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Show SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. The genius of the community ct Latter-day Saints, on whom devolves de-volves the duty of i-ro-elyting among all the peoples of the earth whereaccess isobtainable, naturally tends to the cultivation of the art of public speaking among the male members. The proclamation of the Gospel is a common duty In which every eligible man Is liable, during some jortiou of his life, to engage. Tlie pott er to express in appropriate speech the thoughts which present themselves like pictures to the mind is desirable, as it extends the usefulness useful-ness of the issessor. Clear and expressive ex-pressive speech is the result of profound pro-found and well digi-stcd thought. It is not always the case that the effective thinker can express perspicuously per-spicuously what has, been grased by his mind, but he who does not clearly think is sure not to have tliat ability, for tlie reason that a person cannot .couve-y either by speech or otherwise, that of which lie is not himself in possession. This being the case the indispensable indispens-able lire-requisite of the effective minister Is a well stored mind. Itraay be said that this process of culture means preiaratljn, and is therefore not harmonious with the injunction of Christ not to think beforehand in relation lo what should be said. This direction of the Savior only referred to necial preparation for emergencies. The storage of the mind does not conflict with but conforms to this instruction. instruc-tion. When an exigency arises, if the mind has been cultured and stored with truth, the Spirit cf Truth has a more capable executive-through executive-through whom to operate. The same injunction regarding spe-cial preparation was reiterated through the Prophet Joseph Smith, but the latter also said that the mind of man should engage in active contemplation contempla-tion until using a figurative expressionit ex-pressionit becomes as "broad as eternity." But how, it may be asked, can man's mentality be thus compared? By grasping tho laws ol God and truth, which arc eternal and operate oper-ate everywhere. For instance, justice, jus-tice, mercy and economy have no beginning nor cnd,beingcontinuous. If tlie mind follows them in their operations It stretches into eternity. These are fixed, unchangeable and inflexible laws, and are "independent "independ-ent in tho spheres In which God has placed them to act" for them-elvcs. When this becomes clear to the mind how plain must it appear that none of their conditions can be encroached en-croached upon with lmuuity. This understanding leads to the further comprehension of the fact that God cannot possibly be unjust. According to this view of the laws which govern the universe of the Almighty, individuals and nations na-tions cannot possibly infringe upon them without sooner or later plunging plung-ing into difficulty. The very disaster disas-ter resultant from departures from the lines of exact truth is in tlie nature of a corrective, tending to lead the victim toward an effort at recovery through the rectifying process of repentance, which means a return to conformity with the good and true. An understanding of eteruakdlvine laws by which ail things are governed except tliat which perversely insists in-sists on being a law unto itself enables the individual to gauge matters mat-ters in general, because the information infor-mation comprises so many kcy. Light cleaveth unto light, intelligence intelli-gence to Intelligence, aud truth to truth. In this statement appears to be coruprL-ed a ke to spiritual progress. pro-gress. An effort on the part of an intelligent spirit to grasp tho truth is responded to by the Spirit of Truth, by which tlie mind Is quickened. quick-ened. With this inspirational assistance as-sistance the subject under contemplation contem-plation is grasped. Thus truth Is planted in the humau mind. Other truth, having an allluity for that already there, seeks a lodgment beside it and gains admittance. Thus spiritual enlargement becomes a natural growth, being governed by law. Some people In tlie Church have oeen known to say thattheir religion was practical. While they did not desire to be engaged In the performance perform-ance of spiritual duties, the-y were always ready to do their part in tcm poralities, such as contributing to tho support of the poor, or any needed need-ed work of a similar character. The supportof the poor and duties of a similar nature arc essentially a part of a splritnal labor, and should be attended to from that standpoint But themeaning of the chess referred to was that they preferred to confine their religious work almost exclusively exclu-sively to a certain lineor limit. This disposition is liable to lead to self-stultification. self-stultification. The evenly developed religionist is he who is capable, by the blessing of God, of dispensing bread of both kin is that wh'cb perishethand that which endures, for ever. T He who desires to be useful u the labor ot increasing truth and righteousness right-eousness iu the earth must bring his powers into activity. To allow them to remain inert is contravention contraven-tion of divine economy, whose demands de-mands cannot be disregarded with Impunity. To allow the glorious gifts of the creature to stagnate must be displeasing to -the Source from which they were derived Ir Indicates 'ingratitude to the Giver and lack; 'of appreciation ef that which He has bestowed. |