Show DISCOURSE by elder lorenzo snow tabernacle sunday afternoon oct liy lly 11 1857 KE BY J V LONG I 1 presume brethren and sisters that we all measurably feel thankful and grateful that we bave have had the privilege of receiving the fullness of the gospel that we have been counted worthy to be gathered out from among 11 the nations to meet in these valleys of the mountains for the purpose of receiving instruction learning the mind and will of 0 our heavenly father and of preparing ourselves for those things that are coming upon the earth but at the same time I 1 presume to say that we do not all of 0 us fully comprehend the blessings and privileges that are prepared in the gospel for us to receive we do not fully comprehend and we do not have before our view the things winch await us in the eternal worlds nor indeed the things which await us in this life and that are calculated to promote our peace and hap bap happiness janess maness and answer the desires of our hearts the lord has established certain constitutional desires and feelings in our bosoms and it is BO so with all mankind with the whole human f amily there are implanted and interwoven in their constitutions certain desires and capacities for enjoyment joy ment desires for certain things that are in their nature calculated to promote our peace and well being that answer their feelings feeling sand and promote their happiness but how bow to obtain the gratification of those capacities and desires the world do riot not know nor understand but the lord has seen at fit to put us in the channel and in the way of understanding der standing those things by being faithful and walking in the light of the holy spirit and receiving truth and eventually coming in possession ot of everything that our hearts desire in righteousness to promote our peace and happiness and the highest things that pertain to glory and aita exaltation alta tion tiou in the eternal worlds we frequently in the multitude multi tuda of cares around us get forgetful and these thy thi things are not before us then we do not comprehend that tho the gospel is designed and calculated in its nature to bestow upon us those things that will bring glory honor lionor and exaltation that will bring happiness happ ness peace and glory we are apt to forget these things in the midst of the cares and vexations vexatious of life and anil we do not fully folly f understand that it is our privilege and that the lord has placed it in our reach teach to pursue that gospel whereby we may have hail peace within us continually all ali this trouble and vexation of mind is but a matter of the present and if we 1 keep the light kt of the spirit within us we call cau so malk maik walk valk in the gospel that we can measurably enjoy peace and happiness in this world and while we are traveling onward striving for peace and happiness that lies in our path in the distance we shall have a peace of mind that none can enjoy but those who wilo are filled with the holy spirit now let a worldly man once conceive that it is in his power af after ter tex a succession of years of trial and difficulty to come in possession of or worldly worldly v riches and wealth and of all things that his heart can desire what is be not willing to do why he be is willing to labor and toil and altho aitho although ugh noh dressed in poverty and in rags and with but little of the comforts of this life yet so ion lon long iong as 9 ho he has a sure testimony that eventually heti heli he is s coming in pos possession session of all the desires of his heart lie urges umes forward undaunted and full of courage he 1 e has bas within him a secret desire and hope that thai the people around hiddo not comprehend when the people think there is nothing like peace and happiness about lam him he is full f till of peace and ho he has a secret and strong assurance that he lie is earning in possession of that which he has wished for ona and that his heart is seeking for in the gospel we wo have received by the light thereof and by the power thereof we see that by and bye we are coming in possession of those things tairi s that we have so long desired and labored for those who are ara not in possession of this spirit do not understand that the lord god of our fathers has revealed himself unto us and although many of them have hada had a like opportunity yet they have not made use of it to acquire that knowledge I 1 through a continual course of 0 progression our heavenly father has received exaltation and glory alid and lie he points us out fhe file same sama path and inasmuch muchal as he is clothed with power authority and glory f bo bd says walk ye up and come in possession bion sion of the same r glory and happiness that I 1 possess 2 in the gospel those things have been unmade nade manifest u unto nto us and we e are perfectly assured that inasmuch as we are faithful we will eventually gome come come in possession of everything that the mind of inan can conceive of everything that heart can desire well then in the tile midst of poverty and deprivations or in the midst of comforts and conveniences still these hopes are the secret springs of codr our joys we see that our heavenly father does provide us with everything we need we see that we are in the sure path to come in in possession of those richer blessings that are promised and nothing in this world can or ever will place an impediment in our way to prevent ug its from receiving those blessings r I 1 not hot pt our liberty our comfort in the tiie everlasting gospel 0 s ea the assurance that we shall receive all t av rd that is made sure to 0 o the faithful children of god then where is f the man that is not wilif t tret ret zet fire to his substance alb aib stance that is not willim willio n ato yield eve everyl 11 lung n g for the salvation of 01 ai affie iop lop T 0 chhat if that thal bo be the principle nhi 11 sal salv vahon rahon hion fion t K to be obtained lara liti lafa man have the visions of hs ahe almighty un folded to his bis view andi and see in yonder heavens the government of 0 the eternal words let him see the liberty and joy that are to be participated in and let him see that the gosp gospel el gives all this to man and he is willing in his heart and in his feelings to yield everything to the will of 0 god that he be may come in possession of those things will such a man pursue a course that will eventually throw him out of the kingdom will he give alve up those blessings and those prospects for a little comfort or for a little of this worlds goods or to enjoy the comforts of this life for a season where is there cause to mourna mourn where is there cause for he the saints to wear long faces where is there cause for weeping or repining there is none but it is hife life or death that is set before us principalities and powers are ours if we continue faithful sorrow and banishment if it we disregard the gospel what can we wish for more than is comprehended in our religion if we will stand hirm firm upon the rock rack and will follow the spirit that has been placed in our bosoms vv we e shall act right in the way of our duties we shall act right to those who are placed over us we shall act right whether in the tile light or in the darl dark where is the man that will turn aside and throw away those prospects that are embraced in the gospel which we have received in it there is satisfaction there I 1 is a joy there is stability there is is something upon which to rest our feet there is a sure foundation to build upon and upon to yield that which is required of us when the ell eil enemy emy is near and when tho the stormy clouds arise and tile the war clouds approach even then we can feel free and quiet and be satisfied that all is right in israel it is only onla for us to be ready to do our duty to serve our president with all of our heart with all our with all our feel feelings ns with all our property and energies and with all things that the lord has put into our hands let the power that god has put into lour our hands bands be used for herein lies a continued advancement in dominion in power and in knowledge we should be ready at all times to exercise all the power means and influence we possess in the service service of our god and resignedly follow oil oli out the directions of our president and those that are over us let us be like little cb children ildren lidren ready and willing to do as we are commanded by the powers that I 1 we should obey let us bo be obedient to the voice 1 ol 01 truth and ever be found in the path of duty and there let us continue let a man do this and ind he continues to advance he lie will grow in the knowledg knowledge e of god and in influence and in everything oat that is good we may well be said to be a people of one mind for we are tile the saints of the tile living god the saints who are brought from the nations of the earth those who have been gathered together in one are the ones who hold bold the birthright to reign on anthe the earth it is a good thing brethren to 0 o be a saint we are as children we have to pass through the state of infancy of 0 childhood and of youth before we can arrive at manhood ard we have to learn by degrees there cre ere some soma who do not learn and who do not improve as fast as they might because their eyes and their hearts are hot upon god they do not reflect neither do they have hava that knowledge which hes hey they might inight have they miss a good deal which they might receive we have got to obtain knowledge before wo we obtain peri perl permanent anent happiness we have haie got to bo lra wide vide awake it in the things of god though we may now neglect to improve our time to brighten up our intellectual faculties we shall he ob obliged lifred to improve them sometime we have got so much ground to walk over and arid if we fail to travel today toddy to day wo we shall havo have so much more to travel tomorrow to morrow we should try to learn earn and understand how we may best perform our daily duties and learn what khat enjoyment it is our privilege to receive wives and children fail in a great many instances a to enjoy that which they might inight enjoy because of tradition because of not employing their minds in reflection take an individual family in zion for instance histo rice androu and you will eee see that there is not that amount of enjoyment that there might might be provided they would act up to their privilege vile ger for then they would receive the tile blessings in store for them the husband has to learn to give giva proper counsel and direction he has to learn how to manage ills his wives and his children and it takes him some time to learn how to muriah manage ge wisely and to bestow comfort upon each member of his family ohr our ch chidden idren if we are diligent in cultivating in ourselves the pure principles prin cepl 0 of life and salvation will grow up in in the tile knowledge cn of these thin things a and be able with greater facility than ourselves ourse ourselves ives to promote the order of heaven and establish cablish happiness and peace around them but ou our traditions are so interwoven with our nature that it requires mora more time and effort on beir our part for us to learn it does not trouble some women to follow out the counsel of their husbands they will serve them in faithfulness they will honor and respect the power of the priesthood that is iseppon upon their husbands in this respect they do well and enjoy themselves in doing so as every woman will but in the relationship that exists between them and other wives of that man you aro are very apt to see a little discord and some men will ai at fall into the channel of obedience while it takes other men quite a length of time to learn that principle and carry carr y it out while a man is full of the spirit and power of the almighty ha be perceives the line of duty in a moment there are men who will follo follow VV the counselor couns coun elm eim president young in every particular botset such a man to preside over men who have not mot that f fullness of light that he lie has and ha lie will find difficulty in those men they have to think about it and it it t requires more energy and more strength of I 1 purpose in a man to follow out the counsel of one 1 I who is just above him does to follow a man that is a long way way ahead of him so it is in regard to the women they can follow the counsel of their husband and do as he lie wishes much better than they can regard rellard one another but we should do our it not so plea piea pleasing sill to ourselves we are all imperfect and full of weaknesses we have not become perfect in the things of god and hence we have to suffer for one another now in my dealings with the brethren I 1 have more difficulty hi in getting along with the mail man who is ignorant than with him wib wil who lo 10 call can seq sec se his duty duly I 1 perceive that the ignorant man is weak that he is blind and in as much lucli as I 1 have to suffer from his wrong because he has not learned to control his passions it becomes a greater virtue in me to be patient with him for there is more required of me well so it may be with some women you very seldom find that husbands and wives are per perfect fec but perhaps it is very well that the husband is is not perfect because if he was he would be placed at a great distance from his wives it requires a great exertion on the part of wives to keep pace with their husbands you all pei pet belve more imperfections in those around you than you do in yourselves it is much more difficult for wives to learn than it is for husbands because women have not the degree of light and knowledge that their husbands have they have not the power over their passions that their husbands lius ilus bands have llave therefore they have to sulter suffer one for another until they get power over themselves like unto those that have advanced more fully in the knowledge of our god there is a struggle all tile the time and it requires I 1 exertion on our patt to know how to manage how bow to move and how to come in possession of the greatest amount of happiness let wives pursue an even course with regard to their husband let them bear with his faults let them be emited and live in pace p ace and they will increase in 1 light and intelligence let the one who has got the most light learn to be the roost trost forbearing for the sake ot her husband I 1 and forthe for the sake of the principles of truth if the lord has made one woman more perfect than another and given her more intelligence than her sisters let her show more and by this means a wife will gain influence and favor with her husband with her sisters and with her heavenly father she site thus advances herself and puts herself in apposition to enjoy all that is for the righteous the whole is summed up in this DO RIGHT the mail roan that has the most influence will enjoy the most and the most is required of him it is so with you women if any of you have mote moie knowledge and influence than the others more is required of 0 yon you have the more to endure let families miliea fa put themselves in it possession of 0 all th the good they can be in a position to do right and be c continually in the path to exaltation and glory we should all ah think of these things and practise them if you want to know how to be great good and happy and how to advance faster in the principles of exaltation and perfection why wily then set yourselves to work to find out how bow you can do the most good you women do this and learn how you can best serve your husbands you men learn how bow you can call best serve president brigham Brig harn hain young NV well weil ell eil it may be e more glory for you sisters to serve your husbands tinn than th an to serve each other but you have got to learn to do both and end you will get pet et all the 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