Show DISCOURSE by F elder eider lder laer parley P pratt bowers bowery S sunday september Septem tim liM oth teh 1 1868 0 REPORTED fv 3 V log lag beloved brethren and sisters stera si being about to depart from this territory and from the home mission to which I 1 was appointed amon among you and to journey to the states on a mission I 1 rise to express my feelings and my faith and to leave my testimony wll wil with you there are some f I 1 presume in this congregation who personally have flave been stranger strangers 5 to me and who have not heard my testimony I 1 have beer been acquainted in this church and connected with ir it from the first year of or its conran fixation in the wild wilderness erness of western 21 new ew york it was organized on the ath day of april 1830 and I 1 was ba baptized sized into it about the first of the se september foi following owing when V hen I 1 first be became came a member of thi this church one small room could have contained all the members there then were in the world and that too without being crowded for at times I 1 presume there were not fifty the atie gir fir ferst first at thing that attracted my attention s this woi wol work k was the book of mormon I 1 ha happened ened to see a copy of it some man n nearly c a y a stranger to it and not particularly a believer in it gapp tapp happened ened to get hold of a copy lie he made mention of it to me and gave me the privilege of coming comilia to his house and reading 1 it it this ws vis v 19 at a place about a days dayla journey from the resi rosi residence dence of joseph smith the arm pro phet and his father and while I 1 was return returning ng to the work of my try ministry for I 1 was wab then traveling and preaching being with a society of people sometimes called camp bel lites or reformed baptists I 1 h had ad diligently searched the scriptures and prayed to to god good to open in my m mind i n ol 01 that I 1 mi might ap ht understand them and he ta T nad pad a dp poured aured his S spirit irit edid and understanding into my heart so that I 1 did understand the scriptures in a good degree the letter of the gospel its forms and first principles iles eles in their truth as they are written in the bible bibie ible these things were 0 opened ened to my mind but the power the gifts al and the aut adt authority hority of the be gospel I 1 knew were lack laek lacking tur lur ala and did really expect that bey would be restored because e I 1 knew that the tb things ings that were predicted predicted could u id never be fulfilled until that power and that authority auttin rity were restored I 1 also bad an under at and it of he the literal of ib ih prophecies in the bible dible so that I 1 really did be beve heie leve in and hopp bope for the literal restoration of araci araca the cutting outline oil of wickedness the second coming coining of the lord jesus christ and the triumph of his kingdom on the earth all this I 1 was iris le ofir ok kire kirz ir for fir end and the spirit spat seemed to whis pr fr to in llam that tha I 1 should se bee it id lii mc lat d day dav av under brider the these I 1 wast was traveling g to impart the haht which I 1 had bid hid to others and while doing this thia I found as I 1 before stated the book of mormon I 1 read it carefully and ame oni eni a greathart greath are arc nf f it wit without har hai the prig hed bed heen been i es estered rith e eer err er ilan lian having haling ing heard of anything calk mor mo nisin or having any idea of such and people there were the witnesses and their testimony mory to 0 o the bookwo book to its ita translation and to the ministration of an anneta angola Is and there was the testimony i of the transit transistor tor but I 1 haul had ait rit seen them I 1 had lad not heard of them and hem bem hi h i I 1 bad no idea of their organization or of their heir priesthood prinst all I 1 knew about the mitter m itter was waa what aa as a stranger I 1 could gather from the book but itt as I 1 read I 1 was convinced that it was true and the spirit of the lord came upon me N while hile hiie I 1 read and enlightened my mind convinced my and r the truth upon my understanding so that I 1 knew that the book was true just aa as well as a man knows the bayli daylight bt from rom the dark night or any other othir thing stat that can be implanted in his un understanding derSt dIlding I 1 did not know it by any audible voice from heaven by ay any ministration of an aneel angel by any open oxen oten vi vision but I 1 knew it by the a spirit artt of nn understanding r at linew in my heart by the ligat light that was in me I 1 knew it was true because it was wag night tight I 1 and had come como in fulfilment fulfillment of the scriptures I 1 and I 1 bore testimony of its truth to the nelah neigh tors hors that came in during the first day that i I 1 sat reading it atthe at the house of an old baptist deacon nameh named hamblin this ibis same spirit led me to enquire P after and anti search out the translator joseph smith and I 1 traveled on foot during the whole oi ajl a very hot day in august blistered blistering 1 my feet in order to go ao 30 where ere I 1 heard he lived ived and at night I 1 arrived in the neighborhood of the little village of manchester then in ontario county new york orf on the way I 1 overtook a man driving some cows and enquired for joseph smith the finder and translator of the book of mormon 1 he told me that he lie lived away off something more than a hundred miles from there in the state of pennsylvania I 1 then enquired for the father of the prophet and he pointed to the house louse but said that the old gentleman had gone a journey aljourney to some distant place after a while in conversation the tile man told me that his ilia name was hyrum smith and that he was a brother to the prophet joseph this was the first latter day saint that I 1 had bad ever seen seem ile he invited mo me home where I 1 saw mother smith and hyrum smiths wife and sister rockwell the mother of orin porter rockwell we anve sat up talking nearly all night for I 1 had bad not much spare time Pai ha i ing n two appointments point ments out and along a long iong da days bai s j journey 0 u r ney for a man to walk I 1 had to fo return the next morning and we conversed during most of the night without being either slee pyor weary during that conversation I 1 learned something of the of the church its organization the restoration of the priesthood and many important truths I 1 felt to go back and fil fili fill I 1 the two wro appointments given out and that closed my ministry asi as I 1 felt that I 1 had no authority and that I 1 would go back and obey the priesthood which was again on the earth I 1 attended to my appointments and was back aaen again the next morning to br hyrams I 1 he male made me a present of the book of mormon and I 1 felt richer in the possession of that book or the knowledge contained in it than I 1 would could I 1 have had a warrantee deed of all the farms and buildings in that country and it was one of the finest regions in the woi id I 1 walked a awhile while and then sat bat down and read awhile for it was not my mind to read the book through at once I 1 would read and then read the same portion over again and then walk on T I 1 was filled with dia and joy aland and g gladness badness my spirit was made rich and I 1 I 1 was waa made to realize almost as vividly as if I 1 had seen it myself that the lord jesus christ did appear in his 0 own wn proper person in his resurrected body and minister to the people in america in ancient chent times ile he had surely risen from the dead and ascended into heaven and did come down on the american continent in the laid bountiful on the northern part of south alar alir AL aia i r ica and did minister to the remnants of called the nepha s and aad dd show bib bia resurrected body unto them they did handle him see him and examine the wounds that were pierced in his hia hands his side and his feet and they bathed them with their tears teara and kissed tb tim tham them m and thousands of them did bear record of ile he did d eliver deliver to them hs hes gospel in us its fIne fineas gs and plainness la inness in the pie plesence sence of thousand thousands 3 and did id command them to write it in a book and he promised that that book chuld come to light in latter days in time for the great res st oration of all israel and the fulfillment fulfilment of the r prophecies lo 10 p decies relating to the great work of the tast last a t days I 1 was made to realize this and to bring it home to my f faith aith my senses and my knowledge with a warmth love and assurance that I 1 could scarcely contain for I 1 had either studied and seen him it in my reflections or I 1 had heard his hia voice whispering to me do you yon not think that I 1 rejoice I 1 aa As hefe bufe hp re stated s ed I 1 my two tio rno j rdo rno tit crowds heard me roe and aid were i fe restel foresee and solicited me to make more appointments I 1 told them that I 1 would not that I 1 had bad a d t y 10 0 o pet per perform forin r m aser I 1 IW tad iad them f 0 relve and ani di 1 return pi i i hyi hii la S i ahoi took me to t a ace p ie about I 1 sew A en y v 6 e n v ea es off ill in S f pi T t cot coi conty nty nw w york 11 II I 1 e tei tel r t 0 to the three witnesses ik wl I 1 ie c ames amea al lit ar it the beginning of the book B ck of cr mormon to 0 o the eight witnesses I 1 cow c n ged aed 0 r cow Cew cover tiery oe vf eif the thi lipe bibe e vi iness 8 aa A 1 C the fpx dav MB aie rep tire lire i fo to send sei ake where I 1 was baptized b by 0 i r cowd v tt i the arb arm d A j ja 1 ie le in w t th I 1 is a C f 11 i e ch b a 1 arr a r i who ho b bai hui ti ippe e 1 tie fie mias mins nil nii na orn oin on of w a as voil can li vm by readi r t 8 i W atter alter boil bir b bin ir baptized I 1 w a coif colf coi irl iri hr i lutie lutle uie rie ule meeting d irin ang the sani soni a n day war waa f of ha be holy ghost and WAS 0 girled t allied n i I 1 r trait transpired on the firs i 4 AV iv of b S pt p 13 ibo and from hom hat that day lay lo 10 th a I 1 ba hae e i I 1 ired red to mci mei fv my chilli d e ald aid id to h ir r tee tle e priesthood pi is b ih god h his is ei v j f P me iv r t q ing to both smil and great f the abi tb i a it A he fie has haa revealed 1 in thebe these last list 1 d I ya yg I 1 have testified hid bid fid and do a si il i testify bestif rf f tie the truth of the book of miro mi M i ro 0 i i that it i iq an inspired record the histon y it a brant h f 0 b nae use of israel lardet that in hap e t i america t it aes des contain the falness ot c ae pou i at a healed to them by a cr t 1 and li ji deemer and th it t wherever it r t ies beb a and ani i i s it is 19 permitted to shine obine the sp S i i if of the L ro v V I 1 bear testimony y of its ii ii a lo 10 0 elny elmy h sl heart in in all the tiie world wn wi ver thae that u it lis tig a cind candidly c idly perused perti perus stcl stol pd the spi i it A v i I 1 beur nf ita truth and I 1 bedr bear this it is a fatony doii doil tj t 1 a av that joseph smith was a I 1 i ii a i piol b F er and add rev Rey revelator elator wi apostal h i ng the tip k a 9 f this laai laal dil dai i bation ato di aio i he ki cf god linder under peter itter pt fer ter james j H i d 1 john A n t only 01 ly that he be was a arli pro t and ap cf of jesus christ and lived ined w ii A d one orp h 1 t hi he now lives ilves in the it w rid ald wid eld di ai ij ali w v 1 3 those same keys to us ri ill and ij i b I 1 8 whole generah ge ion lon also 1 L l t he ril lii ill 1 I 11 1 those keys leys to t all eten i u kd no J ett elt i k heaven beaten or on oil t tue cie cle earth wi N i I 1 ver tk t k t i a irom irum him tor fir bo be will co holn hull sa so keys through all eterniti etel lt will ad sta 4 les kes main gain in in the elsh upon this tina c h as be ibl I 1 of ind and the latter day saints sau san s w i r jes is I 1 st at and under tinder etier james a d i john ijohn ife lie bold hold bio tit id the keys lica ikea to judge hp lit f i ration to t v 1 im he be was sent a u awili will ind ino i i riv v bretha i 1 b t t preside over lii iii P tand fand i vi I 1 I 1 t I 1 I 1 i I 1 re c nie me f t p f ir ii with ith the apost adf st a ordalie 1 1 1 1 the woi wol w i da to ard L rd throb oll gli li L u m and ui un i uis his alltis r ration when this is done ai 4 sties atlee NN 1 11 i 1 e this generation md ond the alti lttie Q ia ay S sn t i 1 tiey they will j j idem with th tl budgin ht t w i r 1 jesus jesua carst 1 I 1 give uno unto ti i k and thy w 1 I 1 have the bame same spirit a A 1 11 taw samir I 1 as jasus J sub sus christ aitt atit oi 1 their I 1 p id T nt will he be his bis judgment for foi thay they ivill te 0 some of mv brethren fe once in 11 a wl w b as though ve we tise tive wre rebut but men h ich is 13 tr i a ai n 1 at times WP we are very boig foi fol and esp r dy myself some mes mea men mhli w 1 1 me ame up u t J jeg jen C i why do vou TOU not r me br p y ro no I 1 do n not 0 t i ta 1 lugh ugh yom yow 0 o u c cenance t nance look familiar tv IV j it do yc i oot not remember ii e i I 1 was alo i with you y sc sa bl a place it is strange sl range that j i cannot cam ot r member ber ner me at si s h times v 0 ray tb thi ik k will w ill lil br parie parle with bs h a iii irl bi f en sit bit s t in q T T on ment ent upon us when he forg L some tb th 3 dail cannot remember rem reme elliber moer what we ave hare dot don 0 v I 1 expect by the ih power of t t h c 1 i rl rd the mig ang power of I 1 ir tw ce leslil 1 c g r Y that my mamorv memo rv will be pe f ted ai a i d t c I 1 will ba be able lo 10 remember a i i the tie he olca act cica s d cs ca and doings of my own life I 1 will kylii als as r aam ber most corr atly and pir pil pit f ly e ev r ry y art of benevolence that thad th it has eve ev n done to me in the fie name of the lord and le use of my calling and I 1 will i member i s perfectly every emery neglect and by ta huse hose sri to whom whoa I 1 havo hac bac bag been sent I 1 will be able to say to a i st pers person m wel weli well done good and cind faithful fai rai sti sil st siva srba i ewt t for you yuu dit dil good so alid aid ald so to me or ni hr ethren there bere f fore ore enter into the jov jolly oi of 0 o ir lord 2 I 1 will also ateo be able to bay say to outliers ot fiur liers s I 1 depart from me for I 1 was an h angered aa a i ii v c e iid jid not f fi t ci 4 me mei mey I 1 was as naked an aidi 1 y ye clochi cio clo hp i nip mrs not iwas sich sick I 1 or in prison or in a strait id itil ye b big hig iw ime not 1 had a mission to pel pei toi rul u and ye took no interest in e i 2 so it wil wll I 1 be with wither br jospph joseph or orbr br br ham or any of the apostles or L E ders that th hid ald h id a portion of athi hc ke keya keys Vs of tb th priesthood niest hood 0 t ab b a s generation if they hold th they i will be able to remember a d I 1 a I 1 I 1 their own doieg dou don a and all th nis acla acts of tu a cen eren aeration to whom they are si s i and they thy will judge ge them in n the name of J bua sua chi let we will be judged by br joseh jose jobe i and he be w 11 1 be judged by peter james ad a d john atiel their associates br brigham brig Bris harm baro who nov asides sides over us will hold the keys under bi br josiph joseph and he and an J his brethren who hold tue toe bess beys ays with him or under his direction will j t e people tor they will hold abse keys leys coall to all ail eternity worlds without end by those keys they i will wiil M have to judge indge the thi this is generation genera L tion tiou fand ind peter james and joh john will hold the keys lays to preside over and judge and direct lr br japh to all eternity eternit eter nit and jebus jesus christ wiil will hw bald the keys over them and over us under hlll his mather father to |