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Show -- 5 DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, MAY 2T, TTTK mi. Church Department AND KNOW THE TRUTH ajj Religion Ti lYii Up-To-Da- Tn Tn 4Tn Tn ffn iTi iT1 ri 7 A TESTIMONY te Given After 72 Y ears As A Member ' ' Of The Church BY JAMES . TALMACE the Apostles pf Council OfT' the Twelve unfrw nTiiCnTn (P (F'f' (IT' IT" IP" (r',r,fh,bifir ii fix that th ordlntncw principle In of tti foopcil w: (1) Faith the Lord Jesus Christ) ( Rcpent-mo(I) litpUim br immenrtou for th remission of Rim; (4) Ly Ing on of Hondo for ths gift of the Holy Ghost. (rtlclte of Faith, the la the first Ood in FJth basal principle fundjunnUl, th Indeed, faith in of the goapeij u, of the the more general usage to cause arm, lo the impelling even In ordinary, affaire. Faith nod belief are not infreand the worde quently confuted, are too com nt only regardedIden-a synonymous. An approach to early uty of meanttng appears ofIn which English, In leconsequence leoinettmoe belief given the fact more definite algiUftcation of faith In our versions of the Holy Scrip be nothing more lures. Belief may to any than a mental ascent fact; principle, or alleged confieuch lmphd whereas, faith dence and coiivlcUon an shall inop ire to action. Belief le by comparison posalvw, a mere agreement or tacit acceptance only; faith la active and positive and la accom- " c; -- prop-oeitlo- n, 11:3.)-Scriptu- li and 3 , MU. Minktngly similar In form, jrot and efvitallyU different In spirit thls testimony of the defect, mons as oompared with Feter's confession of bin Lord. To the Baylor question,, ''Whom say ye that 2 am 7" peter replied in practically by the unthe same wo nils voioedi clean spirits: "JThou are the Christ, Ood. Hon of the (Matt. Hiring the II.18-- res se , 3: .) In a revelation through Joseph Given Mamlay, Dccombor 10, 1011.) 4 Dear Brethren: 1 find as I advanoe in years and this old body becomes more feeble, that you are dearer to my out; that the Church of Jesus Saints Christ of ' Latter-da- y dearer to mo every hour, and my brethren and my sisters becomo more precious In my sight, and 1 love them better and love them more. I was down to the First Ward lest night, and expected to go home to Third Avenue last evening, but was not able to go. I was In bod all day, but I got up this2 morning thought and felt a little wrathy. there was an enemy trying to prevent me from doing my duly, and I aid, I wish I were strong enough to throw him on hla baik. and I would do It this morning cheerfully and without a grudge; but I am are bevery feeble,, and my stops 1 feel coming very unsteady, and brethren and that interest in 1my to to talk want my sisters that them and exhort them all the time, If 1 had the strength. OppuMrd liy Family I joined the Church when I ww fifteen years old. Mjf mother said very much opposed to It and to me: 'Hamilton, jo brought disgrace ona the family. greater sorYou have brought father row to me than your uio very much, This grieved death. and set me to crying, for 1 loved my mother. I dlstfu tlv remember and going out Into the orchard prostrating myself upon tho gr.ven 2 prayed to die. While there I heard a .. votes what which said to me: "Hamilton, to you have done is well pleasing T hs young your Father In Heaven. a is Smith, prophet. Joseph ' man, ! without spot of blemish. choon In heaven and ordained of Ood If you will be faithful to tho end. God Bmlth In 1833 tho Lord Josus Christ gave this instruction and bleteteel promise: "Ask the Father In my name. In faith believing that you shall receive.. wn d you shall have the Holy all Ghost. which manlfentcth things which nfe expedient unto the children of mem (Doctrine and Covenants 18:11 ) MY 1 panied by work. Keith la vivified, vitalized. Uvjmg beliefs Devil IW'Uwre Hvcn the derlla believe that U a the t'hrbst, and eo fully Jcnu that they tremble at the prospect be-ofby that the fate forewhudowedi Their beItef (fite Janwi a: lief may amount to even certain devlla remain bui they knowledge, Consider th- man fieverthele the in a demon poNMcemid by Whan country of thd Gadarenc ran he he beheld Josus afar! off to the Mauler, ,anl wofahiped hliu, white the evil aplrht by whom the man wm controlled acknowledged tho Lord, calling him 'Jesus, thou Hon of tbe Moat High God.V (Mark I, for analogous Instance ace Mark 7 Frfcwto this the Scripture contain copious testimony (read Hebrews, chop. II), is it consistent to doubt that faith Is the appointed agency for and securing spiritual Invoking blessings, even to the attainment of salvation In the eternal worlds T As shown In earlier articles, refrom the power of demption death Is assured to all through tho victory achieved by Jesus Christ; but salvation is an Individual gift, provided for all who ehaii establish claim thereto through ebed- - , icnce to th laws and ordinance of the Gospel. Faith In God the Eternal Father, and In His Bon Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and the Savior of the racet and in the Holy Ghost. is essential to the securing of individual salvation. Paul forcefully declares "But without faith it. is Impossible to please him; for he that cometb to God must believe that be la and that he Is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (lieb. Give Assurance The Scriptures abound In assurOf ances saltation to those who exorcise faith in God. The Havior a teachings are conclusive: "He that beileveth aud baptized shall be saved, but he that beileveth not shall be damned. . (Mark 16.16,) And again "He that boltevoth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that hulieveth jiot tho Son shall not life; but the wrath of God abideUi' on him. (John 3 33 ) Rut who will venture to arfirm that passive belief as dWUnguishcd from active faith Is here Implied?, Gan a man be said to believe In Jcwu Christ fn any effective arid unless that tnan genuine sense shall strive te do the things that Christ commands? To any,kuch inconsistent assumption, the Apostle John replies: "And hereby we do know that know him. If we keep his commandments. He that salth, I know him. and keepelh' not his commandments, la a liar, end the truth la not In him. But whoso kcepolh his word, In him verity la the love of Ood perfected; hereby know we that we are In him." (I John And ty 1:13-2- Hamilton (Isist Dwtlmonf of Mtlrf Of tho lllgli Iark, lfwldVil of Ktudgn Make, quorum G. , belftov MAKE YOU FREE T Faith Not Mere Belief sa -- ' -- 18) Iuiei lYith Ttsbd Peter's fait hi had already been tested, and had demonstrated Ha vital power. Through faith the bad forsaken much that had apostle been dear, and had followed his Isord In persecution and suffering, Eterliis knowledge ofof(Jod as the Jesus Christ as nal Father an4 the Redeemer in ay have been no greater than that of the demons; but while to them that knowledge wee an added cause of condemnation. to him Iti was thjr power of rigteou aervtcb and of eventual Live By j ' J4-8- suppliant. If through faith Divine Interposition may be secured to tho ,maof 'what we call terial or phwlca) miracle and of potatoes la one of (asks which a farm boy has about as great an averelon of as milking on a zero morning, And yet it hue its compenHsUonn At lenat I foundi It so the Inst time 1 tried It In a cellar in Colorado. As we entered we discovered a mius of long tender sprouts ail converging at a point near the roof of the cellar forming an Immense cone. It was a Hew botanical phenomenon. We had never seen we like It before And anything were pusmled for a while. Hut as we worked away at the monoton-- i oue task of dobeardingi tho tubers, we chanced to detect a ray of lulit ahoottug down through a small In tho roof. aperture It ts an Inherent characteristic of all plant life to grow towards the life of the light for light the 4h steal world A Onmitarisop There Is something in the hutnnn heart comparable to this Inner urge of the plant something that drives the soul JrresdHtably upwards towards the light. man Borne yeans ago a young commenced to detect tho charm of, like the "apt words th tt "are apples of gold In pictures of silver' Gradually the idea of becoming a worthy craftsman in tfe field of literary grt, commenced ito tug at his heart. TBs Idea became an Intensified conviction. Soon be was baing carried irrefutably upward towards tho beacon light of i hla worthy goat All Intellectual and spiritual dea la struggling upwards velopment towards the light. The student Is kept at his lessons by the con-of viction that the acquisition knowledge Is a worthy aim. The philosopher in tho quest of wisdom Is impelled by the belief that wisdom will equip him to live beautifully In a sordid world. The Httlnt imseeking for purity of heart Is holipelled by the noble faith that ness is the highest achievement and the only passport to the abode of eternal light .Someone has said, "Desire Is the SPROirriNO alvntion, In a theological suns faith Includes a moving, vital, Inspiring confidence in (M, and the cct pt- ante of his will as our law and of his words as our guide In life. Faith In tind as a principle of power, for by Ha excrcit 'spiritual forces are made op rativ. By this power tit appear to bo phenomena th sutih as miracle. are waa wrought. Kvenithe laird Jteui conInfluenced and in a measure trolled by the lack of faith or the p9vo'lim thereof by (hone who Sol light blessings at his 'hands. We are told that at a certain time and Jcmus "could there do ne pla the peomiyhty work' because Of so dense pled unlM'lief, Which wta that ht m.Trvoled at It (Mark re-3: B. 6). Repeatedly did tho Lord buke and admonish with such ye of lit t lo faith, proofs as " Where Is your' faith? and "How Is It that we have no faith? In glorious contrast rang ouit his words of benediction t those whose faith had made It possible' for him to heal and to save: "Thy faith hAth made (hew whole, and" According to your faith be lt unto you. liesd the record ef the youthful demon lae t w hosts agonised father brought Ms son te the Master, do pleading pitiably lf thou const any thing,, have compassion on in-us To this and help gs." qualified tercession Jesust replied "If thou canst believe and added AR things " gre possible to him 9 that beheveth ) The faith (read Mark I: not requisite to the healing was prialone the Healer of that by the of tbe faith oq pert marily N TIIETlUmTsHL! ; W t , I But the mainspring of action. aphorism is only true on the tevsl of impulsive' action, on the higher plane, of rational living, we are on this motivated by convictions, lovtd wo only struggle and strive for the things we believe are desirable. Rational faith differentiates the mal purposeful life from mere drifting. Impulsive living Tho who are without fail ft are like, d upon the surface of tho turbulent sea Of fancy and impulse. They live without bloals or goals Fur objectives, faith la tho erv spirit of aspiration and the life of high aims and noble ideals. Our faith lo the real ath k of our lives. Wo become yard our hearts are set uponjustIfwhat our hearts are securely set upon the attainment of stainless Integrity and unimpeachable honor, our live will ly grow toward this noble victory nnd achievement. Faith Attltmlm , All ouir moral and npirltirtl attie tudes ar eascunav Faith ig truenevi Of heart. It is fidelity fo truth. We desire justice because believe in the righL Wg because we behce in purity of life. We adhere to trulh hefauae we believe the truth. And we neplnp to godtlnres ternu-- e we believe In the reality and im-- 1 mutability ofweDivlno Law. Whether solve a probtem, ' make an experiment, teach a sacrifice for a heroically cause, or patiently struggle upwards. toward the distant high goat of eternal perfection, we literally "live by faith. What breathing Is to physical life, believing Is to tha Intellectual and spiritual life. Believing Is the very breathing of the soul. AH the good, the just, and true Tlve by Kahh. "There Is no unbelief; And da? by day and night, unconsciously The heart-live- s by that faith the drift-woo- pen-late- filth-attitud- Jove)-virtu- je lce-so- i lifts deny. Ood knoweth why NJ1HI will give you an eteriastlng IpherU Unco In bis celestial kingdom where God and Christ dwelt, This has been my testimony throughout all my Uaa. My mother afterward joined the Church and came to this country, crossing the plains with a hand oart, and finally died a faithful Latter-da- y Halnt la her 93rd year. To the brethren who have joined this quorum today and have boon ordained God's High Priests, I want to say that we bid you welcome and hope all the good things stated to you In your or- dtnatlon will be realised by you to the glory of God and the salvation of your own souls. Glc Warning And now Jn looking over this oongregation, I want to say that it there is any man here who feds that business is more Important lo him than his duty to God, I want to tell him to beware; beta u ho, in my advanred life, things of tho future cast their shadows beforo, and the things of the present tone While It Is good their Interest and proper and right for man to attend lo the business of tol ly, and sustain the Kingdom of God in its temporal affairs, I say to thotn d pot to n gleet tholr duties to and tholr holy religion, bocau, wften they get to my Urae of life It. will not be how much to k ywu own in this and that .institution, how many bonds you posse, anH how muih wealth ou ran fount in'H the things of this llte. hut the tion foremost and uppermost yjil be, hav I been true to my God and d ncKh Ills holy religion? Have II ever br. an one duty? Have on b& k a or gone trayed a trust, 1 Itrrefore, I say to bur friend friends joining us this morning, wolcom'. and welcome, a thouHtni times welcome, to our quorum (,hm Tortlmowy Now I want to say to m brethren, there la Ultle else 2 find i am able to do, but 1 can bear testimony to the truth of tho gospel. 1 find now In my advanced stage of IIIbecause 1 have commenced my , 87th year (and my ?3nd year la tho Church), that I have nceu the power of God In every advance of the way. and Lucifer also in every advance, for he Is a living factor, I wlU say right here to you. my brethren, that 1 may not have tho opportunity many times 2 more to bear my testimony for feel very weak, today, and shaky In my limbs: but in my early manhood, in my youthful days. In my own have mingled with native land. the dying aud tbe dead in a railway a reck, and fled In terror fruit the burning mine, but "Mormon- - ' Ism" was true, and Joseph Smith waa the mighty Prophet of the livI ing God. In this fair land, I have been gold on the mountain, hungry m the canyon, and thirsty on the den. ert where water thyre was none, but "Mormoniem was true, and Joseph Smith was that mighty Prophet of the living God. In this fair city, I have gazed on the faces and the dead; yes when tbe soul was filled with sorrow and disappointment, with fond hopes Shattered, yet "Mormonlsm was true, and Joseph kniith was sent os God. In my mlsMlonary travels, i have staggered and reeled on the d deik, and clung lo the quivering mat when the fierce winds whistled through rigging and saiK and tho waves rolled mountain high, nnd th eky and waves accrued to meet and klsn each other, until it looked ilk all would b lost In the watery grave, when men feared and stout heart strong quailed. yef f knew that "Mormonlmn was true and Joseph Smith was a . Vrophet of God. God Plena you, my brethren. qu. -, K atorm-todee- "Every noble impulse, every unselfish expteHHion of loe very bravo suffering for the right, every surrender of self Lo something higher than self, very loyalty to an jdcal. very unaelfiah itevotwu to principle, every heipfuloww to humanitv. very act of every fin courage of th soul, un- - ' dictated by preton or policy, but the being, doing and living of for th very go ode nuke,, thatgood Is spiritual! Jordan. "f ' t "This Wark of Ood ptSKvw,i .within Itself principles of nstlv, strength that will enable it lo weather every storm, outlive ell d bom of limormnco end prejudice, and will yet prova Itself to he what Indeed It la tha power of Ood unto salvation, to all thoao Brle-hawOe believe and a bay U. II. Roberta. h:v-tre- nt JENS EM. " . .ei-e-r- e- sm |