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Show DISCOURSE Delivered t t)io Cnnornl Conference nf tho Church, In th Tauarnncle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 5th, IU0O, by PRESIDENT W1LFORD WOODRUFF. hK()hTl.l liV AKTIIl'K WINTIR.l The liinht calling (lie Lortl evet cat'edonv human being tu, in any ar:e of the world, ha tn-cn to receive the Holy Priesthood, with its levy nnd powers, pow-ers, unJ to b railed to k loith to the in hbitatiiii el the earth .md teaih tliein lite prmc'ple of the Cm .p d of eu QitiM, ..ml 10 (junlify utid prtpirt ih m .r i put in the iir-t n-Mirreci-.n and lo j;o lut.K into the present eul iol, thnr Creator, lo tlwe 1 tit K.l"rv wurltW with-tut with-tut end. Hi- l.nrd ht stowed th.it LUmh,, tint I'ritsthnnd ami that I power in the Ir Ruining ( creation. 1 ! either Atlam v.n r 1 of ',m1 ami r-(.tined r-(.tined to the tulloest of the M-1-. hte4tek lrieMh.ot!-.,nl.iine, to ihe lnlust ullicc .nd gift nl God to man on Ihe earth. A lam bfttowril that hlr-v nn upon tcven nf hi Horn -SMh, i-.no., J -red, Cinaan. M.iha!.t1rel. MtthmHah. Tiny wen: all ord.uned Hinh i'rien by tl t t f.ither Attain, ami porssed the privilege and the rij;ht to undetttind the (...sim-I of JeMit CUM nnd to pive it lo the human family, o that they might UAliiy and prepare Ihemselvrd tor ettrnal life. In tracing the hutory ol the lie-ilm ol Hod wuh mm from thai day to this, lind thr Lord ha in variant tiiipr iiiationa and timet iveti unto trie tuns ui mm in.ii i Mrvuiifc. lr..el had it in tne bt-y. initio;:, Irom Ahrahm, Is., ic and arob 1 iwn, nnd until Moses, wl.o Iravrled with Ihe children of l-rael loity r.ti iu th-widemcn. th-widemcn. They lad the fcifn and l(rare of that I'm a hrod i'eowed upon Ihrm, and tin y had the privilege ot nm :nd inic tht ir calhnR and pn ir-Sng ir-Sng themielves for eternal life, lhit I-.r tel would not nrcept the Mtlchisedt-U I'r.eithooJ, and thcrel ire it ua taken from them, and the LeMer 1'rirMhoo.J uan contenetl upon lla-tii wlnle liny traveled in the wilderness. It is not liecr sjty lor me to up ml lime in tracing trac-ing tl.ii 1'iit-tl n I through the tix thousand yiart thaihave pat and none; but it has bten manifest in every aye and dispt malum when God hat had prophett and apoitles on the earth. J. mis Christ came into the woild in the nteru'tin ol time. Me was the (treat II yh PiirM lo Israel. He was the Sun of Ur Savior if tlie worhl. He ill.- His ApoMles II- oiamel I lit Church. He It-Mowed upon lhc-e AptistUs all the gilts and tacrii helui'K lug to thr Ap-stlei ip. In that tit-p-t satioii It term that they were called to by l.ll liieir lives lor the word of (.(id ami lesiuniMiv id t.u Chn-t. '1 tic Savior himself w ii Ut to (k.ith-Tnr (k.ith-Tnr ApttsthH wire all. with one tx.f p. turn, j u' to (! atli in tin ir d.ty and lime, home to God, and leiu.iined lliere hit a It itliol ti i e. I'm m !!( are that H ienever the itiiih.Uii! of the rarili we.d-n... d I. me Go,,,, I ot mi. t hift .inl ih- pouer ol thr I'ricslliuod, Hha-.lMenh'-stuwrdiiponlh.m. In the ( ;s ot the S.vi. r and His A f t join Hit kevrl.itor, while iiponihc tsu ol I'.itmu4, fave an out-hi out-hi e ol frM ,n events wln It were lo trai.spne in the i-t tlmpmsation td the liihu-.ol linns. n.lii I'rophtis and Apost!et,wit,i m o'-.th-y were moved upon by the (lo; dini-i, Kit mi the Imf-s ol httoiv a rerord ol what I lie .old would do in tne lait dispnittion. Aniens; the nr'l even t that tlie Kcve-hitornaw Kcve-hitornaw w.tiiheone descrilfd in ihe i 4th (hapivr ol his Kevelation, and wltkh is ottt-ii quoi d by our eldut, because be-cause it is very apph able. i And I v.w uu.il.rr .r.,-l tlv in ll.e m !. .( hr.O.-....l.n.,, II.. .'MI.....I.K K.i.11opir..c., UhM itlOll tl.4t Itwrll ,U. II, r- r.Olll, Mlfl 1 -t-tv luttuii, itt knU.cJ, 4ia Li...', .t . J 1 Voii'c with a hunt vui-. Inr O.vl. un.l f.r , lu J Inn. tot U huur vt llisju tnrnl If thin rcvehilion hat! not been fnhdled, tiaitlwr 't U nor 1 would be here todav. Hut Taberu.u le wouhl not lie etected this t it v would he Mill part ol the tr tt American Desert, a. we louml it; but in the lu id nunt ot the rvelatmiii ol Owl, l!iee tilings have been done nnd home ol us have lived to m e tl cm. The riiCt-l of (toil did vis t Joseph Stiildl, the 'lophet ol ("d, wlio was raised up by the p"ver of God m a prophet, at-er and re ve tator. and w ho organize d the ( hurtU of letus Christ in Ihe earth. 1 rom tli ot day until this the work hat ptoressed and the Gntpel has bren pftti hed 1 he Holy Cdiost Imh been wilh I he people. 1 lie Lord Almighty I as s-1 Hit hand lo curry out thr teal ro-gramme ro-gramme to taiablish the ion of God in the earth ami lo im p. ire (he people lor the coniM k of the ."hjii ol Man. 'ihe are my views with rtj(.inl to the railing of men in this dispt-i u nion. ( iold and silvt r may pass uw a ; houst n uiid lauds may perish; all tcinpoi.d mat trrs will pans aw.ty; hut the Priesthood nrver. t.ilvaiiun mver, the kingdom ot Gud i,.-ver, mid ptophecy will never l.dl nn ullilled. We have had Apoitlt-s now lor upwards ol Mity years. Matty have died and j;oiie to ihe oilier side of the veil; ami those upon whom God be nowetl the cloiy and power of the or-:auzatioii or-:auzatioii of the Chturli have sealed their testimony with tneir hluotl, as the n. it-nt Apostles rid. I hey have jne home to ic. civ their reward, hut ili.il iKaiii.itloii has rtmametl; the Holy 1'nrsihood has been yivnt to the sons ol men and has rem iue upon their head-., mul will remain upon Ihe heads ol this people until thf etimini; of the Sjii ol Man, Tlietelore, I say lo the l.iUei-day l.iUei-day Suinis, we aie in this oryain in m today. I tlo uol pieiend to say eac ly the number that we have in the i'li'-st-hood; but we have from tiltren to twenty tlioiiHand Klderam Uus Chun h; we have 'lany various ort;anualiuns ol liie 1'riest buod, autl ctiurchea are orgauitcd I thr. Uk-ho-it the world as far a we have hail an opportunity. I h ive he- n . dl- d. these Ap'istlrs-lnv. many . I tn- 1. d rs h ive to (-.no the na lo ot the e-irtn I andihr isi.inds ol Hi" sra to prea h ihe G-'MM-Mo our b lluwnirii WlM Rtnti r ( ailing ran any man have on tt e t ce o' lli-e.irth than lo hold In In hands I ow r utid authontv to ko lonh and ad hi ulster i.-. ihr or hn.tti' e ot a,v.tti n' l . we pn-ll.rs.' thHiKS 111 t eir lu.i- ..es. do not think we &u N-wrt irsMohr we have b--,, enao,. io mamiaui our poMtion, and to yo t rtli and lulhil our minions t ir as we hv hi I tune Mild o,.p-rtuni'y O Manly ti,t x- has b.-rn notlunj; m tus wnk iu.il I Lav.- hid y.n ater c ms.ilati ai m than 1 in preae'intit the Goprl to mv fei ow 1 iii'-n mi l in adini'iisleru.K u to ill' m 'he , ordm.itK es id Ihe house cl God. bodi tot ! ivuk and fie dad. I tiny say tin- same witn rranl lo my brethrrn who i art railed to pi rlotm those ordinanr-. I Th-re was som-th.nn t t l )r.h rdav by t hi brethren with regard l ur sor . sal toiiW'HVnVwin n 1 mv it It m va il I think 1 speak lor a M-at mans n:h rs tii re is nn )oy that I have e-.n had that las b-tn xv.wrt lb an tint whih has come torn- in ha vim: ftoiw re.eive (lit- Holy I'rie-lhood and o lortn antl ad-ninistT anions Ihe lupous ol thr ruin Hie ordinance ol hie and t.ilvatioii. It is a kUiik.u ',h ,l,t"' s",u ol men. It is what mr-t have not en-, en-, Miycil betorc us for thr last euhtet n I hundred years almost. Then should c iiit t-iie Hie-e 1 1 i iik ' si'ouin. Ihe l.-.irl in the .lispeusa'ioii of His snVand .uiiK'!l i-, and our so. -t ate i a led to v.o to the na nns ol the t arm. V e want to instil into their mmds Die miuo I. n-.e td Uirse L .e Mt.ys to til- in-habitants in-habitants ol tlie i-aitn ard toe tivmol the luim'pv'..! hie and saUatnn an l .4ilmiuisii r ihesi otdin an e lo him, and yon l i. -. in..- an ins.ruiueut n the Imnds olGndin the salvation ol that soil Tnerr !!, nothing Kvrtt lo thc children ol men that is ttja.u to 11. 1 ins is our pmili ni today in the e m untains. U t- have been l d In re ly the power ot God led l y a iiroptu I, se.-r and rrvelator, 1'ifsident llritiam ounui who W4s toll of tne Holy l.no.i and tub ol r-vetation, appointed ol ihe Lord, and who nia;iidied Ins calling up lu the hour ol hit death We rame ikiu and found, a barren deterl. I 'rum that (lav nil this it hat been a coutinu.it growth antl increase, unlit we have arrived ar-rived al a pomt wnere we have a tabernacle taber-nacle as a "fhiidow in the dayiime lio n Ihe heat and lor a covert from stotni and from rain," These things have all been prophesied ot tt.ousamS of vt arsngoUy the ancient i'roptivis ami Patriae ui who loicsaw thc woikol Gud in the last das. 1 want to say frw worda lo our yotint: m u w ho ate rising up aiuon us. 1 w.u.t litem t i ci mprehend and under ttand the blessings that are within tueir trath. The l.ortt has givtn us a large number ot si ns an t daughters 'I hey have got to take the pl.o es of their had in h s day and generation, A great retpoiisunlty rests upon mem. 1 he l.otii r ipnres at the haiivlt of our tons Hut Hit ) ktiall bt-ai oil din. kingdom (.1 our God while tliey dwell in tne lle-h, that they may be juvttlird 1 he 1,. rJ tub: Oliver Ct.wd ry, "And if It so be that ytai should laltor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and hung avc it be one soul unto ue. how great shad be y ur iy with him in 1 the kiiiKtlom ol my l ather." It leipinci light, knowledge and understanding; it It-quKt t the spirit alld poaer ol God lor iii to comprehend our position, our hlcs niKs and our nilts that God has plat ed upm us. 1 feel to rejoice and thank God mysell that I have lived to see wnat I do m these valUysoi the mountains, that 1 have lived to see these multitudes that till lliere tabt-rnaeles ami t inpb t and labor here iu the building up of the kingdom of GoJ, The Lord h is been vrry nirrcilul to me, and my hie lias been pies rved to pas through these things, and I null remain iu tne midst of this people, 1 have lo at know I edge the hand (l God in ihe whole ol it. I suppose you have lo do so with regard lo oiir lives. Tne tact is. there is not a blrsMiu that God has bt stowed upon Us hum the beginning but has hern the Kilt ol God. Ue should un-erutid ihis. We have preached the Gospel io every nation, kindred, tongue and people, peo-ple, as lar as the I. rd has o,em d tloors for us and we have had the j nvilege ol t;o;iu. Stlil the woild 1'iday is lull ol people woo have not heartl the Gospel ul esiii Liirist; an (while Ihe t'rltsthood re.ts upon our sin ulder t we are ull un-th un-th r ol hg.diuli and are still held respon sible lot the salvation ol Hit cm dun o un n, as lar as we have the prtvih -ge ol bestowing these gibs upon tlie t-oiis and daughters ol Ad. nil o dv think tiut by einbiaiiiiK the (i'spt l of Child we can In coine in ns of God and j. mil hcirt. wuh K'tnii Chnkt, thai we can have pot m Li.t i tm resurre.do.i, and come loilh out ol ol: graves and he clothed widi glory, iininotLdiiv and denial lives, and past into the pies. -ucc ol God and the l.amb and dwell witn them eu-maUy in ihe heaven--! Who coiiipf. h mls this lio the u.habiiaiits ol tlietaitli' They do no', .Satan has warred against us lioui (he cirgaination ilns I I'tiiOi, to Py and dtstmy Ihis people, b it o lar we have been pieservtd. We Miould be lhanklul lor these blessii g.. I real e mysell that we are (Itp' iMi tit upon the laird ill ub ihnigs. '1'ne Lord is our preserver. pre-server. He is the author ol our salva lion. leMi-. i lin-t has (..nldoMii His hie to reile.m u . by His b ood, and throiiKti thai we have the e blessings belowed upon us. Among oilier thing", we live in a feneration fen-eration m winch the Lord has euahlid us to tt ar several ti tuples some tn these mountains and some hi hue we came here; and hundred ami thousands oi people go into these temples to re- h em then dead. This it a blessing the Latter day -Sainls should pr o. It is a duly that is rupjirtd ut our hands to do w hat we can iu ll.i direction It is a blesaiiiK Uut the inlub.ianis ol thc tarih have rot hid l.r rmnrict until this dts-p'-nsali.'ti I Imp th d u i 111:111 who has tt it i to rd ol Irs failure lnni.c will go down to his giave wiih'iul having attended at-tended to tin wo'k. How would I feei, alter iivirig as long at 1 have, with the priv.ltVfs 1 have h id of going iu'o th'-.t.. trnipl'-H, to o into the spmt world without bavin.: t!on-Dim work I meet iiivUili'-rsh iii-f, I iti"d my mother's in us1 , I in t my pr ..enitoi-. n-id tS'-v ar- sint ut in pn , I Ir Id the kes ol th-ir salvation, and vet did nothitiu for them: wh.it won d be my fct-hngv or what wutild he tlx if fe C H'g - tow ird me' T.irv would no: 1 V. it. I le I th it W. l-th l-th .rd hi given us It. is blevsimt. vry man nil I v. out. in ill lbs (Iniith that h.. . ati laith al all in God and In th Gos,.n snonhl attend to th s dolv. J-su, Christ, wmte His b idy lay in the tontii, went and i r--ached lo tne npirits il Nodi i.v the tl .oil. bi-ratlsu d Unr wi ilm-oi,!,.! rfb-jininati m v I !,rv h i I he in pn.on for a long time, ami He in an 1 nr.-ii li-d lo Mieni. "thai hy I i c i i l,-'-d a ri.r.tiog to men in the , ll li. but I ve are nd n- to Go I hi the -p:nt " I .sph S nith. Hvruni SnW'i. 1' ivid I'a te-1. and lie Ap istb i and I'd I d rs mio have be n true ami Uiiinul unto death have aUo gone to tne si-int jinp'i-. rt in tiiMt t..y a-d lime mil 1 t r-ai h-l the G. .'! ol Crlt to their latiiers' lions s and to tl.tise who are vtiul tip m pr.s in, ami they are I ihorn.g there lor the salvation ol Ihe children ol i;iuri let whi h i!e l.atl-r-d.iy S.ints should not neglect wild- lh-y have the pr.v.l.( randpoAer. As I - od in thr i in finning, titer: is no r ilhng. n man an he railed to.. inv g i eater Hi ol t h.ive tins i gtit and prtviii gc to go luth nial save to.; souls ol tn n s.ivf them by I r-a- hmg the (io.p-'l to them, by ml-mi ml-mi i.irruiE the or-iu amrs tl th' house ol (i 1 to them, that they may be pre-par. pre-par. d themselves to go ln:o the king dom ot li- ..veil ami into a c leMial glo y. Tn. re are three sW.ries. I'aul in tweaking tweak-ing upon tn.l siibp-ct sod, "liereis oii' glorv ot Pie sun, ind nuother glry ol the moon, and omuier g oiy 1 1 the kuis, l.r one Mar diil-relh fiom ntndh-r siar in I'TV S i alto is tin resurrection td the had." 1 hiaegh r-esov-rshaduw tlie who e hum m lauinv. N. how ihes or in Hu es t'l 'l he n: iy g i where God and Christ dw- I, wh; "i is the li n-e n-e t lorv. I'.ul K-siis sa d in li s .lay. ."straight is th- gat-, nnd t: irrow is tne uav, whit ii lea . Hi unto lif-, and I -w then hi that hud it;" while "hrna I i the way that Uadetti to th s-rurPoP, nr.d mat y iM-te he v hn h Uo 111 th.-r. al.' I thitiK m mv times thai we ourselves do not pn.:j !h" b,esanv that wrtijoy and ti.at a:e wilhm our team. Out hearts siioiild be -i I upo i the I U''dmg up ol thr ki"g. mm ,, Gd, the oil i I God and tlie Hoik i t God, while we nte here and have power to perform Hice thins It is our duty as thc l'ie-idein y and as Apt. sties not only ' Lib r i.urselves but to ud forth the Lbicrs t.l .el to tne nations ol the earth lo proclaim the Gospel. I Mora are open today among many of the nations lor the pread ot the Go-pel o' Christ, and to bung Ihe people unto Christ, that they a so may receive these blessings, ilrrthren a- d sisters, this is the wav I f.cl th moimi.g. ot all people under heavens we -h.i.Jd be tne he;t. the in st Mshieou ami the most true and ladh fui lo God and io our h-llow men. We should be tni" and la I mil to the Holy I'liesttiootl wl.de we have it resting upon us, ami true to our labors. I reioice at our condition lodiy. I ftj.nie at the peace that has come unto Us by the power pow-er and b e-Miig o God 1 rejoice ut ihe c;.auge that is taking p. .ice in the world U e Hie vuwttd how oy hundreds ot o p e Irom the nations ot thr earth. Tin y are coming lo behold the g oty ol .ion, 1 hey come io cii.pdie al mil hand c n c riling various n. a:ters, an I th. to is a m tnnerdavsVow fnl us. ' ilroihcr (oi'n i W. Taylor n-leircti to our going to bl. 1. nut and to Cnicago. Ne. Iretollect very well when we went into Jat .oii County, Musou i. M labors there have been aluided io. When I went on m. lirst n.issiuti iu 1M4 1 had to go throt g!i I it ksuti County 011 my way to Ark..ua. li was just alter l Ur bretlnen h.ul been ddveu 0111. 1 l a 1 to go .0 U hi e iu Ihe coinuelda anil in the brush dining tne day, and wa.k along in Ihe night, till 1 got through thai county, for ihe liven ol myself at.tt companion were in danger Here. The last line I went there, tin Mayor ul Independence came out to meet us with a line carnage He had bui one arm, having lost tne other in the aimy, but he gave us titai ami and made us welcome. I could not help but h el Ihe dilh-ience betw eti then and when I went through there as a mission-ivy. mission-ivy. Tln. re is a change taking place, ion is going to rise and slnnr, and the glory ol God will rest upon her. Toi . peopl.-, il they do their duty, will I li I Ii II and carry out these great ptu cples,aud the ryes f U,c world will he turned lo ward- . on, and mm w ll come to en-i en-i i'rr coi.ivrinng ihe t ui'gs o1 the king (i 111 ol God. We are .11 a good c m liti .11. We aie u esse.l ot the Loid. I lie Lat ler tlay S.imu h tve ut v-r I e -q sow.li oil lemporiilly. Go into h j.ise . ol the Lub-r tl.v Sa nh. .u.d you tvdl had tm-iii ina hut 1 podium ili..n tliey h.ne ever beuo In lore liiO'H.i' the hi-s-ings ot do I, and we shoald pi. ; ta. c thing . .tiul give God the l';t hr l -vni, while we try lo do 0111 July and uiat.i-ty uiat.i-ty our calling 1 wulto : as thai 1 atil HI tor salvation and tor eternal hie. I have labored lot Hiat siu.-e 1 w.is a boy. I have desired thc yd s and graces at tl I h ssings Him ilesl in the das ol JfU. II nd His A; atles. In my cliildlu,..d I pny-d Ood that I might live to st-e a pruphe-or somrhotlv wh 1 (oiild ie..tu mo tne pr.m iph-s I ie.nl o m the N, w r. -t imeni. Thedfrgy ol tne day nul not tin it N..bo:y uroiuid thru- i.p pesietl to hi lieve 11 such 1 lit e gs. Wed, I have hved to e I he is ait 1 Ap-i- ths, 1 have lived o travel v illi tliein nnd to ui.it e with them in ihe l.inglom ol t.od 1 Have LC'-n ,n the A,. .S Usiup tif'.y-iit vi.i's; 1 luv: U n in tlie Cliur. n sixty thico eirs My ulnde hie ulnui-d has been spent t a tin. Church ; unl Irumthe tune i came into the Chun h I wed on .unions and h ivi- i.-x.r le ised altog thei ir.-in tiut ii .y to tins. 1 li.ve am..i nj .icd m this, .,,..1 do today. When 1 die and lay dow.i my hotly, I do not wa..l anybody lo rise up and nay that 1 have perilled my iluiy in tiju gio)dvelht.-i.is..Uaii..n as lar as I could. I have alua s r joic d 111 prt ,u ti-n ti-n g die l iospid ; I have irjoiced 111 ad-lliiid-ttiing the ordinances ot li u ands.d- havi known tn.il liui was b e work ol God, and Ihu.-w .lis today. I want 10 siy now to the rising; gener ation, gud up the loins ol jour minds, prepare yuuitn.lvei.aud reahia you have amisunb,forevou Who ar- gong' , In btar this ktngitom oft tvh-n w go o ' the grave? To whom does th- i.od ot ; I 1 .met took lo do this? He U oks tn oti- 1 s,ns nnd daughters that are 111,' uif ' ! here. This re.porsibi'iiy ft up... I ibem. and I h p- 1 hey dl lulhil 1 j m-gi iiy their tailing, 1 h-re is noth.tig I hkr it on earth. You nny gt the n ., . f thr worl-l; thev past nwa. tut t-r nV lite, ct I. slial gbiiy, a pl.n e with P e righteous alter reurrrction.wi'h imnmi tal b'.dii a, are w.ifth more than all this " world tan give. I have ronfnn e to believe that the Latter-day faints wi 1 cany out these principles and ttngtMy their calling before the Lord. I h.tr h ipes thai our sous and dauliteri will do (he same. llreihtcn and isters, I say, -od t l-ss j von Inmglal to meet wuh v u. I rMoirem the Gospel, in th- k.ng.lom ot God ,Md in the Hoi v I'mstnool. I pr..y (.od lo bless you, to open y nr ry s to see.vour ears lo hear, and . ur lit ats to to tlrrsi.ui I. I pray God lo o;t-ri yo r un ierstanlitiK, that you may -n-pretirud the vaiue and bes..tn- of the l t isprl that you have rcriyid and ol i the h rings ol thr-e Irmph s ami tab- macles m the midst ol whn h mi have ! (tie privilege of dwelling will rr. ,-iwng ! theoroin.m es ul God. I prav thd we J I ma pursue that course that l-n we 1 net on tne other mde of the H " e 1 dud bf sitish-.l with our r-.'u.l. We wii. (1 id cur history and our mmd then-iu then-iu ti e great library of the celesli d king dotn 01 our I, and we wib kti. w whit we hsve b- en domg in Pus l ie. It we do ails thing that is wrong we w 1 I b sorrv lor it. We should rrpent oi wrot.g and try 10 do better. I p'ay that the spini ol Ood may Iw with us ( gui.-.r ui.) direct iisinourl.iliirsti .nl wr get tot. i-.H-h here, ttieli when we pas awav we may be received ill Ihe ku g loin ot God. We shall reioice if we Oj tnhi. mil liraid, and H has never nil. red i..io th hearts ol the children ol ni tl the glory that lies before the sons anil daughters daugh-ters of Adam. It is hidti n lr-tin our ey-s tod..y, ami wid never b. op. 11 to u until we nier into the prestli. v ol God and the Lamb. Amen. |
