to the truth of the restored gospel may operate toward salvation or condemnation as it is used or misused4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #da1 ,august1 #aijf1 p4 #dfe4 ,,purpose ,,and ,,practice ,,of ,,testimony ,,bearing4 ,the practice of bearing testimonies once a month in the ,sabbath schools has become so general1 and is of such far-reaching importance to the faith and happiness of our young people1 that a word of caution and of encouragement may be helpful at this time4 ,it is not the chief purpose of testimony bearing to accumulate physical evidences of the truth of the #bei gospel4 ,it is not so much argument and physical demonstration that are wanted as it is the cultivation of the ,spirit of ,god within the hearts of the children4 ,many of the children live in homes where there is comparatively little or no sickness1 and perhaps have no opportunity whatever to witness manifestations of divine power in the healing of the sick4 ,at testimony meetings1 these children would perhaps have little to say if the idea prevailed that the testimonies of the children were to consist chiefly1 if not wholly1 in recounting instances of healing through the administrations of the elders4 ,the healing of the sick is but one of those spiritual blessings that follow those who have faith1 and the blessing belongs peculiarly to the ,church1 but is not confined exclusively to those who are members of the ,church4 ,in ,christ's day1 many were healed who were strangers to his great mission1 simply through their faith in him1 or that the glory of ,god might be made manifest4 ,now1 the healing of the sick is simply one of the evidences2 but if it were the only evidence of the divinity of this work it would be insufficient1 because in the organization of the ,church1 the existence of apostles1 the gathering1 the payment of tithes and offerings1 the laying on of hands1 baptism1 and other laws and ordinances of the gospel are equally evidence of its divine origin1 and the importance of one ought not to be emphasized to the neglect of any other4 ,the fact that all these ordinances and principles are taught and practiced by the ,saints constitutes a convincing argument that the ,church is now the same as it was in the days of the ,master4 ,testimony-bearing should have a strong educational influence upon the feelings and lives of the children1 and it is intended to cultivate within them feelings of thankfulness and appreciation for the blessings they enjoy4 ,the ,spirit of ,god may work within the life of a child and make the #bfj child realize and know that this is the work of ,god4 ,the child knows it rather because of the ,spirit than because of some physical manifestation which he may have witnessed4 ,our testimony meetings1 then1 should have as one of their aims the cultivation of the children's feelings of gratitude not only toward ,god1 but toward their parents1 teachers and neighbors4 ,it is advisable1 therefore1 to cultivate as far as possible their appreciation for the blessings that they enjoy4 ,testimony bearing is chiefly for the benefit of those who bear the testimony1 in that their gratitude and appreciation are deepened4 ,testimony bearing is not the accumulation of arguments or evidences solely for the satisfaction and testimony of others4 ,let the testimonies1 then1 of the young people include the training of their feelings by way of making them more appreciative and more thankful for the blessings they enjoy1 and the children should be made to understand what these blessings are and how they come to them4 ,it is an excellent way to make people helpful and thankful to others1 by first making them thankful to ,god4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,april1 #aijc1 p4 #bdf4 ,,the ,,temporal ,,and ,,the ,,spiritual ,,not ,,separate4 ,you ,must continue to bear in mind that the temporal and the spiritual are blended4 ,they are not separate4 ,one cannot be carried on without the other1 so long as we are here in mortality4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints on the earth is a physical organization as well as a spiritual organization4 ,we need practical faith--that is1 we need to practice the principles of our faith4 ,without the practice of the principles of the gospel1 we can never realize our hopes and expectations concerning the results of this great latter-day work4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #df4 ,,spiritual ,,and ,,temporal ,,salvation4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints believe not only in the gospel of spiritual salvation1 but also in the gospel of temporal salvation4 ,we have to look after the cattle and the sheep and the horses1 the gardens #bfa and the farms1 the irrigation canals and ditches1 and other necessary things for the maintenance of ourselves and our families in the earth4 ,in this respect this ,church is different from many other denominations4 ,we do not feel that it is possible for men to be really good and faithful ,christian people unless they can also be good1 faithful1 honest and industrious people4 ,therefore1 we preach the gospel of industry1 the gospel of economy1 the gospel of sobriety4 ,we preach that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer1 and that the idler is not entitled to an inheritance in ,zion4 ,we preach that those who are industrious1 those who work1 those who through their integrity and industry are good citizens of the kingdom of ,god1 are better citizens of the country in which they live than those who are not so diligent in this regard4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #gd4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,designed ,,for ,,temporal ,,benefits1 ,,also4 ,the work that we are engaged in is not designed to be limited by the spiritual necessities of the people alone4 ,it is the purpose of ,god in restoring the gospel and the holy priesthood not only to benefit mankind spiritually1 but also to benefit them temporally4 ,the ,lord has expressed this many times1 in the word that he gave to his servant ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet2 he designed that his people should become the richest of all people4 ,and this not only means the richest of all people in heavenly gifts--in spiritual blessings and riches1 but it also means that the people of ,god shall be the richest of all people with regard to temporal matters4 ,if faithful1 we have a right to claim the blessings of the ,lord upon the labor of our hands1 our temporal labors4 ,the farmer has a right to ask the ,lord for blessings upon his farm1 upon the labor that he bestows upon it4 ,he has a right to claim the blessings of the ,lord upon the animals that are necessary to the cultivation of his farm4 ,he has a right to ask ,god to bless the grain that he sows and the seeds of the fruit that he plants in the soil4 ,it is his privilege1 #bfb not only to ask and claim these blessings at the hand of the ,lord1 but it is his right and privilege to receive blessings from ,god upon his labor1 upon his farm1 and upon all that he puts his hand unto in righteousness4 ,it is our privilege to ask ,god to remove the curse from the earth1 and to make it fruitful4 ,if we will live so that we shall be entitled to his favor1 and so that we may justly and righteously claim the blessings and gifts that he has promised unto his ,saints1 then that which we ask will be given1 and we shall receive and enjoy them more abundantly4 ,it is our privilege to ask ,god to bless the elements that surround us and to temper them for our good1 and we know he will hear and answer the prayers of his people1 according to their faith4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 pp4 #i-aj4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,needs ,,food4 ,many people are inconsistent in that they study concerning the needs of the body1 and observe strictly the laws of health1 yet they disregard the equally urgent needs of the spirit4 ,for the spirit1 as well as the body1 needs food4 ,some people are either ignorant or thoughtless concerning the great blessings promised to those who observe the ,word of ,wisdom4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #ajc4 #bfc ,,chapter ,,xi ,,obedience ,,obedience ,,an ,,eternal ,,principle4 ,we have entered into the bond of that new and everlasting covenant agreeing that we would obey the commandments of ,god in all things whatsoever he shall command us4 ,this is an everlasting covenant even unto the end of our days4 ,and when is the end of our days8 ,we may think it has reference to the end of our mortal lives2 that a time will come after we have finished this probation when we can live without obedience to the commandments of ,god4 ,this is a great error4 ,we shall never see the day in time nor in eternity1 when it will not be obligatory1 and when it will not be a pleasure as well as a duty for us1 as his children1 to obey all the commandments of the ,lord throughout the endless ages of eternity4 ,it is upon this principle that we keep in touch with ,god1 and remain in harmony with his purposes4 ,it is only in this way that we can consummate our mission1 and obtain our crown and the gift of eternal lives1 which is the greatest gift of ,god4 ,can you imagine any other way8 ,god has established all things in their order4 ,the house of ,god is a house of order1 and not a house of confusion4 ,in this house ,god himself is the ,supreme ,head1 and he must be obeyed4 ,christ is in the image and likeness of his being1 his ,only ,begotten ,son1 and he stands as our ,savior and our ,god4 ,we must walk in his paths1 and observe his precepts to do them1 or we will be cut off4 ,next unto ,god and ,christ1 on the earth is placed one unto whom the keys of power and the authority of the holy priesthood are conferred1 and unto whom the right of presidency is given4 ,he is ,god's mouthpiece to his people1 in all things pertaining to the building up of ,zion and to the spiritual and #bfd temporal salvation of the people4 ,he is as ,god's vicegerent2 ,i do not hesitate to announce this truth2 for it is his word1 and therefore it is true4 ,the people who have entered into covenant to keep the commandments of the ,lord must hearken unto the voice of him who is placed to preside over them2 and1 secondarily1 to those who are called to act with him as his counselors in the holy priesthood4 ,it takes this council of three to constitute the presiding and governing authority of the priesthood on the earth4 ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 and ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 constitute the ,godhead and the matchless governing quorum over all the creations of the ,father4 ,three men stand at the head of the ,church on the earth4 ,yet there are those who call themselves ,saints who hesitate not to rise up in condemnation of1 and to express words of hatred and malice toward these men who stand at the head of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 pp4 #fh-fi4 ,,how ,,to ,,rise ,,above ,,the ,,weakness ,,of ,,mortality4 ,i would like all the ,latter-day ,saints to feel in their hearts that the work in which they are engaged is not only the work that ,god has instituted in the latter days1 but that it is a work in which each individual member of the ,church is deeply and vitally interested4 ,every man and every woman should feel a deep and abiding interest in the work of the ,lord1 in the growth and development of the great latter-day cause1 which cause is intended for the redemption of all men from the powers of sin1 from all its contaminating effects1 for the redemption of man from his own weakness and ignorance1 and from the grasp that ,satan holds upon the world1 that men may be made free2 for no man is or can be made free without possessing a knowledge of the truth and obeying the same4 ,it is only the possession and observance of the truth that can make men free1 and all those who do not possess and obey it are slaves and not free men4 #bfe ,it is only by obedience to the laws of ,god that men can rise above the petty weaknesses of mortality and exercise that breadth of affection1 that charity and love1 that should actuate the hearts and the motives of the children of men4 ,the gospel as it has been restored is intended to make free indeed1 free to choose the good and forsake the evil1 free to exercise that boldness in their choice of that which is good1 by which they are convinced of right1 notwithstanding the great majority of the people of the world may point at them the finger of scorn and ridicule4 ,it requires no especial bravery on the part of men to swim with the currents of the world4 ,when a man makes up his mind to forsake the world and its follies and sins1 and identify himself with ,god's people1 who are everywhere spoken evil of1 it takes courage1 manhood1 independence of character1 superior intelligence and a determination that is not common among men2 for men shrink from that which is unpopular1 from that which will not bring them praise and adulation1 from that which will in any degree tarnish that which they call honor or a good name4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 pp4 #a1 #b4 ,,obedience ,,to ,,church ,,ordinances ,,indispensable4 ,from remarks that sometimes fall from members of the ,church one is led to believe that they regard the gospel of ,jesus ,christ simply from the standpoint of a code of morals2 that if one lives an honest1 upright life1 that is all that the gospel requires of him2 that it is not necessary to observe the rites1 ceremonies and ordinances of the ,church2 that the latter constitute a sort of religious trapping that has no substantial value in the plan of life and salvation4 ,such a position does not harmonize with the word of ,god given to this people nor with the teachings of ,christ in his day1 nor is it in harmony with the universal instinct of man to worship ,god4 ,jesus himself attended to the ordinance of baptism2 he instituted the sacrament of the ,lord's supper1 and ordained #bff its observance2 and performed other rites which he thought essential to man's salvation4 ,in the case of ,nicodemus1 he so emphasized baptism that he made the birth of water and the ,spirit essential to man's salvation4 ,besides the rites and ceremonies and the moral effect they and other means of worshiping ,god have upon the moral life of man1 the gospel is also a power in itself4 ,it is a creative power which gives man not alone dominion in the world1 but the power1 if he can attain it by his faith1 to ordain and create other worlds4 ,on one occasion ,jesus commended to the disciples the value of faith as a power when he told them that if they had faith as a grain of mustard1 they could say unto the mountain1 be thou removed1 and it should be done4 ,it is true that our faith would be greatly weakened by acts of immorality1 and it might be wholly destroyed by such acts2 but faith and morality are not convertible terms4 ,a moral life is one of the means by which we cultivate faith1 but it is not the only means4 ,we may not see any moral virtue in the ordinance of baptism1 in the laying on of bands1 or in any other rite or ceremony of the ,church1 but our obedience to these rites and ordinances may be quite as helpful in developing our faith as any act of charity we may perform4 ,faith is always a gift of ,god to man1 which is obtained by obedience1 as all other blessings are4 ,the man or woman in this ,church who desires to enrich his or her faith to the highest possible degree will desire to observe every rite and ordinance in the ,church in conformity to the law of obedience to the will of ,god4 ,in these things1 and through them1 man gains a more perfect knowledge of ,god's purposes in the world4 ,an enriched faith means an enlarged power1 and though man may not have in this life an occasion to exercise all the powers that come to him through the enrichment of his faith1 those powers may be exercised in their fulness in eternity1 if not in time4 ,the #bfg man or woman1 therefore1 among the ,latter-day ,saints1 who does not see the necessity for the ordinances of the ,house of ,god1 who does not respond to the requirements of the gospel in all its rites and ordinances1 can have no proper conception of the great work which the ,latter-day ,saints have been called upon to perform in this age1 nor can he or she enjoy the blessing that comes from the virtue of obedience to a law higher than that of man4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,november #a1 #aijc1 p4 #fef4 ,,obedience ,,brings ,,light ,,and ,,freedom4 ,the gospel is very simple when we understand it properly4 ,it is plain and easily understood4 ,it is always right1 good1 uplifting1 comforting and enlightening4 ,it prompts men and women to do that which is acceptable before ,god1 who is just1 righteous1 allwise1 allgood1 and allmerciful4 ,the gospel teaches us to forgive1 to overcome selfishness1 covetousness2 to abjure anger1 wrath1 faultfinding1 complaining and the spirit of contention and strife4 ,the gospel warns and forewarns the children of men against the evils which bring disunion and contention and shut out honesty and love from among the children of men2 which mislead people to acts of injustice1 selfishness1 covetousness1 wickedness and sin1 things which the gospel of ,jesus ,christ teaches us to eschew and avoid as we would the gates of hell4 ,there is nothing intricate or incomprehensible in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ to those who possess the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,there is nothing mysterious and unaccountable in the dealings of ,god with his children if we can only see and understand by the spirit of truth4 ,jesus has given us in this life the example1 the type of that which exists in greater perfection1 in a purer1 higher and more glorious excellence where he dwells himself4 ,the gospel teaches us to do here just what we would be required to do in the heavens1 with ,god and the angels1 if we would listen to its teachings1 and #bfh obey it1 and put it into practice4 ,there would be no covetousness in the hearts of the children of men1 if they possessed the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ1 and understood the precepts of the gospel as he taught and admonished all men to observe them4 ,there would be no strife1 no anger1 nothing of the spirit of unforgiveness1 unchastity and injustice1 in the hearts of the children of men1 if we loved the truth and obeyed it as it was taught by the ,son of ,man4 ,with this spirit we could advance to the extreme position that we would pray for those who despitefully use us1 who speak all manner of evil against us falsely1 accuse us of wrongdoing1 and lay plans and plots to bring us into disrepute4 ,there would be no such desires in the hearts of the children of men1 if they possessed the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,there would be no contention1 dishonor1 nor dishonesty among neighbors nor in the communities of the people4 ,none would take advantage of the unwary1 the weak or unsuspecting2 no one would seek to wrong another2 but1 on the contrary1 we would feel like ,jesus himself expressed it1 he that is greatest among you1 let him be the servant of all4 ,if we would be great among the children of men1 let us show that we are willing to serve and to do good to our fellowmen1 set them a right example1 shield them from wrong1 show them the right way1 help them to avoid error and sin1 and to walk in the light1 as ,god is in the light1 that they may have fellowship with him and with one another1 and that the blood of ,christ may indeed cleanse them from all sin4 ,the spirit of the gospel should teach us that if men sue us at the law1 and take away our coat wrongfully and wickedly1 intending to injure or degrade us1 that we would rise above the spirit of contention and retribution in our own souls1 and speak as ,jesus spoke3 ,forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,my brethren and sisters1 if we would build up ourselves1 #bfi or ever become worthy to inherit the kingdom of ,god1 we will do so on the principle of eternal truth4 ,the truth is what will make us free2 free from error1 prejudice1 selfishness1 ignorance1 contention1 the power of the adversary of our souls1 free from the power of death and hell2 free to inherit the fulness of the everlasting gospel2 free to have joy in our hearts for all things good and for the welfare of mankind2 free to forgive those who err because of lack of judgment and understanding4 ,but the ,spirit of truth1 mark you1 will not tolerate and will not forgive determined1 premeditated and deliberate wrong in man or woman1 in the world--truth will not tolerate it4 ,we can not forgive that kind or class of crime and wickedness4 ,we can not1 or if we do1 we transgress the laws of ,god1 for he has no sympathy with ,satan1 nor with him who knoweth to do good and doeth evil2 who knoweth to do right but is determined to do wrong4 ,there is no forgiveness to such without humble and most contrite repentance of sin4 ,when one gets far enough along in the crime of wickedness and disobedience to the principles of the gospel1 and in the abandonment of love for his fellowmen and for the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 so that he will fight and lie about the ,church and the truth1 and seek by every power within his reach to injure and wrong them1 there is no forgiveness for that man1 and if he goes just far enough1 there is no repentance for him either4 ,and how do you pray8 ,to be heard because of many words8 ,no2 but because the ,lord has said it is your duty to inquire of him2 ,i will be inquired of1 by my people2 ,i will be asked for blessings1 for my gifts1 and the door will be opened to those who knock1 and those who seek after the truth shall find it4 ,fathers1 pray with your families2 bow down with them morning and at night2 pray to the ,lord1 thank him for his goodness1 mercy and ,fatherly kindness1 just as our earthly #bgj fathers and mothers have been extremely kind to us poor1 disobedient and wayward children4 ,do you pray8 ,what do you pray for8 ,you pray that ,god may recognize you1 that he may hear your prayers1 and that he may bless you with his ,spirit1 and that he may lead you into all truth and show you the right way2 that he will warn you against wrong and guide you into the right path2 that you may not fall astray1 that you may not veer into the wrong way unto death1 but that you may keep in the narrow way4 ,you pray for your wives to have health and strength1 blessed to be happy and contented1 true to their children1 true to their homes1 true to you4 ,the wives pray that they may also have power to overcome the weaknesses of fallen human nature1 and rise to teach their children the beauty and glory of a righteous life1 and that the children may be blessed to carry out in their lives the wish and desire of their parents2 that they may perfect their lives here by living up to the wise teachings of the gospel4 ,so we pray for what we need4 ,while in my boyhood days1 when ,i was like some of these little boys1 ,i used to wonder--how could the ,lord hear me when ,i was in secret1 or wherever ,i might be8 ,i wondered at it6 ,do you wonder at it now1 when you have learned something of the late discoveries made by human wisdom and human intelligence8 ,they have discovered that there is a principle by which communication between distant points1 thousands of miles away1 may take place1 and one man may communicate with another through the air1 his words and voice being distinctly and clearly heard4 ,if in the midst of the ,pacific ocean1 a thousand or more miles from shore1 ,i could send a message inland a thousand or more miles1 and could send it without the medium of wire1 merely by the power or force of electricity1 to my home thousands of miles away1 how easy1 is it not1 for ,god to bear our prayers1 who understands1 and knows all things1 long before we ever thought of such wonderful #bga inventions and who has power over all things6 ,is it any wonder that the ,lord can hear you when you whisper1 even in your secret closet8 ,is there any doubt in your minds about it8 ,if man can communicate across the continent by means of a telephone without wires--by means of human invention1 by reason of the wisdom of man1 is there any one who doubts the ability of ,god to hear the earnest1 honest supplication of the soul8 ,do not doubt any more that the ,lord can hear your prayers1 when1 with a small instrument1 sensitive to the electric spark1 you can distinctly hear the human voice in your home received from the ocean thousands of miles away4 ,when you can communicate to some one in the midst of the ocean from your home1 far inland from the ocean--do not for a moment doubt that the ,lord understands all these means of communication and that he has means of hearing and understanding your innermost1 exact thoughts4 ,prayer is the soul's sincere desire1 uttered or unexpressed4 ,it does not take many words to ask the ,lord for what we need2 but we must ask in faith1 confidence and trust4 ,it will not do to have doubts in our minds when we call upon the ,lord for a blessing4 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 that giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,but let him ask in faith1 nothing wavering4 ,for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea1 driven with the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord4 7,james #a3e-g47 ,when a little child bows down in its perfect simplicity and asks the ,father for a blessing1 the ,father hears the voice1 and will answer in blessings upon his head1 because the child is innocent and asks in full trust and confidence4 ,these are simple principles that ,i have sought to impress upon your minds4 ,they are simple1 but necessary1 and essential4 ,there is no mystery about them1 there is no mystery in the birth of man into the world1 when you understand #bgb the laws of nature1 which are the laws of ,god--no mystery about it4 ,there will be no more mystery in the resurrection from the dead to life and everlasting light1 than there is in the birth of man into the world1 when we understand the truth1 as we will some day1 as the ,lord of glory instituted it4 ,there is no mystery in the birth or begetting of the ,son of ,god1 nor regarding his birth into the world4 ,it was just as natural1 and as strictly in accordance with the laws of nature and of ,god1 as the birth of any one of his children1 the birth of any one of us4 ,it was simply in accordance with truth1 and law and order4 ,will the men of the world receive the gospel8 ,will they hearken to the truth8 ,or will they mystify the truth and seek to becloud the children of men over simple truths when they should understand them8 ,from the middle-aged to the gray-haired man1 as well as the youth1 all should understand the principles of the gospel1 the simple truths given for the redemption and exaltation of man4--,granite ,stake ,conference1 ,sunday1 ,nov4 #be1 #aiag4 ,,blessing ,,from ,,obedience4 ,every good and perfect gift comes from the ,father of ,light1 who is no respecter of persons and in whom there is no variableness1 nor shadow of turning4 ,to please him we must not only worship him with thanksgiving and praise1 but render willing obedience to his commandments4 ,by so doing he is bound to bestow his blessings2 for it is upon this principle 7obedience to law7 that all blessings are predicated4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag4 #bgc ,,chapter ,,xii ,,prayer ,,pray ,,every ,,day4 ,observe that great commandment given of the ,master1 always to remember the ,lord1 to pray in the morning1 and in the evening1 and always remember to thank him for the blessings that you receive day by day4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #f4 ,,pray ,,in ,,wisdom4 ,my brethren and sisters1 let us remember and call upon ,god and implore his blessings and his favor upon us4 ,let us do it1 nevertheless1 in wisdom and in righteousness1 and when we pray we should call upon him in a consistent and reasonable way4 ,we should not ask the ,lord for that which is unnecessary or which would not be beneficial to us4 ,we should ask for that which we need1 and we should ask in faith1 nothing wavering1 for he that wavereth1 as the apostle said1 is like the wave of the sea1 driven by the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord4 ,but when we ask of ,god for blessings let us ask in the faith of the gospel1 in that faith that he has promised to give to those who believe in him and obey his commandments4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #g4 ,,keep ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,prayer4 ,we should carry with us the spirit of prayer throughout every duty that we have to perform in life4 ,why should we8 ,one of the simple reasons that appeals to my mind with great force is that man is so utterly dependent upon ,god6 ,how helpless we are without him2 how little can we do without his merciful providence in our behalf6 ,i have often been led to make the remark1 that not one of us1 not a human being in all the world can make even a single spear of grass grow without the help of ,god4 ,we have to use his earth1 we must avail ourselves of the benefit of his soil1 his air and his sunshine1 and the moisture that ,god provides1 and gives to the earth1 to enable us to produce #bgd even a single blade of grass2 and the same applies to everything that ministers to our existence in the world4 ,you can't raise an ear of corn or grain of wheat without ,god's help4 ,you cannot produce a single thing essential to the existence of man or beast without the help of ,god4 ,then1 why should we not feel dependent upon the ,lord8 ,why should we not call upon his name8 ,why should we not remember him in our prayers8 ,why should we not love him with all our heart and mind1 and strength1 since he has given us life1 since he has formed us in his own likeness and image1 since he has placed us here that we may become like unto his ,only ,begotten ,son and to inherit the glory1 exaltation and reward provided for ,god's own children8--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #f4 ,,true ,,prayer4 ,i pray you1 my young brethren who are present in this vast congregation1 and who are liable to be called to preach the gospel to the world1 when you are called to go out1 ,i pray that you will know how to approach ,god in prayer4 ,it is not such a difficult thing to learn how to pray4 ,it is not the words we use particularly that constitute prayer4 ,prayer does not consist of words1 altogether4 ,true1 faithful1 earnest prayer consists more in the feeling that rises from the heart and from the inward desire of our spirits to supplicate the ,lord in humility and in faith1 that we may receive his blessings4 ,it matters not how simple the words may be1 if our desires are genuine and we come before the ,lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit to ask him for that which we need4 ,i would like to know if there is a young man in this congregation1 or anywhere else1 who does not need something of the ,lord4 ,where is there a soul upon the earth that does not need something that the ,almighty can give8 ,in the first place1 all that we have comes from him4 ,it is by his providence that we exist on the earth4 ,it is by his kind mercy that we see and hear1 that we have the power of speech1 and that we possess intelligence1 for as the sage of old said1 ,there is a spirit in man2 and #bge the inspiration of the ,almighty giveth them understanding4 ,therefore1 the very power of understanding that we possess is the gift of ,god4 ,in and of ourselves we are but a lifeless lump of clay4 ,life1 intelligence1 wisdom1 judgment1 power to reason1 all are the gifts of ,god to the children of men4 ,he gives us our physical strength as well as our mental powers4 ,every young man should feel from the depth of his heart that he is indebted to ,almighty ,god for his being and for every attribute that he possesses which is in likeness of the attributes of ,god4 ,we should seek to magnify the attributes that we possess4 ,we should honor ,god with our intelligence1 with our strength1 with our understanding1 with our wisdom1 and with all the power that we possess4 ,we should seek to do good in the world4 ,this is our duty2 and if a young man can only feel as all men should feel1 he will find that it is an easy matter for him to bow down before the ,lord in humble prayer and seek unto ,god for the aid1 comfort1 and inspiration of his ,holy ,spirit1 that he may not be left entirely to himself1 nor to the wisdom and ways of the world4 ,but as a rule1 where young men have good parents to provide for them1 where they have good homes and their food and raiment are sure1 they feel that they are not dependent upon anybody1 unless perchance they should be afflicted in some way1 and then begin to realize their weakness and dependence4 ,but ,i want to say to you1 my young friends1 that in the hour of your independence1 at the moment when you feel the strongest1 you should bear in mind that you are but human1 the breath of life is in your nostrils1 and you are destined to pass from this world through the portals of death4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #fi1 #gj4 ,,how ,,to ,,pray4 ,my brethren and sisters1 do not learn to pray with your lips only4 ,do not learn a prayer by heart1 and say it every morning and evening4 ,that is something ,i dislike very much4 ,it is true that a great many people fall into the rut of saying over a ceremonious prayer4 ,they #bgf begin at a certain point1 and they touch at all the points along the road until they get to the winding up scene2 and when they have done1 ,i do not know whether the prayer has ascended beyond the ceiling of the room or not4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #ga1 #gb4 ,,an ,,address ,,on ,,prayer--,,practical ,,prayer ,,and ,,healing4 ,i thought that a few words from the ,book of ,mormon might be appropriate as concluding advice and counsel1 written by the prophet ,moroni3 ,and now1 my brethren1 ,i judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men2 ,for ,i remember the word of ,god1 which saith by their works ye shall know them2 for if their works be good1 then they are good also4 ,for behold1 ,god bath said1 ,a man being evil cannot do that which is good2 for if he offereth a gift1 or prayeth unto ,god1 except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing4 ,for behold1 it is not counted unto him for righteousness4 ,for behold1 if a man being evil1 giveth a gift1 he doeth it grudgingly2 wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift2 wherefore he is counted evil before ,god4 ,and likewise also is it counted evil unto a man1 if he shall pray1 and not with real intent of heart2 yea1 and it profiteth him nothing2 for ,god receiveth none such4 7,moroni #g3d-i47 ,here1 indeed1 is a text that would give an opportunity to one moved by the proper spirit1 to make a telling discourse among the ,latter-day ,saints--not applicable to all1 but applicable to far too many4 ,it is not good for us to pray by rote1 to kneel down and repeat the ,lord's prayer continually4 ,i think that one of the greatest follies ,i have ever witnessed is the foolish custom of men repeating the ,lord's prayer continually without considering its meaning4 ,the ,lord gave #bgg this as a pattern to his disciples who were going out into the world to preach the gospel4 ,it was to show them that they were not to use many words1 but were to come directly to the ,lord1 and ask him for the things they might need1 consequently one of the specific provisions in that prayer1 and the example set was3 ,give us this day our daily bread2 and we see people clothed with plenty1 possessed of millions1 perhaps1 and yet1 if they pray at all1 they repeat simply the ,lord's prayer4 ,it thus becomes only a form2 there is no power in it2 neither is it acceptable1 because it is not offered from the heart1 nor with the understanding2 and ,i think that it is desirable for us to look well to our words when we call upon the ,lord4 ,he hears us in secret1 and can reward us openly4 ,we do not have to cry unto him with many words4 ,we do not have to weary him with long prayers4 ,what we do need1 and what we should do as ,latter-day ,saints1 for our own good1 is to go before him often1 to witness unto him that we remember him and that we are willing to take upon us his name1 keep his commandments1 work righteousness2 and that we desire his ,spirit to help us4 ,then1 if we are in trouble1 let us go to the ,lord and ask him directly and specifically to help us out of the trouble that we are in2 and let the prayer come from the heart1 let it not be in words that are worn into ruts in the beaten tracks of common use1 without thought or feeling in the use of those words4 ,let us speak the simple words1 expressing our need1 that will appeal most truly to the ,giver of every good and perfect gift4 ,he can hear in secret2 and he knows the desires of our hearts before we ask1 but he has made it obligatory1 and a duty that we shall call upon his name--that we shall ask that we may receive2 and knock that it may be opened to us2 and seek that we may find4 ,hence1 the ,lord has made it a loving duty that we should remember him1 that we should witness unto him morning1 noon1 and night1 that we do not forget the ,giver of every good gift unto us4 #bgh ,wherefore1 a man being evil1 cannot do that which is good2 neither will he give a good gift4 ,for behold1 a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water2 neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water1 wherefore a man being a servant of the devil1 cannot follow ,christ2 and if he follow ,christ1 he cannot be a servant of the devil4 ,wherefore1 all things which are good1 cometh of ,god2 and that which is evil1 cometh of the devil2 for the devil is an enemy unto ,god1 and fighteth against him continually1 and inviteth and enticeth to sin1 and to do that which is evil continually4 ,but behold1 that which is of ,god1 inviteth and enticeth to do good continually2 wherefore1 everything which inviteth and enticeth to do good1 and to love ,god1 and to serve him1 is inspired of ,god4 ,wherefore take heed1 my beloved brethren1 that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of ,god1 or that which is good and of ,god1 to be of the devil4 ,for behold1 my brethren1 it is given unto you to judge1 that ye may know good from evil2 and the way to judge is as plain1 that ye may know with a perfect knowledge1 as the daylight is from the dark night4 ,for behold1 the ,spirit of ,christ is given to every man1 that they may know good from evil2 wherefore ,i show unto you the way to judge2 for everything which inviteth to do good1 and to persuade to believe in ,christ1 is sent forth by the power and gift of ,christ2 wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of ,god4 ,but whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil1 and believe not in ,christ and deny him1 and serve not ,god1 then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil1 for after this manner doth the devil work1 for he persuadeth no man to do good1 no1 not one2 neither doth his angels2 neither do they who subject themselves unto him4 #bgi ,and now1 my brethren1 seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge1 which light is the light of ,christ1 see that ye do not judge wrongfully2 for with that same judgment which ye judge1 ye shall also be judged4 ,wherefore ,i beseech of you1 brethren1 that ye should search diligently in the light of ,christ1 that ye may know good from evil2 and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing1 and condemn it not1 ye certainly will be a child of ,christ4 7,moroni #g3aj-ai47 ,i think that here1 in the words that ,i have read1 are some plain fingerboards1 some plain1 simple guideposts2 and if we1 as ,latter-day ,saints1 believing as we do in the divinity of this book which was translated by the gift and power of ,god1 through the inspiration that came to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 would read these words as believing children should read1 with understanding1 in faith1 being sure that ,god inspired them1 and then put them into practice1 ,i think it would not be long before we could do away with appeals to bishops' courts1 and high councils1 and with the present necessity for teachers' visits1 to try to settle difficulties among ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i believe every man would be his own judge1 for he would judge righteously1 because he would judge in the light of truth1 in the light and justice--not selfishly1 not covetously1 but in the light that has come from the heavens in the latter days1 through revelations from ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #aa1 ,august1 #aijh1 pp4 #gbi-gcb4 ,,pray ,,for ,,the ,,authorities4 ,we have met together this afternoon in the capacity of a conference of this stake of ,zion4 ,we have had presented before us the stake authorities1 together with the home missionaries1 that we might sustain them by our vote1 which means also by our faith and prayers1 and to stand by them in the discharge of all the duties that devolve upon them4 ,it is an important duty resting upon the ,saints who vote to sustain the authorities of the ,church1 to do so not only by the lifting of the hand1 the mere form1 #bhj but in deed and in truth4 ,there never should be a day pass but all the people composing the ,church should lift up their voices in prayer to the ,lord to sustain his servants who are placed to preside over them4 ,not only should they do this in behalf of the president of the stake and his counselors1 but they should do it in behalf of the high council1 before whom1 in connection with the presidency of the stake1 matters of vast importance to the members of the ,church are brought from time to time for their judgment and counsel4 ,these men should have the faith of the people to sustain them in discharge of their duties1 in order that they may be strong in the ,lord4 ,these authorities are also presented before the people1 so that if there is any fault in them1 worthy of objection1 to their acting in the positions to which they are called1 the ,saints who know of these objections may make them manifest1 in order that such inquiry may be instituted as may be necessary to ascertain the truth1 that those who are not worthy may be dropped1 and only such as are worthy and faithful in the performance of their duties be sustained in these exalted positions in the ,church4 ,we should not permit ourselves to go about from day to day with a spirit of murmuring and fault-finding in our hearts against those who are presented before us to be sustained in responsible positions4 ,if we have anything in our hearts against any of these brethren1 it is our duty1 as conscientious members of the ,church1 first1 as the ,spirit may direct1 to go to them alone and make known to them our feeling toward them and show them the cause of such feeling2 not with a desire in our hearts to widen or increase the difficulty1 but we should go to them in the spirit of reconciliation and brotherly love1 in a true ,christian spirit1 so that if any feeling of bitterness exists within us it may be absolutely removed2 and if we have cause against our brother1 that we may be in a position to remedy the evil4 ,we should seek to love one another and to sustain one another #bha as children of ,god and as brothers and sisters in the cause4 ,the presentation of the authorities of the ,church before a conference is made obligatory upon the ,church4 ,it is the command of the ,lord that we shall meet together to transact the business of the ,church1 an important part of which is to sustain the authorities of the ,church1 thus renewing our covenant to uphold ,god's authority which he has instituted in the earth for the government of his ,church4 ,and ,i cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of ,latter-day ,saints honoring and sustaining in truth and in deed the authority of the holy priesthood which is called to preside4 ,the moment a spirit enters the heart of a member to refrain from sustaining the constituted authorities of the ,church1 that moment he becomes possessed of a spirit which inclines to rebellion or dissension2 and if he permits that spirit to take a firm root in his mind1 it will eventually lead him into darkness and apostasy4 ,it makes no difference how much we may profess to love the gospel and prize our standing in the ,church1 if we allow the spirit of darkness to take possession of our minds1 the light and love within us will go out1 and bitterness and enmity will take possession of our souls4 ,then1 oh how dark1 how bitter and wicked we may become6--,salt ,lake ,stake1 ,c4 ,r41 ,june #ab1 #ahih4 ,,blessings ,,follow ,,prayers4 ,family and secret prayers should be observed1 not alone to comply with the commandment of the ,lord1 but because of the wonderful blessings to be gained4 ,the ,lord has said we should inquire of him4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #ajd4 ,,correct ,,our ,,neglects4 ,what shall we do if we have neglected our prayers8 ,let us begin to pray4 ,if we have neglected any other duty1 let us seek unto the ,lord for his ,spirit1 that we may know wherein we have erred and lost our opportunities1 or let them pass by us unimproved4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 p4 #gjh4 #bhb ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,tithing2 ,,the ,,poor2 ,,industry ,,why ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,tithing ,,was ,,instituted4 ,the ,lord revealed to his people in the incipiency of his work a law which was more perfect than the law of tithing4 ,it comprehended larger things1 greater power1 and a more speedy accomplishment of the purposes of the ,lord4 ,but the people were unprepared to live by it1 and the ,lord1 out of mercy to the people1 suspended the more perfect law1 and gave the law of tithing1 in order that there might be means in the storehouse of the ,lord for the carrying out of the purposes he had in view2 for the gathering of the poor1 for the spreading of the gospel to the nations of the earth1 for the maintenance of those who were required to give their constant attention1 day in and day out1 to the work of the ,lord1 and for whom it was necessary to make some provision4 ,without this law these things could not be done1 neither could temples be built and maintained1 nor the poor fed and clothed4 ,therefore the law of tithing is necessary for the ,church1 so much so that the ,lord has laid great stress upon it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #dg4 ,,essential ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,tithing4 ,by this principle 7tithing7 the loyalty of the people of this ,church shall be put to the test4 ,by this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of ,god and who is against it4 ,by this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of ,god and keeping his commandments1 thereby sanctifying the land of ,zion unto ,god1 and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of ,zion4 ,there is a great deal of importance connected with this principle1 for by it it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful4 ,in this respect it is as essential #bhc as faith in ,god1 as repentance of sin1 as baptism for the remission of sin1 or as the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for if a man keep all the law save one point1 and he offend in that1 he is a transgressor of the law1 and he is not entitled to the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,but when a man keeps all the law that is revealed1 according to his strength1 his substance1 and his ability1 though what he does may be little1 it is just as acceptable in the sight of ,god as if he were able to do a thousand times more4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 pp4 #dg1 #dh4 ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,tithing ,a ,,test4 ,the law of tithing is a test by which the people as individuals shall be proved4 ,any man who fails to observe this principle shall be known as a man who is indifferent to the welfare of ,zion1 who neglects his duty as a member of the ,church and who does nothing toward the accomplishment of the temporal advancement of the kingdom of ,god4 ,he contributes nothing1 either1 toward spreading the gospel to the nations of the earth1 and he neglects to do that which would entitle him to receive the blessings and ordinances of the gospel4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #dg4 ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,tithing1 ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,revenue4 ,the purpose of the law of tithing is similar to that of the law of revenue which is enacted by every state1 every country1 and every municipality in the world1 ,i suppose4 ,there is no such thing as an organization of men for any purpose of importance1 without provisions for carrying out its designs4 ,the law of tithing is the law of revenue for the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,without it1 it would be impossible to carry on the purposes of the ,lord4 ,,tithing4 ,no doubt1 a good deal more could be read from the scriptures in relation to this principle of tithing1 which ,god has revealed to us in this dispensation1 and which he requires at our hands1 that we may sanctify1 by obedience to his law1 this land that it may become indeed a land #bhd of ,zion unto us2 and the promise is1 that if we will obey the laws of ,god1 if we will put our trust in him1 if we will draw near unto him he will draw near unto us1 and he will reward us with his favor and his blessing4 ,he will rebuke the devourer1 and he will cause that the earth shall be fruitful1 that it shall yield in its strength to the husbandman1 the tiller of the soil1 and to the herder of flocks4 ,he will increase his kine1 and will prosper him upon the right hand and upon the left1 and he shall have an abundance1 because he puts his trust in ,god2 he draws near unto him1 and he is willing to prove him1 to see whether he will not open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon him that he shall not have room to contain them4 ,let every man who has received the gospel of ,jesus ,christ receive this saying1 and hearken to these words1 for all they are worth4 ,some men may esteem them lightly1 and those who do1 will1 without doubt1 fail to draw near1 they will neglect to prove the ,lord1 they will not fulfil the commandments that he has given1 and they will never know that ,god tells the truth1 and that he is able to fulfil his word and promise unto his people when they are willing to obey and keep his law4 ,while they who appreciate these promises1 who obey these laws that were given anciently1 and have been renewed again in the dispensation of the fulness of times1 for the blessing of the people1 for the building up of ,zion1 for the feeding of the widow and the orphan1 or the spreading of the gospel of ,christ to the nations of the earth1 and for the gathering of the people from the four quarters of the earth1 those who hearken to these words1 prize them as the truth1 and apply them in their practice throughout their lives1 will come to know that ,god is a rewarder of those who diligently serve him1 and that he is able to fulfil his promises unto them4 ,a short time ago ,i met a brother--,i need not call his name1 for he is but one among thousands who can bear the same testimony1 not only by the word of mouth but by #bhe the evidences of thrift1 of prosperity1 of progress and of improvement which surround him in the midst of the deserts4 ,this season he has gathered in rich harvests1 his farms having produced in abundance1 while the farms of many of his neighbors are clogged with weeds1 and their harvests have been only one-half or one-third what his has been4 ,how do you account for it8 ,i account for it in the fact that ,god has blessed him2 and so does he1 for he is an intelligent man1 a man that not only labors wisely and prudently1 but in the fear of ,god1 and in the desire of his heart to obey his laws4 ,he said to me and my companion with whom we were traveling3 ,god has blessed me because ,i have striven to keep his laws1 and because ,i have been true to my family4 ,he went out there upon the desert seven or eight years ago1 impoverished by persecution and exile1 being driven from his home and from his affairs1 compelled to wander in exile for years1 part of the time preaching the gospel4 ,he returned seven or eight years ago1 and settled down upon the desert4 ,today1 out of the earth1 the burning sands1 he has produced beautiful homes1 he has fruitful fields1 which are spread out before the eyes of any man who wishes to go and look upon them4 ,he pays his tithing1 he remembers his offerings1 he is obedient to the laws of ,god1 and he is not afraid to bear testimony to his friends and neighbors that it is through obedience that ,god has blessed and prospered him1 and made him what he is today4 ,he is not the only one2 there are others who are prospered in like manner4 ,and ,i testify that it is because ,god has blessed him1 and his soil1 and his labors1 that he obtained the increase1 and secured the blessings for which he sought and labored4 ,he has acted in good faith with the ,lord2 the ,lord has known his heart1 and has blessed him accordingly1 and he is prosperous today in that desert1 while as to many of his neighbors--go and look for yourselves at their broad acres4 ,they tell the story for themselves4 ,his lands are clear from noxious weeds1 #bhf because he has labored1 and taken care of his lands1 and because ,god has inspired him1 and enlightened his mind4 ,the ,lord has blessed him in his basket and in his store1 in his labors and in the thoughts of his mind1 he has been inspired and enabled to accomplish the work that he has done3 ,i testify that it is because of man's faith in the promise of the ,lord1 and his desire to obey his laws1 that he is blessed and prospered of him4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahig1 pp4 #ce1 #cf4 ,,the ,,widow ,,and ,,her ,,tithing4 ,will you then deny the widow1 because she has only a mite to bestow8 ,because the tenth which she proposes to give in obedience to the commandment of ,god is but a penny1 are you going to deprive her of the privilege of having her name enrolled on the book of the law of the ,lord1 and of having her genealogy acknowledged and recorded in the archives of the ,church8 ,and because her name is not found there1 are you going to deny her the privileges of the house of ,god and of the ordinances of the gospel8 ,i think it is time the bishops understood this principle4 ,the bishop should encourage every man1 woman and child1 who earns and receives a return for labor1 to honor the ,lord and to prove obedient to the law of ,god by giving the one-tenth of that which he or she receives1 as the ,lord requires1 so that they may have their names enrolled on the book of the law of the ,lord1 that their genealogies may be had in the archives of the ,church1 and that they may be entitled to the privileges and blessings of the house of ,god4 ,i recollect most vividly a circumstance that occurred in the days of my childhood4 ,my mother was a widow1 with a large family to provide for4 ,one spring when we opened our potato pits1 she had her boys get a load of the best potatoes and she took them to the tithing office2 potatoes were scarce that season4 ,i was a little boy at the time1 and drove the team4 ,when we drove up to the steps of the tithing #bhg office1 ready to unload the potatoes1 one of the clerks came out and said to my mother1 ,widow ,smith1 it's a shame that you should have to pay tithing4 ,he said a number of other things that ,i remember well1 but they are not necessary for me to repeat here4 ,the first two letters of the name of that tithing clerk were ,william ,thompson1 and he chided my mother for paying her tithing1 called her anything but wise or prudent2 and said there were others who were strong and able to work that were supported from the tithing office4 ,my mother turned upon him and said3 ,william1 you ought to be ashamed of yourself4 ,would you deny me a blessing8 ,if ,i did not pay my tithing1 ,i should expect the ,lord to withhold his blessings from me4 ,i pay my tithing1 not only because it is a law of ,god1 but because ,i expect a blessing by doing it4 ,by keeping this and other laws1 ,i expect to prosper1 and to be able to provide for my family4 ,though she was a widow1 you may turn to the records of the ,church from the beginning unto the day of her death1 and you will find that she never received a farthing from the ,church to help her support herself and her family2 but she paid in thousands of dollars in wheat1 potatoes1 corn1 vegetables1 meat1 etc4 ,the tithes of her sheep and cattle1 the tenth pound of her butter1 her tenth chicken1 the tenth of her eggs1 the tenth pig1 the tenth calf1 the tenth colt--a tenth of everything she raised was paid4 ,here sits my brother who can bear testimony to the truth of what ,i say1 as can others who knew her4 ,she prospered because she obeyed the laws of ,god4 ,she had abundance to sustain her family4 ,we never lacked as much as many others did2 for while we found nettle greens most acceptable when we first came to the valley2 and while we enjoyed thistle roots1 segoes and all that kind of thing1 we were no worse off than thousands of others1 and not as poor as many1 for we were never without corn-meal and milk or butter1 to my knowledge4 ,then that widow had her name recorded in the book of the #bhh law of the ,lord4 ,that widow was entitled to the privileges of the house of ,god4 ,no ordinance of the gospel could be denied her1 for she was obedient to the laws of ,god1 and she would not fail in her duty1 though discouraged from observing a commandment of ,god by one who was in an official position4 ,this may be said to be personal4 ,by some it may be considered egotistical4 ,but ,i do not speak of it in that light4 ,when ,william ,thompson told my mother that she ought not to pay tithing1 ,i thought he was one of the finest fellows in the world4 ,i believed every word he said4 ,i had to work and dig and toil myself4 ,i had to help plow the ground1 plant the potatoes1 hoe the potatoes1 dig the potatoes1 and all like duties1 and then to load up a big wagon-box full of the very best we had1 leaving out the poor ones1 and bringing the load to the tithing office1 ,i thought in my childish way that it looked a little hard1 specially when ,i saw certain of my playmates and early associates of childhood1 playing round1 riding horses and having good times1 and who scarcely ever did a lick of work in their lives1 and yet were being fed from the public crib4 ,where are those boys today8 ,are they known in the ,church8 ,are they prominent among the people of ,god8 ,are they or were they ever valiant in the testimony of ,jesus ,christ8 ,have they a clear testimony of the truth in their hearts8 ,are they diligent members of the ,church8 ,no2 and never have been1 as a rule1 and most of them are dead or vanished out of sight4 ,well1 after ,i received a few years of experience1 ,i was converted1 ,i found that my mother was right and that ,william ,thompson was wrong4 ,he denied the faith1 apostatized1 left the country1 and led away as many of his family as would go with him4 ,i do not want you to deny me the privilege of being numbered with those who have the interests of ,zion at heart1 and who desire to contribute their proportion to the upbuilding of ,zion1 and for the maintenance #bhi of the work of the ,lord in the earth4 ,it is a blessing that ,i enjoy1 and ,i do not propose that anybody shall deprive me of that pleasure4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 pp4 #dh1 #di4 ,,the ,,widow ,,and ,,tithing4 ,i preach that which ,i believe and that which ,i do know to be true1 and ,i do know that if men will obey the laws of ,god1 ,god will honor and bless them4 ,i have proven it all my life through4 ,i saw it manifested in circumstances which occurred in my childhood1 and ,i know that ,god has blessed the widow and the fatherless when they have been obedient to his laws and have kept his commandments4 ,i can tell you the history of a widow woman1 with a large family1 who was more particular1 if possible1 to pay the ,lord what belonged to him than she was to pay to her neighbors to whom she might be indebted1 and she never was indebted to her neighbors1 thank ,god1 for anything that she did not pay to the last cent1 because the ,lord blessed her with plenty1 and in her latter years she did not have to borrow of her neighbors1 nor did she have to call upon the ,church for support1 either1 but she paid thousands of dollars in products and money into the storehouse of the ,lord1 although she was a widow with a large family to support4 ,i know this4 ,i can testify of this1 and that the ,lord ,almighty blessed her1 not only in the products of her fields1 but in her flocks and herds4 ,they were not devoured4 ,they were not destroyed4 ,they did not lie down and die4 ,they increased4 ,they did not stray away2 and thieves did not steal them4 ,one reason for that was1 she had a little boy that watched them very carefully under her direction1 and prompting4 ,her eye was upon everything1 she had supervision over everything1 she directed those whom she employed1 and her children2 and ,i am a witness--and here sits another witness 7,patriarch ,john ,smith7--that ,god1 the eternal ,father1 blessed her and prospered her while she #bij lived1 and she was not only enabled to maintain herself and children that were left to her in poverty1 in a day of trial1 and when she was driven out into the wilderness1 but she was able to feed scores of the poor1 and to pay her tithes besides4 ,verily the ,lord prospered her1 and she was blessed4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahig1 pp4 #ce-cg4 ,,who ,,receives ,,church ,,help ,,should ,,be ,,tithe ,,payers4 ,when one comes to a bishop and asks for assistance because of his or her straitened circumstances1 the first thing the bishop should do is to inquire if he or she is a tithe-payer4 ,he should know whether the name is on the book of the law of the ,lord1 and if not on the book1 if he or she has been derelict and negligent in relation to this principle of tithing1 he or she has no claim upon the bishop1 neither have their children2 and if1 under those circumstances1 the bishop assists him1 it will simply be out of pure charity and not because such have any claim upon the ,church4 ,that is why the widow who receives assistance from the ,church should pay her tithing1 so that her name may be on the records of the ,church4 ,it is not a law that is applicable to one and not to another4 ,if the rich may not receive blessings because their names are not on the record1 then neither shall the poor receive blessings in the house of ,god1 if their names are not recorded4 ,so long as a poor person receives his or her support through the tithings of the people1 they should be willing to observe the law themselves in order that they may be entitled to what they receive4 ,they should show by their observance of the law that they are law-keepers and not law-breakers4 ,our children1 as soon as they become old enough to earn means1 should be taught to pay their tithing1 that their names may be written in the book of the law of the ,lord1 so that if perchance their father die and they are left orphans1 their names as well as the names of their parents1 will be found upon the records and they will1 as ,god lives1 be entitled to #bia their support and to their education4 ,it is our duty to look after these children and see that they have an equal chance with those who are most favored with parents to look after them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #dd1 #de4 ,,use ,,of ,,tithing4 ,i mention this simply to show that these men1 whose whole time is occupied in the ministry1 are only drawing their necessary support from the ,church4 ,they must have that4 ,you would not begrudge them that4 ,men who are faithful1 valiant1 instant in season and out of season1 and consequently engaged in the work of the ministry1 you surely would not say that they should not have food to eat1 raiment to wear1 and where to lay their heads2 and that is all these men get from the ,church4 ,the laborer is certainly worthy of his hire4 ,so that your tithing is not enriching your brethren of the ministry4 ,it is being used to keep up the ordinances of the house of ,god in these four temples4 ,thousands and thousands of dollars of it are being used in educating the youth of ,zion and in maintaining the ,church schools4 ,thousands of dollars are being expended to feed and clothe the poor1 and to take care of those who are dependent upon the ,church4 ,they look to their mother for succor and support1 and it is right and proper that the ,church should provide for its own poor and indigent1 feeble and helpless1 so far as possible4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #ga4 ,,commercialism ,,and ,,tithing4 ,the ,church is charged with commercialism4 ,there is not the least resemblance of it1 in truth4 ,the ,church is neither buying nor selling goods or chattels4 ,it is not engaged in merchandising of any description1 and never has been2 and there could not well be a more false and groundless statement made against the ,church than to charge it with commercialism4 ,it is true that1 unlike other churches or religious organizations1 the people of this ,church observe the law of tithing1 which is the law of revenue of the ,church4 ,we do not pass around #bib the hat to you1 nor the collection box1 for means to defray the expenses incident to carrying on of the work of the ,church4 ,you give it voluntarily4 ,this reminds me of another falsehood that is spread abroad by our enemies1 namely3 ,that the ,mormon people are compelled to pay tithing1 that the authorities of the ,church demand it of them1 that it is made obligatory upon them1 and is tyrannically exacted from them all the time1 which is an infamous falsehood1 a slander1 for there is not a word or syllable of truth in it4 ,the observance of the law of tithing is voluntary4 ,i can pay my tithing or not1 as ,i choose4 ,it is a matter of choice with me1 whether ,i will do it or not do it2 but1 feeling as ,i do1 loyal to the ,church1 loyal to its interests1 believing that it is right and just to observe the law of tithing ,i do observe it--on the same principle that ,i think it is right for me to observe the law of repentance1 and of baptism1 for the remission of sins4 ,it is my pleasure to do my duty with reference to the observance of these principles1 and to pay my tithing4 ,the ,lord has revealed how this means shall be cared for1 and managed2 namely1 by the ,presidency of the ,church and the ,high ,council of the ,church 7that is1 the ,twelve ,apostles71 and the ,presiding ,bishopric of the ,church4 ,i think there is wisdom in this4 ,it is not left for one man to dispose of it1 or to handle it alone1 not by any means4 ,it devolves upon at least eighteen men1 men of wisdom1 of faith1 of ability1 as these eighteen men are4 ,i say it devolves upon them to dispose of the tithes of the people and to use them for whatever purpose in their judgment and wisdom will accomplish the most good for the ,church2 and because this fund of tithing is disposed of by these men whom the ,lord has designated as having authority to do it1 for the necessities and benefit of the ,church1 they call it commercialism4 ,what absurdity6 ,you may just as well call their practices in passing around their contribution boxes1 for collecting means with which to build their #bic churches1 with which to pay their ministers1 and with which to carry on the monetary affairs of their churches1 commercialism1 as for them to charge us with commercialism1 because we handle the tithing of the ,church1 and appropriate and use it for the benefit of the ,church4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,tithing ,,used ,,carefully ,,and ,,full ,,accounts ,,kept4 ,i defy any man on earth to point his finger to a dollar that is wilfully wasted or stolen by the servants of ,god4 ,the tithing books are kept as accurately and as perfectly as any books are kept in any bank4 ,every man who pays a dollar tithing gets his credit on the books2 and if he wants to see that his credit is there he can go and see for himself4 ,but we do not propose to open our books and show your accounts to every ,tom1 ,dick and ,harry in the land who never did pay any tithing4 ,we do not propose to do that1 if we can help it4 ,but you ,latter-day ,saints who pay your tithes and your offerings1 if you want to see for yourselves that you may be eye and ear witnesses1 the books are open to you1 and you can come and examine your accounts any business day you want4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #e4 ,,books ,,open ,,to ,,tithe-,,payers4 ,the man who complains about not knowing what is done with the tithing1 in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred1 is the man who has no credit on the books of the ,church for paying tithing4 ,we do not care to exhibit the books of the ,church to such carpers1 and to that class of people4 ,but there is not a tithe-payer in the ,church who cannot go to the ,presiding ,bishop's office1 or to the office of the ,trustee-in-,trust1 if he desires1 and find his account1 and see to it that every dollar he has given to the ,lord for tithing is credited to him4 ,then1 if he wants to be more searching as a tithe-payer1 and find out what is done with the tithing1 we will set before him the whole thing1 and if he has any good counsel to give us we will take it from him4 ,but we will not--because we do #bid not have to1 and it is not the business of the world to require it--open our books to the world1 unless we wish to4 ,we are not ashamed of them4 ,we are not afraid for them to be inspected4 ,they are honest and straight2 and there is not a man in the world who will look at them1 but will say so1 if he is honest himself4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,we ,,should ,,sympathize ,,with ,,the ,,unfortunate4 ,we too frequently see a disposition on the part of our children to make fun of the unfortunate4 ,a poor cripple1 or a poor1 weak-minded person comes along1 and the boys will poke fun at him1 and make unbecoming remarks about him4 ,this is entirely wrong1 and such a spirit as this should never be witnessed among the children of the ,latter-day ,saints4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 pp4 #hg1 #hh4 ,,charity ,,to ,,be ,,accepted ,,only ,,when ,,necessary4 ,there is such a thing as encouraging idleness and fostering pauperism among men4 ,men and women ought not to be willing to receive charity unless they are compelled to do so to keep them from suffering4 ,every man and woman ought to possess the spirit of independence1 a self-sustaining spirit1 that would prompt him or her to say1 when they are in need1 ,i am willing to give my labor in exchange for that which you give me4 ,no man ought to be satisfied to receive1 and to do nothing for it4 ,after a man is brought down to poverty and is under the necessity of receiving aid1 and his friends give it to him1 he should feel that it is an obligation under which he is placed1 and when the ,lord should open his way he would return the gift4 ,that is the feeling we should cultivate in our hearts1 to make us a free and independent people4 ,the cultivation of any other feeling or spirit than this is calculated to make paupers1 to degrade and bring mankind down to beggary1 which is a most wretched condition for men to be in4 ,it is a bad thing for men to think the world owes them a living1 and all they have to do is to beg or steal to get it4 99 99 99 ,i don't refer to the #bie cripple1 or to those who are enfeebled by age1 because ,i look at them in an entirely different light2 there is a necessity for them to live1 and there is a necessity for us to assist such1 but there is no great need in this world for men and women who are able to work and will not work4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 pp4 #df-dh4 ,,cease ,,to ,,waste ,,time2 ,,cease ,,to ,,be ,,idle4 ,i desire to say to this congregation at this time that ,i have felt very strongly of late a desire1 a responsibility1 ,i may say1 resting upon me1 to admonish the ,latter-day ,saints everywhere to cease loitering away their precious time1 to cease from all idleness4 ,it is said in the revelations that the idler in ,zion shall not eat the bread of the laborer1 and there is vastly too much1 in some parts--not universally1 but there is far too much precious time wasted by the youth of ,zion1 and perhaps by some that are older and more experienced and who ought to know better1 in the foolish1 vain and unprofitable practice of card-playing4 ,we hear of card parties here and card parties there1 and entertainments where the playing of cards is the principal amusement2 and the whole evening is thus wasted4 ,the whole precious time of those who are gathered together on occasions of this kind1 aggregating many hours1 absolutely wasted4 ,if there was nothing else to be said against this practice1 that alone should be sufficient to induce ,latter-day ,saints not to indulge in this foolish and unprofitable pastime4 ,read good books4 ,learn to sing and to recite1 and to converse upon subjects that will be of interest to your associates1 and at your social gatherings1 instead of wasting the time in senseless practices that lead only to mischief and sometimes to serious evil and wrongdoing2 instead of doing this1 seek out of the best books knowledge and understanding4 ,read history4 ,read philosophy1 if you wish4 ,read anything that is good1 that will elevate the mind and will add to your stock of knowledge1 that those who associate #bif with you may feel an interest in your pursuit of knowledge and of wisdom4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #ih4 ,,gospel ,,blessing ,,obtained ,,by ,,labor4 ,we can never attain to the blessings of the gospel by merely becoming acquainted with it and then sitting down and doing nothing ourselves to stem the current of evil that is preying upon us and upon the world4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #dj4 ,,idlers ,,have ,,no ,,place ,,in ,,zion4 ,there should be no idlers in ,zion4 ,even the poor who have to be assisted should be willing to do all in their power to earn their own living4 ,not one man or woman should be content to sit down and be fed1 clothed1 or housed without any exertion on his or her part to compensate for these privileges4 ,all men and women should feel a degree of independence of character that would stimulate them to do something for a living1 and not be idle2 for it is written that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer of ,zion1 and he shall not have place among us4 ,therefore1 it is necessary that we should be industrious1 that we should intelligently apply our labor to something that is productive and conducive to the welfare of the human family4 ,god help us to do this1 is my prayer4 ,amen4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #db2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #db3db2 #fh3cj2 #ge3bi4 ,a ,,message ,,of ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,on ,,behalf ,,of ,,the ,,poor4 ,the position of the ,latter-day ,saints in regard to the poor is perhaps well understood by most readers of the ,era4 ,but there are some points which are not quite clear to a number of our friends4 ,god has commanded this people to remember the poor1 and to give means for their support4 ,no other community1 perhaps1 has proved more willing than the ,latter-day ,saints to obey this command4 ,they have demonstrated this in the past and have been very willing to impart of their properties to aid the poor and unfortunate1 not only in their own midst1 but also those who live in other nations and other #big places in our own country4 ,no call for help has ever been heard in vain by them4 ,and this is true1 notwithstanding the fact that they have often suffered from unjust oppression and great poverty1 in which they have received little1 if any1 sympathy and no help4 ,they have always taken care of themselves and besides have helped others4 ,a leading mission of the ,church is to teach the gospel of ,christ in the world4 ,it has an important message to deliver1 which not only includes the spiritual salvation of men1 but also their temporal welfare4 ,it not only teaches that faith is necessary1 but also that works are required4 ,belief in ,jesus is well and good1 but it must be of a living 'kind which induces the believer to work out his own salvation1 and to aid others to do the same4 ,we do not believe in charity as a business2 but rather we depend on mutual helpfulness4 ,while the gospel message requires faith and repentance1 it requires also that temporal necessities must be met4 ,so the ,lord has revealed plans for the temporal salvation of the people4 ,for the benefit of the poor we have the fast instituted1 a leading object of which among other things is to provide the poor with food and other necessities until they may help themselves4 ,for it is clear that plans which contemplate only relieving present distress are deficient4 ,the ,church has always sought to place its members in a way to help themselves1 rather than adopting the method of so many charitable institutions of providing for only present needs4 ,when the help is withdrawn or used up1 more must be provided from the same source1 thus making paupers of the poor and teaching them the incorrect principle of relying upon others' help1 instead of depending upon their own exertions4 ,this plan has made the ,latter-day ,saints independent wherever they have settled4 ,it has prevented a constant recurring of calls for help and established permanent conditions by which the people help themselves4 ,our idea of charity1 therefore1 is to relieve present wants and then to #bih put the poor in a way to help themselves so that in turn they may help others4 ,the funds are committed for distribution to wise men1 generally to bishops of the ,church1 whose duty it is to look after the poor4 ,we submit the equitable fast-day plan of the ,lord to the churches of the world as a wise and systematic way of providing for the poor4 ,i say equitable because it gives an opportunity for the contribution of much or little1 according to the position and standing of those who contribute2 and besides1 it helps both the giver and the receiver4 ,if the churches would adopt the universal monthly fast-day1 as observed by the ,latter-day ,saints1 and devote the means saved during the day to the alleviation1 blessing and benefit of the poor1 and with a view to helping them to help themselves1 there would soon be no poor in the land4 ,it would be a simple matter for people to comply with this requirement to abstain from food and drink one day each month1 and to dedicate what would be consumed during that day to the poor1 and as much more as they pleased4 ,the ,lord has instituted this law2 it is simple and perfect1 based on reason and intelligence1 and would not only prove a solution to the question of providing for the poor1 but it would result in good to those who observe the law4 ,it would call attention to the sin of over-eating1 place the body in subjection to the spirit1 and so promote communion with the ,holy ,ghost1 and insure a spiritual strength and power which the people of the nation so greatly need4 ,as fasting should always be accompanied by prayer1 this law would bring the people nearer to ,god1 and divert their minds once a month at least1 from the mad rush of worldly affairs and cause them to be brought into immediate contact with practical1 pure and undefiled religion--to visit the fatherless and the widow1 and keep themselves unspotted from the sins of the world4 ,for religion is not in believing the commandments #bii only1 it is in doing them4 ,i would to ,god that men would not only believe ,jesus ,christ and his teachings1 but would broaden their belief to the extent of doing the things that are taught by him1 and doing them in spirit4 ,he certainly taught fasting1 prayer and helpfulness4 ,no better start can be made than by fasting1 praying to ,god1 and sacrificing means for the poor4 ,this law combines belief and practice1 faith and works1 without which neither ,armenian nor ,latter-day ,saint1 neither ,jew nor ,gentile1 can be saved4 ,when appeals are made to the ,latter-day ,saints for aid1 they are always willing to comply2 but we have also our mission to perform2 to preach the gospel1 to establish peace1 secure plenty1 and promote happiness in the land2 and our people have learned through the commandments of ,god how to take care of themselves and are trying to help others to do likewise4 ,they are ever helping each other and it is seldom that poor are found among them who are unprovided for4 ,they are practically independent and may become entirely so by a stricter adherence to the law of the ,lord6 ,we believe that if other communities would adopt the plans of consecration1 fasting1 and tithing1 which the ,lord has revealed to the ,latter-day ,saints and carry them out in spirit1 with faith and works1 that poverty and pauperism would be greatly reduced or entirely overcome4 ,opportunities would be presented so that all might obtain work and thus provide for themselves2 and the other command of the ,lord would be obeyed3 ,thou shalt not be idle2 for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #aj1 pp4 #hca-hcc4 #cjj ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,temperance2 ,,the ,,sabbath ,,man ,,should ,,be ,,master ,,of ,,his ,,appetites4 ,how humiliating it must be to a thoughtful man to feel that he is a slave to his appetites1 or to an over-weening and pernicious habit1 desire or passion4 ,we believe in strict temperance4 ,we believe in abstinence from all injurious practices1 and from the use of all hurtful things4 ,poison1 in the judgment of the physician1 may be beneficial1 under some conditions in life1 as a momentary relief2 but poison1 under any circumstance1 should only be used as a temporary expedient1 necessary1 perhaps1 in our best judgment1 for the time being1 for the instant--for sudden and certain desired relief--but the continued use of that poison will fasten its fangs upon us1 so to speak1 in such a way that by and by we will find that we are overpowered by it1 and we become slaves of the pernicious habit that becomes a tyrannical master over us4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #d4 ,,moderation4 ,we may make evil of all amusements1 but the ,saints should not be unwise1 but rather understand what the will of the ,lord is1 and practice moderation in all things4 ,they should avoid excesses and cease from sin1 putting far from them the lusts of men2 and in their amusements and pastimes adopt a course that looks to the spirit as well as the letter1 the intention and not the act alone1 the whole and not the part1 which is the meaning of moderation4 ,in this way their conduct will be reasonable and becoming1 and they shall find no trouble in understanding the will of the ,lord4 ,let me exhort the young people particularly1 and the ,saints generally1 to weigh well the value of moderation in all their actions and amusements4 ,remember1 too1 that excessive #cja feasting is not good2 neither is excessive labor1 but idleness and waste of precious time is infinitely worse4 ,let your moderation be known to all men4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 p4 #heg1 ,sept41 #aijc4 ,,temperance4 ,we endorse any movement looking to temperance1 looking to virtue1 tending to purity of life and to faith in ,god and obedience to his laws2 and we are against evil of every description2 and we are1 in our faith and prayers1 against evil-doers--not that we would pray for evil to come upon evil-doers1 but that evil-doers might see the folly of their ways and the wickedness of their acts and repent of them and turn away from them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #h4 ,,how ,,to ,,teach ,,temperance4 ,the best way to teach temperance is to keep the ,word of ,wisdom2 and the next best is to assist others to keep it1 by removing artificial temptations from their lives4 ,such temptation is the saloon1 and it is time that the sentiment in the communities where the members of the ,church reside should be declared against this soul-destroying evil4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #df1 p4 #ccc1 ,june1 #aiaa4 ,,use ,,of ,,tobacco ,,and ,,strong ,,drinks4 ,the use of tobacco in its various forms and of strong drinks to some extent is also to be lamented and deplored1 especially among the youth1 and this evil should be stamped out4 ,the people of ,god should set their faces like flint against these practices1 and they should see to it that their children are taught better1 and that a better example is set before them by their parents1 in order that the children may grow up without sin in these things4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #b4 ,,do ,,not ,,smoke4 ,teach your children not to smoke2 persuade them not to do it4 ,watch and look after them1 and try to teach them better1 and to be courteous and kind4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #hf4 ,,the ,,saloon4 ,no member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints can afford to do himself the dishonor1 #cjb or bring upon himself the disgrace1 of crossing the threshold of a liquor saloon or a gambling hell1 or of any house of ill-fame of whatever name or nature it may be4 ,no ,latter-day ,saint1 no member of the ,church1 can afford it1 for it is humiliating to him1 it is disgraceful in him to do it1 and ,god will judge him according to his works4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #g4 ,if1 ,i say1 the people observe the principles of this revelation 7,doctrine and ,covenants #hi71 there could not exist in their midst that most obnoxious institution known as a saloon2 it can not exist where only ,latter-day ,saints dwell4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #f4 ,,defeat ,,the ,,liquor ,,interests4 ,the liquor interests--the enemies of the race--are again making keen efforts to restore the former low-down conditions4 ,in some places1 we understand1 enough petitioners have already been obtained and the names filed with the commissioners requesting an election this ,june4 ,with all good people we join in hoping that these efforts may utterly fail to restore the saloon4 ,this should be the desire of all ,latter-day ,saints1 and their prayers should be supported by their works and votes4 ,in these elections the wives1 mothers and sisters have their golden opportunity with fathers and brothers to arise and utterly crush the cursed traffic in drink for which so many have suffered in sweat1 and pain1 and tears4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #af1 #aiab-ac1 p4 #hbd4 ,,vitality ,,and ,,patent ,,medicines4 ,instead of flocking out to hear smooth-tongued impostors people should leave them severely alone4 ,instead of dosing themselves with patent medicines1 they should learn to keep their bodies healthy by right living 7see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,sec #hi71 by inhaling pure air1 taking plenty of exercise1 and bathing not only often in fresh water1 but also in the sunshine with which our merciful ,father has so abundantly provided us4 ,if there are cases of sickness1 as there will be #cjc notwithstanding any precaution we may take1 which common sense and good nursing1 or simple home remedies do not suffice to cure1 let us follow the advice of the ,scriptures 7,james #e3ad-af71 but if we do not believe in the elders1 or in the prayer of faith saving the sick1 let a reputable and faithful physician be consulted4 ,by all means1 let the quack the traveling fakir1 the cure-all nostrum1 and the indiscriminate dosing with patent medicine1 be abolished like so much trash4 ,the young man who would cope with the world1 who would be full of vigor1 and fresh for the battle of life1 will find his strength in living according to the word of the ,lord2 for the promise is that all who remember to keep and do these sayings1 walking in obedience to the commandments1 shall receive health in their navel1 and marrow to their bones1 and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge1 even hidden treasures2 and shall run and not be weary1 and shall walk and not faint2 and ,i1 the ,lord1 give unto them a promise1 that the destroying angel shall pass by them1 as the children of ,israel1 and not slay them4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 ,june1 #aijb1 p4 #fbd4 ,,stamp ,,out ,,profanity ,,and ,,vulgarity4 ,we should stamp out profanity1 and vulgarity1 and everything of that character that exists among us2 for all such things are incompatible with the gospel and inconsistent with the people of ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 p4 #b4 ,,saturday',s ,,work4 ,a good modern eighth commandment might read something like this3 ,do not so overwork and fret on ,saturday as to deprive the ,sabbath of the devotions and worship that belong to it as a day of rest4 ,in the home1 ,saturday is the day set apart for house cleaning1 for extra cooking1 for mending and all sorts of repairs that the ,sabbath is thought to require4 ,in business1 ,saturday is a day for picking up all lose ends1 for closing up all the unfinished details of a week's work4 #cjd ,the consequences of our modern treatment of the last day of the week are too often manifested in an indolence and supine indifference that make our feelings and a total lack of energy almost incompatible with the spirit of worship4 ,no worn-out man or woman1 by the excessive toil of an early ,saturday morning and a late ,saturday night1 can properly worship ,god in spirit and in truth4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dd1 ,july1 #aiji1 p4 #bie4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,sabbath4 ,the ,sabbath is a day of rest and of worship1 designated and set apart by special commandment of the ,lord to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and we should honor and keep it holy4 ,we should also teach our children this principle4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 pp4 #a1 #b4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,sunday4 ,true1 ,sunday is a day of rest1 a change from the ordinary occupations of the week1 but it is more than that4 ,it is a day of worship1 a day in which the spiritual life of man may be enriched4 ,a day of indolence1 a day of physical recuperation is too often a very different thing from the ,god-ordained day of rest4 ,physical exhaustion and indolence are incompatible with a spirit of worship4 ,a proper observance of the duties and devotions of the ,sabbath day will1 by its change and its spiritual life1 give the best rest that men can enjoy on the ,sabbath day4 ,saturday evening may be wisely set apart as a time for thoughtful conversation or helpful reading as an introduction to the ,sabbath day4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dd1 ,july1 #aiji1 p4 #big4 ,,what ,,shall ,,we ,,do ,,on ,,the ,,sabbath ,,day8 ,my belief is that it is the duty of ,latter-day ,saints to honor the ,sabbath day and keep it holy1 just as the ,lord has commanded us to do4 ,go to the house of prayer4 ,listen to instructions4 ,bear your testimony to the truth4 ,drink at the fountain of knowledge and of instruction1 as it may be opened for us from those who are inspired to give us instruction4 ,when #cje we go home1 get the family together4 ,let us sing a few songs4 ,let us read a chapter or two in the ,bible1 or in the ,book of ,mormon1 or in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants4 ,let us discuss the principles of the gospel which pertain to advancement in the school of divine knowledge1 and in this way occupy one day in seven4 ,i think it would be profitable for us to do this4--,m4,i4,a4 ,conference1 ,june #aa1 #aiaf1 ,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #bg1 pp4 #dee-dfj4 ,,necessity ,,of ,,sunday ,,worship4 ,it is imperatively necessary1 at all times1 and especially so when our associations do not afford us the moral and spiritual support which we require for our advancement that we go to the house of the ,lord to worship and mingle with the ,saints1 that their moral and spiritual influence may help to correct our false impressions and restore us to that life which the duties and obligations or our conscience and true religion impose upon us4 ,good times are often dangerous times1 and social fraternity1 if not of the right character1 will prove more harmful than helpful4 ,let us1 therefore1 in the midst of our worldly callings and associations1 not forget that paramount duty which we owe to ourselves and to our ,god4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dg1 ,march1 #aiab1 p4 #ade4 ,,be ,,wise ,,in ,,all ,,you ,,do4 ,leave these poisonous and injurious things alone2 live within your means2 get out of debt2 and keep out of debt2 do not run faster than you can go safely2 be careful and cautious in what you do2 advise with those who have wisdom and experience1 before you leap1 lest you leap into the dark2 and so guard yourselves from possible evil and disadvantage1 that the ,lord can pour out the blessings of heaven upon you1 yes1 open the windows of heaven and pour out upon you blessings that you shall scarcely have room to contain them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,the ,,nature ,,and ,,purpose ,,of ,,fasting4 ,the law to the #cjf ,latter-day ,saints1 as understood by the authorities of the ,church1 is that food and drink are not to be partaken of for twenty-four hours1 from even to even1 and that the ,saints are to refrain from all bodily gratification and indulgences4 ,fast day being on the ,sabbath1 it follows1 of course1 that all labor is to be abstained from4 ,in addition1 the leading and principal object of the institution of the fast among the ,latter-day ,saints was that the poor might be provided with food and other necessities4 ,it is1 therefore1 incumbent upon every ,latter-day ,saint to give to his bishop1 on fast day1 the food that he or his family would consume for the day1 that it may be given to the poor for their benefit and blessing2 or1 in lieu of the food1 that its equivalent amount1 or1 if the person is wealthy1 a liberal donation1 in money1 be so reserved and dedicated to the poor4 ,now1 while the law requires the ,saints in all the world to fast from even to even and to abstain both from food and drink1 it can easily be seen from the ,scriptures1 and especially from the words of ,jesus1 that it is more important to obtain the true spirit of love for ,god and man1 purity of heart and simplicity of intention1 than it is to carry out the cold letter of the law4 ,the ,lord has instituted the fast on a reasonable and intelligent basis1 and none of his works are vain or unwise4 ,his law is perfect in this as in other things4 ,hence1 those who can are required to comply thereto2 it is a duty from which they cannot escape2 but let it be remembered that the observance of the fast day by abstaining twenty-four hours from food and drink is not an absolute rule1 it is no iron-clad law to us1 but it is left with the people as a matter of conscience1 to exercise wisdom and discretion4 ,many are subject to weakness1 others are delicate in health1 and others have nursing babies2 of such it should not be required to fast4 ,neither should parents compel their little children to fast4 ,i have known children to cry for something to eat on fast day4 ,in such cases1 going without #cjg food will do them no good4 ,instead1 they dread the day to come1 and in place of hailing it1 dislike it2 while the compulsion engenders a spirit of rebellion in them1 rather than a love for the ,lord and their fellows4 ,better teach them the principle1 and let them observe it when they are old enough to choose intelligently1 than to so compel them4 ,but those should fast who can1 and all classes among us should be taught to save the meals which they would eat1 or their equivalent1 for the poor4 ,none are exempt from this2 it is required of the ,saints1 old and young1 in every part of the ,church4 ,it is no excuse that in some places there are no poor4 ,in such cases the fast donation should be forwarded to the proper authorities for transmission to such stakes of ,zion as may stand in need4 ,so shall we gain favor in the sight of ,god1 and learn the acceptable fast before him4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,december1 #aijc1 p4 #adf4 ,,keeping ,,the ,,sabbath ,,holy4 ,to observe the ,sabbath day properly is the plain duty of every ,latter-day ,saint--and that includes the young men and young women and the boys and girls4 ,it may seem strange that it should be necessary to repeat this often-asserted fact4 ,but there appear to be some people1 and sometimes whole communities1 who neglect this duty1 and therefore stand in need of this admonition4 ,what are we required to do on the ,sabbath day8 ,the revelations of the ,lord to the ,prophet ,joseph are very plain on this subject1 and these should govern us1 for they are in strict harmony with the teachings of the ,savior4 ,here are some of the simple requirements3 ,the ,sabbath is appointed unto you to rest from your labors4 ,the ,sabbath is a special day for you to worship1 to pray1 and to show zeal and ardor in your religious faith and duty--to pay devotions to the ,most ,high4 #cjh ,the ,sabbath is a day when you are required to offer your time and attention in worship of the ,lord1 whether in meeting1 in the home1 or wherever you may be--that is the thought that should occupy your mind4 ,the ,sabbath day is a day when1 with your brethren and sisters1 you should attend the meetings of the ,saints1 prepared to partake of the sacrament of the ,lord's supper2 having first confessed your sins before the ,lord and your brethren and sisters1 and forgiven your fellows as you expect the ,lord to forgive you4 ,on the ,sabbath day you are to do no other thing than to prepare your food with singleness of heart1 that your fasting may be perfect1 and your joy may be full4 ,this is what the ,lord calls fasting and prayer4 ,the reason for this required course upon the ,sabbath day is also plainly stated in the revelations4 ,it is that one may more fully keep himself unspotted from the world2 and to this end1 also1 the ,saints are required to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments on the ,sabbath day4 ,now1 what is the promise to the ,saints who observe the ,sabbath8 ,the ,lord declares that inasmuch as they do this with cheerful hearts and countenances1 the fulness of the earth is theirs3 the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air1 and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth4 ,yea1 and the herb1 and the good things which cometh of the earth1 whether for food or for raiment1 or for houses1 or for barns1 or for orchards1 or for gardens1 or for vineyards4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #ei47 ,these are all made for the benefit and use of man to please the eye and to gladden the heart1 to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul4 ,all are promised to those who keep the commandments1 and among the commandments is this important one1 to observe properly the ,sabbath day4 #cji ,the ,lord is not pleased with people who know these things and do them not4 ,men are not resting from their labors when they plow1 and plant and haul and dig4 ,they are not resting when they linger around the home all day on ,sunday1 doing odd jobs that they have been too busy to do on other days4 ,men are not showing zeal and ardor in their religious faith and duty when they hustle off early ,sunday morning on the cars1 in teams1 in automobiles1 to the canyons1 the resorts1 and to visit friends or places of amusement with their wives and children4 ,they are not paying their devotions in this way to the ,most ,high4 ,not in seeking pleasure and recreation do they offer their time and attention in the worship of the ,lord2 nor can they thus rejoice in the spirit of forgiveness and worship that comes with partaking of the holy sacrament4 ,boys and young men are not fasting with singleness of heart that their joy may be full when they spend the ,sabbath day loafing around the village ice-cream stand or restaurant1 playing games1 or in buggy riding1 fishing1 shooting1 or engaged in physical sports1 excursions and outings4 ,such is not the course that will keep them unspotted from the world1 but rather one that will deprive them of the rich promises of the ,lord1 giving them sorrow instead of joy1 and unrest and anxiety instead of the peace that comes with works of righteousness4 ,let us play and take recreation to our hearts' content during other days1 but on the ,sabbath let us rest1 worship1 go to the house of prayer1 partake of the sacrament1 cat our food with singleness of heart1 and pay our devotions to ,god1 that the fulness of the earth may be ours1 and that we may have peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come4 ,but1 says one1 in our settlement we have no other #caj day for amusement and sports1 excursions and outings1 ball games and races4 ,then demand one4 ,is it possible that parents1 in the face of the promises of the ,lord1 will deny a day in the week when their children may have recreation2 and so force them to spend the ,sabbath in sports6 ,one prominent man1 in one of the northern stakes1 where ball games and other sports are said to be the rule on ,sunday1 asked what could be done to remedy the evil4 ,he was told to try a half holiday on one of the week days4 ,then1 he replied1 we can have no change nor remedy4 ,here are hundreds of acres of hay and ripening fields crying for workmen1 and we cannot spare our boys for play4 ,the best reply to such an argument is the question3 ,which is best--to let the hay go to ruin1 or the boy8 ,let the hay go2 save the boy4 ,he is worth more than all your material possessions4 ,save him in the spirit of the gospel--protect him from ,sabbath breaking--by offering a little temporal sacrifice1 and the ,lord will keep his promise to you4 ,get together in your ward1 unitedly select a day for play and recreation2 and like faithful ,saints demand that the ,sabbath day1 as far as you and yours are concerned1 shall be devoted to the ,lord our ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ac1 #aiji-aj1 pp4 #hdb-hdd4 ,,do ,,not ,,rob ,,the ,,sabbath ,,day4 ,it is incumbent on members of the ,church to so plan their work that there shall be no excuse for robbing the ,lord's day of its sanctity4 ,to this end let the boys and girls have a half holiday during the week1 which may be profitably used for recreations1 leaving the ,sabbath for spiritual culture and worship4 ,it is equally obligatory that we so plan our amusements that these shall not interfere with our worship4 ,let therefore some other night than ,saturday be provided for the purpose4 ,the ,lord has commanded his people to observe #caa the ,sabbath day to keep it holy1 and on that day to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments in righteousness with willing hearts and penitent spirits4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 #aiji1 p4 #cae4 ,,man ,,must ,,be ,,master ,,of ,,himself4 ,no man is safe unless he is master of himself2 and there is no tyrant more merciless or more to be dreaded than an uncontrollable appetite or passion4 ,we will find that if we give way to the groveling appetites of the flesh and follow them up1 that the end will be invariably bitter1 injurious and sorrowful1 both to the individual and society4 ,it is hurtful in example as well as in its individual effects2 dangerous and hurtful to the unwary2 while the denial of these appetites--the crucifixion of the flesh1 so to speak--and an aspiration for something noble2 whenever possible1 doing good to our fellow creatures1 hoping for the future1 laying up treasures in heaven1 where moth and rust cannot corrupt1 and where thieves cannot break through and steal--all these things will bring everlasting happiness2 happiness for this world and the world to come4 ,if there is no pleasure in the world except that which we experience in the gratification of our physical desires--eating1 drinking1 gay associations1 and the pleasures of the world--then the enjoyments of the world are bubbles1 there is nothing in them1 there is no lasting benefit or happiness to be derived from them4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 #ahhd1 p4 #acj4 #cab ,,chapter ,,xv ,,many ,,duties ,,of ,,man ,,the ,,object ,,of ,,man',s ,,existence4 ,the object of our being here is to do the will of the ,father as it is done in heaven1 to work righteousness in the earth1 to subdue wickedness and put it under our feet1 to conquer sin and the adversary of our souls1 to rise above the imperfections and weaknesses of poor1 fallen humanity1 by the inspiration of ,almighty ,god and his power made manifest1 and thus become indeed the saints and servants of the ,lord in the earth4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #he4 ,,we ,,deal ,,with ,,the ,,lord4 ,we are dealing with our faith and consciences1 you are dealing not with me1 not with the ,presidency of the ,church1 but with the ,lord4 ,i am not dealing with men respecting my tithing1 my dealings are with the ,lord2 that is1 with reference to my own conduct in the ,church as a tithe-payer1 and with reference to my observance of the other laws and rules of the ,church2 if ,i fail to observe the laws of the ,church1 ,i am responsible to my ,god1 and will have to answer to him1 by and by1 for my neglect of duty1 and ,i may have to answer to the ,church for my fellowship4 ,if ,i do my duty1 according to my understanding of the requirements that the ,lord has made of me1 then ,i ought to have a conscience void of offense2 ,i ought to have satisfaction in my soul1 in the consciousness that ,i have simply done my duty as ,i understand it1 and ,i will risk the consequences4 ,with me it is a matter between me and the ,lord2 so it is with every one of us4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 p4 #f4 ,,necessity ,,for ,,all ,,to ,,accomplish ,,their ,,missions4 ,he that sent his ,only ,begotten ,son into the world to accomplish the mission which he did1 also sent every soul within the sound of my voice1 and indeed every man and woman in the world1 to accomplish a mission1 and that mission cannot #cac be accomplished by neglect2 nor by indifference2 nor can it be accomplished in ignorance4 ,we must learn our duty2 learn the requirements that the ,lord has made at our hands1 and understand the responsibilities that he has placed upon us4 ,we should learn the obligation that we are under to ,god and to each other1 and that we are under also to the cause of ,zion1 that has been restored to the earth in the latter days4 ,these things are essential1 and we cannot prosper in spiritual things1 we cannot grow in knowledge and understanding1 our minds cannot expand in the knowledge of ,god1 or in wisdom1 nor in the gifts of the ,holy ,spirit1 without we devote our thoughts and our efforts toward our own betterment1 toward the increase of our own wisdom1 and knowledge in the things of ,god4 ,we labor day by day for the bread that perishes1 and we devote but a few hours1 comparatively1 in seeking to obtain the bread of life4 ,our thoughts1 in great measure1 are placed upon worldly things1 the things that perish1 and therefore we are prone to neglect the higher duties that devolve upon us as the children of our ,father1 and to forget1 in some measure1 the greater obligations that rest upon us4 ,it is therefore proper1 and indeed it becomes the duty of those who are placed upon the towers as watchmen in ,zion1 to exhort the people to diligence1 to prayerfulness1 to humility1 to a love of the truth that has been revealed to them1 and to earnest devotion to the work of the ,lord1 which is intended for their individual salvation1 and so far as they have influence upon others1 the salvation of those whom they may have power to influence to move in the right direction2 not that ,i can save any man1 nor that any one man can save any other man or fit him for exaltation in the kingdom of ,god4 ,this is not given to me to do for others1 nor is it given to any man to be a ,savior in this sense1 or in this way1 to his fellowman2 but men can set an example2 men can urge the precepts of the gospel4 ,men can proclaim the #cad truth to others1 and can point out the way to them in which to walk1 and if they will harken to their counsel1 listen to their admonitions and be led by them1 they themselves will seek the path of life and they will walk in it1 and obtain their exaltation for themselves4 ,and thus the work required of us by the ,lord is an individual work1 it devolves upon each individual alike4 ,no man can be saved in the kingdom of ,god in sin4 ,no man will ever be forgiven of his sins by the just judge1 except be repent of his sins4 ,no man will ever be freed from the power of death unless he is born again as the ,lord ,almighty has decreed1 and declared to the world by the mouth of his ,son in the meridian of time1 and as he has declared it again in this dispensation through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,men can only be saved and exalted in the kingdom of ,god in righteousness1 therefore we must repent of our sins1 and walk in the light as ,christ is in the light1 that his blood may cleanse us from all sins1 and that we may have fellowship with ,god and receive of his glory and exaltation4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #d4 ,,god ,,honors ,,those ,,who ,,honor ,,him4 ,though the ,lord should try me by withholding his blessings from me1 and making me to drink to the very dregs the bitter cup of poverty1 that should make no difference to me4 ,the point is1 what is the law of ,god8 ,and if ,i know that law1 it is my duty to obey it1 though ,i suffer death in consequence4 ,many a man has gone to the stake in obedience1 as he believed1 to the commandments of ,god4 ,not one of the ancient disciples who were chosen of ,jesus ,christ1 escaped martyrdom1 except ,judas and ,john4 ,judas betrayed the ,lord1 and then sacrificed his own life2 and ,john received the promise of the ,lord that he should live until ,he came again to the earth4 ,all the others were put to death1 some crucified1 some dragged in the streets of ,rome1 some thrown from pinnacles1 and some stoned to death4 ,what for8 ,for obeying the law of ,god and bearing testimony to that which they knew to be #cae true4 ,so may it be today4 ,but let the spirit of this gospel be so imbedded in my soul that though ,i go through poverty1 through tribulation1 through persecution1 or to death1 let me and my house serve ,god and keep his laws4 ,however1 the promise is that you shall be blessed through obedience4 ,god will honor those who honor him1 and will remember those who remember him4 ,he will uphold and sustain all those who sustain truth and are faithful to it4 ,god help us1 therefore1 to be faithful to the truth1 now and forever4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 pp4 #di1 #ej4 ,,qualifications ,,of ,,latter-,,day ,,saints4 ,now we all need patience1 forbearance1 forgiveness1 humility1 charity1 love unfeigned1 devotion to the truth1 abhorrence of sin and wickedness1 rebellion and disobedience to the requirements of the gospel4 ,these are the qualifications requisite to ,latter-day ,saints and to becoming ,latter-day ,saints and members in good standing in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ and heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ4 ,no member in good standing in the ,church will be drunken or riotous or profane or will take advantage of his brother or his neighbor1 or will violate the principles of virtue and honor and righteousness4 ,no member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in good standing will ever be chargeable with such offenses as these1 because members will avoid these evils1 and they will live above them4 ,then we have a mission in the world3 each man1 each woman1 each child who has grown to understanding or to the years of accountability1 ought to be an example to the world4 ,they ought not only to be qualified to preach the truth1 to bear testimony of the truth1 but ought to live so that the very life they live1 the very words they speak1 their every action in life will be a sermon to the unwary and to the ignorant1 teaching them goodness1 purity1 uprightness1 faith in ,god and love for the human family4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,perfection ,,in ,,our ,,sphere4 ,i sincerely hope that the #caf spirit of the conference will abide with us1 will go with us to our homes1 and that we will be able to continue to build on the foundations of the gospel of the ,son of ,god until we become perfect1 even as our ,father in heaven is perfect1 according to the sphere and intelligence that we act in and possess4 ,i do not expect that any of us will ever become in mortality quite so perfect as ,god is perfect2 but in the spheres in which we are called to act1 and according to the capacity and breadth of intelligence that we possess1 in our sphere1 and in the existence of the talent1 the ability1 and intelligence that ,god has given to us1 we may become as perfect in our sphere as ,god is perfect in his higher and more exalted sphere4 ,i believe that4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #adj4 ,,let ,,every ,,man ,,live ,,to ,,bear ,,closest ,,inspection4 ,let every man's life be so that his character will bear the closest inspection1 and that it may be seen as an open book1 so that he will have nothing to shrink from or be ashamed of4 ,let all men who are elevated to positions of trust in the ,church live so that no man can point to their faults1 because they will have no faults2 so that no man can justly accuse them of wrongdoing1 because they do no wrong2 that no man can point out their defects as human and as weak mortals1 because they are living up to the principles of the gospel1 and are not merely weak human creatures1 devoid of the ,spirit of ,god and the power to live above sin4 ,that is the way for all men to live in the kingdom of ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #i1 #aj4 ,,need ,,of ,,individual ,,responsibility4 ,it is not safe for men or women to conclude that because they have fulfilled carefully their public responsibilities they have done all that is required of them4 ,public requirements are changeable4 ,public demands vary with the times4 ,sometimes they are strict and sometimes they are very lax4 ,public sentiment becomes fickle and it is often indifferent to the conduct of individuals who take license from a public indifference to wrongdoing4 #cag ,individual responsibility is more concerned with the duties which men owe to their ,god whose requirements are positive and constant4 ,when men feel that they are ever under an ,all-seeing ,eye1 their conduct is measured in the strictest terms4 ,they are not subject to lapses of public sentiment4 ,the first and highest standard of correct living is to be found in that individual responsibility which keeps men good for the truth's sake4 ,it is not difficult for men who are true to themselves to be true to others4 ,men who honor ,god in their private lives do not need the restraint of public opinion which may not only be indifferent but positively wrong4 ,it is by the individual responsibilities which men feel that they are able to place themselves on the right side of all public questions4 ,those who neglect the inner life are dependent upon public guidance which leads them into all sorts of inconsistencies4 ,to walk safely and steadfastly without leaning upon the arm of flesh is the individual duty of every ,latter-day ,saint4 ,such a duty becomes a responsibility which men owe to themselves and to their ,god4 ,the ,saints should study their responsibilities1 both public and individual1 and find out1 if they can1 just what they are4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,december1 #aiji1 ,vol4 #dd1 p4 #eai4 ,,conquer ,,ourselves ,,first4 ,i feel very grateful for the excellent peace and spirit which has pervaded all our meetings4 ,it is true we are all engaged in a warfare1 and all of us should be valiant warriors in the cause in which we are engaged4 ,our first enemy we will find within ourselves4 ,it is a good thing to overcome that enemy first and bring ourselves into subjection to the will of the ,father1 and into strict obedience to the principles of life and salvation which he has given to the world for the salvation of men4 ,when we shall have conquered ourselves1 it will be well for us to wage our war without1 against false teachings1 #cah false doctrines1 false customs1 habits and ways1 against error1 unbelief1 the follies of the world that are so prevalent1 and against infidelity1 and false science1 under the name of science1 and every other thing that strikes at the foundations of the principles set forth in the doctrine of ,christ for the redemption of men and the salvation of their souls4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #abh4 ,,let ,,us ,,conquer ,,ourselves4 ,let us conquer ourselves1 and then go to and conquer all the evil that we see around us1 as far as we possibly can4 ,and we will do it without using violence2 we will do it without interfering with the agency of men or of women4 ,we will do it by persuasion1 by long-suffering1 by patience1 and by forgiveness and love unfeigned1 by which we will win the hearts1 the affections and the souls of the children of men to the truth as ,god has revealed it to us4 ,we will never have peace1 nor justice1 nor truth1 until we look to the only true fountain for it1 and receive from the fountainhead4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #abi4 ,,charity ,,the ,,greatest ,,principle4 ,charity1 or love1 is the greatest principle in existence4 ,if we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed1 if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow1 if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind1 it is our mission to do it1 it is an essential part of our religion to do it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiah1 p4 #d4 ,,look ,,for ,,good2 ,,not ,,for ,,evil4 ,change the focus of your view1 and of your eye1 from watching for evil to watching for that which is good1 that which is pure1 and leading and prompting those who err into that path which has no error in it1 and that will not admit of mistakes4 ,look for good in men1 and where they fail to possess it1 try to build it up in them2 try to increase the good in them2 look for the good2 build up the good2 sustain the good2 and speak as little about the evil as you possibly can4 ,it does not do any good to magnify evil1 to publish evil1 or to promulgate #cai it by tongue or pen4 ,there is no good to be obtained by it4 ,it is better to bury the evil and magnify the good1 and prompt all men to forsake evil and learn to do good2 and let our mission be to save mankind and to teach and guide in the path of righteousness1 and not to sit as judges and pass judgment upon evil-doers1 but rather to be saviors of men4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #h4 ,,estimate ,,men ,,by ,,their ,,noble ,,deeds4 ,one fruitful source of apostasy from the ,church comes from an inclination on the part of those who apostatize to consider the small1 mostly unintentionally committed errors of its officers1 rather than the broader and more important labors which enter into their experience4 ,young men so inclined turn from the infinite truth of the gospel1 and the mighty plan of salvation1 the eternal purposes of ,god1 to carp and cavil upon the insignificant actions and the imperfect achievements of men1 judging the inspiring magnitude of the former by the disagreeable and tiresome detail of the latter4 ,many of the serious annoyances of communal life among the ,saints would be obliterated entirely1 if men would search for the great and noble aspirations actuating their neighbors1 rather than for the imperfect sidelights that lay bare their puny shortcomings4 ,those who wish to advance in the world will avoid soul-destroying1 mind-narrowing thoughts1 and devote the days allotted to them1 which it will be found are none too numerous1 in studying the greater1 nobler1 and grander subjects that tend to build character1 provide happiness1 and create harmony with the mighty purposes of the ,church and its founder1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,let us estimate our brethren by their best desires and noblest aspirations1 not by their trifling shortcomings and failures4 ,we estimate the majesty of the ,wasatch by ,monte ,christo1 ,baldy1 ,observatory1 the mighty ,cottonwoods1 ,clayton1 ,timpanogos1 and ,nebo--its loftiest peaks--not by its rolling elevations or hillocky spurs1 rocky ravines or trifling #cbj canyons4 ,so also let us judge our fellows1 and so the ,church4 ,it is the better way4--,improvement ,era1 ,march1 #aijb1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #chh4 ,,let ,,us ,,sustain ,,one ,,another4 ,let us sustain ,christ1 his people1 and his cause of righteousness and redemption2 let us sustain one another in the right1 and kindly admonish one another in regard to wrongdoing1 that we may be friends and saviors on ,mount ,zion1 one for another1 and that we may help the weak and strengthen them1 encourage the doubtful and bring light to their right understanding as far as it is possible1 that we may be instrumental in the hands of ,god of being saviors among men4 ,not that we have power to save men4 ,we have not2 but we have power to show them how they can obtain salvation through obedience to the laws of ,god4 ,we can show them how to walk in order to be saved1 for we have the right to do that1 we have knowledge and understanding as to how to do it1 and it is our privilege to teach it and to enforce it by example as well as by precept among our associates wherever we are in the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #i1 #aj4 ,,do ,,not ,,bear ,,malice ,,against ,,one ,,another4 ,brethren and sisters1 we want you to be united4 ,we hope and pray that you will go from this conference to your homes feeling in your hearts and from the depths of your souls to forgive one another1 and never from this time forth to bear malice toward another fellow creature4 ,i do not care whether he is a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints or not1 whether he is a friend or a foe1 whether he is good or bad4 ,it is extremely hurtful for any man holding the priesthood1 and enjoying the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 to harbor a spirit of envy1 or malice1 or retaliation1 or intolerance toward or against his fellowmen4 ,we ought to say in our hearts1 let ,god judge between me and thee1 but as for me1 ,i will forgive4 ,i want to say to you that ,latter-day ,saints who harbor a feeling of unforgiveness #cba in their souls are more guilty and more censurable than the one who has sinned against them4 ,go home and dismiss envy and hatred from your hearts2 dismiss the feeling of unforgiveness2 and cultivate in your souls that spirit of ,christ which cried out upon the cross1 ,father1 forgive them2 for they know not what they do4 ,this is the spirit that ,latter-day ,saints ought to possess all the day long4 ,the man who has that spirit in his heart and keeps it there will never have any trouble with his neighbor2 he will never have any difficulties to bring before the bishop1 nor high council2 but he will always be at peace with himself1 at peace with his neighbors1 and at peace with ,god4 ,it is a good thing to be at peace with ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 pp4 #hf1 #hg4 ,,honor ,,yourselves ,,and ,,your ,,neighbors4 ,we admonish1 we beseech our brothers and sisters1 in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 not only to honor themselves by a proper course of living1 but also to honor and love and be charitable to their neighbors1 every one of them4 ,we admonish you not only to keep the greatest of all the commandments that has ever been given of ,god to man1 to love the ,lord your ,god1 with all your heart1 and mind1 and strength1 but we exhort you also to observe that second law1 next unto it1 to love your neighbors as yourselves2 return good for evil1 do not revile others because you are or may be reviled4 ,we have no need to tear down the houses of other people 7using this expression as a symbol74 ,we are perfectly willing that they should live in the homes they have erected for themselves1 and we will try to show them a better way4 ,while we will not condemn that which they love and cherish above all other things in the world1 we will endeavor to show them a better way and build them a better house1 and then invite them kindly1 in the spirit of ,christ1 of true ,christianity1 to enter the better dwelling4 ,this is the principle1 and ,i wish to impress it upon you this morning4 ,i desire to impress1 if ,i can1 upon the minds of the parents the necessity of properly #cbb instructing and teaching their children with reference to this glorious principle1 charity and love1 that love for our neighbor that will enable us to cherish his rights as sacredly as we cherish our own1 to defend his rights and liberties1 put up the fallen bars in the fences of our neighbors that are carelessly left down1 just as we would put our own bars up surrounding our own fields1 in order to protect our crops from the ravages of stray animals4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 p4 #d4 ,,avoid ,,courts4 ,be reconciled to each other4 ,do not go to the courts of the ,church nor to the courts of the land for litigation4 ,settle your own troubles and difficulties2 and1 as ,bishop ,hunter used to say1 which is an axiom that cannot be disputed1 there is only one way in which a difficulty existing between man and man can be truly settled1 and that is when they get together and settle it between them4 ,the courts cannot settle troubles between me and my brother4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,,let ,,us ,,live ,,our ,,religion4 ,i will say now to all of the ,latter-day ,saints3 ,let us live our religion2 let us pay our tithing and be blessed2 let us remember the poor and the needy1 and sustain and help them2 let us visit the sick and afflicted1 and administer consolation unto them2 let us help the weak2 let us do all in our power to build up ,zion1 to establish righteousness in the earth1 and to plant in the hearts of the people the glorious truth that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,redeemer of the world1 that ,joseph ,smith is a prophet of the living ,god1 whom the ,lord raised up in these last days to restore the everlasting gospel and the power of the holy priesthood to the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hh4 ,,let ,,us ,,be ,,true ,,to ,,the ,,faith4 ,we should set an example2 we should be true to the faith1 as ,brother ,stephens sings to us2 true to the faith6 ,we should be true to our covenants1 true to our ,god1 and true to one another1 and to the interests of ,zion1 no matter what the consequences may be1 no matter what may result4 ,i can tell you that the man #cbc who is not true to ,zion and to the interests of the people will be the man who will be found1 by and by1 left out and in a pitiable spiritual condition4 ,the man who stays with the kingdom of ,god1 the man who is true to this people1 the man who keeps himself pure and unspotted from the world1 is the man that ,god will accept1 that ,god will uphold1 that he will sustain1 and that will prosper in the land1 whether he be in the enjoyment of his liberty or be confined in prison cells1 it makes no difference where he is1 he will come out all right4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #i4 ,,church ,,duties ,,are ,,paramount4 ,our duties in the ,church should be1 ,i think1 paramount to every other interest in the world4 ,it is true that we are under the necessity of looking after our worldly interests4 ,it is1 of course1 necessary for us to labor with our hands and our minds1 in our various occupations for obtaining the necessaries of life4 ,it is essential that the ,latter-day ,saints should be industrious and persevering in all the labors that devolve upon them1 for it is written that the inhabitants of ,zion shall remember their labors1 inasmuch as they are appointed to labor1 in all faithfulness2 for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the ,lord4 ,again it is written3 ,let every man be diligent in all things4 ,and the idler shall not have place in the ,church1 except he repent and mend his ways4 ,again3 ,thou shalt not be idle2 for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer4 ,but in all our labors in life1 in all the cares that beset us1 and the temporal responsibilities that rest upon us1 we should put uppermost in our thoughts1 and highest in our appreciation and love1 the cause of ,zion1 which is indeed the cause of truth and righteousness4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #b4 ,see ,doc4 and ,cov4 #db3db2 #fh3cj2 #ge3bi4 ,,we ,,should ,,study ,,the ,,gospel4 ,i believe it is good to seek knowledge out of the best books1 to learn the histories of nations1 to be able to comprehend the purposes of #cbd ,god with reference to the nations of the earth2 and ,i believe that one of the most important things1 and perhaps more important to us than studying the history of the world1 is that we study and become thoroughly acquainted with the principles of the gospel1 that they may be established in our hearts and souls1 above all other things1 to qualify us to go out into the world to preach and teach them4 ,we may know all about the philosophy of the ages and the history of the nations of the earth2 we may study the wisdom and knowledge of man and get all the information that we can acquire in a lifetime of research and study1 but all of it put together will never qualify any one to become a minister of the gospel unless he has the knowledge and spirit of the first principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #ach4 ,,encourage ,,singing4 ,it delights my heart to see our little children learning to sing1 and to see the people1 our people everywhere1 improving their talents as good singers4 ,everywhere we go among our people1 we find sweet voices and talent for music4 ,i believe that this is a manifestation to us of the purpose of the ,lord in this direction toward our people1 that they will excel in these things1 as they should excel in every other good thing4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 ,sunday ,school1 #aijd1 p4 #ha4 ,,cultivate ,,singing4 ,i can remember when ,i was a little boy1 hearing my father sing4 ,i do not know how much of a singer he was1 for at that time ,i was not capable of judging as to the quality of his singing1 but the hymns he sang became familiar to me1 even in the days of my childhood4 ,i believe that ,i can sing them still1 although ,i am not much of a singer4 ,when young men go out into the world to preach the gospel1 they will find it very beneficial for them to know how to sing the songs of ,zion4 ,i repeat the admonition and request made by ,brother ,mc,murrin1 who #cbe has recently returned from a lengthy mission to ,europe1 that the young men who are eligible to preach the gospel1 and who are likely to be called into the missionary field1 begin at once to improve their talent to sing1 and do not think it is beneath their dignity to join the choirs of the wards in which they live and learn how to sing4 ,when we listen to this choir1 under the leadership of ,brother ,stephens1 we listen to music1 and music is truth4 ,good music is gracious praise of ,god4 ,it is delightsome to the ear1 and it is one of our most acceptable methods of worshiping ,god4 ,and those who sing in the choir and in all the choirs of the ,saints1 should sing with the spirit and with the understanding4 ,they should not sing merely because it is a profession1 or because they have a good voice2 but they should sing also because they have the spirit of it1 and can enter into the spirit of prayer and praise to ,god who gave them their sweet voices4 ,my soul is always lifted up1 and my spirit cheered and comforted1 when ,i hear good music4 ,i rejoice in it very much indeed4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #fh1 #fi4 ,,be ,,free ,,from ,,debt4 ,one of these subjects is1 that in the time of prosperity1 which we are now enjoying1 it is highly proper for the ,latter-day ,saints to get out of debt4 ,i have unceasingly urged this thought upon the brethren for the past year or more4 ,wherever ,i have had the opportunity of speaking1 ,i have scarcely ever forgotten to hold out to the people the necessity--that ,i feel1 at least--of our settling our obligations and freeing ourselves from debt in the day of prosperity4 ,our experience in the years that have passed must have led us to the conclusion that we have periods of prosperity1 followed by periods of depression4 ,we have now had a long period of success and prosperity1 and we may expect1 almost at any time1 to see these conditions change and a time of depression spread over the land and over the people4 ,i would say1 in connection with this subject1 that one of the best ways that ,i know of to pay my #cbf obligations to my brother1 my neighbor1 or business associate1 is for me first to pay my obligations to the ,lord4 ,i can pay more of my debts to my neighbors1 if ,i have contracted them1 after ,i have met my honest obligations with the ,lord1 than ,i can by neglecting the latter2 and you can do the same4 ,if you desire to prosper1 and to be free men and women and a free people1 first meet your just obligations to ,god1 and then meet your obligations to your fellowman4 ,bishop ,hunter used to put the matter in these words3 ,brethren1 pay your tithing and be blessed1 and that is just what ,i mean4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #b4 ,,what ,,the ,,lord ,,requires ,,of ,,his ,,saints4 ,there is a circumstance recorded in the ,scriptures1 that has been brought forcibly to my mind while listening to the remarks of the elders who have spoken to us during conference4 ,a young man came to ,jesus and asked what good things he should do that he might have eternal life4 ,jesus said unto him1 ,keep the commandments4 ,the young man asked which of them4 ,then ,jesus enumerated to him some of the commandments that he was to keep--he should not murder1 nor commit adultery1 nor steal1 nor bear false witness1 but he should honor his father and mother1 and love his neighbor as himself1 etc4 ,said the young man1 ,all these ,i have kept from my youth up3 what lack ,i yet8 ,jesus said1 ,if thou wilt be perfect1 go and sell that thou hast1 and give to the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven3 and come and follow me4 ,and we are told that he turned away sorrowful1 because he had great possessions4 ,he would not hearken to1 nor obey the law of ,god in this matter4 ,not that ,jesus required of the young man to go and sell all that he possessed and give it away2 that is not the principle involved4 ,the great principle involved is that which the elders of ,israel are endeavoring to enforce upon the minds of the ,latter-day ,saints today4 ,when the young man turned away in sorrow1 ,jesus said to his disciples1 ,a rich man #cbg shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven4 7,see ,matt4 #ai3af-bc47 ,is this because the rich man is rich8 ,no4 ,may not the rich man1 who has the light of ,god in his heart1 who possesses the principle and spirit of truth1 and who understands the principle of ,god's government and law in the world1 enter into the kingdom of heaven as easily1 and be as acceptable there as the poor man may8 ,precisely4 ,god is not a respecter of persons4 ,the rich man may enter into the kingdom of heaven as freely as the poor1 if he will bring his heart and affections into subjection to the law of ,god and to the principle of truth2 if he will place his affections upon ,god1 his heart upon the truth1 and his soul upon the accomplishment of ,god's purposes1 and not fix his affections and his hopes upon the things of the world4 ,here is the difficulty1 and this was the difficulty with the young man4 ,he had great possessions1 and he preferred to rely upon his wealth rather than forsake all and follow ,christ4 ,if he had possessed the spirit of truth in his heart to have known the will of ,god1 and to have loved the ,lord with all his heart and his neighbor as himself1 he would have said to the ,lord1 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,i will do as you require1 ,i will go and sell all that ,i have1 and give it to the poor4 ,if he had had it in his heart to do this1 that alone might have been sufficient1 and the demand would probably have stopped there2 for undoubtedly the ,lord did not deem it essential for him to go and give his riches away1 or to sell his possessions and give the proceeds away1 in order that he might be perfect1 for that1 in a measure1 would have been improvident4 ,yet1 if it had required all this to test him and to prove him1 to see whether he loved the ,lord with all his heart1 mind1 and strength1 and his neighbor as himself1 then he ought to have been willing to do it2 and if he had been1 he would have lacked nothing and would have received the gift of eternal life1 which is the greatest gift of ,god1 and which can be received on no #cbh other principle than the one mentioned by ,jesus to the young man4 ,if you will read the sixth lecture on faith1 in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 you will learn that no man can obtain the gift of eternal life unless he is willing to sacrifice all earthly things in order to obtain it4 ,we cannot do this so long as our affections are fixed upon the world4 ,it is true that we are in a measure of the earth1 earthy2 we belong to the world4 ,our affections and our souls are here2 our treasures are here1 and where the treasure is there the heart is4 ,but if we will lay up our treasures in heaven2 if we will wean our affections from the things of this world1 and say to the ,lord our ,god1 ,father1 not my will1 but thine be done1 then may the will of ,god be done on earth as it is done in heaven1 and the kingdom of ,god in its power and glory will be established upon the earth4 ,sin and ,satan will be bound and banished from the earth1 and not until we attain to this condition of mind and faith will this be done4 ,then let the ,saints unite2 let them hearken to the voices of the servants of ,god that are sounded in their ears2 let them hearken to their counsels and give heed to the truth2 let them seek their own salvation1 for1 so far as ,i am concerned1 ,i am so selfish that ,i am seeking after my salvation1 and ,i know that ,i can find it only in obedience to the laws of ,god1 in keeping the commandments1 in performing works of righteousness1 following in the footsteps of our file leader1 ,jesus the ,exemplar and the ,head of all4 ,he is the ,way of life1 he is the ,light of the world1 he is the ,door by which we must enter1 in order that we may have a place with him in the celestial kingdom of ,god4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ah1 #ahgg1 pp4 #acc-ace4 ,,cultivate ,,gratitude4 ,we are almost daily put under obligations to one another1 especially to friends and acquaintances1 and the sense of obligation creates within us feelings of thankfulness and appreciation which we call gratitude4 ,the spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying #cbi because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others2 it begets love and friendship1 and engenders divine influence4 ,gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart4 ,and where there is an absence of gratitude1 either to ,god or man1 there is the presence of vanity and the spirit of self-sufficiency4 ,speaking of ,israel1 ,paul says3 ,because that1 when they knew ,god1 they glorified him not as ,god1 neither were thankful2 but became vain in their imaginations1 and their foolish heart was darkened4 7,rom4 #a3ba7 ,thomas ,gibbons expresses in verse most beautifully the idea of ingratitude3 ,that man may last1 but never lives1 ,who much receives1 but nothing gives2 ,whom none can love1 whom none can thank1 ,creation's blot1 creation's blank4 ,naturally people feel grateful to those who have done them a kindness1 and the feeling of gratitude is generally a sufficient compensation for those who have done a kind and unselfish act4 ,but when one does a favor for another1 and behind that favor is the secret and selfish intent that the gratitude which is awakened by the favor shall become a debt which the receiver at some time and in some way must repay to the selfish needs of the one who bestowed the favor1 then gratitude becomes a debt which it is expected will be paid4 ,an act of apparent kindness can never result in good when it is intended to put any man under obligations that deprive him of his freedom to act4 ,that is the characteristic of a politician4 ,it is buying up one's freedom1 and such a bargain is worse upon the man who seeks to make it than ,shylock's contract for a pound of flesh4 ,when we win the friendship of others1 because that friendship is helpful and encouraging to us1 and because we need it for our happiness in life1 gratitude of others toward us has a #ccj beautiful and lasting charm4 ,that is the gratitude which ,saints enjoy4 ,it is always safer and better to enjoy the gratitude which we feel to others than to set store upon the gratitude which we think others should have toward us4 ,the grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for1 and with him the good outweighs the evil4 ,love overpowers jealousy1 and light drives darkness out of his life4 ,pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place4 ,how much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul1 and how careful we should be to cultivate1 through the medium of a prayerful life1 a thankful attitude toward ,god and man6--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,april1 #aijc1 pp4 #bdb1 #bdc4 ,,backbiting4 ,in a letter recently received by me1 the following request and question were submitted for my opinion3 ,i would like you to define backbiting4 ,there seems to be a difference of opinion respecting the meaning of the term4 ,some claim that so long as you speak the truth about a person1 it is not backbiting1 no matter what you say or how you say it4 ,would it not be better1 if we knew a person had faults1 to go to him privately and labor with him1 than to go to others and speak of his faults8 ,nothing could be farther from the spirit and genius of the gospel than to suppose that we are always justified in speaking the truth about a person1 however harmful the truth to him may be4 ,the gospel teaches us the fundamental principles of repentance1 and we have no right to discredit a man in the estimation of his fellowmen when he has truly repented and ,god has forgiven him4 ,we are constantly beset by temptation1 and often say and do things of which we immediately repent1 and no doubt1 if our repentance is genuine1 it is always acceptable to our ,heavenly ,father4 ,after he has accepted the contrition of the human heart and forgiven men their trespasses1 it is dangerous for #cca us to hold up their evil deeds for the contempt of the world4 ,as a rule1 it is not necessary to be constantly offering advice to those who in our judgment are possessed of some fault4 ,in the first place1 our judgments may be in error1 and in the second place1 we may be dealing with a man who is strongly imbued with the spirit of repentance1 and who1 conscious of his weakness1 is constantly struggling to overcome it4 ,the utmost care1 therefore1 should be observed in all our language that implies a reproach of others4 ,as a general rule1 backbiting is better determined by the spirit and purpose that actuate us in speaking of things we consider faults in others than in the words themselves4 ,a man or woman who possesses the ,spirit of ,god will soon detect in his or her own feelings the spirit of backbiting1 as that spirit is present in the remarks that are made concerning others4 ,the question of backbiting1 therefore1 is probably best determined by the ancient rule that1 the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,october #ae1 #aijd1 ,vol4 #ci1 p4 #fbe4 ,,do ,,not ,,inflict ,,wounds1 ,,but ,,heal ,,wounds4 ,almost anyone can inflict a wound4 ,it may be made by a word1 a slight1 or by general conduct4 ,but the healing of a wound is an art not acquired by practice1 alone1 but by the loving tenderness that comes from universal good will and a sympathetic interest in the welfare and happiness of others4 ,if people were always as ready to administer kindness as they are indifferent to the pain of others--if they were as patient to heal as they are quick to wound--many an unkind word would never be spoken1 many a slight would be avoided4 ,the art of healing is really one of the highest qualities and attributes of man2 it is a characteristic of a great and noble soul2 the sure indication of generous impulse4 ,in the discipline of the home1 of the school1 and social life1 the infliction of wounds may be unavoidable1 if they be #ccb not an actual necessity2 but wounds should never be left open to fester--they should be bound up and cared for until they are healed4 ,perhaps the most perfect ideal in the art of healing is the mother whose tender and gracious love asserts itself in taking away the sting of a deserved or undeserved punishment4 ,how her love heals every wound6 ,how quick her caresses bind up and soothe6 ,the example of her life is the wisdom which love teaches4 ,in the school1 children may suffer humiliation into which their wayward or careless conduct has brought them1 and their punishment may be just2 but their wounds the teacher should never leave unhealed4 ,nature wounds us when we violate her laws2 but nature has her antiseptic methods of treating and healing every wound4 ,the wise teacher has his also4 ,the cultivation of kindly thoughts and sentiments towards others is always helpful in the art of healing4 ,it is sometimes helpful to lift ourselves out of our own shells in which1 by our surroundings and habits of thought1 we are incrusted1 and place ourselves in the positions which others occupy in life4 ,constant consideration for the welfare and happiness of others1 is every day imposed upon us by the divine injunction1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,the test1 then1 of our soul's greatness is rather to be sought in our ability to comfort and console1 our ability to help others1 rather than in our ability to help ourselves and crowd others down in the struggle of life4 ,if the reader will stop a moment to reflect upon the healing qualities of ,christ's life1 he will understand that ,christ was a ,master in the art of healing1 not alone of the wounds he made1 but of self-inflicted wounds1 and the wounds that others made4 ,what a comfort his life is to those in sorrow6 ,how instinctively our thoughts turn to him6 ,how prone we are to go to him for consolation ,he is truly the great ,healer of the afflictions of others4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,march1 #aijc1 ,vol4 #ch1 pp4 #agh1 #agi4 #ccc ,,use ,,good ,,language4 ,language1 like thought1 makes its impression and is recalled by the memory in a way that may be unpleasant if not harmful to those who have been compelled to listen to unseemly words4 ,thoughts that in themselves are not proper may be exalted or debased by the language used to express them4 ,if inelegant expressions should be eschewed1 what shall be said of profanity8--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,may #a1 #aijf1 ,vol4 #da1 p4 #bgb4 ,,do ,,not ,,destroy ,,life ,,wantonly4 ,i have just a few words to say in addition to those that have already been said1 in relation to shedding blood and to the destruction of life4 ,i think that every soul should be impressed by the sentiments that have been expressed here this evening by all who have spoken1 and not less with reference to the killing of our innocent birds1 natives of our country1 who live upon the vermin that are indeed enemies to the farmer and to mankind4 ,it is not only wicked to destroy them1 it is abominable1 in my opinion4 ,i think that this principle should extend1 not only to the bird life1 but to the life of all animals4 ,when ,i visited1 a few years ago1 the ,yellowstone ,national ,park1 and saw in the streams and the beautiful lakes1 birds swimming quite fearless of man1 allowing passers-by to approach them as closely almost as tame birds1 and apprehending no fear of them1 and when ,i saw droves of beautiful deer herding along the side of the road1 as fearless of the presence of men as any domestic animal1 it filled my heart with a degree of peace and joy that seemed to be almost a foretaste of that period hoped for when there shall be none to hurt and none to molest in all the land1 especially among all the inhabitants of ,zion4 ,these same birds1 if they were to visit other regions1 inhabited by man1 would1 on account of their tameness1 doubtless become more easily a prey to the gunner4 ,the same may be said of those beautiful creatures--the deer and antelope4 ,if they should wander out of the park1 beyond the protection that is established there for these animals1 #ccd they would become1 of course1 an easy prey to those who were seeking their lives4 ,i never could see why a man should be imbued with a blood-thirsty desire to kill and destroy animal life4 ,i have known men--and they still exist among us--who enjoy what is1 to them1 the sport of hunting birds and slaying them by the hundreds1 and who will come in after a day's sport1 boasting of how many harmless birds they have had the skill to slaughter1 and day after day1 during the season when it is lawful for men to hunt and kill 7the birds having had a season of protection and not apprehending danger7 go out by scores or hundreds1 and you may hear their guns early in the morning on the day of the opening1 as if great armies had met in battle2 and the terrible work of slaughtering the innocent birds goes on4 ,i do not believe any man should kill animals or birds unless he needs them for food1 and then he should not kill innocent little birds that are not intended for food for man4 ,i think it is wicked for men to thirst in their souls to kill almost everything which possesses animal life4 ,it is wrong1 and ,i have been surprised at prominent men whom ,i have seen whose very souls seemed to be athirst for the shedding of animal blood4 ,they go off hunting deer1 antelope1 elk1 anything they can find1 and what for8 ,just for the fun of it6 ,not that they are hungry and need the flesh of their prey1 but just because they love to shoot and to destroy life4 ,i am a firm believer1 with reference to these things1 in the simple words of one of the poets3 ,take not away the life you cannot give1 ,for all things have an equal right to live4 --,juvenile ,instructor1 ,april1 #aiac1 ,vol4 #dh1 pp4 #cjh-cji4 ,,commencement ,,address4 ,the point which seems the most perspicuous1 and which will appear with greatest force to your minds1 no doubt1 on this occasion1 is that it should have a speedy ending4 ,not so1 however1 with the efforts of those students who graduate with honors from this college1 #cce today4 ,before them lies a strange1 meandering1 endless path1 by them as yet untrodden1 however well beaten by the weary feet of pilgrims who have passed over to the great beyond4 ,this path is fraught with all there is in life1 of good or ill to them4 ,they are entering upon the great problem of life1 and each will be compelled to solve that problem for himself4 ,the problem of death--which is spiritual midnight--the unenlightened soul--will solve itself4 ,as the stream flows naturally down the slope to the dead waters of our inland sea1 so is the common trend of the natural man down to the dark valley of the shadows of death4 ,he needs to make no effort to reach this goal2 by lazily floating on the tide of common events1 he will reach it all too soon4 ,but1 to the fountain of life1 to the summit of existence1 to the fulness of moral1 religious and intellectual manhood1 the finger board of truth points eternally up the stream4 ,to reach this glorious fountain1 to scale this magnificent height1 one must work2 he must stem the current1 must climb the hill--must climb and work and persevere4 ,thus he will succeed4 ,it is a very important thing to make a commencement in life4 ,it is no less important to make that commencement upon a sound and proper footing4 ,a man going to the summit of ,twin ,peaks1 which tower towards the heavens on the southeast of us1 will have a long1 weary journey before he reaches his destination4 ,although not far away at first1 if he starts off toward the northwest1 the longer he continues in that direction the further he goes from his objective point4 ,true1 he may circumscribe the earth and1 if he keep the proper bearing1 will come back to the point at last4 ,but eternity is a wondrous globe to circumnavigate1 and we will find it to our advantage not to undertake the feat when we can so easily avoid it by commencing as we should4 ,error is a worthless and an injurious thing4 ,to avoid it should always be our careful study4 ,mistakes1 if they are indeed mistakes1 are never fortunate1 and may be extremely painful #ccf and hard to rectify4 ,but the sooner rectified the better4 ,it is braver and more honorable to promptly disavow and fly from error1 no matter what the present seeming cost1 or to frankly acknowledge a mistake1 and apologize for it1 and thus get rid of it1 than to crouch beneath the burden1 which is moral cowardice4 ,the students now graduating from this school in the branches of education which they have taken1 are ready to commence the application of the knowledge they have acquired to the practical duties of life4 ,you may apply this knowledge to the development of the natural resources and prosperity of our country1 or to the betterment of the social problems of the times in which you live1 or you may apply it to the further intellectual development of yourselves and others4 ,that which you have gained by study and the assistance of your teachers should be wisely used by you as an aid to the attainment of other and greater knowledge4 ,whatever may be your course in the future1 or your choice of occupation1 always remember the grand scriptural injunction3 ,whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1 do it with thy might2 for there is no work1 nor device1 nor knowledge1 nor wisdom1 in the grave1 whither thou goest4 7,ec4 #i3aj47 ,this scripture applies directly to the temporal life and death1 and only to them4 ,whatever is worth doing at all1 should be well and faithfully and thoroughly done4 ,the failures occurring in the legitimate pursuits of life1 resulting solely from the unprofitableness thereof1 are few and far between4 ,the vast majority of failures are the results of neglect1 or of want of careful attention1 or of ignorance1 or of dishonesty on the part of the applicants1 and not of the business itself4 ,carefully select your occupation with a view to your qualifications or adaptability therefor2 let it be worthy of the noblest ambition and purest desire1 and then engage in it in earnest1 put your heart into it1 and your mind upon it1 with due consideration to other essential things1 until you #ccg succeed4 ,all extremes should be avoided4 ,to fix the heart and mind upon a single object1 however good1 and close the eyes to all else in life1 may make an expert1 a bigot1 or a crank1 but never a wise and broad-minded man4 ,it is foolish to become too much absorbed in material things4 ,labor and relaxation should go hand in hand1 and pure and undefiled religion will lighten every burden you have to bear1 and help to sweeten the bitter draught of many a sorrowing soul4 ,the proper admixture of labor and leisure will not only promote the highest mental capabilities1 but also the most perfect physical conditions4 ,man is a dual being4 ,he is spiritual and he is physical4 ,the latter is dependent upon the former for intelligence and life4 ,the body without the spirit is dead1 but the spirit is an immortal and an independent principle and being4 ,it is the more important part1 yet man bestows more thought and labor upon the body1 as a rule1 than upon the better part4 ,neither should be neglected1 least of all1 the spiritual4 ,this is truth1 and it is the truth that makes man free4 ,by it they stand1 without it they fall4 ,the ,great ,teacher of the world has said1 ,if ye continue in my word1 then are ye my disciples indeed2 and ye shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4 7,john #h3ca-b47 ,again3 ,and truth is knowledge of things as they are1 and as they were1 and as they are to come4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #ic3bd47 ,this knowledge of truth1 combined with proper regard for it1 and its faithful observance1 constitutes true education4 ,the mere stuffing of the mind with a knowledge of facts is not education4 ,the mind must not only posses a knowledge of truth1 but the soul must revere it1 cherish it1 love it as a priceless gem2 and this human life must be guided and shaped by it in order to fulfil its destiny4 ,the mind should not only be charged with intelligence1 but the soul should be filled with admiration and desire for pure intelligence #cch which comes of a knowledge of the truth4 ,the truth can only make him free who hath it1 and will continue in it4 ,and the word of ,god is truth1 and it will endure forever4 ,educate yourself not only for time1 but also for eternity4 ,the latter of the two is the more important4 ,therefore1 when we shall have completed the studies of time1 and enter upon the commencement ceremonies of the great hereafter1 we will find our work is not finished1 but just begun1 we may then say with the poet3 ,lay this aside--say not your work is done1 ,no need of love or goodness ever dies1 ,but in the lives of others--multiplies1 ,say it has just begun4 ,in conclusion permit me to repeat a portion of the first psalm3 ,blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly1 nor standeth in the way of sinners1 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful4 ,but his delight is in the law of the ,lord2 and in his law doth he meditate day and night4 ,and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water1 that bringeth forth his fruit in his season2 his leaf also shall not wither2 and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper4 ,the ungodly are not so2 but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away4--,contributor1 ,vol4 #af1 pp4 #efi-ega4 ,delivered at the commencement exercises of the ,latter-day ,saints ,college1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,june #e1 #ahie4 ,,our ,,main ,,purpose ,,of ,,life4 ,the important consideration is not how long we can live but how well we can learn the lesson of life1 and discharge our duties and obligations to ,god and to one another4 ,one of the main purposes of our existence is that we might conform to the image and likeness of him who sojourned in the flesh without blemish--immaculate1 pure1 and spotless6 ,christ came not only to atone for the sins of the world1 but to set an example before all men and to establish the standard of ,god's #cci perfection1 of ,god's law1 and of obedience to the ,father4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ajd ,december1 #aiag4 ,,how ,,to ,,love ,,your ,,neighbor4 ,love your neighbor as yourself8 ,how are you to do it8 ,if your neighbor is in danger1 protect him to the utmost of your power4 ,if you see your neighbor's property in danger of injury1 protect his property as you would your own1 as far as it lies in your power3 ,if your neighbor's boy or girl is going astray1 go directly to your neighbor1 in the spirit of love1 and help him to reclaim his child4 ,how are we to love our neighbor as we love ourselves4 ,it is the simplest thing in the world2 but too many people are selfish and narrow and not given to that breadth of feeling which reaches out and considers the benefit and welfare of their neighbors2 and they narrow themselves down to their own peculiar and particular benefit and blessing and well being1 and feel it to say3 ,o1 let my neighbor take care of himself4 ,that is not the spirit that should characterize a ,latter-day ,saint4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 pp4 #ajc1 #ajd1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,question ,,of ,,church ,,leaders4 ,we have come to ask you if you are in strict accord with the two great commandments3 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind1 99 99 99 and thy neighbor as thyself4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #ih1 ,december1 #aiag2 ,matt4 #bb3 #cd-dj4 ,,the ,,sin ,,of ,,ingratitude4 ,and ,i believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude1 the want of acknowledgement1 on their part1 of ,god and his right to govern and control4 ,we see a man raised up with extraordinary gifts1 or with great intelligence1 and he is instrumental in developing some great principle4 ,he and the world ascribe his great genius and wisdom to himself4 ,he attributes his success to his own energies1 labor and mental capacity4 ,he does not acknowledge the hand of ,god in anything connected #cdj with his success1 but ignores him altogether and takes the honor to himself2 this will apply to almost all the world4 ,in all the great modern discoveries in science1 in the arts1 in mechanics1 and in all material advancement of the age1 the world says1 ,we have done it4 ,the individual says1 ,i have done it1 and he gives no honor or credit to ,god4 ,now1 ,i read in the revelations through ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet1 that because of this1 ,god is not pleased with the inhabitants of the earth but is angry with them because they will not acknowledge his hand in all things4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 #ahhd1 ,vol4 #cc1 p4 #acj2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #ei3ba4 #cda ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,marriage1 ,,the ,,home ,,and ,,the ,,family ,,necessity ,,of ,,marriage4 ,the house of the ,lord is a house of order and not a house of confusion2 and that means that the man is not without the woman in the ,lord1 neither is the woman without the man in the ,lord2 and that no man can be saved and exalted in the kingdom of ,god without the woman1 and no woman can reach the perfection and exaltation in the kingdom of ,god alone4 ,that is what it means4 ,god instituted marriage in the beginning4 ,he made man in his own image and likeness1 male and female1 and in their creation it was designed that they should be united together in sacred bonds of marriage1 and one is not perfect without the other4 ,furthermore1 it means that there is no union for time and eternity that can be perfected outside of the law of ,god1 and the order of his house4 ,men may desire it1 they may go through the form of it1 in this life1 but it will be of no effect except it be done and sanctioned by divine authority1 in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 pp4 #aah-aai4 ,,marriage1 ,,god--,,ordained ,,and ,,sanctioned4 ,and again1 ,i say unto you1 that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of ,god1 for marriage is ordained of ,god unto men4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #di3ae7 ,i desire to emphasize this4 ,i want the young men of ,zion to realize that this institution of marriage is not a man-made institution4 ,it is of ,god4 ,it is honorable1 and no man who is of marriageable age is living his religion who remains single4 ,it is not simply devised for the convenience alone of man1 to suit his own notions1 and his own ideas2 to marry and then divorce1 to adopt and then to discard1 just as he pleases4 ,there are great consequences connected with it1 consequences which reach beyond this present time1 into all #cdb eternity1 for thereby souls are begotten into the world1 and men and women obtain their being in the world4 ,marriage is the preserver of the human race4 ,without it1 the purposes of ,god would be frustrated2 virtue would be destroyed to give place to vice and corruption1 and the earth would be void and empty4 ,neither are the relationships that exist1 or should exist1 between parents and children1 and between children and parents1 of an ephemeral nature1 nor of a temporal character4 ,they are of eternal consequence1 reaching beyond the veil1 in spite of all that we can do4 ,the man1 and the woman who are the agents1 in the providence of ,god1 to bring living souls into the world1 are made before ,god and the heavens1 as responsible for these acts as is ,god himself responsible for the works of his own hands1 and for the revelation of his own wisdom4 ,the man and the woman who engage in this ordinance of matrimony are engaging in something that is of such far-reaching character1 and is of such vast importance1 that thereby hangs life and death1 and eternal increase4 ,thereupon depends eternal happiness1 or eternal misery4 ,for this reason1 ,god has guarded this sacred institution by the most severe penalties1 and has declared that whosoever is untrue to the marriage relation1 whosoever is guilty of adultery1 shall be put to death4 ,this is scriptural law1 though it is not practiced today1 because modern civilization does not recognize the laws of ,god in relation to the moral status of mankind4 ,the ,lord commanded1 ,whosoever sheddeth innocent blood1 by man shall his blood be shed4 ,thereby ,god has given the law4 ,life is an important thing4 ,no man has any right to take life1 unless ,god commanded it4 ,the law of ,god as to violation of the marriage covenant is just as strict1 and is on a parallel with law against murder notwithstanding the former is not carried out4 99 99 99 ,now1 every young person throughout the ,church should #cdc understand this very thoroughly4 ,the ,church authorities and the teachers of our associations should inculcate the sacredness1 and teach the duty of marriage1 as it has been revealed in the latter days to us4 ,there should be a reform in the ,church in this regard1 and a sentiment created in favor of honorable marriage1 and that would prevent any young man1 or any young woman1 who is a member of the ,church1 from marrying except by that authority which is sanctioned of ,god4 ,and no man holding the priesthood who is worthy and of age should remain unmarried4 ,they should also teach that the law of chastity is one of the most vital importance1 both to children1 and to men and to women4 ,it is a vitally important principle to the children of ,god in all their lives1 from the cradle to the grave4 ,god has fixed dreadful penalties against the transgression of his law of chastity1 of virtue1 of purity4 ,when the law of ,god shall be in force among men1 they will be cut off who are not absolutely pure and unsoiled and spotless--both men and women4 ,we expect the women to be pure1 we expect them to be spotless and without blemish1 and it is as necessary and important for man to be pure and virtuous as for woman2 indeed1 no woman would ever be other than pure if men were so4 ,the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the law of love1 and love of ,god with the whole heart and mind is the greatest commandment1 and the next is like unto it3 love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,this also should be remembered in the marriage relation1 for1 while it is said that the desires of the woman shall be to her husband1 and he shall rule over her1 it is intended that that rule shall be in love and not in tyranny4 ,god never rules tyrannically1 except when men so corrupt themselves that they are unfit to live4 ,then1 and under such conditions1 it is the story of all his dealings with mankind1 that he sends judgment upon them and wipes them out and destroys them4--,improvement ,era1 ,july1 #aijb1 pp4 #gac-gag4 ,,righteousness ,,and ,,necessity ,,of ,,marriage4 ,many #cdd people imagine that there is something sinful in marriage2 there is an apostate tradition to that effect4 ,this is a false and very harmful idea4 ,on the contrary1 ,god not only commends but he commands marriage4 ,while man was yet immortal1 before sin had entered the world1 our heavenly ,father himself performed the first marriage4 ,he united our first parents in the bonds of holy matrimony1 and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth4 ,this command he has never changed1 abrogated or annulled2 but it has continued in force throughout all the generations of mankind4 ,without marriage the purposes of ,god would be frustrated1 so far as this world is concerned1 for there would be none1 to obey his other commands4 ,there appears to be a something beyond and above the reasons apparent to the human mind why chastity brings strength and power to the peoples of the earth1 but it is so4 ,today a flood of iniquity is overwhelming the civilized world4 ,one great reason therefor is the neglect of marriage2 it has lost its sanctity in the eyes of the great majority4 ,it is at best a civil contract1 but more often an accident or a whim1 or a means of gratifying the passions4 ,and when the sacredness of the covenant is ignored or lost sight of1 then a disregard of the marriage vows1 under the present moral training of the masses1 is a mere triviality1 a trifling indiscretion4 ,the neglect of marriage1 this tendency to postpone its responsibilities until middle life1 that so perniciously affects ,christendom1 is being felt in the midst of the ,saints4 ,certainly we are not in favor of the very early marriages that prevailed a few centuries ago4 ,but what we wish to impress upon the ,saints is that the legitimate union of the sexes is a law of ,god1 that to be blessed of him1 we must honor that law2 that if we do not do so the mere fact that we are called by his name will not #cde save us from the evils that neglect of this law entails1 that indeed we are only his people when we observe his law2 that when we do not do so we may expect the same unfortunate results to come upon us as flow to the rest of humanity from the same causes4 ,we believe that every man holding the holy priesthood should be married1 with the very few exceptions of those who through infirmities of mind or body are not fit for marriage4 ,every man is a worse man in proportion as he is unfit for the married state4 ,we hold that no man who is marriageable is fully living his religion who remains unmarried4 ,he is doing a wrong to himself by retarding his progress1 by narrowing his experiences1 and to society by the undesirable example that he sets to others1 as well as he1 himself1 being a dangerous factor in the community4 ,we say to our young people1 get married1 and marry aright4 ,marry in the faith1 and let the ceremony be performed in the place ,god has appointed4 ,live so that you may be worthy of this blessing4 ,if1 however1 obstacles1 not at present removable1 prevent this most perfect form of marriage1 have your bishop perform the ceremony1 and then1 at the earliest possible moment1 go to the temple4 ,but do not marry those out of the ,church1 as such unions almost invariably lead to unhappiness and quarrels and often finally to separation4 ,besides1 they are not pleasing in the sight of heaven4 ,the believer and unbeliever should not be yoked together1 for sooner or later1 in time or in eternity1 they must be divided again4 ,and now we desire with holy zeal to emphasize the enormity of sexual sins4 ,though often regarded as insignificant by those not knowing the will of ,god1 they are1 in his eyes an abomination1 and if we are to remain his favored people they must be shunned as the gates of hell4 ,the evil results of these sins are so patent in vice1 crime1 misery and disease that it would appear that all1 young and old1 must #cdf perceive and sense them4 ,they are destroying the world4 ,if we are to be preserved we must abhor them1 shun them1 not practice the least of them1 for they weaken and enervate1 they kill man spiritually1 they make him unfit for the company of the righteous and the presence of ,god4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #djj1 ,july #a1 #aijb4 ,,male ,,and ,,female ,,enter ,,heaven4 ,no man will ever enter there until he has consummated his mission2 for we have come here to be conformed to the likeness of ,god4 ,he made us in the beginning in his own image and in his own likeness1 and he made us male and female4 ,we never could be in the image of ,god if we were not both male and female4 ,read the ,scriptures1 and you will see it for yourselves as ,god has made it4 ,he has made us in his own form and likeness1 and here we are male and female1 parents and children4 ,and we must become more and more like him--more like him in love1 in charity1 in forgiveness1 in patience1 long-suffering and forbearance1 in purity of thought and action1 intelligence1 and in all respects1 that we may be worthy of exaltation in his presence4 ,it is for this that we have come to the earth4 ,this is the work that we have to perform4 ,god has shown us the way and given us the means by which we may consummate and fill our mission upon this earth and perfect our destiny2 for we are destined and foreordained to become like ,god1 and unless we do become like him we will never be permitted to dwell with him4 ,when we become like him you will find that we will be presented before him in the form in which we were created1 male and female4 ,the woman will not go there alone1 and the man will not go there alone1 and claim exaltation4 ,they may attain a degree of salvation alone1 but when they are exalted they will be exalted according to the law of the celestial kingdom4 ,they cannot be exalted in any other way1 neither the living nor the dead4 ,it is well for us to learn something about why we build temples1 #cdg and why we administer in them for the dead as well as for the living4 ,we do this that we may become like unto him1 and dwell with him eternally2 that we may become sons of ,god1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ4--,tabernacle ,sermon1 ,june #ab1 #ahih4 ,,marriage ,,to ,,replenish ,,the ,,earth4 ,those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of wedded life should see to it that they do not abuse the course of nature2 that they do not destroy the principle of life within them1 nor violate any of the commandments of ,god4 ,the command which he gave in the beginning to multiply and replenish the earth is still in force upon the children of men4 ,possibly no greater sin could be committed by the people who have embraced this gospel than to prevent or to destroy life in the manner indicated4 ,we are born into the world that we may have life1 and we live that we may have a fulness of joy1 and if we will obtain a fulness of joy1 we must obey the law of our creation and the law by which we may obtain the consummation of our righteous hopes and desires--life eternal4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 p4 #dj4 ,,eternal ,,marriage4 ,why did he teach us the principle of eternal union of man and wife8 ,because ,god knew that we were his children here1 to remain his children forever and ever1 and that we were just as truly individuals1 and that our individuality was as identical as that of the ,son of ,god1 and would therefore continue1 worlds without end1 so that the man receiving his wife by the power of ,god1 for time and for all eternity1 would have the right to claim her and she to claim her husband1 in the world to come4 ,neither would be changed1 except from mortality to immortality2 neither would be other than himself or herself1 but they will have their identity in the world to come precisely as they exercise their individuality and enjoy their identity here4 ,god has revealed this principle1 and it has its bearings upon the evidence that we possess of the actual1 #cdh literal resurrection of the body1 just as it is and as the prophets have declared it in the ,book of ,mormon4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #acf-acg2 ,mosiah #ae3bj-bc2 #af3g-aa2 ,alma #dj4 ,,eternity ,,of ,,the ,,family ,,organizations4 ,our associations 7family7 are not exclusively intended for this life1 for time1 as we distinguish it from eternity4 ,we live for time and for eternity4 ,we form associations and relations for time and all eternity4 ,our affections and our desires are found fitted and prepared to endure not only throughout the temporal or mortal life1 but through all eternity4 ,who are there besides the ,latter-day ,saints who contemplate the thought that beyond the grave we will continue in the family organization8 the father1 the mother1 the children recognizing each other in the relations which they owe to each other and in which they stand to each other8 this family organization being a unit in the great and perfect organization of ,god's work1 and all destined to continue throughout time and eternity8 ,we are living for eternity and not merely for the moment4 ,death does not part us from one another1 if we have entered into sacred relationships with each other by virtue of the authority that ,god has revealed to the children of men4 ,our relationships are formed for eternity4 ,we are immortal beings1 and we are looking forward to the growth that is to be attained in an exalted life after we have proved ourselves faithful and true to the covenants that we have entered into here1 and then we will receive a fulness of joy4 ,a man and woman who have embraced the gospel of ,jesus ,christ and who have begun life together1 should be able by their power1 example and influence to cause their children to emulate them in lives of virtue1 honor1 and in integrity to the kingdom of ,god which will redound to their own interest and salvation4 ,no one can advise my children with greater earnestness and solicitude for their happiness and salvation than ,i can myself4 ,nobody has more #cdi interest in the welfare of my own children than ,i have4 ,i cannot be satisfied without them4 ,they are part of me4 ,they are mine2 ,god has given them to me1 and ,i want them to be humble and submissive to the requirements of the gospel4 ,i want them to do right1 and to be right in every particular1 so that they will be worthy of the distinction that the ,lord has given them in being numbered among his covenant people who are choice above all other people1 because they have made sacrifice for their own salvation in the truth4 ,speaking of the fashions of the world1 ,i do not care to say very much on the subject1 but ,i do think that we live in an age the very trend of which is to vice and wickedness4 ,i believe that to a very large extent the fashions of the day1 and especially the fashions of women1 have a tendency to evil and not to virtue or modesty1 and ,i deplore that evident fact for you see it on every hand4 ,young men want to get homes that are palatial1 that are fine in all their appointments1 and as modern as anybody else's before they will get married4 ,i think it is a mistake4 ,i think that young men and young women1 too1 should be willing1 even at this day1 and in the present condition of things1 to enter the sacred bonds of marriage together and fight their way together to success1 meet their obstacles and their difficulties1 and cleave together to success1 and cooperate in their temporal affairs1 so that they shall succeed4 ,then they will learn to love one another better1 and will be more united throughout their lives1 and the ,lord will bless them more abundantly4 ,i regret1 ,i think it is a crying evil1 that there should exist a sentiment or a feeling among any members of the ,church to curtail the birth of their children4 ,i think that is a crime wherever it occurs1 where husband and wife are in possession of health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity4 ,i believe that where people undertake to curtail or prevent the birth of their children that they are going to reap #cej disappointment by and by4 ,i have no hesitancy in saying that ,i believe this is one of the greatest crimes of the world today1 this evil practice4--,relief ,society ,magazine1 ,vol4 #d1 ,june1 #aiag1 p4 #cad et4 seq4 ,,importance ,,of ,,marriage ,,within ,,the ,,church4 ,i would rather go myself to the grave than to be associated with a wife outside of the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant4 ,now1 ,i hold it just so sacred2 but some members of the ,church do not so regard the matter4 ,some people feel that it does not make very much difference whether a girl marries a man in the ,church1 full of the faith of the ,gospel1 or an unbeliever4 ,some of our young people have married outside of the ,church2 but very few of those who have done it have failed to come to grief4 ,i would like to see ,latter-day ,saint men marry ,latter-day ,saint women2 and ,methodists marry ,methodists1 ,catholics marry ,catholics1 and ,presbyterians marry ,presbyterians1 and so on to the limit4 ,let them keep within the pale of their own faith and church1 and marry and inter-marry there1 and let the ,latter-day ,saints do the same thing in their ,church2 then we will see who comes out best in the end4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,no ,,marriage ,,in ,,heaven4 ,why did ,jesus teach the doctrine that there was no marrying nor giving in marriage in the other world8 ,why did he teach the doctrine that marriage was instituted by the ,father and designed to be accomplished in this life8 ,why did he rebuke those who sought to entrap him when they brought to him the example of the fulfilment of the law of ,moses1 for ,moses wrote the law that ,god gave him1 that if a man married in ,israel and died without issue1 it was the duty of his brother to take his widow and raise up seed unto his brother2 and when seven of these brothers--7which is doubtless a problem that these men put to the ,savior in order to entrap him #cea if they could7--had taken her1 to whom should she belong in the resurrection1 since they all had her8 ,jesus declared to them1 ,ye do err1 not knowing the ,scriptures1 nor the power of ,god4 ,they did not understand the principle of sealing for time and for all eternity2 that what ,god hath joined together neither man nor death can put asunder4 7,matt4 #ai3 #f47 ,they had wandered from that principle4 ,it had fallen into disuse among them2 they had ceased to understand it2 and consequently they did not comprehend the truth2 but ,christ did4 ,she could only be the wife in eternity of the man to whom she was united by the power of ,god for eternity1 as well as for time2 and ,christ understood the principle1 but he did not cast his pearls before the swine that tempted him4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r4 #aiab1 p4 #acf4 ,,plural ,,marriage ,,forbidden4 ,official ,statement--,inasmuch as there are numerous reports in circulation that plural marriages have been entered into contrary to the official declaration of ,president ,woodruff1 of ,september #bf1 #ahij1 commonly called the ,manifesto1 which was issued by ,president ,woodruff and adopted by the ,church at its general conference1 ,october #f1 #ahij1 which forbade any marriages violative of the law of the land2 ,i ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 hereby affirm and declare that no such marriages have been solemnized with the sanction1 consent or knowledge of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and ,i hereby announce that all such marriages are prohibited1 and if any officer or member of the ,church shall assume to solemnize or enter into any such marriage he will be deemed in transgression against the ,church and will be liable to be dealt with according to the rules and regulations thereof1 and excommunicated therefrom4 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 --,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #ge4 #ceb ,,further ,,statement4 ,we have announced in previous conferences1 as it was announced by ,president ,woodruff1 as it was announced by ,president ,snow1 and as it was reannounced by me and my brethren and confirmed by the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 plural marriages have ceased in the ,church4 ,there isn't a man today in this ,church or anywhere else1 outside of it1 who has authority to solemnize a plural marriage--not one6 ,there is no man or woman in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints who is authorized to contract a plural marriage4 ,it is not permitted1 and we have been endeavoring to the utmost of our ability to prevent men from being led by some designing person into an unfortunate condition that is forbidden by the conferences1 and by the voice of the ,church1 a condition that has to some extent1 at least1 brought reproach upon the people4 ,i want to say that we have been doing all in our power to prevent it or to stop it2 and in order that we might do this1 we have been seeking1 to our utmost1 to find the men who have been the agents and the cause of leading people into it4 ,we find it very difficult to trace them but when we do find them1 and can prove it upon them1 we will deal with them as we have dealt with others that we have been able to find4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 p4 #h4 ,,marriage ,,and ,,large ,,families ,,desirable4 ,bachelorhood and small families carry to the superficial mind the idea that they are desirable because they bring with them the minimum of responsibility4 ,the spirit that shirks responsibility shirks labor4 ,idleness and pleasure take the place of industry and strenuous effort4 ,the love of pleasure and of an easy life in turn make demands upon young men who refuse to look upon marriage and its consequent family enlargement as a sacred duty4 ,the real fault lies with the young men4 ,the license of the age leads them from paths of duty and responsibility to the pitfalls of a pleasure-loving #cec world4 ,their sisters are the victims of neglect and of a great social and family wrong4 ,women would marry if they could1 and would accept cheerfully the responsibilities of family life4 ,this loss to the home is a loss the nation must feel1 as years go on4 ,time will vindicate the laws of ,god and the truth that individual human happiness is found in duty and not in pleasure and freedom from care4 ,the spirit of the world is contagious4 ,we cannot live in the midst of such social conditions without suffering from the effects of their allurements4 ,our young people will be tempted to follow the example of the world about them4 ,there is already a strong tendency to make sport of the obligations to marry4 ,pretexts of ambition are set up as an excuse to postpone marriage till some special object is attained4 ,some of our leading young men desire to complete first a course of study at home or abroad4 ,being natural leaders in society their example is dangerous and the excuse is one of questionable propriety4 ,it were better far that many such young men never went to college than that the excuse of college life be made the reason for postponing marriage beyond the proper age4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 pp4 #bdj1 #bda1 ,april #ae1 #aije4 ,,be ,,true ,,to ,,your ,,wives ,,and ,,children4 ,and oh6 my brethren1 be true to your families1 be true to your wives and children4 ,teach them the way of life4 ,do not allow them to get so far from you that they will become oblivious to you or to any principle of honor1 purity or truth4 ,teach your children so that they cannot commit sin without violating their conscience1 teach them the truth1 that they may not depart from it4 ,bring them up in the way they should go1 and when they get old they will not depart from it4 ,if you will keep your boys close to your heart1 within the clasp of your arms2 if you will make them to feel that you love them1 that you are their parents1 that they are your #ced children1 and keep them near to you1 they will not go very far from you1 and they will not commit any very great sin4 ,but it is when you turn them out of the home1 turn them out of your affection--out into the darkness of the night into the society of the depraved or degraded2 it is when they become tiresome to you1 or you are tired of their innocent noise and prattle at home1 and you say1 ,go off somewhere else1--it is this sort of treatment of your children that drives them from you1 and helps to make criminals and infidels of them4 ,you cannot afford to do this4 ,how would ,i feel to enter into the kingdom of ,god--7if such a thing were possible7 and see one of my children outside among the sorcerers1 the whoremongers1 and those who love and make a lie1 and that because ,i have neglected my duty toward him or have not kept a proper restraint upon him8 ,do you think ,i shall be exalted in the kingdom of my ,god with this stain and blot upon my soul8 ,i tell you1 ,no6 ,no man can get there until he atones for such crime as this--for it is a crime in the sight of ,god and man for a father to carelessly or wilfully neglect his children4 ,this is my sentiment4 ,take care of your children4 ,they are the hope of ,israel1 and upon them will rest by and by1 responsibility of the bearing of the kingdom of ,god in the earth4 ,the ,lord bless them and keep them in the path of righteousness4 ,i humbly pray1 in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hg4 ,,respect ,,the ,,rights ,,of ,,others4 ,i sincerely hope that we shall succeed in impressing upon the minds of the rising generation a sincere regard1 not only for themselves1 to keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world1 but a sincere regard for the rights and privileges of others4 ,our children should be taught to respect not only their fathers and their mothers1 and their brothers and sisters1 but they should be taught to respect all mankind1 and especially should they be instructed and taught and brought up to #cee honor the aged and the infirm1 the unfortunate and the poor1 the needy1 and those who lack the sympathies of mankind4 ,we too frequently see a disposition on the part of our children to make fun of the unfortunate4 ,a poor cripple1 or a poor weak-minded person comes along1 and the boys will poke fun at him1 and make unbecoming remarks about him4 ,this is entirely wrong1 and such a spirit as this should never be witnessed among the children of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,they ought to be taught better at home4 ,they should be thoroughly taught better than this in our ,sunday schools1 and in all the schools1 so far as that is concerned1 that our children attend4 ,our children should be taught to venerate that which is holy1 that which is sacred4 ,they should venerate the name of ,god4 ,they should hold in sacred veneration the name of the ,son of ,god4 ,they should not take ,their holy names in vain2 and they should also be taught to respect and venerate the temples of ,god1 the places of worship of their fathers and mothers4 ,our children should be taught also that they have rights in the house of the ,lord equal to their parents and equal to their neighbors or anybody else4 ,it always pains me to see our little ones disturbed in this right4 ,i witnessed a little circumstance in our meeting this afternoon in the aisle2 a little child was sitting by its mother on a seat4 ,somebody came along and took the little child off its seat1 and occupied the seat himself1 leaving the child to stand4 ,i want to say to you1 my brethren and sisters1 that that act sent a pang to my heart4 ,i would not1 for anything in the shape of remuneration of a worldly character1 grieve the heart of a little child in the house of ,god1 lest an impression should be left upon its mind that would make the house of worship a distasteful place1 and it would prefer not to come within its walls1 than to come and be offended4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ci1 p4 #feg1 ,semi-,annual ,s4 ,s4 ,conference1 ,october #i1 #aijd4 ,,mutual ,,treatment ,,of ,,husband1 ,,wife ,,and ,,children4 #cef ,parents1 in the first place1 whether they do it or not1 should love and respect each other1 and treat each other with respectful decorum and kindly regard1 all the time4 ,the husband should treat his wife with the utmost courtesy and respect4 ,the husband should never insult her2 he should never speak slightly of her1 but should always hold her in the highest esteem in the home1 in the presence of their children4 ,we do not always do it1 perhaps2 some of us1 perhaps1 do not do it at all4 ,but nevertheless it is true that we ought to do it4 ,the wife1 also should treat the husband with the greatest respect and courtesy4 ,her words to him should not be keen and cutting and sarcastic4 ,she should not pass slurs or insinuations at him4 ,she should not nag him4 ,she should not try to arouse his anger or make things unpleasant about the home4 ,the wife should be a joy to her husband1 and she should live and conduct herself at home so the home will be the most joyous1 the most blessed place on earth to her husband4 ,this should be the condition of the husband1 wife1 the father and the mother1 within the sacred precinct of that holy place1 the home4 ,then it will be easy for the parents to instill into the hearts of their children not only love for their fathers and their mothers1 not only respect and courtesy towards their parents1 but love and courtesy and deference between the children at home4 ,the little brothers will respect their little sisters4 ,the little boys will respect one another4 ,the little girls will respect one another and the girls and boys will respect one another1 and treat one another with that love1 that deference and respect that should be observed in the home on the part of the little children4 ,then it will be easy for the ,sunday school teacher to continue the training of the child under the hallowed influence of the ,sabbath school2 and the child will be tractable and easily led1 because the foundation of a correct education has been laid in the heart and mind of the child at home4 ,the teacher can then help the #ceg little children1 brought up under these proper influences1 to render respect and courtesy to all men and especially to the unfortunate1 the aged and the infirm4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 pp4 #hd-he4 ,,we ,,should ,,be ,,examples ,,to ,,our ,,families4 ,when ,i think of our mothers1 the mothers of our children1 and realize that under the inspiration of the gospel they live virtuous1 pure honorable lives1 true to their husbands1 true to their children1 true to their convictions of the gospel1 oh1 how my soul goes out in pure love for them how noble and how ,god-given1 how choice1 how desirable and how indispensable they are to the accomplishment of ,god's purposes and the fulfilment of his decrees6 ,my brethren1 can you mistreat your wives1 the mothers of your children8 ,can you help treating them with love and kindness8 ,can you help trying to make their lives as comfortable and happy as possible1 lightening their burdens to the utmost of your ability1 making life pleasant for them and for their children in their homes8 ,how can you help it8 ,how can any one help feeling an intense interest in the mother of his children1 and also in his children8 ,if we possess the ,spirit of ,god1 we can not do otherwise4 ,it is only when men depart from the right spirit1 when they digress from their duty1 that they will neglect or dishonor any soul that is committed to their care4 ,they are bound to honor their wives and children4 ,intelligent men1 men of business1 men of affairs1 men who are involved constantly in the labors of life1 and have to devote their energies and thought to their labors and duties1 may not enjoy as many comforts with their families as they would like1 but if they have the ,spirit of the ,lord with them in the performance of their temporal duties1 they will never neglect the mothers of their children1 nor their children4 ,they will not fail to teach them the principles of life and set before them a proper example4 ,don't do anything yourselves that you would have #ceh to say to your boy1 ,don't do it4 ,live so that you can say1 ,my son1 do as ,i do1 follow me1 emulate my example4 ,that is the way fathers should live1 every one of us2 and it is a shame1 a weakening1 shameful thing for any member of the ,church to pursue a course that he knows is not right1 and that he would rather his children should not follow4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 pp4 #f-g4 ,,the ,,truest ,,greatness4 ,after all1 to do well those things which ,god ordained to be the common lot of all man--kind1 is the truest greatness4 ,to be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman4 ,one is universal and eternal greatness1 the other is ephemeral4 ,it is true that such secondary greatness may be added to that which we style commonplace2 but when such secondary greatness is not added to that which is fundamental1 it is merely an empty honor1 and fades away from the common and universal good in life1 even though it may find a place in the desultory pages of history4 ,our first care1 after all1 brings us back to that beautiful admonition of our ,savior3 ,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god1 and his righteousness2 and all these things shall be added unto you4 7,matt4 #f3cc47 ,we should never be discouraged in those daily tasks which ,god has ordained to the common lot of man4 ,each day's labor should be undertaken in a joyous spirit and with the thought and conviction that our happiness and eternal welfare depend upon doing well that which we ought to do1 that which ,god has made it our duty to do4 ,many are unhappy because they imagine that they should be doing something unusual or something phenomenal4 ,some people would rather be the blossom of a tree and be admiringly seen than be an enduring part of the tree and live the commonplace life of the tree's existence4 ,let us not be trying to substitute an artificial life for the true one4 ,he is truly happy who can see and appreciate #cei the beauty with which ,god has adorned the commonplace things of life4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 pp4 #geb-c1 ,dec4 #ae1 #aije4 ,,parents ,,responsible ,,for ,,their ,,children4 ,the parents in ,zion will be held responsible for the acts of their children1 not only until they become eight years old1 but1 perhaps1 throughout all the lives of their children1 provided they have neglected their duty to their children while they were under their care and guidance and the parents were responsible for them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 p4 #f4 ,,the ,,father ,,the ,,presiding ,,authority ,,of ,,the ,,family4 ,there is no higher authority in matters relating to the family organization1 and especially when that organization is presided over by one holding the higher priesthood1 than that of the father4 ,the authority is time honored1 and among the people of ,god in all dispensations it has been highly respected and often emphasized by the teachings of the prophets who were inspired of ,god4 ,the patriarchal order is of divine origin and will continue throughout time and eternity4 ,there is1 then1 a particular reason why men1 women and children should understand this order and this authority in the households of the people of ,god1 and seek to make it what ,god intended it to be1 a qualification and preparation for the highest exaltation of his children4 ,in the home the presiding authority is always vested in the father1 and in all home affairs and family matters there is no other authority paramount4 ,to illustrate this principle1 a single incident will perhaps suffice4 ,it sometimes happens that the elders are called in to administer to the members of a family4 ,among these elders there may be presidents of stakes1 apostles1 or even members of the first presidency of the ,church4 ,it is not proper under these circumstances for the father to stand back and expect the elders to direct the administration of this important ordinance4 ,the father is there4 ,it is his right and it is his duty #cfj to preside4 ,he should select the one who is to administer the oil1 and the one who is to be mouth in prayer1 and he should not feel that because there are present presiding authorities in the ,church that he is therefore divested of his rights to direct the administration of that blessing of the gospel in his home4 7,if the father be absent1 the mother should request the presiding authority present to take charge47 ,the father presides at the table1 at prayer1 and gives general directions relating to his family life whoever may be present4 ,wives and children should be taught to feel that the patriarchal order in the kingdom of ,god has been established for a wise and beneficent purpose1 and should sustain the head of the household and encourage him in the discharge of his duties1 and do all in their power to aid him in the exercise of the rights and privileges which ,god has bestowed upon the head of the home4 ,this patriarchal order has its divine spirit and purpose1 and those who disregard it under one pretext or another are out of harmony with the spirit of ,god's laws as they are ordained for recognition in the home4 ,it is not merely a question of who is perhaps the best qualified4 ,neither is it wholly a question of who is living the most worthy life4 ,it is a question largely of law and order1 and its importance is seen often from the fact that the authority remains and is respected long after a man is really unworthy to exercise it4 ,this authority carries with it a responsibility and a grave one1 as well as its rights and privileges1 and men can not be too exemplary in their lives1 nor fit themselves too carefully to live in harmony with this important and ,god-ordained rule of conduct in the family organization4 ,upon this authority certain promises and blessings are predicated1 and those who observe and respect this authority have certain claims on divine favor which they cannot have except they respect and observe the laws that ,god has established for the regulation and authority of the home4 ,honor thy #cfa father and thy mother3 that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee1 was a fundamental law to ancient ,israel1 and is binding upon every member of the ,church today1 for the law is eternal4 ,the necessity1 then1 of organizing the patriarchal order and authority of the home rests upon principle as well as upon the person who holds that authority1 and among the ,latter-day ,saints family discipline1 founded upon the law of the patriarchs1 should be carefully cultivated1 and fathers will then be able to remove many of the difficulties that now weaken their position in the home1 through unworthy children4 ,the principles here set forth are of more importance than many parents have heretofore attached to them1 and the unfortunate position today in the homes of many of the elders of ,israel is directly traceable to a want of appreciation of their truthfulness4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #adh1 ,march #a1 #aijb4 ,,duties ,,of ,,fathers4 ,may the fathers in ,israel live as they should live2 treat their wives as they should treat them2 make their homes as comfortable as they possibly can2 lighten the burden upon their companions as much as possible2 set a proper example before their children2 teach them to meet with them in prayer1 morning and night1 and whenever they sit down to partake of food1 to acknowledge the mercy of ,god in giving them the food that they eat and the raiment that they wear1 and acknowledge the band of ,god in all things4 ,this is our duty1 and if we do not do it the ,lord will be displeased1 for he has said so4 ,he is only pleased with those who acknowledge his hand in all things4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #i2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #ei3 #g1 #ba4 ,,motherhood ,,the ,,foundation ,,of ,,home ,,and ,,nation4 ,motherhood lies at the foundation of happiness in the home1 and of prosperity in the nation4 ,god has laid upon men and women very sacred obligations with respect to motherhood1 #cfb and they are obligations that cannot be disregarded without invoking divine displeasure4 ,in ,i ,timothy #b3ac-ae1 we are told that ,adam was first formed1 then ,eve4 ,and ,adam was not deceived1 but the woman being deceived was in the transgression4 ,notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing1 if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety4 ,can she be saved without child-bearing8 ,she indeed takes an awful risk if she wilfully disregards what is a pronounced requirement of ,god4 ,how shall she plead her innocence when she is not innocent8 ,how shall she excuse her guilt when it is fastened upon her8 ,the question of parental obligation in the matter of children is not generally denied4 ,a failure to fulfill the obligation1 however1 is too frequently excused4 ,children1 we are told1 are a heritage of the ,lord2 they are also1 the ,psalmist tells us1 his reward4 ,if children are cut off from their birthright1 how shall the ,lord be rewarded8 ,they are not a source of weakness and poverty to family life1 for they bring with them certain divine blessings that make for the prosperity of the home and the nation4 ,as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man2 so are children of the youth4 ,happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them3 they shall not be ashamed1 but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate4 7,psalm #abg3d1 #e7 ,what answer shall men and women make in excuse of conduct which contravenes the commandments of ,god8 ,those whose hearts are in touch with ,god's most sacred laws will make great sacrifices honestly to fulfil them4 ,there has1 however1 of late arisen a condition in our social life that is working against the divine requirements of motherhood4 ,men and women plead the enormous increase in the cost of child-bearing4 ,the requirements for motherhood in matters of doctor's fees1 nurses' bills and hospital charges1 are so great as to discourage men and women of #cfc slender means4 ,the burden of such expenses is certainly becoming great1 and if they are likely to stand directly in the way of ,god's requirement1 something should be done either to remove them or mitigate them1 and some means should be provided that will protect the family and the nation against destruction4 ,it is a problem well worthy the attention of our law-makers1 who appropriate generously in matters that are insignificant when compared with the health1 wealth and physical prosperity of the nation that encourages the birth of children4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ej1 pp4 #bij1 #bia1 ,may1 #aiae4 ,,husband',s ,,success ,,dependent ,,upon ,,wife',s ,,fitness4 ,there is no organization or government in the world so perfectly planned for the education of men and women to executive responsibilities as is the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,government in the home and in the ,church constitutes an important part in the lives of the people1 and the government in the home is the basis of all successful government in church or state4 ,in the home the mother is the principal disciplinarian in early child life1 and her influence and discipline determine in a great measure the ability of her children to assume in manhood and womanhood the larger governments in church and state4 ,in addition1 however1 to home government1 women often stand with their husbands in responsible places and share in some measure the success or failure which characterizes their husbands' administration of affairs4 ,in selecting men to occupy responsible positions in the ,church1 it not infrequently happens that a useful and competent man is barred from consideration because of the deplorable want of fitness in the wife1 and though a wife may not always bar a husband's opportunities1 she may1 nevertheless1 prove a great hindrance to him in the discharge of the duties that belong to his office4 ,if our sisters could only realize how helpful they might be to their husbands who hold responsible #cfd positions in the ,church1 and if they would only take pride and pleasure in their husbands' administration of affairs1 the conduct of men in public office would in many instances be very greatly improved4 ,the word and the law of ,god are as important for women who would reach wise conclusions as they are for men2 and women should study and consider the problems of this great latter-day work from the standpoint of ,god's revelations1 and as they may be actuated by his ,spirit1 which it is their right to receive through the medium of sincere and heartfelt prayer4 ,a woman without heartfelt devotion for the things of ,god is not prepared to stand at her husband's side and enjoy his confidence in the graver responsibilities that devolve upon him in the government of the ,church4 ,husbands are justified in withholding their confidence from and in refusing to be influenced by wives whose worldly ambitions and want of appreciation of divine things lead them to contend for personal advantages and selfish gains4 ,wives of leaders should have a generous feeling for all that relates to the affairs over which their husbands preside4 ,such women should not be exclusive in their social relations1 and should avoid the evils that frequently come from yielding to the influence and views of a small coterie that may have selfish aims and personal advantages to serve4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 pp4 #cga1 #cgb1 #aijc4 ,,duty ,,of ,,parents4 ,it is the duty of ,latter-day ,saints to teach their children the truth1 to bring them up in the way they should go1 to teach them the first principles of the gospel1 the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins1 and for membership in the ,church of ,christ2 teaching them the necessity of receiving the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands1 which will lead them into all truth1 and which will reveal to them things that have passed and things which are to come1 and show to them more clearly those things which are present with them1 that they may comprehend #cfe the truth1 and that they may walk in the light as ,christ is in the light2 that they may have fellowship with him and that his blood may cleanse them from all sin4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #ace4 ,,watch ,,your ,,children4 ,some people have grown to possess such unlimited confidence in their children that they do not believe it possible for them to be led astray or to do wrong4 ,they do not believe they could do wrong1 because they have such confidence in them4 ,the result is they turn them loose1 morning1 noon and night1 to attend all kinds of entertainments and amusement1 often in company with those whom they know not and do not understand4 ,some of our children are so innocent that they do not suspect evil1 and1 therefore1 they are off their guard and are trapped into evil4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #d4 ,,duty ,,to ,,teach ,,children4 ,another great and important duty devolving upon this people is to teach their children1 from their cradle until they become men and women1 every principle of the gospel1 and endeavor1 as far as it lies in the power of the parents1 to instil into their hearts a love for ,god1 the truth1 virtue1 honesty1 honor and integrity to everything that is good4 ,that is important for all men and women who stand at the head of a family in the household of faith4 ,teach your children the love of ,god1 teach them to love the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,teach them to love their fellowmen1 and especially to love their fellow members in the ,church that they may be true to their fellowship with the people of ,god4 ,teach them to honor the priesthood1 to honor the authority that ,god has bestowed upon his ,church for the proper government of his ,church4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,,what ,,to ,,teach ,,your ,,children4 ,we are a ,christian people1 we believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and we feel that it is our duty to acknowledge him as our ,savior and ,redeemer4 ,teach it to your children4 ,teach them that the #cff ,prophet ,joseph ,smith had restored to him the priesthood that was held by ,peter and ,james and ,john1 who were ordained under the hands of the ,savior himself4 ,teach them that ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet1 when only a boy1 was chosen and called of ,god to lay the foundations of the ,church of ,christ in the world1 to restore the holy priesthood1 and the ordinances of the gospel1 which are necessary to qualify men to enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,teach your children to respect their neighbors4 ,teach your children to respect their bishops and the teachers that come to their homes to teach them4 ,teach your children to respect old age1 gray hairs1 and feeble frames4 ,teach them to venerate and to hold in honorable remembrance their parents1 and to help all those who are helpless and needy4 ,teach your children1 as you have been taught yourselves1 to honor the priesthood which you hold1 the priesthood which we hold as elders in ,israel4 ,teach your children to honor themselves1 teach your children to honor the principle of presidency by which organizations are held intact and by which strength and power for the well-being and happiness and upbuilding of the people are preserved4 ,teach your children that when they go to school they should honor their teachers in that which is true and honest1 in that which is manly and womanly1 and worth while2 and also teach them to avoid the bad examples of their teachers out of school1 and the bad principles of men and women who are sometimes teachers in schools4 ,teach your children to honor the law of ,god and the law of the state and the law of our country4 ,teach them to respect and hold in honor those who are chosen by the people to stand at their head and execute justice and administer the law4 ,teach them to be loyal to their country1 loyal to righteousness and uprightness and honor1 and thereby they will grow up to be men and women choice above all the men and women of the world4--,apr ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,what ,,children ,,should ,,be ,,taught4 ,i pray you1 my #cfg brethren and sisters1 who have children in ,zion1 and upon whom rests the greater responsibility1 teach them the principles of the gospel1 teach them to have faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and in baptism for the remission of sins when they shall reach the age of eight years4 ,they must be taught in the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ by their parents1 or the blood of the children will be upon the skirts of those parents4 ,it seems to me so plain a duty and so necessary for them to see to it that their children avail themselves of the opportunities that are afforded them in having them taught and instructed in these principles in the ,sunday schools that are established in the ,church and conducted ,sunday after ,sunday for the benefit of their children4 ,i should feel contemptible1 ,i was going to say1 in my own mind1 in my own feelings1 if ,i had children who were neglected by their parents in regard to these matters4 ,our little ones are only too anxious to go to ,sunday school1 no matter what may occur1 whether it rains or is cold or pleasant1 or what not2 whether they are sick or well1 they cannot be kept from the ,sunday school unless there is great cause for it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #ha4 ,,training ,,of ,,children ,,at ,,home ,,and ,,in ,,sunday ,,school4 ,it does not need argument to convince our minds that our children will be just about what we make them4 ,they are born without knowledge or understanding--the most helpless creatures of the animal creation born into the world4 ,the little one begins to learn after it is born1 and all that it knows greatly depends upon its environment1 the influences under which it is brought up1 the kindness with which it is treated1 the noble examples shown it1 the hallowed influences of father and mother1 or otherwise1 over its infant mind4 ,and it will be largely what its environment and its parents and teachers make it4 ,the child of the lowest of our native tribes born in a wigwam and the child born in luxury start out almost equal1 #cfh so far as the possibilities of learning are concerned4 ,a great deal depends upon the influence under which it is brought up4 ,you will observe that the most potent influence over the mind of a child to persuade it to learn1 to progress1 or to accomplish anything1 is the influence of love4 ,more can be accomplished for good by unfeigned love1 in bringing up a child1 than by any other influence that can be brought to bear upon it4 ,a child that cannot be conquered by the lash1 or subdued by violence1 may be controlled in an instant by unfeigned affection and sympathy4 ,i know that is true2 and this principle obtains in every condition of life4 ,the ,sunday school teacher should govern the children1 not by passion1 by bitter words or scolding1 but by affection and by winning their confidence4 ,if a teacher gets the confidence of a child it is not impossible to accomplish every desired good with that child4 ,i would have it understood that ,i believe that the greatest law and commandment of ,god is to love the ,lord our ,god with all our mind1 might and strength1 and our neighbors as ourselves1 and if this principle is observed at home the brothers and sisters will love one another2 they will be kind and helpful to one another1 showing forth the principle of kindness and being solicitous for one another's good4 ,under these circumstances the home comes nearer being a heaven on earth1 and children brought up under these influences will never forget them1 and though they may be in trying places1 their memories will revert to the homes where they enjoyed such hallowed influences1 and their better natures will assert themselves no matter what the trials or temptations may be4 ,brethren and sisters of the ,sunday school1 ,i implore you to teach and control by the spirit of love and forbearance until you can conquer4 ,if children are defiant and difficult to control1 be patient with them until you can conquer #cfi by love1 and you will have gained their souls1 and you can then mould their characters as you please4 ,sometimes children do not like their teachers1 and the teachers are impatient with the children1 and complain of them as being very uncouth1 uncontrollable and bad4 ,the children in their turn tell their parents how they despise their teachers1 and say they don't want to go to school any more because the teacher is so cross4 ,i have heard of these things and know them to be true4 ,on the other hand1 if children say to father and mother1 ,we think we have the best teacher in the world1 in our ,sunday school1 or1 ,we have the best teacher in our district school that ever lived1 it proves that those teachers have won the affections of the children1 and the little ones are as clay in the hands of the potter to be moulded in any shape desired4 ,this is the position you teachers should occupy1 and if you get their affections this will be the report the children will make regarding you4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 pp4 #ib1 #ic4 ,,teach ,,children ,,the ,,gospel4 ,it is the duty of parents to teach their children the principles of the gospel and to be sober-minded and industrious in their youth4 ,they should be impressed from the cradle to the time they leave the parental roof to make homes and assume the duties of life for themselves1 that there is a seed time and harvest1 and as man sows1 so shall he reap4 ,the sowing of bad habits in youth will bring forth nothing better than vice1 and the sowing of the seeds of indolence will result invariably in poverty and lack of stability in old age4 ,evil begets evil1 and good will bring forth good4 ,i have heard people say1 ,we pass this way but once1 and we might as well have a good time and make the most of it while life lasts4 ,this is in keeping with the prediction in the ,book of ,mormon3 ,and there shall be many which shall say1 ,eat1 drink1 and be merry1 for tomorrow we die2 and it shall be well with us4 99 99 99 ,yea1 and #cgj there shall be many which shall teach after this manner1 false1 and vain1 and foolish doctrines1 and shall be puffed up in their hearts1 and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the ,lord2 and their works shall be in the dark4 7,,ii ,nephi #bh3g-i7 ,let the parents in ,zion give their children something to do that they may be taught the arts of industry1 and equipped to carry responsibility when it is thrust upon them4 ,train them in some useful vocation that their living may be assured when they commence in life for themselves4 ,remember1 the ,lord has said that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer1 but all in ,zion should be industrious4 ,neither should they be given to loud laughter1 light and foolish speeches1 worldly pride and lustful desires1 for these are not only unbecoming1 but grievous sins in the sight of the ,lord4 ,and1 we read that the wages of sin is death1 and death is banishment from the ,spirit and presence of the ,lord4 ,and above all else1 let us train our children in the principles of the gospel of our ,savior1 that they may become familiar with the truth and walk in the light which it sheds forth to all those who will receive it4 ,he that seeketh me early1 the ,lord has said1 shall find me1 and shall not be forsaken4 ,it behooves us1 therefore1 to commence in early life to travel in the straight and narrow path which leads to eternal salvation4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #eb1 pp4 #ai1 #bj1 ,january1 #aiag2 ,rom4 #f3bc2 ,prov4 #h3ag4 ,,teach ,,children ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,jesus' ,,death4 ,should the little children of the kindergarten be taught the events leading up to and culminating in the death of our ,savior8 ,it is a principle widely accepted that it is not desirable to teach these little ones those things that are horrifying to childish natures4 ,and what may be said of children is equally true in all stages of student life4 ,but death is not an unmixed horror4 ,with it are associated some of the profoundest and most important truths of human life4 ,although #cga painful in the extreme to those who must suffer the departure of dear ones1 death is one of the grandest blessings in divine economy2 and we think children should be taught something of its true meaning as early in life as possible4 ,we are born that we may put on mortality1 that is1 that we may clothe our spirits with a body4 ,such a blessing is the first step toward an immortal body1 and the second step is death4 ,death lies along the road of eternal progress2 and though hard to bear1 no one who believes in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and especially in the resurrection1 would have it otherwise4 ,children should be taught early in life that death is really a necessity as well as a blessing1 and that we would not and could not be satisfied and supremely happy without it4 ,upon the crucifixion and the resurrection of ,jesus1 one of the grandest principles of the gospel depends4 ,if children were taught this early in life1 death would not have the horrifying influence that it does have over many childish minds4 ,children are sure to be brought into some acquaintanceship with the incident of death1 even during the kindergarten period2 and it would be a great relief to the puzzled and perplexed conditions of their minds if some intelligent statements of the reason for death were made to them4 ,no explanation of death to a child's mind can anywhere be found that is more simple and convincing than is the death of our ,master1 connected as it is and ever must be with the glorious resurrection4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dj1 p4 #ccf1 ,june #a1 #aije4 ,,wise ,,giving ,,to ,,children4 ,it is very gratifying to parents to be able to respond to the desires of their children1 but it is undoubtedly a cruelty to a child to give it everything it asks for4 ,children may wisely be denied things which even in themselves are harmless4 ,our pleasures depend often more upon the qualities of our desires than #cgb upon the gratification4 ,a child may be ladened with gifts which afford him little or no pleasure1 simply because he has no desire for them4 ,the education then of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in life2 and when we learn that there is an education of our intellects and we are set about that education with prudence and wisdom1 we shall do much to increase not only our happiness but also our usefulness in the world4 ,god's ways of educating our desires are1 of course1 always the most perfect1 and if those who have it in their power to educate and direct the desires of children would imitate his prudence1 the children would be much more fortunate in combating the difficulties that beset men everywhere in the struggle for existence4 ,and what is ,god's way8 ,everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting4 ,we want things a long time before we get them1 and the fact that we wanted them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come4 ,in nature we have our seed-time and harvest2 and if children were taught that the desires that they sow may be reaped by and by through patience and labor1 they will learn to appreciate whenever a long-looked-for goal has been reached4 ,nature resists us and keeps admonishing us to wait2 indeed1 we are compelled to wait4 ,a man has a much greater capacity to enjoy that for which he has labored for a number of years than one who has a similar object given to him4 ,it is1 therefore1 most unfortunate for children when their parents greatly weaken or almost wholly destroy the children's capacity for the enjoyment of some of the most wholesome pleasures of life4 ,the child who has everything he wants and when he wants it is really to be pitied1 for he has no ability to enjoy it4 ,there may be a hundred times more pleasure in a dollar piece for one child than for another4 ,our desires are the strongest motives which incite us #cgc to energy and which make us productive and creative in life4 ,if they are weak1 our creations are likely to be puny and worthless4 ,money that a boy works for has a value upon his life and an actual purchasing power greatly in excess of the money that has been given to him4 ,and what is true of boys is in a large measure true of girls4 ,the girl who earns something1 who works persistently and patiently that she may have money she can call her own has a capacity for enjoying the objects of her desires greatly in excess of the girl who never learned to earn a dollar4 ,she also knows and appreciates the value of a dollar more than the girl who never had to wait until she earned it4 ,it is a mistake for parents to suppose that a daughter ought never to be required to earn anything4 ,every effort by which we seek the fulfilment of our desires gives strength and character to manhood and womanhood4 ,the man who builds a house has vastly more enjoyment in its occupation than the man who has had a house given to him4 ,it is just as wrong systematically to give a child everything he desires as to deny the child everything4 ,when indulgent parents fancy that they are adding to the pleasure of their children's lives by giving to them whatever they wish1 such parents are in fact destroying the capacity of their children to enjoy the gratification of desires weakened and perverted by over-indulgence4 ,the ability to give to children wisely is indeed a rare attainment1 and is acquired only by a thoughtful and prudent exercise of the highest sense of duty which parents can feel for their children4 ,duty is always preferable to indulgence4--,juvenile ,instructor1 p4 #djj1 ,july #a1 #aijc4 ,,do ,,not ,,place ,,children ,,under ,,pledges4 ,we believe it is questionable wisdom to put children under a pledge of any kind4 ,we ourselves do not put our children under pledges1 and we see no reason why we should permit others to do it4 ,instructions can be given to children warning them #cgd against the use of strong drinks and tobacco just as well without their being pledged as by placing that responsibility upon them4 ,no man or set of people should be permitted to call our children together for the purpose of joining a temperance society1 without they first obtain the consent of the parents or guardians of those children2 and we take it for granted that no such consent would be given4 ,we also take it for granted that boards of education could not consistently1 without such permission1 allow such a thing to be done in the public schools4 ,it should be understood that we1 the ,latter-day ,saints1 teach temperance and morality as part of our religion1 and that we ourselves are competent to do this kind of work among our own children without the aid of outside temperance societies4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #gbj1 ,dec4 #a1 #aijb4 ,,children ,,have ,,equal ,,rights ,,with ,,elders ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,the ,,lord4 ,our children should be taught also that they have rights in the house of the ,lord equal to their parents and equal to their neighbors or anybody else4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #hh4 ,,don',t ,,mortgage ,,your ,,houses4 ,my brethren1 see to it that you do not put a mortgage upon the roof that covers the heads of your wives and your children4 ,don't do it4 ,don't plaster your farms with mortgages1 because it is from your farms that you reap your food1 and the means to provide your raiment and your other necessaries of life4 ,keep your possessions free from debt4 ,get out of debt as fast as you can1 and keep out of debt1 for that is the way in which the promise of ,god will be fulfilled to the people of his ,church1 that they will become the richest of all people in the world4 ,but this will not happen while you mortgage your homes and your farms1 or run into debt beyond your ability to meet your obligations2 and thus1 perhaps1 your name and credit be dishonored because you over-reached #cge yourselves4 ,never reach further than you can gather1 is a good motto4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #aa4 ,,no ,,substitute ,,for ,,the ,,home4 ,the growing tendency throughout the country to abandon the home for the hotel and for the nomadic life with its ever-shifting and restless spirit1 manifests itself here and there among the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,a word of warning at this time may not be inappropriate to those who imagine that there is some charm as well as benefit in moving about the world in quest of pleasure and novelties that come from changing frequently one's habitation4 ,there is no substitute for the home4 ,its foundation is as ancient as the world1 and its mission has been ordained of ,god from the earliest times4 ,from ,abraham sprang two ancient races represented in ,isaac and ,ishmael4 ,the one built stable homes1 and prized its land as a divine inheritance4 ,the other became children of the desert1 and as restless as its ever-shifting sands upon which their tents were pitched4 ,from that day to the present1 the home has been the chief characteristic of superior over inferior nations4 ,the home then is more than a habitation1 it is an institution which stands for stability and love in individuals as well as in nations4 ,there can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from the home1 and every effort made to sanctify and preserve its influence is uplifting to those who toil and sacrifice for its establishment4 ,men and women often seek to substitute some other life for that of the home2 they would make themselves believe that the home means restraint2 that the highest liberty is the fullest opportunity to move about at will4 ,there is no happiness without service1 and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution1 and which promotes and preserves family life4 ,those who shirk home responsibilities are wanting in an #cgf important element of social well-being4 ,they may indulge themselves in social pleasures1 but their pleasures are superficial and result in disappointment later in life4 ,the occupations of men sometimes call them from their homes2 but the thought of home-coming is always an inspiration to well doing and devotion4 ,when women abandon the home and its duties1 the case is a more deplorable one4 ,the evil effects are not confined to the mother alone4 ,the children are robbed of a sacred right1 and their love is bereft of its rallying place around the hearthstone4 ,the strongest attachments of childhood are those that cluster about the home1 and the dearest memories of old age are those that call up the associations of youth and its happy surroundings4 ,the disposition among the ,saints to be moving about ought to be discouraged4 ,if communities must swarm1 let the young go1 and let the old homes be transmitted from generation to generation1 and let the home be erected with the thought that it is to be a family abiding place from one generation to another1 that it is to be a monument to its founder and an inheritance of all that is sacred and dear in home life4 ,let it be the ,mecca to which an ever-increasing posterity may make its pilgrimage4 ,the home1 a stable and pure home1 is the highest guaranty of social stability and permanence in government4 ,a ,latter-day ,saint who has no ambition to establish a home and give it permanency has not a full conception of a sacred duty the gospel imposes upon him4 ,it may be necessary at times to change our abode2 but a change should never be made for light or trivial reasons1 nor to satisfy a restless spirit4 ,whenever homes are built the thought of permanency should always be present4 ,many of the ,saints live in parts of the country that are less productive than others1 that possess few natural attractions1 yet they cherish their homes and their surroundings1 and the more substantial men and women of such communities are the last #cgg to abandon them4 ,there is no substitute in wealth or in ambition for the home4 ,its influence is a prime necessity for man's happiness and well-being4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 pp4 #ade1 #adf1 ,march #a1 #aijc4 ,,worship ,,in ,,the ,,home4 ,we have in the gospel the truth4 ,if that is the case1 and ,i bear my testimony that so it is1 then it is worth our every effort to understand the truth1 each for himself1 and to impart it in spirit and practice to our children4 ,far too many risk their children's spiritual guidance to chance1 or to others rather than to themselves1 and think that organizations suffice for religious training4 ,our temporal bodies would soon become emaciated1 if we fed them only once a week1 or twice1 as some of us are in the habit of feeding our spiritual and religious bodies4 ,our material concerns would be less thriving1 if we looked after them only two hours a week1 as some people seem to do with their spiritual affairs1 especially if we in addition contented ourselves1 as some do in religious matters1 to let others look after them4 ,no2 on the other hand1 this should be done every day1 and in the home1 by precept1 teaching and example4 ,brethren1 there is too little religious devotion1 love and fear of ,god1 in the home2 too much worldliness1 selfishness1 indifference and lack of reverence in the family1 or these never would exist so abundantly on the outside4 ,then1 the home is what needs reforming4 ,try today1 and tomorrow1 to make a change in your home by praying twice a day with your family2 call on your children and your wife to pray with you4 ,ask a blessing upon every meal you eat4 ,spend ten minutes in reading a chapter from the words of the ,lord in the ,bible1 the ,book of ,mormon1 the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 before you retire1 or before you go to your daily toil4 ,feed your spiritual selves at home1 as well as in public places4 ,let love1 and peace1 and the ,spirit of the ,lord1 kindness1 charity1 sacrifice for others1 abound in your families4 #cgh ,banish harsh words1 envyings1 hatreds1 evil speaking1 obscene language and innuendo1 blasphemy1 and let the ,spirit of ,god take possession of your hearts4 ,teach to your children these things1 in spirit and power1 sustained and strengthened by personal practice4 ,let them see that you are earnest1 and practice what you preach4 ,do not let your children out to specialists in these things1 but teach them by your own precept and example1 by your own fireside4 ,be a specialist yourself in the truth4 ,let our meetings1 schools and organizations1 instead of being our only or leading teachers1 be supplements to our teachings and training in the home4 ,not one child in a hundred would go astray1 if the home environment1 example and training1 were in harmony with the truth in the gospel of ,christ1 as revealed and taught to the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,fathers and mothers1 you are largely to blame for the infidelity and indifference of your children4 ,you can remedy the evil by earnest worship1 example1 training and discipline1 in the home4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 ,dec41 #aijd1 p4 #ace4 ,,the ,,basis ,,of ,a ,,true ,,home4 ,a home is not a home in the eye of the gospel1 unless there dwell perfect confidence and love between the husband and the wife4 ,home is a place of order1 love1 union1 rest1 confidence1 and absolute trust2 where the breath of suspicion of infidelity can not enter2 where the woman an the man each have implicit confidence in each other's honor and virtue4--,second ,sunday ,school ,convention4 ,,the ,,ideal ,,home4 ,what then is an ideal home--model home1 such as it should be the ambition of the ,latter-day ,saints to build2 such as a young man starting out in life should wish to erect for himself8 ,and the answer came to me3 ,it is one in which all worldly considerations are secondary4 ,one in which the father is devoted to the family with which ,god has blessed him1 counting them of first importance1 #cgi and in which they in turn permit him to live in their hearts4 ,one in which there is confidence1 union1 love1 sacred devotion between father and mother and children and parents4 ,one in which the mother takes every pleasure in her children1 supported by the father--all being moral1 pure1 ,god-fearing4 ,as the tree is judged by its fruit1 so also do we judge the home by the children4 ,in the ideal home true parents rear loving1 thoughtful children1 loyal to the death1 to father and mother and home6 ,in it there is the religious spirit1 for both parents and children have faith in ,god1 and their practices are in conformity with that faith2 the members are free from the vices and contaminations of the world1 are pure in morals1 having upright hearts beyond bribes and temptations1 ranging high in the exalted standards of manhood and womanhood4 ,peace1 order1 and contentment reign in the hearts of the inmates--let them be rich or poor1 in things material4 ,there are no vain regrets2 no expressions of discontent against father1 from the boys and girls1 in which they complain3 ,if we only had this or that1 or were like this family or that1 or could do like so and so6--complaints that have caused fathers many uncertain steps1 dim eyes1 restless nights1 and untold anxiety4 ,in their place is the loving thoughtfulness to mother and father by which the boys and girls work with a will and a determination to carry some of the burden that the parents have staggered under these many years4 ,there is the kiss for mother1 the caress for father1 the thought that they have sacrificed their own hopes and ambitions1 their strength1 even life itself to their children--there is gratitude in payment for all that has been given them6 ,in the ideal home the soul is not starved1 neither are the growth and expansion of the finer sentiments paralyzed for the coarse and sensual pleasures4 ,the main aim is not to heap up material wealth1 which generally draws further and further from the true1 the ideal1 the spiritual life2 but it is #chj rather to create soul--wealth1 consciousness of noble achievement1 an outflow of love and helpfulness4 ,it is not costly paintings1 tapestries1 priceless bric-a-brac1 various ornaments1 costly furniture1 fields1 herds1 houses and lands which constitute the ideal home1 nor yet the social enjoyments and ease so tenaciously sought by many2 but it is rather beauty of soul1 cultivated1 loving1 faithful1 true spirits2 hands that help and hearts that sympathize2 love that seeks not its own1 thoughts and acts that touch our lives to finer issues--these lie at the foundation of the ideal home4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #h1 #aijd-je1 pp4 #che-chh4 ,,foundation ,,of ,,all ,,good ,,in ,,home4 ,the very foundation of the kingdom of ,god1 of righteousness1 of progress1 of development1 of eternal life and eternal increase in the kingdom of ,god1 is laid in the divinely ordained home2 and there should be no difficulty in holding in the highest reverence and exalted thought1 the home1 if it can be built upon the principles of purity1 of true affection1 of righteousness and justice4 ,the man and his wife who have perfect confidence in each other1 and who determine to follow the laws of ,god in their lives and fulfil the measure of their mission in the earth1 would not be1 and could never be1 contented without the home4 ,their hearts1 their feelings1 their minds1 their desires would naturally trend toward the building of a home and family and of a kingdom of their own2 to the laying of the foundation of eternal increase and power1 glory1 exaltation and dominion1 worlds without end4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ea1 p4 #gci4 ,,secure ,,homes4 ,in my judgment it would be prudence and wisdom for the young people to secure lands near the homes of their parents and near the body of the ,church1 where they can have the advantage of ,sunday schools and the gatherings of the ,saints1 and in so doing they will be building for themselves1 instead of permitting the stranger to come in and take the lands--strangers with whom in many instances #cha we could not affiliate4 ,we all know there are classes who come in here who up to date have not proved desirable neighbors to affiliate with1 and it is just as well for our own young people to stay in the land of their birth and build them homes4 ,i will say that we do not approve of the disposition of some to go afar off where life1 property and liberty are not safe4 ,we wish them to remain together1 so that if it is necessary or desirable that the ,saints should colonize1 they might do it in order4 ,i do not want to be understood as saying or thinking that one little state is big enough to contain all the young people1 and ,i think it is wisdom and necessary for the ,latter-day ,saints to take every advantage in this respect that is possible4 ,i think our young people should get homes in ,utah1 ,idaho1 ,wyoming and ,colorado--in our own state and in adjoining states--in blessed ,america1 under this grand and glorious government where life and property1 and the liberties of men are safe and protected1 where mob violence and revolutionary spirit do not stalk forth as in some countries of the world4 ,another thing4 ,in the old times an effort was made to co-operate and combine together and establish home industries for the production of the things that were needful for consumption of the people and to produce a revenue as well4 ,today we have allowed the home industry spirit to perish almost from amongst us1 and we do not witness the same loyalty among the people to those things which are produced at home that there should be4 ,there are too many people who would rather patronize some cheap ,john and buy shoddy goods1 just because they can get them a few pence cheaper1 than to sustain home industry1 and get all wool and a yard wide4 ,we should not encourage foreign capital to the exclusion of our own1 and patronize foreign labor against our own1 but we should build up our home institutions4--,from a ,sermon1 given in ,logan1 ,april #g1 #aiaj4 #chb ,,own ,,your ,,homes4 ,it was early the rule among the ,latter-day ,saints to have the lands so divided that every family could have a spot of ground which could be called theirs2 and it has been the proud boast of this people that among them were more home owners than among any other people of like numbers4 ,this condition had a good tendency1 and whatever men said of us1 the home among this people was a first consideration4 ,it is this love of home that has made the ,saints famous as colonizers1 builders of settlements1 and redeemers of the deserts4 ,but in the cities there appears now to be coming into vogue the idea that renting is the thing4 ,of course1 it may be necessary as a temporary makeshift1 but no young couple should ever settle down with the idea that such a condition1 as far as they are concerned1 shall be permanent4 ,every young man should have an ambition to possess his own home4 ,it is better for him1 for his family1 for society1 for the state1 and for the ,church4 ,nothing so engenders stability1 strength1 power1 patriotism1 fidelity to country and to ,god as the owning of a home--a spot of earth that you and your children can call yours4 ,and besides1 there are so many tender virtues that grow with such ownership that the government of a family is made doubly easy thereby4 ,let us continue1 as a people1 to be unlike the world in this regard4 ,i hope the ,saints will ever be a home owning people1 and never become roamers1 roomers and renters4 ,we should no more follow the prevailing notions in this than in some other things4 ,the people of ,zion have a higher destiny than being led by the nose1 as it were1 by the prevailing whims4 ,we do not purpose being led by evil tendencies1 but rather glory in being leaders ourselves in all that makes for the welfare and happiness of the home1 the advancement of the ,church1 the prosperity of the state4--,improvement ,era1 ,aug41 #aijd1 ,vol4 #g1 p4 #gif4 ,,do ,,not ,,mortgage ,,your ,,homes4 ,whenever a panic #chc comes1 or there is severe financial depression because of monetary conditions1 the people have before them a painful object lesson on the evils of mortgaging1 especially of their homes and places of business4 ,men owe it to their wives and children to be prudent and conservative when business considerations touch the home1 and it is doubtful whether they really have a moral right to expose helpless wives and children to the mercies of the money lender4 ,the evils are too abundantly manifest to permit of mortgaging homes that should be sacred to the needs of those who are dependent upon them4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints have often been warned and are now earnestly admonished not to hazard their homes1 and with them their wives and children1 upon the altar of financial speculations4 ,what was taught in the early days of our history in this intermountain region is equally true today1 and it is the duty of every ,latter-day ,saint1 so far as it is possible1 to own his home1 to possess an earthly inheritance4 ,it has been our pride that among the people of all the world nowhere can a greater percentage be found of those who have title to the homes in which they live4 ,instead of declining year by year in the total number of homes owned by the ,latter-day ,saints of ,salt ,lake ,city1 and other large cities1 there should be an increase4 ,the matter of the ,saints possessing title to their homes is something more than a question of whether it pays best to rent or to own4 ,it is a question of vital importance to our future position1 and relative strength in a land to which by every rule of equity and prudence we are entitled4 ,there is a virtue and an assurance and a certainty in the ownership of one's home that are never felt by those who are shifting from place to place without any landed possession4 ,the influence upon child life that comes from the possession and ownership of the family home is of itself a sufficient reason to guard it against the repeated evils #chd of mortgaging4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints owe it to themselves and they owe it to their ,god to be steadfast in the possession of the lands to which they hold titles1 either by purchase or settlement4 ,the evil of mortgaging homes to eastern firms1 to men and companies who have no other motive than to secure their pound of flesh1 is growing among the people1 and especially among those in the larger cities4 ,against such evils the people have in the past been abundantly warned4 ,if necessity compels the husband to place a mortgage upon the home1 let it come1 if possible1 through a friend and not through those who may be the enemies of the people4 ,if the ,latter-day ,saints will give heed to the prudent admonitions and lessons of the past1 they will hesitate in the presence of the alluring temptations which are now everywhere held out1 to mortgage their homes1 their places of business1 the canals1 and the farms1 for the means with which to speculate and grow rich4 ,it is to be hoped1 therefore1 that where the ,saints have mortgages upon their homes they will be persistent in their endeavors to remove them1 and they are advised to keep intact and beyond menace the titles to their lands4 ,the admonitions here given are directed especially to those disposed to mortgage for the purpose of speculation1 and not to those who may find it necessary through building societies or otherwise to secure homes by monthly or other periodical payments4 ,the latter practice may lead to economic habits1 while speculations too frequently create a spirit of extravagance4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cf1 pp4 #gbb-gbc4 ,,evils ,,of ,,mortgaging4 ,what a blessed condition would result in ,zion if the evil of going into debt1 of mortgaging the home1 could be made very clear to every ,latter-day ,saint1 young and old6 ,well1 indeed1 would it be if some of the burdens of the mortgage and its accompanying sorrows1 could be felt and understood by every man who has in contemplation the pawning of his home and land for money--that #che he might comprehend its slavery and terror--as thoroughly prior to the deed as he is sure to feel it after4 ,in that event1 he might be warned in time to avoid the fatal step1 and awake as from a horrid dream to rejoice in his deliverance4 ,with few exceptions mortgages on private property end in disaster to the giver4 99 99 99 ,what should we think of men who would jeopardize the position and place of the people of ,zion6 ,the land of ,zion is an inheritance1 and every man who mortgages his part of that inheritance places in jeopardy the land1 thus not only disinheriting himself1 but committing a crime against the whole community and the intelligence and wisdom that should characterize every true ,latter-day ,saint4 ,the result of such action is appalling1 and its contemplation something fearful to every lover of the people of ,god1 the more so when one possesses a knowledge of how widespread is the evil4 ,mortgaging1 then1 looked upon in its true light1 is not only a private burden and detriment1 in which a man's family is thrown out of house and home1 and his own abilities1 happiness and talents are destroyed or sadly diminished1 but it is positively a public crime in a community like ours4 ,disposing of inheritances in ,zion partakes of the nature of such action as individuals pulling up and selling for money the gold bricks from the streets of the ,celestial ,city4 ,it is intolerable1 when looked upon in the right light6 ,the old proverb3 ,who goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing1 and ,lying rides on debt's back1 should appeal directly to every man who contemplates mortgaging4 ,but if personal appeal is not strong enough1 let him remember that his home or farm is likely to go for half of its value to satisfy his debt1 and that his family who depend upon him will be left without adequate shelter and support4 ,but if neither reason is strong enough to hold him back1 let him remember ,zion and his inheritance therein1 and let her cause cry aloud to him to bring him to a realizing sense of the triple crime that he is #chf about to commit1 in order that his hand may be stayed1 and he saved the humiliation1 worry1 anxiety and sorrow that must inevitably overtake him1 unless he repent4--,improvement ,era1 ,dec41 #aija1 ,vol4 #e1 p4 #adg4 ,,our ,,first ,,duty ,,to ,,our ,,household4 ,i want to tell you that we will be honest with you2 we feel that it is the first duty of ,latter-day ,saints to take care of themselves and of their poor2 and then1 if we can extend it to others1 and as wide and as far as we can extend charity and assistance to others that are not members of the ,church1 we feel that it is our duty to do it4 ,but first look after the members of our own household4 ,the man who will not provide for his own house1 as one of old has said1 is worse than an infidel4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #aj4 ,,unchastity1 ,a ,,dominant ,,evil4 ,the character of a community or a nation is the sum of the individual qualities of its component members4 ,to say so is to voice at once an ordinary platitude and an axiom of profound import4 ,the stability of a material structure depends upon the integrity of its several parts and the maintenance of a proper correlation of the units in harmony with the laws of forces4 ,the same may be said of institutions1 systems1 and organizations in general4 ,not alone is it fundamentally proper and in strict accord with both the spirit and the letter of the ,divine ,word1 but absolutely essential to the stability of the social order that the marriage relation shall be defined and regulated by secular law4 ,parties to the marriage contract must be definitely invested with the responsibilities of the status they assume2 and for fidelity to their obligations they are answerable to each other1 to society1 and to their ,god4 ,sexual union is lawful in wedlock1 and if participated in with right intent is honorable and sanctifying4 ,but without the bonds of marriage1 sexual indulgence is a debasing sin1 abominable in the sight of ,deity4 #chg ,infidelity to marriage vows is a fruitful source of divorce1 with its long train of attendant evils1 not the least of which are the shame and dishonor inflicted on unfortunate though innocent children4 ,the dreadful effects of adultery cannot be confined to the erring participants4 ,whether openly known or partly concealed under the cloak of guilty secrecy1 the results are potent in evil influence4 ,the immortal spirits that come to earth to tabernacle in bodies of flesh have the right to be well born1 through parents who are free from the contamination of sexual vice4 ,it is a deplorable fact that society persists in holding women to stricter account than men in the matter of sexual offense4 ,what shadow of excuse1 not to speak of justification1 can be found for this outrageous and cowardly discrimination8 ,can moral defilement be any the less filthy and pestilential in man than in woman8 ,is a male leper less to be shunned for fear of contagion than a woman similarly stricken8 ,so far as woman sins it is inevitable that she shall suffer1 for retribution is sure1 whether it be immediate or deferred4 ,but in so far as man's injustice inflicts upon her the consequence of his offenses1 he stands convicted of multiple guilt4 ,and man is largely responsible for the sins against decency and virtue1 the burden of which is too often fastened upon the weaker participant in the crime4 ,the frightful prevalence of prostitution1 and the tolerance and even condonation with which the foul traffic is treated by so-called civilized society1 are black blots on the pages of current history4 99 99 99 ,like many bodily diseases1 sexual crime drags with itself a train of other ills4 ,as the physical effects of drunkenness entail the deterioration of tissue1 and disturbance of vital functions1 and so render the body receptive to any distemper to which it may be exposed1 and at the same time lower the powers of resistance even to fatal deficiency1 so #chh does unchastity expose the soul to divers spiritual maladies1 and rob it of both resistance and recuperative ability4 ,the adulterous generation of ,christ's day were deaf to the voice of truth1 and through their diseased state of mind and heart1 sought after signs and preferred empty fable to the message of salvation4 ,we accept without reservation or qualification the affirmation of ,deity1 through an ancient ,nephite prophet3 ,for ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 delight in the chastity of women4 ,and whoredoms are an abomination before me2 thus saith the ,lord of ,hosts4 7,jacob #b3bh47 ,we hold that sexual sin is second only to the shedding of innocent blood in the category of personal crimes2 and that the adulterer shall have no part in the exaltation of the blessed4 ,we proclaim as the word of the ,lord3 ,thou shalt not commit adultery4 ,he that looketh on a woman to lust after her1 or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts1 they shall not have the ,spirit1 but shall deny the faith4--,improvement ,era1 ,june1 #aiah1 ,vol4 #bj1 p4 #gch2 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #fc3af4 ,,degrees ,,of ,,sexual ,,sin4 ,there are said to be more shades of green than of any other color1 so also we are of the opinion there are more grades or degrees of sin associated with the improper relationship of the sexes than of any other wrongdoing of which we have knowledge4 ,they all involve a grave offense--the sin against chastity1 but in numerous instances this sin is intensified by the breaking of sacred covenants1 to which is sometimes added deceit1 intimidation or actual violence4 ,much as all these sins are to be denounced and deplored1 we can ourselves see a difference both in intent and consequence between the offense of a young couple who1 being betrothed1 in an unguarded moment1 without premeditation #chi fall into sin1 and that of the man1 who having entered into holy places and made sacred covenants1 plots to rob the wife of his neighbor of her virtue either by cunning or force1 and accomplishes his vile intent4 ,not only is there a difference in these wrongs1 judging from the standpoint of intent1 but also from that of the consequences4 ,in the first instance the young couple who have transgressed can make partial amends by sincere repentance and by marrying4 ,one reparation1 however1 they cannot make4 ,they cannot restore the respect that they previously held for each other2 and too often as a consequence of this loss of confidence their married life is clouded or embittered by the fear that each has for the other1 having once sinned1 may do so again4 ,in the other case1 others are most disastrously involved1 families are broken up1 misery is forced upon innocent parties1 society is affected1 doubt is thrown upon the paternity of children1 and from the standpoint of gospel ordinances1 the question of descent is clouded and pedigrees become worthless2 altogether1 wrongs are committed both to the living and the dead1 as well as to the yet unborn1 which it is out of the power of the offenders to repair or make right4 ,sometimes an argument is advanced to limit the provisions of the law of ,god1 as given in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 both with regard to punishment and to forgiveness to those who have entered the ,house of the ,lord and received their endowments4 ,this is not possible1 as so many of these provisions were given in revelations published several years before the ,saints were permitted to receive these holy ordinances1 indeed1 before any temple was built4 ,the law as given1 we believe to be general1 applying to all the ,saints4 ,but undoubtedly when1 in addition to the actual offense against the laws of chastity1 covenants are broken1 then the punishment for the double offense will1 either in this life or that which is to come1 be correspondingly greater #cij and more severe4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,nov4 #ae1 #aijb1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #fhh4 ,,purity4 ,there is something in man1 an essential part of his mind1 which recalls the events of the past1 and the words that we have spoken on various occasions4 ,words which we spoke in our childhood we can readily bring to mind4 ,words that we heard others speak in our infancy1 we can recall1 though we may be advanced in years4 ,we recall words that were spoken in our youth and in our early manhood1 as well as words that were spoken yesterday4 ,may ,i say to you that in reality a man cannot forget anything8 ,he may have a lapse of memory2 he may not be able to recall at the moment a thing that he knows1 or words that he1 has spoken2 he may not have the power at his will to call up these events and words2 but let ,god ,almighty touch the mainspring of the memory1 and awaken recollection1 and you will find then that you have not even forgotten a single idle word that you have spoken4 ,i believe the word of ,god to be true1 and therefore1 ,i warn the youth of ,zion1 as well as those who are advanced in years1 to beware of saying wicked things1 of speaking evil1 and taking in vain the name of sacred things and sacred beings4 ,guard your words1 that you may not offend even man1 much less offend ,god4 ,we believe that ,god lives1 and that he is a judge of the quick and the dead4 ,we believe that his eye is upon the world1 and that he beholds his groveling1 erring and weak children upon this earth4 ,we believe that we are here by his design1 and not by choice2 that we are here to fulfil a destiny1 and not to fulfil a whim1 or for the gratification of mortal lusts4 ,we believe that we are immortal beings4 ,we believe in the resurrection of the dead1 and that as ,jesus came forth from the grave to everlasting life1 his ,spirit and body uniting again never more to be separated1 so has he opened the way for every son and daughter of ,adam1 #cia whether living or dead1 to come forth from the grave to a newness of life1 to become immortal souls1 body and spirit1 united1 never to be severed any more4 ,we raise our voices against prostitution1 and against all forms of immorality4 ,we are not here to practice immorality of any kind4 ,above all things1 sexual immorality is most heinous in the sight of ,god4 ,it is on a par with murder itself1 and ,god ,almighty fixed the penalty of the murderer at death3 ,whoso sheddeth man's blood1 by man shall his blood be shed4 ,furthermore1 he said that whosoever committed adultery should be put to death4 ,therefore1 we raise our voices against sexual immorality1 and against all manner of obscenity4 ,then1 we say to you who have repented of your sins1 who have been buried with ,christ in baptism1 who have been raised from the liquid grave to newness of life1 born of the water and of the ,spirit1 and who have been made the children of the ,father1 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ--we say to you1 if you will observe the laws of ,god1 and cease to do evil1 cease to be obscene1 cease to be immoral1 sexually or otherwise1 cease to be profane1 cease to be infidel1 and have faith in ,god1 believe in the truth and receive it1 and be honest before ,god and man1 that you will be set up on high1 and ,god will put you at the head1 just as sure as you observe these commandments4 ,whoso will keep the commandments of ,god1 no matter whether it be you or any other people1 they will rise and not fall1 they will lead and not follow1 they will go upward and not downward4 ,god will exalt them and magnify them before the nations of the earth1 and he will set the seal of his approval upon them1 will name them as his own4 ,this is my testimony to you4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 p4 #eja1 ,may1 #aijc4 ,,three ,,threatening ,,dangers4 ,there are at least three dangers that threaten the ,church within1 and the authorities need to awaken to the fact that the people should be #cib warned unceasingly against them4 ,as ,i see these1 they are flattery of prominent men in the world1 false educational ideas1 and sexual impurity4 ,but the third subject mentioned--personal purity1 is perhaps of greater importance than either of the other two4 ,we believe in one standard of morality for men and women4 ,if purity of life is neglected1 all other dangers set in upon us like the rivers of waters when the flood gates are opened4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ag1 ,no4 #e1 p4 #dgf4 ,march1 #aiad4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,the ,,greatest ,,thing4 ,one of the most important duties devolving upon the ,latter-day ,saints is the proper training and rearing of their children in the faith of the gospel4 ,the gospel is the greatest thing in all the world4 ,there is nothing to compare with it4 ,the possessions of this earth are of no consequence when compared with the blessings of the gospel4 ,naked we came into the world1 and naked we will go out of the world1 so far as earthly things are concerned2 for we must leave them behind2 but the eternal possessions which are ours through obedience to the gospel of ,jesus ,christ do not perish--the ties that ,god has created between me and those whom he has given to me1 and the divine authority which ,i enjoy through the holy priesthood1 these are mine throughout all eternity4 ,no power but sin1 the transgression of the laws of ,god1 can take them from me4 ,all these things are mine1 even after ,i leave this probation4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 pp4 #ajb1 #ajc1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,duty ,,of ,,husband ,,to ,,wife4 ,if there is any man who ought to merit the curse of ,almighty ,god it is the man who neglects the mother of his child1 the wife of his bosom1 the one who has made sacrifice of her very life1 over and over again for him and his children4 ,that is1 of course1 assuming that the wife is a pure and faithful mother and wife4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #aje1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,wives ,,and ,,husbands ,,in ,,eternity4 ,we expect to #cic have our wives and husbands in eternity4 ,we expect our children will acknowledge us as their fathers and mothers in eternity4 ,i expect this3 ,i look for nothing else4 ,without it ,i could not be happy4 ,the thought or belief that ,i should be denied this privilege hereafter would make me miserable from this moment4 ,i never could be happy again without the hope that ,i shall enjoy the society of my wives and children in eternity4 ,if ,i had not this hope1 ,i should be of all men most unhappy2 for if in this life only we have hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most miserable4 ,all who have tasted of the influence of the ,spirit of ,god1 and have had awakened within them a hope of eternal life1 cannot be happy unless they continue to drink of that fountain until they are satisfied1 and it is the only fountain at which they can drink and be satisfied4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 p4 #aca1 #ahhd4 ,,importance ,,of ,,filial ,,affection4 ,do not add to their burdens by neglect1 by extravagance or by misconduct4 ,rather suffer that your right hand be cut off1 or your eye plucked out than that you would bring sorrow or anguish to your parents because of your neglect of filial affection to them4 ,so children1 remember your parents4 ,after they have nurtured you through the tender years of your infancy and childhood1 after they have fed and clothed and educated you1 after having given you a bed to rest upon and done all in their power for your good1 don't you neglect them when they become feeble and are bowed down with the weight of their years4 ,don't you leave them1 but settle down near them1 and do all in your power to minister to their comfort and well-being4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 p4 #aje1 ,december1 #aiag4 ,,family ,,government ,,by ,,love4 ,i learned in my childhood1 as most children1 probably1 have learned1 more or less at least1 that no love in all the world can equal the love of a true mother4 #cid ,i did not think in those days1 and still ,i am at a loss to know1 how it would be possible for anyone to love her children more truly than did my mother4 ,i have felt sometimes1 how could even the ,father love his children more than my mother loved her children8 ,it was life to me2 it was strength2 it was encouragement2 it was love that begat love or liking in myself4 ,i knew she loved me with all her heart4 ,she loved her children with all her soul4 ,she would toil and labor and sacrifice herself day and night1 for the temporal comforts and blessings that she could meagerly give1 through the results of her own labors1 to her children4 ,there was no sacrifice of self--of her own time1 of her leisure or pleasure1 or opportunities for rest--that was considered for a moment1 when it was compared with her duty and her love to her children4 ,when ,i was fifteen years of age1 and called to go to a foreign country to preach the gospel--or to learn how1 and to learn it for myself--the strongest anchor that was fixed in my life1 and that helped to hold my ambition and my desire steady1 to bring me upon a level and keep me straight1 was that love which ,i knew she had for me who bore me into the world4 ,only a little boy1 not matured at all in judgment1 without the advantage of education1 thrown in the midst of the greatest allurements and temptations that it was possible for any boy or any man to be subjected to--and yet1 whenever these temptations became most alluring and most tempting to me1 the first thought that arose in my soul was this3 ,remember the love of your mother4 ,remember how she strove for your welfare4 ,remember how willing she was to sacrifice her life for your good4 ,remember what she taught you in your childhood and how she insisted upon your reading the ,new ,testament--the only book1 except a few little school books1 that we had in the family1 or that was within reach of us at that time4 ,this feeling toward my mother became #cie a defense1 a barrier between me and temptation1 so that ,i could turn aside from temptation and sin by the help of the ,lord and the love begotten in my soul1 toward her whom ,i knew loved me more than anybody else in all the world1 and more than any other living being could love me4 ,a wife may love her husband1 but it is different to that of the love of mother to her child4 ,the true mother1 the mother who has the fear of ,god and the love of truth in her soul1 would never hide from danger or evil and leave her child exposed to it4 ,but as natural as it is for the sparks to fly upward1 as natural as it is to breathe the breath of life1 if there were danger coming to her child1 she would step between the child and that danger2 she would defend her child to the uttermost4 ,her life would be nothing in the balance1 in comparison with the life of her child4 ,that is the love of true motherhood for children4 ,her love for her husband would be different1 for if danger should come to him1 as natural as it would be for her to step between her child and danger1 instead1 her disposition would be to step behind her husband for protection1 and that is the difference between the love of mother for children and the love of wife for husband--there is a great difference between the two4 ,i have learned to place a high estimate upon the love of mother4 ,i have often said1 and will repeat it1 that the love of a true mother comes nearer being like the love of ,god than any other kind of love4 ,the father may love his children1 too2 and next to the love that the mother feels for her child1 unquestionably and rightfully1 too1 comes the love that the father feels for his child4 ,but1 as it has been illustrated here by ,brother ,edward ,h4 ,anderson1 the love of the father is of a different character1 or degree1 to the love of the mother for her child2 illustrated by the fact he related here of having the privilege of working with his boy1 having him in his presence1 becoming more intimate with him1 learning #cif his characteristics more clearly2 becoming more familiar and more closely related to him2 the result of which was that his love for his boy increased1 and the love of the boy increased for his father1 for the same reason1 merely because of that closer association4 ,so the child learns to love his mother best1 as a rule1 when the mother is good1 wise1 prudent1 and intelligent1 because the child is with her more1 they are more familiar with each other and understand each other better4 ,now1 this is the thought that ,i desire to express3 ,fathers1 if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel1 if you wish them to love the truth and understand it1 if you wish them to be obedient to and united with you1 love them6 and prove to them that you do love them by your every word or act to them4 ,for your own sake1 for the love that should exist between you and--your boys however wayward they might be1 or one or the other might be1 when you speak or talk to them1 do it not in anger1 do it not harshly1 in a condemning spirit4 ,speak to them kindly2 get them down and weep with them if necessary and get them to shed tears with you if possible4 ,soften their hearts2 get them to feel tenderly toward you4 ,use no lash and no violence1 but argue1 or rather reason--approach them with reason1 with persuasion and love unfeigned4 ,with these means1 if you cannot gain your boys and your girls1 they will prove to be reprobate to you2 and there will be no means left in the world by which you can win them to yourselves4 ,but1 get them to feel as you feel1 have interest in the things in which you take interest1 to love the gospel as you love it1 to love one another as you love them2 to love their parents as the parents love the children4 ,you can't do it any other way4 ,you can't do it by unkindness2 you cannot do it by driving2 our children are like we are2 we couldn't be driven2 we can't be driven now4 ,we are like some other animals that we know of in #cig the world4 ,you can coax them2 you can lead them1 by holding out inducements to them1 and by speaking kindly to them1 but you can't drive them2 they won't be driven4 ,we won't be driven4 ,men are not in the habit of being driven2 they are not made that way4 ,this is not the way that ,god intended1 in the beginning1 to deal with his children--by force4 ,it is all free love1 free grace4 ,the poet expressed it in these words3 ,know this1 that every soul is free1 ,to choose his life and what he'll be2 ,for this eternal truth is given1 ,that ,god will force no man to heaven4 ,you can't force your boys1 nor your girls into heaven4 ,you may force them to hell1 by using harsh means in the efforts to make them good1 when you yourselves are not as good as you should be4 ,the man that will be angry at his boy1 and try to correct him while he is in anger1 is in the greatest fault2 he is more to be pitied and more to be condemned than the child who has done wrong4 ,you can only correct your children by love1 in kindness1 by love unfeigned1 by persuasion1 and reason4 ,when ,i was a child1 somewhat a wayward1 disobedient little boy--not that ,i was wilfully disobedient1 but ,i would forget what ,i ought to do2 ,i would go off with playful boys and be absent when ,i should have been at home1 and ,i would forget to do things ,i was asked to do4 ,then ,i would go home1 feel guilty1 know that ,i was guilty1 that ,i had neglected my duty and that ,i deserved punishment4 ,on one occasion ,i had done something that was not just right1 and my mother said to me3 ,now1 ,joseph1 if you do that again ,i shall have to whip you4 ,well1 time went on1 and by and by1 ,i forgot it1 and ,i did something similar again2 and this is the one thing that ,i admired more1 perhaps1 than any secondary thing in her2 it was that when she #cih made a promise she kept it4 ,she never made a promise1 that ,i know of1 that she did not keep4 ,well1 ,i was called to account4 ,she said3 ,now1 ,i told you4 ,you knew that if you did this ,i would have to whip you1 for ,i said ,i would4 ,i must do it4 ,i do not want to do it4 ,it hurts me worse than it does you1 but ,i must whip you4 ,well1 she had a little rawhide1 already there1 and while she was talking or reasoning with me1 showing me how much ,i deserved it and how painful it was to her1 to inflict the punishment ,i deserved1 ,i had only one thought and that was3 ,for goodness' sake whip me2 do not reason with me1 for ,i felt the lash of her just criticism and admonition a thousand fold worse than ,i did the switch4 ,i felt as if1 when she laid the lash on me1 ,i had at least partly paid my debt and had answered for my wrong doing4 ,her reasoning cut me down into the quick2 it made me feel sorry to the very core6 ,i could have endured a hundred lashes with the rawhide better than ,i could endure a ten-minutes' talk in which ,i felt and was made to feel that the punishment inflicted upon me was painful to her that ,i loved--punishment upon my own mother6--,extracts from an address given at a ,home ,evening meeting in ,granite ,stake1 #aiji4 ,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ac1 pp4 #bgf-bhj4 ,,the ,,home ,,and ,,the ,,child4 ,but what are we doing in our homes to train our children2 what to enlighten them8 ,what to encourage them to make home their place of amusement1 and a place where they may invite their friends for study or entertainment8 ,have we good books1 games1 music1 and well-lighted1 well-ventilated1 warm rooms for their convenience and pleasure8 ,do we take personal interest in them and in their affairs8 ,are we providing them with the physical knowledge1 the mental food1 the healthful exercise1 and the spiritual purification1 that will enable #cii them to become pure and robust in body1 intelligent and honorable citizens1 faithful and loyal ,latter-day ,saints8 ,we frequently neglect giving them any information concerning their bodily well-being4 ,in our cities we appear to be providing our young people too much mental exercise1 and no physical diversion and work1 while in our country settlements1 we seem to be overburdening them with bodily labor1 and in many cases doing little or nothing for their mental development and recreation4 ,hence1 in the one case they seek forbidden places and pleasure1 on account of too much mental exercise2 and in another1 because of too little4 ,now then1 are we studying their wants as we do our business1 and our farms and our animals8 ,are we looking after them1 and if necessary bringing them in from the street when absent1 and providing them in our homes with what they lack8 ,or are we to a great extent neglecting these things in the home and home training1 and considering our children of secondary value to horses and cattle and lands8 ,these are important points for consideration1 and fathers and mothers should honestly study them1 and as honestly answer them to their own satisfaction4 ,we may well invest means in the home for the comfort1 convenience1 entertainment and training of our children4 ,we may well give our sons and daughters some time for recreation and diversion1 and some provision in the home for satisfying their longing for legitimate physical and mental recreation1 to which every child is entitled1 and which he will seek in the street or in objectionable places1 if it is not provided in the home4 ,in addition to this1 and supplementary to the training in the home1 it is to be hoped that our organizations will as soon as possible provide every arrangement for legitimate entertainment and recreation1 physical and intellectual1 that will tend to attract our young people1 and hold them interested1 loyal and contented within the pale of our own influence and organizations4--,imp4 ,era1 ,vol4 #aa1 pp4 #cjb-c1 #aijg-h4 #djj ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,amusements ,,and ,,fashions ,,youth ,,should ,,look ,,forward4 ,our youth should not be left to spend their time almost entirely in the mad whirl of pleasure and amusement1 without a thought of advancing years with the attendant bodily ailments and physical infirmities which are bound to come4 ,they should be given to understand that what are generally considered as the pleasures of youth are on the wing1 and will soon pass1 leaving in their rear only sad remembrances of wasted opportunities that cannot be recalled4 ,they should not be permitted to waste their time and their parents' substance in frivolous pastime and riotous living1 which can only result in vicious or evil habits being formed4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #eb1 ,january1 #aiag1 p4 #ai4 ,,proper ,,amusements4 ,our amusements should be characterized by their wholesome social environments4 ,we should have proper regard to the character of those with whom we associate in places of amusement2 and we should be governed by a high sense of responsibility to our parents1 to our friends and to the ,church4 ,we should know that the pleasures which we enjoy are such as have upon them the stamp of divine approval4 ,they should be endorsed by our parents and by our religious associates1 and by those true principles which should always regulate our intercourse with one another in ,church membership4 ,amusements which1 in themselves1 and in commendable social surroundings1 may be proper and wholesome1 should be avoided unless associates are unquestionable and the places are reputable and are conducted under proper restraints4 ,there are limits in our recreations beyond which we #dja cannot safely go4 ,they should be guarded in character and curtailed in frequency to avoid excess4 ,they should not occupy all1 nor even the greater part of our time2 indeed1 they should be made incidental to the duties and obligations of life1 and never be made a controlling motive or factor in our hopes and ambitions4 ,there are so many dangers lurking in those amusements1 and the fascination for them which take hold upon the lives of our young people1 sometimes to the very possession of them1 that they should be carefully guarded and warned against the temptations and evils that are likely to ensnare them1 to their destruction4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #di1 ,june1 #aiad1 pp4 #chj1 #cha4 ,,proper ,,character ,,of ,,amusements4 ,the character and variety of our amusements have so much to do with the welfare and character of our young people that they should be guarded with the utmost jealousy for the preservation of the morals and stamina of the youth of ,zion4 ,in the first place they should not be excessive2 and young people should be discouraged from giving themselves up to the spirit and frivolity of excessive mirth4 ,no ,latter-day ,saint needs to be told that two or three dances a week for his children are out of all sense or reason4 ,too frequent dances are not only injurious to stability of character1 but they are highly detrimental to good health2 and wherever possible other amusements than the ball room should be introduced into the lives of our young people4 ,they should be trained to appreciate more and more amusements of a social and intellectual character4 ,home parties1 concerts that develop the talents of youth1 and public amusements that bring together both young and old1 are preferable to the excessive practice of dancing4 ,in the second place1 our amusements should be consistent with our religious spirit of fraternity and religious devotion4 ,in too many instances the ball room is devoid of our supplication for ,divine protection4 ,our dancing should be1 #djb as far as possible1 under the supervision of some ,church organization1 and we should be scrupulously careful to open the dance by prayer4 99 99 99 ,the question of amusements is one of such far-reaching importance to the welfare of the ,saints that the presiding authorities of every ward should give it their most careful attention and consideration4 ,in the third place1 our amusements should interfere as little as possible with the work of the school-room4 ,it is very desirable that the early education of our young people should be carried on with as little interruption as possible1 and frequent dances during the school season are detrimental both to the body and to the mind4 ,lastly1 it is to be feared that in many homes1 parents abandon all regulation respecting the amusement of their children1 and set them adrift to find their fun wherever and whenever they can4 ,parents should never lose control of the amusements of their children during their tender years1 and should be scrupulously careful about the companionship of their young people in places of amusements4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ci1 ,march #a1 #aijd1 pp4 #add1 #ade4 ,,social ,,duties4 ,the city people have become accustomed to living near neighbors for years without associating together4 ,there are instances where good people1 well acquainted in business and upon the street1 have lived neighbors for twenty-five or more years1 and yet not invited each other to their homes1 to take dinner together1 nor to have a social hour or evening4 ,they live so near each other that they can almost shake hands1 from door to door1 yet never call1 nor associate together2 they are perfectly exclusive4 ,that is not a wise nor a good way1 especially when1 as ,latter-day ,saints1 we should be looking after the welfare of mankind1 by preaching the gospel in word and in deed4 ,would it not be much better if we arranged a little dinner1 or invited our neighbor to come and join us in a little social1 to become acquainted and make him feel we are not strangers #djc to him1 nor he to us8 ,and let us remember the definition which ,christ sanctioned of neighbor1 as well as the requirement3 ,he that showeth mercy unto me is my neighbor1 and the commandment is3 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,i hope we shall do better4 ,but there is really little sociability among us1 and there is an exclusiveness that is not in keeping with the warmth of the gospel4 ,we do not think enough of each other2 we do not care for each other2 we take little or no notice of each other2 and1 finally1 we pass each other on the street without the slightest recognition4 ,we scarcely bow to a brother1 unless we are really intimate with him4 ,that is not the spirit that belongs to ,mormonism4 ,it is contrary to that friendship and sociability that ought to characterize ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i believe in the broadest1 most charitable1 the kindest and most loving spirit that it is possible for broadminded and big-souled men to exercise or to possess2 and that this spirit ought to be the spirit possessed and diffused by the ,saints everywhere4 ,let us1 then1 gather in the honest in heart1 and treat them and one another with the spirit of warmth and love characteristic of the gospel4 ,then talk about the unfortunate1 the drunken1 the weak1 the erring6 ,do not shun them1 either4 ,they ought to be saved as well as everybody else2 and1 if it is possible1 let us save them1 too1 as well as the worthy1 the good and the pure4 ,let us save the sinner1 and bring him to a knowledge of the truth1 if possible4 ,our ,mutual ,improvement ,associations are invited to make a specialty of this social work2 the bishops should lend their aid to the officers in selecting and setting apart capable and experienced missionaries1 as well as ward teachers1 who should devote their energies1 among the people4 ,the indifferent youth1 as well as the stranger and the friendless in our midst1 should be made welcome at our #djd gatherings1 and be induced to feel at home among the people of ,god4 ,and then1 let it be remembered1 every family1 every person1 has a duty in this line4 ,because men or women are not ward or association officers is no good reason why they should be exempt from the common social amenities of life1 nor why they should not be subject to doing good temporally1 spiritually and socially4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 ,october1 #aijd1 p4 #ieg4 ,,the ,,danger ,,of ,,pleasure ,,hunting4 ,in order that a young man may make up his mind what course in life to take he must pay some thought on where he is going in the long run2 what shall be the condition he would like to enjoy through life1 and particularly the end towards which he would like to work4 ,otherwise it will be hard for him to steer his actions from day to day towards the goal of his ambition4 ,calmly viewing the hundreds of sayings to be found in good books1 and hearing also the experiences and warnings of many more wise men who live in our time and settlements1 who are exemplary shepherds of the people in our many ,church organizations1 and who are constantly giving warning against excessive pleasure-seeking1 the thoughtful young man must confess that pleasure is not the goal that he would seek--that the man would seek who desires to make the best out of life4 ,the wise man is1 therefore1 going to steer his course away from the living death of pleasure-seeking4 ,he is not going into bondage or debt to buy automobiles and other costly equipages to keep pace with the rush of fashionable pleasure-seeking1 in this respect4 ,he is not going to borrow money to satisfy the popular craze for traveling in ,europe or in our own country1 with no purpose in view but pleasure4 ,he is not going to grow nervous and gray in a struggle for means that his wife and daughter1 for mere pleasure1 may spend the summer at costly1 fashionable resorts1 or in distant #dje lands4 ,it is true that there are many in our community who do not appear to be wise1 and who are doing just these and other foolish acts for so-called pleasure4 ,the result of this hunt for pleasure and excitement and for keeping pace with what only the very wealthy can but ought not to do1 is that many are forced to undertake all kinds of illegitimate schemes to obtain money to gratify the tendency4 ,hence the growth of financial immorality4 ,many underhanded methods are adopted to obtain means1 and even cheating and lying and deceiving friends and neighbors are frequently resorted to in order that money may be obtained to gratify the inordinate desire for pleasure4 ,the story is told of one good lady who got flour at her grocer's on credit1 and sold it for cash at a bargain to get money to go pleasure-seeking4 ,thus the morals are corrupted4 ,this applies to rich and poor alike4 ,you men who are sensible fathers1 is this course worth while8 ,young men who have a goal in sight1 is this the course to take to fit your purpose and to get the best results out of life8 ,without discussing wealth and fame1 shall we not call a halt in this pleasure craze1 and go about the legitimate business of true ,latter-day ,saints1 which is to desire and strive to be of some use in the world8 ,shall we not instead do something to increase the genuine joy and welfare and virtue of mankind as well as our own by helping to bear the burdens under which the toilers are groaning1 by rendering loving1 devoted and unselfish service to our fellow men8--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 ,july1 #aiji1 p4 #gdd4 ,,harmful ,,effects ,,of ,,bad ,,books4 ,it would be difficult to estimate the harmful influences upon the thoughts1 feelings1 and actions of the young1 brought about by the practice of reading dime novels4 ,books constitute a sort of companionship to everyone who reads1 and they create within #djf the heart feelings either for good or for bad4 ,it sometimes happens that parents are very careful about the company which their children keep and are very indifferent about the books they read4 ,in the end the reading of a bad book will bring about evil associates4 ,it is not only the boy who reads this strange1 weird and unnatural exciting literature who is affected by its influence1 but in time he influences others4 ,this literature becomes the mother of all sorts of evil suggestions that ripen into evil practices and bring about an unnatural and debased feeling which is ever crowding out the good in the human heart and giving place to the bad4 ,it was ,shelley who said that strange thoughts beget strange deeds1 and when our children are reading books that are creating strange and unusual and undesirable thoughts in their minds we need not be surprised to learn that they have committed some unusual1 some strange1 or unnatural act4 ,it is in the thoughts and feelings that we have to combat the evils and temptations of the world1 and the purification of our thoughts and feelings should be made the special effort of every father and mother4 ,fuller once wrote1 ,it seems my soul is like a filthy pond where fish die soon and frogs live long4 ,it is remarkable how easy it is to learn sin and how hard it is to forget it4 ,a story is told of an ,english officer in ,india1 who one day went to the book shelf to take down a book4 ,as he reached his hand up over the volume his finger was bitten by an adder4 ,after a few hours the finger began to swell4 ,later on the swelling went into his arm1 and finally the whole body was affected1 and in a few days the officer was dead4 ,there are adders concealed in many a cheap and trashy book1 and they are always common in dime novels4 ,their effects upon our souls are poisonous1 and in time they are sure to produce a moral and spiritual death4 99 99 99 ,the influence of these novels is all the more dangerous #djg because the feelings and thoughts which they engender in the heart and mind are more or less hidden1 and the evil consequences of such reading frequently does not manifest itself until some overt and horrible act is the result of months and sometimes years of imagination and wonderment4 ,let the ,saints beware of the books that enter their homes1 for their influences may be as poisonous and deadly as the adder which brought death to the ,english officer in ,india4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,may #a1 #aijb1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #bge4 ,,proper ,,reading4 ,there is altogether too much novel reading of that class of novels which teaches nothing useful1 and only tends to the excitement of the emotions4 ,excessive novel reading we all know is detrimental to the intellectual development of those who engage in it1 and the wise and those who seek advancement might well give more time to useful1 educational works--books that would enlighten the reader on history1 biography1 religion1 and other important subjects which all well-informed people are expected to understand4 ,many of our young people1 and some older ones1 too1 are not familiar with their own religion nor with the beautiful and striking doctrines of the gospel with which it is so laden4 ,this class devote more time to reading useless or sensational books than they do to the study and contemplation of works that would familiarize them with the principles of the gospel4 ,if they were better informed in this line1 and understood the saving doctrines and every-day questions of their religion1 more than they do1 they would not be trapped by false teachings1 false leaders1 and advocates of cults that are false4 ,they would not be misled as some of them are4--,improvement ,era1 ,may1 #aiji1 ,vol4 #ab1 p4 #efa4 ,,raffling ,,and ,,gambling4 ,is it proper to raffle property for the benefit of missionaries8 ,no2 raffling is a game #djh of chance1 and hence leads to gambling2 for that reason1 if for no other1 it should not be encouraged among the young men of the ,church4 ,president ,young declared raffling to be a modified name of gambling2 said that as ,latter-day ,saints we cannot afford to sacrifice moral principles to financial gain1 and advised the sisters through the ,woman's ,exponent not to raffle4 ,president ,lorenzo ,snow endorsed and approved of these sentiments2 and ,i have often expressed my unqualified disapproval of raffling2 the ,general ,sunday ,school ,board have declared against it2 and finally the state law makes it unlawful to raffle with dice2 and if it is unlawful with dice1 in principle1 is it not just as injurious with any other device8 ,with all these objections1 should it not be clear to anyone that raffling horses1 quilts1 bicycles and other property is not sanctioned by the moral law nor approved by the general ,church authorities8 ,but it continues just the same1 and if you do not believe in it1 you should refuse to patronize it1 so helping the cause4 ,now1 how shall we aid the missionary who wishes to sell a horse1 or what not8 ,let everybody give a dollar1 and let the donors decide by vote to what worthy man1 not of their number1 the horse shall be given4 ,no chance about that--it is pure decision1 and it helps the people who wish to buy chances solely for the benefit of the missionary to discourage the gambling propensities of their natures4 ,however1 here is an additional thought3 ,the element of chance enters very largely into everything we undertake1 and it should be remembered that the spirit in which we do things decides very largely whether we are gambling or are entering into legitimate business enterprises4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,february1 #aijc1 p4 #cjh4 ,,games ,,of ,,chance4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,among the vices of the present age gambling is very generally condemned4 ,gambling under its true name is forbidden by law1 and is discountenanced by the self-respecting #dji elements of society4 ,nevertheless1 in numerous guises the demon of chance is welcomed in the home1 in fashionable clubs1 and at entertainments for worthy charities1 even within the precincts of sacred edifices4 ,devises for raising money by appealing to the gambling instinct are common accessories at church socials1 ward fairs1 and the like4 ,whatever may be the condition elsewhere1 this custom is not to be sanctioned within this ,church2 and any organization allowing such is in opposition to the counsel and instruction of the general authorities of the ,church4 ,without attempting to specify or particularize the many objectionable forms given to this evil practice amongst us1 we say again to the people that no kind of chance game1 guessing contest1 or raffling device can be approved in any entertainment under the auspices of our ,church organizations4 ,the desire to get something of value for little or nothing is pernicious2 and any proceeding that strengthens that desire is an effective aid to the gambling spirit1 which has proved a veritable demon of destruction to thousands4 ,risking a dime in the hope of winning a dollar in any game of chance is a species of gambling4 ,let it not be thought that raffling articles of value1 offering prizes to the winners in guessing-contests1 the use of machines of chance1 or any other device of the kind is to be allowed or excused because the money so obtained is to be used for a good purpose4 ,the ,church is not to be supported in any degree by means obtained through gambling4 ,let the attention of stake and ward officers1 and those in charge of auxiliary organizations of the ,church be directed to what has been written on this subject and to this present reminder4 ,an article over the signature of the ,president of the ,church was published in the ,juvenile ,instructor1 ,october #a1 #aijb 7,volume #cg1 p4 #eib71 in which #daj were given citations from earlier instruction and advice to the people on this subject4 ,for convenience1 part of that article is repeated here4 ,in reply to a question as to whether raffling and games of chance are justifiable when the purposes to be accomplished are good1 this was said3 ,we say emphatically1 ,no4 ,raffle is only a modified name of gamble4 ,president ,young once said to ,sister ,eliza ,r4 ,snow3 ,tell the sisters not to raffle4 ,if the mothers raffle1 the children will gamble4 ,raffling is gambling4 ,then it is added3 ,some say1 ,what shall we do8 ,we have quilts on band--we cannot sell them1 and we need means to supply our treasury1 which we can obtain by raffling for the benefit of the poor4 ,rather let the quilts rot on the shelves than adopt the old adage1 ',the end will sanctify the means4' ,as ,latter-day ,saints1 we cannot afford to sacrifice moral principle to financial gain4--,improvement ,era1 ,december1 #aijh1 ,vol4 #ab1 p4 #adc4 ,,the ,,evil ,,of ,,cards4 ,but1 you say1 we must have recreation2 what shall we do8 ,turn to domestic enterprises1 and to the gaining of useful knowledge of the gospel4 ,let the love of reading good and useful books be implanted in the hearts of the young1 let them be trained to take pleasure and recreation in history1 travel1 biography1 conversation and classic story4 ,then there are innocent games1 music1 songs1 and literary recreation4 ,what would you think of the man who would argue for whisky and beer as a common beverage because it is necessary for people to drink8 ,he is perhaps little worse than the man who would place cards in the hands of my children--whereby they would foster the spirit of chance and gambling leading down to destruction--because they must have recreation4 ,i would call the first a vicious enemy1 and refer him to water to drink2 and the latter an evil spirit in the guise of innocence1 and refer him #daa to recreation containing no germs of spiritual disease leading to the devil6 ,let our evenings be devoted to innocent amusements in the home1 and let all chance games be banished from our families1 and only recreation indulged in that is free from gambling and the gambling spirit4 ,and let excessive card-playing1 and the person who strolls about among neighbors at all hours of the night and day encouraging this evil1 be put far from us4 ,just as sure as we encourage this evil it will bring other grievous troubles in its wake1 and those who indulge excessively will lose the spirit of the gospel1 and go to temporal and spiritual ruin4 ,young people in their recreations should strive to form a love for that which will not be injurious4 ,it is not true that only that recreation can be enjoyed that is detrimental to the body and spirit4 ,we should train ourselves to find pleasure in that which invigorates1 not stupefies and destroys the body2 that which leads upward and not down2 that which brightens1 not dulls and stunts the intellect2 that which elevates and exalts the spirit1 not that clogs and depresses it4 ,so shall we please the ,lord1 enhance our own enjoyment1 and save ourselves and our children from impending sins1 at the root of which1 like the evil genius1 lurks the spirit of cards and gaming4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 ,june1 #aiaa1 pp4 #gce-h4 ,,wasting ,,time ,,with ,,cards4 ,it is no uncommon thing for women1 young and middle-aged1 to spend whole afternoons1 and many of them1 evenings as well1 in playing cards1 thus wasting hours and days of precious time in this useless and unprofitable way4 ,yet those same people1 when approached1 declare they have no time to spend as teachers in the ,sabbath schools1 and no time to attend either ,sunday schools or meetings4 ,their church duties are neglected for lack of time1 yet they spend hours1 day after day1 at cards4 ,they have thereby encouraged and become possessed of a #dab spirit of indolence1 and their minds are filled with the vile drunkenness1 hallucination1 charm and fascination1 that take possession of the habitual card-player to the exclusion of all spiritual and religious feeling4 ,such a spirit detracts from all sacred thought and sentiment4 ,these players at length do not quite know whether they are ,jews1 ,gentiles1 or ,saints1 and they do not care a fig4 ,while a simple game of cards in itself may be harmless1 it is a fact that by immoderate repetition it ends in an infatuation for chance schemes1 in habits of excess1 in waste of precious time1 in dulling and stupor of the mind1 and in the complete destruction of religious feeling4 ,these are serious results1 evils that should and must be avoided by the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,then again1 there is the grave danger that lurks in persistent card playing1 which begets the spirit of gambling1 of speculation and that awakens the dangerous desire to get something for nothing4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,august1 #aijc1 p4 #ggi4 ,,card ,,playing4 ,one's character may be determined in some measure by the quality of one's amusements4 ,men and women of industrious1 business-like1 and thoughtful habits care little for frivolous pastimes1 for pleasures that are sought for their own sake4 ,it is not easy to imagine that leading men in the ,church would find any pleasure that was either inspiring or helpful at the card table2 indeed the announcement that a president of a stake1 bishop of a ward1 or other leading official of the ,church was fond of card playing would be a shock to every sense of propriety even among young people who are not seriously inclined to the duties and responsibilities of life4 ,such a practice would be looked upon as incompatible with the duties and responsibilities of a religious life4 ,even business men1 as a rule1 are distrustful of business associates whose inclinations engage them in frequent card playing4 #dac ,but it may be said that the same objections do not hold good in respect to young people who do not take life so seriously2 but the evil is that young people who indulge in the frivolous and vicious pastime of card playing are never likely to take life seriously unless they forsake such questionable pleasures early in life4 ,it is the serious and thoughtful man and woman who are most likely to assume the higher and nobler responsibilities of life1 and their tastes and pleasures are never satisfied by means of a deck of cards4 ,card playing is an excessive pleasure2 it is intoxicating and1 there1 fore1 in the nature of a vice4 ,it is generally the companion of the cigarette and the wine glass1 and the latter lead to the poolroom and gambling hall4 ,few men and women indulge in the dangerous pastime of the card table without compromising their business affairs and the higher responsibilities of life4 ,tell me what amusements you like best and whether your amusements have become a ruling passion in your life1 and ,i will tell you what you are4 ,few indulge frequently in card playing in whose lives it does not become a ruling passion4 ,cards are the most perfect and common instrumentalities of the gambler that have been devised1 and the companionship of cards1 unlike the companionship of most other games1 is that of the gambling den and the saloon4 ,but cards do not stand alone in their enticement to evil4 ,any game that ultimately leads to questionable society1 because it is the chief pleasure of such society1 should be excluded from the home4 ,there are innocent games enough to satisfy the required pleasures of the home without encouraging card playing4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,september #a1 #aijc1 p4 #ebi4 ,,stop ,,card ,,playing4 ,i am told that the prevalence of card parties in the homes of the ,latter-day ,saints is much greater than is supposed by those whom society people never think of inviting to make the card table the source of an #dad evening's pastime4 ,the presiding authorities are not invited to the card parties1 and1 as a rule1 are not permitted to witness them1 simply because those who give such parties feel that a deck of cards in the hands of a faithful servant of ,god is a satire upon religion4 ,i have heard that some who are called to officiate in holy ordinances have1 when absent from the ,house of the ,lord1 or when tardy in arriving1 excused themselves because of the time occupied in giving or attending a card party4 ,those who thus indulge are not fit to administer in sacred ordinances4 ,they are no more worthy than others who violate good morals in any respect4 ,they should be excused4 ,i am told that young people offer as an excuse for such questionable pastime the accusation that cards are played in the homes of certain leading men in the ,church4 ,bishops1 however1 ought never to be deterred in their efforts to suppress the evil by counter complaints of this kind4 ,the bishop has the same right to inquire1 through the means of his teachers1 into the pleasures of the homes of the highest authorities of the ,church as he has into those of its most humble members4 ,if it be true that card playing is prevalent in the ,church1 the bishops are charged with the responsibility for the evil and it is their duty to see that it is abolished1 or that men and women who encourage it be brought to account before their brethren and sisters for the pernicious example they are setting before the youth of ,zion4 ,certainly no bishop can report his ward in good condition where such a practice prevails4 ,presidents of stakes are not without their responsibility in this matter1 and at the general priesthood meetings of the stakes they should make searching inquiry of the bishops concerning card parties in the homes of the ,saints4 ,it is an easy matter for every bishop to know through the medium of the ward teachers1 whether there are any practices in the homes of the people inconsistent with the mission of ,mormonism1 #dae and card playing is certainly inconsistent with that mission4 ,no man who is addicted to card playing should be called to act as a ward teacher1 such men cannot be consistent advocates of that which they do not themselves practice4 ,the card table has been the scene of too many quarrels1 the birthplace of too many hatreds1 the occasion of too many murders to admit one word of justification for the lying1 cheating spirit which it too often engenders in the hearts of its devotees4 ,my frequent and emphatic expressions on this subject are the result of the alarm ,i have felt over the well founded reports that have come to me concerning the prevalence of card playing in the homes of some who profess to be ,latter-day ,saints4 ,upon every officer in the ,church responsible in any way for the dangers of the card table is placed1 and placed heavily1 the duty of doing all that he or she possibly can in prayerful and earnest manner to eradicate the evil4 ,let us be fully conscious of the old adage which says that ,the devil likes to souse whatever is wet1 and stop card playing in the home before it reaches the gambler's table4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,sept4 #ae1 #aijc1 p4 #efa4 ,,pernicious ,,nature ,,of ,,card ,,playing4 ,card playing is a game of chance1 and because it is a game of chance it has its tricks4 ,it encourages tricks2 its devotees measure their success at the table by their ability through devious and dark ways to win4 ,it creates a spirit of cunning and devises hidden and secret means1 and cheating at cards is almost synonymous with playing at cards4 ,again1 cards have a bad reputation and they are the known companions of bad men4 ,if no other reason existed for shunning the card table1 its reputation alone should serve as a warning4 ,it may be conceded that superb skill is often acquired in this game of chance1 but this skill itself endangers #daf the moral qualities of the possessor and leads him on to questionable practices4 ,such games as checkers and chess are games more of fixed rules1 whose application are open and freer from cunning devices4 ,such games do not intoxicate like cards and other games of chance4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,october #a1 #aijc1 p4 #eia4 ,,cards ,,in ,,the ,,home4 ,but if cards are played in the home and under the eye of an anxious and loving parent1 what harm can come from it all8 is asked4 ,most vices in the beginning take on attractive and innocent appearing garbs1 and a careful examination of the career of many an unfortunate man will reveal the first step of his misfortune in some innocent pastime whose vice rarely manifests itself in its infancy4 ,there are different spirits in the world and the gambling spirit is one of them1 and cards have been from time immemorial the most common and universal means of gratifying that spirit4 ,an innocent game of cards is the innocent companion of an innocent glass of wine and the playmate of tricksters4 ,again1 all amusements become pernicious when pursued excessively4 ,no game in the world has been played a thousandth part of the time1 aye all the games in the world have not consumed a thousandth part of the time1 that cards have taken4 ,the game itself leads to excessiveness2 it is the enemy of industry2 it is the foe of economy and the boon companion of the ,sabbath-breaker4 ,the best possible excuse that any one can render for playing cards is that there is a possible escape from the dangers to which it leads2 and the best explanation that people can give for such a vice is the adventurous spirit of man that delights in that which is hazardous to his physical and moral safety4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,oct4 #a1 #aijc1 p4 #eic4 ,,evil ,,fashions4 ,in my sight the present-day fashions #dag are abominable1 suggestive of evil1 calculated to arouse base passion and lust1 and to engender lasciviousness1 in the hearts of those who follow the fashions1 and of those who tolerate them4 ,why8 ,because women are imitating the very customs of a class of women who have resorted to that means to aid them to sell their souls4 ,it is infamous1 and ,i hope the daughters of ,zion will not descend to these pernicious ways1 customs and fashions1 for they are demoralizing and damnable in their effect4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #h4 ,,improper ,,fashions4 ,please set the example before your sisters that ,god would have them follow4 ,when we teach people to observe the laws of ,god and to honor the gifts that are bestowed upon them in the covenants of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 we don't want you teachers to go out and set an example before your sisters that will destroy their faith in our teachings4 ,i hope you will take that to heart1 for it has a meaning to it4 ,i am talking to the teachers among the sisters4 ,we hear it reported1 from time to time1 that some of the teachers that are sent out among our sisters not only do not set the example that they ought to set1 but they set the example they should not set for our sisters2 they teach them by example to break the word of wisdom1 rather than to keep it4 ,they teach them to mutilate their garments1 rather than to keep them holy and undefiled1 by setting the example before them1 and we can tell you the names if you want to know4 ,i am not scolding2 ,i don't want it to be understood that ,i am finding fault4 ,i am only telling a solemn truth1 and ,i am sorry that ,i have it to say1 but ,i want it to be distinctly understood4 ,we see some of our good sisters coming here to the temple occasionally decorated in the latest and most ridiculous fashions that ever disgraced the human form divine4 ,they do not seem to realize that they are coming to the house of ,god1 and we have to forbid them entrance1 or find fault with them1 and they go away grieved and say sometimes1 ,we don't want to go there any more4 #dah ,why8 ,because they come unprepared1 like the man who was found at the feast without the wedding garment1 who also had to be turned out4 7,matt4 #bb3a-ad7 ,we have to turn them out occasionally1 because they will not hearken to the counsel that has been given to them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #acj4 ,,exclusive ,,clubs ,,among ,,church ,,members4 ,there is no need of exclusive clubs among the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,the many auxiliary organizations should be made to supply every legitimate public1 and social amusement of the young people1 and1 in addition to the regular ,church and quorum meetings1 should meet every religious and ethical educational need of our community4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 ,february1 #aiji1 p4 #cac4 ,a ,,lesson ,,for ,,the ,,boys4 ,self-respect requires1 among other things1 that one shall behave like a true gentleman1 in a house of worship4 ,no self-respecting person will go to a house devoted to the service of ,god to whisper1 gossip and visit2 rather1 it is one's duty to put on self-restraint1 to give one's undivided attention to the speaker1 and concentrate the mind upon his words that his thoughts may be grasped to one's benefit and profit4 ,among the strong helps to gain self-respect are personal purity and proper thoughts which are the bases of all proper action4 ,i wish that all young men could appreciate the value there is in this practice1 and in giving their youthful days to the service of the ,lord4 ,growth1 development1 progress1 self-respect1 the esteem and admiration of men naturally follow such a course in youth4 ,the ,savior set a striking example in this matter1 and was early about his ,father's business4 ,he did not leave it until his older years1 but even as early as twelve he had developed so far in this line that he was able to teach men of wisdom and doctors of knowledge in the temple4 ,samuel1 the prophet1 had so prepared himself by a pure1 self-respecting childhood that he #dai was perfectly attuned to the whisperings of ,god4 ,the shepherd youth ,david was chosen above his older brethren to serve in high places in the ,master's cause4 ,other great characters in history were also selected early in life2 and the best men in all ages gave their young manhood to the service of ,god who honored them abundantly with commendation and approval4 ,in more modern times the ,lord chose ,joseph ,smith in early youth to be the founder of the new and glorious dispensation of the gospel4 ,brigham ,young was but a youth when he determined to devote his life to the ,church2 ,john ,taylor1 ,wilford ,woodruff1 and in fact all the early founders of the ,church devoted their youth and manhood to the cause of ,zion4 ,you may look around today1 and who are the leaders among the people but those who early and zealously devoted themselves to the faith8 ,and you may foretell who are to be the leaders by observing the boys who show self-respect and purity and who are earnest in all good works4 ,the ,lord will not choose men from any other class of his people and exalt them into prominence4 ,the opposite course1 waiting to serve the ,lord until the wild oats of youth are sown1 is reprehensible4 ,there is always something lacking in the man who spends his youth in wickedness and sin1 and then turns to righteousness in later years4 ,of course1 the ,lord honors his repentance1 and it is better far that a man should late turn from evil than to continue in sin all his days1 but the fact is clear that the best part of his life and strength is wasted1 and there remains only poor1 broken service to offer the ,lord4 ,there are regrets and heartburnings in repenting late in life from the follies and sins of youth1 but there are consolation and rich reward in serving the ,lord in the vigorous days of early manhood4 ,self-respect1 deference for sacred things1 and personal purity are the beginnings and the essence of wisdom4 ,the doctrines of the gospel1 the ,church restraint1 are like school-masters #dbj to keep us in the line of duty4 ,if it were not for these schoolmasters1 we would perish and be overcome by the evil about us4 ,we see men who have freed themselves from ,church restraint and from the precious doctrines of the gospel1 who perish about us every day6 ,they boast of freedom1 but are the slaves of sin4 ,let me admonish you to permit the gospel schoolmaster to teach you self-respect and to keep you pure and free from secret sins that bring not only physical punishment1 but sure spiritual death4 ,you cannot bide the penalty which ,god has affixed to them--a penalty often worse than death4 ,it is the loss of self-respect1 it is physical debility1 it is insanity1 indifference to all powers that are good and noble--all these follow in the wake of the sinner in secret1 and of the unchaste4 ,unchastity1 furthermore1 not only fixes its penalty on the one who transgresses1 but reaches out unerring punishment to the third and fourth generation1 making not only the transgressor a wreck1 but mayhap involving scores of people in his direct line of relationship1 disrupting family ties1 breaking the hearts of parents1 and causing a black stream of sorrow to overwhelm their lives4 ,such a seeming simple thing1 then1 as proper conduct in a house of worship leads to good results in many respects4 ,good conduct leads to self-respect1 which creates purity of thought and action4 ,pure thought and noble action lead to a desire to serve ,god in the strength of manhood and to become subservient to the schoolmasters1 ,church restraint1 and the doctrines of the gospel of ,christ4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #i1 #aije-f1 pp4 #ccg-cci4 #dba ,,chapter ,,xviii ,,love ,,your ,,enemies ,,we ,,are ,,not ,,discouraged4 ,we are not disheartened1 we are not discouraged1 we are not faint-hearted4 ,we believe in the ,lord and we know that he is mighty to save1 that he has guided the destinies of this people from the first moment until the present1 and that it is not in consequence of the wisdom of men that we have escaped the plots1 schemes and machinations of our enemies1 and that we have been permitted to live and grow in the land1 to become what we are1 but it is through the wisdom1 mercy and blessing of ,him who rules the destinies not only of men but of nations4 ,we owe all to ,god2 we extend our thankfulness and gratitude to him for the manifestations of his love and care and protection4--,oct41 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #b4 ,i ,,forgive ,,all ,,men4 ,i feel in my heart to forgive all men in the broad sense that ,god requires of me to forgive all men1 and ,i desire to love my neighbor as myself2 and to this extent ,i bear no malice toward any of the children of my ,father4 ,but there are enemies to the work of the ,lord1 as there were enemies to the ,son of ,god4 ,there are those who speak only evil of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,there are those--and they abound largely in our midst--who will shut their eyes to every virtue and to every good thing connected with this latter-day work1 and will pour out floods of falsehood and misrepresentation against the people of ,god4 ,i forgive them for this4 ,i leave them in the hands of the just judge4 ,let him deal with them as seemeth him good1 but they are not and cannot become my bosom companions4 ,i cannot condescend to that4 ,while ,i would not harm a hair of their heads1 while ,i would not throw a straw in their path1 to hinder #dbb them from turning from the error of their way to the light of truth2 ,i would as soon think of taking a centipede or a scorpion1 or any poisonous reptile1 and putting it into my bosom1 as ,i would think of becoming a companion or an associate of such men4 ,these are my sentiments1 and ,i believe that they are correct4 ,if you can throw yourself in the way of the sinner to stop him in his downward course1 and become an instrument in the hand of the ,lord of turning him from the way of vice1 iniquity1 or crime1 into the way of righteousness and uprightness1 you are justified1 and that is demanded of you4 ,you should do this4 ,if you can save a sinner from his wickedness1 turn the wicked from the course of death that he is pursuing1 to the way of life and salvation1 you will save a soul from death1 and you will have been an instrument in the hand of the ,lord of turning the sinner unto righteousness1 for which you will receive your reward4 ,some of our good ,latter-day ,saints have become so exceedingly good 787 that they cannot tell the difference between a ,saint of ,god1 an honest man1 and a son of ,beelzebub1 who has yielded himself absolutely to sin and wickedness4 ,and they call that liberality1 broadness of mind1 exceeding love4 ,i do not want to become so blinded with love for my enemies that ,i cannot discern between light and darkness1 between truth and error1 between good and evil1 but ,i hope to live so that ,i shall have sufficient light in me to discern between error and truth1 and to cast my lot on the side of truth and not on the side of error and darkness4 ,the ,lord bless the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,if ,i am too narrow with reference to these matters1 ,i hope that the wisdom of my brethren and the ,spirit of ,light from the ,lord may broaden my soul4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,we ,,leave ,,our ,,enemies ,,in ,,god',s ,,hands4 ,we thank ,god for his mercies and blessings2 and ,i do not know but #dbc what we owe in small degree gratitude to those who have bitterly opposed the work of the ,lord2 for in all their opposings and bitter strife against our people1 the ,lord has developed his power and wisdom1 and has brought his people more fully into the knowledge and favor of the intelligent people of the earth4 ,through the very means used by those who have opposed the work of ,god1 he has brought out good for ,zion4 ,yet it is written1 and ,i believe it is true1 that although it must needs be that offenses come1 woe unto them by whom they come2 but they are in the hands of the ,lord as we are4 ,we bring no railing accusation against them4 ,we are willing to leave them in the hands of the ,almighty to deal with them as seemeth him good4 ,our business is to work righteousness in the earth1 to seek for the development of a knowledge of ,god's will and of ,god's ways1 and of his great and glorious truths which he has revealed through the instrumentality of ,joseph1 the prophet1 not only for the salvation of the living but for the redemption and salvation of the dead4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #b4 ,,leave ,,results ,,in ,,god',s ,,hands4 ,god will deal with them in his own time and in his own way1 and we only need to do our duty1 keep the faith ourselves1 to work righteousness in the world ourselves1 and leave the results in the hands of him who overruleth all things for the good of those who love him and keep his commandments4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #f4 ,,our ,,debt ,,to ,,our ,,enemies4 ,i was going to say that we did not owe anything to our enemies2 that was the first thought that sprang into my mind1 but ,i will hold that back4 ,i think we owe something to our enemies1 too1 for the advancement of the cause of ,zion1 for up to date everything that has been done to thwart the purposes of ,god and to frustrate his designs has been overruled for the good of ,zion and for the spread of truth4 ,and that will continue #dbd to be the case until the end1 for they are fighting ,god's work1 and not mine nor that of any other man4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #b4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,our ,,enemies4 ,let the ,lord ,god have mercy upon those who seek to hurt the cause of ,zion4 ,o ,god1 pity the misguided1 the erring1 the foolish1 the unwise4 ,put thy ,spirit in their hearts1 turn them from the error of their ways and from their follies1 and bring them back into the way of righteousness and into thy favor4 ,i ask mercy for my enemies--those who lie about me and slander me1 and who speak all manner of evil against me falsely4 ,in return1 ,i beseech ,god my heavenly ,father to have mercy upon them2 for those who do it1 not knowing what they are doing1 are only misguided1 and those who are doing it with their eyes open certainly need1 most of all1 the mercy1 compassion and pity of ,god4 ,may ,god pity them4 ,may he have mercy upon them4 ,i would not harm a hair of their heads1 for all ,i am worth in the world4 ,i would not throw a block in their way to prosperity4 ,no2 and ,i beseech my brethren that they keep hands off the enemies of our people and those who are paving their own road to destruction and will not repent1 who are sinning with their eyes open1 who know that they are transgressing the laws of ,god and vilifying and lying against the servants of the ,lord4 ,have mercy upon them4 ,do not touch them2 for that is just what they would like4 ,let them alone4 ,let them go4 ,give them the liberty of speech they want4 ,let them tell their own story1 and write their own doom4 ,we can afford it4 ,they do not hurt us1 and if it affords them any amusement1 ,i am sure they are welcome to it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #ie4 ,,the ,,golden ,,rule4 ,we need mercy2 then let us be merciful4 ,we need charity2 let us be charitable4 ,we need forgiveness2 let us forgive4 ,let us do unto others what we would that they should do unto us4 ,let us welcome the new #dbe year and dedicate to it our best efforts1 our loyal service1 our love and fellowship1 and our supplication for the welfare and happiness of all mankind4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #df1 ,january1 #aiaa1 p4 #af4 ,,why ,,the ,,world ,,does ,,not ,,love ,,us4 ,if ye were of the world1 the world would love its own2 but because ye are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you4 7,john #ae3ai7 ,the followers of ,jesus were his chosen people1 and because they were chosen by him1 the world hated them4 ,the ,jews were the chosen people of ,god1 and because they were his chosen people the world hated them4 ,nowhere in the world today is the word ,jew wholly disassociated with the feeling of contempt4 ,the feelings may differ greatly in degree1 but they are all of one kind4 ,the word ,mormon1 or ,latter-day ,saint1 is everywhere likewise associated with feelings of contempt4 ,contempt is the heritage of a chosen people4 ,ought we therefore to court the contempt of the world8 ,by no means4 ,on the other hand1 we should not be discouraged because it comes to us unsought4 ,some of our friends--mostly in the ,church1 some few out of it--would lift us out of the contempt of the world1 and keep us out of it1 if we would simply be governed by their counsels4 ,the truth is1 we are not strangers to hatred2 and the contempt of the world has been our lot so much that we have no reason to be discouraged when it comes1 even in violent forms4 ,the danger lies not so much in our own peculiarity as in the disposition of many of our people to court popularity at all costs1 as if it were something devoutly to be wished for4 ,there is too often a timid submission before the indignation storms that occasionally sweep over the country4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ci1 ,august1 #aijd1 p4 #dfd4 ,,love ,,one ,,another4 ,let us1 brethren1 love one another1 and exercise patience and forbearance1 avoiding judgment1 except when called upon to render it1 and then tempering #dbf the law with a father's love4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints must be promoters of both law and religion1 as exemplified in the justice and mercy of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 #aijc1 p4 #eej4 ,,keep ,,aloof ,,from ,,the ,,wicked4 ,we should keep ourselves aloof from the wicked2 the dividing line should be distinctly drawn between ,god and ,belial1 between ,christ and the world1 between truth and error1 and between right and wrong4 ,we ought to cleave to the right1 to the good1 to the truth1 and forsake the evil4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #ca1 #ahhb1 p4 #fgd4 ,,the ,,enemies ,,to ,,fear4 ,for my part ,i do not fear the influence of our enemies from without1 as ,i fear that of those from within4 ,an open and avowed enemy1 whom we may see and meet in an open field1 is far less to be feared than a lurking1 deceitful1 treacherous enemy hidden within us1 such as are many of the weaknesses of our fallen human nature1 which are too often allowed to go unchecked1 beclouding our minds1 leading away our affections from ,god and his truth1 until they sap the very foundations of our faith and debase us beyond the possibility or hope of redemption1 either in this world or that to come4 ,these are the enemies that we all have to battle with1 they are the greatest that we have to contend with in the world1 and the most difficult to conquer4 ,they are the fruits of ignorance1 generally arising out of unrebuked sin and evil in our own hearts4 ,the labor that is upon us is to subdue our passions1 conquer our inward foes1 and see that our hearts are right in the sight of the ,lord1 that there is nothing calculated to grieve his ,spirit and lead us away from the path of duty4 #dbg ,,chapter ,,xix ,,education ,,and ,,industrial ,,pursuits ,,we ,,are ,,ever ,,learning4 ,we are not ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth4 ,on the contrary1 we are ever learning and are ever drawing nearer to a proper comprehension of the truth1 the duty and the responsibility that devolve upon members of the ,church who are called to responsible positions in it4 ,not only does this apply to those members who are called to act in responsible positions1 but it applies to those who may be termed lay members1 if we may use such a term with reference to members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,who is there1 under the circumstances that exist around us1 that is not growing8 ,who is there of us that is not learning something day by day8 ,who is there of us that is not gaining experience as we pass along1 and are attending to the duties of membership in the ,church1 and to the duties of citizens of our state1 and citizens of our great and glorious nation8 ,it seems to me that it would be a very sad comment upon the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints and her people to suppose for a moment that we are at a standstill1 that we have ceased to grow1 ceased to improve and to advance in the scale of intelligence1 and in the faithful performance of duty in every condition in which we are placed as a people and as members of the ,church of ,christ4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #b4 ,,address ,,on ,,ignorance4 ,the subject which has been dwelt upon is a broad one3 ,what can be done to stem the tide of evil that is sweeping through the land8 ,i apprehend that one of the greatest evils existing1 that is sweeping through the land1 is that of ignorance1 coupled with indifference4 #dbh ,i presume that if the ignorant were not so indifferent to these facts and to their condition they might be prompted to learn more than they do4 ,the trouble with men and women is that they too frequently close their eyes to the facts that exist around them1 and it seems to be very difficult for many of the people to learn and adapt to their lives those simple truths that should be in fact the household words and precepts of every ,latter-day ,saint1 and of every home of a ,latter-day ,saint4 ,how shall we stem the tide of this evil1 this indifference1 this consequent ignorance8 ,it appears to me that the only way to do it is to wake up and become interested1 or to interest ourselves in those things which are so important and necessary to the happiness and well-being of the children of men1 especially that which is so needful for the happiness and well-being of ourselves individually4 ,it isn't all that is necessary1 to learn the truth or to cease to be ignorant4 ,following that comes the application of the understanding and knowledge that we gain1 to those works and things that are needful for our protection and for the protection of our children1 our neighbors1 our homes1 our happiness4 ,i see occasionally1 as ,i walk out in the evening1 crowds of little girls and boys who seem to me from their appearance as not yet having reached their teens1 little boys and little girls perhaps from ten to fourteen1 and perhaps some of them older1 in defiance of the curfew law1 playing in the streets1 loitering together in shady nooks1 in alleys1 in the recesses about their homes or the homes of somebody else4 ,this ,i apprehend is an evil1 a very serious evil4 ,how will you stem it8 ,how can it be prevented8--,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,conference1 #aiaj2 ,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #ba1 pp4 #djc-djf4 ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,practical ,,education4 ,i have often thought of the undesirableness of the young men of our community seeking for light employments1 and lucrative positions1 #dbi without regard to manual and mechanical skill1 and knowledge and ability in agriculture4 ,none can deny that there is too great a tendency among the young men1 especially in our larger cities1 to seek the lighter employments4 ,politics1 law1 medicine1 trade1 clerking1 banking1 are needful and good in their place1 but we need builders1 mechanics1 farmers1 and men who can use their powers to produce something for the use of man4 ,salaried positions1 in which little responsibility is required1 are well enough for young men who are making a beginning1 but it should be the ambition of all to get out and take upon themselves responsibility1 and to become independent1 by themselves becoming producers1 and skilful workers4 ,if life is valuable in comparison with the experience we obtain1 every youth will increase the worth of his life in proportion to the new obstacles that he is able to conquer4 ,in a routine1 there are no difficulties to encounter2 neither is there profit to the mind or body in the sameness of dependent positions4 ,but let the man who would grow and develop1 go forth into the practical and productive ways of life4 ,these will lead to broadmindedness and independence1 while the other road ends in narrowness and dependence4 ,and here1 also1 a word to parents who have daughters4 ,are you fitting them for the practical duties of mother and wife1 that they may in due time go out and make homes what they should be8 ,or are you training your daughters to play the lady by making them accomplished in flourishes1 and expert in ostentatious embellishments8 ,is mother doing all the work8 ,if you say yes to the last two questions1 you are not doing your full duty to your child4 ,for1 while accomplishment and polished grace1 attainments in music and art1 and a knowledge of the sciences1 are good and useful in their place1 it is not intended that these shall replace the common labors of life4 ,where children are so trained1 their #dcj parents have done them a positive injustice1 of which both the children and the parents may live to be ashamed4 ,while we are educating our children in all that may be termed the beautiful in science and art1 we should not fail to insist that they shall learn to do practical things1 and that they do not despise the common labors of life4 ,any other course toward them is an injustice to the boys and girls1 as well as to ourselves and the community in general4 ,i believe the morals of the people will improve as skill in workmanship and productive labors is acquired4 ,parents1 too1 will find it easier to govern and control their children1 if these are trained in useful manual labor4 ,we shall not then witness the sad spectacle of young men loafing about our cities hunting for some easy place that just suits their notions of work1 which1 if they can not find1 they will not labor at all1 but go without in idleness4 ,mischief and devilment1 frequently so common because the hands are unemployed1 will decrease and better order will prevail4 ,thus1 while not decrying education in the aesthetic sense1 ,i think it is a serious duty devolving upon parents and those who have educational matters in hand to provide a supplemental if not a coordinate course in practical labor for every boy and girl1 which shall make them proficient in handiwork1 and enable them to expend their powers in the production of something for the material use and benefit of man4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,january1 #aijc1 p4 #bbi4 ,,practical ,,education ,,advocated4 ,i desire again to say that ,i would be pleased to see more of our young men learning trades instead of trying to learn professions1 such as the profession of law1 or of medicine1 or other professions4 ,i would rather a man would become a good mechanic1 a good builder1 a good machinist1 a good surveyor1 a good farmer1 a good blacksmith1 or a good artisan of any kind than to see him follow these other kinds of professions4 ,we need1 however1 those who are capable of teaching in the #dca schools1 and ,i would like to see a greater interest manifested by our young men and women in normal training1 that they might become proficient teachers and look forward to following this profession1 because it is a most important one1 and great results will follow the faithful performance of the duties and labors of those who are engaged in it4 ,i would like to see the giving of proper instruction to those who are seeking education1 as well as the creating of facilities in our midst for all who desire not only the common branches of education1 but the higher branches1 that they may obtain these privileges and benefits at home instead of being compelled to go abroad to complete their education4 ,some of our friends took very grievous offense at what ,i said in respect to some of these things last ,april1 ,i believe4 ,i was sorry to bear what they said in relation to this4 ,why1 bless your soul1 the counsel that ,i gave last ,april in relation to these matters was in the interest of all parties and of all professions4 ,i did not speak a disrespectful word of any profession4 ,i simply advised1 and ,i still advise1 the young men of ,zion to become artisans rather than to become lawyers4 ,i repeat it2 and yet ,i would to ,god that every intelligent man among the ,latter-day ,saints was able to read law and to be his own lawyer4 ,i wish that every young man could and would study and become familiar with the laws of his state and with the laws of his nation and with the laws of other nations4 ,you cannot learn too much in these directions2 but ,i think there are too many trying to be lawyers1 for the good of that profession4 ,they are eating one another up1 to some extent4 ,not long ago a young man who had studied law and hung out his shingle here1 after waiting for business1 trying to stir up business for some length of time1 came so near starving himself and family that he came and wanted to know what to do4 ,he could not make a living in the profession of law4 ,i asked him if he knew how to do anything else4 ,he said yes1 he was a good printer4 ,well1 #dcb then1 ,i said1 abandon the profession of law and take up the profession of printing2 do something that you can do and that you can make a living at4 ,if he had any practice at all in law1 my counsel to him1 if he obeyed it--and he did--would have been a benefit to those who remained in the profession4 ,there are some men1 most honorable1 most genuine1 and most intelligent1 who are following the profession of the law4 ,i wish ,i could say that much of all4 ,then1 my brethren and sisters1 get out of debt4 ,my young friends1 learn to become skilful in the arts and in mechanics and in something that will be material1 useful in building up the commonwealth where we live and where all our interests are centered4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,boys ,,should ,,be ,,taught ,,the ,,arts ,,of ,,industry4 ,one of the things that ,i think is very necessary is that we should teach our boys mechanism1 teach them the arts of industry1 and not allow our sons to grow up with the idea that there is nothing honorable in labor1 except it be in the professions of law1 or in some other light1 practically unproductive1 and ,i was going to say1 unremunerative employment1 but ,i know of scarcely any employment more remunerative than is the practice of law to those1 at least1 who are proficient4 ,but what do they do to build up the country8 ,what do they produce to benefit the world8 ,there may be a few of them who have farms2 there may be a few of them who have manufactories2 there may be a few of them who may be interested and engaged in other productive labor1 something that will build up the country and the people and establish permanence1 stability and prosperity in the land2 but the vast majority of them are leeches upon the body politic and are worthless as to the building up of any community4 ,there are a good many of our boys who feel that they could not be farmers1 and that the pursuit of farming and stock--raising is beneath their dignity4 ,there are some who think it is #dcc menial and low for them to engage in building enterprises as masons1 carpenters1 or builders in general4 ,there are but a few of our boys who take to the hammer and to the anvil and to those pursuits of labor that are essential to the permanence of any community in the world and that are necessary to build up the country4 ,i say that we are remiss and slack in relation to these things1 that we are not instilling them sufficiently in the minds of our children1 and that we are not giving them the opportunity that they should enjoy of learning how to produce from the earth and the materials that are on the face of it or in the bowels of it1 that which is necessary for the advancement and prosperity of mankind4 ,some of us have the idea that it is degrading for our daughters to learn how to cook1 how to keep house1 or to make a dress1 apron or bonnet1 if necessary4 ,no2 daughters in families that are blessed with plenty of means are taught to play the piano1 to sing1 to go out in society and spend their time in idle1 useless pleasure1 instead of being taught how to be economical1 industrious and frugal1 and how to become good housewives4 ,that is degrading6 ,i would like to say to this congregation1 and to the world1 that if ,i possessed millions of dollars ,i would not be satisfied or content in my mind unless my boys knew how to do something that would bring them in a living1 how to handle a pitchfork1 or to run a mowing machine or reaper1 or how to plow the ground and sow the seed2 nor would ,i be satisfied if my daughters did not know how to keep a house4 ,i would be ashamed of my children if they did not know something of these things4 ,we need manual training schools instead of so much book-learning and the stuffing of fairy tales and fables which are contained in many of our school books of today4 ,if we would devote more money and time1 more energy and attention to teaching our children manual labor in our #dcd schools than we do1 it would be a better thing for the rising generation4 ,there are many subjects of this character1 in addition to the principles of the gospel of eternal truth and the plan of life and salvation1 that can be dwelt upon with profit by those who may speak to us4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 pp4 #b1 #c4 ,,manual ,,training ,,and ,,agriculture4 ,we want to make these valleys of the mountains teem with the products of our own labor1 and skill1 and intelligence4 ,i believe it to be suicidal for us to patronize those who are at a distance from us1 when we should and could go to work and organize our labor and produce everything at home2 we might thereby give employment to everybody at home1 develop the intelligence and the skill of our children1 instead of letting them hunt after these fancy occupations that so many young people desire above manual labor4 ,the schools of the ,latter-day ,saints and some of the state schools are beginning to introduce manual labor4 ,some of our boys are learning how to make tables1 chairs1 sofas1 book-cases1 bureaus and all that sort of thing--all good as far as it goes2 but if we want a mason to lay brick1 we have to look mostly to some man who has come from ,england or ,germany1 or from somewhere else1 to lay our brick4 ,why8 ,because our boys do not like to lay brick4 ,if we want a good blacksmith1 we must hunt up some foreigner who has learned the trade in his mother country1 and who has come here with a knowledge of blacksmithing2 we must find such a man before we can get blacksmithing done1 because boys do not like to be blacksmiths4 ,they don't like even to be farmers2 they would rather be lawyers or doctors than to be farmers4 ,this is the case with too many of our boys1 and it is a great mistake4 ,i hope the time will come when the children of the ,latter-day ,saints will learn that all labor that is necessary for the happiness of themselves and of their neighbors1 or of mankind in general1 is honorable2 and that no man is degrading #dce himself because he can lay brick1 or carry on carpentry or blacksmithing1 or any kind of mechanism1 no matter what it is1 but that all these things are honorable1 and are necessary for the welfare of man and for the building up of the commonwealth4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #h4 ,,agriculture ,,and ,,mechanic ,,arts ,,in ,,church ,,schools4 ,we have sought to encourage in our ,church schools the establishment of departments of mechanic arts and manual training2 and1 so far as ,i know1 everything possible is being done1 at least in the principal schools1 for the training of our youth1 not only in the regular mechanic arts1 but also in the art of agriculture4 ,an agricultural course has recently been started in the ,brigham ,young ,university1 and one of our most proficient scientists has been called to take charge of the class4 ,i am happy to say that some of our oldest farmers are delighted with the information that they have obtained by attending this class4 ,i heard a brother who had been farming for many years say that he had always been under the impression that when a man could not do anything else1 all he had to do was to turn his attention to the plow and cultivate the soil1 for anybody could be a farmer1 but he had found out since attending this class that it required intelligence and intelligent application to be a good farmer1 as well as to be a good artisan4 ,in connection with this ,i may state a circumstance that came under my own observation years ago4 ,a certain brother had lived upon his farm for some fourteen or fifteen years4 ,he had cultivated it every year the best he could1 but it had become so impoverished that he could not make a living off it any longer1 and he became so disgusted with the country1 especially with his farm1 that he concluded1 if he could only trade the farm off for a team and wagon that would take him out of the country1 he would be glad to go4 ,by and by1 his man came along1 and he sold his farm for a team and wagon1 in which he put his wife and children and moved to some other country4 #dcf ,the purchaser took possession of this worn-out farm1 and within three years1 by intelligent operation1 he was able to gather from that farm forty bushels of wheat to the acre1 and other products in proportion4 ,the nutriment of the soil had been exhausted1 and it needed resuscitation2 so he went to work1 gave it the nourishment it required1 and reaped a bountiful harvest as a result of his wisdom4 ,there are too many of our farmers who think it does not need any skill to be a farmer2 but this good brother in ,provo1 to whom ,i alluded1 found it did4 ,so we are teaching agriculture in our schools1 as well as the mechanic arts4 ,the ,brigham ,young ,college is putting up a building now wherein are to be taught all sorts of industries2 where our youth will be able to learn carpentry1 blacksmithing1 domestic arts1 and other trades that will be useful to them4 ,yet we find it a drag to induce anybody possessed of means to contribute very largely to it4 ,some of our wealthiest men felt they were doing their utmost when they donated perhaps a hundred dollars towards a building that will cost eight or ten thousand dollars1 if not more4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #e1 #f4 ,,we ,,should ,,study ,,agriculture4 ,in connection with this matter1 ,i think it is wisdom for us1 as agriculturists1 to study agriculture and to become able to produce out of an acre of ground as much as the heathen ,chinee1 or as much as any other people can produce from the same ground4 ,i do not see why we cannot learn to cultivate the soil as intelligently and as profitably as any other class of people in the world2 and yet it is a well known fact that up to the present we have not devoted that attention1 care1 thoughtfulness1 or that intelligence to agriculture in our country that we should have done and that we are now learning to do1 by the aid of schools where men who desire to follow agriculture may learn the nature of the soil and all the other conditions necessary to produce the largest results for their labor4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 p4 #d4 #dcg ,,dignity ,,of ,,agriculture4 ,i believe there is no labor on earth more essential to the well-being of a community or more honorable than the labor which is necessary to produce food from mother earth4 ,it is one of the most noble occupations4 ,and next to it is the tending of the flocks of sheep and cattle4 ,this is another noble occupation1 if it is only carried on properly and righteously4 ,these are the foundation of the prosperity of every community in the world4 ,when the farming community is prosperous1 when the ,lord blesses the earth and makes it fruitful1 then the blacksmith1 the carpenter1 and those who follow other pursuits1 will also be prosperous4 ,but when the earth refuses to yield of its strength for the good of mankind1 then all other business is stagnant and will languish4 ,therefore1 let us till the earth2 let us cultivate the soil2 let us produce our own living out of the earth1 by the blessing of ,god1 as far as we possibly can1 always keeping in mind that we have entered into solemn covenant with ,god1 which is an eternal covenant1 and from which he cannot depart or be moved1 and in which we can only fail by ourselves transgressing that new and everlasting covenant and turning away from it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 p4 #gj4 ,,encourage ,,forestry4 ,professor ,fernow1 of the ,department of ,forestry1 at ,washington1 declares that at the present rate of consumption our supply of timber suitable for manufactured lumber will not last thirty years4 ,if it were true that our lumber supply was likely to be exhausted within the next hundred years1 it would still be a matter of alarming concern to the people of this country4 ,the use of lumber is not the only serious question involved4 ,our trees aid the precipitation of moisture and store it away for its gradual distribution during the hot summer months4 ,the time is not distant in ,utah when people will be compelled to grow their own lumber1 just as they grow other products of the farm4 ,what would we do without ,oregon and the ,sierras of ,nevada8 ,oregon timber may #dch now be very plentiful and rainfall ample1 but some day the ,oregonians will demand a cessation of their forest destruction4 ,it is the business of presiding authorities in the stakes and wards of the ,church to study thoughtfully and to forward the interests of the people4 ,it is to be hoped that these authorities will look into the matter of establishing the forestry industry1 and see if something can be done in their sections of the country to inaugurate the planting of trees on private estates for the supply of lumber in years to come4 ,it would be commendable in the highest degree to the ,latter-day ,saints if they would set apart here and there a small acreage of their land to tree culture4 ,if this matter is taken up in priesthood meetings and some united action agreed upon1 future disaster may be averted4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints ought not to be governed by purely selfish motives in the use of their landed inheritances4 ,the number among us who have converted a single acre of our farms into forestry must be extremely small1 and yet it is a duty which we owe to ourselves and to those who have the right to rely upon us to give this matter our earnest consideration4 ,the cultivation of timber lands will in time be remunerative2 but we are so accustomed to look for immediate returns that we insist upon an early harvest for all that we do4 ,the policy of living for today is not only destructive of our material interests1 but it begets a selfishness harmful to religion and discreditable to patriotism4 ,no ward or branch of the ,church can long remain free from a public interest without endangering its spiritual life and the spirit of progress4 ,public interests are necessary to protect us against the elements of social and material decay4 ,evidences of the truth of these principles are abundantly manifest in those communities where public spirit has been wanting and public improvements have not been undertaken #dci for years4 ,the wise and active president of a stake or bishop of a ward will not fail to appreciate the value of a public spirit and a united effort in the accomplishment of some necessary and commendable public undertaking2 and if there is not something immediately at hand1 he will look about to discover1 if he can1 a means for calling out in a united and patriotic way the energies of the people4 ,we here therefore suggest that one of the public duties which every ,latter-day ,saint owes to the ,church and to his country is the extension of valuable timber forests upon both private lands and public domains4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,august #a1 #aijc1 p4 #dff4 ,,young ,,women ,,should ,,have ,,practical ,,preparation ,,for ,,life4 ,i1 too1 think it is very important that young women should early form some design1 some definite purpose in life4 ,let that resolve be a noble one1 a good one2 something with a view of benefiting others as well as one's self4 ,perhaps your sphere may be in the household2 if so1 let every member feel that you are indispensable to the comfort of home1 by your good works and your love and patience4 ,you may be a stay and a comfort and a help to your mother1 though you may not be called to herculean tasks or heroic sacrifices4 ,fix in your minds noble thoughts1 cultivate elevated themes1 let your aims and aspirations be high4 ,be in a certain degree independent2 to the degree of usefulness1 helpfulness and self-reliance1 though no human beings can be said truly to be independent of their fellow beings1 and there is no one reckless enough to deny our utter dependence on our heavenly ,father4 ,seek to be educated in the highest meaning of the term2 get the most possible service out of your time1 your body and brains1 and let all your efforts be directed into honorable channels1 that no effort shall be wasted1 and no labor result in loss or evil4 ,seek the very best society2 be kind1 polite1 agreeable1 seeking to learn whatever is good1 and comprehend the #ddj duties of life that you may be a blessing to all those with whom you associate1 making the very most and best of your lot in life4 99 99 99 99 ,it does not matter how wealthy the ,latter-day ,saints become2 so long as they are worthy of that name they will teach their sons and daughters the dignity of labor and how grand it is to be practical in the duties and responsibilities of life4 ,one of the speakers during the general conference remarked that if his children could not cultivate but one set of faculties1 rather than theoretical1 he would choose practical labor4 ,it is very important to the welfare1 usefulness1 happiness1 and comfort of our daughters 7in view of certain circumstances7 that they learn some branch of industry that could be turned to practical account in the way of making a living1 should circumstances require it4 ,mothers should see to it that their daughters do this1 and that when she is no longer by them1 they may be capable of providing themselves with the necessaries of life4 ,there are people fond of saying that women are the weaker vessels4 ,i don't believe it4 ,physically1 they may be2 but spiritually1 morally1 religiously and in faith1 what man can match a woman who is really convinced8 ,daniel had faith to sustain him in the lion's den1 but women have seen their sons torn limb from limb1 and endured every torture satanic cruelty could invent because they believed4 ,they are always more willing to make sacrifices1 and are the peers of men in stability1 ,godliness1 morality and faith4 ,i can not understand how a man can be unkind to any woman1 much less to the wife of his bosom1 and the mother of his children1 and ,i am told that there are those who are absolutely brutal1 but they are unworthy the name of men4 ,i believe that most women are very devoted to their children1 desiring for them most ardently all that is good1 and ,i loathe with every fibre of my soul the son who turns against the mother who gave him birth4 ,i cannot tolerate the young lady who appears #dda well in society at the expense of the comfort of her mother at home4 ,do not fear to divide the burdens1 and to do all in your power to brighten the lot of your mother1 and you will find blessings that are never discovered in the path of selfishness4 ,and ,i exhort you young sisters to sustain those who are placed over you1 to improve all your opportunities1 and refrain from evil2 and1 mark me1 you will attain to a high standard of character and the honors of life1 and become potent factors in forming your communities4 ,maintain your dignity1 integrity1 and virtue at the sacrifice of life4 ,take this course1 and although you may be ignorant of many things1 you will be esteemed as of the noblest types of womanhood4 ,with such virtues for her adornment1 no man could help loving such a young lady4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #c1 #ahia-ahib1 pp4 #adb-add4 ,,object ,,of ,,church ,,schools4 ,the object1 ,i may say almost the only purpose1 for the maintenance of ,church schools is that true religion and undefiled before ,god the ,father1 may be inculcated in the minds and hearts of our children while they are getting an education1 to enable the heart1 the soul and the spirit of our children to develop with proper teaching1 in connection with the secular training that they receive in schools4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 p4 #d4 ,,value ,,of ,,church ,,schools4 ,in my opinion the ,church schools are laying the foundation for great usefulness among the people of ,god1 and they should be sustained by the people and by the ,church4 ,the ,church is sustaining them1 and as we acquire more means and become more free from obligations which have been resting upon the ,church for years1 we will be more free-handed to administer to the needs of our ,church schools1 as well as other requirements of that nature4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #f4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,church ,,schools4 ,the purpose of our ,church schools is the harmonious development of our young #ddb people in all that relates to their future well-being and progress2 and eternal progress can be enjoyed only when the principles of eternal life are associated with their daily existence4 ,whatever hinders upward progression deadens the sensibilities and real enjoyments of this world's life4 ,and education that has for its highest ideals the pursuit of worldly ambitions is wanting in that free and unrestrained flow of the spirit which makes for higher freedom and a more wholesome life4 ,as we ripen in years and in experience1 our spiritual lives have more and more to do with our real happiness4 ,our thoughts are more frequently turned inward as we contemplate the approaching end of this life and the unfolding of the greater life to come4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dg1 ,november1 #aiab1 p4 #fcj4 ,,the ,,church ,,ample ,,for ,,all ,,necessary ,,organization4 ,the ,church is provided with so many priesthood organizations that only these can be recognized therein4 ,no outside organization is necessary4 ,there is no call for individuals to organize clubs1 or special gatherings in social1 educational1 or national capacity1 in order to express wishes or desires for reforms that can always be expressed in the organizations that already exist in the ,church4 ,there is enough to do in the general ward organizations1 under ,church control1 to fill requirements1 to satisfy all righteous ambitions1 and to develop the latent talent of the people4 ,it is neither proper nor necessary to establish further public organizations under individual leadership1 unsanctioned by the ,church authorities4 ,if further public organizations are required1 they will be founded by proper authority1 when it can be proved that there is indeed any need for them4 ,such separate action leads to clannishness1 conflict and disunion1 and is not pleasing in the sight of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,dec41 #aijb1 p4 #aej4 ,,develop ,,faculties ,,in ,,church ,,organizations4 ,where men are ambitious to show their ability and fitness #ddc as leaders1 teachers1 organizers1 champions of a righteous cause1 or saviors of men1 let them develop these qualities in the many suitable organizations now existing in the ,church1 which are waiting1 yea1 often crying aloud1 for men with just such superior ability4 ,this course1 pursued with the right spirit1 will do good1 and meet the blessings of the ,lord1 while the other1 by playing upon their pride of nationality1 their natural desire to conquer1 and their sectional clannishness1 will lead to schisms among the people that will finally cause them to lose the spirit of the gospel4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,dec41 #aijb1 p4 #aea4 ,,the ,,foundation ,,of ,,prosperity4 ,the very foundation of all real prosperity is home industry and home manufacture4 ,this lies at the foundation of the prosperity of every permanently prosperous community4 ,it is the source of wealth4 ,i think1 therefore1 we ought to encourage home manufacture and every home industry4 ,we ought to co-operate together1 if there is any kind of business in which there is a profit1 let us co-operate together and let us have the benefit of that profit among ourselves instead of giving it to strangers4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 #ahhd1 p4 #ddf4 ,,the ,,object ,,of ,,co-,,operation4 ,co-operation is a principle that ,president ,young was very much concerned about1 and that he endeavored1 with his brethren1 to impress upon the minds of the people throughout the land4 ,under his administration our co-operative institutions were established1 and by his efforts1 many of the people1 especially in the southern part of ,utah and in ,arizona1 became united together in organizations that were called the ,united ,order4 ,the object was co-operation1 that the principle of union in labor as well as in faith might be developed to its fullest extent in the midst of the ,saints4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 #ahhd1 p4 #dff4 #ddd ,,chapter ,,xx ,,missionaries ,,how ,,missionaries ,,are ,,called4 ,no person but the ,president of the ,church has the authority to call missionaries to preach the gospel2 others may suggest or recommend1 but they do so to him1 and he issues the call4 ,we draw attention to this fact as it occasionally happens that some brother is spoken to about going on a mission by one of the general authorities1 by the president of the stake or by his bishop1 and he at once goes to work and begins to prepare to leave1 sometimes going so far as to rent his farm1 sell his belongings or lease his property4 ,then1 when no date is appointed for his departure and no field of labor assigned him1 he feels disappointed and aggrieved4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 ,february1 #aijb1 p4 #hb4 ,,requirements ,,of ,,prospective ,,missionaries4 ,in accordance with the present regulations of the ,first ,presidency1 brethren are not now sent on missions who have not themselves a testimony of the truth of the work of the ,lord4 ,it is deemed inconsistent to send men out into the world to promise to others through obedience to the gospel that which they have not themselves received4 ,neither is it considered proper to send men out to reform them4 ,let them first reform at home if they have not been strictly keeping the commandments of ,god4 ,this applies to the ,word of ,wisdom as well as to all other laws of heaven4 ,no objection is offered to men being called who in earlier years may have been rough or wayward1 if in later years they have lived a godly life and brought forth the precious fruits of repentance4 ,neither should men be sent who are not in good health2 a sickly elder is able to do but little #dde good himself and often impedes the work of his companion2 and1 too frequently1 has to be sent home after a short absence entailing suffering on himself and expense to the people or the ,church4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 ,february1 #aijb1 p4 #hb4 ,,the ,,kind ,,of ,,men ,,wanted ,,for ,,missionaries4 ,we do not want boys that have been in saloons1 that have been in houses of ill-fame1 that have been gamblers1 that have been drunkards1 that have been infamous in their lives--we do not want such to go into the ministry of this holy gospel to represent the ,son of the living ,god and the power of redemption to the world4 ,we want young men who have been born or adopted in the covenant1 who have been reared in purity1 who have kept themselves unspotted from the world1 and can go into the nations of the earth and say to men1 ,follow me1 as ,i follow ,christ4 ,then we would like to have them know how to sing1 and to pray4 ,we expect them to be honest1 virtuous1 and faithful unto death to their covenants1 to their brethren1 to their wives1 to their fathers and mothers1 to their brothers and sisters1 to themselves and to ,god4 ,where you get men like this to preach the gospel to the world1 whether they know much to begin with or not1 the ,lord will put his ,spirit into their hearts1 and he will crown them with intelligence and power to save the souls of men4 ,for the germ of life is in them4 ,it has not been vitiated or corrupted2 it has not been driven away from them4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #gb-c4 ,,necessary ,,qualifications ,,of ,,missionaries4 ,another thing--one of the indispensable qualifications of the elders who go out into the world to preach is humility1 meekness and love unfeigned1 for the well-being and the salvation of the human family1 and the desire to establish peace and righteousness in the earth among men4 ,we can not preach the gospel of ,christ without this spirit of humility1 meekness1 faith in ,god and reliance upon his promises #ddf and word to us4 ,you may learn all the wisdom of men1 but that will not qualify you to do these things like the humble1 guiding influence of the ,spirit of ,god will4 ,pride goeth before destruction1 and an haughty spirit before a fall4 ,it is necessary for the elders who go out into the world to preach to study the spirit of the gospel1 which is the spirit of humility1 the spirit of meekness and of true devotion to whatever purpose you set your band or your mind to do4 ,if it is to preach the gospel1 we should devote ourselves to the duties of that ministry1 and we ought to strive with the utmost of our ability to qualify ourselves to perform that specific labor1 and the way to do it is to live so that the spirit of ,god will have communion and be present with us to direct us in every moment and hour of our ministry1 night and day4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aia #e1 p4 #ach4 ,,further ,,qualifications ,,of ,,missionaries4 ,there are many excellent men but very few really good missionaries4 ,the characteristics of a good missionary are3 ,a man who has sociability--whose friendship is permanent and sparkling--who can ingratiate himself into the confidence and favor of men who are in darkness4 ,this cannot be done offhand4 ,you must get acquainted with a man1 learn him and gain his confidence and make him feel and know that your only desire is to do him good and bless him2 then you can tell him your message1 and give him the good things you have for him1 kindly and lovingly4 ,therefore1 in selecting missionaries1 choose such as have sociability1 who have friendship and not enmity towards men2 and if you have not any such in your ward1 train and qualify some young men for this work4 ,some men can never make good missionaries1 and you should not select such4 ,in the very first place1 a missionary should have in himself the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god--the witness of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if he has not this1 he has nothing to give4 ,men are #ddg not converted by eloquence or oratory2 they are convinced when they are satisfied that you have the truth and the ,spirit of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 also ,digest of ,instructions1 ,y4 ,m4 ,m4 ,i4 ,a41 #aijd4 ,,what ,,missionaries ,,should ,,teach4 ,our elders are instructed here1 and they are taught from their childhood up1 that they are not to go out and make war upon the religious organizations of the world when they are called to go out to preach the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 but to go and bear with them the message which has been given to us through the instrumentality of the ,prophet ,joseph1 in this latter dispensation1 whereby men may learn the truth1 if they will4 ,they are sent out to offer the olive branch of peace to the world1 to offer the knowledge that ,god has spoken from the heavens once more to his children upon the earth2 that ,god has in his mercy restored again to the world the fulness of the gospel of his ,only ,begotten ,son1 in the flesh1 that ,god has revealed and restored to mankind the divine power and authority from himself1 whereby they are enabled and authorized to perform the ordinances of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ necessary for their salvation2 and their performance of these ordinances must of necessity be acceptable unto ,god who has given to them the authority to perform them in his name4 ,our elders are sent out to preach repentance of sin1 to preach righteousness1 to preach to the world the gospel of life1 of fellowship1 and of friendship among mankind1 to teach men and women to do that which is right in the sight of ,god and in the presence of all men1 to teach them the fact that ,god has organized his ,church1 a ,church of which he1 himself1 is the author and the founder--not ,joseph ,smith1 nor ,president ,brigham ,young1 not the ,twelve ,apostles1 that have been chosen in this dispensation--to them does not belong the honor of establishing the ,church4 ,god is its author1 ,god is its founder1 and we are sent out1 and we send out our elders1 to make this proclamation #ddh to the world1 and leave it to their own judgment and discretion as to whether they will investigate it1 learn the truth for themselves1 and accept it1 or whether they will reject it4 ,we do not make war upon them2 if they do not receive it1 we do not contend with them2 if they fail to benefit themselves by receiving the message that we give to them for their own good1 we only pity4 ,our sympathy goes out to those who will not receive the truth and who will not walk in the light when the light shines before them2 not hatred1 not enmity1 not the spirit of condemnation2 it is our duty to leave condemnation in the hands of ,almighty ,god4 ,he is the only real1 true1 righteous1 impartial judge1 and we leave judgment in his hands4 ,it is not our business to proclaim calamities1 judgments1 destruction1 and the wrath of ,god upon men1 if they will not receive the truth4 ,let them read the word of ,god1 as recorded in the ,new and the ,old ,testaments2 and1 if they will receive it1 let them read the word that has been restored through the gift and power of ,god to ,joseph the prophet1 as contained in the ,doctrine and ,covenants and in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,let them read these things1 and they will learn here1 themselves1 the promises that ,god has made to those who will not hearken when they hear the truth1 but will close their ears and their eyes against the light4 ,we need not repeat these things and try to impose upon the feelings and judgments of men by threatening them or by warning them against the dangers and evils that may come upon the ungodly1 the disobedient1 the unthankful1 and those who will not yield to the truth4 ,they will learn it soon enough1 if we do not mention it to them at all4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiae1 pp4 #c-d4 ,,what ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,teach4 ,the question often arises in the minds of young men who find themselves in the mission field1 ,what shall ,i say8 ,and another follows closely upon it1 ,how shall ,i say it8 ,to those who go out in earnestness and who have made a partial study of the #ddi principles of the gospel at home1 the first question will soon be solved even if they have failed to make the very best use of their time and opportunities in our schools1 associations1 and religious meetings4 ,they will soon find attraction in the principles of truth1 and as they find time1 by close application1 become familiar with the teachings set forth in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 as revealed to and taught by the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,but the second question1 involving the best method of delivering the message which the missionary has gone out to proclaim1 that is not always so readily solved4 ,and yet1 the success or failure of a mission largely depends upon the false or accurate solution of this problem4 ,while no specific rule may be given1 experience has taught that the simplest way is the best4 ,having learned the principles of the gospel1 through a prayerful spirit and by careful study1 these should be presented to men in humility1 in the simplest forms of speech1 without presumption or arrogance and in the spirit of the mission of ,christ4 ,this cannot be done if a young missionary waste his effort in a vain-glorious attempt to become a noisy orator4 ,this is the point ,i wish to impress upon the elders1 and to advise that all oratorical effort be confined to appropriate times and places4 ,the mission field is not the place for such effort4 ,the gospel is not successfully taught by ostentatious display of words and argument1 but rather is expressed by modest and rational statements of its simple truth1 uttered in a way that will touch the heart and appeal1 as well1 to reason and sound sense4 ,it isn't the rounded period1 but the thought which it contains that is of value2 nor is it the faultless sentence so much as the spirit accompanying the speaker that awakens life and light in the soul4 ,the spirit must first be with the missionary1 if he shall succeed in awakening its response in his hearers2 and this is true whether the words be spoken in conversation1 face to face1 or in public gatherings4 ,the #dej spirit will not manifest itself in the person who devotes his time to deliver what he has to say in pompous words or with display of oratory4 ,he hopes to please artificially1 and not effectively through the heart4 ,it is1 therefore1 of great importance that the gospel should be preached in the simplest and most intelligible way4 ,this does not mean that the language should not be choice1 nor that all the refinement possible should not be employed1 but that there should be no affectation1 nothing put on4 ,there is enough in the gospel to occupy our earnest time and language1 without devoting our time to artificial effects4 ,by earnestness and simplicity the missionary will not only establish himself in the truth1 but his testimony will convince others4 ,he will also learn to stand for himself with ,god as his helper2 he will touch the hearts of the people and will have the pleasure of seeing them come to an understanding of his message4 ,the spirit of the gospel will shine forth from his soul and others will partake of his light and rejoice therein4 ,the other course will be ineffectual1 serving no useful purpose1 either to the missionary himself or to those who hear him1 but rather leading to vanity1 emptiness and futility4 ,in the mission field1 as in our daily lives1 it is best to be natural1 rational--neither given to exaggeration of spiritual gifts nor to destructive affectation in act or language4 ,it is best to develop simplicity of speech1 earnestness of manner1 humility of spirit1 and a feeling of love for our fellows1 thereby cultivating that well--balanced common sense in our lives that shall command the respect and admiration of the honest in heart1 and insure the continual presence and aid of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,,not ,,all ,,men ,,ready ,,to ,,accept ,,the ,,gospel4 ,i was struck by a remark made by one of the brethren with respect to the many people who saw and heard the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and yet didn't believe that he was a prophet of ,god1 or #dea a man raised up by the ,almighty to lay the foundations of this great latter-day work4 ,it was said that the ,lord had not revealed it unto them4 ,now1 ,i do not dispute that statement1 nor call it in question2 but it occurred to me that there are thousands of men who have heard the voices of the inspired servants of ,god1 unto whom the ,almighty has borne record of the truth1 and yet they have not believed it4 ,it is my opinion that the ,lord bears record to the testimonies of his servants unto those who hear those testimonies1 and it is left with them whether or not they will harden their hearts against the truth and not listen to it1 and abide the consequences4 ,i believe the ,spirit of the ,almighty ,god is upon most of the elders who go out into the world to proclaim the gospel4 ,i believe their words are accompanied by the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but all men are not open to receive the witness and the testimony of the ,spirit4 ,and the responsibility will rest with them4 ,yet it may be possible the ,lord withholds his ,spirit from some1 for a wise purpose in him1 that their eyes are not opened to see and their minds not quickened to comprehend the word of truth4 ,as a rule1 however1 it is my opinion that all men who are seeking after the truth and are willing to receive it1 will also receive the witness of the ,spirit which accompanies the words and testimonies of the servants of the ,lord2 while those whose hearts are hardened against the truth and will not receive it when it is borne record of to them1 will remain ignorant and without a comprehension of the gospel4 ,i believe there are tens of thousands of people who have heard the truth and have been pricked in their hearts1 but they are seeking every refuge they possibly can to hide themselves from their convictions of the truth4 ,it is among this class that you will find the enemies of the cause of ,zion4 ,they are opposing the truth in order to hide themselves from their convictions of the truth4 ,there are men1 possibly within the sound of my voice--certainly #deb within the limits of this city--who have read our books1 who have listened to the discourses of the elders1 and who are familiar with the doctrines of the ,church2 but they will not acknowledge--openly1 at least--the truth of this gospel and the divinity of this work4 ,well1 the responsibility rests with them4 ,god will judge them and deal with them in his own way and time4 ,many of them1 through their efforts to bring reproach upon the cause of ,zion1 are awakening the attention of people in the world to ,mormonism1 and thus unwittingly advancing the cause of ,zion1 while they know it not4 ,i thank ,god my ,father that he brings good out of the evil designed against his people by their enemies4 ,and he will continue to do this4 ,the clouds may gather over our heads1 and1 as in the past1 it may seem impossible for us to penetrate them2 yet there can be no clouds so dark1 so gloomy or so heavy1 but ,god will roll them away in his own time and will bring good out of threatening evil4 ,he has done it in the past1 he will do it in the future2 for it is his work1 not the work of man4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #dj-da4 ,,our ,,people ,,generous ,,to ,,missionaries4 ,i believe ,i can confidently say that the ,latter-day ,saints1 as a rule1 are among the most hospitable1 generous and kindhearted people that can be found upon the earth4 ,not long ago one of our elders returned from a mission in the ,south4 ,there had been a question raised in his mind as to whether the ,latter-day ,saints in ,zion would be as open-handed1 as hospitable1 as kindhearted and as willing to receive and entertain a stranger as were the people of the ,south1 and he determined to put the matter to the test4 ,the story of his visits to some of our people here is published in the ,improvement ,era1 ,no4 #f1 ,vol4 #a1 p4 #cii4 ,i cannot give it to you in detail1 but will only attempt a brief outline4 ,representing himself as a minister of the gospel from the state of ,tennessee1 traveling without purse or scrip1 as the elders of #dec the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints were generally doing1 he called upon ,brother ,b4 ,y4 ,hampton1 of the ,hampton ,house1 and asked for entertainment without charge4 ,bro4 ,hampton readily consented to take care of him4 ,he next called at the ,temple ,barber ,shop1 with a similar representation1 and asked for a shave and shingle1 on the same terms1 which was readily complied with1 and he was asked to come again4 ,he next called upon ,brother ,henry ,dinwoodey1 and presenting himself as before1 asked for means to pay his fare on the railroad1 going north1 whereupon ,brother ,dinwoodey handed him out the money4 ,needing a mainspring in his watch1 he called upon ,brothers ,john ,daynes ,son1 and introduced himself as before1 and they cheerfully repaired his watch4 ,he then called upon ,thomas ,g4 ,webber1 of ,z4 ,c4 ,m4 ,i41 and in the same guise asked for a pair of shoes1 which ,col4 ,webber generously gave him4 ,having a tooth which needed filling1 he called at the dental parlors of ,dr4 ,fred ,clawson1 whom he convinced1 after some difficulty1 that he was not an old friend and school mate1 but really a minister of the gospel from ,tennessee1 having a similar name2 the doctor readily consented to filling his tooth without money or price4 ,thus it was proven that the ,latter-day ,saints were as generous1 as kindhearted1 as ready to help the stranger of another religion1 as were the good people of the ,southern ,states1 and for that matter of any other country4 ,having put these people to the test1 in other words1 having weighed them in the balance and found them not wanting in each case1 he fully explained his motive and who he was1 to their mutual delight4 ,and when the elder returned their gifts or declined to receive the favors granted him without proper remuneration in each case1 as ,i understand1 the brethren insisted that what they had done was in good faith on their part1 and he was welcome to the same1 believing that an elder who had spent two years and upwards on a mission1 #ded laboring without purse or scrip1 would be likely to stand almost as much in need of such help as would the strange minister whom he had personated4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahih1 pp4 #df-g4 ,,advice ,,to ,,missionaries4 ,the missionary labor accomplished by the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is a subject of growing comment and marvel among people of the world who come to learn of its extent and results4 ,this feeling of wonder is blended with admiration in the minds of those who study the details of our missionary system1 and who are able to appreciate the self-sacrifice1 enduring faith1 and ,god-fearing reliance by which the missionaries of the ,church are distinguished4 ,the fact that those of our people who go forth on missions do so at their own expense1 unsalaried1 indeed1 without hope of pecuniary reward1 spending years away from home--usually years of early manhood--the years that are regarded as most valuable in shaping the individual's course and position in life--this fact1 indeed1 may well arouse the surprise and admiration of the world4 ,many of our devoted missionaries are valiantly striving to do their best1 and to make their best better1 day by day2 great is and greater yet shall be their reward4 ,others are lacking in energy and effort2 their work is done1 if at all1 in a half-spirited way1 and their thoughts are ever running ahead to the time of their release and return4 ,to those of the first class the days are all too short and the months too few for the exalted labors in which they find such genuine satisfaction and happiness4 ,to the others the days drag and the weeks are burdensome4 ,the individual elder is left largely to the guidance of the spirit of his calling1 with which he should be imbued4 ,if he fail to cultivate that spirit1 which is the spirit of energy and application1 he will soon become torpid1 indolent and unhappy4 ,every missionary should strive to devote part of #dee each day to study and prayerful thought on the principles of the gospel and the theology of the ,church4 ,he should read and reflect and pray4 ,true1 we are opposed to the preparing of set sermons to be delivered with the thought of oratorical effect and rhetorical display2 yet when an elder arises to address a congregation at home or abroad1 he should be thoroughly prepared for his sermon4 ,his mind should be well stored with thoughts worth uttering1 worth hearing1 worth remembering2 then the spirit of inspiration will bring forth the truths of which his auditors are in need1 and give to his words the ring of authority4 ,brethren--you to whom these words of admonition apply1 for your own sakes1 if not for the sake of those whose welfare is your charge--beware of indolence and neglect4 ,the adversary is only too eager to take advantage of your apathy1 and you may lose the very testimony of which you have been sent to bear record before the world4 ,we would recommend to conference presidents and other presiding officers in the various branches of the ,church1 that where possible1 they have the elders in their charge follow regularly and systematically a study of the standard works and other approved publications of the ,church1 thus more fully equipping themselves as teachers to the world4 ,there is little excuse for the idle man in any walk of life2 work is abundant for every one who will labor2 but least of all is there excuse or palliation in the case of a listless or idle missionary pretending to be busy in the service of his ,lord4 ,it is to be earnestly recommended that elders abroad on missions1 as indeed ,latter-day ,saints in general1 avoid contentious argument and debate regarding doctrinal subjects4 ,the truth of the gospel does not depend for its demonstration on heated discussion2 the message of truth is most effectively #def delivered when expressed in words of simplicity and sympathy4 ,the history of our missionary work already written proves the futility of public debate and argument between our elders and their opponents2 and this in spite of the fact that in the great majority of such undertakings the forensic victory has been won by our representatives4 ,a testimony of the truth is more than a mere assent of the mind1 it is a conviction of the heart1 a knowledge that fills the whole soul of its recipient4 ,missionaries are sent forth to preach and teach the first principles of the gospel1 ,christ and him crucified1 and practically nothing more in the way of theological doctrine4 ,they are not commissioned to expound their own views on intricate questions of theology1 nor to mystify their hearers with a show of profound learning4 ,teachers they are and must be1 if they meet in any degree the responsibilities of their high calling2 but they should teach as nearly as they can after the manner of the ,master--seeking to lead by love for their fellows1 by simple explanation and persuasion2 not trying to convince by force4 ,brethren1 leave these themes of profitless discussion alone2 keep closely to the teachings of the revealed word1 as made plain in the standard works of the ,church and through the utterances of the living prophets2 and let not a difference of views on abstruse matters of doctrine absorb your attention1 lest thereby you become estranged from one another and separated from the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,the standard works of the ,church and other approved writings should be carefully studied and commented on by the brethren2 every ,latter-day ,saint1 and particularly every elder in the field1 should seek to become learned in the gospel2 but let it not be forgotten that to understand the inspired writings aright the reader must himself have the #deg spirit of inspiration2 and this spirit will never impel one to hostile discussion or wordy contests4 ,seek first the ,kingdom of ,god and his righteousness1 and all else that is desirable1 including the knowledge for which you yearn1 shall be given unto you4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,october #ae1 #aijc1 p4 #fbd4 ,,missionaries ,,and ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,wisdom4 ,young men cannot hope to be successful missionaries who violate the ,word of ,wisdom4 ,its observance is necessary to the spiritual fervor and assurance which carry conviction to the hearts of those who receive the words of the elders4 ,the absolute necessity of the observance of the ,word of ,wisdom in the missionary field makes it desirable that all who violate this important law to the people1 reform before they can hope to accomplish anything helpful to others1 either by precept or example4 ,there is no thoughtful ,latter-day ,saint who does not look forward with some pleasure to the time when his son will be called on a mission4 ,no greater honor can come to a home than a call to represent the work of the ,lord among the nations2 yet parents are too frequently indifferent about the preparation their sons receive prior to the call to fill a mission4 ,fundamental in that preparation is the observance of the ,word of ,wisdom4 ,so important do ,i esteem this subject that at a recent conference in the ,beaver stake ,i was led to speak upon it at considerable length4 ,the extracts that follow from that discourse should be of interest and deep concern to every reader of the ,juvenile ,instructor3 ,now1 ,i do wish with all my heart--not because ,i say it1 but because it is written in the word of the ,lord--that you would give heed to this ,word of ,wisdom4 ,it was given unto us 'not by commandment'2 but by the word of ,president ,brigham ,young1 it was made a commandment unto the ,saints4 ,it is written here for our guidance1 for our happiness and advancement in every principle that pertains to #deh the kingdom of ,god1 in time and throughout eternity1 and ,i pray you to observe it4 ,it will do you good2 it will ennoble your souls2 it will free your thoughts and your hearts from the spirit of destruction2 it will make you feel like ,god1 who sustains even the sparrow1 that it does not fall to the ground without his notice2 it will bring you nearer to the similitude of the ,son of ,god1 the ,savior of the world1 who healed the sick1 who made the lame to leap for joy1 who restored hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind1 who distributed peace1 joy1 and comfort to all with whom he came in contact1 and who cured and destroyed nothing1 save it was the barren fig tree1 and that was to show forth his power more than anything else3 ',and all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings1 walking in obedience to the commandments1 shall receive health in their navel1 and marrow to their bones4 ',and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge1 even hidden treasures2 ',and shall run and not be weary1 and shall walk and not faint2 ',and ,i1 the ,lord1 give unto them a promise1 that the destroying angel shall pass by them1 as the children of ,israel1 and not slay them4' 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #hi3ah-ba47 ,are these glorious promises not sufficient to induce us to observe this ,word of ,wisdom8 ,is there not something here that is worthy our attention8 ,are not 'great treasures' of knowledge1 even 'hidden treasures1' something to be desired8 ,but when ,i see men and women addicting themselves to the use of tea and coffee1 or strong drinks1 or tobacco in any form1 ,i say to myself1 here are men and women who do not appreciate the promise ,god has made unto them4 ,they trample it under their feet1 and treat it as a thing of naught4 ,they despise the word of ,god1 and go contrary to it in their actions4 ,then when affliction overtakes them1 they are almost ready to curse ,god1 because he #dei will not hear their prayers1 and they are left to endure sickness and pain4 ,and among the least things that we should do is to keep the ,word of ,wisdom4 ,brethren and sisters1 do not be so weak6 ,i recollect a circumstance that occurred three years ago in a party that ,i was traveling with4 ,there were one or two who persisted in having their tea and coffee at every place they stopped4 ,i preached the ,word of ,wisdom right along2 but they said1 ',what does it matter8 ,here is ,so-and-so1 who drinks tea and coffee4' ,thus the act of one woman or one man nullified not only all that ,i or my brethren said in relation to it1 but also the word of ,god itself4 ,i said at one time1 ',oh1 yes1 you say it is a good thing to drink a little tea or coffee1 but the ,lord says it is not4 ,which shall ,i follow8 ,the ,lord says that if we will observe the ,word of ,wisdom we shall have access to great treasures of knowledge1 and hidden treasures2 we shall run and not be weary1 we shall walk and not faint2 and the destroying angel shall pass us by1 as he did the children of ,israel1 and not slay us4 ,but the class of men of whom ,i speak say1 in effect1 ',we don't care what the ,lord says or promises1 we will drink tea and coffee anyhow4' ,such people will set a bad example1 no matter what others say or what ,god has said4 ,they will take the bits in their own mouths1 and do as they please1 regardless of the effect upon the ,saints4 ,i say1 out upon such practices6 ,if ,i could not travel with the people of ,god and observe the laws of ,god1 ,i would quit traveling4 ,but if the ,lord will give me strength to keep his word1 so that ,i can teach it conscientiously1 from the heart as well as from the lips1 ,i will visit you1 and labor with you1 and plead with you4 ,i will pray for you and earnestly beseech you1 my brethren and sisters1 especially the young men of ,zion1 to cease practicing these forbidden things1 and observe the laws of ,god1 so that you can run and not be weary1 walk and not faint1 #dfj and have access to great treasures of knowledge1 hidden treasures1 and every blessing that the ,lord has promised through obedience4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 ,december1 #aijb1 p4 #gba4 ,,caution ,,to ,,missionaries4 ,i am sorry to say it1 but if these two boys1 recently drowned1 had kept away from those rivers1 where they had no special duty1 or calling1 they would not have been drowned as they were4 ,i would like it to be understood by the presidents of missions1 and by the elders1 that are out in the world1 that it is not a good thing1 neither is it at all wise for our elders to go out on excursions1 on dangerous lakes1 on streams1 or bodies of water1 just for fun4 ,they would better keep away4 ,the ,lord will protect them in the discharge of their duty2 and if they are more careful of their health1 there will not be so many of them become a prey to disease4 ,we know of some incidents that were the cause of the death of some of our brethren who have passed away in the mission field4 ,they lacked caution4 ,they did not exercise the best wisdom and judgment4 ,they went too far for their strength and were not as careful of themselves as they ought to have been4 ,i do not speak this to blame these brethren4 ,i have not the least doubt but they have done according to the best wisdom they possessed2 but there is such a thing as overdoing4 ,a man may fast and pray till he kills himself1 and there isn't any necessity for it2 nor wisdom in it4 ,i say to my brethren1 when they are fasting1 and praying for the sick1 and for those who need faith and prayer1 do not go beyond what is wise and prudent in fasting and prayer4 ,the ,lord can hear a simple prayer offered in faith1 in half a dozen words1 and he will recognize fasting that may not continue more than twenty-four hours1 just as readily and as effectually as he will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month4 ,now1 remember it4 ,i have in mind elders now on missions1 anxious to excel their #dfa associates4 ,each wants to get most red marks of credit1 and so he will exert himself beyond his strength2 and it is unwise to do it4 ,the ,lord will accept that which is enough1 with a good deal more pleasure and satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary4 ,it is good to be earnest1 good to be diligent1 to persevere1 and to be faithful all the time1 but we may go to extremes in these things1 when we do not need to4 ,the ,word of ,wisdom dictates that when we become weary we should stop and rest4 ,when we are threatened with exhaustion through over exertion1 wisdom would caution us to wait1 to stop2 not to take a stimulant to urge us on to greater extremes1 but go where we can retire and rest and recuperate according to the laws of nature4 ,that is the best way to do4 ,now1 ,i do not blame my dear brethren who have met with death abroad2 yet1 ,i wish that they could and would have escaped it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #acd-ace4 ,,health ,,of ,,missionaries ,,to ,,be ,,guarded4 ,presidents of all the missions are under strict instructions from the ,presidency of the ,church to guard carefully the health of the elders who are laboring under their direction4 ,these presidents of missions are also under instructions to send home any and all elders whose health or whose other circumstances may make it necessary for them to return4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #da4 ,,missionaries ,,in ,,ill ,,health4 ,i would like to exhort the elders who are upon missions1 and those who shall go upon missions in the future1 not to allow the thoughts to enter their hearts that they will be criticized or be made to suffer in their character or their standing in the ,church because their health will not permit them to fulfil a two or three years' mission abroad4 ,we would like them rather to feel in themselves a wholesome aversion to coming home without having filled an honorable mission1 when their health and other conditions will permit them to do so2 and #dfb if they have any reluctance about coming home at all1 before completing their missions1 it should be based upon this principle4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijd1 p4 #db4 ,,care ,,of ,,returned ,,missionaries4 ,it is also a good thing for the bishops in all the wards to look after their returned missionaries4 ,it is a pity that after so many of our boys who go abroad and fill good missions return home1 they should be apparently dropped or ignored by the presiding authorities of the ,church and be permitted to drift away again into carelessness and indifference1 and eventually1 perhaps1 to wander entirely away from their ,church duties4 ,they should be kept in the harness1 they should be made active in the work of the ministry1 in some way1 that they may better keep the spirit of the gospel in their minds and in their hearts and be useful at home as well as abroad4 ,there is no question as to the fact that missionary service is required and is as necessary in ,zion1 or here at home1 as it is abroad4 ,many people seem to be careless with reference to the proper training of their children4 ,we see too many boys that are falling into very careless1 if not into pernicious1 ways and habits4 ,every missionary boy who returns from his mission full of faith and good desire should take it upon himself to become a savior as far as possible of his young and less experienced associates at home4 ,when a returned missionary sees a boy falling into bad ways and is becoming accustomed to bad habits1 he should feel that it is his duty to take hold of him1 in connection with the presiding authorities of the stake or of the ward in which he lives1 and exercise all the power and influence he can for the salvation of that erring young man who has not the experience that our elders abroad have had1 and thus become a means of saving many and of establishing them more firmly in the truth4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 pp4 #d-e4 #dfc ,,work ,,for ,,returned ,,missionaries4 ,returned missionaries ought to be in demand where brave hearts1 strong minds and willing hands are wanted4 ,the genius of the gospel is not that of negative goodness--mere absence of what is bad2 it stands for aggressive energy well directed1 for positive goodness--in short1 for work4 ,we hear much of men who are specially gifted1 of geniuses in the world's affairs2 and many of us force ourselves to think that we are capable of little and therefore may as well take life easy1 since we do not belong to that favored class4 ,true1 not all are endowed with the same gifts1 nor is every one imbued with the strength of a giant2 yet every son and every daughter of ,god has received some talent1 and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put4 ,the spirit of genius is the spirit of hard work1 plodding toil1 whole-souled devotion to the labor of the day4 ,let no one think that any honorable labor is beneath him2 harbor no dislike for the work of the hands1 but let the mind direct them in skill and energy4 ,the example set by our late beloved ,president ,wilford ,woodruff has often been cited abroad1 and held up for the admiration and emulation of those who are not of us2 it is that of most of the leading men of our ,church4 ,even in his old age he did his share of physical toil1 and rejoiced in his ability to hoe his row and hold his own with his grandchildren on the farm4 ,my son1 be up and doing1 and the ,lord will be with thee4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 p4 #fhi4 ,,duty ,,of ,a ,,person ,,called ,,on ,a ,,mission4 ,when a man is called to go on a mission1 and a field of labor is assigned to him1 he should1 ,i think1 say in his heart1 ,not my will be done1 but thine1 ,o ,lord4--,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #cc1 #ahhd1 p4 #bbf4 #dfd ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,false ,,teachings ,,the ,,devil',s ,,knowledge4 ,the devil knows the ,father much better than we4 ,lucifer1 the son of the morning1 knows ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 much better than we2 but in him it is not and will not redound to eternal life2 for knowing1 he yet rebels2 knowing1 he is yet disobedient2 he will not receive the truth2 he will not abide in the truth2 hence he is perdition1 and there is no salvation for him4 ,the same doctrine applies to me and to you and all the sons and daughters of ,god who have judgment and knowledge and are able to reason between cause and effect1 and determine the right from the wrong1 and the good from the evil1 and who are capable of seeing the light and distinguishing it from the darkness4 ,then this is the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 to know the only true and living ,god and his ,son whom he has sent into the world1 which knowledge comes through obedience to all his commandments1 faith1 repentance of sin1 baptism by immersion for the remission of sins1 the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands by divine authority1 and not by the will of man4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #d4 ,,the ,,enemy ,,of ,,truth ,,always ,,arrayed ,,against ,,this ,,work4 ,from the day that the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith first declared his vision until now1 the enemy of all righteousness1 the enemy of truth1 of virtue1 of honor1 uprightness1 and purity of life1 the enemy of the only true ,god1 the enemy to direct revelation from ,god and to the inspirations that come from the heavens to man has been arrayed against this work4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #d4 ,,why ,,the ,,truth ,,is ,,hated4 ,why should men be embittered against you because of this1 because of your belief in ,joseph ,smith8 ,why should they become your enemies #dfe because you declare your faith in a new revelation from the ,father and from the ,son to mankind for their guidance8 ,why should they8 ,let me tell you why3 for the very same reason precisely that the embittered and unbelieving ,pharisees and hypocrites of the ,savior's time persecuted the ,redeemer of earth1 for the very reason that they later put to death the disciples of ,jesus ,christ1 whom he ordained as apostles and as special witnesses of himself1 who bore testimony of him and of the gospel to all the nations of the earth4 ,they put them to death one by one1 some of them in the most cruel manner1 simply because they preached ,jesus ,christ1 and him crucified and risen from the dead1 and ascended into heaven1 and sitting with all glory and power and majesty and might at the right hand of his ,father1 ,god4 ,the world felt injured by it4 ,why8 ,because it laid the ax at the root of the tree of error1 of superstition1 and of tradition1 of lack of faith1 and unbelief4 ,it laid the ax at the root of the tree of wickedness1 in the world1 and of ignorance of ,god and his principles1 and the plan of life and salvation1 and the world hated the disciples because of it1 and they hated the ,son of ,god because of it1 and they crucified him4 ,they hated the disciples because of it1 and they put them to death4 ,that is why they hate you1 for the same reason2 that is1 those who do hate you1 those who have exercised their power1 their will and their thoughts or minds sufficiently to be imbued with the spirit of persecution and hatred against the light and the truth4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 p4 #e4 ,,only ,,those ,,who ,,deny ,,the ,,faith ,,contend4 ,you find the spirit of contention only among apostates and those who have denied the faith1 those who have turned away from the truth and have become enemies to ,god and his work4 ,there you will find the spirit of contention1 the spirit of strife4 ,there you will find them wanting to argue the question1 and to dispute with you all the time4 ,their food1 their meat1 and their drink is contention which is abominable #dff in the sight of the ,lord4 ,we do not contend4 ,we are not contentious1 for if we were we would grieve the ,spirit of the ,lord from us1 just as apostates do and have always done4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #g4 ,,beware ,,of ,,false ,,teachers4 ,i know that this is the work of ,god1 and he is carrying it on4 ,the honor of triumph over error1 sin and injustice will belong to ,god and not to you or me1 or any other man4 ,some men there will be who would limit the power of ,god to the power of men1 and we have some of these among us and they have been among our school teachers4 ,they would have you disbelieve the inspired accounts of the ,scriptures1 that the winds and the waves are subject to the power of ,god2 and believe the claim of the ,savior to cast out devils1 raise the dead1 or perform miraculous things1 such as cleansing the leper1 is only a myth4 ,they would make you believe that ,god and his ,son ,jesus ,christ did not appear in person to ,joseph ,smith1 that this was simply a myth1 but we know better2 the testimony of the ,spirit has testified that this is the truth4 ,and ,i say1 beware of men who come to you with heresies that things come by laws of nature of themselves1 and that ,god is without power4 ,i am thankful that men who make such claims are few in number in the world1 and ,i hope they will become fewer still4--,logan ,journal1 ,april #g1 #aiad4 ,,where ,,to ,,expect ,,false ,,doctrine4 ,among the ,latter-day ,saints1 the preaching of false doctrines disguised as truths of the gospel1 may be expected from people of two classes1 and practically from these only2 they are3 ,first--,the hopelessly ignorant1 whose lack of intelligence is due to their indolence and sloth1 who make but feeble effort1 if indeed any at all1 to better themselves by reading and study2 those who are afflicted with a dread disease that may develop into an incurable malady--laziness4 ,second--,the proud and self-vaunting ones1 who read by #dfg the lamp of their own conceit2 who interpret by rules of their own contriving2 who have become a law unto themselves1 and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings4 ,more dangerously ignorant than the first4 ,beware of the lazy and the proud2 their infection in each case is contagious2 better for them and for all when they are compelled to display the yellow flag of warning1 that the clean and uninfected may be protected4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #da1 p4 #agh4 ,,knowledge3 ,,of ,,sin ,,unnecessary4 ,it has been very wisely said that the knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission4 ,it has been said that now and then the morbid curiosity of a missionary leads him into questionable places1 and the only excuse he has for visiting these dens of vice is that he would like to see the shady side of life in some of our great cities that he may know thereof for himself4 ,he wants to see ,paris by night in order that he may know something of the actual life of vast numbers of his fellowmen4 ,such knowledge can have no beneficial effect upon the thoughts or feelings of the missionary who seeks it4 ,it does not strengthen him in the duties of his calling4 ,it is a peculiar sort of knowledge that is enticing to the feelings and imaginations1 and tends in some measure to degrade the soul4 ,it is not necessary that our young people should know of the wickedness carried on in any place4 ,such knowledge is not elevating1 and it is quite likely that more than one young man can trace the first step of his downfall to a curiosity which led him into questionable places4 ,let the young men of ,zion1 whether they be on missions or whether they be at home1 shun all dens of infamy4 ,it is not necessary that they should know what is going on in such places4 ,no man is better or stronger for such knowledge4 ,let them remember that the knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission1 and then avoid those temptations that in time to come may #dfh threaten their virtue and their standing in the ,church of ,christ4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 ,may1 #aijb1 p4 #cjd4 ,,retreat ,,from ,,evil4 ,sometimes in life1 we are brought face to face with an enemy whose evil ways are beyond our power of combat1 a victory over which cannot be hoped for4 ,there is only one escape from moral annihilation and that is in retreat4 ,the man with accumulated and unforgiven wrong behind him may find all retreat cut off and his condition in the world hopeless2 and he who recklessly cuts off every opportunity of retreat by the neglected evils of the past is most unfortunate4 ,the daily practice1 then1 of seeking divine mercy and forgiveness as we go along1 gives us power to escape evils1 that can be overcome only by a safe retreat from them4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dd1 ,august1 #aiji1 p4 #cci4 ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,recompense4 ,let me impress it upon you that one never can hold quite the same relation to a law of ,god which he has transgressed1 as if one has lived in conformity with its requirements4 ,it is unreasonable to expect it1 and contrary to the laws of nature to conclude that you can4 ,if a person has determined that sin can easily be wiped out1 and hence1 that he will enjoy unlawful pleasures in youth1 repenting in later life1 with an idea in his mind that repentance will blot out completely the results of his sin and debauchery1 and place him on a level with his fellow who has kept in virtue the commandments1 from the beginning--time will wake him up to his serious and great mistake4 ,he may and will be forgiven1 if he repent2 the blood of ,christ will make him free1 and will wash him clean1 though his sins be as scarlet2 but all this will not return to him any loss sustained1 nor place him on an equal footing with his neighbor who has kept the commandments of the better law4 ,nor will it place him in the position where he would have been1 had he not committed wrong4 ,he has lost something which can never be regained1 notwithstanding the perfection1 the #dfi loving mercy1 the kindness and forgiveness of the ,lord ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 ,january1 #aijd1 p4 #bbe4 ,,sympathy ,,with ,,criminals4 ,there is a deplorable tendency among the people of this nation to sympathize with murderers1 bank defaulters1 evil adventurers1 and a hundred other classes of criminals who are at large or who have been arrested or convicted for breaking the law4 ,such a tendency is not alone manifest among the people of the various states and territories of our nation1 it is also apparent among the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,this sympathy for criminals is entirely abnormal1 and has a tendency to lower and destroy the moral sentiment of any people who indulge in it4 ,for a ,latter-day ,saint to sympathize either with crime or with criminals1 is a burning shame1 and it is high time that the teachers of the community should stem such tendency and inculcate a sentiment that would make it extremely abhorrent to commit crime4 ,young men may please ,god by thinking right1 by acting right1 by shunning1 as they would destruction1 not only every crime1 but the spirit either to see or sympathize with the criminal1 or to hear or read the details of his damnable acts4 ,it is an old saying1 that we are what we think2 then1 to be a good ,latter-day ,saint it is necessary to think pure thoughts1 to imbibe pure ideas1 and to let the mind dwell continually upon the noble things1 and the good deeds1 and the exalted thoughts of life1 discarding all sympathy or interest for crime and criminals1 and all thought of evil4 ,the man or woman who will resort to the court room1 who will visit criminals with flowers1 who will read and constantly discuss every detail of crime1 should be condemned1 frowned upon1 and their actions should be made detestable in the eyes of the pure in heart4 ,when a murderer is condemned1 he should be detested1 dropped1 and forgotten2 and so also should criminals of other classes who sin grievously against law and the commandments of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 ,august1 #aijb1 p4 #hjc4 #dgj ,,the ,,crime ,,of ,,witchcraft ,,and ,,other ,,superstitions4 ,after all the horrors1 persecutions1 and cruelties that have been brought about by the senseless belief in witchcraft1 it seems strange in this age of enlightenment that men or women1 especially those who have received the gospel1 can be found anywhere who believe in such a pernicious superstition4 ,the ,bible and history alike conclusively brand this superstition as a child of evil4 ,in ancient times1 ,god required the ,israelites to drive the ,canaanites from their land1 and witchcraft was one of the crimes which he laid at the door of the ,canaanites1 and for which they were adjudged unworthy of the land which they possessed4 ,witchcraft has not infrequently been the last resort of the evil doer4 ,men bereft of the ,spirit of ,god1 when the voice of the ,lord has ceased to warn them1 have frequently resorted to witchcraft1 in the endeavor to learn that which ,heaven withheld2 and the people of ,god from very early days to the present have been troubled with superstitious and evil-minded persons who have resorted to divination and kindred devices for selfish purposes1 and scheming designs4 ,in the middle ages it rested like a nightmare upon all ,christendom4 ,let it not be forgotten that the evil one has great power in the earth1 and that by every possible means he seeks to darken the minds of men1 and then offers them falsehood and deception in the guise of truth4 ,satan is a skilful imitator1 and as genuine gospel truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance1 so he spreads the counterfeit coin of false doctrine4 ,beware of his spurious currency1 it will purchase for you nothing but disappointment1 misery and spiritual death4 ,the father of lies he has been called1 and such an adept has he become1 through the ages of practice in his nefarious work1 that were it possible he would deceive the very elect4 ,those who turn to soothsayers and wizards for their #dga information are invariably weakening their faith4 ,when men began to forget the ,god of their fathers who had declared himself in ,eden and subsequently to the later patriarchs1 they accepted the devil's substitute and made for themselves gods of wood and stone4 ,it was thus that the abominations of idolatry had their origin4 ,the gifts of the ,spirit and the powers of the holy priesthood are of ,god1 they are given for the blessing of the people1 for their encouragement1 and for the strengthening of their faith4 ,this ,satan knows full well1 therefore he seeks by imitation--miracles to blind and deceive the children of ,god4 ,remember what the magicians of ,egypt accomplished in their efforts to deceive ,pharaoh as to the divinity of the mission of ,moses and ,aaron4 ,john the ,revelator saw in vision the miracle--working power of the evil one4 ,note his words4 ,and ,i beheld another beast coming up out of the earth2 99 99 99 and he doeth great wonders1 so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men4 ,and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth1 by the means of those miracles1 etc4 7,rev4 #ac3aa-ad47 ,further1 ,john saw three unclean spirits whom he describes as the spirits of devils1 working miracles4 7,rev4 #af3ac-ad47 ,that the power to work wonders may come from an evil source is declared by ,christ in his prophecy regarding the great judgment3 ,many will say to me in that day1 ,lord1 ,lord1 have we not prophesied in thy name8 and in thy name have cast out devils8 and in thy name done many wonderful works8 ,and then will ,i profess unto them1 ,i never knew you2 depart from me1 ye that work iniquity4 7,matt4 #g3bb-bc47 ,the danger and power for evil in witchcraft is not so much in the witchcraft itself as in the foolish credulence that superstitious people give to the claims made in its behalf4 ,it is outrageous to believe that the devil can hurt or injure an innocent man or woman1 especially if they are members of the ,church of ,christ--without that man or woman has faith #dgb that he or she can be harmed by such an influence and by such means4 ,if they entertain such an idea1 then they are liable to succumb to their own superstitions4 ,there is no power in witchcraft itself1 only as it is believed in and accepted4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #cg1 p4 #efj4 ,,superstitious ,,practices4 ,it is needless to assert that to those who are intelligent1 and not bound by old notions and superstitions1 there is no truth in what people call witchcraft4 ,men and women who come under the influence of a belief therein are bewitched by their own foolishness1 and are led astray by pretenders and mischief-makers who peep and mutter4 ,it is really astonishing that there should be any to believe in these absurdities4 ,no man or woman who enjoys the ,spirit of ,god and the influence and power of the holy priesthood can believe in these superstitious notions1 and those who do1 will lose1 indeed have lost1 the influence of the ,spirit of ,god and of the priesthood1 and are become subject to the witchery of ,satan1 who is constantly striving to draw away the ,saints from the true way1 if not by the dissemination of such nonsense1 then by other insidious methods4 ,one individual can not place an affliction upon another in the way that these soothsayers would have the people believe4 ,it is a trick of ,satan to deceive men and women1 and to draw them away from the ,church and from the influence of the ,spirit of ,god1 and the power of his holy priesthood1 that they may be destroyed4 ,these peepstone-men and women are inspired by the devil1 and are the real witches1 if any such there be4 ,witchcraft1 and all kindred evils1 are solely the creations of the superstitious imaginations of men and women who are steeped in ignorance1 and derive their power over people from the devil1 and those who submit to this influence are deceived by him4 ,unless they repent1 they will be destroyed4 ,there is absolutely no possibility for a person who enjoys the ,holy ,spirit of ,god #dgc to even believe that such influences can have any effect upon him4 ,the enjoyment of the ,holy ,spirit is absolute proof against all influences of evil2 you never can obtain that ,spirit by seeking diviners1 and men and women who peep and mutter4 ,that is obtained by imposition of hands by the servants of ,god1 and retained by right living4 ,if you have lost it1 repent and return to ,god1 and for your salvation's sake and for the sake of your children1 avoid the emissaries of ,satan who peep and mutter and who would lead you down to darkness and death4 ,it is impossible for anyone possessing the spirit of the gospel and having the power of the holy priesthood to believe in or be influenced by any power of necromancy4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 ,september1 #aijb1 pp4 #hif-hii4 ,,the ,,messiah ,,craze4 ,your communication has been received4 ,in response1 ,i send you a few of my reflections on the subject of the so-called ,messiah craze among the ,lamanites4 ,just what these manifestations have been is a matter of some doubt1 in my mind1 not as to their evident purpose1 judging from the many newspaper reports of the main features of the manifestations so much talked about1 for it seems clear that the purpose or object thereof has been to awaken in the benighted minds of these degenerate people a belief and faith in and ultimately a knowledge of a crucified and risen ,redeemer1 and the righteous precepts which he taught4 ,that ,god will manifest his purposes to the ,lamanites in his own time and way there can be no doubt in the minds of those who believe in the divine origin of the ,book of ,mormon--for in that book this fact is made unmistakably clear1 but just how he will do so in every particular1 and just what agencies he will use to bring about his purposes in this regard1 may be matters of conjecture beyond what has actually been revealed4 ,one of the agencies1 we #dgd know will be the ,book of ,mormon itself4 ,through the medium of the holy priesthood1 which has been restored to the earth in these latter times1 ,god will also operate to accomplish his will4 ,so far1 however1 but little of good has been effected through either of these channels1 on account of the extremely benighted condition of the minds1 and the wild nomadic habits of the red men4 ,and for many other sufficient reasons they have not been susceptible to the impressions of the ,holy ,spirit1 nor capable of rising to the comprehension of its power4 ,the time had not come1 and is not yet come1 for them to receive the message and the work bequeathed them by their fathers1 as designed of ,god--but the time will come1 and may be nearer at hand than many anticipate4 ,that these supernatural manifestations1 if they indeed are such1 indicate the beginning of that time may without inconsistency be believed4 ,to suppose that the work will be accomplished in a day--or in any very brief period--would be folly4 ,god has not heretofore worked1 nor will he be likely to so work among this remnant of his people4 ,their fall and degradation came slowly1 by degrees1 and in like manner will their redemption1 doubtless1 come to pass4 ,yet he will cut his work short in righteousness1 and it behooves the ,saints always to be ready4 ,that the ,lord will hasten their enlightenment by means of dreams1 visions1 and heavenly manifestations1 when the time shall come1 and that holy messengers may appear to them from time to time1 and that among them shall yet be inspired men of ,god raised up as teachers to instruct them in the truth1 we cannot doubt1 for these things have been promised in the last times both in the ,book of ,mormon and in the ,bible1 and also in the revelations to ,joseph ,smith the prophet4 ,but all these things will come to pass as ,god has determined1 in his own time and way4 ,and blessed will he be who shall be worthy to bear the message of good tidings #dge and the offering of peace1 the word of ,god and the means of redemption to the seed of ,joseph1 to whom the promises are made1 and woe to him who shall despise and scoff in the day of ,god's power4 ,with reference to who the personage is 7one or more7 who is claimed by the ,lamanites to have visited them1 there appears to me to be room for grave doubts4 ,from all the reports ,i have seen upon this subject1 it is not at all conclusive to my mind that he was indeed the ,messiah4 ,upon this point we must consider the sources of our information2 it has come to us second handed1 through interpreters and writers whose knowledge of the ,lamanitish tongues may or may not be very imperfect1 who have absolutely no knowledge of the ancient history of the race1 and of the purposes and promises of ,god concerning them4 ,that they know the scriptural account of ,jesus1 the ,son of ,god1 his crucifixion1 resurrection1 and ascension on high1 with the promise to come again in like manner as he ascended1 and this only1 we need not question1 but knowing only this and nothing more respecting this matter1 they might easily be misled by the reports coming from persons far removed from the actual witnesses4 ,and yet a latter-day ,saint1 who knows something of the history of those people and of the promises made to them by their forefathers1 hearing the same story1 would conclude that perhaps one or more of the three ,nephite disciples who tarried1 whose mission was to minister to the remnants of their own race1 had made an appearance to ,porcupine and perhaps to many others1 and taught them ,jesus and him crucified and risen from the dead1 and that he was soon to come again in power and great glory to avenge them of their wrongs upon the wicked and restore them to their lands and to the knowledge of their fathers and of the ,son of ,god4 ,this would be a very natural conclusion and not at all #dgf inconsistent with the established principles of the gospel and our knowledge of the manner of ,god's dealings with the children of men4 ,while it is more than likely that ,christ might send messengers to the ,lamanites to prepare the way for his coming in the fulness of time1 it is highly improbable that ,christ himself would appear to a people so utterly unprepared to receive and comprehend him4 ,true1 the ,father and the ,son appeared to the boy ,joseph in the beginning of this dispensation1 but he was a chosen instrument from eternity to open up the last dispensation of the gospel1 and ,god had prepared a chosen band to join him in that work4 ,but ,moroni1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 and divers other messengers were sent to open the way and prepare the foundations of this great work and restore the records of the ancient people of this continent to the world4 ,the foundations of that work having been laid1 the authority of ,god established1 the order of the priesthood and the laws of the ,church revealed1 shall we look for these things to be ignored1 or for the knowledge of ,god to come through the appointed channels8 ,while they will come in harmony with revealed and established truth1 and not in conflict therewith1 nor in conflict with the order of heaven which exists on the earth1 the object to be attained by such manifestations as the ,lamanites claim to have had1 admitting the same to be true and from ,god1 can be no other than to begin the preparation of the ,lamanites to receive a correct knowledge of ,god and of their fathers1 and of the holy gospel already revealed and established among men1 that they might believe1 obey and be saved thereby4 ,far be it from me to wish to close the channels of communication between the ,savior of the world himself and the remnants of ,lehi4 ,no one can be more free to admit his perfect right and power to visit whom he pleases1 at his pleasure1--for the channels of communication between ,god and #dgg man cannot be cut off nor closed by man1 nor ever will be while ,god has a purpose to accomplish by revealing himself4 ,but that we may not be deceived1 led into error1 tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine1 the foolish vagaries or the cunning craftiness of men1 or follow the false cry of1 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or there1 ,god has instituted the true order of communication between himself and man1 and has established it in his ,church1 and to this truth all mankind will do well to take heed1 lest they be deceived4 ,that which is in harmony with this is of ,god1 that which is contrary to it is from beneath4 ,it is in perfect harmony with the order of heaven for ministering spirits or messengers from ,god or ,christ to visit the ,lamanites or any other people1 as ,cornelius of old was visited1 and as ,christ visited ,saul1 and for the same purposes4--,letter to ,editor of ,young ,woman's ,journal in answer to question regarding reported visitations to ,indians4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #b1 #ahij-ahia1 pp4 #bfh-bga4 ,,one ,,mighty ,,and ,,strong4 ,in conclusion we would say that the ,latter-day ,saints by this time should be so well settled in the conviction that ,god has established his ,church in the earth for the last time1 to remain1 and no more to be thrown down or destroyed2 and that ,god's house is a house of order1 of law1 of regularity1 that erratic disturbers of that order of men of restless temperament1 who1 through ignorance and egotism1 become vain babblers1 yet make great pretensions to prophetic powers and other spiritual graces and gifts1 ought not to have any influence with them1 nor ought the ,saints to be disturbed in their spirit by such characters and their theories4 ,the ,church of ,christ is with the ,saints4 ,it has committed to it the law of ,god for its own government and perpetuation4 ,it possesses every means for the correction of every wrong or abuse or error which may from time to time arise1 and that without anarchy1 or even revolution2 it can do it by process of evolution--by development1 #dgh by an increase of knowledge1 wisdom1 patience and charity4 ,the presiding quorums of the ,church will always be composed of such men1 they will be chosen in such manner1 that the ,saints can be assured that solid wisdom1 righteousness1 and conscientious adherence to duty1 will characterize the policy of those who are entrusted with the administration of the affairs of the ,church4 ,while1 from time to time1 as the work of the ,lord may have need of their services1 men of exceptional talents and abilities will develop among the people of ,god2 and without disorder or eruption or excitement1 they will be called of the ,lord through the appointed agencies of the priesthood and ,church authority1 to positions that will afford them opportunity for service4 ,they will be accepted by the ,saints in the regular order1 appointed by the law of the ,church1 just as ,edward ,partridge was called and accepted1 and just as the one mighty and strong will be called and accepted when the time comes for his services4 ,,joseph ,f4 ,,smith1 ,,john ,r4 ,,winder1 ,,anthon ,h4 ,,lund1 ,first ,presidency4 --,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #aj1 #aijf-aijg1 pp4 #ibi-idc4 #dgi ,,chapter ,,xxii ,,auxiliary ,,organizations ,,definitions ,,of ,,auxiliary ,,organizations4 ,i have in mind our auxiliary organizations2 what are they8 ,helps to the standard organizations of the ,church4 ,they are not independent4 ,i want to say to the ,young ,men's and ,young ,ladies' ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 and to the ,relief ,society1 and to the ,primaries1 and to the ,sunday ,schools1 and ,religion classes1 and all the rest of the organizations in the ,church1 that not one of them is independent of the priesthood of the ,son of ,god1 not any of them can exist a moment in the acceptance of the ,lord when they withdraw from the voice and from the counsel of those who hold the priesthood and preside over them4 ,they are subject to the powers and authority of the ,church1 and they are not independent of them2 nor can they exercise any rights in their organizations independently of the priesthood and of the ,church4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiac1 p4 #g4 ,,place ,,of ,,auxiliary ,,organizations ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,it is sometimes argued that the auxiliary organizations of the ,church are not councils of the priesthood4 ,this is admitted1 but1 on the other hand1 the boards--general1 stake and ward--are composed of men holding the priesthood and1 though being called to be an officer in an auxiliary organization confers no additional office in the priesthood1 it takes none away--the brother still remains a high priest1 seventy1 or elder as before4 ,furthermore1 the officers of these organizations are duly presented at the general or local conferences1 as the case may be1 and are there sustained by the vote of the people1 and by that vote1 these organizations become recognized institutions of the ,church1 and as such the officers should be respected in their callings and given #dhj recognition and support in the performances of their duties in all that relates to the bodies which they represent4 ,the principles laid down in the foregoing relating to the ,sunday ,schools apply equally to all auxiliary organizations of the ,church4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ci1 ,january #a1 #aijd1 pp4 #ag-ah4 ,,relation ,,between ,,authorities ,,of ,,ward ,,and ,,auxiliary ,,organizations4 ,questions are frequently asked touching the relationship that should exist between the presiding authorities of a ward and the authorities of an auxiliary organization1 such1 for example1 as the superintendent of the ,sunday ,school4 ,the organizations of the ,church are intended to promote harmony1 and if understood there is no reason why discord should arise between the bishop and those called upon to act in the auxiliary organizations4 ,the question is often asked1 for instance1 who should select and install a superintendent of a ,sunday ,school1 or what step should be taken in cases where the superintendent of a school for any reason whatever vacates his office4 ,the first step in case the superintendent vacates his office is for his first or second assistant1 as the case may be1 to request the secretary of the school either to notify or remind the bishop of the ward of the vacancy1 and at the same time notify the stake superintendent of ,sunday ,schools2 and this notice or reminder should be given to the bishop and stake superintendent at the earliest possible convenience in order that all unnecessary delays may be avoided4 ,the second step in such cases is the selection of the proper officer or officers to fill the vacancy or vacancies4 ,it is1 of course1 within the authority of the bishop of a ward to select and install the superintendent of the ,sunday ,school in his ward1 but bishops of wards should not take such a step without the co-operation of the stake superintendent4 ,this last named officer represents the presidency of the stake in carrying on the work of this auxiliary organization of the ,church4 ,the #dha stake presidency holds the stake superintendent responsible in a large measure for the character of the man and the progress of the work of the ,sunday ,schools throughout the stake1 and the bishop therefore who proceeds to select and install the ward superintendent without the approval or knowledge of the stake superintendent1 does not show proper respect for him or for the stake president1 who is entitled to be represented in the selection of a ward superintendent4 ,on the other hand1 a stake superintendent is not authorized to organize the superintendency of a ,sunday ,school without consulting the bishop of the ward1 with whom it is his duty to be in complete harmony4 ,there is wisdom1 as well as order1 in the mutual recognition of these stake and ward authorities4 ,in the first place1 the superintendent1 by reason of his experience in ,sunday ,school work1 and his knowledge of the special qualifications required1 may be1 from his point of view1 well qualified to make suitable recommendations4 ,on the other band1 the bishop is1 or at any rate should be1 more familiar than any one else with the character and daily lives of the members of his ward4 ,after satisfying the special requirements made by a stake superintendent there may be wanting in the proposed ward superintendent some indispensable characteristics1 or there may be some unworthiness known only to the bishop4 ,if the stake superintendent1 therefore1 and the bishop of the ward approach each other in a spirit of harmony and mutual helpfulness1 there is no reason why they may not be united in nearly every instance upon the most suitable man4 ,should a case arise in which the bishop and stake superintendent find themselves unable to agree1 or both wish to defer to the judgment of some higher authority1 the proper step to take is to submit the matter to the president of the stake for his judgment or decision1 as the case may be4 ,when such an agreement has been arrived at1 it is the duty of the bishop to install the new superintendent in his office4 #dhb ,in connection with the subject here touched upon a question has also arisen respecting the propriety of a bishop presiding over a ,sunday ,school when the superintendent is present4 ,if ,i were bishop ,i should recognize with scrupulous care all the presiding officers in my ward and should think it discourteous to them to assume the duties to which they had been called4 ,there are without doubt instances where the bishops can with propriety offer suggestions that will be helpful to the superintendent without the least humiliation to him2 and there may be extreme cases in which the bishop would be justified in assuming the control of a school but it should not be the rule4 ,on the other hand if ,i were a school superintendent ,i would show the greatest deference to the bishop whenever he was present and aim as far as possible to satisfy his wishes and make the school all he could desire it should be4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ci1 ,january1 #aijd1 pp4 #af-ag4 ,,purpose ,,and ,,duties ,,of ,,relief ,,society4 ,a word or two in relation to the ,relief ,society4 ,this is an organization that was established by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,it is1 therefore1 the oldest auxiliary organization of the ,church1 and it is of the first importance4 ,it has not only to deal with the necessities of the poor1 the sick and the needy1 but a part of its duty--and the larger part1 too--is to look after the spiritual welfare and salvation of the mothers and daughters of ,zion2 to see that none is neglected1 but that all are guarded against misfortune1 calamity1 the powers of darkness1 and the evils that threaten them in the world4 ,it is the duty of the ,relief ,societies to look after the spiritual welfare of themselves and of all the female members of the ,church4 ,it is their duty to collect means from those who have in abundance1 and to distribute it wisely unto those in need4 ,it is a part of their duty to see that there are those capable of being nurses as well as teachers and exemplars in ,zion1 and that they have an opportunity to become thoroughly prepared for #dhc this great labor and responsibility4 ,i have heard of a disposition on the part of some of our sisters to become a law unto themselves in relation to these things4 ,i would like to say that it is expected of the ,relief ,society1 especially the general authorities of that great organization1 that they will have a watchcare over all its organizations among the women of ,zion4 ,they stand at the head of all such2 they ought to stand at the head1 and they should magnify their calling1 and see to it that error is not permitted to creep in1 that cabals are not formed1 that secret combinations may not get a foothold1 to mislead the sisters4 ,they should see to it that the other organizations of women in the ,church correspond and are in harmony with their organizations4 ,why should this be8 ,in order that the women of ,zion may be united1 that their interests may be in common1 and not conflicting or segregated1 and that the purpose of this organization may be realized and the organization itself be effective for good in every part of the ,church throughout the world1 wherever the gospel is preached4 ,we realize that it is impossible for men or women possessing physical weaknesses on account of age or infirmities1 to meet every requirement2 but we expect every man and woman entrusted with responsibility in the ,church to do their duty to the utmost of their ability4 ,that we look for2 that we pray for2 for that we labor to the best of the ability and strength we possess4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 pp4 #c-d4 ,,objects ,,of ,,the ,,relief ,,society4 ,furthermore1 ,i desire to commend the work of the ,relief ,society1 an organization that was effected by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,the objects of this organization are manifold4 ,it is not designed to look only after the poor and the needy as to their bodily necessities1 but it is also intended to look after the spiritual1 mental and moral welfare of the mothers and daughters in ,zion1 and all who are engaged or interested in female work4 ,i commend the ,relief ,societies to the bishops1 #dhd and say1 be friendly to these organizations1 because they are auxiliary organization's and a great help to the bishops4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hh4 ,,duties ,,and ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,relief ,,society4 ,i will speak of the ,relief ,society as one great organization in the ,church1 organized by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 whose duty it is to look after the interests of all the women of ,zion and of all the women that may come under their supervision and care1 irrespective of religion1 color or condition4 ,i expect to see the day when this organization will be one of the most perfect1 most efficient and effective organizations for good in the ,church but that day will be when we shall have women who are not only imbued with the spirit of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and with the testimony of ,christ in their hearts1 but also with youth1 vigor and intelligence to enable them to discharge the great duties and responsibilities that rest upon them4 ,today it is too much the case that our young1 vigorous1 intelligent women feel that only the aged should be connected with the ,relief ,society4 ,this is a mistake4 ,we want the young women1 the intelligent women1 women of faith1 of courage and of purity to be associated with the ,relief ,societies of the various stakes and wards of ,zion4 ,we want them to take hold of this work with vigor1 with intelligence and unitedly1 for the building up of ,zion and the instruction of women in their duties--domestic duties1 public duties1 and every duty that may devolve upon them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 p4 #f4 ,,the ,,relief ,,society4 ,i can say the same with reference to the first and most important auxiliary organization of the ,church1 that of the ,relief ,society4 ,they have been doing the best they could2 but now we have suggested a complete organization of that society1 that is1 the general authorities of that organization2 and we trust that from this time forth1 they will be able to begin with renewed energy1 judgment and wisdom1 the performance of the duties #dhe that devolve upon them1 even those who are called to take the oversight of this great work in ,zion1 the ,relief ,society organization4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 p4 #g4 ,,object ,,of ,,sunday ,,schools ,,and ,,church ,,schools4 ,the object of our ,sunday ,schools and the object of our ,church schools1 the great1 the paramount object1 is to teach our children the truth1 teach them to be honorable1 pure-minded1 virtuous1 honest and upright1 and enable them1 by our advice and counsel and by our guardianship over them1 until they reach the years of accountability1 to become the honorable of the earth1 the good and the pure among mankind1 the virtuous and the upright1 and those who shall be worthy to enter the house of ,god and not be ashamed of themselves in the presence of angels1 if they should come to visit them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #hb4 ,,the ,,teacher ,,essential ,,in ,,sunday ,,school ,,work4 ,one of the essentials to a good ,sunday ,school is to have good1 pure-minded1 intelligent1 noble1 true and faithful teachers4 ,if you will have a child develop to what he should be1 he that teaches the child should be developed to what he ought to be1 and until he is developed in intelligence1 in faith1 in works of righteousness1 in purity of heart and mind and spirit1 he is not in a very good position to elevate others to it4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 p4 #ii4 ,,the ,,first ,,qualification ,,of ,a ,,sunday ,,school ,,teacher4 ,the first qualification of a teacher in our ,sunday ,schools is that he be heart and soul a ,latter-day ,saint4 ,he must believe in and unreservedly accept the doctrines of the ,church1 otherwise his teachings will be subversive of the very purpose for which these schools are maintained4 ,it is a self-evident truth1 that no one can give what he does not possess1 and the teacher who is lacking a testimony of the gospel can never inspire such testimony in his pupils4 ,the measure of personal liberty allowed by our liberal #dhf ,church organization in the matter of giving instruction is great2 but such liberty must not be degraded into a license to teach as the doctrines of the ,church what is but the personal belief of the individual4 ,a teacher finding himself a non-believer in any of the principles or tenets of the ,church1 will1 if he be truly honorable1 voluntarily ask release from his position4 ,no one can in righteousness be asked to teach what he does not believe and accept as the truth1 nor will one who is sincere in his convictions attempt to do so2 still less will any teacher who loves the truth dishonor his position by employing its opportunities to inculcate personal views not in harmony with the teachings of the ,church4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #di1 ,april #a1 #aiad1 p4 #baj4 ,,the ,,principle ,,of ,,sabbath ,,school ,,teaching4 ,there is one point that has rested upon my mind in relation to the ,sabbath ,schools1 and it is this3 ,i think there is nothing in the ,sunday ,school work more necessary or essential than that all the teachers of the ,sunday ,schools should win the love and the confidence of their pupils4 ,i believe that greater good can be done in the ,sunday ,schools by the teachers where they have the absolute affection and confidence of their pupils than under any other conditions4 ,you may teach them1 you may drill them in concert1 and you may have them commit to memory1 and labor in every other way that you possibly can to accomplish the good that you desire with your children1 but in nothing1 in my opinion1 can you succeed so well as when you possess their undivided love and confidence4 ,if a child thinks a teacher is harsh with him or her1 or unkind toward him1 or does not feel a real1 genuine love for him1 if he feels that the teacher is not taking a real interest in him as one who loves him1 he can never be led to possess the right spirit2 but when he feels that the teacher loves him1 is trying to do him good and to teach him that which will be for his everlasting welfare1 then the teacher has an influence over the child1 that when he studies he will #dhg study with a purpose and with an earnest desire to be benefited and to please the teacher2 because he knows and feels in his little heart that the teacher loves him and is seeking to do him good4 ,i have entertained this sentiment from the beginning1 in relation to the instruction of the little children4 ,it is a principle that obtains at the home as well as in the ,sunday ,school4 ,if you can only convince your children that you love them1 that your soul goes out to them for their good1 that you are their truest friend1 they1 in turn1 will place confidence in you and will love you and seek to do your bidding and to carry out your wishes with your love4 ,but if you are selfish1 unkindly to them1 and if they are not confident that they have your entire affection1 they will be selfish1 and will not care whether they please you or carry out your wishes or not1 and the result will be that they will grow wayward1 thoughtless and careless1 and although you may drill them1 like a parrot1 to repeat verses and to speak in concert1 and all that sort of thing1 they will do it mechanically1 without affection1 and without its having that effect upon their souls that you desire it should have4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 pp4 #ig-ih4 ,,the ,,stake ,,sunday ,,school ,,board4 ,as the ,general ,sunday ,school ,union ,board represents the ,first ,presidency of the ,church and constitutes1 under the direction of the ,presidency and ,council of the ,twelve1 the highest authority in the ,church on ,sunday ,school matters1 so the ,stake ,board1 under the direction of the ,stake ,presidency and ,general ,sunday ,school ,board1 represents the highest authority in ,sunday ,school work in the stake4 ,if it were not so1 there would be no unity4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dc1 ,august1 #aijh1 p4 #caj4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,,work4 ,i want to say a few words to the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations4 ,you young men and young women1 officers of the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 ,i implore you to go from this conference #dhh and do your duty4 ,look after the wayward1 the disobedient1 the thoughtless1 and the indifferent4 ,it is necessary that they should be guarded and looked after4 ,as it has been expressed here1 time and again1 it is better for us to save our own boys who are being misled at home1 than it is for us to go out into the world and spend years of time and endless means in order to gather in a few people from the world1 while some of our own boys and girls need redemption as much as they2 besides1 these people of the world are so full of the traditions and superstitions of their fathers when they gather to ,zion that it is difficult1 if not impossible1 for them entirely to overcome these traditions and get down to a full comprehension of the gospel and a complete reception of the truth4 ,yet a soul saved out in the world is as precious in the sight of ,god as a soul saved at home4 ,but we have work to do right at home1 at our own doors2 and it will not do for us to neglect the work necessary to be done at our own thresholds1 and then go out into the world to do work that is no more necessary4 ,let us do our duty everywhere4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 p4 #hg4 ,,the ,,field ,,of ,,the ,,young ,,men',s ,,mutual ,,improvement ,,association4 ,the systematic work now being done by the quorums of priesthood provides our young men with the necessary teachings in formal theology and trains them in the duties that pertain to their callings in the priesthood4 ,there is1 however1 a strong need among the young men of the ,church to have an organization and meetings which they themselves conduct2 in which they may learn to preside over public assemblies to obtain a practice necessary to express themselves before the public2 and to enjoy themselves in studying and practicing civil1 social1 scientific1 religious and educational affairs4 ,the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 therefore1 should be strengthened and their efficiency increased in order to offset and counteract the tendency now so #dhi prevalent to establish private clubs1 secret and social organizations1 and select educational societies4 ,they may be made to cover all these requirements1 and it will be a wise policy to grant them the fullest liberty1 consistent with the order and policy of the ,church1 in the selection of their officers1 management and conduct of their associations4 ,it is of vital importance that not only the young men of our ,church but also the regularly constituted stake and ward officers thereof shall have a clear understanding as to the place and privileges which the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations hold among the ,latter-day ,saints1 in order to promote harmony1 union of purpose1 and the best interests of all concerned4 ,to define this field and to give an understanding to our young people and all concerned1 we deem it expedient that a declarations should be made at this our ,june conference1 that there is as great opportunity now as ever before for these organizations1 and that increased activity in other departments should cause no abatement of effort or efficiency in our associations2 but rather that renewed effort should be put forth by the ,improvement workers1 and that every facility should be afforded them by stake and ward authorities to accomplish their glorious mission among the youth of ,zion4 ,the field to be occupied is religious1 social and educational4 ,the religious work is not to be formally theological in its nature1 but rather to be confined to the limits outlined by ,president ,brigham ,young1 when the organizations were first established3 ,let the keynote of your work be the establishment in the youth of an individual testimony of the truth and magnitude of the great ,latter-day work2 and the development of the gifts within them4 ,in other words1 to obtain a testimony of the truth1 and to learn to declare and express that testimony2 and to develop all noble gifts within them4 #dij ,the social includes control of various public and private amusements2 musical1 dramatic and other entertainments and festivals2 field sports1 athletic tournaments1 excursions and other varieties of social gatherings4 ,the educational should include regular class work in ethics and practical religion1 literature1 science1 history1 biography1 art1 music1 civil government--supplemented by debates1 oratorical and musical contests1 lectures1 essays1 writing for publication1 reading and speaking under the auspices of the organization1 and if necessary carried on in departments under instructors capable of specializing in their particular lines4 ,we have directed the ,general ,board to appoint committees to have in charge1 under the direction of the whole ,board1 these various lines1 who have a thorough knowledge of the work1 and who are in sympathy with our young men4 ,these committees may be sub-divided or added to as the wisdom of the ,board or the exigencies of the work may demand2 and like organizations may be instituted in the various stakes and wards1 as far as practicable or necessary4 ,at the meetings of the ,board reports from these committees will be asked for and given as a regular order of business4 ,we believe that this course will promote the welfare of all and a good feeling among our young people1 and prevent their seeking other organizations and interests to which to devote their time and attention4 ,there is no mental1 social or physical excellence or enjoyment that the ,church does not foster and desire to promote among the young men of our community1 and its purpose in sustaining the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations and charging them with the care of our young men is to answer every desire of this nature and to provide among ourselves the gratification of every legitimate ambition and impulse to excel in these fields without having to seek opportunities elsewhere4 #dia ,from the presiding priesthood of the ,church in the stakes of ,zion1 and in the wards and missions1 we therefore ask1 in behalf of our young men1 sympathy and support1 to sustain and uphold the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations in the field of usefulness herein briefly outlined1 and to provide them with places of meeting and amusement4 ,we ask that the associations be permitted to select men of education and ability for class and special teachers1 who are suitable1 agreeable and capable1 and who are in love with the young people and in full sympathy with them and their views4 ,granting them the fullest liberty consistent with the order and policy of the ,church will encourage them in the faith1 and they will not be a whit less amenable to the ,church authorities1 but rather will grow more enthusiastic in every way for the promotion of the work of the ,lord4 ,the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations have been from the first in very deed helps to the priesthood1 and in behalf of its members we pledge ourselves and them to continue in this line in the future2 being certain that no trust or added responsibility imposed upon our young people will be violated1 but they will prove loyal to the authorities and the work of the ,lord4 ,respectfully1 ,,joseph ,f4 ,,smith1 ,,heber ,j4 ,,grant1 ,b4,h4 ,,roberts1 ,general ,superintendency4 ,the foregoing ,declaration of the ,place and ,privileges of the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,association was read and adopted at the ,annual ,conference1 ,june #e1 #aiji4--;,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 ,august1 #aiji1 p4 #hai4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,mutual ,,improvement ,,associations4 ,our work is in one sense primary work1 and yet it reaches beyond #dib primary grades4 ,the first and great object of the organization of the ,mutual ,improvement ,associations as auxiliary organizations of the priesthood in the ,church was to become instrumental in bringing the youth of ,zion to a knowledge of the truth1 and in guiding them into the straight and narrow path4 ,we have found that there is in some degree a feeling of shyness and of fear that seizes the minds of some of our youth when the organizations of the priesthood are mentioned4 ,some of the children grow up more or less indifferent1 more or less afraid of the responsibilities involved in the performances of the ,church duties4 ,they are like colts that need training1 and it is difficult sometimes to reach them4 ,but through these auxiliary organizations we have been able to reach out a guiding hand1 and to exert an influence for good over many of our young men and women1 whom it would have been difficult to reach by the organizations of the priesthood4 ,so far1 these organizations have accomplished a most excellent primary work2 for this is in the sense of a primary work1 and ,i do not know but the necessity of our organizations will continue as long as we have children growing up amongst us who are shy of the priesthood1 and who are afraid of assuming the duties and responsibilities that belong to the ,church4 ,then we have instituted class work1 have written manuals1 and have given out subjects for study and improvement by all those who are connected with these organizations which have been intended to lead them along into greater experiences and better understanding of the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,for1 after all1 this is the great and grand object of these organizations4 ,the fact is1 my brethren and sisters and friends1 that the gospel of ,christ is the biggest thing in the world4 ,very few of us1 probably1 comprehend its greatness4 ,the way we are situated in life1 engaged day in and day out1 week in and week out1 year in and year out1 in the daily vocations of life2 #dic struggling to earn bread for our necessities1 and the necessities of those who are dependent upon us1 struggling to build homes for ourselves and our children2 struggling to collect the elements of the earth and subdue them1 and to bring them into subjection to our will2 working1 toiling1 striving day by day in temporal things1 in the cares and thoughts of the world1 we are inclined to give very little thought1 very little reflection to the more important things1 those things which shall endure after mortality shall come to an end4 ,and the most of mankind have come to the conclusion1 judging them by their acts1 and their walk and conversation in life1 that the greatest thing in the world is to obtain wealth4 ,and then1 having obtained wealth and the things that wealth produces1 or will bring to them1 they feel that the rest of life and the responsibilities of it are very trifling and unimportant1 and they leave their religion to their priests1 if they have any religion at all4 ,and the great majority of the world today1 ,i believe1 that is1 on our hemisphere1 are becoming very indifferent toward religion of any kind4 ,the cheaper it can be found or obtained by them the better they like it2 the less exertion required of them to be members of a church organization the better it suits them4 ,the less care they are required to give to religion the better they like it2 and if they can find something that will bring solace and case and relaxation to an overburdened conscience for having committed crime in the thought that men possess power to forgive sin1 that suits them about as well as anything else1 and a little better4 ,hence we can see where the world is drifting today as far as religion is concerned4 ,if they can get it cheap1 if it does not cause them any exertion1 they do not mind having just a little of it4 ,but this is not the case with ,latter-day ,saints4 ,nor is it the case with a living religion4 ,for ,i want to tell you that the religion of ,christ is not a ,sunday religion2 it is not a momentary religion2 it is a religion that never ends2 and it requires duties of its devotees on ,monday1 ,tuesday1 #did ,wednesday and all of the days of the week just as sincerely1 just as strongly1 as it does on the ,sabbath day4 ,and ,i would not give the ashes of a rye straw1 for a ,sunday religion1 or for a religion that is manufactured by men1 whether by priests or laymen4 ,my religion is the religion of ,god4 ,it is the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 otherwise it would be absolutely worthless to me1 and it would be worthless to all other men1 so far as religion is concerned4 ,if it is not in my soul1 if ,i had not received it in my heart1 or if ,i did not believe it with all my might1 mind and strength and be it1 live it1 and keep it secure in my heart all the days of my life--week days as well as days of rest1 in secret as well as in public1 at home and abroad1 everywhere the same2 then the religion of ,christ1 the religion of well doing1 the religion of righteousness1 the religion of purity1 the religion of kindliness1 faith1 salvation from temporal sins1 and salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of our ,god--my religion would not be the gospel of the ,son of ,god to me4 ,this is ,mormonism2 and that is the kind of religion we want to teach to our children4 ,we must receive it ourselves and teach it from our hearts to their hearts and from our affections to their affections1 and we can then inspire them because of our own faith and our own faithfulness and convictions of the ,church4 ,these organizations of young men and women are intended to help the wayward1 giddy and wild2 to work with those who are at large in the world1 who are not subject to any organization at all2 to gather them in2 hunt them up1 and get hold of them by love1 by kindness1 by the spirit of salvation1 the spirit to bring them to a knowledge of the truth1 that they may find the way of life and walk in it2 that they may have light everlasting within themselves through the ,spirit of ,god4 ,all truth cometh from the ,lord4 ,he is the fountain of truth2 or in other words1 he is the everlasting spring of life and truth1 and from him cometh all knowledge1 all wisdom1 #die all virtue and all power4 ,when ,i read books that are scattered broadcast through the world1 throwing discredit upon words and teachings and doctrines of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 saying that some of the ideas ,jesus uttered1 truths that he promulgated1 have been enunciated before by the ancient philosophers among the heathen nations of the world1 ,i want to tell you that there is not a heathen philosopher that ever lived in all the world from the beginning1 that had a truth or enunciated a principle of ,god's truth that did not receive it from the fountain head1 from ,god himself4 ,god knew the truth before any heathen philosopher4 ,no man has received intelligence but has had to come to the ,fountain ,head4 ,he may not have known it1 may not have realized the source of his knowledge1 but it came from ,god4 ,god taught the first truth that was ever taught to man4 ,the ,lord has bestowed his truth upon the earth from generation to generation and he has visited the people in various ways1 from age to age1 according to the nearness with which he could draw them to himself4 ,he has raised up philosophers among them1 teachers of men1 to set the example1 and to develop the mind and understanding of the human race in all nations of the world4 ,god did it1 but the world do not give credit to ,god1 but give it to men1 to heathen philosophers4 ,they give credit to them4 ,i give it to ,god4 ,and ,i tell you ,god knew the truth before they did1 and through revelation they got it4 ,if they received light at all they had it from ,god1 just as ,columbus got it from the ,lord4 ,what inspired ,columbus with the spirit of unrest1 the spirit of longing1 with an intense desire that he could not overcome1 to seek out this western hemisphere8 ,brethren and sisters1 ,i acknowledge ,god's hand in it4 ,it was inspiration that seized ,columbus1 and he was moved by it4 ,but men do not acknowledge ,god's hand in it4 ,in the ,book of ,mormon1 we learn it was ,god's ,spirit working upon him4 ,the ,lord moved upon ,columbus and he could not restrain the influence that was upon him until he had accomplished #dif the work4 ,the same may be said of any intelligent man that has enlightened humanity1 from the earliest ages down to the present time4 ,let me say to you1 my fellow workers in the cause of ,zion1 do not forget to acknowledge the band of ,god in all things4 ,he told the ,jews that he had other sheep that were not of that fold1 and that he must visit them4 ,he did visit them4 ,he came to the sheep of the fold occupying this continent1 dwelling here unknown to the ,jews1 and he revealed the principles of the gospel to them4 ,and when he visited them1 he said1 ,ye are they of whom ,i said1 ,other sheep ,i have which are not of this fold2 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 7,,iii ,nephi #ae3ba47 ,read in the ,doctrine and ,covenants of a parable in which the kingdom of ,god is likened unto a man with twelve servants working in his field1 each having his portion called an allotment4 ,the ,lord visited the first and taught him the truth and cheered him up by his presence and voice and counsel2 then he visited the second1 then the third and so on until the twelfth1 each in his time1 each in his season1 each according to his necessities4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #hh3 #ea-fc47 ,and so it has been with ,god from the foundation of the world4 ,he has visited all nations1 kindred1 tongues1 and people1 and yet the truth has not been revealed to the world in its fulness1 and men have not been called to do the work that ,christ was called to do2 nor the work that ,abraham was called to do2 nor that which ,noah was appointed to do2 nor that appointed to the twelve apostles to preach his name and proclaim his gospel to the world4 ,they were called like ,columbus to do work ,god required them to do4 ,later ,god revealed the power of steam to ,watt1 just as he has inspired every other philosopher and scientist and great man of the world4 ,i acknowledge the hand of ,god in it4 ,i give ,god the honor1 the glory2 and ,i know that it is in accordance #dig with his purpose that he has inspired these things to be brought to pass4 ,i believe that ,mohammed was an inspired man and the ,lord raised him up to do the work he did4 ,i believe ,god raised up ,joseph ,smith to lay the foundations of the gospel of ,christ in the dispensation of the fulness of times2 that it will remain and no more be broken up2 but will continue until ,god's promises are accomplished in the world and ,christ shall come and reign1 whose right it is to reign in the midst of the earth4 ,this is what ,i believe about it1 and the ,lord's hand was in the raising up of ,joseph ,smith to accomplish the work4 ,joseph ,smith was called to do this work2 and he did it4 ,he has been an instrument in the hands of ,god by giving each of us the power to obtain knowledge for ourselves through the mercy and love of ,god1 and to become teachers of it to the world2 teachers not only to our children1 but to nations that are in darkness and know not the truth4 ,and it is a living1 daily religion1 an hourly religion4 ,it requires us to do right today1 this hour1 this week1 this month and this year2 and so on from year to year1 to live our religion--which is the religion of ,jesus ,christ--of righteousness1 of truth1 of mercy1 of love1 forgiveness1 kindness1 union and peace on earth and good will to man and all the world4 ,this is our mission4 ,may the ,lord bless you1 my brethren and sisters1 and my fellow workers in the cause of ,zion1 is my prayer4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #ah1 #aijg1 pp4 #cab-cae4 ,,the ,,fountain ,,of ,,truth4 ,we hear frequently of men who throw discredit on the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior and ,redeemer1 because some of the principles1 doctrines1 and philosophy which he taught are said to have been spoken before his day by heathen philosophers4 ,a variety of examples are sometimes quoted to show that ,zoroaster and other ancient philosophers made known truths1 and that the ,old ,testament1 the ,avesta1 and other #dih writings1 contain sentiments1 which were repeated1 perhaps in slightly different form1 by the ,son of ,god4 ,he taught nothing new1 they say1 and so they incline to belittle his mission1 and accuse him of plagiarizing the truth4 ,it is conceded by a number of competent students that the ideals which have grown from the doctrines of ,christ are a direct development of what is found in the teachings of the ,old ,testament1 particularly in the ,psalms and in the second part of ,isaiah4 ,but1 on the other hand1 it is just as certain that these ideals received a finish and an enrichment1 by the touch of the ,savior1 vastly beyond and above what they possessed before1 and also they are placed on deeper and firmer foundations4 ,this1 let it be said to begin with1 is because they were his before they were ever uttered by man4 ,even in the five distinctive and characteristic topics generally considered by commentators original in the teachings of ,jesus1 we find little if anything new1 except the enlargement4 ,these are named as the ,fatherhood of ,god2 subjects or members of the ,kingdom2 the ,messiah2 the ,holy ,ghost2 and the ,tri-,unity of ,god4 ,but the idea of the ,fatherhood of ,god was not unknown either to the ,pagans or to ,israel4 ,zeus from the time of ,homer had borne the name ,father of gods and men4 ,but1 both in ,jewish and ,pagan literature1 the idea was superficial and meant little more than originator 7,genesis #a3bf72 and in the old ,jewish scripture ,god is more particularly called the ,father of his people1 ,israel4 7,deut4 #ad3a2 ,isaiah #fc3f7 ,but in the teachings of ,christ there is a fuller embodiment of revelation in the word ,father1 and the application which he makes of the ,fatherhood of ,god invests his life with supreme tenderness and beauty4 ,as an example3 ,in the old scriptures1 we are told1 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear him2 7,psalms #ajc3ac71 but by the interpretation of ,jesus1 the love of ,god as ,father extends1 beyond these limitations #dii even to those who are unthankful and evil3 ,but ,i say unto you1 love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them which despitefully use you1 and persecute you2 that ye may be the children of our ,father which is in heaven2 for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good1 and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust4 7,matt #e3de47 ,but love ye your enemies1 and do good1 and lend1 hoping for nothing again2 and your reward shall be great1 and ye shall be the children of the ,highest2 for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil4 7,luke #f3ce47 ,and so with other doctrines of ,christ2 while perhaps not new1 they were enriched by the addition of fuller1 broader1 more loving conceptions of ,god and his purposes2 in which compulsion was eliminated1 and lowly service1 love1 and self-sacrifice were substituted and made the true forces of an acceptable life4 ,even the answer to the lawyer's question1 often called the eleventh commandment1 ,master1 which is the great commandment in the law8 had been given to the children of ,israel1 7,lev4 #ai3ah7 over two thousand years before its perfected meaning was impressed upon the learned ,pharisee4 7,matt4 #bb3cd1 #dj47 ,but what of all this8 ,are we therefore to discredit the teachings of the ,savior8 ,verily no4 ,let it be remembered that ,christ was with the ,father from the beginning1 that the gospel of truth and light existed from the beginning1 and is from everlasting to everlasting4 ,the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 as one ,god1 are the fountain of truth4 ,from this fountain all the ancient learned philosophers have received their inspiration and wisdom--from it they have received all their knowledge4 ,if we find truth in broken fragments through the ages1 it may be set down as an incontrovertible fact that it originated at the fountain1 and was given to philosophers1 inventors1 patriots1 reformers1 and prophets by the inspiration of ,god4 ,it came from him through his ,son #ejj ,jesus ,christ and the ,holy ,ghost1 in the first place1 and from no other source4 ,it is eternal4 ,christ1 therefore1 being the fountain of truth1 is no imitator4 ,he taught the truth first2 it was his before it was given to man4 ,when he came to the earth he not only proclaimed new thought1 but repeated some of the everlasting principles which had been heretofore only partly understood and enunciated by the wisest of men4 ,and in so doing he enlarged in every instance upon the wisdom which they had originally received from him1 because of his superior abilities and wisdom1 and his association with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he did not imitate men4 ,they made known in their imperfect way what the inspiration of ,jesus ,christ had taught them1 for they obtained their enlightenment first from him4 ,he taught the gospel to ,adam1 and made known his truths to ,abraham and the prophets4 ,he was the inspirer of the ancient philosophers1 ,pagan or ,israelite1 as well as of the great characters of more modern times4 ,columbus1 in discovery2 ,washington1 in the struggle for freedom2 ,lincoln1 in emancipation and union2 ,bacon1 in philosophy2 ,franklin1 in statesmanship and diplomacy2 ,stephenson1 in steam2 ,watts1 in song2 ,edison1 in electricity2 and ,joseph ,smith1 in theology and religion1 found the source of their wisdom and the marvelous truths which they advocated1 in ,jesus ,christ4 ,calvin1 ,luther1 ,melanchthon1 and all the reformers1 were inspired in thoughts1 words1 and actions to accomplish what they did for the amelioration1 liberty and advancement of the human race4 ,they paved the way for the more perfect gospel of truth to come4 ,their inspiration1 as with that of the ancients1 came from the ,father1 his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 the one true and living ,god4 ,this may also truthfully be said concerning the ,revolutionary fathers of this nation1 and all who have in the ages past contributed to the progress of civil and religious freedom4 ,there is no #eja light or truth which did not come to them first from him4 ,men are mere repeaters of what he has taught them4 ,he has voiced no thought originating with man4 ,the teachings of ,jesus did not begin with his incarnation2 for1 like truth1 he is eternal4 ,he not only inspired the ancients1 from the beginning1 but when he came to earth he reiterated eternal1 original truth1 and added gloriously to the revelations men had uttered4 ,when he returned to the ,father1 he still took1 and does take1 an interest in his children and people1 by revealing to them new truths1 and by inspiring their actions2 and1 as men grow in the knowledge of ,god1 they shall become more and more like him unto the perfect day1 when his knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters cover the deep4 ,it is folly1 therefore1 to discredit the ,savior on the grounds that he has uttered nothing new2 for1 with the ,father and the ,spirit1 he is the author of that which persists--the truth--that which has been1 that which is1 and that which will continue forever4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #aj1 #aijg1 pp4 #fbg-cj4 ,,purpose ,,and ,,duties ,,of ,,religious ,,classes4 ,the ,religion ,class work is an adjunct to the ,church schools4 ,it is a necessary and most interesting adjunct to our auxiliary organizations4 ,it was established to assist in the proper training and education of our children1 and ,i commend it to the presiding authorities1 throughout the ,church1 and bespeak for it their kind attention1 encouragement and assistance1 so far as it lies in their power4 ,let us take care of these things1 for they nurture and strengthen our children in the right direction1 and there is nothing more important4 ,it is extreme folly for any people to send thousands of missionaries out into the world to preach the gospel to the nations1 and neglect their own children at home4 ,i think our very first interest should be to look after our children1 and see that they have every advantage necessary to bring them up in the way #ejb they should go1 that when they get old they may not depart from it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijf1 p4 #f4 ,,teachers ,,must ,,believe ,,in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,any man who will question the divinity of the mission of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 or will deny the so-called miracles of the scriptures1 is unfit to be a teacher of ,latter-day ,saint children4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #ajd4 #ejc ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,political ,,government ,,the ,,ten ,,commandments4 ,i believe with all my soul in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and in the law of ,god1 and ,i do not think any honest and intelligent man or woman could help but believe in the justice1 the righteousness and the purity of the laws that ,god wrote upon the tablets of stone4 ,these principles that ,i propose to read to you are the foundation and basic principles of the ,constitution of our country1 and are eternal1 enduring forevermore1 and cannot be changed nor ignored with impunity3 ,and ,god spake all these words1 saying1 ,i am the ,lord thy ,god1 which have brought thee out of the land of ,egypt1 out of the house of bondage4 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,that is what it means now1 and what it meant to the ,latter-day ,saints1 and what the ,latter-day ,saints understood it to mean1 when they embraced the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,he is the ,father of our spirits1 the ,father of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 who is our ,god2 and we shall not have any other before him4 ,thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image1 or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above1 or that is in the earth beneath1 or that is in the water under the earth3 ,thou shalt not bow down thyself to them1 nor serve them3 for ,i the ,lord thy ,god am a jealous ,god1 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me2 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me1 and keep my commandments4 7,exodus #bj3a-f47 #ejd ,infidels will say to you3 ,how unjust1 how unmerciful1 how un-,godlike it is to visit the iniquities of the parents upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate ,god4 ,how do you see it8 ,this way3 and it is strictly in accordance with ,god's law4 ,the infidel will impart infidelity to his children if he can4 ,the whoremonger will not raise a pure1 righteous posterity4 ,he will impart seeds of disease and misery1 if not of death and destruction1 upon his offspring1 which will continue upon his children and descend to his children's children to the third and fourth generation4 ,it is perfectly natural that the children should inherit from their fathers1 and if they sow the seeds of corruption1 crime and loathsome disease1 their children will reap the fruits thereof4 ,not in accordance with ,god's wishes1 for his wish is that men will not sin and therefore will not transmit the consequences of their sin to their children1 but that they will keep his commandments1 and be free from sin and from entailing the effects of sin upon their offspring2 but inasmuch as men will not hearken unto the ,lord1 but will become a law unto themselves1 and will commit sin1 they will justly reap the consequences of their own iniquity1 and will naturally impart its fruits to their children to the third and fourth generation4 ,the laws of nature are the laws of ,god who is just2 it is not ,god that inflicts these penalties1 they are the effects of disobedience to his law4 ,the results of men's own acts follow them4 ,thou shalt not take the name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain2 for the ,lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain4 ,this is an eternal principle2 it is not one that we may obey today and disobey tomorrow1 or that we may espouse today as a part of our faith1 and abandon tomorrow with impunity4 ,it is a principle that is inherent in the plan of life and salvation1 for the regeneration of mankind4 ,remember the ,sabbath day1 to keep it holy4 ,six #eje days shalt thou labor1 and do all thy work2 but the seventh day is the ,sabbath of the ,lord thy ,god3 in it thou shalt not do any work1 thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy daughter1 thy manservant1 nor thy maid-servant1 nor thy cattle1 nor thy stranger that is within thy gates1 etc4 ,that is3 ,thou shalt honor the ,sabbath day and keep it holy4 ,do we do it8 ,is it necessary to do it8 ,it is absolutely necessary to do so in order that we may be in harmony with ,god's law and commandments2 and whenever we transgress that law or that commandment we are guilty of transgressing the law of ,god4 ,and what will be the result1 if we continue8 ,our children will follow in our footsteps2 they will dishonor the command of ,god to keep one day holy in seven2 and will lose the spirit of obedience to the laws of ,god and his requirements1 just as the father will lose it if he continues to violate the commandments4 ,honor thy father and thy mother3 that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee4 ,when will we ever outgrow that command8 ,when can we set it aside8 ,when shall we reach the time that we can dishonor our father and mother8 ,never6 ,it is an eternal principle1 and ,i am sorry to say--not sorry for the ,japs and for the ,chinese--these heathen nations1 as we have been in the habit of calling them--,i am not sorry for them1 but for the comparison with them4 ,those heathen nations set the civilized ,christian world an example in the honor they bestow upon their parents1 and yet this ,christian people and nation and all the ,christian nations of the earth1 who have the word of the ,lord1 and the counsels of the ,son of ,god for their guidance1 are not leading out in setting an example of obedience1 as they should1 to this great commandment of the ,lord1 ,honor thy father and thy mother3 that thy days may be long in the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee4 ,again1 ,thou shalt not kill4 ,that is a command of ,god4 ,it is irrevocable1 unless he revokes it2 you and ,i can't #ejf revoke it2 we must not transgress it2 it is binding upon us4 ,we should not take away the life we cannot restore or give back4 ,it is an eternal1 unchangeable law4 ,thou shalt not commit adultery4 ,just as unchangeable6 just as eternal6 for the adulterer hath no place in the kingdom of ,god1 nor can he attain to an exaltation there4 ,thou shalt not steal4 ,thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor4 ,thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house1 thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife1 nor his man-servant1 nor his maid-servant1 nor his ox1 nor his ass1 nor anything that is thy neighbor's4 7,exodus #bj3g-ag47 ,thou shalt not covet4 ,we may say we are thankful that the ,lord has blessed our neighbor above that which he has blessed us4 ,we may be thankful that the ,lord has given to our neighbor greater wisdom and ability to honestly gather to himself4 ,but we should not covet it4 ,we should not be envious1 because we are commanded not to be4 ,now1 these are the commandments of ,god1 the principles contained in these commandments of the great ,eternal are the principles that underly the ,constitution of our country1 and all just laws4 ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet1 was inspired to affirm and ratify this truth1 and he further predicted that the time would come1 when the ,constitution of our country would bang as it were by a thread1 and that the ,latter-day ,saints1 above all other people in the world1 would come to the rescue of that great and glorious palladium of our liberty4 ,we cannot brook the thought of it being torn into shreds1 or destroyed1 or trampled under foot and ignored by men4 ,we cannot tolerate the sentiment1 at one time expressed1 by a man high in authority in the nation4 ,he said3 ,the constitution be damned2 the popular sentiment of the people is the constitution6 ,that is the sentiment of anarchism1 and has spread to a certain extent1 and is spreading #ejg over the land of liberty and the home of the brave4 ,we do not tolerate it4 ,latter-day ,saints cannot tolerate such a spirit as this4 ,it is anarchy4 ,it means destruction4 ,it is the spirit of mobocracy1 and the ,lord knows we have suffered enough from mobocracy1 and we do not want any more of it4 ,our people from ,mexico are suffering from the effects of that same spirit4 ,we do not want any more of it1 and we cannot afford to yield to that spirit or contribute to it in the least degree4 ,we should stand with a front like flint against every spirit or species of contempt or disrespect for the constitution of our country and the constitutional laws of our land4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #h-aa4 ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,the ,,land4 ,nearly all the brethren who have spoken at this conference have referred to the circumstances in which we1 as a people1 are now placed2 and it would seem unnecessary for me to make any further reference to this all-prevailing subject with which the people generally are more or less familiar1 and in which we necessarily are considerably interested4 ,but while the brethren who have spoken have merely referred to some of the sayings of the ,prophet ,joseph1 and to items in the revelations through him1 to the ,church1 ,i feel impressed to read in the hearing of the congregation one or two passages from the revelations previously referred to4 ,i will1 therefore1 call the attention of the congregation to a verse or two in the revelation given in #ahca1 which will be found on page #bai of the ,doctrine and ,covenants3 ,let no man break the laws of the land1 for he that keepeth the laws of ,god hath no need to break the laws of the land3 ,wherefore1 be subject to the powers that be1 until ,he reigns whose right it is to reign1 and subdues all enemies under his feet4 ,behold1 the laws which ye have received from my hand are the laws of the ,church1 and in this light ye shall #ejh hold them forth4 ,behold here is wisdom4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #eh3 #ba-bc47 ,the following ,i quote from a revelation given in ,december1 #ahcc1 page #ceg3 ,according to the laws and the constitution of the people which ,i have suffered to be established1 and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh1 according to just and holy principles1 ,that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity1 according to the moral agency which ,i have given unto him1 that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment4 ,therefore1 it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another4 ,and for this purpose have ,i established the constitution of this land1 by the hands of wise men whom ,i raised up unto this very purpose1 and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #aja3gg-hj47 ,again1 in a revelation on page #cdb3 ,and now1 verily ,i say unto you concerning the laws of the land1 it is my will that my people shall observe to do all things whatsoever ,i command them2 ,and that law of the land which is constitutional1 supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges1 belongs to all mankind1 and is justifiable before me2 ,therefore1 ,i1 the ,lord1 justify you1 and your brethren of my ,church1 in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land2 ,and as pertaining to law of man1 whatsoever is more or less than these1 cometh of evil4 ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 make you free1 therefore ye are free indeed2 and the law also maketh you free2 ,nevertheless1 when the wicked rule1 the people mourn1 ,wherefore1 honest men1 and wise men should be #eji sought for diligently1 and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold2 otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil4 ,and ,i give unto you a commandment1 that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good1 that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of ,god2 ,for he will give unto the faithful line upon line1 precept upon precept2 and ,i will try you and prove you herewith2 ,and whoso layeth down his life in my cause1 for my name's sake1 shall find it again1 even life eternal3 ,therefore be not afraid of your enemies1 for ,i have decreed in my heart1 saith the ,lord1 that ,i will prove you in all things1 whether you will abide in my covenant1 even unto death1 that you may be found worthy2 ,for if ye will not abide in my covenant1 ye are not worthy of me4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #ih3d-ae47 ,this1 as ,i understand it1 is the law of ,god to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in all the world4 ,and the requirements here made of us must be obeyed1 and practically carried out in our lives1 in order that we may secure the fulfilment of the promises which ,god has made to the people of ,zion4 ,and it is further written1 that inasmuch as ye will do the things which ,i command you1 thus saith the ,lord1 then am ,i bound2 otherwise there is no promise4 ,we can therefore only expect that the promises are made and will apply to us when we do the things which we are commanded4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #hb3aj2 #aja3g2 #abd3dg-di47 ,we are told here that no man need break the laws of the land who will keep the laws of ,god4 ,but this is further defined by the passage which ,i read afterwards--the law of the land1 which all have no need to break1 is that law which is the constitutional law of the land1 and that is as ,god himself #eaj has defined it4 ,and whatsoever is more or less than this cometh of evil4 ,now1 it seems to me that this makes this matter so clear that it is not possible for any man who professes to be a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints to make any mistake1 or to be in doubt as to the course he should pursue under the command of ,god in relation to the observance of the laws of the land4 ,i maintain that the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has ever been faithful to the constitutional laws of our country4 ,i maintain1 also1 that ,i have a right to this opinion1 as an ,american citizen1 as one who was not only born on ,american soil1 but who descended from parents who for generations were born in ,america4 ,i have a right to interpret the law in this manner1 and to form my own conclusions and express my opinions thereon1 regardless of the opinions of other men4 ,i ask myself1 ,what law have you broken8 ,what constitutional law have you not observed8 ,i am bound not only by allegiance to the government of the ,united ,states but by the actual command of ,god ,almighty1 to observe and obey every constitutional law of the land1 and without hesitancy ,i declare to this congregation that ,i have never violated nor transgressed any law1 ,i am not amenable to any penalties of the law1 because ,i have endeavored from my youth up to be a law-abiding citizen1 and not only so1 but to be a peacemaker1 a preacher of righteousness1 and not only to preach righteousness by word1 but by example4 ,what1 therefore1 have ,i to fear8 ,the ,lord ,almighty requires this people to observe the laws of the land1 to be subject to the powers that be1 so far as they abide by the fundamental principles of good government1 but he will hold them responsible if they will pass unconstitutional measures and frame unjust and proscriptive laws1 as did ,nebuchadnezzar and ,darius1 in relation to the three ,hebrew children and ,daniel4 ,if lawmakers have a mind to violate their oath1 break their covenants #eaa and their faith with the people1 and depart from the provisions of the constitution1 where is the law1 human or divine1 which binds me1 as an individual1 to outwardly and openly proclaim my acceptance of their acts8 99 99 99 ,i wish to enter here my avowal that the people called ,latter-day ,saints1 as has been often repeated from this stand1 are the most law-abiding1 the most peaceable1 long-suffering and patient people that can today be found within the confines of this republic1 and perhaps anywhere else upon the face of the earth2 and we intend to continue to be law-abiding so far as the constitutional law of the land is concerned2 and we expect to meet the consequences of our obedience to the laws and commandments of ,god1 like men4 ,these are my sentiments briefly expressed1 upon this subject4 ,,no ,,nationalities ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,in speaking of nationalities1 we all understand or should that in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints there is neither ,scandinavian1 nor ,swiss1 nor ,german1 nor ,russian1 nor ,british nor any other nationality4 ,we have become brothers in the household of faith1 and we should treat the people from these nations that are at war with each other1 with due kindness and consideration4 ,it is nothing but natural that people who are born in a land1 though they may have emigrated from it1 who have left their kindred there1 many of them1 that they will naturally have a tender feeling toward their fatherland4 ,but the ,latter-day ,saints who have come from ,england and from ,france and from ,germany and ,scandinavia and ,holland1 into this country1 no matter what their country may be involved in1 it is not our business to distinguish them in any way by criticism or by complaint toward them1 or by condemnation1 because of the place where they were born4 ,they could not help where they were born1 and they have come here to be ,latter-day ,saints1 not to be ,germans1 nor to be ,scandinavians1 nor to be ,english1 nor ,french1 nor to belong to any other country in the world4 ,they have come #eab here to be members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and good and true citizens of the ,united ,states1 and of the several states in which they live1 and of other places throughout the world1 where ,latter-day ,saints are building homes for themselves4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 p4 #aa4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,loyal ,,to ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,we must always bear in mind that we are not only citizens of the kingdom of ,god1 but we are citizens of the ,united ,states and of the states in which we dwell4 ,we have ever been loyal both to our state and nation1 as well as to the ,church of ,god1 and we defy the world to prove to the contrary4 ,we have been willing to fight our country's battles1 to defend her honor1 to uphold and sustain her good name1 and we propose to continue in this loyalty to our nation and to our people unto the end4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #df4 ,,loyalty ,,to ,,the ,,constitution ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,and ,i hope with all my soul that the members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will be loyal in their very hearts and souls1 to the principles of the constitution of our country4 ,from them we have derived the liberty that we enjoy4 ,they have been the means of guaranteeing to the foreigner that has come within our gates1 and to the native born1 and to all the citizens of this country1 the freedom and liberty that we possess4 ,we cannot go back upon such principles as these4 ,we may go back upon those who fail to execute the law as they should4 ,we may be dissatisfied with the decision of judges and may desire to have them removed out of their places4 ,but the law provides ways and means for all these things to be done under the constitution of our country1 and it is better for us to abide the evils that we have than to fly to greater evils that we know not what the results will be4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #h4 ,,proud ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,i feel proud of the #eac nation of which we are a part1 because ,i am convinced in my own mind that there is not another nation upon the face of the globe where the ,lord ,almighty could have established his ,church with so little difficulty and opposition as he has done here in the ,united ,states4 ,this was a free country1 and religious toleration was the sentiment of the people of the land4 ,it was the asylum for the oppressed4 ,all the people of the world were invited here to make homes of freedom for themselves1 and under these tolerant circumstances the ,lord was able to establish his ,church1 and has been able to maintain it and preserve it up to this time1 that it has grown and spread1 until it has become respectable--not only by its members1 not only by the few years of age that it possesses1 but respectable because of its intelligence1 respectable because of its honesty1 its purity1 union and industry1 and for all its virtues4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aije1 p4 #f4 ,,origin ,,and ,,destiny ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states3 ,,loyalty ,,of ,,the ,,latter-,,day ,,saints4 ,this great ,american nation the ,almighty raised up by the power of his omnipotent hand1 that it might be possible in the latter days for the kingdom of ,god to be established in the earth4 ,if the ,lord had not prepared the way by laying the foundations of this glorious nation1 it would have been impossible 7under the stringent laws and bigotry of the monarchical governments of the world7 to have laid the foundations for the coming of his great kingdom4 ,the ,lord has done this4 ,his hand has been over this nation1 and it is his purpose and design to enlarge it1 make it glorious above all others1 and to give it dominion1 and power over the earth1 to the end that those who are kept in bondage and serfdom may be brought to the enjoyment of the fullest freedom and liberty of conscience possible for intelligent men to exercise in the earth4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints will be a strong supporter of the nation of which we are a part1 in the accomplishment of this grand purpose4 #ead ,there are no more loyal people to their country on ,god's earth today than are the ,latter-day ,saints to this country4 ,there are no better1 purer or more honorable citizens of the ,united ,states to be found than are found within the pale of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i testify to this1 and ,i know whereof ,i speak4 ,we never have been enemies to our nation4 ,we have always been true to it4 ,though we have been persecuted1 we have said1 ,we will put our trust in thee4 ,we have been driven and maligned1 not by the nation1 but by insidious1 wicked1 unprincipled1 hypocritical1 lying1 deceitful goats in sheep's clothing1 who are jealous and constantly raising a hue and cry against the covenant people of ,god4 ,our government would have befriended us1 protected us1 preserved our rights and liberties1 and would have defended us in the enjoyment of our possessions1 if it had not been for these infernal hounds who are enemies to morality and to the truth4 ,if there be anything despicable1 if there be anything that can never1 no1 never1 enter into the kingdom of ,god1 it is a wilful liar2 and if we have not been lied about1 maligned and misrepresented of late1 then ,i do not know what lying is4 ,well1 let the falsifiers go on and lie4 ,some people are evidently doomed to lie4 ,president ,woodruff used to say there were some people in his day who were born to lie1 and they were true to their missions4 ,there are some of these born liars still with us and still true to their mission4 ,they cannot1 it would seem1 tell the truth2 they often do not when it would be for their best good4 ,so let them go on and lie as much as they desire4 ,but let us do right1 keep the laws of ,god1 and the laws of man1 honor our membership in the kingdom of ,god1 our citizenship in the state of ,utah1 and our broader citizenship in the nation of which we are a part1 and then ,god will sustain and preserve us1 and we will continue to grow as we have done from the beginning1 only our future growth will be accelerated and be far greater than it #eae has been in the past4 ,these slanders and falsehoods that are circulated abroad with the view of bringing the ire of the nation upon us will1 by and by1 be swept away1 and because of these misrepresentations the truth will be brought out clearer and plainer to the world4 ,thus the word of the ,lord will be verified1 that they cannot do anything against1 but for1 the kingdom of ,god4 ,this is the ,lord's work1 it is not man's1 and he will make it triumphant4 ,he is spreading it abroad1 and giving it deep root in the earth1 that its branches may grow and spread1 and its fruit be seen throughout the length and breadth of the land4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijc1 pp4 #gc-gd4 ,,saints ,,to ,,serve ,,god4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints are in the midst of these mountains for the express purpose of serving ,almighty ,god4 ,we have not come here to serve ourselves1 nor to serve the world4 ,we are here because we have believed in the gospel that has been restored in the latter day through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,we are here because we believe that ,god ,almighty has organized his ,church and has restored the fulness of the gospel and holy priesthood4 ,we are here because we have received the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god that the course which we have pursued in this regard is right and acceptable in the sight of the ,lord4 ,we are here because we have come in obedience to the command of the ,almighty4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #dc4 ,,guided ,,by ,,god ,,to ,,the ,,west4 ,on somewhat parallel lines our people might go back in memory to ,ohio and to ,missouri and to ,illinois1 and recall incidents and conditions that existed in those early days by which our people were harassed1 mobbed1 persecuted1 hated and driven away from their possessions in ,ohio1 ,missouri and ,illinois4 ,it was hard for our people in those times1 and under the conditions that then existed1 to see where ,god in his providence designed good for his people in permitting these conditions to exist4 ,but who today will dispute the fact that1 although #eaf we were compelled to leave ,ohio1 ,missouri1 and ,illinois1 against our will1 our wishes1 our interests temporally1 as was supposed1--it was for our ultimate good8 ,who of us will now contend that the overruling ,providence which brought us to this place made a mistake8 ,none of us6 ,when we look back to it we see clearly1 beyond any possible doubt1 that the band of ,god was in it4 ,and while it was necessary for us to be moved from our footholds on the soil that our fathers had obtained from the government of the ,united ,states1 and from old settlers1 and while we were compelled to do it against our supposed interests--we now see it has resulted in the greatest blessing possible to us and the ,church4 ,what could we have done in ,ohio8 ,what room was there for growth and development for the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in ,caldwell county1 or in ,jackson county1 or in ,clay county1 ,missouri8 ,where was the chance for this ,church to spread abroad1 grow1 and obtain a foothold in the earth1 as we possess it today1 in the state of ,illinois--a populous state1 her lands occupied by older inhabitants who were uncongenial and unfriendly8 ,they had no faith in our good intentions1 nor in the divinity of our cause4 ,they feared us1 because the ,saints were progressive4 ,the spirit of growth1 development1 and of advancement characterized the life and labors and existence of communities of ,latter-day ,saints1 as it has with our people in ,mexico4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #f4 ,,true ,,patriotism4 ,patriotism should be sought for and will be found in right living1 not in high sounding phrases or words4 ,true patriotism is part of the solemn obligation that belongs both to the nation and to the individual and to the home4 ,our nation's reputation should be guarded as sacredly as our family's good name4 ,that reputation should be defended by every citizen1 and our children should be taught to defend their country's honor under all #eag circumstances4 ,a truly patriotic spirit in the individual begets a public interest and sympathy which should be commensurate with our nation's greatness4 ,to be a true citizen of a great country takes nothing from1 but adds to1 individual greatness4 ,while a great and good people necessarily adds greatness and goodness to national life1 the nation's greatness reacts upon its citizens and adds honor to them1 and insures their welfare and happiness4 ,loyal citizens will probably be the last to complain of the faults and failures of our national administrators4 ,they would rather conceal those evils which exist1 and try to persuade themselves that they are only temporary and may and will in time be corrected4 ,it is none the less a patriotic duty to guard our nation whenever and wherever we can against those changeable and revolutionary tendencies which are destructive of a nation's weal and permanence4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dg1 ,july1 #aiab1 pp4 #chh-chi4 ,,importance ,,of ,,national ,,patriotism4 ,our national welfare should always be a theme deeply rooted in our minds and exemplified in our individual lives1 and the desire for our nation's good should be stronger than political party adherence4 ,the nation's welfare means the welfare of every one of its citizens4 ,to be a worthy and a prosperous nation1 it must possess those qualities which belong to individual virtues4 ,the attitude of our country toward other nations should always be honest and above suspicion1 and every good citizen should be jealous of our nation's reputation both at home and abroad4 ,national patriotism is1 therefore1 something more than mere expression of willingness to fight1 if need be4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #dg1 ,july1 #aiab1 p4 #chi4 ,,the ,,church ,,not ,,partisan4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is no partisan ,church4 ,it is not a sect4 ,it is ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,of ,,latter-,,day ,,saints4 ,it is the only one today existing in the world that can and does legitimately bear the name of ,jesus ,christ and #eah his divine authority4 ,i make this declaration in all simplicity and honesty before you and before all the world1 bitter as the truth may seem to those who are opposed and who have no reason for that opposition4 ,it is nevertheless true and will remain true until he who has a right to rule among the nations of the earth and among the individual children of ,god throughout the world shall come and take the reins of government and receive the bride that shall be prepared for the coming of the ,bridegroom4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bj1 ,may1 #aiah1 p4 #fci4 ,see also ,gospel ,doctrine1 pp4 #afi-agj4 ,,the ,,church ,,loyal4 ,all churches claim to be divinely appointed and place ,god above country1 and any man who renders true homage to ,god can not break the law1 for he lives above it4 ,no man can be a good ,latter-day ,saint and not be true to the best interests and general welfare of his country4 ,after all these years1 it is folly to say that the ,church is antagonistic to the national government4 ,the part which our people took in the ,mexican and ,spanish-,american wars should be enough to eternally brand such statements false4 ,the allegiance claimed from its members by the ,church does not prevent a member from being a loyal citizen of the nation4 ,it rather aids him2 fidelity to the ,church enables a man better to entertain patriotic allegiance to his nation and country4 ,there is nothing required of a ,latter-day ,saint that can in any way be construed to militate against loyalty to the nation1 and for that reason ,senator ,smoot is under no obligations to the ,church that can come in conflict with his fealty to country4 ,it is plain that the campaign of the ministers is unjustified4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 ,march1 #aijd1 p4 #chb4 ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,,are ,,good ,,citizens4 ,a good ,latter-day ,saint is a good citizen in every way4 ,i desire to say to the young men of our community3 be exemplary ,latter-day ,saints1 and let nothing deter you from aspiring to the greatest positions which our nation has to offer4 ,having #eai secured a place1 let your virtue1 your integrity1 your honesty1 your ability1 your religious teachings1 implanted in your heart at the knees of your devoted ,mormon mothers1 so shine before men1 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,april1 #aijc1 p4 #dfi4 ,,church ,,not ,,responsible ,,for ,,political ,,parties4 ,the ,church of ,christ is not responsible for the actions of either of the political parties1 in any sense1 or form4 ,if it were1 they would stop their quarreling and contending1 and the bitterness and animosity they exhibit towards one another would cease4 ,if we had anything to do with them1 we would stop their wrangling1 and we would have peace in their ranks4 ,the fact that they quarrel as they do is proof positive we have nothing to do with them4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #da4 ,,the ,,church ,,not ,,in ,,politics4 ,the ,church does not engage in politics2 its members belong to the political parties at their own pleasure--to the ,republicans1 the ,democrats1 or to no party at all4 ,they are not asked1 much less required1 to vote this way or that--a requirement made by the ,protestant ministers of their members against the ,saints4 ,but they cannot justly be denied their rights as citizens1 and there is no reason why they should be1 for1 on the average1 they are as loyal1 as sober1 as well educated1 as honest1 as industrious1 as virtuous1 as moral1 as thrifty1 and as worthy in every other respect as any people in the nation or on the earth1 for that matter4 ,i think that they are just a little better in these respects than most other communities or individuals4 ,to the young men who may be disheartened by false attacks upon the ,saints1 and to the missionaries in the world1 who are driven and persecuted1 ,i wish to say3 have no fear2 slacken not your labors for the truth2 live as becometh ,saints4 ,you are in the right way1 and the ,lord will not let #ebj your efforts fail4 ,this ,church stands in no danger from opposition and persecution from without4 ,there is more to fear in carelessness1 sin and indifference1 from within2 more danger that the individual will fail in doing right and in conforming his life to the revealed doctrines of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ4 ,if we do the right1 all will be well1 the ,god of our fathers will sustain us1 and every opposition will tend only to the further spread of the knowledge of truth4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,june1 #aijc1 p4 #fbe4 ,,shun ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,mob ,,violence4 ,nobody in the world deplores more than do the ,latter-day ,saints the prevalence and brutality of mob violence4 ,if mob violence in this country did not have its origin in the drivings and persecutions of the ,latter-day ,saints1 it is certain that no class of people in this country have suffered more and longer from the lawlessness of the mob than have the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,for more than half a century the ,mormons have been the victims of lawless mob violence against which very little has been said1 for the chief reason that the victims had been so long pursued by hatred and prejudice that the world had been taught to withdraw all its sympathy from them4 ,whipping1 driving1 and shooting ,mormon elders in the ,south called forth no anxiety and little objection upon the part of the press2 and the ,mormon elder1 pure and upright in his life1 has received less sympathy and protest in his favor than the negro ravisher who deserved1 perhaps1 the punishment1 however inexcusable the method of executing it4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints in ,utah1 and everywhere1 are earnestly and prayerfully admonished to shun as a sacred religious duty the spirit of mob violence4 ,it is better to be patient and endure deprivations of human rights than to violate the institutions of our country1 and to substitute violence for law and order4 ,if the reign of the mob extends its hideous rule over this country as rapidly in the future #eba as it has done in the past1 it may reach communities where the ,saints live before they are aware of its presence4 ,it is not only the duty of every ,latter-day ,saint1 therefore1 to refrain from the violent and unlawful conduct of bodies of men bent upon human destruction1 but to exercise his influence and power to restrain others from imbuing their hands in the blood of their fellow men4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,september1 #aijc1 p4 #efd4 ,,the ,,danger ,,of ,,mobs4 ,one of the greatest menaces to our country is that of the combination of men into irresponsible1 reckless mobs1 wild with prejudice1 hatred and fanaticism1 led by men of ambition1 or passion1 or hatred4 ,there is no other thing in the world that ,i can conceive of so absolutely obnoxious to ,god and good men as a combination of men and women filled with the spirit of mobocracy4 ,men combining together to stop or shut off the food supply from the mouth of the honest laborer to starve the man that is willing to work1 and the wife and the children who are dependent upon him1 because he is not willing to join a mob1 is one of the most infamous perils and menaces to the people of our country today4 ,i do not care who they are1 or what name they go by4 ,they are a menace to the peace of the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaa1 p4 #abb4 ,,the ,,basis ,,of ,,labor ,,unions4 ,if we are to have labor organizations among us1 and there is no good reason why our young men might not be so organized1 they should be formed on a sensible basis1 and officered by men who have their families and all their interests around them4 ,the spirit of good-will and brotherhood1 such as we have in the gospel of ,christ1 should characterize their conduct and organizations4 ,for be it known1 the religious note is and should remain the dominant note of our character and of all our actions4 ,while there is no reason why workmen should not join together for their own mutual protection and benefit1 #ebb there is every reason why in so doing they should regard the rights of their fellows1 be jealous of the protection of property1 and eliminate from their methods of warfare1 boycotts1 sympathetic strikes1 and the walking delegate4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #f1 ,august1 #aijc1 p4 #ahb4 ,,labor ,,unions4 ,labor unions will find that the same eternal law of justice applies to unions that applies to individuals1 that fair dealing and rational conduct must be maintained if financial misfortunes are averted4 ,where there are ,latter-day ,saints in unions they should assume a conservative attitude and never arouse men's prejudices by inflaming their passions4 ,there can be no objections to a firm and persistent contention for the right of labor1 if the contention is maintained in the spirit of reason and fairness4 ,above all things1 the ,latter-day ,saints should hold sacred the life and liberty of their fellow-men1 as also their rights of property and maintain inviolate every right to which humanity is entitled4 ,the unions are forcing our people into an inconsistent and dangerous attitude when they compel ,latter-day ,saints within the union to make war upon their brethren who are without the union1 and thereby denying the most sacred and ,god-given rights of one class of ,saints that another class may gain some advantage over a third person1 their employer4 ,such conduct is destructive of the liberty which every man is entitled to enjoy1 and will lead in the end to the spirit of contention and apostasy4 ,it is not easy to see how the ,latter-day ,saints can endorse the methods of modern labor unions4 ,as a people we have suffered too much from irrational class prejudice and class hatred to participate in violent and unjust agitations4 ,no one denies the rights of laborers to unite in demanding a just share of the prosperity of our country1 provided the union is governed by the same spirit that #ebc should actuate men who profess the guidance of a ,christian conscience4 ,in the present status of capital and labor there should be mutual interests2 and at the same time workmen should realize that there is a limit to the pressure which capital can endure by the demands made upon it4 ,competition has always given some measure of relief to the laborer by the demands of capital for human service1 and men should not therefore abandon themselves to the supposed power of arbitrary demands which labor unions are now making in many cases upon their employers4 ,the contention for the recognition of unions is often a very indefinite factor1 for no one seems to know just what that recognition means now1 or what it is to mean in the future4 ,if recognition means the exclusive right of any class of men to gain a livelihood by their work1 then recognition should be persistently and forcefully resisted4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints1 whether in the unions or out of them1 know very well whether individual or united demands are arbitrary and unjust1 and they will lose nothing by a manly refusal to violate their sense of justice4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ch1 ,june1 #aijc1 p4 #cgj4 ,,cause ,,of ,,war4 ,the condition of the world today presents a spectacle that is deplorable1 so far as it relates to the religious convictions1 faith and power of the inhabitants of the earth4 ,here we have nations arrayed against nations1 and yet in every one of these nations are so-called ,christian peoples professing to worship the same ,god1 professing to possess belief in the same divine ,redeemer1 many of them professing to be teachers of ,god's word1 and ministers of life and salvation to the children of men1 and yet these nations are divided one against the other1 and each is praying to his ,god for wrath upon and victory over his enemies and for his own preservation4 ,would it be possible1 could it be possible1 for this condition to exist if #ebd the people of the world possessed really the true knowledge of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ8 ,and if they really possessed the ,spirit of the living ,god--could this condition exist8 ,no2 it could not exist1 but war would cease1 and contention and strife would be at an end4 ,and not only the spirit of war would not exist1 but the spirit of contention and strife that now exists among the nations of the earth1 which is the primal element of war1 would cease to be4 ,we know that the spirit of strife and contention exists to an alarming extent among all the people of the world4 ,why does it exist8 ,because they are not one with ,god1 nor with ,christ4 ,they have not entered into the true fold1 and the result is they do not possess the spirit of the true ,shepherd sufficiently to govern and control their acts in the ways of peace and righteousness4 ,thus they contend and strive one against another1 and at last nation rises up against nation in fulfilment of the predictions of the prophets of ,god that war should be poured out upon all nations4 ,i don't want you to think ,i believe that ,god has designed or willed that war should come among the people of the world1 that the nations of the world should be divided against one another in war1 and engaged in the destruction of each8 ,god did not design or cause this4 ,it is deplorable to the heavens that such a condition should exist among men1 but the conditions do exist1 and men precipitate war and destruction upon themselves because of their wickedness1 and that because they will not abide in ,god's truth1 walk in his love1 and seek to establish and maintain peace instead of strife and contention in the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #h4 ,,attitude ,,towards ,,war4 ,we do not want war4 ,we do not want to see our nation go to war4 ,we would like to see it the arbiter of peace for all nations4 ,we would like to see the government of the ,united ,states true to the constitution1 an instrument inspired by the spirit of wisdom from ,god4 ,we want to see the benignity1 the honor1 the #ebe glory and the good name1 and the mighty influence for peace of this nation1 extended abroad1 not only over ,hawaii and the ,philippines1 but over the islands of the sea east and west of us4 ,we want to see the power1 the influence for good1 for elevating mankind1 and for the establishment of righteous principles spread out over these poor1 helpless peoples of the world1 establishing peace1 good will and intelligence among them1 that they may grow to be equal1 if possible1 to the enlightened nations of the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #g4 ,,we ,,want ,,peace4 ,we want peace in the world4 ,we want love and good will to exist throughout the earth1 and among all the people of the world2 but there never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love that should exist1 until mankind will receive ,god's truth and ,god's message unto them1 and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine1 and never found in the wisdom only of men4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #g4 ,,when ,,peace ,,shall ,,come4 ,we will never have peace until we have truth4 ,we will never be able to establish peace on earth and good will until we have drunk at the fountain of righteousness and eternal truth1 as ,god has revealed it to man4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiad1 p4 #abi4 ,,peace ,,on ,,earth1 ,,good ,,will ,,to ,,men4 ,we certainly live in troublesome times2 and1 notwithstanding the peace that pervades our own land1 we are not without our troubles at home4 ,there is1 among us today1 ,i am sorry to say1 the germ of the spirit that has prompted1 very largely1 the conditions that exist in ,europe today--internal unrest1 dissatisfaction1 discontent1 internal contention over political1 labor and religious matters1 and almost every subject that affects society at this time4 ,and the very germ that has prompted the terrible results that we see in the nations of ,europe1 is at work among us here today4 ,we need not forget it1 nor ignore it1 either4 #ebf ,there is just one power1 and one only1 that can prevent war among the nations of the earth1 and that is true religion and undefiled before ,god1 the ,father4 ,nothing else will accomplish it4 ,it is a very common expression today that there is good in all religions4 ,so there is2 but there is not sufficient good in the denominations of the world to prevent war1 nor to prevent contention1 strife1 division and hatred of one another4 ,and1 put all the good doctrines1 in all the denominations of the world1 together1 and they do not constitute sufficient good to prevent the evils that exist in the world4 ,why8 ,because the denominations lack the essential knowledge of ,god's revelation and truth1 and the enjoyment of that spirit which comes from ,god that leadeth unto all truth1 and that inspires men to do good and not evil1 to love and not to hate1 to forgive and not to bear malice1 to be kind and generous and not to be unkind and contracted4 ,so1 ,i repeat1 there is but one remedy that can prevent men from going to war1 when they feel disposed to do it1 and that is the ,spirit of ,god1 which inspires to love1 and not to hatred1 which leads unto all truth1 and not unto error1 which inclines the children of ,god to pay deference to him and to his laws and to esteem them as above all other things in the world4 ,the ,lord has told us that these wars would come4 ,we have not been ignorant that they were pending1 and that they were likely to burst out upon the nations of the earth at any time4 ,we have been looking for the fulfilment of the words of the ,lord that they would come4 ,why8 ,because the ,lord wanted it8 ,no2 not by any means4 ,was it because the ,lord predestined it1 or designed it1 in any degree8 ,no1 not at all4 ,why8 ,it was for the reason that men did not hearken unto the ,lord ,god1 and he foreknew the results that would follow1 because of men1 and because of the nations of the earth2 and therefore he was able to predict what would #ebg befall them1 and came upon them in consequence of their own acts1 and not because he has willed it upon them1 for they are but suffering and reaping the results of their own actions4 ,well1 my sisters1 peace on earth1 and good will to men1 is our slogan4 ,that is our principle4 ,that is the principle of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and while ,i think it is wrong1 wickedly wrong1 to force war upon any nation1 or upon any people1 ,i believe it is righteous and just for every people to defend their own lives and their own liberties1 and their own homes1 with the last drop of their blood4 ,i believe it is right1 and ,i believe that the ,lord will sustain any people in defending their own liberty to worship ,god according to the dictates of their conscience1 any people trying to preserve their wives and their children from the ravages of the war4 ,but we do not want to be brought into the necessity of having to defend ourselves4 ,if the condition of the world appears to you as it does to me1 at the present time it seems to me that you have within your hearts and minds one of the strongest evidences that has ever been brought to your understanding1 of the truth of the declaration which ,god gave to the world through ,joseph ,smith1 that they draw near to me with their lips1 but their hearts are far from me2 they teach for doctrines the commandments of men3 having a form of godliness1 but they deny the power thereof1 and have it not4 7,history of the ,church1 ,vol4 #a1 p4 #f47 ,in ,germany1 at this time1 ,protestants and ,catholics are praying to ,god for victory over their foes4 ,in ,france and ,england and in ,russia and in ,belgium1 and ,austria1 and in all other countries1 that are at war with one another1 they are praying4 ,protestants and ,catholics together for victory4 ,the ,allies are praying for victory1 to the same ,god1 supposed to be1 for these are called ,christian nations1 and they are members of the same churches1 worshiping in the same forms of religion and yet they are calling upon ,god #ebh one against another1 to defend them against their enemies1 and to strengthen their arms to destroy their foes4 ,what does it prove8 ,it proves what ,god said4 ,they have not his ,spirit2 they have not his power to guide them4 ,they are not in possession of his truth2 and1 therefore1 the very conditions that exist are the results of this unbelief in the truth2 and this worship of men and organizations and powers of men is divested of the power of ,god4 ,now1 my sisters1 ,i am speaking from my point of view1 and my point of view is that ,christ was divinely appointed and sent into the world to relieve mankind of sin through repentance2 to relieve mankind from the death which came upon them by the sin of the first man4 ,i believe it with all my soul4 ,i believe that ,joseph ,smith was raised up by ,almighty ,god to renew the spirit1 power and plan of ,god's ,church1 of ,christ's gospel and holy priesthood4 ,i believe it with all my soul1 or ,i would not be here4 ,i therefore stand upon this principle1 that the truth is in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 that the power of redemption1 the power of peace1 the power for good will1 love1 charity and forgiveness1 and the power for fellowship with ,god1 abides in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ and in obedience to it on the part of the people4 ,i therefore admit1 and not only admit but claim1 that there is nothing greater on earth1 nor in heaven1 than the truth of ,god's gospel which he has devised and restored for the salvation and the redemption of the world4 ,and it is through that that peace will come to the children of men1 and it will not come to the world in any other way4 ,the nations cannot possess it without they come to ,god1 from whom they are to receive the spirit of union and the spirit of love4 ,and those organizations in the world1 created with a view to combining men1 possess in them so many of the elements of self-destruction that they cannot exist long1 as they are1 and under the influences which hold them together today4 ,i can tell you that there is no combination formed by men that will #ebi prosper and continue to endure1 unless it is based upon the principles of truth1 righteousness1 and justice toward all4 ,when a man comes to me and says3 ,you must be my servant1 you must obey me1 or conform to my plan1 or we will starve you to death1 ,i don't care how many elements of goodness there are in the organization that will exclude me from a right to worship ,god according to the dictates of my conscience1 or that would prevent me from laboring in honest labor to earn my bread1 it possesses the elements of decay and destruction1 and it cannot last1 for it is wrong1 absolutely wrong4 ,in the gospel is the light of freedom4 ,men worship ,god according to the dictates of their own conscience4 ,we can not compel you to obey the principles of the gospel at all4 ,that is the principle of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,but these man-made organizations will force you to do as they will1 or they will damn you and destroy you2 and therein lies the elements of self-destruction in--themselves1 because they can only last for a time4--,relief ,society ,magazine1 ,vol4 #b1 ,no4 #a1 #aiad1 p4 #ac4 ,,the ,,key ,,to ,,peace4 ,there is only one thing that can bring peace into the world4 ,it is the adoption of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 rightly understood1 obeyed and practiced by rulers and people alike4 ,it is being preached in power to all nations1 kindreds1 tongues and peoples of the world1 by the ,latter-day ,saints1 and the day is not far distant when its message of salvation shall sink deep into the hearts of the common people1 who1 in sincerity and earnestness1 when the time comes1 will not only surely register their judgment against a false ,christianity1 but against war and the makers of war as crimes against the human race4 ,for years it has been held that peace comes only by preparation for war2 the present conflict should prove that peace comes only by preparing for peace1 through training the people in righteousness #ecj and justice1 and selecting rulers who respect the righteous will of the people4 ,not long hence and the voice of the people shall be obeyed1 and the true gospel of peace shall dominate the hearts of the mighty4 ,it will then be impossible for war lords to have power over the life and death of millions of men as they now have1 to decree the ruin of commerce1 industry1 and growing fields1 or to cause untold mental agony and human misery like plague and pestilence to prevail over the nations4 ,it looks much as if1 after the devastation of wars1 as promised in the scriptures1 7and who shall say that it may not follow this war87 the self-constituted monarchs must give way to rulers chosen by the people1 who shall be guided by the doctrines of love and peace as taught in the gospel of our ,lord4 ,there will then be instituted a new social order in which the welfare of all shall be uppermost1 and all shall be permitted to live in the utmost liberty and happiness4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ag1 ,no4 #aa1 ,september1 #aiad1 p4 #ajgd4 ,,god ,,strives ,,with ,,warring ,,nations4 ,would the nations of the earth that are at war with each other be at war as they are1 if the ,spirit of ,god ,almighty had pervaded their souls and moved and actuated them in their designs8 ,no2 not at all4 ,worldly ambition1 pride1 and the love of power1 determination on the part of rulers to prevail over their competitors in the national games of life1 wickedness at heart1 desire for power1 for worldly greatness1 have led the nations of the earth to quarrel with one another and have brought them to war and self-destruction4 ,i presume there is not a nation in the world today that is not tainted with this evil more or less4 ,it may be possible1 perhaps to trace the cause of the evil1 or the greatest part of it1 to some particular nation of the earth2 but ,i do not know4 ,this ,i do believe1 with all my heart1 that the hand of ,god is striving with certain nations of the earth to preserve and protect #eca human liberty1 freedom to worship him according to the dictates of conscience1 freedom and the inalienable right of men to organize national governments in the earth1 to choose for themselves their own leaders2 men whom they may select as standards of honor1 of virtue and truth1 men of wisdom1 understanding and integrity2 men who have at heart the well being of the people who choose them to govern1 to enact and execute the laws in righteousness4 ,i believe that the ,lord's hand is over the nations of the world today1 to bring about this rule and this reign of liberty and righteousness among the nations of the earth4 ,he has some hard material to work with1 too4 ,he is working with men who never prayed1 men who have never known ,god1 nor ,jesus ,christ whom he has sent into the world1 and whom to know is life eternal4 ,god is dealing with nations of infidels1 men who fear not ,god1 and love not the truth1 men who have no respect for virtue or purity of life4 ,god is dealing with men who are full of pride and ambition2 and he will find it difficult1 ,i fear1 to control them and lead them directly in the course that he would have them pursue to accomplish his purposes2 but he is striving to uplift4 ,god is striving to bless1 to benefit1 to happify1 to ameliorate the condition of his children in the world1 to give them freedom from ignorance and a knowledge of him1 to learn of his ways and to walk in his paths1 that they may have his ,spirit to be with them always1 to lead them into all truth4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bj1 ,july1 #aiag1 p4 #hbc4 ,,conduct ,,of ,,the ,,boys ,,in ,,the ,,army4 ,therefore1 when our boys and our maturer men are invited and chosen1 selected and called1 to go out to help to protect and defend these principles1 we hope and pray1 and we certainly have some reason to believe1 that there will be some1 at least1 from amidst the great family of mankind in the world1 who will have some affinity with the ,spirit of ,god and at least some desire1 some inclination1 to hearken to the whisperings of the #ecb still small voice of the ,spirit1 that leadeth to peace and happiness1 to the well-being and the uplifting of mankind in the world and to life eternal4 ,when a ,latter-day ,saint1 a man born1 perhaps1 and reared under the bond of the ,new and ,everlasting ,covenant of the gospel1 enlists in the army of the ,united ,states1 in the ,national ,guard1 which has been recommended here by ,president ,penrose to you--and which ,i confirm and emphasize1 because ,i think the citizens of the state should be united together1 and the cities and the state should stand together and should have sympathy and fellowship for each other1 more than they could expect to derive from those of other states and places1 who are strangers and foreigners to them--that when our boys1 thus born1 are called into the army of the ,united ,states1 ,i hope and pray that they will carry with them the ,spirit of ,god1 not the spirit of bloodshed1 of adultery1 of wickedness1 but the spirit of righteousness1 the spirit which leads to do good1 to build up1 to benefit the world1 and not to destroy and shed blood4 ,remember the passage of scripture that was quoted here by ,president ,lund1 as related in the ,book of ,mormon1 concerning the pure young men that abjured war and the shedding of blood1 lived pure and innocent1 free from the contaminating thought of strife1 of anger1 or wickedness in their hearts2 but when necessity required1 and they were called to go out to defend their lives1 and the lives of their fathers and mothers1 and their homes1 they went--not to destroy but to defend1 not to shed blood but rather to save the blood of the innocent and of the unoffending1 and the peace-lovers of mankind4 ,will those men who go out from ,utah1 from the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 forget their prayers8 ,will they forget ,god8 ,will they forget the teachings that they have received from their parents at home8 ,will they forget the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ and the covenants that they have made in the waters of baptism1 and #ecc in sacred places8 ,or will they go out as men1 in every sense--pure men1 high-minded men1 honest men1 virtuous men1 men of ,god8 ,that is what ,i am anxious about4 ,i want to see the hand of ,god made manifest in the acts of the men that go out from the ranks of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ and from the state of ,utah1 to help to defend the principles of liberty and sound government for the human family4 ,i want to see them so live that they can be in communion with the ,lord1 in their camps1 and in their secret places1 and that in the midst of battle they can say3 ,father1 my life and my spirit are in thine hand6 ,i want to see the boys that go away from here in this cause1 go feeling just as our missionaries do when sent out into the world1 carrying with them the spirit a good mother feels when she parts with her boy1 on the morning of his departure for his mission4 ,she embraces him with all the mother's love in her soul--6 ,i know how the mother feels for her boy when he goes away from home on a mission1 where he will be in the midst of strangers1 without friends1 trying to preach the gospel to the world4 ,she says to him3 ,my boy1 ,i have taught you the principles of the gospel4 ,i have taught you to pray to ,god1 at my knees1 from the time you were a child until you have reached manhood4 ,i have taught you virtue4 ,i have taught you honor4 ,i have taught you to stand for the ,truth1 and to honor your father and your mother in the world1 and by so doing honor the fathers and the mothers1 and the daughters of all men1 wherever you go4 ,never in your life think of defiling any man's wife1 or daughter1 any more than you would think of defiling your mother or your sister6 ,go out into the world from your home clean4 ,keep yourself pure and unspotted from the world1 and you will be immune from sin1 and ,god will protect you4 ,you will be in his hands4 ,then1 if anything should happen that would cost you your life1 you will lay it down in the service of humanity1 and of #ecd ,god4 ,you would lay down your life pure and undefiled4 ,your spirit would ascend from that tenement of clay inhabited in this world1 into the glorious presence of ,god1 undefiled1 uncontaminated1 pure and clean as the spirit of a child just born into the world4 ,thus you would be acceptable to ,god1 ready to receive your crown of glory and everlasting reward4 ,so ,i would say1 ,my boy1 my son1 and your son1 when you go out to face the disasters that are now afflicting the world1 go out as you do on a mission1 be just as good and pure and true in the army of the ,united ,states as you are in the army of the elders of ,israel who are preaching the gospel of love and peace to the world4 ,then1 if you unavoidably fall prey to the bullet of the enemy you will go pure as you have lived2 you will be worthy of your reward2 you will have proved yourself a hero1 and not only a hero1 but a valiant servant of the living ,god1 worthy of his acceptation and of admission into the loving presence of the ,father6 ,it is in such things as this that we can see the hand of ,god4 ,if our boys will only go out into the world this way1 carrying with them the spirit of the gospel and the behavior of true ,latter-day ,saints1 no matter what may befall them in life1 they will endure with the best4 ,they will be able to endure as much as anybody else can possibly endure of fatigue or of suffering1 if necessary1 and when they are brought to the test they will stand it6 ,because they have no fear of death6 ,they will be free from fear of the consequences of their own lives4 ,they will have no need to dread death1 for they have done their work2 they have kept the faith1 they are pure in heart1 and they are worthy to see ,god6 ,i have some feelings in these matters1 for ,i have boys of my own1 and ,i love my sons4 ,they have grown up with me4 ,they are mine6 ,the ,lord gave them to me4 ,i expect to claim them1 in the relationship of father and sons that exists #ece between us1 throughout all eternities that will come4 ,i would rather see my sons shot down by the enemies of ,god and humanity1 by those who are inimical to the freedom of the children of men1 while defending the cause of ,righteousness and ,truth1 a thousand times rather1 than to see them die the vile death of sinners and of transgressors of the laws of ,god4 ,while death in battle might be instantaneous1 or it might linger1 perhaps1 to one whose cause is just it would be honorable2 but the death that is caused by the transgression of the laws of ,god1 by the poison and sting of sin1 is to be dreaded worse1 a thousand times1 than to die sinless in defending the cause of ,truth4 ,i don't want to see one of my boys lose the faith of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i don't want to see one of them deny ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 the ,savior of the world4 ,i do not want one of them to turn his back upon the divine mission of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith whose blood courses in their veins4 ,i would rather see them perish in defending a cause of righteousness1 a thousand times1 while they are firm in the faith1 than ,i would see them live to deny that faith and the ,god that gave them life6 ,that is where ,i stand with reference to the matters that are facing us at this moment6--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bj1 ,july1 #aiag1 p4 #hbd1 ,june ,c4 ,r4 ,,message ,,to ,,the ,,boys ,,in ,,war ,,service4 ,our country is at war4 ,this regrettable condition has been forced upon us by enemies of representative government and individual freedom4 ,despotism is endeavoring to gain the ascendency and to establish its might in the earth4 ,many of our young men who have been reared in the ,church1 and taught the principles of the gospel in the ,sabbath ,schools and other organizations of the ,church1 have been called to the colors in defense of our liberties and the liberty and freedom of the world4 ,in all probability they will be sent to the front before many months have passed1 to take their places in the trenches in the ,european battlefields and engage #ecf in this appalling conflict1 the like of which the world has never seen until this day4 ,we most sincerely hope that our young men will prove loyal to their country and stand honorably in its defense and prove themselves worthy in every respect as defenders of those principles for which our government was born and for which it still exists4 ,in going forth to war these young men are liable to be confronted with danger far greater than that which they might expect from the bullets of the enemy4 ,there are many evils that usually follow in the wake of marshaled armies equipped for and engaged in war1 far worse than honorable death which may come in the conflict of battle4 ,it matters not so much when our young men are called1 or where they may go1 but it does matter much to their parents1 friends and associates in the truth1 and above all to themselves1 how they go4 ,they have been trained all their lives as members of the ,church to keep themselves pure and unspotted from the sins of the world1 to respect the rights of others1 to be obedient to righteous principles1 to remember that virtue is one of the greatest gifts from ,god4 ,moreover1 that they should respect the virtue of others and rather die a thousand times than defile themselves by committing deadly sin4 ,we want them to go forth clean1 both in thought and action1 with faith in the principles of the gospel and the redeeming grace of our ,lord and ,savior4 ,we would have them remember that only by living clean and faithful lives can they hope to attain the salvation promised through the shedding of the blood of our ,redeemer4 ,if they will go forth in this manner1 fit companions for the ,spirit of the ,lord1 free from sin1 and trusting in the ,lord1 then whatever befalls them they will know that they have found favor in the sight of ,god4 ,should death overtake them while thus engaged in the discharge of duty in defense of their country1 they need have no fear1 for their #ecg salvation is assured4 ,moreover1 under conditions such as these they will have a better claim to the blessings of the ,almighty and1 like the two thousand young men of ,helaman's army1 they will be more likely to receive the protecting care of the ,lord4 ,let them go in the spirit of truth and righteousness2 the spirit which will direct them to save rather than destroy2 which leads to do good rather than to commit evil2 with love in their hearts for their fellow men1 prepared to teach all mankind the saving principles of the gospel4 ,and1 should they be required1 in the defense of the principles for which they go1 to shed the blood of any among the contending forces1 it shall not be a sin1 and the blood of their enemies shall not be required at their hands4 ,we will have no fear for those who will be true to the covenants they have made in the waters of baptism and observe to keep the commandments of ,god4 ,if they die1 they shall die unto the ,lord and shall stand before him spotless and void of offense4 ,and should they return unharmed1 we will give to our ,father in heaven the credit for his protecting care over them while in the discharge of perilous duty4 ,while they are away the prayers of the ,saints will ascend in their behalf for their protection1 and we sincerely hope their prayers will not be without avail1 and surely they will avail if our boys will continue to be worthy of the mercies of the ,lord4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,august1 #aiag1 p4 #djd1 ,vol4 #eb4 #ech ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,eternal ,,life ,,and ,,salvation ,,eternal ,,life ,,and ,,salvation4 ,every man born into the world will die4 ,it matters not who he is1 nor where he is1 whether his birth be among the rich and the noble1 or among the lowly and poor in the world1 his days are numbered with the ,lord1 and in due time he will reach the end4 ,we should think of this4 ,not that we should go about with heavy hearts or with downcast countenances2 not at all4 ,i rejoice that ,i am born to live1 to die1 and to live again4 ,i thank ,god for this intelligence4 ,it gives me joy and peace that the world cannot give1 neither can the world take it away4 ,god has revealed this to me1 in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i know it to be true4 ,therefore1 ,i have nothing to be sad over1 nothing to make me sorrowful4 ,all that ,i have to do with in the world is calculated to buoy me up1 to give me joy and peace1 hope and consolation in this present life1 and a glorious hope of salvation and exaltation in the presence of my ,god in the world to come4 ,i have no reason to mourn1 not even at death4 ,it is true1 ,i am weak enough to weep at the death of my friends and kindred4 ,i may shed tears when ,i see the grief of others4 ,i have sympathy in my soul for the children of men4 ,i can weep with them when they weep2 ,i can rejoice with them when they rejoice2 but ,i have no cause to mourn1 nor to be sad because death comes into the world4 ,i am speaking now of the temporal death1 the death of the body4 ,all fear of this death has been removed from the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,they have no dread of the temporal death1 because they know that as death came upon them by the transgression of ,adam1 so by the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ shall life come unto them1 #eci and though they die1 they shall live again4 ,possessing this knowledge1 they have joy even in death1 for they know that they shall rise again and shall meet again beyond the grave4 ,they know that the spirit dies not1 at all2 that it passes through no change1 except the change from imprisonment in this mortal clay to freedom and to the sphere in which it acted before it came to this earth4 ,we are begotten in the similitude of ,christ himself4 ,we dwelt with the ,father and with the ,son in the beginning1 as the sons and daughters of ,god2 and at the time appointed1 we came to this earth to take upon ourselves tabernacles1 that we might become conformed to the likeness and image of ,jesus ,christ and become like him2 that we might have a tabernacle1 that we might pass through death as he has passed through death1 that we might rise again from the dead as he has risen from the dead4 ,as he was the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead1 so shall we be the second fruits of the resurrection from the dead2 for as he came forth1 so shall we come forth4 ,what is there1 therefore1 to be sad about8 ,what is there to make us heavy of heart or sorrowful in this matter8 ,nothing at all4 ,sorrowful1 indeed1 to think that we shall live forever6 ,is there any cause for sorrow to know that we shall rise from the dead1 and possess the same tabernacle that we have here in mortality8 ,is there cause for sorrow in this great1 glorious gospel truth that has been revealed to us in this dispensation8 ,certainly there can be no sorrow connected with a thought like this4 ,there must be only joy connected with this knowledge--the joy that springs from the ten thousand feelings and affections of the human soul2 the joy that we feel in association with brethren1 with wives and children1 with fathers and mothers1 with brothers and sisters4 ,all these joyous thoughts spring up in our souls at the thought of death and the resurrection4 ,wherein should we be sad or sorrowful8 ,on the contrary1 it is cause for joy unspeakable1 and for #edj pure happiness4 ,i cannot express the joy ,i feel at the thought of meeting my father1 and my precious mother1 who gave me birth in the midst of persecution and poverty1 who bore me in her arms and was patient1 forbearing1 tender and true during all my helpless moments in the world4 ,the thought of meeting her1 who can express the joy8 ,the thought of meeting my children who have preceded me beyond the veil1 and of meeting my kindred and my friends1 what happiness it affords6 ,for ,i know that ,i shall meet them there4 ,god has shown me that this is true4 ,he has made it clear to me1 in answer to my prayer and devotion1 as he has made it clear to the understanding of all men who have sought diligently to know him4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 pp4 #gj-ga4 ,,close ,,relation ,,of ,,the ,,next ,,life4 ,i feel sure that the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and his associates1 who1 under the guidance and inspiration of the ,almighty1 and by his power1 began this latter-day work1 would rejoice and do rejoice1--was going to say if they were permitted to look down upon the scene that ,i behold in this tabernacle2 but ,i believe they do have the privilege of looking down upon us just as the all-seeing eye of ,god beholds every part of his handiwork4 ,for ,i believe that those who have been chosen in this dispensation and in former dispensations1 to lay the foundation of ,god's work in the midst of the children of men1 for their salvation and exaltation1 will not be deprived in the spirit world from looking down upon the results of their own labors1 efforts and mission assigned them by the wisdom and purpose of ,god1 to help to redeem and to reclaim the children of the ,father from their sins4 ,so ,i feel quite confident that the eye of ,joseph1 the prophet1 and of the martyrs of this dispensation1 and of ,brigham1 and ,john1 and ,wilford1 and those faithful men who were associated with them in their ministry upon the earth1 are carefully guarding the interests of the kingdom of ,god in which #eda they labored and for which they strove during their mortal lives4 ,i believe they are as deeply interested in our welfare today1 if not with greater capacity1 with far more interest1 behind the veil1 than they were in the flesh4 ,i believe they know more2 ,i believe their minds have expanded beyond their comprehension in mortal life1 and their interests are enlarged and expanded in the works of the ,lord to which they gave their lives and their best service4 ,although some may feel and think that it is a little extreme to take this view1 yet ,i believe that it is true2 and ,i have a feeling in my heart that ,i stand in the presence not only of the ,father and of the ,son1 but in the presence of those whom ,god commissioned1 raised up1 and inspired1 to lay the foundations of the work in which we are engaged4 ,accompanying that sense of feeling1 ,i am impressed with the thought that ,i would not this moment say or do one thing that would be taken as unwise or imprudent1 or that would give offense to any of my former associates and co-laborers in the work of the ,lord4 ,i would not like to say one thing1 or express a thought1 that would grieve the heart of ,joseph1 or of ,brigham1 or of ,john1 or of ,wilford1 or of ,lorenzo1 or of any of their faithful associates in the ministry4 ,sometimes the ,lord expands our vision from this point of view and this side of the veil1 that we feel and seem to realize that we can look beyond the thin veil which separates us from that other sphere4 ,if we can see1 by the enlightening influence of the ,spirit of ,god and through the words that have been spoken by the holy prophets of ,god1 beyond the veil that separates us from the spirit world1 surely those who have passed beyond1 can see more clearly through the veil back here to us than it is possible for us to see to them from our sphere of action4 ,i believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings4 ,we are not separated from them4 ,we begin to realize more and more fully1 as we #edb become acquainted with the principles of the gospel1 as they have been revealed anew in this dispensation1 that we are closely related to our kindred1 to our ancestors1 to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world4 ,we cannot forget them2 we do not cease to love them2 we always hold them in our hearts1 in memory1 and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we cannot break1 that we cannot dissolve or free ourselves from4 ,if this is the case with us in our finite condition1 surrounded by our mortal weaknesses1 shortsightedness1 lack of inspiration and wisdom1 from time to time1 how much more certain it is1 and reasonable and consistent1 to believe that those who have been faithful1 who have gone beyond1 are still engaged in the work for the salvation of the souls of men1 in the opening of the prison doors to them that are bound and proclaiming liberty to the captives1 who can see us better than we can see them--that they know us better than we know them4 ,they have advanced2 we are advancing2 we are growing as they have grown2 we are reaching the goal that they have attained unto2 and therefore1 ,i claim that we live in their presence1 they see us1 they are solicitous for our welfare1 they love us now more than ever4 ,for now they see the dangers that beset us2 they can comprehend better than ever before1 the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths4 ,they see the temptations and the evils that beset us in life1 and the proneness of mortal beings to yield to temptation and to wrong doing2 hence their solicitude for us and their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves4 ,i thank ,god for the feeling that ,i possess and enjoy1 and for the realization that ,i have that ,i stand1 not only in the presence of ,almighty ,god1 my ,maker and ,father1 but in the presence of his ,only ,begotten ,son in the flesh1 the ,savior of the world2 and ,i stand in the presence of ,peter and ,james 7and perhaps the #edc eyes of ,john are also upon us and we know it not7 and that ,i stand also in the presence of ,joseph1 and ,hyrum1 and ,brigham and ,john1 and those who have been valiant in the testimony of ,jesus ,christ and faithful to their mission in the world1 who have gone before4 ,when ,i go1 ,i want to have the privilege of meeting them with the consciousness that ,i have followed their example1 that ,i have carried out the mission in which they were engaged1 as they would have it carried out2 that ,i have been as faithful in the discharge of duty1 committed to me and required at my hand1 as they were faithful in their time1 and that when ,i meet them1 ,i shall meet them as ,i met them here1 in love1 in harmony1 in unison1 and in perfect confidence that ,i have done my duty as they have done theirs4 ,i hope you will forgive me for my emotion4 ,you would have peculiar emotions1 would you not1 if you felt that you stood in the presence of your ,father1 in the very presence of ,almighty ,god1 in the very presence of the ,son of ,god and of holy angels8 ,you would feel rather emotional1 rather sensitive4 ,i feel it to the very depths of my soul this moment4 ,so ,i hope you will forgive me1 if ,i exhibit some of my real feelings4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 pp4 #b-d4 ,,condition ,,in ,a ,,future ,,life4 ,some people dream1 you know1 and think1 and teach that all the glory they ever expect to have in the world to come is to sit in the light and glory of the ,son of ,god1 and sing praises and songs of joy and gratitude all their immortal lives4 ,we do not believe in any such things4 ,we believe that every man will have his work to do in the other world1 just as surely as he had it to do here1 and a greater work than he can do here4 ,we believe that we are on the road of advancement1 of development in knowledge1 in understanding1 and in every good thing1 and that we will continue to grow1 advance1 and develop throughout the eternities that are before us4 ,that is what we believe4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 p4 #h4 #edd ,,spiritual ,,death4 ,but ,i want to speak a word or two in relation to another death1 which is a more terrible death than that of the body4 ,when ,adam1 our first parent1 partook of the forbidden fruit1 transgressed the law of ,god1 and became subject unto ,satan1 he was banished from the presence of ,god1 and was thrust out into outer spiritual darkness4 ,this was the first death4 ,yet living1 he was dead--dead to ,god1 dead to light and truth1 dead spiritually2 cast out from the presence of ,god2 communication between the ,father and the ,son was cut off4 ,he was as absolutely thrust out from the presence of ,god as was ,satan and the hosts that followed him4 ,that was spiritual death4 ,but the ,lord said that he would not suffer ,adam nor his posterity to come to the temporal death until they should have the means by which they might be redeemed from the first death1 which is spiritual4 ,therefore angels were sent unto ,adam1 who taught him the gospel1 and revealed to him the principle by which he could be redeemed from the first death1 and be brought back from banishment and outer darkness into the marvelous light of the gospel4 ,he was taught faith1 repentance1 and baptism for the remission of sins1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 who should come in the meridian of time and take away the sin of the world1 and was thus given a chance to be redeemed from the spiritual death before he should die the temporal death4 ,now1 all the world today1 ,i am sorry to say1 with the exception of a handful of people who have obeyed the new and everlasting covenant1 are suffering this spiritual death4 ,they are cast out from the presence of ,god4 ,they are without ,god1 without gospel truth1 and without the power of redemption2 for they know not ,god nor his gospel4 ,in order that they may be redeemed and saved from the spiritual death which has spread over the world like a pall1 they must repent of their sins1 and be baptized by one having authority1 for the remission of their sins1 that they may be #ede born of ,god4 ,that is why we want these young men to go out into the world to preach the gospel4 ,while they themselves understand but little1 perhaps1 the germ of life is in them4 ,they have been born again1 they have received the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and they have the authority of the holy priesthood1 by which they can administer in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,though they may know but little in the beginning1 they can learn1 and as they learn they can preach1 and as they have opportunity they can baptize for the remission of sins4 ,therefore1 we want them to do their duty at home4 ,we want them above all things to be pure in heart4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #ahii1 p4 #gb4 ,,the ,,unpardonable ,,sin4 ,now1 if ,judas really had known ,god's power1 and had partaken thereof1 and did actually deny the truth and defy that power1 having denied the ,holy ,spirit after he had received it1 and also denied the ,only ,begotten1 after ,god had revealed him unto him1 then there can be no doubt that he will die the second death4 ,that ,judas did partake of all this knowledge--that these great truths had been revealed to him--that he had received the ,holy ,spirit by the gift of ,god1 and was therefore qualified to commit the unpardonable sin1 is not at all clear to me4 ,to my mind it strongly appears that not one of the disciples possessed sufficient light1 knowledge nor wisdom1 at the time of the crucifixion1 for either exaltation or condemnation2 for it was afterward that their minds were opened to understand the scriptures1 and that they were endowed with power from on high2 without which they were only children in knowledge1 in comparison to what they afterwards become under the influence of the ,spirit4 ,saul1 of ,tarsus1 possessing extraordinary intelligence and learning1 brought up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 taught according to the perfect manner of the law1 persecuted the #edf ,saints unto death1 binding and delivering unto prisons both men and women2 and when the blood of the ,martyr ,stephen was shed1 ,saul stood by keeping the raiment of those who slew him1 and consented unto his death4 ,and he made havoc of the ,church1 entering into every house1 and haling men and women committed them to prison4 ,and when they were put to death1 he gave his voice against them1 and he punished them oft in every synagogue1 and compelled them to blaspheme2 and being exceedingly mad against them1 persecuted them even unto strange cities1 and yet this man committed no unpardonable sin1 because he knew not the ,holy ,ghost4 ,acts #h3c2 #i3a2 #bb3d2 #bf3aj1 #aa4 ,while1 for the crime of adultery with ,bathsheba1 and for ordering ,uriah to be put in the front of battle in a time of war1 where he was slain by the enemy1 the priesthood1 and the kingdom were taken from ,david1 the man after ,god's own heart1 and his soul was thrust into hell4 ,why8 ,because the ,holy ,ghost spake by the mouth of ,david--or1 in other words1 ,david possessed the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and had power to speak by the light thereof4 ,but even ,david1 though guilty of adultery and murder of ,uriah1 obtained the promise that his soul should not be left in hell1 which means1 as ,i understand it1 that even he shall escape the second death4 ,while suspended upon the cross1 in the agonies of death1 as he was about to yield up his spirit1 our gracious1 glorious ,savior breathed this memorable and merciful prayer3 ,father1 forgive them2 for they know not what they do4 7,luke #bc3cd47 ,no man can sin against light until he has it2 nor against the ,holy ,ghost1 until after he has received it by the gift of ,god through the appointed channel or way4 ,to sin against the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,spirit of ,truth1 the ,comforter1 the ,witness of the ,father and the ,son1 wilfully denying him and defying him1 after having received him1 constitutes #edg this sin4 ,did ,judas possess this light1 this witness1 this ,comforter1 this baptism of fire and the ,holy ,ghost1 this endowment from on high8 ,if he did1 he received it before the betrayal1 and therefore before the other eleven apostles4 ,and if this be so1 you may say1 he is a son of perdition without hope4 ,but if he was destitute of this glorious gift and outpouring of the ,spirit1 by which the witness came to the eleven1 and their minds were opened to see and know the truth1 and they were able to testify of him1 then what constituted the unpardonable sin of this poor1 erring creature1 who rose no higher in the scale of intelligence honor or ambition than to betray the ,lord of glory for thirty pieces of silver8 ,but not knowing that ,judas did commit the unpardonable sin2 nor that he was a son of perdition without hope who will die the second death1 nor what knowledge he possessed by which he was able to commit so great a sin1 ,i prefer1 until ,i know better1 to take the merciful view that he may be numbered among those for whom the blessed ,master prayed1 ,father1 forgive them2 for they know not what they do4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,june1 #aiah1 p4 #gcb4 ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,speaking of the resurrection1 the subject on which so much has been said during this conference1 and appropriately said1 too--we distinctly believe that ,jesus ,christ himself is the true1 and only true type of the resurrection of men from death unto life4 ,we believe there is no other form of resurrection from death to life2 that as he rose1 and as he preserved his identity1 even to the scars of the wounds in his hands and feet and side1 that he could prove himself to those that were skeptical of the possibility of rising from the dead1 that he was indeed himself1 the ,lord crucified1 buried in the tomb1 and raised again from death to life1 so it will be with you and with every son and daughter of ,adam1 born into the world4 ,you will not lose your identity any more than ,christ did4 ,you will #edh be brought forth from death to life again1 just as surely as ,christ was brought forth from death to life again1 just as surely as those who ministered to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith had been raised from death to life--therefore1 in the same manner in which ,christ has been raised1 so will life1 and the resurrection from death to life again1 come upon all who have descended from our first parents4 ,the death that came into the world by ,adam's transgression has been conquered1 and its terror vanquished by the power and righteousness of the ,son of ,god4 ,he came to redeem man from the temporal death1 and also to save him from spiritual death if he will repent of his sins1 and will believe on the name of ,christ1 follow his example1 and obey his laws4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiab1 pp4 #ace-acf4 ,,nature ,,of ,,ministering ,,angels4 ,we are told by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 that there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it4 ,hence1 when messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth1 they are not strangers1 but from the ranks of our kindred1 friends1 and fellow-beings and fellow-servants4 ,the ancient prophets who died were those who came to visit their fellow creatures upon the earth4 ,they came to ,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob2 it was such beings--holy beings if you please--who waited upon the ,savior and administered to him on the ,mount4 ,the angel that visited ,john1 when an exile and unfolded to his vision future events in the history of man upon the earth1 was one who had been here1 who had toiled and suffered in common with the people of ,god2 for you remember that ,john1 after his eyes had beheld the glories of the great future1 was about to fall down and worship him1 but was peremptorily forbidden to do so4 ,see thou do it not2 for ,i am thy fellow-servant1 and of thy brethren the prophets1 and of them which keep the sayings of this book2 worship ,god4 7,rev4 #bb3i7 ,jesus has #edi visited the people of this earth from time to time4 ,he visited and showed himself in his spiritual body to the brother of ,jared1 touching certain stones with his finger1 that the brother of ,jared had fashioned out of the rock1 making them to give light to him and his people in the barges in which they crossed the waters of the great deep to come to this land4 ,he visited others at various times before and after he tabernacled in the flesh4 ,it was ,jesus who created this earth1 it therefore is his inheritance1 and he had a perfect right to come and minister to inhabitants of this earth4 ,he came in the meridian of time and tabernacled in the flesh1 some #cc years among men1 introducing and teaching the fulness of the gospel1 and calling upon all men to follow in his footsteps2 to do the same thing that he himself did1 that they might be worthy to inherit with him the same glory4 ,after he suffered the death of the body1 he appeared1 not only to his disciples and others on the eastern continent1 but to the inhabitants of this continent1 and he ministered unto them as he did to the people in the land of ,palestine4 ,in like manner our fathers and mothers1 brothers1 sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth1 having been faithful1 and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges1 may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again1 bringing from the divine ,presence messages of love1 of warning1 or reproof and instruction1 to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh4 ,and so it is with ,sister ,cannon4 ,she can return and visit her friends1 provided it be in accordance with the wisdom of the ,almighty4 ,there are laws to which they who are in the ,paradise of ,god must be subject1 as well as laws to which we are subject4 ,it is our duty to make ourselves acquainted with those laws1 that we may know how to live in harmony with his will while we dwell in the flesh1 that we may be entitled to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection1 clothed #eej with glory1 immortality and eternal lives1 and be permitted to sit down at the right hand of ,god1 in the kingdom of heaven4 ,and except we become acquainted with those laws1 and live in harmony with them1 we need not expect to enjoy these privileges2 ,joseph ,smith1 ,hyrum ,smith1 ,brigham ,young1 ,heber ,c4 ,kimball1 ,jedediah ,m4 ,grant1 ,david ,patten1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 and all those noble men who took an active part in the establishment of this work1 and who died true and faithful to their trust1 have the right and privilege1 and possess the keys and power1 to minister to the people of ,god in the flesh who live now1 as much so and on the same principle as the ancient servants of ,god had the right to return to the earth and minister to the ,saints of ,god in their day4 ,these are correct principles4 ,there is no question about that in my mind4 ,it is according to the ,scriptures2 it is according to the revelation of ,god to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith2 and it is a subject upon which we may dwell with pleasure and perhaps profit to ourselves1 provided we have the ,spirit of ,god to direct us4--,discourse delivered at the funeral services of ,elizabeth ,h4 ,cannon1 ,fourteenth ,ward assembly rooms1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,january #bi1 #ahhb4 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bb1 pp4 #cej-cec4 ,,redemption ,,beyond ,,the ,,grave4 ,but woe unto him that has the law given2 yea1 that has all the commandments of ,god1 like unto us1 and that transgresseth them1 and that wasteth the days of his probation1 for awful is his state4 7,,ii ,nephi #i3bg-ch2 see also ,alma #aa3dj1 #da74 ,now1 it is evident that such as these have no chance for redemption1 no matter what may be done for them in hope or by faith1 for they will have sinned against life and knowledge1 and are1 therefore1 worthy of damnation4 ,it is nowhere revealed that such as these will ever be forgiven1 although we are informed that all of ,god's judgments are not given unto men4 #eea ,there is no other means of salvation revealed or given to the children of men except that offered by the ,son of ,god1 and those who reject this1 whether before or after they have received it in part1 cannot be saved1 because they rejected the means of their redemption and salvation4 ,not so with those to whom ,christ went to deliver the gospel when his body lay in the tomb2 they were disobedient to the message of ,noah1 which was a warning to them to repent or they should be destroyed by a flood4 ,we are not told to what extent the gospel of ,christ1 in its fulness1 was proclaimed to them1 but are left to suppose that the message of ,noah was not the fulness of the gospel1 but a cry of repentance from sin that they might escape destruction by the flood4 ,they hardened their hearts against ,noah's message1 and would not receive it1 and were punished for this disobedience in their destruction by the flood2 thus in part paying the penalties for their disobedience2 but not having received the light they could not be condemned as those spoken of in #ith ,nephi1 who had all the commandments of ,god given unto them4 ,therefore1 ,jesus went with his message to their spirits in prison and proclaimed liberty and deliverance to them through their obedience in the spirit world1 that the work might be done for them in the flesh1 and they be judged according to men in the flesh1 and live according to ,god in the spirit4 ,so there is no conflict in these scriptures4 ,of course1 there is a difference between those who receive the light of the gospel and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ and afterwards rebel against that light and reject it1 thereby putting ,christ to an open shame and crucifying him1 and those who are referred to by ,alma3 ,therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made4 ,these are not under as great a condemnation as those who have received it and rejected it2 but so long as they remain unrepentant and wicked1 there is no redemption for them any #eeb more than for the others2 but it is possible that these may repent in the spirit world4 ,in relation to the deliverance of spirits from their prison house1 of course1 we believe that can only be done after the gospel has been preached to them in the spirit1 and they have accepted the same1 and the work necessary to their redemption by the living be done for them4 ,that this work may be hastened so that all who believe1 in the spirit world1 may receive the benefit of deliverance1 it is revealed that the great work of the ,millennium shall be the work in the temples for the redemption of the dead2 and then we hope to enjoy the benefits of revelation through the ,urim and ,thummim1 or by such means as the ,lord may reveal concerning those for whom the work shall be done1 so that we may not work by chance1 or by faith alone1 without knowledge1 but with the actual knowledge revealed unto us4 ,it stands to reason that1 while the gospel may be preached unto all1 the good and the bad1 or rather to those who would repent and to those who would not repent in the spirit world1 the same as it is here1 redemption will only come to those who repent and obey4 ,there is1 no doubt1 great leniency given to people who are anxious to do the work for their dead1 and in some instances1 very unworthy people may have the work done for them2 it does not follow1 however1 that they will receive any benefit therefrom1 and the correct thing is to do the work only for those of whom we have the testimony that they will receive it4 ,however1 we are disposed to give the benefit of the doubt to the dead1 as it is better to do the work for many who are unworthy than to neglect one who is worthy4 ,now1 we know in part and see in part1 but steadfastly look forward to the time when that which is perfect will come4 ,we are left largely to our own agency here1 to exercise our own intelligence and to receive all the light that is revealed so far as we are capable of receiving it1 and only those who seek the light1 and desire #eec it1 are likely to find it4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 ,december1 #aija1 pp4 #ade-g4 ,,nature ,,of ,,death4 ,god has given laws to govern all his works1 and especially has he given laws to govern his people1 who are his sons and daughters4 ,we have come to sojourn in the flesh1 to obtain tabernacles for our immortal spirits2 or1 in other words1 we have come for the purpose of accomplishing a work like that which was accomplished by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the object of our earthly existence is that we may have a fulness of joy1 and that we may become the sons and daughters of ,god1 in the fullest sense of the word1 being heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ1 to be kings and priests unto ,god1 to inherit glory1 dominion1 exaltation1 thrones and every power and attribute developed and possessed by our ,heavenly ,father4 ,this is the object of our being on this earth4 ,in order to attain unto this exalted position1 it is necessary that we go through this mortal experience1 or probation1 by which we may prove ourselves worthy1 through the aid of our elder brother ,jesus4 ,the spirit without the body is not perfect4 ,it is not capacitated1 without the body1 to possess a fulness of the glory of ,god1 and therefore it cannot1 without the body1 fulfil its destiny4 ,we are foreordained to become conformed to the likeness of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and in order that we may become like unto him1 we must follow in his footsteps1 even until we sanctify ourselves by the law of truth and righteousness4 ,this is the law of the celestial kingdom1 and when we die1 its power will bring us forth in the morning of the first resurrection1 clothed with glory1 immortality and eternal lives4 ,unless we do keep the law that ,god has given unto us in the flesh1 which we have the privilege of receiving and understanding1 we cannot be quickened by its glory1 neither can we receive the fulness thereof1 and the exaltation of the celestial kingdom4 ,there is a law1 irrevocably decreed in heaven before #eed the foundations of the world1 upon which all blessings are predicated2 and when we obtain any blessing from ,god1 it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated4--7,doc and ,cov4 #acj3bj47 ,we must1 therefore1 learn the laws of heaven1 which are the laws of the gospel1 live and obey them with all our hearts1 and in faith abide in them1 perfecting ourselves thereby1 in order to receive the fulness of the glory of that kingdom4 99 99 99 ,while we are in mortality we are clogged1 and we see as through a glass darkly1 we see only in part1 and it is difficult for us to comprehend the smallest things with which we are associated4 ,but when we put on immortality1 our condition will be very different1 for we ascend into an enlarged sphere2 although we shall not become perfect immediately after our departure from the body1 for the spirit without the body is not perfect1 and the body without the spirit is dead4 ,the disembodied spirit during the interval of the death of the body and its resurrection from the grave is not perfect1 hence it is not prepared to enter into the exaltation of the celestial kingdom2 but it has the privilege of soaring in the midst of immortal beings1 and of enjoying1 to a certain extent1 the presence of ,god1 not the fulness of his glory1 not the fulness of the reward which we are seeking and which we are destined to receive1 if found faithful to the law of the celestial kingdom1 but only in part4 ,the righteous spirit that departs from this earth is assigned its place in the ,paradise of ,god2 it has its privileges and honors which are in point of excellency1 far above and beyond human comprehension2 and in this sphere of action1 enjoying this partial reward for its righteous conduct on the earth1 it continues its labors1 and in this respect is very different from the state of the body from which it is released4 ,for while the body sleeps and decays1 the spirit receives a new birth2 to it the portals of life are opened4 ,it #eee is born again into the presence of ,god4 ,the spirit of our beloved sister in taking its departure from this world is born again into the spirit world1 returning there from the mission it has been performing in this state of probation1 having been absent a few years from father1 mother1 kindred1 friends1 neighbors1 and from all that was dear2 it has returned nearer to the home-circle1 to old associations and scenes1 much in the same way as a man who comes home from a foreign mission1 to join again his family and friends and enjoy the pleasures and comforts of home4 ,this is the condition of her whose remains now lie before us1 and of every one who has been faithful to virtue and purity1 while traveling here below2 but more especially of those who while here had the privilege of obeying the gospel1 and who lived true and faithful to its covenants4 ,instead of continuing here among the things of time1 surrounded as we are with the weaknesses of a fallen world1 and subject to earthly cares and sorrows1 they are freed from them to enter a state of joy1 glory and exaltation2 not a fulness of any one of them but to await the morning of the resurrection of the just1 to come forth from the grave to redeem the body1 and to be reunited with it and thus become a living soul1 an immortal being1 never more to die4 ,having accomplished its work1 having gone through its earthly probation1 and having fulfilled its mission here below1 it is then prepared for the knowledge and glory and exaltation of the celestial kingdom4 ,this ,jesus did2 and he is our forerunner1 he is our exemplar4 ,the path which he marked out we have to walk1 if we ever expect to dwell and be crowned with him in his kingdom4 ,we must obey and put our trust in him1 knowing that he is the ,savior of the world4 ,what reason have we to mourn8 ,none1 except that we are deprived for a few days of the society of one whom we love4 ,and if we prove faithful while in the flesh we will soon follow1 and be glad that we had the privilege of passing #eef through mortality1 and that we lived in a day in which the fulness of the everlasting gospel was preached1 through which we will be exalted1 for there is no exaltation except through obedience to law4 ,every blessing1 privilege1 glory1 or exaltation is obtained only through obedience to the law upon which the same is promised4 ,if we will abide the law1 we shall receive the reward2 but we can receive it on no other ground4 ,then let us rejoice in the truth1 in the restoration of the priesthood--that power delegated to man1 by virtue of which the ,lord sanctions in the heavens what man does upon the earth4 ,the ,lord has taught us the ordinances of the gospel by which we may perfect our exaltation in his kingdom4 ,we are not living as the heathen1 without law2 that which is necessary for our exaltation has been revealed4 ,our duty1 therefore1 is to obey the laws2 then we shall receive our reward1 no matter whether we are cut down in childhood1 in manhood1 or old age2 it is all the same1 so long as we are living up to the light we possess we shall not be shorn of any blessing1 nor deprived of any privilege2 for there is a time after this mortal life1 and there is a way provided by which we may fulfil the measure of our creation and destiny1 and accomplish the whole great work that we have been sent to do1 although it may reach far into the future before we fully accomplish it4 ,jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain1 neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead2 although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth1 he had not fulfilled all his work4 ,and when will he8 ,not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father ,adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time1 except the sons of perdition4 ,that is his mission4 ,we will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves1 and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us2 for we are to become saviors upon ,mount ,zion1 as well as ,christ4 ,we are #eeg called to this mission4 ,the dead are not perfect without us1 neither are we without them4 ,we have a mission to perform for and in their behalf2 we have a certain work to do in order to liberate those who1 because of their ignorance and the unfavorable circumstances in which they were placed while here1 are unprepared for eternal life2 we have to open the door for them1 by performing ordinances which they cannot perform for themselves1 and which are essential to their release from the prison-house1 to come forth and live according to ,god in the spirit1 and be judged according to men in the flesh4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith has said that this is one of the most important duties that devolves upon the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,and why8 ,because this is the dispensation of the fulness of times1 which will usher in the millennial reign1 and in which all things spoken by the mouths of holy prophets1 since the world began1 must be fulfilled1 and all things united1 both which are in heaven and in the earth4 ,we have that work to do2 or1 at least all we can of it1 leaving the balance to our children1 in whose hearts we should instill the importance of this work1 rearing them in the love of the truth and in the knowledge of these principles1 so that when we pass away1 having done all we can do1 they will then take up the labor and continue it until it is consummated4 ,may the ,lord bless this bereaved family and comfort them in their deprivation4 ,those who die in the ,lord shall not taste of death4 ,when ,adam partook of the forbidden fruit he was cast out from the presence of ,god into outer darkness2 that is1 he was shut out from the presence of his glory and the privilege of his society1 which was spiritual death4 ,this was the first death2 this indeed was death2 for he was shut out from the presence of ,god2 and ever since1 ,adam's posterity have been suffering the penalty of this spiritual death1 which is banishment from his presence and #eeh the society of holy beings4 ,this first death will also be the second death4 ,now we look upon the mortal remains of our departed sister2 her immortal part has gone4 ,where8 ,into outer darkness8--banished from the presence of ,god8 ,no1 but born again into his presence1 restored1 or born from death to life1 to immortality and to joy in his presence4 ,this is not death1 then2 and this is true in relation to all ,saints who die in the ,lord and the covenant of the gospel4 ,they return from the midst of death to life1 where death has no power4 ,there is no death except to those who die in sin1 without the sure and steadfast hope of the resurrection of the just4 ,there is no death where we continue in the knowledge of the truth and have hope of a glorious resurrection4 ,life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel2 hence1 there is no death here2 here is a peaceful slumber1 a quiet rest for a little season1 and then she will come forth again to enjoy this tabernacle4 ,if there is anything lacking in regard to ordinances pertaining to the ,house of the ,lord1 which may have been omitted or not reached1 those requirements can be attended to for her4 ,here are her father and mother1 her brothers and sisters2 they know the ordinances necessary to be performed in order to secure every benefit and blessing that it was possible for her to have received in the flesh4 ,these ordinances have been revealed unto us for this very purpose1 that we might be born into the light from the midst of this darkness--from death into life4 ,we live1 then2 we do not die2 we do not anticipate death but we anticipate life1 immortality1 glory1 exaltation1 and to be quickened by the glory of the celestial kingdom1 and receive of the same even a fulness4 ,this is our destiny2 this is the exalted position to which we may attain and there is no power that can deprive or rob us of it1 if we prove faithful and true to the covenant of the gospel4--,funeral #eei sermon preached over the remains of ,emma ,wells1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,april #aa1 #ahgh4--;,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #ai1 #ahgh1 pp4 #beh-bfe4 ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,guided by the ,spirit of the ,lord ,jesus by faith in ,god1 in the testimony of his prophets and in the scriptures1 ,i accept the doctrine of the resurrection with all my heart1 and rejoice at its confirmation in nature with the awakening of each returning spring4 ,the ,spirit of ,god testifies to me1 and has revealed to me1 to my complete personal satisfaction1 that there is life after death1 and that the body which we lay down here will be reunited with our spirit1 to become a perfect soul1 capable of receiving a fulness of joy in the presence of ,god4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #af1 #aiab-aiac1 pp4 #ejh-eaj4 ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,it is true1 all of us are clothed with mortality1 but our spirits existed long before they took upon them this tabernacle that we now inhabit4 ,when this body dies1 the spirit does not die4 ,the spirit is an immortal being1 and when separated from the body takes its flight to the place prepared for it1 and there awaits the resurrection of the body1 when the spirit will return again and re-occupy this tabernacle which it occupied in this world4 ,this great and glorious principle of the resurrection is no longer a theory1 as some think1 but it is an accomplished fact which has been demonstrated beyond all successful contradiction1 doubt or controversy4 ,job1 who lived before the resurrection of ,christ1 possessing the spirit of prophecy1 looked forward to the time of the resurrection4 ,he comprehended the fact4 ,he understood the principles and knew the power and design of ,god to bring it to pass1 and predicted its accomplishment4 ,he declares3 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth4 ,he further says1 ,and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god4 7,job #ai3be-bf7 ,he looked forward to something not yet #efj done1 something which had never been done in this world before his day4 ,it was not accomplished till long after his time4 ,having received the spirit of the gospel and of revelation1 he was enabled to look down into unborn time and see his body which had moulded and crumbled into dust1 raised from the dead4 ,what he saw by the eye of faith has become actual history unto us1 and we possess not only the history of the fact but a knowledge by the testimony of the ,holy ,ghost of its truth4 ,we are not therefore situated as ,job was2 we live in the latter times which are pregnant with grand and glorious events1 among the greatest of which is this glorious principle of the resurrection of the dead1 which is no longer a mere prediction1 a cherished hope1 or a prophetic promise1 but a reality2 for long before our day it has actually been accomplished4 ,christ himself burst the barriers of the tomb1 conquered death and the grave and came forth the first fruits of them that slept4 ,but1 says one1 how can we know that ,jesus was put to death or resurrected8 ,we have plenty of evidence to show that ,jesus was crucified and resurrected4 ,we have the testimony of his disciples1 and they produce irrefutable evidence that they did see him crucified1 and witnessed the wounds of the nails and spear which he received on the cross4 ,they also testify that his body was laid away in a sepulchre wherein no man had lain1 and they rolled a great stone to the door and departed4 ,now the chief priests and ,pharisees were not satisfied with the crucifixion and burial of our ,lord and ,savior2 they remembered that while living he had said that after three days he would rise again1 so they established a strong guard to protect the sepulchre1 and set a seal upon the stone1 lest his disciples should come by night and steal away the body and say unto the people1 ,he is risen from the dead1 and thus perpetuate a fraud upon the world4 ,lo and behold6 by this act those unbelieving guards #efa became actual witnesses to the fact that a heavenly personage came and rolled away the stone and that ,jesus came forth4 ,the disciples witness and testify to the resurrection1 and their testimony can not be impeached4 ,it therefore stands good1 and is true and faithful4 ,but is this the only evidence we have to depend on8 ,have we nothing but the testimony of the ancient disciples to rest our hopes upon8 ,thank ,god we have more4 ,and the additional evidence which we possess enables us to become witnesses to the truth of the testimony of the ancient disciples4 ,we go to the ,book of ,mormon2 it testifies of the death and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ in plain and unmistakable terms2 we may go to the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants containing the revelations of this dispensation1 and we shall find clear and well defined evidence there4 ,we have the testimony of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 the testimony of ,oliver ,cowdery1 and the testimony of ,sidney ,rigdon1 that they saw the ,lord ,jesus--the same that was crucified in ,jerusalem--and that he revealed himself unto them4 ,joseph and ,sidney testify to it as follows3 ,we1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 and ,sidney ,rigdon1 being in the ,spirit on the sixteenth of ,february1 in the year of our ,lord1 one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two1 by the power of the ,spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened1 so as to see and understand the things of ,god--even those things which were from the beginning before the world was1 which were ordained of the ,father1 through his ,only ,begotten ,son1 who was in the bosom of the ,father1 even from the beginning1 of whom we bear record1 and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 who is the ,son1 whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #gf3 #aa-ad74 ,they were called to be special witnesses of ,jesus ,christ and his death and resurrection4 #efb ,we have also the testimony of the ancient disciples who lived on this continent of the crucifixion and resurrection4 ,you will find their testimony recorded in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the disciples who lived upon this continent knew what transpired at ,jerusalem2 the ,lord showed them these things4 ,after his resurrection he manifested himself to his disciples on this continent1 and showed them the wounds he had received on ,calvary4 ,they were convinced that ,jesus was the ,christ and the ,redeemer of the world4 ,they beheld him in the flesh and they bear witness of it1 and their testimony is true4 ,we have the testimony of many witnesses4 ,we have the testimony of eleven special witnesses to the divine origin of the ,book of ,mormon1 which book testifies of ,christ's resurrection1 containing as it does the records of the ancient prophets and disciples of ,christ on this continent1 thus confirming their testimonies4 ,is this all the evidence we have8 ,no4 ,joseph ,smith boldly declared to the world that if mankind would sincerely repent of their sins and be baptized by authority1 they should not only receive a remission of their sins1 but1 by the laying on of hands1 they should receive the ,holy ,ghost1 and should know of the doctrine for themselves4 ,thus all who obey the law and abide in the truth become witnesses of this and other equally great and precious truths4 ,today there are thousands of ,latter-day ,saints living in ,utah and throughout the world who have attained to the possession of these things1 both men and women4 ,if we witness by our acts1 and from our hearts1 our determination to carry out the mind and will of the ,lord1 we shall have this double assurance of a glorious resurrection1 and be able to say as the ,prophet ,job said--his was a glorious declaration ,for ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall again stand at the latter day upon the earth3 and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god3 whom ,i shall see for myself1 and mine eyes shall behold1 #efc and not another2 though my reins be consumed within me4 7,job #ai3be-bg7 ,thousands have received this testimony and can witness unto ,god and testify from their hearts that they know these things4 ,i bear my testimony1 and surely it is of as much force and effect1 if it be true1 as the testimony of ,job1 the testimonies of the disciples of ,jerusalem1 the disciples on this continent1 of ,joseph ,smith1 or any other man who told the truth4 ,all are of equal force and binding on the world4 ,if no man had ever testified to these things upon the face of the globe1 ,i want to say as a servant of ,god1 independent of the testimonies of all men and of every book that has been written1 that ,i have received the witness of the ,spirit in my own heart1 and ,i testify before ,god1 angels and men1 without fear of the consequences1 that ,i know that my ,redeemer lives1 and ,i shall see him face to face1 and stand with him in my resurrected body upon this earth1 if ,i am faithful2 for ,god has revealed this unto me4 ,i have received the witness1 and ,i bear my testimony1 and my testimony is true4 ,the testimony of the ,latter-day ,saints is in addition to and consonant with that of the disciples of ,jesus ,christ who lived at ,jerusalem1 those who lived on this continent1 the ,prophet ,joseph1 ,oliver1 ,sidney1 and others1 of our crucified and risen ,redeemer1 because they received it not of them1 but by the same ,spirit by which they received it4 ,no man ever received this testimony unless the ,spirit of ,god revealed it unto him4 ,we will see ,brother ,urie again4 ,sister ,urie will meet him on the other side of the grave4 ,the spirit and the body will be reunited4 ,we shall see each other in the flesh1 in the same tabernacles that we have here while in mortality4 ,our tabernacles will be brought forth as they are laid down1 although there will be a restoration effected2 every organ1 every limb that has been maimed1 every deformity #efd caused by accident or in any other way1 will be restored and put right4 ,every limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame4 ,we will know each other and enjoy each other's society throughout the endless ages of eternity1 if we keep the law of ,god4 ,it is for us to remain true and faithful and keep our covenants1 and to train our children up in the paths of holiness1 virtue and truth1 in the principles of the gospel1 that we may with them be prepared to enjoy the perfect and eternal day4--,discourse delivered at the funeral services of ,james ,uric1 ,sixteenth ward1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,february #c1 #ahhc4--;,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bd1 pp4 #ge-hb4 ,,on ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,i believe that as ,christ arose from the dead1 so shall all the faithful arise4 ,we shall all see one another again4 ,i know that ,jesus is the ,christ1 that after his death and burial he arose from the dead1 and became the first fruits of the resurrection4 ,to all believers1 and to the ,latter-day ,saints especially1 there is sweet comfort in this knowledge1 and in the thought that through obedience to the ordinances and principles of the gospel1 which ,christ1 our ,savior1 taught and enjoined upon the people and his disciples1 men shall be born again1 redeemed from sin1 arise from the grave1 and like ,jesus return into the presence of the ,father4 ,death is not the end4 ,when we1 sorrowing1 lay away our loved ones in the grave1 we have an assurance based upon the life1 words and resurrection of ,christ1 that we shall again meet and shake hands and associate with them in a better life1 where sorrow and trouble are ended1 and where there is to be no more parting4 ,this knowledge is one of the greatest incentives that we have to live right in this life1 to pass through mortality1 doing and feeling and accomplishing good4 ,the spirits of all men1 as soon as they depart from this mortal body1 whether they are good or evil1 we are told in the ,book of ,mormon1 are taken home to that ,god who gave them life1 where there #efe is a separation1 a partial judgment1 and the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness which is called paradise1 a state of rest1 a state of peace1 where they expand in wisdom1 where they have respite from all their troubles1 and where care and sorrow do not annoy4 ,the wicked1 on the contrary1 have no part nor portion in the ,spirit of the ,lord1 and they are cast into outer darkness1 being led captive1 because of their own iniquity1 by the evil one4 ,and in this space between death and the resurrection of the body1 the two classes of souls remain1 in happiness or in misery1 until the time which is appointed of ,god that the dead shall come forth and be reunited both spirit and body1 and be brought to stand before ,god1 and be judged according to their works4 ,this is the final judgment4 ,where a man has obeyed the principles of the gospel1 used his influence for good1 injured no soul1 loved righteousness1 and despised wrong doing1 laying down his body to the rest of the righteous in the grave1 ,i feel and know that1 in addition to the spirit's promised state of peace and rest in paradise1 there will be a glorious reunion of body and spirit1 a bright awakening for him in the resurrection1 and a future beyond1 full of happiness4 ,when this time shall come1 none but ,god knoweth1 but we do know that all men shall come forth from the dead4 ,now1 ,i know these statements to be true2 ,i know them to be true by the thrill of the inspiration of ,god which fills my entire being with this knowledge4 ,to me they are consistent with ,god's wisdom and with his holy purposes4 ,we have the testimony of ,christ1 the testimony of the prophets1 the whisperings of the ,holy ,spirit1 and with these evidences1 ,i cannot help but believe1 and know that there is a resurrection of the dead1 a literal1 actual resurrection of the body4 ,i cannot believe that a wise and merciful ,god would create a man like our friend and brother1 upright1 honorable1 honest in all his dealings and in his #eff life1 only to live a few years1 then to pass away forever1 to be known no more4 ,as ,jesus arose from the dead so will he1 and all the innocent and righteous1 arise4 ,the elements which compose this temporal body will not perish1 will not cease to exist1 but in the day of the resurrection these elements will come together again1 bone to bone1 and flesh to flesh4 ,the body will come forth as it is laid to rest1 for there is no growth nor development in the grave4 ,as it is laid down1 so will it arise1 and changes to perfection will come by the law of restitution4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #g1 ,june1 #aiad1 p4 #fai4 ,,resurrection ,,and ,,final ,,judgement4 ,when the spirit leaves the body1 it returns1 says the prophet1 immediately to ,god1 to be assigned to its ,place1 either to associate with the good and the noble ones who have lived in the paradise of ,god1 or to be confined in the prison-house to await the resurrection of the body from the grave4 ,therefore we know that ,brother ,clayton has gone to ,god1 gone to receive the partial judgment of the ,almighty which pertains to the period intervening between the death of the body and the resurrection of the body1 or the separation of the spirit from the body and their uniting together again4 ,this judgment is passed upon the spirit alone4 ,but there will come a time which will be after the resurrection1 when the body and spirit shall be reunited1 when the final judgment will be passed on every man4 ,this is in accordance with the vision of ,john the ,revelator3 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened3 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them3 99 99 99 and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death4 #efg ,and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire4 7,rev4 #bj3ab-ae7 ,that is the final judgment1 which we will all receive after we have performed this our earthly mission4 ,the ,savior did not finish his work when he expired on the cross1 when he cried out1 ,it is finished4 ,he1 in using those words1 had no reference to his great mission to the earth1 but merely to the agonies which he suffered4 ,the ,christian world1 ,i know1 say he alluded to the great work of redemption4 ,this1 however1 is a great mistake1 and is indicative of the extent of their knowledge of the plan of life and salvation4 ,i say1 he referred merely to the agonies of death1 and the sufferings he felt for the wickedness of men who would go so far as to crucify their ,redeemer4 ,it was this feeling1 and this alone1 that prompted him to cry out in the agony of his soul1 ,it is finished1 and then he expired4 ,but his work was not completed2 it was in fact only begun4 ,if he had stopped here1 instead of his being the ,savior of the world1 he1 as well as all mankind1 would have perished irredeemably1 never to have come forth out of the grave2 for it was designed from the beginning that he should be the first fruits of them that slept2 it was part of the great plan that he should burst the bands of death and gain the victory over the grave4 ,if1 therefore1 his mission had ceased when he gave up the ghost1 the world would have slumbered in the dust in interminable death1 never to have risen to live again4 ,it was but a small part of the mission of the ,savior that was performed when he suffered death2 it was indeed the lesser part2 the greater had yet to be done4 ,it was in his resurrection from the tomb1 in his coming forth from death unto life1 in uniting again the spirit and the body that he might become a living soul2 and when this was done1 then he was prepared to return to the ,father4 #efh ,and all this was in strict accordance with the great plan of salvation4 ,for even ,christ himself1 though without sin1 was required to observe the outward ordinance of baptism1 in order to fulfil all righteousness4 ,so1 after his resurrection from the dead he could return to the ,father1 there to receive the welcome plaudit1 ,well done2 you have done your work1 you have accomplished your mission1 you have wrought out salvation for all the children of ,adam2 you have redeemed all men from the grave2 and through their obedience to the ordinances of the gospel which you have established1 they can also be redeemed from the spiritual death1 again to be brought back into our presence1 to partake of glory1 exaltation and eternal life with us4 ,and so it will be when we come forth out of the grave1 when the trump shall sound1 and these our bodies shall rise and our spirits shall enter into them again1 and they shall become living souls1 no more to be dissolved or separated1 but to become inseparable1 immortal1 eternal4 ,then we shall stand before the bar of ,god to be judged4 ,so says the ,bible1 so says the ,book of ,mormon1 and so say the revelations which have come direct to us through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,and then those who have not been subject and obedient to the celestial law will not be quickened by the celestial glory4 ,and those who have not been subject and obedient to the terrestrial law will not be quickened by the terrestrial glory4 ,and those who have not been subject and obedient to the telestial law1 will not be quickened by a telestial glory2 but they will have a kingdom without glory4 ,the sons of perdition1 men who once were in possession of the light and truth1 but who turned away from them and denied the ,lord1 putting him to an open shame1 as did the ,jews when they crucified him and said1 ,his blood be on us1 and on our children2 men who consent1 against light #efi and knowledge1 to the shedding of innocent blood1 it will be said unto them1 ,depart from me1 ye cursed4 7,matt4 #be3da7 ,i never knew you2 depart into the second death1 even banishment from the presence of ,god for ever and ever1 where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched1 from whence there is no redemption1 neither in time nor in eternity4 ,herein is the difference between the second and the first death wherein man became spiritually dead2 for from the first death he may be redeemed by the blood of ,christ1 through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel1 but from the second1 there is no redemption at all4 ,we read in the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 that the devil tempted ,adam1 and he partook of the forbidden fruit1 and transgressed the commandment1 wherein he became subject to the will of the devil because he yielded unto temptation1 and because of this transgression he became spiritually dead1 which is the first death1 even that same death1 which is the last death1 which is spiritual1 which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when ,i shall say--,depart1 ye cursed6 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #bi3da47 ,but who will receive such punishment8 ,only those who deserve it1 those who commit the unpardonable sin4 ,then there is the banishment of the transgressor 7not the sons of perdition7 into the prison-house1 a place of punishment1 with no exaltation1 no increase1 no dominion1 no power1 whose inhabitants after their redemption may become servants of them that have obeyed the laws of ,god and kept the faith4 ,that will be the punishment of such as reject the truth1 but sin not unto death4--,discourse delivered at funeral of ,william ,clayton1 in the ,seventeenth ,ward meetinghouse1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,december #g1 #ahgi4 ,journal of ,discourses ,vol4 #ba1 #ahha1 pp4 #i-ac4 ,,condition ,,of ,,children ,,in ,,heaven4 ,if we have received the testimony of the spirit of truth in our souls we know that all is well with our little children who pass away1 #egj that we could not1 if we would1 better their condition2 and least of all would it better their condition if we could call them back here1 for the reason that so long as man is in the world1 clothed with mortality1 surrounded by the evils that are in the world1 he runs chances and is subject to risks1 and there are responsibilities resting upon him which may prove fatal to his future prosperity1 happiness and exaltation4 ,it is only those who are thoroughly and firmly grounded in the truth1 who are established in the principles of life1 that will be able to certainly claim the reward of the faithful1 and an exaltation in the presence of the ,father4 ,as soon as any man turns away from the truth that binds him to ,god1 that moment he is in danger1 and may fall4 ,but1 with little children who are taken away in infancy and innocence before they have reached the years of accountability1 and are not capable of committing sin1 the gospel reveals to us the fact that they are redeemed1 and ,satan has no power over them4 ,neither has death any power over them4 ,they are redeemed by the blood of ,christ1 and they are saved just as surely as death has come into the world through the fall of our first parents4 ,it is further written that ,satan has no power over men or women1 except that power which he gains over them in this world4 ,in other words1 none of the children of the ,father who are redeemed through obedience1 faith1 repentance1 and baptism for the remission of sins1 and who live in that redeemed condition1 and die in that condition are subject to ,satan4 ,therefore he has no power over them4 ,they are absolutely beyond his reach1 just as little children are who die without sin4 ,to my mind this is a consolation and a glorious truth that my soul delights in4 ,i am grateful to my heavenly ,father that he has revealed it unto me1 for it affords a consolation that nothing else can give1 and it brings a joy to my spirit that nothing can take away1 except the consciousness on my #ega part of having sinned and transgressed against light and knowledge which ,i may have possessed4 ,under these circumstances1 our beloved friends who are now deprived of their little one1 have great cause for joy and rejoicing1 even in the midst of the deep sorrow that they feel at the loss of their little one for a time4 ,they know he is all right2 they have the assurance that their little one has passed away without sin4 ,such children are in the bosom of the ,father4 ,they will inherit their glory and their exaltation1 and they will not be deprived of the blessings that belong to them2 for1 in the economy of heaven1 and in the wisdom of the ,father1 who doeth all things well1 those who are cut down as little children are without any responsibility for their taking off1 they1 themselves1 not having the intelligence and wisdom to take care of themselves and to understand the laws of life2 and1 in the wisdom and mercy and economy of ,god our ,heavenly ,father1 all that could have been obtained and enjoyed by them if they had been permitted to live in the flesh will be provided for them hereafter4 ,they will lose nothing by being taken away from us in this way4 ,this is a consolation to me4 ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet1 was the promulgator under ,god of these principles4 ,he was in touch with the heavens4 ,god revealed himself unto him1 and made known unto him the principles that lie before us1 and which are comprised in the everlasting gospel4 ,joseph ,smith declared that the mother who laid down her little child1 being deprived of the privilege1 the joy1 and the satisfaction of bringing it up to manhood or womanhood in this world1 would1 after the resurrection1 have all the joy1 satisfaction and pleasure1 and even more than it would have been possible to have had in mortality1 in seeing her child grow to the full measure of the stature of its spirit4 ,if this be true1 and ,i believe it1 what a consolation it is4 ,jesus ,christ was the ,son of ,god before he came into the world1 yet he #egb came as an infant1 grew and developed into manhood1 and when his spirit departed from its tabernacle it went to proclaim the gospel to the spirits which were imprisoned1 possessing all the intelligence1 powers and faculties which it had in the flesh1 except the possession of the body1 wherein he became absolutely like unto ,god4 ,and so ,i believe it is with all men that come into the world4 ,every spirit that comes to this earth to take upon it a tabernacle is a son or a daughter of ,god1 and possesses all the intelligence and all the attributes that any son or daughter can enjoy1 either in the spirit world1 or in this world1 except that in the spirit1 and separated from the body1 they lacked just the tabernacle of being like ,god the ,father4 ,it is said that ,god is a spirit1 and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth4 ,but he is a spirit possessing the tabernacle of flesh and bones1 as tangible as a man's and therefore to be like ,god and ,jesus all men must have a body4 ,it matters not whether these tabernacles mature in this world1 or have to wait and mature in the world to come1 according to the word of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 the body will develop1 either in time or in eternity1 to the full stature of the spirit1 and when the mother is deprived of the pleasure and joy of rearing her babe to manhood or to womanhood in this life1 through the hand of death1 that privilege will be renewed to her hereafter1 and she will enjoy it to a fuller fruition than it would be possible for her to do here4 ,when she does it there1 it will be with the certain knowledge that the results will be without failure2 whereas here1 the results are unknown until after we have passed the test4 ,with these thoughts in my mind1 ,i take consolation in the fact that ,i shall meet my children who have passed behind the veil2 ,i have lost a number1 and ,i have felt all that a parent can feel1 ,i think1 in the loss of my children4 ,i have felt it keenly1 for ,i love children1 and ,i am particularly fond of the little ones1 but ,i feel thankful to ,god for the knowledge #egc of these principles1 because now ,i have every confidence in his word and in his promise that ,i will possess in the future all that belongs to me1 and my joy will be full4 ,i will not be deprived of any privilege or any blessing that ,i am worthy of and that may be properly entrusted to me4 ,but every gift1 and every blessing that it is possible for me to become worthy of ,i shall possess1 either in time or in eternity1 and it will not matter1 so that ,i acknowledge the hand of ,god in all these things1 and say in my heart1 ,the ,lord giveth and the ,lord taketh away1 blessed be the name of the ,lord4 ,this is the way we should feel with regard to our children1 or our relatives1 or friends1 or whatever vicissitudes we may be called to pass through4 ,now1 the beauty of this to me is that ,i know these things1 that ,i am satisfied of them1 and so long as ,i possess the spirit of truth ,i have no fear that any doubt or uncertainty will ever enter my mind in regard to these principles4 ,there is only one course that ,i might pursue which would bring about mistrust and fear1 trembling and doubt1 in relation to these things4 ,and that would be for me to deny the truth and cut myself loose from the guiding influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 for ,i do know that so long as a man is under the guiding influence of the ,spirit of ,god he never can deny these truths which ,god has revealed to him1 and in that condition he is not subject to the power of ,satan4 ,it is only when he transgresses the law of ,god1 and dismisses these principles from his thoughts1 that he becomes subject to the powers of evil1 that his mind becomes darkened1 and he begins to doubt and fear4 ,but1 let a man have the ,spirit of ,god in his heart1 that ,spirit which reveals the things of ,god unto men1 and makes them to know the truth as ,god himself knows it1 he never can doubt those things which ,god has revealed4 ,therefore1 ,i rejoice in these truths1 for ,i know they are true4 ,i know that ,brother ,heber and his companion1 if they #egd are faithful to the light they possess and to the covenants that they have entered into before the ,lord1 will just as assuredly inherit the joy and the possession and the glory of this little one that has now departed1 as that they see its little form lying here before them this moment4 ,everyone who has the spirit of truth in his soul must feel this to be true4--,remarks at the funeral of ,daniel ,wells ,grant1 child of ,heber ,j4 ,grant1 and ,emily ,wells ,grant1 in family residence1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,march #ab1 #ahie4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #f1 pp4 #cfi-cgd4 ,,status ,,of ,,children ,,in ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,the spirits of our children are immortal before they come to us1 and their spirits1 after bodily death1 are like they were before they came4 ,they are as they would have appeared if they had lived in the flesh1 to grow to maturity1 or to develop their physical bodies to the full stature of their spirits4 ,if you see one of your children that has passed away it may appear to you in the form in which you would recognize it1 the form of childhood2 but if it came to you as a messenger bearing some important truth1 it would perhaps come as the spirit of ,bishop ,edward ,hunter's son 7who died when a little child7 came to him1 in the stature of full-grown manhood1 and revealed himself to his father1 and said3 ,i am your son4 ,bishop ,hunter did not understand it4 ,he went to my father and said3 ,hyrum1 what does that mean8 ,i buried my son when he was only a little boy1 but he has come to me as a full-grown man--a noble1 glorious1 young man1 and declared himself my son4 ,what does it mean8 ,father 7,hyrum ,smith1 the ,patriarch7 told him that the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ was full-grown before he was born into the world2 and so our children were full-grown and possessed their full stature in the spirit1 before they entered mortality1 the same stature that they will possess after they have passed away from mortality1 and as they will also appear #ege after the resurrection1 when they shall have completed their mission4 ,joseph ,smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child2 and1 pointing to the mother of a lifeless child1 he said to her3 ,you will have the joy1 the pleasure1 and satisfaction of nurturing this child1 after its resurrection1 until it reaches the full stature of its spirit4 ,there is restitution1 there is growth1 there is development1 after the resurrection from death4 ,i love this truth4 ,it speaks volumes of happiness1 of joy and gratitude to my soul4 ,thank the ,lord he has revealed these principles to us4 ,in #ahed1 ,i met with my aunt1 the wife of my uncle1 ,don ,carlos ,smith1 who was the mother of that little girl that ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet1 was speaking about when he told the mother that she should have the joy1 the pleasure1 and the satisfaction of rearing that child1 after the resurrection1 until it reached the full stature of its spirit2 and that it would be a far greater joy than she could possibly have in mortality1 because she would be free from the sorrow and fear and disabilities of mortal life1 and she would know more than she could know in this life4 ,i met that widow1 the mother of that child1 and she told me this circumstance and bore testimony to me that this was what the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith said when he was speaking at the funeral of her little daughter4 ,one day ,i was conversing with a brother-in-law of mine1 ,lorin ,walker1 who married my oldest sister4 ,in the course of the conversation he happened to mention that he was present at the funeral of my cousin ,sophronia1 and that he heard the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith declare the very words that ,aunt ,agnes had told me4 ,i said to him1 ,lorin1 what did the ,prophet say8 and he repeated1 as nearly as he could remember1 what the ,prophet ,joseph said in relation to little children4 ,the body #egf remains undeveloped in the grave1 but the spirit returns to ,god who gave it4 ,afterwards1 in the resurrection1 the spirit and body will be reunited2 the body will develop and grow to the full stature of the spirit2 and the resurrected soul will go on to perfection4 ,so ,i had the statement of two witnesses who heard this doctrine announced by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 the source of intelligence4 ,eventually ,i was in conversation with ,sister ,m4 ,isabella ,horn4 ,she began to relate to me the circumstance of her being present at the funeral that ,i refer to1 when ,joseph spoke of the death of little children1 their resurrection1 as little children1 and of the glory1 and honor1 and joy1 and happiness the mother would have in rearing her little children in the resurrection to the full stature of their spirits4 ,well1 she said1 ,i heard ,joseph say that4 ,i was at that funeral4 ,sister ,isabella ,horne told me this4 ,then ,i said to her3 ,why haven't you spoken about it before8 ,how is it you have kept it to yourself all these long years8 ,why haven't you let the ,church know something about this declaration of the ,prophet8 ,she replied3 ,i did not know whether it was my duty to do so1 or whether it would be proper or not4 ,i said3 ,who else was there8 ,my husband was there4 ,does he remember it8 ,yes1 he remembers it4 ,well1 will you and ,brother ,horne give me an affidavit in writing1 stating the fact1 and let it be sworn to8 ,she said1 ,with the greatest of pleasure4 ,so ,i have the testimony in affidavit form of ,brother and ,sister ,horne1 in addition to the testimony of my aunt1 and the testimony of my brother-in-law1 in relation to the ,prophet ,joseph's remarks at that funeral4 ,just a little while later1 to my joy and satisfaction1 the first man ,i ever heard mention it in public was ,franklin ,d4 #egg ,richards2 and when he spoke of it1 ,i felt in my soul3 the truth has come out4 ,the truth will prevail4 ,it is mighty1 and it will live2 for there is no power that can destroy it4 ,presidents ,woodruff and ,cannon approved of the doctrine and after that ,i preached it4 ,it is a good thing for us not to attempt to advance new doctrine1 or new and advanced thought in relation to principles and doctrines pertaining to1 or presumed to pertain to1 the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 without weighing it carefully1 with the experience of years1 before we attempt to make a doctrinal test and to advance it to the people of the ,lord4 ,there is so much simple truth1 necessary to be understood1 that has been revealed to us in the gospel that it is extreme folly in us to attempt to go beyond the truth that has been revealed1 until we have mastered and can comprehend the truth that we have4 ,there is a great deal within our reach that we have not yet mastered4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,may1 #aiah1 pp4 #efg-egc4 ,,address ,,at ,,funeral ,,services ,,of ,,mary ,a4 ,,freeze4 ,there does not seem to be much left to be said4 ,i endorse heartily and fully every kindly sentiment that ,i have heard expressed here this afternoon with reference to our departed sister4 ,i have known her1 as a worker in the ,church1 for a goodly number of years1 and have had the pleasure of frequently meeting her in the various capacities in which she has labored in the ,church1 and in every instance ,i have been more and more impressed with the pure character and spirit of the woman4 ,there was a calmness about her appearance1 her conversation1 and her conduct that seemed to indicate a well-matured character and a well-established principle of life4 ,nothing that ,i have ever perceived in her has appeared flighty1 unsettled1 or unstable1 but in everything1 her life indicated a life of stability1 of reliability and fidelity to the ,lord and to his covenants4 ,after hearing the many good things that have been said #egh 7yet1 as ,brother ,joseph ,e4 ,taylor has remarked1 not half has been told7 in relation to the good life and labors of our dear sister1 it makes my mind revert to the blessed hopes that are inspired in our souls by and through our faith in the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ--the hope that that gospel inspired in our souls that we are following in the footsteps of our ,redeemer and that every man and woman following in his footsteps will become like him1 will enjoy the blessed privileges which he enjoyed1 will pass through the varied ordeals through which he passed1 and will eventually land at the same goal and will be blessed with the same privileges1 and power and glory1 and exaltation that he1 himself1 vindicated1 proved and fulfilled in his life and death and resurrection from death to life again4 ,i cannot conceive of any more desirable thing than is vouchsafed to us in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ--that though we die1 yet we shall live again1 and though we die and dissolve into the native elements of which our tabernacles are composed1 yet these elements will again be restored to each other and be reorganized1 and we will become again living souls just as the ,savior did before us2 and his having done so has made it possible for all the rest of us4 ,what can there be more joyous to think of than the fact that ,brother ,freeze1 who loved his wife and whom she loved1 to whom he was true and who was true to him all her days of association with him as wife and mother1 will have the privilege of coming up on the morning of the first resurrection clothed with immortality and eternal life1 and resume the relationship that existed between them in this life1 the relationship of husband and wife1 father and mother1 parents to their children1 having laid the foundation for eternal glory and eternal exaltation in the kingdom of ,god6 ,life without this hope would seem to me in vain4 ,and yet there is nothing that ,i have ever discovered in the world1 except the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 that gives this assurance4 ,nothing has ever pointed it out #egi in a tangible way except the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,jesus ,christ has laid this foundation1 has taught this principle and this truth1 and has uttered that memorable sentiment that1 ,he that believeth in me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live2 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die4 7,john #aa3be1 #bf47 ,now1 to me this explains the sentiment expressed by ,brother ,joseph ,e4 ,taylor1 when he said he did not feel the presence of death when he went to visit her4 ,do you feel the presence of death here8 ,he did not feel it then4 ,just prior to the departure of her spirit1 there was no element of death there4 ,the element of dissolution--the separation of the spiritual from the temporal1 of the immortal from the mortal was visible1 but in the presence of the ,spirit of the ,lord1 and with the hope inspired in the gospel of the ,son of ,god1 that he that believeth in me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live2 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die1 and in the knowledge of the fact that every provision the ,lord has given by which we may be prepared to enjoy the fulness of these blessings has been observed and entered into1 believed and followed by this good woman1 what reason could there be1 under such circumstances1 for thoughts of death8 ,it was not death1 but a change from mortality to immortality1 from death1 in fact1 to life everlasting4 ,now1 ,i believe that if ever a soul in the world is entitled to the enjoyment or realization of that saying1 of the ,son of ,god this good woman is entitled to it2 for ,i believe1 according to her knowledge1 she was true to every principle by which she might fulfil the intent of it and by which she may receive the verification of it in the world to come4 ,i do not feel that it would be proper or necessary for me to occupy very much time1 but while the brethren and sisters were speaking1 the thought naturally passed through my mind--what will be her occupation in the world to come8 #ehj ,what will she do there8 ,we are told that she will not be idle4 ,she could not be idle4 ,in ,god's plans1 there is no such thing as idleness4 ,god is not pleased with the thought of idleness4 ,he is not idle1 and there is no such thing as inertia in the providences and in the purposes of ,god4 ,we are either growing and advancing1 or are retrograding4 ,we are not stationary4 ,we must grow4 ,the principles of everlasting growth and development tend to glory1 to exaltation1 to happiness1 and to a fulness of joy4 ,what has she been doing8 ,she has been working in the temple1 among other things4 ,she has been working1 also1 as a minister of life among young women of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,she has labored diligently and earnestly in trying to persuade the daughters of ,zion to come to a knowledge of the truth as she possessed it4 ,she seemed to be thoroughly established in it4 ,i have never discovered the least symptom of any dubiety in her mind in reference to the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,she has been laboring to bring others of the daughters of ,zion to the same standard of knowledge1 faith and understanding of the principles of the gospel of ,christ that she herself possessed1 a ministering angel and a mother in ,israel1 seeking the salvation of other daughters and other mothers in ,israel4 ,what can you conceive of grander than a calling like that8 ,then1 as ,i said1 she has been at work in the temple4 ,what for8 ,administering ordinances that ,god has revealed are essential to the salvation of the living and their preparation for greater exaltation and glory here and hereafter1 and also for the redemption of the dead4 ,what can you think of greater than this8 ,to my mind1 there isn't anything so great and so glorious in this world as to labor for the salvation of the living and for the redemption of the dead4 ,we read of the ,savior going to preach the gospel to the spirits in prison1 when his body lay in the tomb4 ,that was a part of the great mission he had to perform4 ,he was sent not only #eha to preach the gospel to those dwelling in mortality1 but he was foreordained and anointed of ,god to open the doors of the prison house to those in bondage and to proclaim his gospel to them4 ,i have always believed1 and still do believe with all my soul1 that such men as ,peter and ,james and the twelve disciples chosen by the ,savior in his time1 have been engaged all the centuries that have passed since their martyrdom for the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 in proclaiming liberty to the captives in the spirit world and in opening their prison doors4 ,i do not believe that they could be employed in any greater work4 ,their special calling and anointing of the ,lord himself was to save the world1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison doors to those who were bound in chains of darkness1 superstition1 and ignorance4 ,i believe that the disciples who have passed away in this dispensation--,joseph1 the ,prophet1 and his brother ,hyrum1 and ,brigham1 and ,heber1 and ,willard1 and ,daniel and ,john1 and ,wilford and all the rest of the prophets who have lived in this dispensation1 and who have been intimately associated with the work of redemption and the other ordinances of the gospel of the ,son of ,god in this world1 are preaching that same gospel that they lived and preached here1 to those who are in darkness in the spirit world and who had not the knowledge before they went4 ,the gospel must be preached to them4 ,we are not perfect without them--they cannot be perfect without us4 ,now1 among all these millions of spirits that have lived on the earth and have passed away1 from generation to generation1 since the beginning of the world1 without the knowledge of the gospel--among them you may count that at least one-half are women4 ,who is going to preach the gospel to the women8 ,who is going to carry the testimony of ,jesus ,christ to the hearts of the women who have passed away without a knowledge of the gospel8 ,well1 #ehb to my mind1 it is a simple thing4 ,these good sisters who have been set apart1 ordained to the work1 called to it1 authorized by the authority of the holy priesthood to minister for their sex1 in the ,house of ,god for the living and for the dead1 will be fully authorized and empowered to preach the gospel and minister to the women while the elders and prophets are preaching it to the men4 ,the things we experience here are typical of the things of ,god and the life beyond us4 ,there is a great similarity between ,god's purposes as manifested here and his purposes as carried out in his presence and kingdom4 ,those who are authorized to preach the gospel here and are appointed here to do that work will not be idle after they have passed away1 but will continue to exercise the rights that they obtained here under the priesthood of the ,son of ,god to minister for the salvation of those who have died without a knowledge of the truth4 ,some of you will understand when ,i tell you that some of these good women who have passed beyond have actually been anointed queens and priestesses unto ,god and unto their husbands1 to continue their work and to be the mothers of spirits in the world to come4 ,the world does not understand this--they cannot receive it--they do not know what it means1 and it is sometimes hard for those who ought to be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the gospel--even for some of us1 to comprehend1 but it is true4 ,now1 may the ,lord bless ,brother ,freeze4 ,as ,sister ,martha ,tingey has said1 ,sister ,freeze could never have done the work she has done if it had not been for his seconding her in her efforts4 ,he consented to her partially neglecting her home duties in order to labor in a broader field for the salvation of others4 ,but just here let me my a word to you mothers4 ,oh1 mothers1 salvation1 mercy1 life ever-lasting begin at home4 ,what profiteth it a man1 though he gain the whole world and lose his own soul8 ,what would it profit me1 though ,i should go out into the world and #ehc win strangers to the fold of ,god and lose my own children8 ,oh6 ,god1 let me not lose my own4 ,i can not afford to lose mine1 whom ,god has given to me and whom ,i am responsible for before the ,lord1 and who are dependent upon me for guidance1 for instruction1 for proper influence4 ,father1 do not permit me to lose interest in my own1 in trying to save others4 ,charity begins at home4 ,life everlasting should begin at home4 ,i should feel very badly to be made to realize1 by and by1 that through my neglect of home1 while trying to save others1 ,i have lost my own4 ,i do not want that4 ,the ,lord help me to save my own1 so far as one can help another4 ,i realize ,i cannot save anybody1 but ,i can teach them how to be saved4 ,i can set an example before my children how they can be saved1 and it is my duty to do that first4 ,i owe it more to them than to anybody else in the world4 ,then1 when ,i have accomplished the work ,i should do in my own home circle1 let me extend my power for good abroad just as far as ,i can4 ,my brethren and sisters1 ,i know as ,i know ,i live that ,joseph ,smith was and is and ever will be the instrument chosen of ,god the eternal ,father to lay the foundation of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and to establish the kingdom of ,god on earth1 never more to be thrown down4 ,i bear testimony to you4 ,i know as ,i know ,i live that every doctrine that he taught is calculated to build up1 to ennoble1 to enlarge the soul1 to establish peace and righteousness in the hearts of the children of men1 and lead them up to ,god1 and not away from him4 ,i know it as ,i know ,i live4 ,it is true1 and ,i thank ,god that1 like my dear sister here1 whose earthly remains only now are with us1 he has made me to believe it and to accept of it without recourse4 ,i believe it with all my heart1 just as ,i believe ,i live1 and as ,i believe my own mother and father4 ,let us all strive for this belief1 and if we will1 we shall have joy and satisfaction1 and we shall enter into ,god's rest1 right here1 #ehd in this world4 ,for he that entereth in ,god's rest here will never more be disturbed by the hallucinations of sin and wickedness1 and the enemies of truth will have no power over him4 ,that ,god will help us to reach that point is my prayer1 and may the blessings of the ,lord attend the family of ,sister and ,brother ,freeze and their children1 that not one of them will ever take a course that will bring sorrow to their beloved and sainted mother4 ,that has been one of the stimulants of my life1 one of the things that has made me strive to do good4 ,i would not grieve my blessed mother1 if ,i knew it1 for anything in the world4 ,there is nothing between me and the heavens that would compensate for doing something that would grieve or hurt my mother4 ,why8 ,because she loved me1 she would have died for me over and over again1 if such were possible1 only to have saved me4 ,why should ,i grieve1 why should ,i disappoint her8 ,why should ,i take a course contrary to her own life and her life's teachings to me1 for she taught me honor1 and virtue1 and truth1 and integrity to the kingdom of ,god1 and she taught me not only by precept but by example4 ,i would not grieve her for the world4 ,boys and girls1 do not do anything to grieve your mother4 ,you know she was a ,latter-day ,saint1 you know she was true to her convictions4 ,be as true as she was1 and1 as the ,lord lives1 you will be exalted with your mother1 and will have a fulness of joy1 which1 may ,god grant1 is my prayer in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #bc1 #aiaa1 pp4 #abh-acb4 ,,the ,,resurrection4 ,now ,i am going to take the liberty of reading a little scripture to you1 and then1 as ,i go along1 express my belief and conviction in relation to what we believe as ,latter-day ,saints with reference to the resurrection from the dead4 ,i shall not take the pains or time to go into the subject in detail1 for there are a great many scriptures that can be brought to bear upon the subject1 #ehe scattered through the ,new ,testament1 in the declaration of the ,son of ,god2 but ,i will content myself by reading the description of his resurrection4 ,we all know that he was lifted upon the cross2 that he was pierced in the side1 and that his life blood flowed from the body2 and that he groaned upon the cross and gave up the spirit2 that his body was taken from the cross1 embalmed and wrapped in clean linen and laid in a new sepulchre wherein the body of no man had ever been laid4 ,and then1 remembering the remark that he was to lay down his body and take it up again1 the claim that he made that that temple was to be destroyed but that it would be raised up the third day1 that he was going to lay down his life and take it up again1 the chief priests went to the chief authorities and demanded that a great stone be placed at the mouth of the sepulchre and that a seal be placed upon it1 and that also a guard should be placed there1 lest his disciples should come at night and take away the body and impose upon the public the claim that he had risen from the dead4 ,and so a cordon of soldiers were placed to guard the tomb1 and a great stone was placed at the mouth of the sepulchre1 and a seal was placed upon it according to the history given in the scriptures of it1 so that it would be absolutely impossible for the disciples of ,christ to perpetrate a deception upon the world by clandestinely stealing and taking away the body of ,christ and then proclaiming to the world that his body had been raised from the dead4 ,sometimes even the enemies of the truth and those who are seeking to destroy it become the unwitting means of verifying truth and of putting it beyond possibility of a doubt2 for if they had not taken this precaution themselves1 and if their guard had not been placed at the tomb to guard the sepulchre to see that no fraud could be perpetrated1 then they could easily have gone out to the world and said1 ,why1 his disciples came and took the body away2 they slipped in and stole it at night4 ,but they closed their own mouths #ehf in a vain attempt to destroy the effects of his resurrection from the dead upon the minds of the people and upon the history of the world4 ,thomas1 one of the ,twelve1 called ,didymus1 was not with them when ,jesus came1 after his resurrection4 ,the other disciples therefore said unto him1 ,we have seen the ,lord4 ,but he said unto them1 ,except ,i shall see in his hands the print of the nails1 and put my finger into the print of the nails1 and thrust my hand into his side1 ,i will not believe4 7,john #bj3be47 ,we have a great many ,didymuses in our day and generation1 but we hope that there are none of them here1 but the other class ,jesus named4 ,and after eight days again his disciples were within1 and ,thomas with them3 then came ,jesus1 the doors being shut1 and stood in the midst1 and said1 ,peace be unto you4 ,then saith he to ,thomas1 ,reach hither thy finger1 and behold my bands2 and reach hither thy hand1 and thrust it into my side3 and be not faithless1 but believing4 ,and ,thomas answered and said unto him1 ,my ,lord and my ,god4 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,thomas1 because thou hast seen me1 thou hast believed3 blessed are they that have not seen1 and yet have believed4 7,john #bj3bf-bi7 ,the disciple who wrote this1 the beloved disciple1 the personal witness himself1 he who ran to the sepulchre and who outran ,peter and came to it first1 and looked into it1 and who afterwards went into it after ,peter1 he who has written these words1 says further3 ,and many other signs truly did ,jesus in the presence of his disciples1 which are not written in this book3 but these are written1 that ye might believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god2 and that believing ye might have life through his name4 7,john #bj3cj1 #ca7 ,now what ,i want to call to your minds is1 emphatically1 the undeniable and unequivocal and direct description of #ehg the body1 the resurrected body of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 given in this narrative of his resurrection and appearance to his disciples1 which dissipates all imagination or thought that the death of the body and the departure of the spirit from the body is the resurrection of the dead4 ,does it not8 ,christ is the ,son of ,god1 and his disciples bear faithful record of the truth as they witnessed it--as they declare they did witness it2 for they declare that they saw it with their eyes1 heard it with their ears1 were pricked in their hearts1 and they examined the wounds with their own hands1 to see and feel that he was indeed the same individual1 the same person1 the same body that was crucified1 bearing the same marks that were inflicted upon the body while it was extended upon the cross--all this must go to show to you that the resurrection of ,christ was the resurrection of himself1 and not his spirit4 ,before ,i proceed further1 there is another scripture that ,i will read to you1 from the #bdth chapter of ,luke3 ,and1 behold1 two of them went that same day to a village called ,emmaus1 which was from ,jerusalem about three-score furlongs4 ,and they talked together of all these things which had happened4 ,and it came to pass1 that1 while they communed together and reasoned1 ,jesus himself drew near1 and went with them4 ,but their eyes were holden that they should not know him4 7,luke #bd3ac-af7 ,and he journeyed and talked with them on the way1 and unfolded the scriptures unto them1 but they did not know that it was he4 ,they did not personally know that it was ,christ resurrected4 ,and it came to pass1 as he sat at meat with them1 he took bread1 and blessed it1 and brake1 and gave to them4 ,now this is not the testimony of ,john4 ,this is the testimony of ,luke1 another of the disciples of ,christ4 ,and their eyes were opened1 and they knew him2 and he vanished out of their sight4 ,and they said one to another1 #ehh ,did not our heart burn within us1 while he talked with us by the way1 and while he opened to us the scriptures8 ,and they rose up the same hour1 and returned to ,jerusalem1 and found the eleven gathered together1 and them that were with them1 saying1 ,the ,lord is risen indeed1 and hath appeared to ,simon4 ,and they told what things were done in the way1 and how he was known of them in breaking of bread4 ,and as they thus spake1 ,jesus himself stood in the midst of them1 and saith unto them1 ,peace be unto you4 ,but they were terrified and affrighted1 and supposed that they had seen a spirit4 ,and he said unto them1 ,why are ye troubled8 and why do thoughts arise in your hearts8 ,behold my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself3 handle me1 and see2 for a spirit bath not flesh and bones as ye see me have4 ,and when he had thus spoken1 he shewed them his hands and his feet4 ,and while they yet believed not for joy1 and wondered1 he said unto them1 ,have ye here any meat8 ,and they gave him a piece of broiled fish1 and of an honeycomb4 ,and he took it1 and did eat before them4 ,and he said unto them1 ,these are the words which ,i spake unto you1 while ,i was yet with you1 that all things must be fulfilled1 which were written in the law of ,moses1 and in the prophets1 and in the psalms1 concerning me4 7,luke #bd3cj-dd7 ,now1 shall we accept the scriptural definition of the resurrection of the body8 ,shall we accept ,christ's manifestation in his own person resurrected from the dead8 ,or shall we take the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,phillip's opinion of it1 that the death of the body and the separation of the spirit from it is the resurrection of the dead8 ,which do you choose8 ,joseph the ,prophet declared in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants 7,sec4 #acj3bb7 that the ,father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's1 and the ,son of ,god has a body of flesh and bones as he himself has declared that he has1 and is not a mere spirit1 but is a risen being1 a resurrected #ehi soul4 ,and the ,holy ,ghost is a personage of spirit1 but not a personage of bones and flesh1 as are the ,father and the ,son4 ,consequently1 the ,holy ,spirit1 or the ,holy ,ghost1 may be conferred upon men1 and he may dwell with them for a while1 or he may continue to dwell with them in accordance with their worthiness1 and he may depart from them at his will4 ,now ,i am going to read a little from the ,book of ,mormon1 a book of scripture that was translated by the gift and power of ,god1 for the voice of ,god declared to the three witnesses that it had been translated by the gift and power of ,god and that it was true4 ,the three witnesses declared and testified to its truth1 and eight other witnesses1 besides the ,prophet ,joseph1 declared that they beheld the plates and handled them1 and saw the engravings on them1 and that they do know that ,joseph ,smith did have the plates from which the ,book of ,mormon was translated4 ,and it is one of the greatest puzzles to scientists that they are discovering in the path of ancient civilization of this continent evidences and proofs of the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon1 that they cannot dispute or gainsay4 ,and their wonder is1 how ,joseph ,smith1 a man unlearned in history1 in theology1 in science1 a man without book learning1 practically1 could ever so closely hit upon facts that are now being discovered by explorers and scientists throughout this historical country1 that the ,book of ,mormon covers1 and they say it is perplexing to them4 ,it is astonishing to them that three men could testify1 as the three witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon have testified1 and that the eight other witnesses could testify as they have done1 and yet not one of them ever repudiate his testimony4 ,they cannot understand and they cannot account for it upon any scientific principle4 ,if it was a fraud1 and these men were deceived or led into a trap1 and did it by sophistry or with a purpose of deceiving the world1 surely some one or more of them #eij would have risen to the truth before they died and have divulged the fraud4 ,but no1 not one of them did4 ,they apostatized from ,joseph1 but they did not deny the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,they remained faithful and true to their testimony to that4 ,true1 they declared that ,joseph ,smith had gone astray1 that the ,church had gone astray1 just like all other apostates have declared4 ,you never saw apostates anywhere who would admit that they were wrong2 but they always claim that they are right1 and the ,church is wrong4 ,so it was with ,oliver ,cowdery until he repented and returned to the ,church4 ,so it was with ,david ,whitmer until the day of his death4 ,he believed that ,joseph had been led astray1 first1 into receiving the ,melchizedek ,priesthood as well as the ,aaronic priesthood4 ,that he received the ,aaronic priesthood and was ordained under the band of ,john the ,baptist he admitted and believed1 but he denied any ordination under the hands of ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john to the ,melchizedek priesthood1 and consequently he went to work and organized a church and a presidency after the order of the ,aaronic priesthood4 ,but never1 up to the time of his death1 did he deny his testimony as one of the three witnesses1 and in his dying words he declared that his testimony contained in this book is true4 ,so did ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,he came back into the ,church after saying many bad things and after wandering about for a while1 and confessed his follies and his wrong1 and claimed that if he could only be permitted to come back a lay member in the ,church it would be all that he could ask1 or would ask for4 ,he felt that he was unworthy of anything better or greater1 and he was permitted to come back and be baptized4 ,martin ,harris also came back and was baptized into the ,church1 and died with his testimony on his lips1 for not one of them ever repudiated his testimony4 #eia ,furthermore1 not one of the eight witnesses ever did either4 ,neither did the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,so1 here you have a record1 the witnesses of which remain unimpeached and whose integrity no power beneath the kingdom of ,god can impeach1 for they told the truth1 and they abode in the truth which they told until they died in the flesh4 ,now1 one of the ancient disciples or prophets who lived upon this continent1 who was inspired of ,god and who delivered this message to the world afterwards that was engraven upon plates of gold1 and preserved and handed down and revealed in this dispensation of the world1 has something precious to say upon this subject4 ,this is not from ,jerusalem4 ,this is not a message that was delivered to the disciples of ,christ in ,jerusalem2 but this is a message that was delivered by a prophet who lived upon this continent2--and here are his words3 ,and he shall come into the world to redeem his people2 for this was before the coming of ,christ to redeem his people and he shall take upon him the transgression of those who believe on his name2 and these are they that shall have eternal life1 and salvation cometh to none else4 ,now let me say here3 ,he shall come into the world1 and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name4 ,and those who believe will do the works that he commands4 ,no man that will believe in truth will ever refuse to do what is required4 ,and these are they that believe1 that shall have eternal life1 and salvation cometh to none else4 ,therefore1 the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made1 except it be the loosing of the bands of death2 for behold1 the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before ,god1 and be judged according to their works4 ,now1 there is a death which is called a temporal death2 and the death of ,christ shall loose the bands #eib of this temporal death1 that all shall be raised from this temporal death2 the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form2 both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame1 even as we now are at this time2 and we shall be brought to stand before ,god1 knowing even as we know now1 and have a bright recollection of all our guilt4 ,now this restoration shall come to all1 both old and young1 both bond and free1 both male and female1 both the wicked and the righteous2 and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost2 but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame1 as it is now1 or in the body1 and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of ,christ the ,son1 and ,god the ,father1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 which is one eternal ,god1 to be judged according to their works1 whether they be good or whether they be evil4 ,now1 behold1 ,i have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body1 and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body4 ,not the resurrection of the spirit1 but the resurrection of the mortal body4 ,i say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body2 that is from death2 even from the first death unto life1 that they can die no more2 their spirits uniting with their bodies1 never to be divided2 thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal1 that they can no more see corruption4 7,alma #aa3dj-de7 ,now that is the doctrine of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,that is the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 and1 as he is the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead1 as he was raised up1 so will be raise up all the children of his ,father upon whom the curse of ,adam came4 ,for as by one man came temporal death upon all men1 so by the righteousness of ,christ all shall come to life1 through the resurrection from the dead upon all men2 whether they be good or whether they be evil1 whether they be black or white1 bond or free1 learned or unlearned1 or whether they be young or old1 it matters not4 ,the death that came by the fall of our first parents is #eic eradicated by the resurrection of the ,son of ,god1 and you and ,i cannot help it4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,october #bf1 #ahfg4 ,,work ,,for ,,the ,,dead4 ,the work for our dead1 which the ,prophet ,joseph laid upon us with more than ordinary injunction1 instructing us that we should look after those of our kinfolk and our ancestors who have died without the knowledge of the gospel1 should not be neglected4 ,we should avail ourselves of those sacred and potent ordinances of the gospel which have been revealed as essential to the happiness1 salvation and redemption of those who have lived in this world when they could not learn the gospel and have died without the knowledge of it1 and are now waiting for us1 their children1 who are living in an age when these ordinances can be performed1 to do the work necessary for their release from the prison-house4 ,through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them1 and the darkness surrounding them will clear away1 that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here1 and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #f4 ,,temple ,,ordinances ,,unchanged4 ,we are engaged in temple work4 ,we have built four temples in this land1 and we built two temples in the eastern country before we came here4 ,during the lifetime of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith one of the two was built and dedicated1 and the foundation of the other was laid and the walls had well progressed when he was martyred4 ,it was finished by the efforts of the people under the most trying circumstances1 and in poverty1 and was dedicated unto the ,lord4 ,the ordinances of the house of ,god were administered therein as they had been taught to the leading authorities of the ,church by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith himself4 ,the same gospel1 the same ordinances1 the same authority and blessings1 that were administered #eid by the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and taught by him to his associates are now being enjoyed by and taught to the ,latter-day ,saints in the four temples that have been built in these valleys of the mountains4 ,when you hear anybody say that we have changed the ordinances1 that we have transgressed the laws1 or have broken the everlasting covenants which were entered into under the personal administration of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 tell them for me1 tell them for ,president ,snow1 for ,president ,cannon1 and for all those who are living today who received blessings and ordinances under the bands of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 that they are in error4 ,the same gospel prevails today1 and the same ordinances are administered today1 both for the living and for the dead1 that were administered by the ,prophet himself1 and delivered by him to the ,church4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijj1 pp4 #df1 #dg4 ,,care ,,and ,,need ,,of ,,temples4 ,we feel that an effort should be made to preserve the temples of ,god1 those houses that have been erected for the purpose of administering the ordinances of the gospel therein1 for the living and the dead4 ,we desire that these buildings shall be preserved and kept in repair and in a wholesome condition1 so that the ,spirit of the ,lord may dwell in them1 and that those who minister therein may feel the presence and influence of his ,spirit4 ,we also feel that when the time shall come and our hands shall be free from the obligations that now rest upon us1 other places should be prepared for the convenience of the ,latter-day ,saints in more distant stakes1 in order that those who are living at great distances from the center may have the privilege of receiving the ordinances of the gospel without being put to the great expense and loss of time that is necessary now in journeying from #ejj to #a1jjj miles in order to reach the houses of ,god4 ,we hope to see the day when we shall have temples built in the various parts of the land where they are needed for the convenience #eie of the people2 for we realize that one of the greatest responsibilities that rests upon the people of ,god today is that their hearts shall be turned unto their fathers1 and that they shall do the work that is necessary to be done for them in order that they may be joined together fitly in the bond of the ,new and ,everlasting ,covenant from generation to generation4 ,for the ,lord has said1 through the ,prophet1 that this is one of the greatest responsibilities devolving upon us in this latter day4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijb1 pp4 #b1 #c4 ,,preaching ,,the ,,gospel ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,never has there been a name brought to the intelligence of the human race since the foundation of the world that has cost so much1 that has accomplished so much1 that has been revered and honored so much as the name of ,jesus ,christ1 once so hated1 and persecuted1 and then crucified4 ,the day will come1 and it is not far distant either1 when the name of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith will be coupled with the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 the ,son of ,god1 as his representative1 as his agent whom he chose1 ordained and set apart to lay anew the foundations of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 possessing all the powers of the gospel1 all the rites and privileges1 the authority of the holy priesthood and every principle necessary to fit and qualify both the living and the dead to inherit eternal life and to attain to exaltation in the kingdom of ,god4 ,the day will come when you and ,i will not be the only ones who will believe this1 by a great deal1 but there will be millions living and dead who will proclaim this truth4 ,this gospel revealed to the ,prophet ,joseph is already being preached to the spirits in prison1 to those who have passed away from this stage of action into the spirit world without the knowledge of the gospel4 ,joseph ,smith is preaching that gospel to them4 ,so is ,hyrum ,smith4 ,so is ,brigham ,young1 and so are all the faithful apostles that lived in this dispensation under the administration of the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,they are there1 having carried with them #eif from here the holy priesthood that they received under authority1 and which was conferred upon them in the flesh2 they are preaching the gospel to the spirits in prison2 for ,christ1 when his body lay in the tomb1 went to proclaim liberty to the captives and opened the prison doors to them that were bound4 ,not only are these engaged in that work but hundreds and thousands of others2 the elders that have died in the mission field have not finished their missions1 but they are continuing them in the spirit world4 ,possibly the ,lord saw it necessary or proper to call them hence as he did4 ,i am not going to question that thought1 in the least1 nor dispute it4 ,i leave it in the hand of ,god1 for ,i believe that all these things will be overruled for good1 for the ,lord will suffer nothing to come to his people in the world that he will not overrule eventually for their greater good4--,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,conference1 ,june #e1 #aiaj2 ,young ,woman's ,journal1 ,vol4 #ba1 pp4 #def-dfj4 ,,vision ,,of ,,the ,,redemption ,,of ,,the ,,dead4 ,on the third of ,october1 in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen1 ,i sat in my room pondering over the ,scriptures and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the ,son of ,god for the redemption of the world1 and the great and wonderful love made manifest by the ,father and the ,son in the coming of the ,redeemer into the world1 that through his ,atonement and by obedience to the principles of the gospel1 mankind might be saved4 ,while ,i was thus engaged1 my mind reverted to the writings of the ,apostle ,peter to the primitive saints scattered abroad throughout ,pontus1 ,galatia1 ,cappadocia1 and other parts of ,asia where the gospel had been preached after the crucifixion of the ,lord4 ,i opened the ,bible and read the third and fourth chapters of the first epistle of ,peter1 and as ,i read ,i was greatly impressed1 more than ,i had ever been before1 with the following passages3 ,for ,christ also bath once suffered for sins1 the just #eig for the unjust1 that he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened by the ,spirit3 ,by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison2 ,which sometime were disobedient1 when once the longsuffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah1 while the ark was a preparing1 wherein few1 that is1 eight souls were saved by water4 7,i ,peter #c3ah-bj7 ,for1 for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7,i ,peter #d3f7 ,as ,i pondered over these things which are written1 the eyes of my understanding were opened1 and the ,spirit of the ,lord rested upon me1 and ,i saw the hosts of the dead1 both small and great4 ,and there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just1 who had been faithful in the testimony of ,jesus while they lived in mortality1 and who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the ,son of ,god1 and had suffered tribulation in their ,redeemer's name4 ,all these had departed the mortal life1 firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection1 through the grace of ,god the ,father and his ,only ,begotten ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,i beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness1 and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand4 ,they were assembled awaiting the advent of the ,son of ,god into the spirit world1 to declare their redemption from the bands of death4 ,their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame1 bone to his bone1 and the sinews and the flesh upon them1 the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided1 that they might receive a fulness of joy4 ,while this vast multitude waited and conversed1 rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of #eih death1 the ,son of ,god appeared1 declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful1 and there he preached to them the everlasting gospel1 the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall1 and from individual sins on conditions of repentance4 ,but unto the wicked he did not go1 and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh1 his voice was not raised1 neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence1 nor look upon his face4 ,where these were1 darkness reigned1 but among the righteous there was peace1 and the saints rejoiced in their redemption1 and bowed the knee and acknowledged the ,son of ,god as their ,redeemer and ,deliverer from death and the chains of hell4 ,their countenances shone and the radiance from the presence of the ,lord rested upon them and they sang praises unto his holy ,name4 ,i marveled1 for ,i understood that the ,savior spent about three years in his ministry among the ,jews and those of the house of ,israel1 endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance2 and yet1 notwithstanding his mighty works and miracles and proclamation of the truth in great power and authority1 there were but few who hearkened to his voice and rejoiced in his presence and received salvation at his hands4 ,but his ministry among those who were dead was limited to the brief time intervening between the crucifixion and his resurrection2 and ,i wondered at the words of ,peter wherein he said that the ,son of ,god preached unto the spirits in prison who sometime were disobedient1 when once the longsuffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah1 and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time4 ,and as ,i wondered1 my eyes were opened1 and my understanding quickened1 and ,i perceived that the ,lord went #eii not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth1 to teach them2 but behold1 from among the righteous he organized his forces and appointed messengers1 clothed with power and authority1 and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness1 even to all the spirits of men4 ,and thus was the gospel preached to the dead4 ,and the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the ,lord1 and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound2 even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel4 ,thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins1 without a knowledge of the truth1 or in transgression1 having rejected the prophets4 ,these were taught faith in ,god1 repentance from sin1 vicarious baptism for the remission of sins1 the gift of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands1 and all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 ,and so it was made known among the dead1 both small and great1 the unrighteous as well as the faithful1 that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the ,son of ,god upon the cross4 ,thus was it made known that our ,redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of spirits1 instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh1 that they might carry the message of redemption unto all the dead unto whom he could not go personally because of their rebellion and transgression1 that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words4 ,among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous1 were ,father ,adam1 the ,ancient of ,days and father of all1 and our glorious ,mother ,eve1 with many of her faithful daughters who #fjj had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living ,god4 ,abel1 the first martyr1 was there1 and his brother ,seth1 one of the mighty ones1 who was in the express image of his father ,adam4 ,noah1 who gave warning of the flood2 ,shem1 the great ,high ,priest2 ,abraham1 the father of the faithful2 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 and ,moses1 the great law-giver of ,israel2 ,isaiah1 who declared by prophecy that the ,redeemer was anointed to bind up the broken hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that were bound1 were also there4 ,moreover1 ,ezekiel1 who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones which were to be clothed upon with flesh to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead1 living souls2 ,daniel1 who foresaw and foretold the establishment of the kingdom of ,god in the latter days1 never again to be destroyed nor given to other people2 ,elias1 who was with ,moses on the ,mount of ,transfiguration2 ,malachi1 the prophet who testified of the coming of ,elijah--of whom also ,moroni spake to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith--declaring that he should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord1 were also there4 ,the prophet ,elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers1 foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the ,lord in the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times1 for the redemption of the dead and the sealing of the children to their parents1 lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming4 ,all these and many more1 even the prophets who dwelt among the ,nephites and testified of the coming of the ,son of ,god1 mingled in the vast assembly and waited for their deliverance1 for the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage4 ,these the ,lord taught1 and gave them power to come forth1 after his resurrection from the dead1 to enter into his ,father's kingdom1 there to be crowned with immortality and eternal life1 and #fja continue thenceforth their labors as had been promised by the ,lord1 and be partakers of all blessings which were held in reserve for them that love him4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and my father1 ,hyrum ,smith1 ,brigham ,young1 ,john ,taylor1 ,wilford ,woodruff1 and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great ,latter-day work1 including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead1 were also in the spirit world4 ,i observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the ,church of ,god4 ,even before they were born1 they1 with many others1 received their first lessons in the world of spirits1 and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the ,lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men4 ,i beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation1 when they depart from mortal life1 continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption1 through the sacrifice of the ,only ,begotten ,son of ,god1 among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead4 ,the dead who repent will be redeemed1 through obedience to the ordinances of the house of ,god1 and after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions1 and are washed clean1 shall receive a reward according to their works1 for they are heirs of salvation4 ,thus was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me1 and ,i bear record1 and ,i know that this record is true1 through the blessing of our ,lord and ,savior1 ,jesus ,christ1 even so4 ,amen4--,joseph ,f4 ,smith4 ,this ,vision of the ,redemption of the ,dead was submitted ,october #ca1 #aiah1 to the ,counselors in the ,first ,presidency1 the ,council of the ,twelve and the ,patriarch1 #fjb and by them unanimously accepted4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bb1 ,december1 #aiah1 pp4 #aff-agj4 ,,moderation ,,in ,,burial ,,displays4 ,a good friend who is often called upon to attend to the proprieties on behalf of the dead1 calls attention in a letter to the indulgence of extravagance in the laying away of our departed friends and relatives4 ,she believes that the ,lord is not pleased with the profusion of flowers1 the expensive dress1 and even with the ornaments of gold in the form of rings and other jewelry used in decorating the dead4 ,we certainly recommend moderation and wisdom in the use of flowers1 the hire of carriages1 and the purchase of caskets4 ,in the old scriptures we have numerous examples of simplicity in burials4 ,while we are not called upon literally to follow these1 they should be a lesson to us to avoid ostentations1 and to attend to these matters with only such displays and preparations as will show due respect for the departed1 and proper consideration for the living4 ,relating to dress1 the ,latter-day ,saints burial clothes are all sufficient for our day4 ,anything more is unnecessary1 which good1 common sense would clearly suggest2 while the burial of jewelry with the dead can serve no good purpose4 ,it savors of vanity1 and might prove a temptation to grave robbers1--a naturally horrible thought4 ,in like manner with carriages and caskets1 only the necessary and modest should be used4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 ,december1 #aijh1 p4 #ade4 ,,who ,,cannot ,,be ,,reached ,,by ,,the ,,gospel8 ,and he that believes1 is baptized1 and receives the light and testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and walks well for a season1 receiving the fulness of the blessings of the gospel in this world1 and afterwards turns wholly unto sin1 violating his covenants1 he will be among those whom the gospel can never reach in the spirit world2 and all such go beyond its saving power1 they will taste the second death1 and be banished from the presence #fjc of ,god eternally4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 ,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 #ahge1 p4 #gjh4 ,,principle ,,of ,,baptism ,,for ,,the ,,dead4 ,here will come in the principles of baptism for the dead1 and of proxy and heirships1 as revealed through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 that they may receive a salvation and an exaltation1 ,i will not say a fulness of blessing and glory1 but a reward according to their merits and the righteousness and mercy of ,god1 even as it will be with you and with me4 ,but there is this difference between us and the antediluvians--they rejected the gospel1 consequently they received not the truth nor the testimony of ,jesus ,christ2 therefore they did not sin against a fulness of light1 while we have received the fulness of the gospel2 are admitted to the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and a knowledge of the living and true ,god1 whose will it is also our privilege to know1 that we may do it4 ,now if we sin1 we sin against the light and knowledge1 and peradventure we may become guilty of the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 for which sin there is no forgiveness1 neither in this world nor in the world to come4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 ,deseret ,weekly ,news1 ,vol4 #bd1 #ahge1 p4 #gjh4 #fjd ,,chapter ,,xxv ,,joseph ,,smith ,,the ,,prophet ,,the ,,reality ,,of ,,joseph',s ,,vision4 ,our critics say it was an apparition that the ,prophet ,joseph saw1 but he did not say so4 ,he said the personages who appeared to him were real men1 and there is nothing more improbable in his statement than in the recital in the ,bible of the conception and birth of ,christ1 and of ,john the ,baptist4 ,to us has come the account of the birth1 life and work of ,christ1 and there is nothing in the narrative to cause us to believe it more readily than that story of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,christ walked and talked and counseled with his friends when he came down from heaven over #aijj years ago4 ,is there any reason why he could not come again1 why he should not visit this earth once more and talk with men today8 ,if there is ,i should be glad to hear it4 ,the thing ,i want to impress upon you is that ,god is real1 a person of flesh and bones1 the same as you are and ,i am4 ,christ is the same1 but the ,holy ,ghost is a person of spirit4 ,if ,joseph ,smith's teachings were untrue1 then those of the ,great ,nazarene fall to the ground1 for they are one and the same4 ,you can't philosophize the truths of the gospel away1 nor explain them by saying the prophet was a victim of apparitions1 for they are real1 tangible facts behind which stand a great mass of proof as good as has ever been offered to substantiate any statement4 ,it is a comfort1 a blessing1 a delight to me1 and ,i pray that it may ever be so to you4--,logan ,journal1 ,march #ad1 #aiaa4 ,,service ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith4 ,our faith in ,jesus ,christ lies at the foundation of our religion1 the foundation of our hope for remission of sins1 and for exaltation after death1 #fje and for the resurrection from death to everlasting life4 ,our faith in the doctrines that have been restored through the instrumentality of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith confirms and strengthens us and establishes beyond a question or doubt1 our faith and belief in the divine mission of the ,son of ,god4 ,joseph ,smith was the instrument chosen of ,god and endowed with his authority to restore the holy priesthood1 the power of ,god to bind on earth and in heaven1--the power of the priesthood by which men may perform ordinances of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ for the salvation of mankind4 ,through ,joseph ,smith the gospel of repentance1 baptism in water for the remission of sins1 the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost and by fire have been restored1 and the knowledge that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,only ,begotten ,son of ,god1 is made manifest through the spirit of truth4 ,we are obligated to this humble servant that the ,lord chose to lay the foundation of this work for the ordinances of the gospel of the ,son of ,god1 then and still unknown to the world1 by which we may become united together as families1 as kindreds1 under the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant1 for time and for all eternity4 ,we are obligated to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 as an instrument in the hand of the ,lord1 for the knowledge that we possess of the work which is necessary to be done in the house of ,god1 for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead1 and for the eternal union of souls who are united in this life by the power of ,god1 under the bond of the everlasting covenant4 ,we are indebted1 or obligated at least1 to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 as the instrument in the hands of ,god1 for the knowledge we now possess that a man cannot be exalted into the presence of ,god and the full enjoyment of his glory1 alone4 ,it was not designed for the man to be alone1 for the man is not without the woman1 neither the woman without the man1 in the ,lord4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaf1 p4 #c4 ,,joseph ,,smith',s ,,name ,,will ,,never ,,perish4 ,god #fjf lives1 and ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,savior of the world4 ,joseph ,smith is a prophet of ,god--living1 not dead2 for his name will never perish4 ,the angel that visited him and declared ,god's message unto him1 told him that his name should be held for good and for evil throughout the world4 ,this prediction was made in the days of his youth1 before the ,church was organized1 and before there was any prospect of that which has since been accomplished4 ,the declaration was made1 notwithstanding it then seemed an absolute impossibility2 but from the day it was spoken until this moment1 and from now on until the winding-up scene1 the name of ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet of the nineteenth century1 has been1 is being1 and will be heralded abroad to the nations of the earth1 and will be held in honor or contempt by the people of the world4 ,but the honor in which it is now held by a few will by and by he increased that his name shall be held in reverence and honor among the children of men as universally as the name of the ,son of ,god is held today2 for he did and is doing the work of the ,master4 ,he laid the foundations in this dispensation for the restoration of the principles that were taught by the ,son of ,god1 who for these principles lived1 and taught1 and died1 and rose from the dead4 ,therefore ,i say1 as the name of the ,son of ,god shall be held in reverence and honor1 and in the faith and love of men1 so will the name of ,joseph ,smith eventually be held among the children of men1 gaining prestige1 increasing in honor and commanding respect and reverence1 until the world shall say that he was a servant and ,prophet of ,god4 ,the ,lord ,god ,omnipotent reigneth4 ,peace on earth1 good will to men1 is the proclamation that ,joseph the ,prophet made1 and that is the same as his ,master1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 made to the world4 ,that is the mission we are trying to fulfil1 and the proclamation we are seeking to make to the world today4 ,it is the mission that these young men have been chosen to proclaim1 and be #fjg witnesses of to the nations of the earth4 ,it is their duty to see to it that this proclamation and this gospel of peace and good will shall be sent to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 under the whole heavens4 ,god bless ,israel1 is my earnest prayer in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #abe-abf4 ,,the ,,prophet ,,joseph ,,smith4 ,brother ,woodruff1 in the course of his remarks1 made the assertion that ,joseph ,smith was the greatest prophet that has ever lived1 of whom we have any knowledge1 save and except ,jesus ,christ himself4 ,the world would say that he was an impostor2 and the ,lord said that his name should be had for good and for evil among all the nations of the earth2 and this much1 at least1 so far as his name has become known1 has been fulfilled4 ,this prediction was made through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith himself1 when he was an obscure youth1 and when there was but little prospect of his name ever becoming known beyond the village where he lived4 ,it was at an early period of his life1 and at the beginning of the work that this prophecy or revelation was given1 and it has been truly verified4 ,today there is not another man1 perhaps1 who has figured in religion1 whose name is so wide-spread among the nations1 as that of ,joseph ,smith4 ,in connection with the work of which he was the instrument in the hands of ,god of laying the foundation1 his name is spoken of in nearly every civilized nation upon the globe1 for good or for evil4 ,where it is spoken of for good1 it is by those who have had the privilege of hearing the gospel which has come to the earth through him1 and who have been sufficiently honest and humble to receive the same4 ,they speak of him with a knowledge which they have received by the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 through obedience to the principles which he taught1 as a prophet and as an inspired man4 ,they speak to his praise1 to his honor1 and they hold his name in honorable remembrance4 ,they revere him1 and they love #fjh him1 as they love no other man1 because they know he was the chosen instrument in the hands of the ,almighty in restoring the gospel of life and salvation unto them1 of opening their understandings of the future1 of lifting the veil of eternity1 as it were1 from before their eyes4 ,those who have received the principles which he promulgated know they pertain not only to their own salvation1 happiness and peace1 spiritual and temporal1 but to the welfare1 happiness1 salvation and exaltation of their kindred who have died without a knowledge of the truth4 ,the work in which ,joseph ,smith was engaged was not confined to this life alone1 but it pertains as well to the life to come1 and to the life that has been4 ,in other words1 it relates to those who have lived upon the earth1 to those who are living and to those who shall come after us4 ,it is not something which relates to man only while he tabernacles in the flesh1 but to the whole human family from eternity to eternity4 ,consequently1 as ,i have said1 ,joseph ,smith is held in reverence1 his name is honored2 tens of thousands of people thank ,god in their hearts1 and from the depths of their souls1 for the knowledge the ,lord has restored to the earth through him1 and therefore they speak well of him and bear testimony of his worth4 ,and this is not confined to a village1 nor to a state1 nor to a nation1 but extends to every nation1 kindred1 tongue and people where the gospel1 up to the present1 has been preached--in ,america1 ,great ,britain1 ,europe1 ,africa1 ,australia1 ,new ,zealand and upon the islands of the sea4 ,and the ,book of ,mormon1 which ,joseph ,smith was the instrument in the hands of ,god in bringing forth to this generation1 has been translated into the ,german1 ,french1 ,danish1 ,swedish1 ,welsh1 ,hawaiian1 ,hindustani1 ,spanish1 and ,dutch languages1 and this book will be translated into other languages1 for according to the predictions it contains1 and according to the promises of the ,lord through ,joseph ,smith it is to be sent unto #fji every nation1 and kindred1 and people under the whole heavens1 until all the sons and daughters of ,adam shall have the privilege of hearing the gospel as it has been restored to the earth in the dispensation of the fulness of times4 ,the world presume that we have not received a knowledge of the truth4 ,those who are in ignorance in regard to the character1 life1 and labors of ,joseph ,smith1 who have never read his revelations or studied or investigated his claims to divine authority1 and are ignorant of his mission1 revile him1 sneer at his name1 and ridicule his claims to prophetic inspiration1 and called him an impostor in his day1 except a few who hearkened to his instruction1 and believed his testimony4 ,the great majority of mankind then living who knew of ,christ1 deemed him an impostor1 and considered him worthy to be put to death2 precisely the same feeling existed towards ,joseph ,smith4 99 99 99 99 ,let us return to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,he was accused of nearly everything that was vile1 by his enemies1 who1 as is well known by the ,latter-day ,saints1 were generally entirely ignorant of his true character and mission4 ,what did ,joseph ,smith do8 ,was human blood found upon his hands8 ,no1 verily no4 ,he was innocent4 ,was he a slanderer and vilified8 ,no1 verily1 he was not4 ,did he wrongfully and unjustly accuse men of wickedness8 ,no1 he did not4 ,did he institute an order of things that has proved injurious to the human family8 ,let the people who have become acquainted with his doctrines1 and with the institutions which he established upon the earth1 and his own life's labor1 answer4 ,he was born ,december #bc1 #ahje1 in the state of ,vermont4 ,his parents were ,american citizens1 as had been their ancestors for generations4 ,in the spring of #ahbj1 he received the first supernatural or heavenly manifestation4 #faj ,he was then fourteen years of age4 ,ordinarily we do not expect a very great deal from a boy who is only fourteen years of age1 and it is not likely that a boy of that tender age could have become very vicious or wicked1 especially when he was born and reared on a farm1 apart from the corrupting vices of great cities1 and free from contact with the debasing influence of vile associations4 ,it is not likely that he spent many idle moments during the working years of his life1 up to fourteen years of age2 for his father had to labor for his living and earn it from the soil by the labor of his hands1 being a poor man with a large family to support4 ,in #ahbj1 as ,i have said1 ,joseph ,smith received a revelation in which he claimed that ,god had declared that he was about to restore the ancient gospel in its purity1 and many other glorious things4 ,in consequence of this1 ,joseph ,smith became very notorious in the neighborhood where he resided1 and people began to regard him with a great deal of suspicion4 ,he was at once called an impostor1 and a few years later he was styled by his enemies1 old ,joe ,smith4 ,his fame became known throughout the ,united ,states4 ,he was called a money digger1 and many other contemptuous things4 ,if you will look at his history1 and at the character of his parents1 and surroundings1 and consider the object of his life1 you can discover how much consistency there was in the charges brought against him4 ,all this was done to injure him4 ,he was neither old nor a money digger1 nor an impostor1 nor in any manner deserving of the epithets which they applied to him4 ,he had never injured anybody1 nor robbed anybody--he never did anything for which he could be punished by the laws under which he lived4 ,when he was between #ag and #ah years of age1 he received another heavenly manifestation1 and some great and glorious things were revealed to him1 and for four years subsequently he received visits from a heavenly messenger4 #faa ,he did not claim he was in communication with wicked men or demons from the lower regions4 ,he claimed he was in communication with ,moroni1 one of the ancient prophets who lived upon this continent4 ,he was a good man when he lived here1 and it is not likely that he had become wicked since he went away4 ,this personage1 he claimed1 revealed to him the mind and will of the ,lord1 and showed him the character of the great work that he1 in the hands of ,god was to be instrumental in establishing in the earth when the time should come4 ,this was the labor that was performed by the angel ,moroni1 during the four years intervening between #ahbc and #ahbg4 ,in #ahbg he received from the hands of the angel ,moroni1 the gold plates from which this book 7,book of ,mormon7 was translated by him through the inspiration of the ,almighty1 and the gift and power of ,god unto him4 ,i heard it read when ,i was a child4 ,i have read it many times since1 and ,i have asked myself1 scores of times1 have you ever discovered one precept1 doctrine1 or command1 within the lids of that book1 that is calculated to injure anybody1 to do harm to the world1 or that is in contradiction to the word of ,god as contained in the ,bible8 ,and the answer invariably came1 ,no1 not one solitary thing1 every precept1 doctrine1 word of advice1 prophecy1 and indeed every word contained within the lids of that book1 relating to the great plan of human redemption and salvation1 are calculated to make bad men good and good men better4 ,did ,joseph ,smith during the three years intervening between #ahbg and #ahcj1 while he was laboring with his hands for a scanty subsistence1 dodging his enemies1 and trying to evade the grasp of those who sought to destroy him and prevent the accomplishment of his mission1 struggling all the while against untold obstacles and depressing embarrassments to complete the translation of this book1 have much #fab chance of becoming wicked or corrupt8 ,i do not think he had4 ,when he had finished translating the ,book of ,mormon he was still only a boy1 yet in producing this book he developed historical facts1 prophecies1 revelations1 predictions1 testimonies and doctrines1 precepts and principles that are beyond the power and wisdom of the learned world to duplicate or refute4 ,joseph ,smith was an unlearned youth1 so far as the learning of the world is concerned4 ,he was taught by the angel ,moroni4 ,he received his education from above1 from ,god ,almighty1 and not from man-made institutions2 but to charge him with being ignorant would be both unjust and false2 no man or combination of men possessed greater intelligence than he1 nor could the combined wisdom and cunning of the age produce an equivalent for what he did4 ,he was not ignorant1 for he was taught by him from whom all intelligence flows4 ,he possessed a knowledge of ,god and of his law1 and of eternity1 and mankind have been trying1 with all their learning1 wisdom and power--and not content with that1 they have tried with the sword and cannon--to extirpate from the earth the superstructure which ,joseph ,smith1 by the power of ,god1 erected2 but they have signally failed1 and will yet be overwhelmed by their efforts to destroy it4 ,again1 the world say that ,joseph ,smith was an indolent person4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints was organized ,april #f1 #ahcj4 ,joseph ,smith was martyred in ,carthage1 ,illinois1 on the #bgth day of ,june1 #ahdd--;fourteen years after the organization of the ,church4 ,what did he accomplish1 in these fourteen years8 ,he opened up communication with the heavens in his youth4 ,he brought forth the ,book of ,mormon1 which contains the fulness of the gospel2 and the revelations contained in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants2 restored the holy priesthood unto man2 established and organized the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 an organization which has no parallel in all #fac the world1 and which all the cunning and wisdom of men for ages has failed to discover or produce and never could have done4 ,he founded colonies in the states of ,new ,york1 ,ohio1 ,missouri and ,illinois1 and pointed the way for the gathering of the ,saints into the ,rocky ,mountains2 sent the gospel into ,europe and to the islands of the sea2 founded the town of ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 and there built a temple that cost scores of thousands of dollars2 he founded the city of ,nauvoo in the midst of persecution2 gathered into ,nauvoo and vicinity some #bj1jjj people1 and commenced the building of the temple there1 which when completed cost one million dollars2 and in doing all this he had to contend against the prejudices of the age1 against relentless persecution1 mobocracy1 and vile calumny and slander1 that were heaped upon him from all quarters without stint or measure4 ,in a word1 he did more in from fourteen to twenty years for the salvation of man than any other man1 save ,jesus only1 who ever lived1 and yet he was accused by his enemies of being an indolent and worthless man6 ,where shall we go to find another man who has accomplished a one-thousandth part of the good that ,joseph ,smith accomplished8 ,shall we go to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,beecher1 or ,talmage1 or any other of the great preachers of the day8 ,what have they done for the world1 with all their boasted intelligence1 influence1 wealth1 and the popular voice of the world in their favor6 ,joseph ,smith had none of their advantages1 if these are advantages4 ,and yet1 no man in the nineteenth century1 except ,joseph ,smith1 has discovered to the world a ray of light upon the keys and power of the holy priesthood1 or the ordinances of the gospel1 either for the living or the dead4 ,through ,joseph ,smith1 ,god has revealed many things which were kept hidden from the foundation of the world in fulfilment of the prophets--and at no time since ,enoch walked the earth has the ,church of ,god been organized as perfectly as it is today1 not excepting the dispensation of #fad ,jesus and his disciples1--or1 if it was1 we have no record of it4 ,and this is strictly in keeping with the objects and character of this great latter-day work1 destined to consummate the great purposes and designs of ,god concerning the dispensation of the fulness of times4 ,the principle of baptism for the redemption of the dead1 with the ordinances appertaining thereto1 for the complete salvation and exaltation of those who have died without the gospel1 as revealed through ,joseph ,smith1 is alone worth more than all the dogmas of the so-called ,christian world combined4 ,joseph ,smith is accused of being a false prophet4 ,it is1 however1 beyond the power of the world to prove that he was a false prophet4 ,they may so charge him1 but you who have received the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 by the spirit of prophecy1 through his administrations1 are my witnesses that they have not the power to prove him false1 and that is why they are so vexed about it4 ,in my humble opinion many of our enemies know that they lie before ,god1 angels and men1 when they make this charge1 and they would only be too glad to produce proof to sustain their accusations1 but they cannot4 ,joseph ,smith was a true prophet of ,god4 ,he lived and died a true prophet1 and his words and works will yet demonstrate the divinity of his mission to millions of the inhabitants of this globe4 ,perhaps not so many that are now living1 for they have in a great measure rejected the gospel1 and the testimony which the elders of this ,church have borne to them2 but their children after them1 and generations to come1 will receive with delight the name of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and the gospel which their fathers rejected4 ,amen4--,discourse delivered in ,assembly ,hall1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,oct4 #bi1 #ahhb4 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #bd1 #ahhd1 pp4 #h-af4 ,,prediction ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith ,,fulfilled4 ,as the time remaining is so short1 ,i think ,i could not do better than devote #fae it to continuing the subject dwelt upon by ,brother ,cannon4 ,the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 as well as the ,book of ,mormon1 contains indisputable evidence of the divine calling and mission of ,joseph ,smith4 ,for instance1 ,i will refer the congregation to the revelation given ,december #be1 #ahcb1 in relation to the great war of the ,rebellion1 with which all are more or less familiar 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #hg74 ,a portion of that revelation has been literally fulfilled1 even to the very place indicated in the prediction where the war should commence2 which1 as was therein stated1 was to terminate in the death and misery of many souls4 ,again1 in the revelation given in ,march1 #ahca1 to ,parley ,p4 ,pratt and ,lemon ,copley1 the following remarkable prediction is found3 ,but before the great day of the ,lord shall come1 ,jacob shall flourish in the wilderness1 and the ,lamanites shall blossom as the rose4 ,zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains1 and shall be assembled together unto the place which ,i have appointed4 7,doc4 and ,cov4 #di3bd1 #be7 ,who1 let me ask1 unless he was inspired of the ,lord1 speaking by the gift and power of ,god1 at that remote period of the ,church's history1 when our numbers were few1 when we had no influence1 name or standing in the world--who1 ,i would ask1 under the circumstances in which ,we were placed when this prediction was made1 could have uttered such words unless ,god inspired him8 ,zion is1 indeed1 flourishing on the hills1 and it is rejoicing on the mountains1 and we who compose it are gathering and assembling together unto the place appointed4 ,i now ask this congregation if they cannot see that this prediction 7which was made many years before the idea prevailed at all among this people that we should ever migrate and gather out to these mountain valleys7 has been and is being literally fulfilled8 ,if there #faf were no other prophecy uttered by ,joseph ,smith1 fulfillment of which could be pointed to1 this alone would be sufficient to entitle him to the claim of being a true prophet4 ,again1 in the revelation given ,february1 #ahcd1 this remarkable promise and prophecy is found3 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,i have decreed a decree which my people shall realize1 inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour1 unto the counsel which ,i1 the ,lord their ,god1 shall give unto them4 ,behold they shall1 for ,i have decreed it1 begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour1 and by hearkening to observe all the words which ,i1 the ,lord their ,god1 shall speak unto them1 they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet1 and the earth is given unto the ,saints1 to possess it for ever and ever4 7,doctrine and ,covenants #ajc3e-g7 ,is there a person within the sound of my voice1 or anywhere else upon the face of the wide earth1 who can say that this promise has failed1 that this prediction is not founded in truth1 that so far it has not been fulfilled8 ,i stand before this vast congregation1 and am at the defiance of any human being to say that this was not pronounced by the spirit of truth1 by the inspiration of the ,almighty1 for it has been fulfilled1 and is being fulfilled1 and that1 too1 in the face of opposition of the most deadly character2 and what remains will be fulfilled literally and completely4 ,and it is the fear in the heart of ,satan that this will be the case that causes him to stir up his emissaries to oppose the kingdom of ,god and seek1 if possible1 to destroy this great and glorious work4 ,for it is a living fact1 a fact that fills the hearts of the righteous and ,god-fearing with unspeakable joy1 and the hearts of the wicked and ungodly with consternation and jealous fear1 that this work of ,god1 this work of redemption and salvation in which we are engaged1 is moving forward and is destined to continue in its onward march until the kingdoms of the world shall be subdued and brought #fag under the law of ,almighty ,god4 ,and that this will come to pass1 ,i can assure you1 the enemy of all righteousness comprehends as well as we do4 ,yes1 he knows that this will eventually be the case1 better than many who profess to have received the ,holy ,spirit in their hearts2 and1 therefore1 he is diligently seeking to stir up the hearts of the wicked to fight against the ,saints of ,god1 until they are discomfited1 and ,zion is free4 ,these predictions concerning the triumph of the cause of ,god over the wicked who contend against them1 were uttered by ,joseph ,smith in his youth1 in the early rise of the ,church when1 to all human appearance1 their fulfillment was absolutely impossible4 ,at that time there were but few who could believe1 that dared to believe the truth of these predictions4 ,the few1 comparatively1 that did believe when they heard1 were those whose minds had been enlightened by the ,holy ,spirit of ,promise and who1 therefore1 were prepared to receive them4 ,as these predictions have been fulfilled1 so those not yet fulfilled will come to pass in the due time of the ,lord2 and as this latter-day work has so far grown and assumed force and power in the earth1 so it will continue to do1 and there is no power beneath the celestial kingdom that can prevent its growth1 or the consummation of all that has been predicted concerning it4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 ,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 #be1 #ahhd1 pp4 #ig-aja4 ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,the ,,boy4 ,to me there is a sweet fascination in the contemplation of his childhood and youth4 ,i love to contemplate the innocence and the artless simplicity of his boyhood4 ,it bears record that he was honest1 that he was led by the ,spirit of ,god to perform his wonderful mission4 ,how could a child at his age be impelled by other than honest motives in the accomplishment of his high and holy calling8 ,what he did he was led to do by the inspiration and guidance of his ,heavenly ,father1 of this ,i feel assured4 #fah ,he was much like other children2 his play was like that of his companions2 his thoughts1 like those of most children1 were innocent1 and consequently he was incapable of the knavery and connivance that his enemies declared he practiced4 ,though poor1 his parents were honest and good2 they delighted in the truth1 and it was their honest desire to live according to the best light within them4 ,love and good will to all found expression in their hearts and actions1 and their children were imbued with like sentiments4 ,they were firm believers in ,god1 and trusted in his watchcare over his children4 ,they had frequently received manifestations of his loving kindness1 in dreams1 visions1 and inspirations1 and ,god had healed their little ones1 in answer to prayer1 when they were nigh unto death4 ,it was in such an atmosphere that the boy was reared4 ,joseph was a remarkably quiet and well-disposed child who gave his parents little or no trouble4 ,as early as the age of eight1 he gave proof that besides being thoughtful1 easily governed1 and of sweet and loving disposition1 he possessed the foundation principles of good character--filial affection1 patience1 endurance1 courage4 ,concerning his spiritual manifestations1 is it reasonable to suppose that there could have been premeditated deceit on the part of the boy1 and such a boy1 in his simple statement of what he saw and heard8 ,no2 neither could the answer which the heavenly messenger gave to him1 have been composed in the child's own mind4 ,joseph ,smith's testimony concerning his heavenly manifestation1 in later life1 was as simple1 straight-forward1 plain1 and true1 as it had been in childhood2 the fidelity1 courage1 and love implanted in and characteristic of his life in boyhood neither faltered nor changed with maturity4 ,his wisdom came in revelations of ,god to him4 ,one marked illustration of his character was his love for children4 ,he never saw a child but he desired to take it up and #fai bless it and many he did so bless1 taking them in his arms and upon his knee4 ,i have myself sat upon his knee4 ,he was so fond of children that he would go far out of his way to speak to a little one1 which is to me a striking characteristic of true manhood4 ,he had a like true love for the human race4 ,i know1 and have known from my childhood1 that he was a prophet of ,god1 and ,i believe in his divine mission with all my heart2 and in the authenticity and inspiration of the revelations which he received1 and the ,book of ,mormon which he was instrumental in bringing forth4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ba1 ,december1 #aiag1 p4 #afg4 ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,a ,,restorer4 ,i think it is wrong to count ,joseph the ,prophet one who fought old forms1 in the sense that he established new principles and doctrines4 ,he fought existing religious forms1 it is true1 but he merely became the means1 in ,god's providence1 to restore the old truths of the everlasting gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the plan of salvation1 which is older than the human race4 ,it is true1 also1 that his teachings were new to the people of his day because they had apostatized from the truth--but the principles of the gospel are the oldest truths in existence4 ,they were new to ,joseph's generation1 as they are in part to ours1 because men had gone astray1 been cast adrift1 shifted hither and thither by every new wind of doctrine which cunning men--so-called progressives--had advanced4 ,this made the ,prophet ,joseph a restorer1 not a destroyer1 of old truths4 ,and this does not justify us in discarding the simple1 fundamental principles of the gospel and running after modern doctrinal ads and notions4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ae1 ,june1 #aiab1 p4 #gcg4 ,,plural ,,wives ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,the ,,prophet4 ,i can positively state1 on indisputable evidence1 that ,joseph ,smith was the author1 under ,god1 of the revelation on plural marriage4 ,on this subject1 we have the affidavit of ,william ,clayton1 private secretary of ,joseph ,smith1 that he wrote #fbj the revelation as it was given through the lips of the prophet and that he himself sealed to ,joseph ,smith as a plural wife1 ,lucy ,walker1 at ,joseph ,smith's own residence1 on ,may #a1 #ahdc4 ,this lady is still living1 in ,salt ,lake ,city1 and is willing to testify at any moment to this fact4 ,following are some of the names of young ladies who were sealed to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in ,nauvoo1 as testified to under oath by themselves--this during the lifetime of the prophet3 ,eliza ,r4 ,snow1 ,sarah ,ann ,whitney1 ,helen ,mar ,kimball1 ,fanny ,young 7sister to ,brigham ,young71 and ,rhoda ,richards 7sister to ,willard ,richards who was with the prophet at his martyrdom in ,carthage jail74 ,all these noble women have testified1 under oath1 giving names and dates1 that they were sealed during his lifetime1 to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,these facts have been published in ,jenson's ,historical ,record1 and in the ,deseret ,news1 in years past2 and ,i know1 by the established and virtuous character of these noble women1 that their testimonies are true4 ,a careful reading of the revelation on plural marriage should convince any honest man that it was never written by ,brigham ,young1 as it contains references to ,joseph ,smith himself1 and his family1 which would be utterly nonsensical and useless if written by ,president ,young4 ,the fact is1 we have the affidavit of ,joseph ,c4 ,kingsbury1 certifying that he copied the original manuscript of the revelation within three days after the date on which it was written4 ,i knew ,joseph ,c4 ,kingsbury well4 ,furthermore1 the revelation was read by ,hyrum ,smith to a majority of the members of the ,high ,council1 in ,nauvoo1 at about the time it was given1 to which fact we have the sworn statements of the members of the ,high ,council4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #e1 ,october1 #aijb1 p4 #ihh4 ,,what ,,does ,,the ,,martyrdom ,,of ,,joseph ,,and ,,hyrum ,,teach ,,us8 ,what does the martyrdom teach us8 ,the great lesson that where a testament is there must also of #fba necessity be the death of the testator 7,heb4 #i3 #af7 to make it of force4 ,moreover1 that the blood of martyrs is indeed the seed of the ,church4 ,the ,lord permitted the sacrifice1 that the testimony of those virtuous and righteous men should stand as a witness against a perverse and unrighteous world4 ,then1 again1 they were examples of the wonderful love of which the ,redeemer speaks3 ,greater love hath no man than this1 that a man lay down his life for his friends4 7,john #ae3ac7 ,this wonderful love they manifested to the ,saints and to the world2 for both realized and expressed their conviction1 before starting on the journey to ,carthage1 that they were going to their death4 ,they might have escaped2 in fact1 had but a few days before made the start for the ,rocky ,mountains1 but were recalled by the groundless fears of false friends who made the accusation that they were fleeing from dangers that were equally as great towards the peace and happiness of the members of the ,church as they could possibly be towards themselves4 ,satan said to ,job3 ,all that a man hath will he give for his life4 ,of the true servant1 and where perfect love abides1 that is not true6 ,joseph and ,hyrum ,smith returned and calmly went to their death1 feeling that their lives were of no value to themselves if unvalued by their friends1 or if they were needed as a sacrifice for the protection of their worthy followers4 ,their courage1 their faith1 their love for the people were without bounds1 and they gave all that they had for their people4 ,such devotion and love left no doubt in the minds of those who enjoyed the companionship of the ,holy ,spirit that these good men and true were indeed the authorized servants of the ,lord4 ,this martyrdom has always been an inspiration to the people of the ,lord4 ,it has helped them in their individual trials2 has given them courage to pursue a course in righteousness and to know and to live the truth1 and must ever be held in sacred memory by the ,latter-day ,saints who #fbb have learned the great truths that ,god revealed through his servant ,joseph ,smith4--,juvenile ,instructor1 ,vol4 #ea1 ,june1 #aiaf1 p4 #cha4 ,,divine ,,authority ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith ,,and ,,his ,,successors4 ,i bear my testimony to you and to the world that ,joseph ,smith was raised up by the power of ,god to lay the foundations of this great latter-day work1 to reveal the fulness of the gospel to the world in this dispensation1 to restore the priesthood of ,god to the world1 by which men may act in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost1 and it will be accepted of ,god2 it will be by his authority4 ,i bear my testimony to it2 ,i know that it is true4 ,i bear my testimony to the divine authority of those who have succeeded the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in the presidency of the ,church4 ,they were men of ,god2 ,i knew them2 ,i was intimately associated with them and as one man may know another1 through the intimate knowledge that he possesses of him1 so ,i can bear testimony to the integrity1 to the honor1 to the purity of life1 to the intelligence1 and to the divinity of the mission and calling of ,brigham1 of ,john1 of ,wilford and of ,lorenzo4 ,they were inspired of ,god to fill the missions to which they were called1 and ,i know it4 ,i thank ,god for that testimony1 and for the spirit that prompts me and impels me toward these men1 toward their mission1 toward this people1 toward my ,god and my ,redeemer4 ,i thank the ,lord for it1 and ,i pray earnestly that it may never depart from me--worlds without end4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 ,nov41 #aiaj1 p4 #gd4 ,,god',s ,,guiding ,,hand ,,seen ,,in ,,church ,,history4 ,in connection with this thought it may be proper1 consistent and timely1 for me to remark that each individual member of the ,church assembled here this morning is a free man or a free woman1 possessing to the utmost degree all the qualifications and characteristics of freedom1 independent with #fbc reference to individual action and choice1 of every other man and of every other woman present4 ,this being a fact1 which is a fact1 the unanimity exhibited on the part of the audience1 with reference to the actions that have been taken1 vindicate the belief and the assertion which ,i make1 that the members of this congregation are certainly in harmony with the will of the ,father4 ,they are united2 they see eye to eye2 their sympathy is with one another and with the cause they represent4 ,their hearts are in the work in which they are engaged1 and that because of their choice1 because they have fully weighed all matters connected with their standing in the ,church1 and with regard to the course which they have taken today2 they have1 voluntarily1 without coercion1 without compulsion1 without any restraint1 except the restraint of their own consciences1 shown that they see eye to eye1 that they are one and are therefore entitled to be acknowledged of the ,master as his own and as of him4 ,i believe that there is not a freer1 more independent nor a more intelligent people to be found anywhere in the world1 who are more independent in choosing the course which they pursue1 in the work that they perform and in everything that they have to do with1 than the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,there is not a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 in good standing1 anywhere in all the world today that is not such by reason of his independence of character1 by reason of his intelligence1 wisdom and ability to judge between right and wrong and between good and evil4 ,there is not a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ anywhere1 in good standing1 living a proper life1 that would not hold up his hand against evil1 against wrong1 against sin1 against the transgression of the laws of ,god1 against unrighteousness or vice of any kind1 with as much freedom and independence and with as firm determination as any other man or woman in the world4 ,i am thankful to have the privilege1 this moment1 of expressing #fbd this my view and firm belief and my knowledge of the real character of the ,latter-day ,saints throughout the world4 ,and1 when ,i say ,latter-day ,saints1 ,i mean members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints founded by ,god1 through the instrumentality and agency of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 who was chosen of ,god and ordained and qualified and authorized to lay the foundations of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 never more to be destroyed nor left to other people1 never more to cease but to continue until the purposes of ,god shall ripen and be accomplished for the salvation of the children of men and for the redemption of the living1 and of the dead who have died without a knowledge of the plan of life and salvation4 ,in stating this ,i state results of my experience in associations with such men as those who laid the foundations of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 from the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith down to this moment4 ,as a child ,i knew the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,as a child ,i have listened to him preach the gospel that ,god had committed to his charge and care4 ,as a child ,i was familiar in his home1 in his household1 as ,i was familiar under my own father's roof4 ,i have retained the witness of the ,spirit that ,i was imbued with1 as a child1 and that ,i received from my sainted mother1 the firm belief that ,joseph ,smith was a prophet of ,god2 that he was inspired as no other man in his generation1 or for centuries before1 had been inspired2 that he had been chosen of ,god to lay the foundations of ,god's ,kingdom as well as of ,god's ,church2 that by the power of ,god he was enabled to bring forth the record of the ancient inhabitants of this continent1 to revive and to reveal to the world the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 not only as he taught it in the midst of the ,jews1 in ,judea1 but as he also taught it1 and it was also recorded1 in greater simplicity and plainness upon this continent1 among the descendants of ,lehi4 ,as a child ,i was impressed1 deeply1 #fbe with the thought1 and firmly with the belief1 in my soul that the revelations that had been given to and through ,joseph the ,prophet1 as contained in this book1 the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 were the word of ,god1 as were the words of the ancient disciples when they bore record of the ,father and of the ,son4 ,that impression made upon me in my childhood has followed through all the vicissitudes of more than sixty years of actual and practical experience in the mission field1 throughout the nations of the world1 and at home in the midst of the authorized servants of ,god1 who officiated in the name of the ,father and of the ,son to propagate1 to build up1 and to push forward the work inaugurated by the instrumentality of the boy ,joseph ,smith4 ,in my childhood1 too1 ,i was instructed to believe in the divinity of the mission of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i was taught by my mother1 a ,saint indeed--that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god2 that he was indeed no other than the ,only ,begotten of ,god in the flesh1 and that1 therefore1 no other than ,god the eternal ,father is his ,father and the author of his existence in the world4 ,i was taught it from my father1 from the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 through my mother who embraced the gospel because she believed in the testimony of ,joseph ,smith1 and she believed in the honor1 integrity and truthfulness of her husband2 and all my boyhood days and all my years in the world ,i have clung to that belief2 indeed1 ,i have never had any serious dubiety in my mind1 even in childhood2 and when ,i could only imperfectly understand things with reference to the divinity of the mission of the ,son of ,god1 ,i accepted it as being true in the sense in which only it can be true2 for in no other than the literal sense1 as it is described in the scriptures of divine truth and in the testimonies of the prophets1 can it be true that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god4 ,i believe it4 ,i have believed it all my life2 but ,i owe to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith the fixed and unalterable confirmation of that belief1 until it has come to be1 #fbf in my soul1 a knowledge of the truth2 and in so far as ,i have continued in the word of the ,lord1 ,i believe1 ,i have been led to know the truth4 ,i believe that ,i possess that freedom that comes from a knowledge of the truth1 which teaches all men righteousness1 virtue1 honor1 faith1 charity1 forgiveness1 mercy1 longsuffering patience and devotion to that which is good1 and abstinence from that which is evil4 ,the truth will make you free4 ,free from what8 ,from error1 free from doubt1 and uncertainty1 free from unbelief1 free from the powers of darkness1 free from the possibility of being tempted beyond your strength2 but to resist error and to shun even the appearance of sin4 ,this truth makes a man a ,latter-day ,saint4 ,this knowledge of the truth makes you free to worship ,god and to love him with all your heart and mind and strength1 and to do the next best thing--to love your neighbor as nearly as you possibly can as you love yourselves4 ,the truth that ,i have received teaches me that ,joseph ,smith was a prophet of ,god1 teaches me to accept without recourse1 other than the full and free acceptance of that truth1 that ,god ,almighty1 the ,father of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,father of our spirits1 the maker of heaven and earth1 condescended to come down to this our mother earth1 in person1 in company with his beloved ,son1 and show themselves to ,joseph ,smith4 ,i believe it4 ,the truth has made me feel that this must be true4 ,it cannot be error1 for the ,lord ,god ,almighty could never build the structure that he has built upon the testimony of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 if it had been founded in error or untruth4 ,this people never could have combined and adhered together1 never could have been united1 never could have seen eye to eye1 never could have been one1 in order that they might be acknowledged of ,god as his own1 if we had been building upon error4 ,if our foundations were laid in untruth and unrighteousness this could not be4 ,but the ,lord is at the bottom of this4 ,joseph #fbg ,smith was not at the foundation of it4 ,he was not responsible1 only so far as he was obedient to the will of the ,father4 ,god is responsible for this work4 ,the ,lord ,almighty has made the promises concerning this work1 not ,joseph ,smith1 not ,hyrum ,smith4 ,no other man has made true promises with reference to the future of ,zion and to the building up of the kingdom of ,god in the earth1 except ,god inspired him to do it4 ,not of himself has man ever done anything of that kind4 ,the ,lord is at the bottom2 the ,lord is at the top2 the ,lord is all the way through this work1 and every fibre of it is in his keeping and is moved by his magic power and by the inspiration of his ,holy ,spirit4 ,that is my testimony to you4 ,i believe in the divinity of ,jesus ,christ1 because more than ever ,i come nearer the possession of the actual knowledge that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 through the testimony of ,joseph ,smith contained in this book1 the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 that he saw ,him1 that he heard ,him1 that he received instructions from ,him1 that he obeyed those instructions1 and that he today stands before the world as the last great1 actual1 living1 witness of the divinity of ,christ's mission and ,his power to redeem man from the temporal death and also from the second death which will follow man's own sins1 through disobedience to the ordinances of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,thank ,god for ,joseph ,smith4 ,i believe in his mission1 having accepted this great truth and his narration of it4 ,the greatest event that has ever occurred in the world1 since the resurrection of the ,son of ,god from the tomb and his ascension on high1 was the coming of the ,father and of the ,son to that boy ,joseph ,smith1 to prepare the way for the laying of the foundation of his kingdom--not the kingdom of man--never more to cease nor to be overturned4 ,having accepted this truth1 ,i find it easy to accept of every other truth that he enunciated and declared during #fbh his mission of fourteen years in the world4 ,he never taught a doctrine that was not true4 ,he never practiced a doctrine that he was not commanded to practice4 ,he never advocated error4 ,he was not deceived4 ,he saw2 he heard2 he did as he was commanded to do2 and1 therefore1 ,god is responsible for the work accomplished by ,joseph ,smith--not ,joseph ,smith4 ,the ,lord is responsible for it1 and not man4 ,i am happy to express to this audience my knowledge of the successors of ,joseph ,smith4 ,they reared me1 in part1 so to speak4 ,in other words1 with them ,i journeyed across the deserts1 by the side of my ox-team1 following ,president ,brigham ,young and his associates to these barren wastes1 barren as they were when we first entered this valley4 ,i believed in him then1 and ,i know him now6 ,i believed in his associates1 and ,i know them now2 for ,i lived with them2 ,i slept with them2 ,i traveled with them2 ,i heard them preach and teach and exhort1 and ,i saw their wisdom which was not the wisdom of man but the wisdom of ,almighty ,god4 ,when ,president ,young set his foot down here1 upon this desert spot1 it was in the midst of persuasion1 prayers and petitions on the part of some ,latter-day ,saints who had gone forward and landed upon the coast of ,california1 that beautiful1 rich country1 semi-tropical1 abounding in resources that no inland country would possess1 inviting and appealing for settlers at that time1 and just such settlers as ,president ,brigham ,young could have taken there--honest people1 people who were firm in their faith1 who were established in the knowledge of truth and righteousness1 and in the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 which is the spirit of prophecy1 and in the testimony of ,joseph ,smith which was a confirmation of the spirit of ,christ and of his mission4 ,these people pleaded with ,president ,young3 ,come with us1 they said1 and go to the coast4 ,go where roses bloom all the year round1 where the fragrance of flowers #fbi scents the air1 from ,may until ,may2 where beauty reigns2 where the elements of wealth are to be found1 and only need to be developed4 ,come with us4 ,no1 said ,president ,young1 we will remain here1 and we will make the desert blossom like the rose4 ,we will fulfil the ,scriptures by remaining here4 ,i heard him tell one of the ,battalion boys who came back from ,california with a little buckskin sack of gold nuggets1 and who shook them in the face of ,president ,young1 and said to him3 ,look what we could get if we were to go to ,california6 ,the land is full of gold2 but ,president ,young pointed his finger 7,i was there and saw and heard it71 and he said3 ,brother --------1 you may go to ,california1 if you will4 ,those who want to go there can go1 but we will remain here2 and ,i want to tell you that those who remain here and obey counsel1 in a few years will be able to buy out every one of you who go to ,california--ten-fold over4 7,bishop ,george ,romney3 ,that is true2 ,i know the man47 ,why1 bless your soul1 what did ,president ,young know about ,utah1 at that early day8 ,we did not know that there was even a lump of coal in existence in the land4 ,i myself passed the first fall and winter after our entrance into this valley hauling wood out of ,mill ,creek canyon and ,parley's canyon2 and during that fall and winter ,i hauled forty loads of wood with my oxen and wagon out of these canyons4 ,every load ,i cut and hauled diminished the supply of wood for fuel for the future2 and ,i said to myself3 ,what will we do when the wood is all gone8 ,how will we live here when we can't get any more fuel1 for it is rapidly going8 ,i followed that pursuit until it took me three days in the mountains with my ox-team and wagon1 to get a load of wood for winter fuel2 and what were we to do8 ,yet ,president ,young said1 ,this is the place4 ,well1 ordinarily1 our judgment and our faith would #fcj have been tried1 in the decision of the president1 if we had not implicit confidence in him4 ,if we had not known that he was the mouthpiece of ,god1 that he was the real and legitimate successor of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in the ,presidency of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 we would have doubted his wisdom and we would have faltered in our faith in his promise and word2 but no1 we believed him1 and we stayed2 and so far as ,i am concerned1 ,i am here yet2 and ,i propose to remain here as long as the ,lord wants me to stay4 ,and what has developed8 ,our good friends from the east used to come out here in the early days1 and upbraid us4 ,they said3 ,why1 it is the fulfilment of the curse of ,god upon you4 ,you have been driven away from the rich lands of ,illinois and ,missouri into a desert1 into a salt land4 ,i said3 ,yes1 we have salt enough here to save the world1 thank ,god1 and we may find use for it by and by4 ,well1 before the wood gave out entirely in the mountains1 we discovered coal up here in ,summit county1 and then we began to discover it all along the mountains here1 and we kept on discovering it1 until at last we have learned that we have coal enough in ,utah to furnish fuel for the whole world for a hundred years1 if they want to come and get it4 ,we have it right here1 any amount of it2 and they haven't got that in ,california2 they come up here to get their coal4 ,we have discovered that this country was really the gold-mine country of the world2 that here abounded silver as well as gold in greater abundance than in ,california4 ,we have discovered now that some of our mountains here are practically made of copper1 and men are hewing copper out of the mountains by millions of tons1 so to speak1 and coining it in the way of business into money2 and thank the ,lord1 we do not have to go to ,liverpool for the salt we use in making butter4 ,we have it right here1 just as good and #fca pure as the best they can fetch from ,england or anywhere else in the world2 and this salt land has proven to be a boon1 a consolation and a blessing beyond all power of description4 ,when the army came out here1 in #aheh1 we wanted some bullets to go out and meet ,general ,johnston and his forces that were coming in--not to kill them2 we did not want the bullets to kill them2 we just wanted the bullets to scare them with4 ,some of the boys went out here into the mountains with a pick and shovel1 and they dug up lead1 impregnated somewhat with silver4 ,they brought it in1 improvised a little furnace and ran out a few tons of lead4 ,i had the honor of being associated with that little company of men1 and ,i brought home with me some thirty or forty pounds of lead that we just quarried out of the hill with a pick and shovel4 ,when ,i rode up to the office here1 to report to ,president ,young my return from my mission over three years1 the army was approaching1 and he said to me3 ,well1 ,joseph1 have you got a horse8 ,i said1 ,yes1 sir4 ,have you got a gun8 ,i said1 ,yes1 sir4 ,have you got any ammunition8 ,i said1 ,no1 sir4 ,well1 he said1 you report to ,brother ,rockwood1 at the commissary office1 and he will furnish you with ammunition1 and you take your gun and go out to the front4 ,so ,i went home and sat up all that night1 running bullets out of my mountain lead2 reported the next day to ,brother ,rockwood1 received a chunk of ,mother ,cadbury's cheese and some crackers1 and started on my horse1 with a brother-in-law1 for the front4 ,i spent part of the winter of #aheh1 and all of the spring and a portion of the summer of #ahei1 guarding ,uncle ,sam's troops2 and we never hurt one of them1 not one4 ,we never molested a single individual of them2 but we hedged up their way1 and they camped out at #fcb ,fort ,bridger all winter long1 and we sent them salt to save them2 and they rejected it1 because they were afraid there was something in the salt1 more than the savor of it4 ,but ,i assure you the salt was pure and good4 ,now1 just before that time1 ,i was a farmer4 ,i had to plow my land and farm it1 but ,i did not have a spear of grass or hay to feed my team1 and how was ,i going to do my spring work8 ,this valley produced mighty little hay at that time4 ,i hitched up my team1 my brother and ,i1 and we drove sixty miles to the north and bought a couple of loads of wild grass hay1 and carted that hay down sixty miles to feed our teams in order to plow our land4 ,i used to think1 how in the world are we going to live in ,utah without feed for our teams4 ,just then the ,lord sent a handful of alfalfa seed into this valley1 and ,christopher ,layton planted it1 watered it1 and it matured2 and from that little beginning1 ,utah can now produce a richer crop of hay than ,illinois or ,missouri can do4 ,so the hay question was settled1 and the coal question was settled4 ,then the question of producing food from the land4 ,why1 it was a marvel4 ,one good man cultivated his little farm for thirty years1 without a change1 and raised from fifty to sixty bushels of wheat per acre each year on his farm1 during that entire period4 ,so the soil is rich1 and everything is favorable for ,zion here where ,president ,young determined that he would stay2 if we had not stayed here1 it is clear we would have been overwhelmed and swallowed up by the multitudes who rushed to ,california4 ,now1 my brethren and sisters1 ,i know whereof ,i speak with reference to these matters1 for ,i have come down through every atom of it1 at least from the expulsion from the city of ,nauvoo2 in ,february1 #ahdf1 ,i stood upon the bank of the river and saw ,president ,young and the ,twelve apostles1 and as many of the people of ,nauvoo as had teams or could possibly migrate1 cross the ,mississippi #fcc river on the ice4 ,the river froze within a day or two1 because of heavy frost1 which enabled them to cross as they did1 and thus the first real marvel and manifestation of the mercy and the power of ,god was manifest1 in making a roadway across the ,mississippi a mile wide at that place by which our people could go on their journey to the ,west4 ,i saw them go4 ,my brother was with them1 and ,i wondered if ,i would ever see him again4 ,we remained there in ,nauvoo until ,september1 #ahdf1 when the city was besieged1 at the mouth of the cannon and musket1 and my mother and her family were compelled to take all that they could move out of the house--their bedding1 their clothing1 the little food they possessed1 leaving the furniture and everything else standing in the house1 and fled across the river1 where we camped without tent or shelter until the war was over4 ,the city was conquered1 and the poor people that were left there were compelled to seek shelter somewhere else4 ,from that moment on1 ,i have been in the conflict4 ,i have seen it and experienced it all the way through2 and ,i am satisfied with my experience4 ,i bear record to you of the divinity of the work in which you are engaged1 and1 ,i bear record to you and testify that it has been the power of ,god1 not that of ,president ,young or of his associates1 that has kept the people together and united them4 ,by that power you have been able to come here this morning and with one united voice1 and uplifted hands1 sustain in the positions to which they have been chosen the men who have been called and appointed and ordained by virtue of authority from ,god1 to preside over you and teach you things that are good to be taught and good to be known and observed1 which will bring life and salvation to those who will hearken and be obedient4 ,the ,lord bless you2 the ,lord bless the pure in heart throughout the world4 ,may the ,lord have mercy upon the suffering nations that are afflicted by this terrible calamity #fcd of war4 ,may he save the poor and the needy and the honorable among the children of men1 to come eventually to a knowledge of his truth1 that they may be saved in his kingdom4 ,much could be said4 ,joseph ,smith taught the building of temples4 ,i can scarcely quit4 ,joseph ,smith was the instrument in the hand of ,god in revealing the ordinances of the house of ,god that are essential to the salvation of the living and the dead4 ,joseph ,smith taught these principles1 and his brethren to whom he taught them have carried out his views4 ,they have put his doctrine to the test4 ,they have obeyed his counsel1 and they have honored him and his mission and sustained him as man has never been sustained by any other people under ,god's heavens4 ,so we will continue to sustain ,joseph the prophet1 and his work that he has accomplished among the children of men1 and we will abide in the truth forever1 by the help of ,god4 ,even so4 ,amen4--,sermon1 ,salt ,lake ,assembly ,hall1 ,july #h1 #aiag4 #fce ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,,personal ,,testimonies ,,and ,,blessings ,a ,,testimony4 ,i declare unto you in all candor1 and in all earnestness of soul1 that ,i believe with all my heart in the divine mission of ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet1 that ,i am convinced in every fiber of my being that ,god raised him up to restore to the earth the gospel of ,christ1 which is indeed the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,i testify to you that ,joseph ,smith was instrumental in the hand of the ,lord in restoring ,god's truth to the world1 and also the holy priesthood1 which is his authority delegated unto man4 ,i know this is true1 and ,i testify of it to you4 ,to me it is all-in-all2 it is my life1 it is my light2 it is my hope1 and my joy2 it gives me the only assurance that ,i have for exaltation1 for my resurrection from death1 with those whom ,i have loved and cherished in this life1 and with whom my lot has been cast in this world--honorable men1 pure1 humble men1 who were obedient unto ,god and his commands1 who were not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ1 nor of their convictions or knowledge of the truth of the gospel2 men who were made of the stuff of which martyrs are made1 and who were willing at any moment to lay down their lives for ,christ's sake1 and for the gospel1 if need be1 which they had received with the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit in their hearts4 ,i want to be reunited with these men when ,i shall have finished my course here4 ,when my mission is done here1 ,i hope to go beyond into the spirit world where they dwell1 and be reunited with them4 ,it is this gospel of the ,son of ,god that gives me the hope that ,i have of this consummation1 and of the realization of my desire in this direction4 ,i have staked all on this gospel1 and ,i have not done it in vain4 ,i know #fcf in whom ,i trust4 ,i know that my ,redeemer lives1 and that he shall stand upon the earth in the latter days1 and1 as ,job has expressed it1 ,though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijg1 pp4 #d1 #e4 ,,this ,,is ,,god',s ,,work--,a ,,testimony4 ,my brethren and sisters1 ,i desire to bear my testimony to you2 for ,i have received an assurance which has taken possession of my whole being4 ,it has sunk deep into my heart2 it fills every fiber of my soul2 so that ,i feel to say before this people1 and would be pleased to have the privilege of saying it before the whole world1 that ,god has revealed unto me that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 the ,redeemer of the world2 that ,joseph ,smith is1 was1 and always will be a prophet of ,god1 ordained and chosen to stand at the head of the dispensation of the fulness of times1 the keys of which were given to him1 and he will hold them until the winding up scene--keys which will unlock the door into the kingdom of ,god to every man who is worthy to enter and which will close that door against every soul that will not obey the law of ,god4 ,i know1 as ,i live1 that this is true1 and ,i bear my testimony to its truth4 ,if it were the last word ,i should ever say on earth1 ,i would glory before ,god my ,father that ,i possess this knowledge in my soul1 which ,i declare unto you as ,i would the simplest truths of heaven4 ,i know that this is the kingdom of ,god1 and that ,god is at the helm4 ,he presides over his people4 ,he presides over the president of this ,church1 and has done so from the ,prophet ,joseph down to the ,prophet ,lorenzo1 and he will continue to preside over the leaders of this ,church until the winding--up scene4 ,he will not suffer it to be given to another people1 nor to be left to men4 ,he will hold the reins in his own hands2 for he has stretched out his arm to do this work1 and he will do it1 and have the honor of it4 ,at the same time ,god will honor and magnify his servants in the sight of the people4 ,he will sustain them in righteousness4 ,he will #fcg lift them on high1 exalt them into his presence1 and they will partake of his glory forever and ever4 ,it is the ,lord's work1 and ,i plead with you not to forget it4 ,i implore you not to disbelieve it2 for it is true4 ,all that the ,lord said concerning this latter-day work will come to pass4 ,the world cannot prevent it4 ,the blind that will not see1 the deaf that will not hear1 cannot prevent the work from going on4 ,they may throw blocks before the wheels1 they may ridicule1 they may malign1 they may stir up the spirit of persecution and bitterness against the ,saints1 they may do all in their power to deceive the people and lead them astray2 but ,god is at the helm1 and he will lead his people to victory4 ,men and women may be deceived by the craftiness of the adversary and by the spirit of darkness that is in the world2 they may be deceived with ,christian ,science1 with hypnotism1 with animal magnetism1 with mesmerism1 with spiritualism1 and with all the other man-made and demon-stimulated isms which exist in the world2 but the elect of ,god shall see and know the truth4 ,they will not be blind1 because they will see2 they will not be deaf1 because they will hear2 and they will walk in the light1 as ,god is in the light1 that they may have fellowship with ,jesus ,christ and that his blood may cleanse them from all their sins4 ,may ,god help us to realize this4 ,may he deliver us from secret combinations1 and from the snares that are set to entrap our feet and to win our affections from the kingdom of ,god4 ,i repeat what ,i have said scores of times1 the kingdom of ,god is good enough for me4 ,this organization of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints meets all my wants1 and ,i have no need to fly to organizations that are gotten up by men for the purpose of making money4 ,i pray ,god that his kingdom may be sufficient for you1 that you may abide in the truth1 and not be led away #fch by those deceptive spirits that have gone forth in the world to lead men astray4 ,spiritualism started in the ,united ,states about the time that ,joseph ,smith received his visions from the heavens4 ,what more natural than that ,lucifer should begin revealing himself to men in his cunning way1 in order to deceive them and to distract their minds from the truth that ,god was revealing8 ,and he has kept it up pretty well ever since4 ,may ,god bless ,israel1 and preserve us in the truth4 ,may he bless our president1 prolong his years1 and continue unto him the strength of body and mind that he possesses this day1 and even more vigor as the years roll by4 ,may the ,lord have mercy upon our beloved brother1 ,president ,cannon1 who is absent from us1 and return him once more to his home1 and to the bosom of the ,church1 if he has not willed otherwise4 ,this is my humble prayer1 in the name of ,jesus4 ,amen4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aija1 pp4 #gb1gc4 ,a ,,testimony4 ,there is no salvation but in the way ,god has pointed out4 ,there is no hope of everlasting life but through obedience to the law that has been affixed by the ,father of life1 with whom there is no variableness1 neither shadow of turning2 and there is no other way by which we may obtain that light and exaltation4 ,those matters are beyond peradventure1 beyond all doubt in my mind2 ,i know them to be true4 ,therefore1 ,i bear my testimony to you1 my brethren and sisters1 that the ,lord ,god ,omnipotent reigneth1 that he lives and that his ,son lives1 even he who died for the sins of the world1 and that he arose from the dead2 that he sits upon the right hand of the ,father2 that all power is given unto him2 that we are directed to call upon ,god in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we are told that we should remember him in our homes1 keep his holy name fresh in our minds1 and revere him in our hearts2 we should call upon him from time to time1 from day to day2 and1 in fact1 every moment of our lives we should live so that the desires #fci of our hearts will be a prayer unto ,god for righteousness1 for truth1 and for the salvation of the human family4 ,let us guard ourselves so that there may not come into our souls a single drop of bitterness1 by which our whole being might be corroded and poisoned with anger1 with hatred1 envy and malice1 or any sort of evil4 ,we should be free from all these evil things1 that we may be filled with the love of ,god1 the love of truth1 the love of our fellowmen1 that we may seek to do good unto all men all the days of our lives1 and above all things be true to our covenants in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ4--,apr4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiji1 p4 #f4 ,,the ,,pledge ,,of ,,my ,,life4 ,i feel happy1 this morning1 in having the privilege to say to you that in the days of my childhood and early youth1 ,i made a pledge with ,god and with his people that ,i would be true to them4 ,in looking over the experiences of my life1 ,i cannot now discern1 and do not remember a circumstance1 since the beginning of my experience in the world1 where ,i have felt1 for a moment1 to slacken or relax in the pledge and promise that ,i made to ,god and to the ,latter-day ,saints1 in my youth4 ,and if there is a man1 or a woman1 in the world that can point out to me an instance1 in all my life1 where ,i have been untrue to my pledge1 or promise1 or covenant1 ,i shall be glad to receive that information from that man or woman4 ,as an elder in ,israel ,i tried to be true to that calling2 ,i tried to my utmost to honor and magnify that calling4 ,when ,i became a seventy1 ,i felt in my heart to be true to that calling1 and ,i strove1 with all the intelligence and fervor of my soul1 to be true to it4 ,i have no knowledge nor recollection of any act of mine1 or any circumstance in my life where ,i proved untrue or unfaithful to these callings in the priesthood of the ,son of ,god4 ,later in my life1 when ,i was called to act as an apostle1 and was ordained an apostle1 and set apart to be one of the ,twelve1 ,i strove to honor that calling1 to be true to it1 and to my brethren1 to the household of faith1 and to #fdj the covenants and obligations involved in receiving this holy priesthood which is after the order of the ,son of ,god4 ,i am not aware that ,i ever violated one of my obligations or pledges in these callings to which ,i have been called4 ,i have sought to be true and faithful to all these things4 ,i have endeavored to be true to my family2 and if ever ,i have violated one pledge or promise1 or neglected one obligation that rests upon me in these relationships1 ,i do not know it4 ,and when ,i have made pledges to the people of ,god1 or to the world1 if ever ,i have violated those pledges ,i do not know it4 ,furthermore1 ,i do not believe there is a man living who does know it1 who can truthfully testify that ,i ever did violate those pledges4 ,i stand before you today1 my brethren and sisters and friends1 on the ground that ,i have tried to be true to ,god1 to the utmost of my knowledge and ability2 that ,i have tried to be true to my people1 to the utmost of my knowledge and ability2 and ,i have been true to the world in every pledge and promise that ,i have made to the world1 notwithstanding there have been men who have shown a disposition to make it appear that ,i was a hypocrite1 that ,i was two-faced2 that ,i was one thing to the world and another thing in secret4 ,i want it distinctly understood that those who have conveyed such an idea as this to mankind have been wilfully injuring me1 wronging me1 and falsifying me and my character before the people1 and ,i want it distinctly understood those things must stop4 ,they must stop at least among men who profess to be members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,i can endure to be maligned and persecuted by my enemies1 who are also enemies of the ,kingdom of ,god1 but ,i do not want to be maligned and belied by men who profess to be members of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 neither intentionally nor otherwise4 ,now1 ,i trust that you understand clearly what ,i mean4 ,i do not know how ,i can make it much plainer or clearer1 with the knowledge #fda that ,i have of language4 ,then1 ,i repeat1 as the ,lord has helped me in the past to be true to my covenants1 that ,i have entered into with him and with you1 with my brethren1 and with1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 so by his help and by his blessing ,i propose to be true throughout the future of my life1 whether ,i am permitted to live long or short2 it matters not to me4 ,while ,i live1 ,i hope to be a true man1 an honest man1 a man who can face all mankind and1 at last1 who can stand before ,god1 the judge of the quick and the dead1 and not quail for what ,i have done in the world4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiaj1 pp4 #b1c4 ,a ,,blessing4 ,i bless you with all my soul1 because you love the truth1 and you manifest it4 ,there is nothing in ,god's world that draws men and women so near to my heart as that they love the truth and that they love ,god1 that they love the cause of ,zion and are devoted to the interests of the ,church4 ,this endears men and women to my heart2 ,i love them when they love this work and when they show their interest in it4 ,it lifts my soul to heaven and fills it with joy unspeakable4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aijh1 p4 #ig4 ,a ,,testimony4 ,my brethren and sisters1 ,i know that my ,redeemer lives4 ,i know1 as ,i know ,i live1 that in person he has visited man in our time and day1 and that we are not now dependent alone on the history of the past for the knowledge that we possess1 of which record is borne by the ,spirit of ,god1 shed abroad in the hearts of all who enter into the covenant of the gospel of ,christ4 ,but we have the renewed and later witness and manifestation of heavenly visions and of the visitation of ,god the ,father and ,christ the ,son to this their footstool2 and they have in person declared their entity1 their being1 and they have manifested their glory4 ,they have stretched forth their hands to accomplish their work--the work of ,god1 and not the work of man--and while those who have been faithful shall be crowned with glory and honor in the presence of ,god1 the #fdb honor and the glory1 the credit and the praise1 for the continuance and for the advancement and growth of the kingdom of ,god in the earth1 will be due to the ,father and the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit1 whose power and whose agency1 whose influence and purpose1 have been behind the work of ,god every moment since it was first given to man4 ,it is by his power that it has grown and continued1 and has become what it is1 and it will continue to grow and spread1 until it shall fill the earth with the glory of ,god1 and with the knowledge of the ,father and of the ,son1 whom to know is life eternal4 ,this is my testimony to you1 my brethren and sisters1 and ,i bear witness of it in the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ab1 ,september1 #aiji1 p4 #iad4 ,i ,,know ,,that ,,my ,,redeemer ,,lives4 ,i know that my ,redeemer lives4 ,we have all the testimony and all the evidence of this great and glorious truth that the world has1 that is1 all that the so-called ,christian world possesses2 and in addition to all that they have1 we have the testimony of the inhabitants of this western continent1 to whom the ,savior appeared and delivered his gospel1 the same as he delivered it to the ,jews4 ,in addition to all this new testimony1 and the testimony of the holy scriptures from the ,jews1 we have the testimony of the modern prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 who saw the ,father and the ,son1 and who has borne record of them to the world1 whose testimony was sealed with his blood and is in force upon the world today4 ,we have the testimony of others1 who witnessed the presence of the ,son of ,god in the ,kirtland temple1 when he appeared to them there1 and the testimony of ,joseph1 and of ,sidney ,rigdon1 who declared that they were the last witnesses of ,jesus ,christ4 ,therefore ,i say again1 ,i know that my ,redeemer lives2 for in the mouths of these witnesses this truth has been established in my mind4 ,besides these testimonies1 ,i have received the witness #fdc of the ,spirit of ,god in my own heart1 which exceeds all other evidences1 for it bears record to me1 to my very soul1 of the existence of my ,redeemer1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,i know that he lives1 and that in the last day he shall stand upon the earth1 that he shall come to the people who shall be prepared for him1 as a bride is prepared for the ,bridegroom when he shall come4 ,i believe in the divine mission of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 and ,i have every evidence that ,i need--at least enough to convince me1 of the divinity of his mission4 ,i am proud to say that ,i have accepted1 and have tried to keep and honor1 every word that has proceeded from the mouth of ,god through him4 ,as it is written1 ,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god1 no one will dare to accuse me of side-tracking from or refusing to obey any doctrine taught by or revealed through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4--,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ad1 #aiaj1 p4 #gc4 ,,testimony4 ,now1 there are many other things1 but ,i cannot tell them all to you4 ,i begin to feel that ,i am getting to be an old man1 or rather a young man in an old body4 ,i think ,i am just about as young as ,i ever was in my life in spirit4 ,i love the truth today more than ,i ever did before1 because ,i see it more clearly1 ,i understand it better from day to day by the promptings and inspiration of the ,spirit of the ,lord that is vouchsafed to me2 but my body gets tired1 and ,i want to tell you1 sometimes my poor old heart quivers considerably4--,oct4 ,c4 ,r41 #aiag1 pp4 #f1 #g4 #fdd ,,president ,,joseph ,f4 ,,smith ,,an ,,appreciation ,president ,joseph ,fielding ,smith1 sixth and beloved ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 has without question seen longer service in the ,church than has any other living man4 ,for sixty-five years he has been in the active ministry1 under a great variety of callings2 for fifty-one years he has held the apostolic calling2 since #ahfg he has been one of the general authorities of the ,church2 during seventeen years he has been ,president of the ,church4 ,no other man is so beloved in the ,church4 ,to advertise that ,president ,smith will be at a meeting is to warn the people that standing room will be at a premium4 ,his words are accepted as of inspired authority2 his acts as of an honest man1 tried long and severely in the crucible of life4 ,the confidence of the people in their ,president1 ,prophet1 ,seer and ,revelator1 has not come alone from the exalted positions he has so long occupied4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints have been gathered from all comers of the earth1 and from all walks1 after they had become convinced that the gospel as restored through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith is of certain truth4 ,intelligence rules in the earthly ,zion4 ,the leaders of the people are subjected to searching consideration by the people1 and the confidence given them is in proportion to their deserts4 ,it is1 therefore1 a noble tribute to the worthiness of the man ,joseph ,f4 ,smith that he is the synonym for all that the people respect and hold dear4 ,surely1 this man who presides over the ,church1 and #fde whose life is an open book1 has been prepared for his labor4 ,if weakness were in him he would have had ample opportunity to fall4 ,from his birth1 the spirit of the great latter-day work has hovered over him2 and with every passing year he has been immersed in the history of the ,church4 ,when he was born1 in ,far ,west1 on ,november #ac1 #ahch1 apostasy1 jealousy1 persecution and the beckoning hands of untruth were shaking the ,church4 ,the ,church did not fall1 but the hearts of the faithful were sorely tried1 and even the baby1 ,joseph ,f41 must have assimilated some of the solemnity of those days when the ,church was being purified for its future work ,it was a preparation of noble extent to sit1 in those early years1 on the knees of his patriarch father or of his prophet uncle1 even though the wide import of their conversation was not understood by the boy4 ,it was a training in steely strength1 even for the child1 to witness the homecoming of the bodies of his murdered father and uncle4 ,for such robbery of the dearest in life the human breast naturally and instinctively clamors for revenge4 ,yet1 the whole life of the boy1 grown to manhood1 has been that of forgiving and loving1 so that all may be made to see the truth4 ,who knows at what cost the man within has been conquered8 ,the ,church has suffered such unjust yet persistent opposition from the beginning that one wonders that it retains its gentle love for all the children of men4 ,it was splendid preparation for the man who was to be in ,god's harness all the years of a long life to witness the exodus of ,nauvoo4 ,home and lands1 household property and trinkets of sentiment--all had to be left behind4 ,the driven people were in the desert with their ,god1 and lo6 their faith waxed strong4 ,it was during the exodus that ,president ,smith learned lessons of faith that never have been forgotten4 ,their cattle were lost and their hope was gone1 but the praying mother1 in communion with the ,source of ,truth1 arose and went directly to the place where the #fdf oxen had strayed4 ,though only eight years old1 the boy drove an ox team across ,iowa4 ,in #ahdh1 when nine years old1 ,i drove a four-ox team across the plains to ,salt ,lake ,city1 writes ,president ,smith1 in an album of a friend4 ,that was training for the boy6 ,from the days of that blistering1 dusty journey there was no relapse to a longing for the easy things of life4 ,after the arrival in the valley came the toilsome conquest of ,widow ,smith's farm4 ,the father was gone and the children were young4 ,our ,president1 from his own life1 can understand the lot of the widow and the fatherless4 ,then the mother died4 ,the strong spirit and wise mind could no longer guide the boy4 ,the father had been murdered in cold blood because he was fearless in the cause of truth2 the mother had died from the strain and sorrow of a life tossed in the furious storm of those days2 no material wealth was his4 ,thus stood the fourteen-year-old boy who was to become the leader of his people4 ,men are shorn of earthly support that they may grow strong in ,godly ways6 ,the training had been severe1 but of infinite value4 ,when the boy was only fifteen years old he was called to go on a mission to the ,sandwich ,islands4 ,by the labor of his hands he worked his way to ,california2 by more labor1 earned his passage to the islands4 ,to object or to question was not possible for one who had survived his training4 ,during that first mission the spirit of the work came upon him4 ,in sermon1 by visit1 through his quiet influence1 he led men and women into the way of everlasting truth4 ,by the power of the priesthood he held1 he healed the sick1 drove out evil spirits1 and brought peace to the souls of those who were heavy laden4 ,after nearly five years he was allowed to return home4 ,again he had to work his way4 ,at last he was again with the body of his people in ,salt ,lake ,city1 but penniless4 ,the ,lord does not always reward in gold and silver4 ,he was not #fdg permitted to remain home long1 for mission succeeded mission4 ,from the ,sandwich ,islands he was called to ,england for three years2 then from ,england again to the ,sandwich ,islands4 ,to preach the gospel without purse and scrip became the order of his life4 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith's ceaseless devotion to the gospel did not escape the notice of the watchful1 keen-eyed leader1 ,brigham ,young1 who loved with a mighty love the memory of the martyrs ,joseph and ,hyrum ,smith4 ,it was a joy to the ,prophet ,brigham ,young to find one of the blood of the martyrs giving himself to the cause for which they died4 ,in various ways did ,president ,young test the materials of which ,joseph ,f4 ,smith was made4 ,however1 the long and hard training of boyhood and the insistent discipline in the mission field had not been in vain4 ,president ,young found him loyal to his family1 his country1 his ,church and his ,god4 ,not even his bitterest enemy will deny that ,president ,smith is loyal4 ,after some years1 on ,july #a1 #ahff1 a beautiful and solemn day1 ,president ,brigham ,young ordained ,joseph ,f4 ,smith to the apostleship4 ,a year later1 in ,october1 #ahfg1 he was admitted to the quorum of the ,twelve4 ,if there can be any talk in the ,church of ,christ of earning a position1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith had earned his place in the apostolic quorum1 by his purity1 his intelligence1 his integrity and his activity in behalf of the ,church4 ,moreover1 the people of the ,church delight to honor the blood of the ,prophet who was ,god's instrument in the mighty work of the restoration of the gospel4 ,welcome was he1 when he entered upon his work as one of the general authorities of the ,church4 ,as a member of the quorum of the ,twelve1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith showed the same activity that had so emphatically characterized his former labors4 ,from settlement to settlement he traveled1 to counsel1 to preach and to take active part in the building of the ,west1 which was yet in its swaddling #fdh clothes of conquest4 ,vigorous were his words wherever he went4 ,without doubt was his faith4 ,his testimony of the gospel was as the highest knowledge4 ,he was then as now a fearless champion of truth4 ,at the time ,apostle ,smith assumed a place among the general authorities of the ,church1 ,utah conditions were rapidly changing4 ,many non-members of the ,church1 who had come in to share in the bounties of the desert made to blossom by the ,saints1 could not content themselves with their rich material harvest1 but must needs take up arms against the ,church4 ,when the leaders of the ,church were charged with disloyalty to the country1 when their motives were painted as those of devils1 when the whole system of ,mormon faith was branded as the rottenest immorality1 the people who remembered the days of ,carthage and ,nauvoo had difficulty to keep down the cry of vengeance4 ,across the weary desert they had trailed1 leaving many by the way2 in the sweat of their brows they had won the wilderness to their use1 and all this that they might serve unmolested their holy ,god1 in a worship founded on purity and truth4 ,it was then that the clear-visioned1 clear-thinking leaders raised their voices in protest against further injustice4 ,apostle ,smith1 a man of deep affections1 had fought away from himself the desire for revenge for the beastly murder of his manly father2 but1 being a man of strength1 he could not submit indifferently to the new injustice that was proposed4 ,the ,fighting ,apostle they called him1 as he hurled back the untruths about ,mormonism1 and his relentless watchfulness became a deterrent power among those who planned evil for a good and peaceful people4 ,a fighting apostle he has always been--fighting for the cause of truth4 ,yet1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith is temperamentally a man of peace4 ,gentle and kind are his ways4 ,a gentleman1 is the instinctive appellation bestowed upon him by all who meet him4 ,in character1 voice and manner he is #fdi the dignified peace maker4 ,nevertheless1 his loyalty is such1 and his convictions are so firmly established1 that evil may not be spoken about truth without arousing the lion within him4 ,to measure the ground2 to give the foe full place and warning1 to try strength according to the laws of decency1 but never to give quarter to evil or untruth or injustice--that is the method of ,joseph ,f4 ,smith4 ,in time1 the years of toil wore upon ,president ,brigham ,young1 who asked that more counselors1 to act as assistants1 be given him4 ,among those whom he chose for this purpose was ,joseph ,f4 ,smith4 ,this indicated that during his apostolic career he had not forfeited the confidence of the president which he had won earlier in his life4 ,when1 at length1 the great founder of ,utah passed away1 and the first presidency was again reorganized1 the abilities and character of ,apostle ,smith made him1 under ,god's inspiration1 a counselor to ,president ,john ,taylor4 ,under the administrations of ,presidents ,taylor1 ,woodruff1 and ,snow1 for twenty-one years1 ,president ,smith remained as a counselor in the first presidency1 until at length1 in the providence of ,god1 he became the president of the ,church4 ,the vast gathering in the great ,tabernacle1 ,november #aj1 #aija1 will ever be remembered by those present4 ,the priesthood of the ,church were seated according to their offices in the priesthood4 ,one by one the quorums arose1 elders1 seventies1 high priests and the others1 and voted to sustain the appointment of ,joseph ,fielding ,smith to the ,presidency4 ,in his vigorous1 later manhood1 his eye clear1 his voice distinct1 his spirit compelling1 he was vividly the greatest among the thousands of able men1 the flower of a vigorous people1 who had assembled there that day4 ,the day was the fulfilment of prophecy1 for1 many years before1 his attainment of the exalted position of the ,presidency had been predicted with the voice of authority4 ,of the administration of the affairs of the ,church under #fej ,joseph ,f4 ,smith's presidency nothing need be said--for we live in it and know its eloquent message4 ,the stakes at home1 the missions in ,europe and in the islands of the sea1 have been visited by the ,president in his official capacity4 ,prosperity1 good will1 spiritual power and growth1 overshadow the ,church4 ,the stakes of ,zion have been increased1 the wards multiplied1 hundreds of beautiful meeting-houses have been constructed1 the priesthood has risen to a fuller recognition of its place in the ,church1 the temples have become crowded1 new temples are being built1 new converts have been added in mighty numbers1 and in a thousand other ways has the ,church prospered2 and above all1 in the face of a most bitter persecution1 which has been heralded throughout the world1 the faith of the people has increased until it is nigh unto impregnable4 ,if any doubt all this1 let him journey over the ,church then visit one of the general conferences of the ,church4 ,there is faith in ,israel6 ,not only long but varied has been the experience of this great man who presides over the ,church4 ,true to the genius of ,mormonism1 he has been closely identified with all the affairs of the community in which he has lived4 ,for seven successive terms he was a member of the ,utah legislature4 ,when the ,johnston army pantomime was in progress1 ,president ,smith joined the militia and assisted in making preparations to protect the homes of the people4 ,he has helped to locate settlements and to find ways for bringing water upon the thirsting land4 ,he has encouraged all legitimate business and1 as far as time has permitted1 has taken part in it4 ,from his earliest life he has managed his farm1 and even today1 with his sons1 has built one of the most modern livestock farms in the ,west1 as an example to others4 ,education1 guided in schools1 was largely denied him1 but educated is ,president ,smith4 ,he has read widely1 spoken with many men of many minds1 and has thought deeply4 #fea ,of broad and generous sympathies with everything that is noble and good1 he has acquired a culture1 which none dares question4 ,schools1 the public press1 the theater1 music and the fine arts have been encouraged by him4 ,as a most illuminating sidelight upon his wisdom is the fact that if not all of a family can be educated1 he insists that the girls must be given the first chance1 for they are the mothers and makers of men4 ,to those who do not know ,president ,smith1 it must seem strange that the honors that have almost overwhelmed him have all come unsought4 ,president ,smith is a modest man4 ,like all truly great men he is not immersed in thoughts of his own greatness4 ,rather does he admiringly place the power he observes in other men above his own4 ,nevertheless1 and most naturally1 position after position involving trust has come to him1 though he has never sought one4 ,those who must find flaws in the ,church point out that ,president ,smith is officially connected with many business enterprises4 ,yet1 those who find fault with this condition will not realize that men who can be absolutely trusted to guard the affairs of others as they would their own1 are everywhere sought after4 ,president ,smith's demonstrated integrity has brought many offices which no doubt he would gladly relinquish to others4 ,but ,mormon1 ,jew1 and ,gentile know that as far as ,president ,smith can control things1 only honor and justice and simple honesty will prevail wherever he is found4 ,during the ,smoot investigations it seemed as if the whole ,united ,states was arrayed against the relatively few people who1 during half a century1 had given themselves to the conquest of the ,great ,american ,desert4 ,the charges filed against this people1 if sustained1 would make the ,mormon people unfit to dwell in the land of the free and the home of the brave4 ,to face the investigating ,committee on ,privileges and ,elections1 composed of the best minds of the ,senate and ,house of #feb ,representatives of the ,united ,states ,congress1 many were subpoenaed4 ,the first witness was ,president ,smith4 ,fortunately1 the hearing is preserved and printed so that all may read it4 ,matching mind and will and heart and sense against the great ones of the land1 ,president ,smith was easily their compeer4 ,read it4 ,who has ever heard of that hearing used as a campaign document against ,mormons8 ,when ,joseph ,f4 ,smith's history is written1 his mighty contest with the most authoritative body in the land will make his figure stand out in noble relief4 ,among the men of earth1 high or low1 ,president ,smith is never at a disadvantage4 ,those who had even slight acquaintance with ,president ,smith were not surprised at the evidence of his power among men4 ,in all his public work he is masterful4 ,he is endowed with high physical attractiveness1 his musical voice is compelling1 his language chaste and correct1 and his thoughts appeal to the intellect as well as to the emotions4 ,those who have seen him before the ten thousand1 at the great ,tabernacle in ,salt ,lake ,city1 have no fear that he may not be measured with the men he meets4 ,perhaps the best evidence of the high intellect of ,president ,smith is shown in his clear understanding and explanation of the principles of the gospel4 ,men often sink to oblivion in quagmires of theological vagueness4 ,in matters of theological doctrine the ,president is lucid as the noon-day light4 ,some few years ago1 certain men1 loving to conjecture the improbable1 insisted on knowing what would happen if all the men holding the priesthood were to die1 save one elder4 ,at one of the great conferences 7general71 before ten thousand assembled ,saints1 ,president ,smith1 in one-half dozen sentences cleared up the whole subject4 ,it would be the privilege and duty of the one remaining elder to organize again the whole ,church with apostles1 prophets1 etc41 according to the revelation4 ,the powers and purpose and duty of the priesthood were thus driven into the understandings #fec of the people1 as they never had been before4 ,his sermons abound in such clarifying statements1 backed by a simple1 unfailing faith that looks for simplicity rather than mystery in the things of ,god4 ,perhaps enough has been said4 ,the man of whom we write is tender and gentle1 and withal does not love much praise4 ,to him and his families many children have been born4 ,to them he is loyal with all his power1 for he well knows that loyalty1 with all other virtues1 begins at home4 ,over his families he watches with tender solicitude4 ,they in turn love him with an invariable love4 ,it is common knowledge that when the children were young1 his rest was not easy if he had not seen the little ones properly tucked away for the night4 ,the same father-heart beats for the people whose accepted leader he is4 ,the hearts of the people ache over the long hours he spends in the office working out the affairs of the ,church1 especially now that he is no longer as young as he once was4 ,but1 he is not to be dissuaded4 ,he must see his people tucked away for the night1 before his heart will be at peace4 ,so works love6 and who shall say him nay1 whose care from boyhood has been the welfare of his people8 ,has this man no faults8 asks the green-eyed critic4 ,to be sure he has1 for he is mortal4 ,but1 this writing is not to show his faults2 and indeed1 the writer does not know them1 any more than he knows the full virtue of this man who for eighty long years has lived his life openly among his people1 and who is the freest from adverse criticism in his community4 ,men are not measured by their faults1 but by their worthy deeds and qualities4 ,in the scales of eternal justice the main requirement is that our virtues outweigh our failings4 ,curiously enough1 the only current criticism of ,president ,smith1 among those who oppose him1 is that he is too loyal to his people1 his friends1 his convictions4 ,is not that the eternal cry of the enemy who reaches out for deserters8 #fed ,in every manly quality1 friend and foe agree that he reaches above the majority of men4 ,sure is our ,president of his reward4 ,for him ,god will richly provide4 ,our question may rather be1 has he had during the earth's journey1 his full measure of reward8 ,have we done our full duty8 ,for the cause of the ,church he was bereft of father and mother4 ,in the service of the ,church he has been unable to use his splendid talents for the gathering of wealth--in our day he might justly be called a poor man4 ,the ease of life has been denied him1 for almost daily he has been under orders4 ,above all1 as a leader in ,israel1 the calumny and hatred of the ,church have been heaped upon him4 ,only a few years ago1 when past his prime1 the most heartless persecution to which any member of the ,church has been submitted was his4 ,for several years an influential newspaper1 standing at that time for the persecution of the ,church1 by means fair or foul1 printed daily vile cartoons of ,president ,smith and equally vile editorials about him and his work4 ,every indignity conceivable to the human mind was offered him because he was the embodiment of the ,church4 ,should the question be put to him1 he would answer that he has had a rich reward4 ,perhaps he feels1 let it be hoped he does1 the outpouring of loving thoughts from the people whenever his name is mentioned4 ,he has been blessed to serve4 ,that is also a great reward for effort4 ,his life has been crowned with the assurance1 from all1 that his work has been well done4 ,that is the most satisfying reward4 ,may his health be preserved and his life be lengthened out4 ,there is much work yet to be done1 and men do not frequently rise to the fulness of his measure6 ,at the beginning of his eighty-first year1 the people give loving greetings and good wishes and heartfelt gratitude to ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4--,dr4 ,john ,a4 ,widtsoe1 #aiah2 also in ,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #ah1 ,november1 #aiad1 pp4 #ch-de4 #fee ,,reminiscences ,the ,era has asked me to write a few remembrances of incidents connected with my personal association with the late ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 while they are yet fresh in memory1 and it is a pleasure to comply4 ,the first time ,i ever remember seeing ,joseph ,f4 ,smith was in the then little village of ,wellsville1 in the year #ahfg4 ,he was twenty-eight years of age1 and had recently been chosen one of the twelve apostles4 ,president ,brigham ,young and company were making a tour of the northern settlements1 and the new apostle1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 was among the number4 ,i heard him preach in the old meetinghouse at ,wellsville1 and ,i remarked at the time what a fine specimen of young manhood he was--strong1 powerful1 with a beautiful voice1 so full of sympathy and affection1 so appealing in its tone1 that he impressed me1 although ,i was a youth of but eighteen4 ,he was a handsome man4 ,at that time ,i was clerking in a little store owned by ,father ,ira ,ames1 one of the old ,kirtland veterans of the ,church4 ,apostle ,george ,a4 ,smith was one of that company and he was entertained at ,brother ,ames' home1 where ,i also lived4 ,i recall that at the dinner table1 ,father ,ames asked ,george ,a4 who of the ,smiths this young man ,joseph ,f4 was4 ,george ,a4 replied that he was ,hyrum's son2 his mother1 ,mary ,fielding ,smith4 ,brother ,ames remarked that he looked like a likely young fellow1 and ,george ,a4 replied in about these words3 ,yes1 ,i think he will be all right4 ,his father and mother left him when he was a child1 and we have been looking after him to try and help him along4 ,we first sent him to school1 but it was not long before he licked the #fef schoolmaster1 and could not go to school4 ,then we sent him on a mission1 and he did pretty well at that4 ,i think he will make good as an apostle4 ,some years ago ,i related this incident to ,president ,smith1 and he told me that the reason he had trouble with the schoolmaster was that the schoolmaster had a leather strap with which he used to chastise the children4 ,he was a rather hard-hearted schoolmaster1 one of the olden type that believed in inflicting bodily punishment4 ,president ,smith said3 ,my little sister was called up 7,aunt ,martha1 now living in ,provo7 to be punished4 ,i saw the schoolmaster bring out the leather strap1 and he told the child to hold out her hand4 ,i could not stand for that4 ,i just spoke up loudly and said1 ',don't whip her with that1' and at that he came at me and was going to whip me1 and instead of him whipping me1 ,i licked him good and plenty4 ,at the time of this incident1 ,joseph ,f4 7for1 by that name he was affectionately called7 was about fifteen years of age4 ,but he was a strong1 powerful youth1 and his big heart could not tolerate such punishment1 especially if it bordered on the cruel1 to be inflicted upon a little child4 ,another incident which ,i have heard him relate which shows his courage and integrity1 occurred when he was returning from his mission to the ,sandwich ,islands1 in the fall of #aheg4 ,he came home by way of ,los ,angeles1 by what was called the ,southern ,route4 ,in that year ,johnston's ,army was on the move for ,utah1 and naturally enough there was much excitement and bitterness of feeling concerning the ,mormons4 ,in southern ,california1 just after the little train of wagons had traveled only a short distance and made their camp1 several anti-,mormon toughs rode into the camp on horseback1 cursing and swearing and threatening what they would do to the ,mormons4 ,joseph ,f4 was a little distance from the camp gathering wood for the fire1 but he saw that the few members of his own party had #feg cautiously gone into the brush down the creek1 out of sight4 ,when he saw that1 he told me1 the thought came into his mind1 ,shall ,i run from these fellows8 ,why should ,i fear them8 ,with that he marched up with his arm full of wood to the campfire where one of the ruffians1 still with his pistol in his band1 shouting and cursing about the ,mormons1 in a loud voice said to ,joseph ,f43 ,are you a ',mormon'8 ,and the answer came straight1 ,yes1 siree2 dyed in the wool2 true blue1 through and through4 ,at that the ruffian grasped him by the hand and said3 ,well1 you are the ---- ---- pleasantest man ,i ever met6 ,shake1 young fellow1 ,i am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions4 ,these incidents show the inherent bravery1 courage1 integrity of the man1 and also tenderness and pity for the little helpless sister4 ,these are the qualities upon which great men are builded4 ,in the spring of #ahgg1 ,i was called to accompany ,president ,smith on a mission to ,europe4 ,i was called by him to labor in the business affairs of the ,liverpool office1 and from that time until the day of his death1 ,i think ,i have enjoyed his personal confidence more than any man living4 ,when ,i look back on it all now1 ,i can see what a treasure1 a blessing1 a favor from the ,almighty it has been to me4 ,during the last eleven years1 especially1 ,i have traveled with him almost constantly whenever he has gone from home4 ,i have been with him on three different trips to ,europe1 including the first missionary trip above mentioned1 and on four trips to the ,sandwich ,islands4 ,everywhere1 on all occasions1 ,i have found him the same great1 brave1 true-hearted1 noble and magnificent leader1 so simple and unaffected1 so entirely democratic and unassuming4 ,he was always careful with his expenditures1 too4 ,he abhorred debt1 and no man have ,i ever known who was #feh so prompt to pay an obligation to the last penny4 ,he could not rest until the ,church was out of debt1 and though hundreds of schemes1 and many of them extra good schemes1 too1 were presented to him1 which no doubt would have meant an increase of wealth for the ,church1 yet he resolutely set his face against debt2 and would not1 under any conditions or circumstances1 involve the ,church in that way4 ,neither would he himself become involved in debt in his own individual affairs1 but he stuck persistently to the old motto1 ,pay as you go4 ,many of the older people now alive can recall that forty years ago1 or even less1 he was considered a radical1 and many a one of that time shook his head and said1 ,what will become of things if that fiery radical ever becomes president of the ,church8 ,but from the time he was made president of the ,church1 and even before that time1 he became one of the most tolerant of men1 tolerant of others' opinions2 and while he would denounce sin with such righteous wrath as you would seldom see in any man1 yet for the poor sinner he had compassion and pity1 and even forgiveness1 if sincere repentance were shown4 ,none more ready than he to forgive and forget4 ,one touching little incident ,i recall which occurred on our first trip to the ,sandwich ,islands4 ,as we landed at the wharf in ,honolulu1 the native ,saints were out in great numbers with their wreaths of leis1 beautiful flowers of every variety and hue4 ,we were loaded with them1 he1 of course1 more than anyone else4 ,the noted ,hawaiian band was there playing welcome1 as it often does to incoming steamship companies4 ,but on this occasion the band had been instructed by the ,mayor to go up to the ,mormon meetinghouse and there play selections during the festivities which the natives had arranged for4 ,it was a beautiful sight to see the deep-seated love1 the even tearful affection1 that these people had for him4 ,in the midst of it all ,i noticed a #fei poor old blind woman1 tottering under the weight of about ninety years1 being led in4 ,she had a few choice bananas in her hand4 ,it was her all--her offering4 ,she was calling1 ,iosepa1 ,iosepa4 ,instantly1 when he saw her1 he ran to her and clasped her in his arms1 hugged her1 and kissed her over and over again1 patting her on the head saying1 ,mama1 ,mama1 my dear old ,mama4 ,and with tears streaming down his cheeks he turned to me and said1 ,charlie1 she nursed me when ,i was a boy1 sick and without anyone to care for me4 ,she took me in and was a mother to me4 ,oh1 it was touching--it was pathetic4 ,it was beautiful to see the great1 noble soul in loving1 tender remembrance of kindness extended to him1 more than fifty years before2 and the poor old soul who had brought her love offering--a few bananas--it was all she had--to put into the hand of her loved ,iosepa6 ,on these ocean trips there was much spare time1 and we often whiled away an hour or two playing checkers4 ,he could play a good game of checkers1 much better than ,i4 ,in fact1 he could beat me four times out of five1 but once in a while1 when ,i played more cautiously1 and no doubt when he was more careless1 ,i could beat him4 ,if he was beating me right along and ,i made an awkward move1 and could see instantly that ,i had moved the wrong checker1 he would allow me to draw it back if ,i noticed it immediately2 but on the other band1 if ,i had beaten him for a game or two and should put my finger on a checker to draw it back1 even though it were on the instant1 he would call out with force enough1 and that positive way of his1 ,no you don't1 you leave it right there4 ,it is in these little incidents that we show the human side of our natures4 ,he loved sport--manly sport4 ,he was a natural athlete2 and in his youth at foot-racing1 jumping1 wrestling1 which were among the primitive sports of primitive days1 he #ffj was a match for anyone4 ,in later years ,i had induced him to take up with the ancient and royal ,scottish game of golf4 ,he got so that he could play a very good game1 excellent indeed for a man of his years4 ,but on one occasion1 down at ,santa ,monica1 when we were playing1 we were up within about one hundred feet of the flag at the hole we were making for4 ,a light stroke should have driven the ball nearer the flag1 but the inclination to look up as one tries to hit the ball got the best of him1 and the consequence was he topped the ball and it rolled only a couple of feet or so4 ,he bent over for the next stroke1 and the one thing which all golfers most fear1 and the hardest to overcome1 is that habit of looking up or taking the eye off the ball just as you go to strike4 ,this he did1 the second time1 when he topped it again and it moved but a few feet further4 ,the third time he went up to it and hit it a whack that sent it rolling one hundred feet beyond the flag4 ,his son1 ,wesley1 who was playing with us1 called out1 ,why1 papa1 what did you do that for8 ,you knew it would roll away down there in the ditch6 ,the ,president straightened up and said1 with a smile1 ,well1 ,i was mad at it6 ,i have laughed hundreds of times at that1 ,i was mad at it4 ,of course1 we agreed well together1 otherwise we would not have been companionable during all these years4 ,but sometimes ,i could not fully agree with him on some matters that we discussed4 ,i recall one night we were on shipboard returning from ,europe1 in #aijf4 ,it was a bright1 moonlight night1 and we stood there leaning over the railing enjoying the smooth sea and balmy summer night air4 ,the ,smoot investigation1 which had just occurred a little while before and which had stirred up so much controversy throughout the land1 was fresh in our minds1 and we were talking of it4 ,i took the position that it would be unwise for ,reed ,smoot to be re-elected to the ,united ,states ,senate4 ,i was conscientious in my objection1 and ,i had marshaled #ffa all the facts1 arguments1 and logic that ,i could2 and ,i was well informed1 ,i thought1 on the subject1 and had presented them to him in as clear and yet in as adroit a manner as ,i possibly could4 ,it would take too much space here to go over the arguments1 but it seemed to me that ,i had the best of it4 ,i could see he began to listen with some little impatience1 and yet he let me have my say1 but he answered in tones and in a way that ,i shall never forget4 ,bringing his fist down with some force on the railing between us1 he said1 in the most forceful and positive manner3 ,if ever the ,spirit of the ,lord has manifested to me anything clear and plain and positive1 it is this1 that ,reed ,smoot should remain in the ,united ,states ,senate4 ,he can do more good there than he can anywhere else4 ,of course1 ,i did not contend further with him1 but accepted from that hour his view of the case and made it mine1 too4 ,twelve years have passed since that time1 and looking back on it now1 ,i cannot help but think how marvelously and splendidly the inspiration of the ,almighty has been vindicated1 while my arguments1 facts and logic have all fallen to the ground4 ,during the last six or eight years1 hundreds of prominent people1 ,democrats as well as ,republicans1 passing through ,salt ,lake ,city1 even ,secretary ,mc,adoo1 himself1 among them1 have stated to ,president ,smith that ,utah had a great big man in the ,united ,states ,senate in the person of ,senator ,reed ,smoot4 ,president ,smith's judgment1 or rather his inspiration in this matter1 has been vindicated to the last degree4 ,as a preacher of righteousness1 who could compare with him8 ,he was the greatest that ,i ever heard--strong1 powerful1 clear1 appealing4 ,it was marvelous how the words of living light and fire flowed from him4 ,he was a born preacher1 and yet he did not set himself up to be such4 ,he never thought highly of his own good qualities4 ,rather1 he #ffb was simple1 plain and unaffected to the last degree2 and yet1 there was dignity with it all which enabled anyone and everyone to say3 ,he is a man among men6 ,i ask1 as preacher1 leader1 teacher1 husband1 father1 citizen and man1 who among our mighty ones can be likened unto him8 ,he loved a good story and a good joke4 ,there was a good laugh in him always4 ,he had no patience with vile stories1 but there was a fine vein of humor in him1 and could relate incidents of his early life and entertain the crowd about him as few men ever could4 ,he was the most methodical in all his work of any person ,i ever knew4 ,every letter that he received had to be indorsed by him with the date and any other information1 and all carefully filed away4 ,he could not stand for disorder4 ,everything in connection with his work was orderly4 ,he could pack his suitcase or a trunk and line out and smooth every piece of clothing in it so it would bold more and be better packed than if anybody else had done it4 ,his clothes1 too1 were always clean4 ,most men as they grow old are likely to have their clothes more or less spotted through dropping food on their clothing4 ,but not so with him4 ,to his last day his clothes were as clean and as well taken care of as if he had been a young man of thirty4 ,he was a most strenuous worker and never considered saving himself at all4 ,you could go up to his little office in the ,beehive most any night when he was well1 and find him writing letters or attending to some other work4 ,perhaps some dear old soul had written him a personal letter1 and he would work into the night answering it with his own hand4 ,indeed1 he over-worked himself and no doubt injured his strong constitution4 ,he was careless about eating--careless as to what he ate and when he ate4 ,his living was exceedingly simple and plain4 ,he rarely got to bed before midnight1 and the consequence was he did not get sufficient sleep and rest4 #ffc ,he was very fond of music and loved to sing the songs of ,zion4 ,his love for little children was unbounded4 ,during the trip we took last year down through the southern settlements to ,st4 ,george and return1 when the troops of little children were paraded before him1 it was beautiful to see how he adored these little ones4 ,it was my duty to try and get the company started1 to make time to the next settlement where the crowds would be waiting for us1 but it was a difficult task to pull him away from the little children4 ,he wanted to shake hands with and talk to every one of them4 ,once in a while someone would come up to him and say1 ,president ,smith1 ,i believe ,i am a kinsman of yours4 ,i knew then that we were good for another ten minutes' delay1 for that great heart of his1 that went out to every kinsman as well as to the little children1 could not be torn away quickly from anyone claiming kinship with him4 ,i have visited at his home when one of his children was down sick4 ,i have seen him come home from his work at night tired1 as he naturally would be1 and yet he would walk the floor for hours with that little one in his arms1 petting it and loving it1 encouraging it in every way with such tenderness and such a soul of pity and love as not one mother in a thousand would show4 ,while he was a hard-headed1 successful business man1 yet very few in this dispensation have been more gifted with spiritual insight than he4 ,as we were returning from an eastern trip1 some years ago1 on the train just east of ,green ,river1 ,i saw him go out to the end of the car on the platform1 and immediately return and hesitate a moment1 and then sit down in the seat just ahead of me4 ,he had just taken his seat when something went wrong with the train4 ,a broken rail had been the means of ditching the engine and had thrown most of the cars off the track4 ,in the sleeper we were shaken up pretty badly1 but our car remained on the track4 #ffd ,the ,president immediately said to me that he had gone on the platform when he heard a voice saying1 ,go in and sit down4 ,he came in1 and ,i noticed him stand a moment and he seemed to hesitate1 but he sat down4 ,he said further that as he came in and stood in the aisle he thought1 ,oh1 pshaw1 perhaps it is only my imagination2 when he heard the voice again1 ,sit down1 and he immediately took his seat1 and the result was as ,i have stated4 ,he1 no doubt1 would have been very seriously injured had he remained on the platform of that car1 as the cars were all jammed up together pretty badly4 ,he said1 ,i have heard that voice a good many times in my life1 and ,i have always profited by obeying it4 ,on another occasion1 at a function which was held in the palatial home of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,a4 ,w4 ,mc,cune1 he made an extended talk to the gathering4 ,he then said that when a certain brother who had been called to a responsible position in the ,church was chosen for that position1 he himself had never heard this spiritual voice more plainly and more clearly telling him what to do1 than in this naming of the individual who was to be called for that certain office4 ,he lived in close communion with the ,spirit of the ,lord1 and his life was so exemplary and chaste that the ,lord could easily manifest himself to his servant4 ,truly he could say1 ,speak1 ,lord1 for thy servant heareth4 ,not every servant can hear when ,he speaks4 ,but the heart of ,president ,smith was attuned to the ,celestial melodies--he could hear1 and did hear4 ,what shall ,i say of the grand and glorious work that he has done in rearing the large and splendid family that he leaves behind8 ,what a noble work for any man6 ,indeed no man without great nobility of soul could have accomplished it4 ,is not this bringing up a good family1 and a large #ffe family of good citizens1 good men and women1 good for the ,church1 for the ,state1 and for the ,nation8 ,is not this1 ,i say1 about the most ,god-like piece of work that a man can do in this world8 ,the thinking mind1 who goes into this question deep enough1 will see that here is the work1 not only of a man1 of a great man1 but of a ,god in embryo4 ,the whole ,church can take pride in the vindication of this great principle which he had so successfully wrought out4 ,no ordinary man could accomplish that4 ,happy the wife who can call him husband4 ,happy and blessed indeed the children who call him father4 ,never was man more moral and chaste and virtuous to the last fiber of his being than he4 ,against all forms or thoughts of licentiousness1 he was set1 and as immovable as a mountain4 ,blessed are the pure in heart1 and as he was the very purest--he shall see ,god4 ,it is written that a truly great man is known by the number of beings he loves and blesses1 and by the number of beings who love and bless him4 ,judged by that standard alone1 where is his equal to be found in all this world6 ,i can say of ,joseph ,f4 ,smith as ,carlyle said of ,luther1 that he was truly a great man1 great in intellect1 in courage1 in affection1 and in integrity4 ,great1 not as a hewn obelisk1 but as an ,alpine mountain4 ,no heart ever beat truer to every principle of manhood and righteousness and justice and mercy than his2 that great heart1 encased in his magnificent frame1 made him the biggest1 the bravest1 the tenderest1 the purest and best of all men who walked the earth in his time6 ,his life was gentle1 and the elements ,so mix'd in him1 that ,nature might stand up ,and say to all the world1 ',this was a ,man6' --,charles ,w4 ,nibley1 ,presiding ,bishop of the ,church1 ,improvement ,era1 ,vol4 #bb1 ,january1 #aiai1 pp4 #aia-aih4 #fff ,a ,,biographical ,,sketch ,it was ,john ,locke1 the great characteristic ,english philosopher1 who1 at the age of thirty1 wrote3 ,i no sooner perceived myself in the world1 but ,i found myself in a storm which has lasted hitherto4 ,to ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 who is among the greatest and most unique and notable individualities of that peculiar people1 the ,latter-day ,saints1 this sentence of ,locke's is especially applicable4 ,only1 his was enveloped in storm before he could perceive4 ,he is the son of ,hyrum ,smith1 the second patriarch of the ,church1 and brother of the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,his mother was ,mary ,fielding1 of ,english origin1 a woman of bright and strong mind and of excellent business administrative qualities4 ,it was during the ,missouri troubles4 ,governor ,boggs had issued his order to exterminate the ,mormons4 ,on the first day of ,november1 #ahch1 through the heartless treachery of ,colonel ,hinkle1 ,joseph and ,hyrum and several other leaders of the people were betrayed into the hands of an armed mob under ,general ,clark4 ,they were to be taken prisoners1 and confined in jail1 and perhaps shot4 ,on the following day1 these betrayed leaders were given a few moments to bid farewell to their families4 ,under a strong guard of militia mobocrats1 ,hyrum was marched to his home in ,far ,west1 and1 at the point of the bayonet1 with oaths and curses1 was ordered to take his last farewell of his wife2 for his doom was sealed and he was told that he would never see her again4 ,imagine such a shock to his companion6 ,it would have overpowered and come near ending the life of an ordinary person4 ,but with the natural strength of her mind1 coupled with the sustaining care of ,god1 she was upheld in this fiery trial with its added miseries #ffg to follow4 ,it was on the #acth day of the same month of ,november1 #ahch1 in the midst of plunderings1 and scenes of severest hardships and persecution1 that she gave birth to her first-born1 who was named ,joseph ,fielding ,smith4 ,in the cold of the following ,january1 leaving four little ones1 under the care of her sister1 ,mercy ,r4--children of her husband by a former wife1 then dead--she journeyed in a wagon with her infant to ,liberty ,jail in ,clay county1 where the husband and father was confined1 without trial or conviction1 his sole offense being that he was a ,mormon4 ,she was permitted to visit him in jail1 but was later compelled to continue her flight from ,missouri with her children1 to seek shelter in ,illinois4 ,such were the stormy environments of birth1 and such was the first pilgrimage of the infant ,joseph who has since compassed the earth and the islands of the sea1 promulgating and defending the principles for which his father endured imprisonment and later martyrdom1 and for which his mother suffered untold persecution and distress4 ,joseph's early years were spent amidst the agitations which culminated in the martyrdom of his uncle and his father on the memorable #bgth day of ,june1 #ahdd4 ,after the abandonment of the city by the ,twelve1 and when the majority of the ,saints had been driven from ,nauvoo1 in ,september1 #ahdf1 his mother fled from the city and camped on the west side of the ,mississippi ,river1 among the trees on its banks1 without wagon or tent1 during the bombardment of the city by the mob4 ,having later succeeded in making exchanges of property in ,illinois for teams and an outfit1 she set out for ,winter ,quarters1 on the ,missouri ,river4 ,joseph1 a lad of only about eight years1 drove a yoke of oxen and a wagon most of the distance through the state of ,iowa to ,winter ,quarters1 and his other occupation1 after leaving ,nauvoo1 was principally that of herd boy4 ,on these western plains he drank in the freedom of #ffh the spirit of the ,west1 and developed that physical strength which1 notwithstanding his later sedentary occupation1 is still observable in his robust1 erect and muscular form4 ,he is a lover of strength and a believer in work4 ,labor is the key to the true happiness of the physical and spiritual being4 ,if a man possesses millions1 his children should still be taught how to labor with their hands2 boys and girls should receive a home training which will fit them to cope with the practical1 daily affairs of family life1 even where the conditions are such that they may not have to do this work themselves2 they will then know how to guide and direct others1 said he1 in a recent conversation with the writer4 ,the great and overpowering desire of all the ,saints was to obtain means to gather to the ,valley4 ,for this purpose various kinds of labor were sought in ,iowa and neighboring states1 from farming to school teaching4 ,in the fall of #ahdg1 he drove a team for his mother to ,st4 ,joseph for the purpose of securing provisions to make the coveted journey to the ,salt ,lake ,valley1 in the spring following4 ,the trip was successfully made4 ,it was in the fall of that year1 while tending his mother's cattle near ,winter ,quarters1 that he experienced one of the most exciting incidents of his life4 ,the cattle were their only hope of means for immigration to the ,valley4 ,this fact was deeply impressed upon the boy1 so that he came to view them as a precious heritage1 as well as a priceless charge given to him as a herd boy4 ,he understood the responsibility2 and that is much1 for neither ,joseph1 the boy1 nor ,joseph1 the man1 was ever known to shirk a duty or prove recreant to a responsibility4 ,one morning1 in company with ,alden and ,thomas ,burdick1 he set out upon the usual duties of the day4 ,the cattle were feeding in the valley some distance from the settlement1 which valley was reached in two ways1 one #ffi over a bench or plateau1 the other through a ravine or small canyon4 ,the boys each had a horse4 ,joseph's was a bay mare1 swifter than the others4 ,alden suggested that ,thomas and ,joseph go the short route to the left1 over the bench1 and he would go up the canyon to the right1 so that they would meet in the valley from the two directions4 ,the suggestion was gladly adopted1 and the two set out with youthful frolic1 and soon arrived at the upper end of the valley1 where the cattle could be seen feeding by a stream which divided it in the center and wound down the canyon from the direction of the settlement4 ,having the day before them1 they amused themselves with running their horses1 and1 later1 in jumping them over a little gully in the upper part of the valley4 ,as they were engaged in this amusement1 suddenly a band of twenty or thirty ,indians came into view around a point in the lower end of the valley1 some distance below the cattle4 ,thomas first saw them1 and frantically yelled1 ,indians1 at the same time turning his horse for the bench to ride for home4 ,joseph started to follow1 but the thought came to his mind1 ,my cattle1 ,i must save my cattle6 ,from that moment1 only this thought filled his mind2 everything else was blank and dark4 ,he headed his horse for the ,indians1 to get around the herd before the reds should reach it4 ,one ,indian1 naked like the others1 having only a cloth around the loins1 passed him1 flying to catch ,thomas4 ,joseph reached the head of the herd1 and succeeded in turning the cattle up the ravine just as the ,indians approached4 ,his efforts1 coupled with the rush and yells of the ,indians1 stampeded the herd1 followed by ,joseph1 who by keeping his horse on the dead run1 succeeded for some time in keeping between the herd and the ,indians4 ,here was a picture6 the boy1 the cattle1 the ,indians1 headed on the run for the settlement6 ,finally the reds cut him away from the herd1 whereupon he turned1 going down stream a distance1 then circling around #fgj the ravine to the right1 to reach the cattle from the other side4 ,he had not gone far in that direction when other ,indians were seen4 ,they started for him1 overtaking him as he emerged from the valley4 ,he still spurred his horse1 going at full speed1 and while thus riding1 two of the naked reds closed up beside him in the wild race1 and took him1 while the horses were going at full speed1 one by the left arm and the other by the right leg1 and lifted him from the saddle1 for a moment holding him in the air1 then suddenly dropping him to the ground4 ,undoubtedly he would have been scalped but for the timely appearance of a company of men going to the hay fields1 on the opposite side of the ravine1 which scared the thieving ,indians away1 they having obtained both the boys' horses for their pains4 ,in the meantime ,thomas had given the alarm4 ,two relief companies were formed in the settlement1 one a posse of horsemen under ,hosea ,stout1 who went up the canyon and found the cattle with ,alden ,burdick 7the pursuing ,indians having abandoned the chase from fright71 while the other took the bench route1 and discovered ,joseph1 who with them spent the day in a fruitless search for the ,indians and the cattle supposed to have been stolen4 ,i remember1 on my way home1 says ,joseph1 how ,i sat down and wept for my cattle1 and how the thought of meeting mother1 who could not now go to the ,valley1 wrung my soul with anguish4 ,but happily1 his bravery and fidelity to trust1 which are indissolubly interwoven with his character as a man1 had saved the herd4 ,leaving ,winter ,quarters in the spring of #ahdh1 they reached the ,salt ,lake ,valley on ,september #bc1 ,joseph driving two yoke of oxen with a heavily loaded wagon the whole distance4 ,he performed all the duties of a day watchman1 herdsman and teamster1 with other requirements imposed upon the men4 ,arriving in ,salt ,lake ,city1 he again had charge of the herds1 interchanging with such labors as #fga plowing1 canyon work1 harvesting and fencing4 ,during this whole time he never lost an animal entrusted to his care1 this notwithstanding the numerous large wolves abounding in the country4 ,his education was obtained from his mother who early taught him1 in the tent1 in the camp1 on the prairie1 to read from the ,bible4 ,he has had no other1 save that sterner education gathered from the practical pages of life4 ,but his opportunities in later years have not gone unused1 and there are few college-bred men who delight more in books than ,joseph4 ,he is1 too1 a fair judge of the manner and matter of books4 ,his leisure for reading is limited1 owing to his constant employment in the affairs of the ,church2 but he loves to read books of history1 philosophy1 science2 and has specially delighted in such authors as ,seiss and ,samuel ,smiles1 who may be said to be his favorites4 ,he is fond of music1 of which1 though not a judge1 he is a great lover1 especially enjoying the music of the human voice4 ,in #aheb his mother died1 leaving him an orphan at the age of fourteen4 ,when fifteen years of age1 he1 with other young men1 was called on his first mission to the ,sandwich ,islands4 ,the incidents of the journey to the coast by horses1 his work in the mountains at a shingle mill for means to proceed1 and the embarkment and journey on the ,vaquero for the islands1 are sufficient for a long chapter in themselves2 while his labors in the ,maui conference1 under ,president ,f4 ,a4 ,hammond1 his efforts to learn the language in the district of ,kula1 his attack of sickness1 the most severe of his life1 caused by the ,panama fever1 and his other labors and varied1 trying experiences while there1 would fill a volume4 ,he says1 ,of the many gifts of the ,spirit which were manifest through my administration1 next to my acquirements of the language1 the most prominent was perhaps the gift of healing1 and by the power of ,god the casting out of evil spirits1 which frequently occurred4 #fgb ,one incident shows how the ,lord is with his servants3 ,joseph was studying the language1 being alone with a native family in ,wailuku4 ,one night1 while he sat by a dismal light poring over his books in one corner of the room where dwelt a native and his wife1 the woman was suddenly possessed2 she arose and looking toward ,joseph made the most fearful noises and gestures1 accompanied by terrible physical contortions4 ,her husband came on his bended knees and crouched beside him1 frightened to trembling4 ,the fear that our young missionary felt under those circumstances was something indescribable1 but presently it all left him1 and he stood up facing the maniac woman1 exclaiming3 ,in the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i rebuke you4 ,like a flash1 the woman fell to the floor like one dead4 ,the husband went to ascertain if she were alive1 and pronounced her dead4 ,then he returned1 and set up a perfect howl1 which ,joseph likewise rebuked4 ,what should ,joseph do8 ,his first impression was to get away from the horrid surrounding1 but upon reflection he decided that such action would not be wise4 ,his feelings were indescribable1 but having rebuked the evil1 it was subdued1 peace was restored1 and he proceeded again with his studies4 ,these are the class of experiences that bring a lone missionary1 young as he was1 close to the ,lord4 ,after his release1 and while returning from the mission in ,hawaii1 this incident occurred3 ,at ,honolulu he went on board the barque ,yankee1 on ,october #f1 #aheg1 and with a company of elders landed in ,san ,francisco1 about the end of the month4 ,with ,edward ,partridge1 he went down the coast to ,santa ,cruz ,county1 ,cal41 and from thence with a company of ,saints1 under ,captain ,charles ,w4 ,wandell1 southward to the ,mojave river1 where he and others left the company and made a visit to ,san ,bernardino on their way to the ,salt ,lake ,valley4 ,it must be said that the feeling against the ,mormons1 first1 on account of the exaggerated #fgc reports of the ,mountain ,meadows massacre1 and secondly1 because of the coming of ,johnston's army to ,utah1 was exceedingly bitter on the coast4 ,as an illustration3 ,while they were in ,los ,angeles1 a man1 ,william ,wall by name1 came near being hung because he had confessed he was a ,mormon4 ,a mob of men had passed sentence on him1 and had prepared every detail to hang him4 ,it was only through the wise counsel of a man among them1 whose better judgment prevailed1 that he was not hung4 ,this man pointed out to the mob that here was a man who had not been near ,utah when the massacre took place1 a man who had no sympathy with it1 who could in no way be counted as a criminal4 ,why should he suffer8 ,and so ,wall was finally discharged and given time to get out of the country4 ,it was under such conditions1 and such prevailing sentiment1 that ,president ,smith1 then a lad of nineteen1 found himself on his journey home1 and on his trip to ,san ,bernardino4 ,with another man1 and a mail carrier1 he took passage in a mail wagon4 ,they traveled all night1 and at daylight stopped near a ranch for breakfast4 ,the passenger and the mail carrier began to prepare breakfast1 while ,joseph went a short distance from camp to look after the horses4 ,just while the carrier was frying eggs1 a wagon load of drunken men from ,monte came in view1 on their road to ,san ,bernardino to kill the ,mormons1 as they boasted4 ,the oaths and foul language which they uttered1 between their shooting1 and the swinging of their pistols1 were almost indescribable and unendurable4 ,only the ,west in its palmiest frontier days could produce anything like its equal4 ,they were all cursing the ,mormons1 and uttering boasts of what they would do when they met them4 ,they got out at the ranch1 and one of them1 tumbling around1 caught sight of the mail wagon1 and made his way towards it4 ,the passenger and the mail carrier1 fearing for their safety1 had retired behind the chaparral1 leaving all the #fgd baggage and supplies1 including the frying eggs1 exposed and unprotected4 ,just as the drunken man approached1 ,president ,smith came in view on his way to the camp1 too late to hide1 for he had been seen4 ,the ruffian was swinging his weapon1 and uttering the most blood-curdling oaths and threats ever heard against the ,mormons4 ,i dared not run1 says ,president ,smith1 though ,i trembled for fear which ,i dared not show4 ,i therefore walked right up to the camp fire and arrived there just a minute or two before the drunken desperado1 who came directly toward me1 and1 swinging his revolver in my face1 with an oath cried out3 ',are you a ---- ---- ---- ,mormon8' ,president ,smith looked him straight in the eyes1 and answered with emphasis3 ,yes1 sir'ee2 dyed in the wool2 true blue1 through and through4 ,the desperado's arms both dropped by his sides1 as if paralyzed1 his pistol in one hand1 and he said in a subdued and maudlin voice1 offering his hand3 ,well1 you are the ---- ---- pleasantest man ,i ever met6 ,shake4 ,i am glad to see a fellow stand for his convictions4 ,then he turned and made his way to the ranch house4 ,later in the day1 on seeing ,president ,smith1 he only pulled his slouch hat over his eyes1 and said not a word4 ,in #aheh1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith joined the militia which intercepted ,johnston's army1 serving until the close of hostilities1 under ,colonel ,thomas ,callister4 ,he was later chaplain of ,colonel ,heber ,c4 ,kimball's regiment1 with the rank of captain4 ,he took part in many ,indian expeditions1 and was in every sense a minute man in the ,utah militia4 ,in the spring of #ahfj1 though only about #bb years of age1 he was sent on a mission to ,great ,britain4 ,as he had no money1 he and his cousin ,samuel ,h4 ,b4 ,smith1 each drove a four-mule team over the plains to ,winter ,quarters to pay their way4 ,it happened that the owners of these teams were #fge rank apostates1 so that when the young men arrived at their destination1 it was very well known that they were ,latter-day ,saints4 ,they were moneyless1 and decided finally to go to ,des ,moines where they tried without success to get something to do4 ,they hunted for work in the harvest fields1 but found no one who wished to employ them4 ,the feeling was still bitter against the ,mormons in this region1 for it was only about fourteen years since the remnant of the ,saints had been driven from ,nauvoo4 ,one day they met a man who asked them who they were1 and where they were going1 and having been told that they were going to ,england on a mission1 the man stated that he had a sister in ,england whom he wished to emigrate1 and asked that they take the money with them for her emigration4 ,he stated that they might use it as they saw fit2 provided on arrival they would let his sister have the money to pay her passage to ,america4 ,they agreed to this1 and immediately went on their way to ,burlington where they took a steamer for ,nauvoo2 but when they got on board they learned that the steamer would not land at that place1 as they had been told2 and they also heard the most bitter imprecations against the ,latter-day ,saints1 uttered in the most profane and indecent language4 ,landing at ,montrose1 where the boat took on freight1 the feeling was still more bitter4 ,the ,saints were cursed1 and boasts were made of what evil would befall any ,mormon who would dare to make his appearance4 ,getting on board the skiff next morning1 which was to carry them over to ,nauvoo1 the young men found that the spirit of the mob was just as bitter as ever1 but it was not known here that they were ,mormons4 ,several men asked them who they were1 and their replies were evasive4 ,finally1 a ,catholic priest came to them and asked where they were from4 ,oh6 from the ,west1 was the reply4 ,how far ,west8 #fgf ,from the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,but the priest finally pinned them down by asking1 ,are you ',mormon' elders from ,utah8 ,president ,smith says that under those circumstances1 for a moment1 never had temptation to deny the truth come to him with stronger force1 but it was only for a moment4 ,he answered1 ,yes1 sir1 we are ',mormon' missionaries on our way to ,england4 ,the reply seemed to satisfy the priest2 and1 contrary to expectations1 it did not in the least increase the imprecations of the passengers4 ,when they landed at ,nauvoo1 they went directly to the ,mansion ,house1 and1 strange to say1 the ,catholic priest also stayed there4 ,if they had not truthfully answered the queries on the boat1 he would have found them out here1 to their shame4 ,i had never felt happier1 says ,president ,smith1 than when ,i saw the minister there1 and knew that we had told him the truth about our mission4 ,on this mission he served nearly three years1 returning in the summer of #ahfc2 it was during these years that the intimacy between ,president ,george ,q4 ,cannon1 who presided over the mission1 and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith began2 friendship and love for each other were engendered1 which have since grown stronger through the intimate careers of two beautiful lives4 ,on his return1 ,president ,young proposed at a priesthood meeting that ,joseph and his cousin1 ,samuel1 each be given a present of #a1jjj to begin life with4 ,president ,smith realized in the neighborhood of #ge in provisions and merchandise1 but mostly a legacy of much annoyance from certain people who entertained the current thought that he had thus obtained a small fortune4 ,with the exception of the cost of his passage and stage fare home1 which was sent him by his aunt1 ,mercy ,r4 ,thompson1 amounting to about #ajj1 he paid his own expenses throughout1 as he had done on previous missions4 #fgg ,president ,smith has been too busy with his work to make money1 and his temporal affairs are a strong testimony to his exclusive devotion to the public good4 ,he had only been at home a short time1 when1 in the early spring of #ahfd1 he was called to accompany ,ezra ,t4 ,benson and ,lorenzo ,snow on a second mission to the ,sandwich ,islands to regulate the affairs of that mission1 which had been greatly disarranged by the well-known1 shrewd and covetous actions of ,walter ,m4 ,gibson4 ,in this mission he acted as principal interpreter for the apostles4 ,after ,gibson was excommunicated from the ,church1 ,joseph was left in charge of the mission1 with ,w4 ,w4 ,cluff and ,alma ,l4 ,smith as his fellow-laborers4 ,it was many months after ,gibson had been cut off before his people left his jurisdiction and returned to the standard of the ,church4 ,among the works accomplished by ,joseph and his associates on this mission was the selection of the ,laie plantation as a gathering place for the ,saints1 which was afterwards on their recommendation1 purchased by a committee sent for that purpose by ,president ,young1 and which has proven a valuable possession for the mission1 and for the ,church in a general way4 ,joseph and his aids returned in the winter of #ahfd-ahfe4 ,it was while on this mission that the drowning incident occurred1 mentioned in ,whitney's sketch of ,president ,lorenzo ,snow4 ,president ,smith's part in the affair has never been fully told4 ,the ship upon which they arrived lay anchored in the channel in which the sea was nearly always rough4 ,a breakwater had been built1 under shelter of which the natives skilfully steered their boats ashore4 ,there was much danger1 however1 in approaching it4 ,when it was proposed that the party should land in the ship's unwieldy freight-boat1 ,president ,smith strongly opposed the proposition1 telling the brethren that at the breakwater there was great danger of capsizing1 the boat being a clumsy old tub1 #fgh unfit for such a load4 ,he refused to go ashore1 and tried to prevail upon the others to abandon the attempt until a better boat could be obtained4 ,he offered to go ashore alone1 and to return with a safer boat to land the party4 ,so persistent1 however1 were some of the brethren1 that he was chided for his waywardness1 and one of the apostles even told him3 ,young man1 you would better obey counsel4 ,but he reiterated his impression of danger1 refusing positively to land in that boat1 and again offering to go alone for a better boat4 ,but the brethren persisted1 whereupon he asked that they leave their satchels with their clothes and valuables on the anchored ship with him1 and that he be permitted to stay4 ,this they reluctantly consented to do1 and set out for land4 ,joseph stood upon the ship and saw them depart1 filled with the greatest apprehension for their safety4 ,when the party reached the breakwater1 he saw one of the great waves suddenly overturn the boat1 dropping the company into twenty or thirty feet of water4 ,a boat came out from shore1 manned with natives1 who set to work to gather them up1 and obtained all but ,president ,snow1 when the boat which picked them up started for land4 ,it was then that ,elder ,w4 ,w4 ,cluff demanded that they return for ,brother ,snow1 who would otherwise have been abandoned and left for drowned4 ,he was found and dragged into the boat for dead1 his life being thus saved by ,brother ,cluff4 ,all this time1 ,joseph stood in the greatest agony as a witness1 helpless1 on the deck of the ship4 ,his first information of his companions' fate came from some passing natives who replied to his inquiry that one of the men 7,brother ,snow7 was dead4 ,but through the blessings of ,god and self-effort it was1 fortunately1 not quite so serious1 his life having been restored4 ,joseph had saved himself and the satchels1 and he has always considered that while the brethren fatefully said of the incident3 ,it was to be1 that a prevention in this case #fgi would have been much better than a cure4 ,the incident illustrates two predominating traits in his character3 ,when he is convinced of the truth1 he is not afraid to express himself in its favor to any man on earth4 ,when he does express himself1 it is often with such earnestness and vigor that there is danger of his giving offense4 ,on his return home1 he labored in the ,church historian's office for a number of years2 also as clerk in the endowment house1 succeeding ,elder ,john ,v4 ,long in that capacity2 being in charge1 after the death of ,president ,young1 until it was closed4 ,he had been ordained an apostle under the hands of ,president ,young1 on ,july #a1 #ahff1 and on the #hth of ,october1 #ahfg1 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the quorum of the ,twelve ,apostles4 ,in the year following1 he was sent with ,elder ,wilford ,woodruff of the ,council of the ,twelve and ,elder ,a4 ,o4 ,smoot to ,utah county4 ,here he served one term in the ,provo city council4 ,on ,february #bh1 #ahgd1 he went on his second mission to ,england1 where he presided over the ,european mission1 returning in #ahge1 after the death of ,president ,george ,a4 ,smith4 ,on his return he was appointed to preside over the ,davis stake1 until the spring of #ahgg1 when he left on his third ,british mission1 having first witnessed the dedication of the first temple in the ,rocky ,mountains1 at ,st4 ,george1 ,april1 #ahgg4 ,he arrived in ,liverpool1 ,may #bg1 and was joined a short time afterwards by ,elder ,orson ,pratt1 who had been sent to publish new editions of the ,book of ,mormon and the ,doctrine and ,covenants4 ,when news arrived of the death of ,president ,young1 they were released1 and returned home1 arriving in ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,september #bg4 ,in ,august of the following year1 he was sent with ,elder ,orson ,pratt on a short eastern mission1 visiting noted places in the history of the ,church in ,missouri1 ,ohio1 ,new ,york and ,illinois4 ,it was on this trip that they had their #fhj famous interview with ,david ,whitmer4 ,when the ,first ,presidency was organized1 in ,october1 #ahhj1 he was chosen second counselor to ,president ,john ,taylor1 who died ,july #be1 #ahhg4 ,he was chosen to the same position in the ,presidency under ,president ,woodruff2 and holds it at present under ,president ,snow4 ,it would require too much space to name his various civil positions held in ,salt ,lake ,city1 and in the legislature of the territory1 where he served the people long and faithfully4 ,all my readers are familiar with the work of his recent years2 it is like an open book to the whole people4 ,so he has been constantly in the service of the public1 and by his straightforward course has won the love1 confidence and esteem of the whole community4 ,he is a friend of the people1 is easily approached1 a wise counselor1 a man of broad views1 and contrary to first impressions1 is a man whose sympathies are easily aroused4 ,he is a reflex of the best character of the ,mormon people--inured to hardships1 patient in trial1 ,god-fearing1 self-sacrificing1 full of love for the human race1 powerful in moral1 mental and physical strength4 ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith has an imposing physical appearance4 ,now completing his #fbnd year1 he is tall1 erect1 well-knit and symmetrical in build4 ,he has a prominent nose and features4 ,when speaking1 he throws his full1 clear1 brown eyes wide open on the listener who may readily perceive from their penetrating glimpse the wonderful mental power of the tall forehead above4 ,his large head is crowned with an abundant growth of hair1 in his early years dark1 but now1 like his full beard1 tinged with a liberal sprinkling of gray4 ,in conversation1 one is forcibly impressed with the sudden changes in appearance of his countenance1 under the different influences of his mind2 now intensely present1 with an enthusiastic and childlike interest in immediate subjects and surroundings2 now absent1 the #fha nobility of his features1 set in that earnest1 almost stern1 majesty of expression so characteristic of his portraits--so indicative of the severity of the conditions and environments of his early life4 ,as a public speaker1 his leading trait is an intense earnestness4 ,he impresses the hearer with his message more from the sincerity and simplicity of its delivery1 and the honest earnestness of his manner1 than from any learned exhibition of oratory or studied display of logic4 ,he touches the hearts of the people with the simple eloquence of one who is himself convinced of the truth presented4 ,he is a pillar of strength in the ,church1 thoroughly imbued with the truths of the gospel1 and the divine origin of ,god's great latter-day work4 ,his whole life and testimony are an inspiration to the young4 ,i said to him3 ,you knew ,joseph1 the prophet2 you are old in the work of the ,church2 what is your testimony to the youth of ,zion concerning these things8 ,and he replied slowly and deliberately3 ,i was acquainted with the ,prophet ,joseph in my youth4 ,i was familiar in his home1 with his boys and with his family4 ,i have sat on his knee1 ,i have heard him preach1 distinctly remembering being present in the council with my father and the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and others4 ,from my childhood to youth ,i believed him to be a ,prophet of ,god4 ,from my youth until the present ,i have not believed that he was a ,prophet1 for ,i have known that he was4 ,in other words1 my knowledge has superceded my belief4 ,i remember seeing him dressed in military uniform at the bead of the ,nauvoo ,legion4 ,i saw him when he crossed the river1 returning1 from his intended western trip into the ,rocky ,mountains1 to go to his martyrdom1 and ,i saw his lifeless body together with that of my father after they were murdered in ,carthage jail2 and still have the most palpable remembrance of the gloom and sorrow of those dreadful days4 #fhb ,i believe in the divine mission of the prophets of the nineteenth century with all my heart1 and in the authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon and the inspiration of the book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 and hope to be faithful to ,god and man and not false to myself1 to the end of my days4--,edward ,h4 ,anderson1 in ,lives of ,our ,leaders1 and ,juvenile ,instructor1 #aija4 #fhc ,,last ,,of ,,the ,,old ,,school ,,of ,,veteran ,,leaders4 ,surrounded by members of his family1 ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith peacefully closed his active life upon earth1 on ,tuesday morning1 at #d3ej o'clock1 ,november #ai1 #aiah1 at his home1 the ,beehive ,house1 ,salt lake ,city1 ,utah4 ,his noble work on earth is ended4 ,he served the people of the ,church in almost every useful private and public capacity all his life4 ,he mounted1 round by round1 on the ladder of experience1 as herd boy1 pioneer1 teacher1 missionary1 legislator1 counselor2 and for the past seventeen wonderful years was leader and mouthpiece of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,president ,smith's administration began ,october #ag1 #aija1 when he was chosen by the ,twelve and set apart as ,president of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 the choice being ratified by a special conference and solemn assembly of the priesthood1 on ,sunday1 ,november #aj1 #aija4 ,hence1 for a few days more than seventeen years1 he stood at the head of ,god's marvelous work and a wonder1 upon the earth4 ,his leadership was characterized by a steady growth of the people in both spiritual and temporal affairs4 ,much of their progress was stimulated by his forethought and consideration1 by his inspiration from the ,lord freely granted to the people1 and by his ability to gather men about him who willingly co-operated with him for the advancement and progress of the ,church1 the state and the community4 ,in both religion and business1 he was conservative1 staunch1 firm1 and yet progressive--a leader beloved and respected by all4 ,every ,church worker among his nearest associates1 as well as in the stakes of ,zion1 and in the #fhd far flung missions of the world1 fairly loved and admired him1 and so did the members of the ,church4 ,as editor of the ,improvement ,era and the ,juvenile ,instructor1 and general superintendent of the ,sunday ,schools and ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations1 he was a stimulating power1 a fountain of wisdom to his associates4 ,had he devoted himself to literary work1 his success in that line would have been quite as marked as in public discourse and leadership4 ,he showed great tenderness and love for his large and honorable family4 ,in his last address to his children1 ,november #aj1 #aiah1 his heart's dearest sentiments were expressed to them in these words3 ,when ,i look around me1 and see my boys and my girls whom the ,lord has given to me1--and ,i have succeeded1 with ,his help1 to make them tolerably comfortable1 and at least respectable in the world--,i have reached the treasure of my life1 the whole substance that makes life worth living4 ,he was ever anxious for the welfare of the young people1 as well as the old1 and every good effort for their advancement was sanctioned and supported by him4 ,even in the midst of the cares1 burdens and anxieties of his active life weighing heavily upon him1 he was never known to be too busy to give counsel1 experience1 testimony1 helpful ideas1 sympathetic consideration to workers or members of the ,church who called upon him4 ,his courtesy to all was proverbial4 ,the passing of ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith marks an epoch in the history of the ,church4 ,he was the last of the old school of veteran leaders who pioneered and founded our commonwealth4 ,the patience with which he bore the arduous labors of his life1 fully1 bravely1 and cheerfully1 will be a lasting inspiration to all who knew him4 ,the story of his achievements for the ,church1 in spiritual and temporal #fhe affairs1 during his long administration1 would make a volume of thrilling interest4 ,his mortal lips are sealed in death1 but his spirit lives forever4 ,beloved by all1 the noble workman has gone to his rest1 having done his full duty for the advancement of the marvelous work and a wonder1 established of the ,lord1 which must ever continue upon its triumphant march4--,edward ,h4 ,anderson1 ,may1 #aiai4 ,,index4 ,abraham1 #ci4 ,adam1 #ci4 ,administration1 to sick1 #bef1 ,advancement1 personal1 helps ,church1 #aca4 ,agriculture1 #dcd4 ,almighty1 see ,god4 ,amusements1 #djj1 #dja4 ,angel1 #edh4 ,anger1 #bfh4 ,animal1 #ccc4 ,apostle1 #bba1 #bbb4 labors in spirit world1 #eha4 ,apostleship1 proselyting office1 #bag4 ,appetite1 #cjj4 ,army1 conduct of boys in1 #eca4 message to boys in1 #ece4 ,atonement1 #abj4 ,authority1 #abe1 #agj4 all should exercise1 #bjh4 gives power1 #ahf4 how administered1 #ahf4 know duties of1 #ahg4 man's relation to1 #ef4 ,authorities1 pray for1 #bgi4 ,auxiliary organizations1 #agi4 place in ,church1 #dgi4 relation to ward1 #dhj4 ,backbiting1 #ccj4 ,baptism1 see ,ordinances4 ,baptism1 #aaa1 #aag1 #aah1 #aba4 when to b4 children1 #abj4 ,bible1 #eg4 ,birth control1 see ,children4 ,birth control1 #cdi1 #cfb4 ,bishop1 #bbe1 #bcj1 #bcc1 #bcd4 ,blessing1 how obtained1 #fj1 #hd1 #bif4 for truth1 #ab4 personal1 #aha1 #fce1 #fda4 ,books1 #bie1 #dje4 ,book of ,mormon1 witnesses to1 #eij4 ,boys1 how achieve greatness1 #dai4 lesson for1 #dah4 taught industry1 #dcb4 ,calamity1 ,lesson in1 #fg4 ,calvin1 #ci1 #ejj4 ,card playing1 #daj1 #daa1 #dab1 #dac1 #dae1 #daf4 ,chance1 #djh4 ,charity1 see ,poor1 see also ,tithing4 ,charity1 #bid4 ,child1 see ,birth control4 ,children1 be true to1 #cec1 #cih4 condition of in heaven1 #efi4 consult parents1 #bja4 do not pledge1 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advancement helps1 #aca4 political parties and1 #eai4 privilege to be associated with1 #acc4 purpose and duty of1 #hg1 #aia4 what it stands for1 #aib4 worth of standing in1 #acc4 ,church ,leaders1 see ,church ,officers4 ,church ,leaders1 help them1 #bbc4 be courageous1 #aic4 goodness of1 #baj4 not self called1 #bji4 purpose of visits1 #bej4 what advocate1 #aad4 ,church ,records1 names to be in1 #acd4 ,church ,schools1 agriculture in1 #dce4 object of1 #dda1 #dhe4 value of1 #dda4 ,christ1 see also ,jesus4 ,christ the great example1 #bb4 his rest1 #aee4 taught gospel to ,adam1 #ci4 ,citizen1 ,saint good1 #eah4 ,classes1 no classes in ,church1 #ada4 ,clubs1 no exclusive in ,church1 #dah4 ,college1 see ,school1 see ,university4 ,columbus1 #ci4 ,comforter1 see ,holy ,ghost and ,holy ,spirit4 ,comforter1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,holy ,spirit1 #gc4 ,commandments1 two great1 #cci4 ,commencement address1 #ccd4 ,consecration1 #bii4 ,constitution1 loyalty to1 #eab4 ,contention1 #dfe4 ,cooperation1 #ddc4 ,counsel1 #bjj4 ,courage1 leaders must have1 #aic4 be not discouraged1 #adg4 ,courts1 avoid1 #cbb4 ,covenants1 of ,latter-day ,saints #acb4 ,criminals1 #dfi4 ,daughter1 education of1 #dbi4 ,dead1 vision of redemption of1 #eif4 work for1 #eic4 ,death and eternal progress1 #cga4 nature of1 #eec4 spiritual1 #edd4 ,debt1 #cbe4 ,devil1 arrayed against truth1 #dfd4 his knowledge1 #dfd4 ,difficulty1 settlement of1 #ec4 ,discouragement1 #adg1 #dba4 ,disobedience1 treatment of1 #aci4 ,disturbance1 ,gospel causes1 #adf4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 #ef4 ,doctrine1 where to expect false1 #dff4 ,duty1 first to household1 #chf4 ,earth1 typical of heaven1 #bf4 ,edison1 #ci4 ,education1 see ,school4 ,education1 danger of false1 #cib4 defined1 #ccg4 for eternity1 #cch4 for women1 #dci4 industrial pursuits1 #dbg4 practical1 #dcj4 value of practical1 #dbh4 ,elders1 #bcj4 to proclaim gospel1 #bcj4 ,elohim1 #he4 ,enemy1 in ,god's hands1 #dbb1 #dbc4 love your1 #dba4 our debt to1 #dbc4 prayer for1 #dbd4 those 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search and1 #aea4 ,first ,presidency1 not always apostles1 #baf4 relation of members1 #bai4 when to organize1 #bad4 ,first ,principles1 #aaf1 #aba4 ,flattery1 danger of1 #cib4 ,food1 spirit needs1 #bfb4 ,forestry1 #dcg4 ,forgiveness1 #dba4 ,franklin1 #ci4 ,free agency1 #eh4 ,freedom1 use of1 #ei4 ,saints to exercise1 #ei4 ,freeze1 ,mary ,a41 funeral services of1 #egg4 ,future life1 see ,life ,hereafter4 ,future life1 condition in1 #edc4 ,gambling1 #djg1 #djh4 ,general authorities1 see ,church ,leaders4 ,general authorities1 questions to1 #bbc4 temporal support of1 #bbd4 ,gift of ,holy ,ghost1 #abd4 ,gift of tongues1 #bea4 ,gifts of ,spirit1 #dga4 ,giving1 to children1 #cga4 ,god1 directs work1 #fd4 an eternal being1 #gh4 attain blessings of1 #fj4 at the helm1 #afh4 do not limit1 #fi4 extent of power1 #fi4 fatherhood of1 #cg4 fatherly love1 #dih4 ,father and ,son distinct1 #hc4 his rest1 #ga4 his warfare1 #ga4 how to secure blessings of1 #hd4 inspires man1 #ge4 man1 and1 #fd4 man in 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