Show DISCOURSE by elder Ir orenzo snow tabernacle sunday afternoon march 1 1857 REPORT REPORTED rad rED BY RY J V LONGA LONG I 1 I 1 am not much in the habit ef of taking texts especially of late years and more especially since the commencement of the formation reformation le however this afternoon I 1 think I 1 will take a text as a subject for the few remarks that I 1 may make oil on this occasion and that one was presented to me this mornin morning when in conversation with br kim iball and tha that t text is embraced in one word which s union I 1 expect that a great deal might be said on this subject and aud probably a great deal has been said but more may yet be said and that which intimately concerns us at the present time if we would rightly understand things as they tiley are a more inte interesting rest ilig subject could not be introduced at the present time and it embraces a great deal more than what we should be enabled to say in one hour or in one day unless onless that we go into the of paying more attention and more regard to the interests of others we shall not get along as a people near so well aa as perhaps many of us have been anticipating in the tile gentile gentl world where the gospel first reached us our manner of training our habits and our education all went to influence our minds to look after seil self and never to let our contemplations or meditations po go beyond that which pertained to ourselves in n making m aking any exertion that would in any way tend to benefit ourselves to exalt ourselves and assist us in amassing riches or iii in gathering g information that would conform or aid in the bringing stinging about this object we considered we were doing first rate for that was the object of life with us we then vien depended upon ourselves almost entirely and thought thou glit that we should have means around us gathered for th the e purpose of securing I 1 ourselves from the evils mat we found we were continually exposed to in regard to poverty and in regard to the tiie lack of friends we were all looking within ourselves we regarded our own dear selves in all our meditations and directed all our exertions for our own individual benefit this is what our parents taught us to a great extent and it mattered with us but very little how bow or what course was pursued if we could gain those things we desired if we could secure to ourselves those things which were necessary for our own comford and for our own individual temporal convenience this is the education of the world and this is lie way they are ta taught tight this is one reason we have so much difficulty in acting upon the principles of union then it should not seem so very strange that the same feelings that were in the minds of the people that were instilled into asby us by traditions should linger around us at the tha present time and become a blind or a barrier against receiving those blessings and privileges that we might otherwise receive and be injurious to us when we receive the gospel and endeavor to become saints of god I 1 I 1 can discover that these things have extended and spread themselves in the feelings and heart hearts of the saints pretty extensively and they act very powerfully in hindering the saints from obtaining the blessings and privileges which it is their right to receive until these feelings are removed we shall be liable to be baffled in regard to the blessings that are promised to the people of god we talk considerably in IA regard to the principle of loving our beig neighbors ebors as well as we love ourselves we talk about it and we some sometimes think about it but how much do we really enter into the spirit of these things and see that the difficulty lies within ourselves we must understand that we 4 llave have got to act upon certain principles by which we can bind ourselves together as a people to bind our feelings together that we may become one and this tilis never can call be accomplished unless certain things are done and things that require an exertion on our part how would you go to work to bind yourselves together how would a man go to work to unite himself I 1 with his neighbor men were associated together tv together gether who had bid never been acquainted how would d they go to work to secure each others friendship attachment and affection one towards another why something would have to be done i I 1 and that not by one party only but would have to be done by one as well as by the other it I 1 1 would not answer for one to do tile the business alone it it would not do for one to answer those I 1 feelings and do the work himself but in order to become as one in their sentiments and pud affection tile the action of both would ba be requisite I 1 now it is so ordered and so arranged that we are dependant in a great measure one upon another for instance t ke us as a people we are dependent upon a being that is above us to secure our peace our happiness our glory and exaltation we are individually de dependent upon the exertions of alt art individual who is above ourselves for instance we are all dependent upon jesus christ upon his coming into the world to open the way whereby we might secure peace happiness and exaltation and had lie he not made these aliese exertions we never could have llave been secured in these blessings and privileges which are guaranteed unto us in the coupel through the mediation of f jesus christ for he made the necessary exertions in order to accomplish the gathering of israel out of egyptian bondage there had to be something thin done to libe liberate rage raPe them from their thralldom tiraldo al and this till something had to be done by a higher power by an individual that had more wisdom more intelligence more understanding and more power and means within liis his hands for tile the pur pose posa of securing those blessings which they needed they never could have got out from their difficulties nor from i their bondage unless this power had been exe exerted arted by one who had more intelligence more knowledge more information in relation to the means of their deliverance it is just so in a thousand other cases there has to ba be a power exercised for the benefit of the people there has to be exertions made and they never call can receive tile the blessings and privileges that are for them unless those exertions were made by all an individual possessing more knowledge more wisdom and greater p power ower than themselves jesus oil on a certain occasion speaking to peter said to him simon peter lovest thou me 71 he answered that lie did well then replied jesus feed my sheep jesus interrogated him again saying simon peter lovest thou me mea peter answered 1 I do lord jesus said unto him feed my f lambs in this case we perceive there thera was an exertion to bo be made for the benefit of or those that had not that power and information but this alone is not sufficient had moses for instance having baving done all that he did had he be delivered israel from egyptian bondage and having done all ali aa that he could and all that mortal mail man could do for their redemption having done all in his power and been willing to lay down his life and to sacrifice everything that he had to accomplish that work would he lie have llave secured the people to himself and slid have brought about that union which was so necessary without tiny any exertion oil on their part no most assuredly it would not have been accomplished for there had to be a return an exertion on their part in order to secure that union and that love and to r secure that fellowship between them and him which it was necessary should exist and so it is in reference to jesus christ though lie has sacrificed himself and laid the plan for the redemption of f the people yet unless the people labor to obtain that union between him and them their salvation never will be accomplished thus titus we see that eliat something has to be done by either elther party parly in order to secure each others and to bind us toge together theras theros as a community now an individual possess information and intelligence and let that individual be one who holds the holy priesthood a man mail who has bas been in the church for years and years let him be one that is filled with ith knowledge and understanding and let him go to work and look took about him or in other oilier words let him consider there are others around hin bin that are less favored than himself and that they are not all so strong nor so forward in the tiie blessings and graces of tile the gospel as lie is let him reflect that those around him desire the intelligence and blessings that god has given him through his greater experience in the things of the kingdom then begin to impart that information to those around him and to communicate his strength to those that are weak and shadow forth his light to hose those who are in darkness then so far as regards himself he is doing that which is necessary for him to do to secure their good feelings and affections to himself but let him take the opposite appo site sile course couise and think of improving liis his own dear self and there is oily only only himself to be saved that all he has to accomplish p ish is to secure ilfe life and salvation for himself and rind only think of his own slits sins to reform himself and to take care of himself A man who wild takes this course is going upon a principle that will always keep him bound up and contracted in his feelings and contracted in his views and will never accomplish the thing that is desired As for instance you let an individual keep his ideas and knowledge to himself in going oil on to acquire any information in relation to any particular branch of study or business will ha lie ever accomplish the thing that is required A great many pursue this course in reference to their mechanical skill but this is not the right may way ay in pursuing any kind of study aman aman has to continue to work and after going through one course he has to go through again and keep to work in order to make himself master of them and lie never will master them near so well as is by communicating his information while engaged in gaining it let him go to work and gather up tip his sand and endeavor to give them the same know ledge edge that he has received and he be then begins to find ind himself being enlightened upon those things which bich he be never would have known unless by pursuing that course of teaching and imparting tin the information he is in possession of unto others ther any one that has been a school teacher will understand der stand me well upon this point so you perceive that he who indulges in this tills narrow contracted kind of or feeling instead of benefiting himself in keeping the linow knowledge ledge lie he possesses within himself lie lio is the loser in considering si that by keeping all lie he ims his received to himself liim self he would be exalted in spirit in knowledge and intelligence intelli ence let a mail man ren remember lember that thera there are others bilat are in darkness and that have not advanced so far in in knowledge wisdom and intelligence and let him impart that knowledge int intelligence ellig ge lice ilce and power unto his friends and brethren inasmuch as he is tardier advanced than they are and by so doing he will soon discover that liis his mind will expand and add that light and knowledge which lie he had gained would increase and multiply more rapidly I 1 have heard br kimball state that when he lie was very much downhearted lie he would find somebody worse than himself and endeavor to comfort him up and by so doing lie he would comfort himself and increase in spirit and in ilfe life it is upon this thise principle that I 1 am speaking if you want to secure the friendship and affections of your friends go to work and comfort them with that light which you have received remembering those blessings came down from god and that by doing this tills you are only ding what every man should do to those of you vou you who wiio have got the priesthood go and make friends among the individuals by whom you are surrounded or select one and try to start his feell feelings his faith his circumstances and his mh mind d all ali and d try to enlighten them and lind if they are sinners endeavor to save them from their sins and bring them from their bondage in which they tiley are placed to participate in the light and liberty which you participate in for in this way you call can do good through the information which lle lie the lord has imparted to you in this way you will dis cover that their minds will be drawn out towards you and their heir affections will be gained and centered upon you in order that this thing may be accomplished and in order that those blessings which are necessary may be secured and that tile the feelings and faith with that we want as a people may be secured to us we have llave to go to work individually and more anxiously more ambitiously than we hav davs e done before to bind ei ch en others feelings together now for instance take a shepherd who has hns charge of a large flock of sheep lie he goes into his field and his flock hastens to gather around him and follow after him how is this accomplished the shepherd has gone from day to day and from time to time with plenty of salt and they discover that he lie lias has it with lii ili him bim m every time lie makes liis his appearance and aad that lie lias has those these things that ar are e necessary to supply their thir wants they tiley learn by experience that lie has looked after their welfare and they tiley appreciate his kindness it is a good deal so among men if you will allow me to carry out tile he figure tho perhaps it may not apply quite so go well as some other but it is the one bow now upon my mind you yoa lef let kletthe the president of your settlement or the tile bishop or president brigham Briglia rn Youn young for instance continue to administer inces incessantly santry among this tilis people and let them do all that individuals will call upon them to do they will be worn down and as brother kimball was speaking unless there is something done by tile the people as a return for lor that which is done by those men there thero never will be a perfect people but will be very far oft off from perfection arid and it ja is stil more sojin regard to the cultivation of that feeling li is for us to have llave one for another in ill regard to the shepherds flock of sheep what do they tiley do in reference to making a return for the good that is don done s to ahm Is it sufficient for them to return one tenth part of their wool which would be a very great source of benefit providing they only give that if one of them could speak and say we will wil give you one tenth part ol 01 our wool for tile tho purpose of 0 manifesting unto you our gratitude would not hut that hat be a very good and proper acknowledgment but ut they do more than this they do as br dr kimball was speaking they put evere filing into the reservoir they return their entire fleece this secures a very good feeling in the tiie shepherd or in the tile bosom of the farmer towards tile the sheep that he had been administering to and they find themselves after the next year comes round rould in possession slon sion of a great abundance well I 1 was thinking of these things as br dr kimball was speaking this morning if the people had confidence in the things which are taught and audit if they would let their minds expand and throw in their substance for the establishment of zion and the extension of the kingdom of god they tiley would learn that it is the very principle upon which they would receive stores of those things which they are after but there is a fearfulness tearfulness in the tile minds of tile tha people they are afraid to trust their substance in it the hands of the lord but if we |