Show tabernacle tuesday 10 a am m april 6 the new tabernacle 0 on n the te temple mple block in great salt lake city was dedicated this morri morning after the dedication prayer president young said I 1 rise ise to occupy a few moments ot time thi morning mornin g as we have opened our conference by the dedication prayer we will spend the remainder of the forenoon in speaking I 1 desire to offer my own reflections upon this interesting occasion bat whether they may be strictly appropriate or not will of course be left for you to judge we have assembled together in this comfortable and commodious building in peace and are we not led to exclaim w who bo could have fat fathomed horried who could have understood the ways of the lord which are higher than mens ways as heaven is higher than the earth we can now calmly reflect upon the experience ot of our past li lives ves and those minds that are open to receive light and truth that can behold the manifestations fe of the lord can at once see that the lord has done that which we could not have accomplished by our r oan own power and wisdom we have now an experience which teaches us j that directly behind to all human appearance a frowning providence oftentimes is concealed 1 rai 2 k 4 F rm r I 1 the greatest blessings that mankind mankind can desire it teaches eslo us to trust in the lord to have confidence in our god it teaches us absolutely that we need never undertake to guide the ship of zion or dictate by our own wisdom the kingdom of god on the earth it teaches us definitely emphatically and absolutely that the lord almighty can do his own work and no power of man can stay the potency ot his bis won der working hand men may presume to dictate the lord rd they come to naught ut his work moves steadily forward many who have left this church have tried the experiment of building up ap the kingdom of god by their learning saying when we have established our church ch it will then be the kingdom of the loro lord they have laid their subtle plans have marked out their grounds pointed out their own path have firmly as they supposed set their stakes commanding their proselytes prose lytes not to turn to the right hand or to the left from the course marked out by them but in every ease case has the lord overthrown their plans and thwarted all their designs when the lord works no man can hinder whilst those who feel willmar willin ff to hearken to his words work with him and when he says be still they the y are subject when he dictates they cease to direct when he directs they will be willing william to do his commandments he bestows bestons blessings bl essigs on their la bours his work prospers in their hands his kingdom moves onward with a steady and unwavering progress the honest in in i heart are blessed and the whole is in a state of continual and rapid increase then let tae tte world and the enemies of christ and his kingdom that are upon earth and in hell do their worst it matteas mattei keth th not the work of the lord still is onward and prosperous in in his hand it is a gr great e t privilege which we enjoy thin thia ningon mornin nin embling assembling ourselves together in this oaf comfortable or table edifice that has been erected in the short space of about four months in the most inclement season of the year we have now a commodious place in which we can worship the ardo without the fear of being driven from our seats b by y w wet et and cold or standing ort anding exposed in the falling weather I 1 say now to my brethren that I 1 feel to dedicate myself and all I 1 possess to the lord and consi constantly antly feel to leave myself with all I 1 gaveon the altar of sacrifice to the cause of my god A year ago this thin day when the brethren were assembled to offer oner up the their ir prayers and to 0 o present business before the conference fur for the consid i ration of the pl people eople and the furtherance of the bauge we have espoused I 1 recollect that I 1 was wag not able to sit up being sick but not discouraged cou raged I 1 had not fainted by the way but my mv heart was as brave as it ever was in in i any mo jaent me it amy f my life yet I 1 was pot not able to be in the assembly I 1 contemplated the situation of this people and looked over our past history considered our then present prospects and privileges we enjoyed in these peaceably vallies my eyes whereupon were upon those who were fault ering by the way or wandering after the things of this world and could not refrain from tracing their as is they were passing to the right and to the left after the perishing things of this life I 1 saw the afflictions of the people and contemplated their past sufferings and present situation As I 1 1 muad I 1 said in my heart As soon as I 1 arp able to speak to the people I 1 will unfold to them I 1 my thoughts and fee feelings linzs and tell them that ip in the midst of all the afflictions and checkered scenes through which the saints have passed their joys and their toils their sufferings and their comforts their fears and their faith fa ith I 1 have ha ve never seen them as comfortable as they are now I 1 shall say to the brethren come let ua build a house that we may enter within its walls and and there offer our prayers and thanksgivings rigs before the lord and borshi worship p him as I 1 long ong fis as vie we please without the fear of being driven homp home with storms of rain wind and snow I 1 said if the lord blesses me with life and health I 1 shall put forth my hand I 1 to rear an edifice that will contain the people as large as w we e can build at pr present and dedicate it to the lord that the people may say aay in their hearts let us go up to the th house of the lord to worship I 1 saw when we had obtained it that some would wish to be excused from engaging in this pleasant sant duty and admy say my cat cattle lle my farm or my business will bp be lord gave I 1 them to me e to ta keare r 0 r orenius orl rt u II 11 attend to my affairs here and there and I 1 cannot therefore stay to worship the lord I 1 say to such go but as for me though aalthe all the worlie should sink into oblivion I 1 will go up uj to worship I 1 the lord these were my feelings a year ago and they are the same today to day I 1 dedicate myself my far family nily and my substance anew unto the lord it is not mine I 1 am not my own creator nor the producer of anything I 1 possess I 1 did not originate one atom of it let the world and its cares go the lord almighty who made it is able to take bake care of it and he may do with it what he pleases but he has commanded me to worship him which is the greatest privilege that could be conferred upon man how long shall we stay here I 1 answer as long as I 1 please brethren and sisters cast from rom you the love of the world and let it have no dominion over you there are many who delight in the good things of this earth in gold and silver in carriages and horses in houses and splendid furniture in costly clothing in orchards and gardens in vineyards and fields fieldi and extended possessions these things compared with eternal riches are nothing though ip in their place they are good you may say if we live we must eat drink and an d wear clothing for he that provi deth not for his own household has denied the faith and ill is worse than an infidel numberless arguments of this kind will present themselves to the minds of the people to call them away from the line of their duty when hen you know it is your privilege to dedicate yourselves your families and all you possess to the lord how quick is the enemy how ready to present some thing hing of an opposite nature to what is right lefore before you you know the mental and physical weaknesses nesses of man so common to mortality and which the enemy is so ready to turn against you to his own advantage you think thin k your business needs your continual and undivided attention that you must attend to this or to that lefore before you can dedicate yourselves and your families amiliea to the lord there may perhaps be some few here this morning who feel they ought to be ploughing sloughing hing seeding fencing building or attending to some other minor affair and cannot possibly spend time to remain at the conference if you will hearken to lo the counsel of your humble servant ber vant you will say to the fields to the flocks and to the herds to the gold and to the he silver to the goods and to the chattels to the tenements and possessions and to all the world stu stand 40 aside get away from my thoughts for J f api ap going up to worship the lord let it all go by the board brethren and who cares I 1 do pot not your oxen and horses will not live for ever they will die occasionally and sometimes wo we are even deprived by death of our children and other members of our families I 1 say let the dead bury the dead let the corn and the wheat and all other things take care of themselves but let us dedicate ourselves our families our substance our time our talents and everything we have upon the face of this world to the lord our god with all that may hereafter be entrusted to as 18 let it be devoted to the building up of the kingdom of god upon the earth and whether you are called here or there it makes no ap matter but this morning let every heart be humble watchful and prayerful dedicating themselves unto the lord I 1 this thia people have passed through scenes of I 1 deep sorrow and affliction but they are now in comfortable circumstances they have been miserably poor but they are now I 1 may say in in comparative wealth we have been sick now we are well we have been tormented but now we are comforted we have been aidi afflicted eted by our enemies but we are now far from them you pause and ask how long will it be so I 1 answer so long as you and I 1 serve the lord with all an air hearts just so long shall we be free from our enemies I 1 L F 6 2 2 A a P I 1 we have now a comfortable comfor comforti tible lible habitation to I 1 meet in and we enjoy benj the privilege of assembling wow here in peace how has it been in in bygone I 1 years look back six seven eighth eight ten and twelve years ago or I 1 will sy may to the he year ISM 1830 which is is 22 yea years ra ag I 1 this day since since the church of jesus christ 0 of f gfatter latter day saints was orga nihed with six six members and can you tell me of 0 a year six sit months or three months that I 1 joseph was not hunted like the deer upon the I 1 mountains by bv sheriffs with writs write in in their hen hands de I 1 to drag him from us to prison when he and his brethren were not menaced with bloodthirsty blood thirsty mobs until this people assembled in the peaceful vallies of these mountains moun tans who troubles them now no person who fears god who serves erves the king the lord of hosts and none else ise who are willing to love our father in in heaven supremely above all things lungs else upon the face of this earth or in in eternity will be found persecuting even an ido idolater lator to say nothing of the saints of the most I 1 11 I 1 let us now with wah greater diligence seek to j build up bp the kingdom of heaven and establish righteous righteousness nesa seek to magnify the lord god and rid sanctify our own hearts establish peace on earth destroy every root of bitterness from among the people and cease from this moment to find and fault ath any brother or sister even should they do wrong for the lord will apply the chastening cha rod to them if they need it we serve our children a ST if we consider they need chastening cha we chastise them but we do not thereby hate them if it is necessary we will correct their faults but should we contend with them by no means are those who have assembled here this ahi morning prepared to enter into a covenant with themselves that they will cease from all evil practices from all evil speaking and from all evil thinking and say from this 1 1 very morning 1 I will never do another evil as long as I 1 live the lord being my helper I 1 will do all the good I 1 can and prepare for the coming of the son of man to this and I 1 wish we should dedicate our hearts our affections and our whole life to the cause of god on the earth I 1 do not feel like preaching a discourse upon any particular subject but like urging the necessity of the brethren ant alii sisters absolutely coming to this determination this morning and dedicate themselves and all they have to ta the lord from this time henceforth it we can come to this conclusion to firmly faithfully and enter into a covenant with ourselves saying 1 I am for the lord and none else elre from this time henceforth I 1 will d the will of my rather father who is in th the heavens who has called me to minister the fullness of the fo gospel e pell and to share the glory that is prepared for r the righteous oui I 1 will be like clay in the I 1 hands of the potter that he may mould and fashion me as see ineth him good and if he will mike known to me his will mine shall bow to it my affection shall be placed upon udon eternal things and shall not rest upon the fading evanescent ne scent and transitory objects of ime and sense ense can we make this covenant with ourselves this mori morning meriting ting not only to say we dedicato dedicate this house and ana ourselves our flocks herds famines families and possessions to the lord but actually ethe work dedicating our affections to 0 his sr arc a s r rc IF our oar affections are won wholly dedi bated to his cause we have then obtained the victory perhaps we may find one here and there who will say 11 1 I 1 cannot do this I 1 may say ay it with my lips but to feel it in my heart the case 6 i hard I 1 am poor and needy and d desire sire to go to the gold mines to obtain something to help myself by ny speculating upon the gentiles and thus get a good farm and team with which I 1 c in help myse myself if out of this ahral dom and difficulty my mind is so perplexed I 1 cannot say my affect affections io ns are fully dedicated to the lord my god what istone is to be done in such a case I 1 know what I 1 would do for we have experience in these matters I 1 would call upon the bishop and make known to him my distress there are many who in these words complain and say they are so por they cannot pay their tithing say they we have only got three horses and two yoke of cattle an and d about 0 fifty v sheep bp i 1 want one dhe horse to ride and the others to haul wood therefore I 1 do not know how I 1 can possibly pay my tithing while on the other hand others who have only got half a dozen chickens nan can willingly pay their tithing you may say sav it is easier for them to pay than for those who possess so BO much for they are so very poor it does not infringe upon other matters if I 1 had but one cow and felt as you yon do I 1 would give her away forthwith it if you have only six horses and ten yoke of cattle or on only y one cow and you are too poor to pay your tithing give the whole into the public works I 1 speak thus to those inclined to love the substance of this world better than the lord if you have gold and silver let it not come between you and your duty I 1 will tell you what to do in order to gain your exaltation which you cannot obtain except yon take this course if your affections are placed upon anything so as to hinder you in the least from dedicating them to the lord make a dedication of that thing in the first place that the dedication of the whole may be complete what hinders this people from being as holy as the church of enoch I 1 can tell yu you the reason in a few words it is because you will not cultivate the disposition to be so this comprehends the whole if my heart is not fully given up to this work I 1 will give my time my talents my hands and my possessions until my heart consents to be subject I 1 will make ray my hands labour in the cause of god until my heart bows in submission to |