Show tabernacle sunday morning july 1853 president young addressed the meeting as follows I 1 feel disposed to occupy a portion of time this morning I 1 have no doubt but the people who are saints are much edified by the preaching and exhortations given from this stand were I 1 to for myself I 1 can truly say I 1 am glad I 1 rejoice and fl feel ee exceedingly happy when preaching myself and when list listening ning to preaching exhortations and prayer and when associating with the saints in other occupations and P pursuits pursuits of life also in a family capacity in our family prayer meeting and in all the avocations ca 0 of life that concerns myself as an indi I 1 vidual I 1 am happy the gospel of jesus christ as it is given in i a the old and new testaments book of mormon and book of doctrine and covenants and in the experience of ever every y true christian Christi all who has hall jived and s till still alivs upon the earth teaches that it is the privilege of every saint so to live and walk before their god as to enjoy the light of the spirit of truth from day to day from week to week and from year to year through their whole lives without this privilege in the gospel connected with the gifts of the holy ghost I 1 I 1 should be inclined to believe that the religion reli gron that is taught in thep bible and in the book of mormon would amount to nothing more than a mere an imaginary thing it would be inadequate t to satisfy in any degree gree the mind of ninn as it is now organized I 1 can appeal to the experience of thousands as well as to my iny own that the doctrine of the savior is true that the history given in the new testament is A a true history as far as it goes of the feelings and the experience common to every variety of 0 f human buman life and chimes with the experience of every true believer in jesus christ in all ages of the though the expression true biever needs qualifying tor for many believe who do not obey I 1 will qualify it by saying a believer in jesus christ who manifests liis his faith to t god angels and his brethren by his bis obedience not but that there are believers who do not obey but the only true beli vers are they who prove their belief by their obedience to the requirements of the gospel it is a special privilege and blessing of the holy gospel to every true believer to know the truth for himself for orators to speak to us I 1 prophets to expound the law and teach us doctrine for br the special purpose of giving us comfort is not particularly required but in the rel re flemions flent ions and meditations of the mind in contemplating the things of god and the rich treasures I 1 of infinite wisdom which af aie e opened to the children of men who obey the gospel they enjoy a I 1 continual feast to the soul this is the privilege of latter day saints it is the privilege of the wh ile world as quick as the knowledge of god can be disseminated among the people it i true the world ardans in darkness they are bound with the fetters of unbelief error and ignorance more than we are yet we can say truly that we only begin to see the dawning d owning 0 of f truth through the deep mantle of ignorance arn in in which we are mantled to those who live faithfully in in their duty as saints of god and continue to serve hun him time will developed dev elope that the latter day saints the best beat of them 1 the most intelligent among ii iong them are still in in ignorance still w wanting stilt still looking tor for something more inore ft et il ii increasing nc reusing still growing I 1 say time will deve ope to your our satisfaction that at this stage of our existence we were in in ignorance but not to the si sa me degree as those who have not had the lie privileges we e enjoy it is is frequently observed especially by the latter day saints what a curiosity it is is how singular that the gospel of jesus christ should have hav e thee the effect ff act u upon p 0 n th the e minds of the people that it does have it is is remarkable it is is strange when people reflect upon it they are astonished ih ibbe gospel of salvation should so disturb dihe feelings the quiet the peace of the community does docs it have this effect world your own observation enables you to answer in in the affirmative it is is a true saying of the saviors alors that lie he came not into the world to mae peace to unite the whole people but to make I 1 di division viston he came for the express purpose of dividing tl the e ri righteous from the wicked this w formed as mue much a part of his holy ministry as 99 1 any other part of the will 9 f H his is father ai df I 1 we see this principle vc verified rifina from days of I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 old it has been demonstrated in ia the very commencement men cement of the peopling of tho earth how oon coon an opposition was wa introduced in the morning of creation when righteousness was proclaimed when truth brath was revealed when the light and knowledge of luf eternity shone with too las irons beauty upon A darn dam and his children cain oust must rise up and slay his brother while they were walking with the lord while he visited them from day to day administered to them conversed conver aed with thein the preached to them and give gave them instruction as I 1 and my bret brethren bren instruct you you from this stand he taught them how to live live how to order their course and acted in all points like a tender and affectionate parents yet at the same time there must be sn an ID opposition P ai 0 n itis it is v very e ry true had not sin entered into the world opposition been introduced death would not have entered from that time to this death opposition selfishness malice anger pride darkness and wickedness of f very every description that could be invented by the children of men as s they hive have multiplied and spread abroad on the earth has increased yes verily it has increased and the days that we as christians call the days of darkness and ignorance were days of light knowledge and intelligence to exceed that we enjoy in this age we discover that the gospel of life and salvation is perfectly calculated to disturb the wicked shall we say they are at peace ate aie they in happiness are they enjoying that that their hearts desire we can truly say they are seeking for it as well as they know how but the result is the increase of wickedness upon the earth and the increased unhappiness of the human family mankind indeed cannot be happy unless they are first miserable they cannot be easy the they V cannot be at rest and feel comfortable for table unless they are first in pain they cannot be joyful unless they are first in sorrow refer for instance to your own dispositions to the fallen nature that is in you when pas sion aion rises within you can you satisfy satiety your feelings unless you give way to them to the injury of yourselves and others you cannot sit down I 1 and ud feel at rest unless you can satiate the burn bum ing vengeance of passion by reeking your vengeance upon some person or upon some helpless animal I 1 the gospel of salvation is perfectly calculated to cause division it strikes at the root of the v I 1 very existence of mankind in their wickedness evil designs passions and wicked calculations there is no evil among the human family but at the foundation of w which ich it strikes effectually and comes in contact with every evil passion that rises in the heart of man it is opposed to every evil practice of men and consequently it disturbs them in the wicked courses they are pursuing when tho the gospel which was preached by jesus and his apostles was preached to the children of israel by moses it created the sime effect among them when he taught them to forsake their sins to forsake every evil principle and practice of their lives and stirn to the lord with all their hearts it created such a division that moses cold not establish the gospel among them after all the kindness the lord had shown towards them though he brought them out of egypt with a high hand dividing the sea causing the water to gush out of the dry rock to quench their thirst manna to fall from heaven to satisfy satiety their hunger and quails to satisfy their desire for flesh he also ordained that their clothing should not wax old nor their shoes to wear out for the space of forty years they did not have to plough to reap or gather into barns as we do notwithstanding this manifestation fd fe of the goodness of their gk god he could not establish the gospel among them and was obliged to give them a law of carnal commandments why did not the lord destroy them seeing scein they were so BO very wicked tie he did and out of all who left egypt only two went into the land of canaan viz joshua and caleb whenever the gospel has been preached in towns cities country places or in any community who are in darkness it never fails to bring light it manifests manifesto their ignorance it distracts them and annoys their peace they say 1 I supposed I 1 was wise happy comfortable and dwell well enough off but here comes something that informs ie me I 1 am mistaken that this and the other thing is wrong it reflects light upon my and teaches me that my acts while I 1 live upon the earth should tend end to the glory of god aud and the peace of mankind this naturally seems contrary to my feelings disposition passions passion sIP and traditions and to every thing about me except the reflections of truth upon my mind which enlightens my understanding and teaches me to glorify god and do good to my fellow creatures the gospel is not only calculated to divide the people but it will divide sin from this who embrace it with a true heart in the world we find goodness hn honesty esty humility and prudence which are prompted by the motives of a good heart but virtue is trampled into the dust honesty and pru prudence denee are pointed at with a linger finger of scorn and derision we see almost every principle i of righteousness discarded if the whole world is not in this condition c already it needs but bat a few steps more to lead them into the depths of it ani and complete them in their rebellion against all good and its author it is the darkness upon the earth and the gross darkness that broods over the minds of the people that leads them into error wickedness peso stud and distraction yet in the midst of this ignorance and awful corruption of the human mind there is to be found humility goodness and virtue but what vise use is made of it it is destroyed it is used according to the wishes of the wicked and according to the designs of the evil designer this is almost universally the case cage the gospel is calculated to divide this wickedness from those who embrace it and then it will divide those who embrace it from those who re rc eject it christ and cannot be made friends neither can the church of christ and the worshippers wor shippers of unite together they cannot amalgamate consequently those who receive the gospel with all their i aarts after I 1 believing the testimony of gods servants will divide them themselves relves from those who do not receive it in this gospel life and salvation is off offered red to 0 o every honest soul in the world they find tribulation but in jesus christ peace in obeying the gospel is comfort but in the glory of the world sadness and sorrow if the enquiry should arise in our minds why it is that we are in the position we this morning occupy it is very easily answered and under stood by every person who v ho understands the nature of the gospel of it is because it ja is impossible to unite christ and to millite bite righteousness with unrighteousness for they sever can go hand in hand righteousness almot become unrighteousness and wickedness siever never can caa inherit a righteous kingdom the angleat saints and the saints of latter I 1 days were driven from pillar to post their name a hiss bias and a bye Uye word and their character tra deuced to the io hiowt west degree I 1 will appeal to men inen in this congregation who have lived for years in the society of odthe the world who are j judges adges magistrates she sheriffs riffi mere merchants hants me mechanics chanies and sarrueta rf Sar anneM rueta if mij anything Ahing was ever alleged against their character chara oter anti iian they joined the latter day saints but bat where are your ella characters meters now in the world your former friends now hav fouad oat that you yon always were a miserable creatie wea crea tare twe they now declare they never had any confidence in you for you a always ways was wa an enthusiastic being and knew not what you were doing they always believed you yon would prove yourself dishonest aa this has been the character liven given to aue faints bythe by the world in ah ages suppose we now notice that part of the world called christians that prncess to bei beliey liepe the old and new testament king jamess translation they say may they believe this bible yet if you are am in france Ger germany germatto matty angland Cn gland jt afi the united fil states tates in ia the Can canada advis in the islands of the ima sea or no matter where among the christias 1 balioas Bat ioas the moment you make it known that you ju have clr book bok ol of Me merilon ripon seiw I 1 L V I 1 I 1 that you believe joseph smith is a prophet they will at once accuse you of throwing away the bible they will publish abroad that you have become a latter day saint aa a normon mormon ja and conse consequently have denied uie the bible you formerly believed and have east cast it entirely away what is the reason of una this f which I 1 need not undertake to substantiate for it is a fact that almost every person knows now WE A ABB RZ believers in the bible and in consequence of our unshaken faith in its precepts doctrine and prophecy may be attributed the A strung strang ness of our course and the unwarrantable conduct of many towards this people come my brother presbyterian come my brother professors of every persuasion of long ong standing and popular distinction in the world who are dubbed with the word ORTHODOX come we are all good christians I 1 find no fault with you why should you find fault with me but you reply tl I 1 cannot be a latter day saint consequently we must be separated and we cannot be brethren any longer come my rood good brother methodist and my good brother baptist you are free and open in your views and feelings for you hold forth a iree free salvation this is a favorite doctrine of the methodist they say it is a salvation handed out to all the human family without money and without price and invite them to come came and ana partake of the waters of life freely I 1 declare tile the same game I 1 am a believer in jesus christ in god the father and in the doctrines of salvation as they are taught in the old and new testaments though not so pointedly pointed lV in the old as in the new yet the samo same principles of life and sat sal are set pet orth forth f in both bf these books and I 1 believe them come my bro B do you believe them you reply 4 yes and havo hav for these 30 years 27 of which I 1 have been a preacher of the gospel I 1 believe in the sin san of god and in the old and new testament well then what in the world do you want to quarrel with me for abee because avitie you are not a beli believer everyou you have thrown away the bible you are mistaken mr B for instead of that I 1 have learned wisdom got light knowledge and understanding so that I 1 know how to believe the bible I 1 ask you bro B how I 1 insist believe the bible and how shall you and every other follower of the lord jesus christ believe it A bro mormon how do you alieve it I 1 believe it just as it is I 1 do not believe in gany man s interpretation upon it whatever unless it should bi be directed by the lord himself in some way I 1 do not believe wei need interpreters and ex of the scriptures to wrest them from their literal plain |