Show REMARKS by elder E T benson denson on the vine mine ang fig tree trees duties or of saints ac ac la in the tabernacles TA bernade sund sanday sunday afternoon may 1 13 1855 TED BY J V I 1 arri am re to make a few remarks at the commencement of 0 our meeting this afternoon afternoons although I 1 would much rather hear from bret brethren hrent especially my beloved president hyde who 13 is about to leave us u but as it is his desire that I 1 should make a few remarks I 1 will make the attempt I 1 rejoiced much this morning in hearing from our brethren pho addressed us as I 1 ga generally do when I lh hear ear the elders speak I 1 was re reflecting fl acting in my mind and asking myself whether I 1 e ever heard aMo ano a mormon amorison sermon that I 1 did not rejoice in I 1 cannot remember the time since I 1 have been in the tha church of jesus christ of latter dy my saints it never made any diffie difference rence who addressed tile the people no malten roaster who wis called upon to speak speaks however eloquent his discourse might be however pointed hi remarks might be no iio matter maker however simple or how many times I 1 might have heard the same subject treated upon it was wes always edifying to me for tor 1 ever found something new and although I 1 might have heard the bame thing things sv perhaps a great many times iut put rut my memory being so short and treacherous I 1 had forgotten some things but as soon eoon as cis I 1 heard them again I 1 could coald then recollect them my mind would be ba refreshed and I 1 would remember that I 1 had heard tile th same things before and one remark that was made this sic sig by br clements refreshed my mind upon things which took place when I 1 was on a mission some 8 or 10 years ago in the united states sutee I 1 mean meau the remarks referring rim to that time which will surely come when the saints of god will git sit it under their own vine and fig tree none daring during to make theril them afraid I 1 was once i the question by some of or our op posers in id something som bom thing thine I 1 ke the following manner you mormons cormons belleve that viere is a time of peace corning coming you believe that the tip tit prophecies of the scriptures scrip turea turee are to be e fulfilled literally in the same sama way that tiit noaha prediction lou iou of the good flood ase and that your god bs Is wilting willing and sud in fact designs that you fiall git sit it under your own vine and fir fiz fi tree dooe daring to meleet or r make you afraid and now fays says he have you got ot thern them yet weli well ll 11 nas nay 1 not cot exactly the fig tree but we have got the cotton wood tree and the tho locust tree and we sit fit it under them none daring to violeet or make snake afraid and we are living in anticipation of pome isome dy day having hiving the cg fig tree we ure are full ef of hope tint tha the time I 1 id now rear near at leng lend that it is not far ahead a head chess when if we are re faithful to our cali cab caringi lagi ingi we sit eit under at u great many other i kinds binds of trees and I 1 dont know kao kau as it hii wil mk ike any cheth r it te 16 the th d aut lut osk ask apple appi peach tre tree tr e or wh wheeter whatever teTer kind of tree it may be so thit that we fit cit auder our ouy 0 n vilie rilie and fi gig fig tit tree treo ree reo and L arva mrva the lord our oar goi gol with full purpose ct of heart the cotton wood trees ere era rown tim diw mach rich pach rach is beginning behunin bei bel to grow and the ismirle arl ami arid pear and so soon 0 u are ire loevin M ginning ning to gro grow w kind rid we a 11 expect that dt net tny many years hence we wi I 1 bave have the privilege of sitting under ander our oar own vine and fic fig fi tree noue name darlng daring to hiilei t or make inake afraid arid and it is necessary that we should luve tuve the opposite in in all til tj I 1 ulf algo i W we e are a t people that betteye sn in ion lon th the whisperings hi spering of the holy the birts gifta of the g gospel os p e q of jesus christ and nd y ie arsa arga area people that behee bebee li e N 0 in n taa necessity fes res of all air ai rhose abose gifts gift J V ve 2 s say y that t 1 id t they ought git to toi exist la in the t e church Q b ilg af pf 1 chr christ I 1 t in ev every err irr try age of af ahe w world ilala tyria N ahen hen ben a peo pie pro are in in posses possession of those glorious principles of the gospel of jesus christ they they will se s e that there is a passing beauty and glory associated with them you will also find oppositions opposition slander and reproach to be continually on tile ille lle ile lie increase and if it were not BO so it would show that was not the church of christ it is necessary thai that there there should be an excitement ili in the world and that servants of the lord should in those times show their faith by their works arid and it is also important po that they should as the apostle has exhorted us contend for all tile the gifts of the gospel that are mentioned in the holy Sedil scriptures tures the gift of godliness and of patience and charity and all ali 1 11 those good gifts tha tare spoken of in the scrip scriptures tures lures of truth the apostle says if all these theme good gifts abound ili in you ye shall not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowl knowledge edgo of our lord jesus christ seeing then that this is the promise how very necessary it is that we should improve upon those gifts bestowed upon us by our heavenly father and if we do not improve we are not oil on the progressive but are going downward we can live in the kingdom of god and be stereotyped mormons cormons Mor mons but to accomplish this we have tj to live and increase in wisdom knowledge patience perseverance and all the gifts and graces gra ces of the gospel of the lord jesus christ for it will tak take all the perseverance and all the faith and patience that we can command to live the gospel of christ it is pleasing to reflect that we are all here as a band of brethren bretl iren trying g to obey all the commandments mand ments of god we are from many climes and countries and ard we are here to prove each other and see whether we can bear with each others faults and weaknesses and to try if we can endure trial and perplexities and oppositions and the sneers of the world the wicked portion of mankind how do they look took upon us taking inking a general view of flie the question jt it is true there are some who are more inore thoroughly lilly acquainted with us who look and speak pretty favorably but as a general thin thing the they y do not believe that thai we ara are a virtuous people they believe that we behave have many manx ally arly ordinances and princia prin principles cip es amongst us established to gratify a certain portion of this community they do not believe that we are ire the saints of the most high god yet there is something i which they cannot comprehend bu but hut t still they think there is behind the curtain and 1 they cannot understand it still they have havea a good deal of dubiety upon their minds respecting the latter day saints and why is it so it is because there is a great many things which they cannot comprehend they see us united they are made sensible of our prosperity they see we proceed with authority and with confidence to do whatever we have to do and they cannot fathom it they annot cannot understand how we hold together in such perfect unity our whole organization to them is one entire mystery and ever has been to the tile sectarian world and what i the reason that mankind are so slow olow to understand why jesus who had compassion on the people in hi his s tea teachings chines compared the tile kingdom of god to a little child and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven all men have to become as little children before they can understand tile the principles of or enter the kingdom of heaven und the tila christian world are not willig willing to humble themselves and become as little children therefore they cannot enter the kingdom of god thia is the reason that they cannot comprehend this people and tile tiie church of jesus christ of latter day saints I 1 A strange work a marvel and a wo bouder sider ilder it appears to hem them what is said about lle ile lie the spirit of the lord that is professed ged sed by the saints we read that it hali ball lead and guide yoa yort into all alt truth and further chath that it shall shail show lehow tiie tile the saints things past past and aud nd things which are to come but the world at large cannot see eee th se t f iuga luga and they never will until they they have taken the game faine f steps that we have taken heavenly things cannot be M comprehended only by the spirit of the living god but says paul the spirit of god all ail filings things even the deep things of god the natural mind cannot comprehend well then we can fee pee that it iq K tile tiie th duty as well as sti the privilege of every latter day saint to live in the spirit sprit of the tile lord for mormonism is is to rule our actions and end every man and woman has hag got to be wide awake they have got to do as fus br kimball used to ras ray sleep with one e exe eye T e open alid and one leg kg out of bed I 1 have goen geen and comprehended for the lt few months that the latter dy saints have now got to double bleir diligence 1 yes yee I 1 can feel fed it to the bottom ofay of my soui coul we have to learn to appreciate the i of the alf Ali almighty more fully thau thea we u chave chare hereto hertto fore appreciated them tile tiie lord will be hod hoo honored ored and he fie will not tx be angry with ans acy but dhove who refuse to acknowledge his hie hand ia all we have got to Wee hig hie ludd hird iu in all aud and feel it amuell ae well hell as to gay ray it ald and d to how ft it by air works Ws we have lave had llad several eian lom or drivie through i and ia in all these there things he a are called upon to acano a ledge the th e hanl haa ot of the lord it talen taken us all the time to perform in faith llie tho dutes dutee of our several end aej cilli it ii H like an old black s miti mill I 1 a bf twi lioe lows tile llie very moment that vou you you ahk to blow NOW the fire goes go down aud sud the fires fired of thod tiro that burn cedar coal and those who ue e the file blacksmiths smiths bilos b bl ilos lofts know how long it lakia takes to lindle lindie 1 ind up the tiie fire that is wien th thy they y have got the i airo elmi material on hand band and audit A is justko with illi the thol thoi tb gobia ol of christ if we quench tiie tile spirit wad nad do 0 o dot oot magnify the lord by y our cur works and by our faith that which is in us soon goes cut out and we die a natural death in the kingdom then alien if we wish fisli I 1 to obtain influence again we have to become hum pa ble bie come T forth 1 lili ilir i andret ta re e baptized it i for thel tl rel rei i ajo bon son of ot ahn sin and aba madon baidon jor lor he gift of tha th e holy gap ghost t and oey oty ob ey it in tit all ail align ings 1 before benore be ora ord we can car ge get the zeal andade of f the th gopel goi pe I tigas adaa it to 1 burn arn in our souls soils we have bare learned an another oilier lesson too at least i have cave viz that the driving part of mormonism the burp burnings lugs logs mob dobbings bings and alit oppressions oppress ions warp were nil all very necessary to the bringing this people to an understanding of heir their true tine position belore before god all that has ever come upon us has served a good purpose and was very essential to the condemnation 1 of our enemies for the last few months I 1 have llave been bwl traveling considerably through the settlements of the territory e r preaching to the brethren and ins instructing taj r them in their duties A good spirit prevailed in most moist of the places I 1 visited and I 1 told the brethren I 1 that it was not the inner man that they had to contend with and look alter just now novt so much as it was the things out of doors and I 1 promised them that if it they would all be agreed in opening their farms maki makl making g their fences around their thein farms and take good care of their flocks and arid herds and keep up good schools pay their tithing ilig 1119 and attend 0 to o all oil tile the ordinances ot of the live as saints of god ought to live I 1 would promise chemin the name of israels god that when they assembled in tile the congregations of the saints the gifts girls and blessing ies 8 1 g 0 of f the gopel gospel go pel pei would be more copiously P poured 0 rd out upon them that they should have power to heal the sick speak with tongues prophesy and they should have llave a mighty influence of the holy spirit la in their midst I 1 felt to 0 o promise them these things in faith for it is is just jut BO so everywhere when people live in humility before god ilow how pleasing it is ii when wien we cani can neet meet a brother here or there and can fe feel e I 1 that th the genial influences of the holy spirit of god are with wilh him when we feel so united so much of 0 f one heart beart and one mind that we Q can buy and sell trade I 1 traffic and do all that we have to do in in the name of the lord so 4 all with an honest heart before god then when we feel hia hrs way we can have the tiie spirit of the lord in in coming before a congregation to qualify us to edify the people this is is but hut a small portion of our religion but this thil is is very good jt it is obed lancer that tha will w ill lil prepare us to be exalted in in the kingdom L of our god there is is a monitor ili in the heart of every individual and a man nan or woman who will obey its dictations de lations and whose intentions fire are to do right all the day long need not be afraid of anything for they will have confidence they shall have confidence before god they shall have confidence before the saints paints and be enabled to claim the promises promised and there is no power that can hinder binder there is no power that can stand against agabus them but they shall prevail and why shall they not prevail why the tile psalmist says no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly let us ask a blessing on the cup I 1 feel girst first rate brethren and sisters bisters and I 1 feel to bless you and my daily prayer is that the saints of god may be blessed with wisdom M mith with ith knowledge and with all oil spiritual bles blessings bings cs rs well as with ith temporal prosperity and I 1 say they shall be blessed and they shall be comforted nd let iet letus us be reminded continually of the bustruc bons M s given last sunday fret not your arcs 11 we are first rate and the grasshoppers are doing first rate too and I 1 expect that eliat the lord will b be 0 as ds good as his word for we are the latter day saints we are the on only people that acknowledge god and prophets and the tile authority of the priesthood upon the earth and you know what the scriptures say lle lie ile he that receive th a prophet in the name of a prophet shall shail receive a prophets reward and he that receive th a righteous man in ill tile name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man roans moans s reward we alf ali all ail want it th the pr abets blessing and we all want every good I 1 mans man ulek blek blessing shig and had the bit bling cfall this com m unify unity when our oar hearts are drawn oa ont out t before the tha lord we feel well we ai feel all right but when we get to fretting our oun gizzards giz about khlil thu that and the other and begin begia to say well these theae re 1 wards these do not appear to us as we i i looked looted for them we do not have them in our 1 1 I 1 assemblies as much as we ought to have llave I 1 hov ho is is it says one that |