Show beriy conference s APOSTLE JET L GRANTS POINTED REMARKS at the saints not attending conference 2 p m tho choir sang alie time is aish that happy time that great expected blessed da when thousands of our race shall dwell with christ and him abey prayer was offered by elder chas D evans the choir then sang 0 awake my slumbering minstrel let my heart forget its spell say 0 say in sweetest accents zion prospers all is well JACOB GATES prefaced his remarks by quoting the words of the lord where it says my spirit edi fieth and whatsoever spirit docs not edify is not of me and deprecated ted elders speaking without this spirit it will accomplish but very little for the saints to pray for an elder who did not enjoy the power of god it would be like drawing beer from an empty barrel to properly and fully preach or understand der stand the gospel we have got to possess this spirit mankind today to day are id the dark clouded beclouded be with the traditions of ages they are walking the broad and frequented way that leads to destruction while but very few are treading that straight and narrow way that leads to life eternal alluded to the persecution of the people in the early days and testified that as alio work of god withstood tha onslaughts of the adversary in that day so would it continue to triumph no matter how fierce ahn battle the speaker alien alluded to the journey of zions camp over one thousand miles that went up to jackson county to redeem zion through the disobedience ortho saints at that early day this glorious object was not accomplished complis hed but it will be and that too at no far distant day when zion shall arise and shine and become as fair as the moon as bright as the sun and as terrible as any army of banners the persecution that is heaped upon us cannot prevent this object it may hinder it for a time but no hand can stay the purposes of jehovah we may turn reprobates to the truth but that will not interfere with its progress for god has said that his kindom shall break into pieces all other and lill the whole earth no power can remove us from our stronghold in cheso mountains but wo will stay hero until we become a host then shall we go in a body those who are worthy and build up the centre stake of zion let us therefore live up to what we know to bo true APOSTLE 3 GRANT was sorry to see such a few people present it seemed to him that the saints should have put off the beginning of the week until tuesday hajwas disappointed this mom ing at so few being present but was glad to see a greater attendance this afternoon his experience in other stakes was entirely different to that here the people in other stakes filled their meeting houses at conference here it seemed to be different certainly if the apostles can afford to travel to preach to the the saints should turnout and attend the meetings some brethren could preach to an empty house but ho could not ho never could derivi any inspiration from wood empty benches saints in the old world have walked as much as ten miles to go to a meeting but here those who live across the road from the meetinghouse meeting house feel too careless to attend their meetings why is this simply because they have lost the spirit of god they have no desire for the onward advancement of gods work if we do not live up to our duties wo will get no reward in the life that is to come if we pay our athing simply because we do not want our bishop to know our tru condition what good will that tithing do to us it is better that wo do not attend meetings if wo do not live up to the exhortations there made for it only adds condemnation to us APOSTLE I 1 asked the saints present if they were not conscious of the fact that joseph smith was a prophet of god it they were not then are they like the bubble cast upon tho waters that is tossed about by every wind we must know this work to be true if we over expect to stand the principles of the gobbel have enabled us to sea the hand of god in all things we foel tho potency of these principles working iu us and they are going to stay on the earth until wickedness ia done away with and righteousness covers tho whole earth do we not know the power and efficacy of the holy ghost do wo not realize the goodness of god in giving us this goodly land he has opened up a world of information and knowledge that we might become sanctified and purified if we will live up to this knowledge wo will bo fed continually with spiritual food and grow strong and mighty in aba work of god but if we neglect our duties though it bo tho smallest we will lose a portion of alna strength and power we should labor here for a future life if we neglect to do so then what ore we going to do when we 0 o beyond the gospel is full of comfort it is full of sweet assurance but we cannot lay down and ake things easy in zion we have got to wake up from our lethargy and assist in the great work which god is accomplishing 1 in every exigency of the church when eveia ivenus seemed to be closed the lord lias come to the rescue and delivered his people brother eichardt Eich ards here alluded to incidents in the early history of the church when the prophet and other leading brethren were taken under arrest on trumped up charges when general dark told the saints that they would never see their prophet again and advised them that they had better scatter out and not build up under bishops and other ecclesiastical officials such matters did not interfere with the work of god only to build it up it was like paul said they can do nothing against the truth only for it god has mado promise after promise concerning us but if wo do not keep the conditions upon which the blessings thereof are predicted we cannot blama our heavenly father for the fulfillment non of them tharo is too much speculation among us and too much of an aristocratic feeling we should bo more loving to each other and not feel that we are better than our neighbor I 1 toll you that unless we ston such practices that wo will lose the spirit of god if wa have not already done so what have we to be discouraged over jesus told his disciples to rejoice and bo exceeding plad when men revile you and eay all manner of evil against you the speaker then alluded to the duty of the saints in seeing that everybody that was able to bo registered was registered that they might cast their ballot for the maintenance of good government alluding to the remarks of president cannon in regards to the Lama coming up to the priesthood in zion tho speaker said that it would not be long before stakes of zion would be established not only all over this continent but in the islando islan dg of tho sea let us have more faith and not give way to despondency we are growing like the mustard seed that jesus spoke of every kick cur enemy administers to it shakes the boughs of the tree and the mustard falls into the ground and grows and flourishes blessings inestimable are in store for us if wo will only live for them the lord has given to us the keys by which we may ask and receive those blessings therefore let ua lift up our hearts and rejoice let us be humble and prayerful and do not above all things neglect our smallest duty let us all abide in the faith that finally we may bo sanctified and saved the stake academy board way then presented and nedas follows A 0 D john H H gluff W H dosenberry SI tanner john E booth T E cutler george D snell GEO Q said ho could not help thinking how different the situation of our elders was as compared with the ministers of the outside world in addressing congregations how plain we can talk without fear of losing our salaries or of receiving a notice saying that our services are no longer needed it is a great blessing to know that the faithful elders preach by the power of god while it is a satisfaction to the saints to listen to them I 1 do not believe that there is a people in the earth who have the power of discernment as tho latter day saints li an elder speaks without the spirit of god no one notices it quicker than the people of god we have to weigh the remarks of the elders for the privilege is given us to detect good from evil and we should so live that we may know when a man is speaking according to the power nf god or not the responsibility of tr e people is great in this connection I 1 have been greatly impressed chese points in these meetings we must not harden our hearts god hrs said that his spirit shall not aldays strive with man when we do not live so that alio spirit of god cau make an impression upon our hearts may we know that wo are in danger the spirit of god is given to every man to profit withal if therefore we do not profit by it ws are under condemnation do not allow the spirit of god tobe grieved of the hardness of our hearts if the spirit of god rests down apoi two individuals it will unite them if they are of equal we as a people must be united if there are differences existing among us then we should take pains to settle them we should not seek to set up our claims against the good of all there is one rule that I 1 think an ox cellest one and that is that the office should boek the man and not the man the office the modest man the man who does not peek the office is the man is generally in favor with the people now if you see a man after positions shun him for he is a demagogue be united in everything aad if you cannot agree then fast and pray and you will feul more humble I 1 would most earnestly recommend that you adopt this if you cannot get union in any oiher way let the stubborn man become pliable and let all do what can condition the spirit of god always beinars union no two men take different views if they enjoy the holy spirit they will see eye to eye in all things and will come to the same conclusion what has brought us up to these this spirit of unity I 1 toll you it is a wonderful power that god has poured out by which all will eventually become one family wo have a foretaste of it today to day then let us live to this let us not be contentious for I 1 tell you unless we repent of borness tho spirit of god will leave us and our hearts will become hardened president smoot made a few closing remarks after which the choir ean the anthem daughter of zion benediction was pronounced by president cannon |