Show f r JE de 0 rf 71 0 odria i FF taber taher taberna at S chels cie Sunda budak aner arte apan noon maral I 1 I 1 BY BT J T lonal longa brethren bret Brel hren and bisters sisters after the congregation 0 receiving so much instruction I 1 feel that 1 shall make my remarks very brief it is ia truly good to sit and hear the word of the lord and it is truly a good thin thing to believe in it but it is still better to practice it I 1 haye have reflected today to day as I 1 frequently dog dos do with regard to the mercy of god and aud his loving kindness to the children of men the positions that the childr children enof of men occupy with regard to the difference ference dlf dif there therl is in the minds of men p on a the subject of religion and the cilar cliar character acter of god is an important 0 e e I 1 have considered the responsibility that rests upon I 1 men in regard rehard to these things there seems to be very few that really haye have nave dave faith falih in the lord god of our fathers if wy judge teem them by their works we must certain certainly lk come to this c c inclusion it is certainly a great blessing blessit to tuis nis people that they have faith in goz gol god and in the promis promises eq of our heavenly father truth is one of the attributes of the al knighty eighty and what he promises he will fulfill rul rui fill 14 w it ane children ot men believed this they could save themselves a great deal of trouble if jit those who embrace the gospel could have confidence e to abide abida in me the truth they would escape many trying scenes through which the wicked will have to pass the trouble troubie that aw ats this nation and that other nations have had to pass through in various ages that are past has been because beca ilse iise they have had no do confidence in the thel lord they have not obeyed him but have turned from him rejects the counsel given to them it will wilt be precise y so this nation when their theli afflictions begin to come cone upon them for the lord will be avenged we can now see the words of the lord and his fr prophets before our eyes ejea this is a peculiar generation a singular time in which we live there seems to be a great deal of oc the word of the lord fulfilling in ill ur day and age of the word we ne profess probes s to acknowledge the hand of we lord in what we see around us and I 1 trust we do it in our hearts we have read fead many years ago the promise contained in the bool book ot of doctrine and covenants con concerning corning the nation in which we live the lord sid bid in trie early rise of this church in speaking of this land that we should hear of 0 wars abroad but at the same time we should not know the hearts of the children of men in our own country and the commandments was to his people to prepare themselves to stand in holy places when the indignation of the almighty should be passing over the earh earth we now see these things coming to pass they are plain and clear before ie our eyes we have a part fulfilled and as truth is one of the attributes of the almighty lvery everything thing that hesayo he says he be will fulfill the ibe promise is to the whole world he that believeth beli bell eveth and is baptized shall be saved and lie he that beh beU eveth not shall be damned this promise is sure and if the lord fulfills in one instance ia he will in another he will sa people if they will obey him and it if they do not he be will not riot save them but they will wilt have to reap the reward thatis due them for their works I 1 consider that it is a blessing that I 1 have the opportunity of believing in the gospel and in the word of the lord I 1 believe in them and rejoice to know that they are true and that they will be fulfilled I 1 bear my testimony to the truth of this gospel I 1 also testify that Joseph smith was a prophet of the lord I 1 know this as well as I 1 do that I 1 exist I 1 know by inspiration and by the revelations of jesus christ and the maLfe marfe manifestations stations of the spirit of god from year to year and from time to time I 1 likewise see around me the fulfillment of prophecy and this tends to strengthen me and also every latter day saint the scriptures tell us that there is a spirit in man and that the inspiration of the almighty it understanding it is upon this principle that we become acquainted with the truth and the power of the gospel which we have received the principles of eternal ifa 1 fe are manifested unto us by the inspiration of the holy ghost for that spirit rests upon us it influences our minds and jf if we watch those teachings having within us the right feeling we shail shall comprehend thin things 9 clearly as they are arc we can seethe see the Loff lord speaking to the nations and vexing them in his hot displeasure f plea piea ure and still many eat drink and are I 1 satisfied and do not appear to be as energetic I 1 and active as ag they aught be it is our duty to be alive and wide awake to the times for the things that are transpiring are joyful because in them we see the accomplishment and fulfillment fulfilment of of the prophets of god that have jived in this generation the thins things we are arel experiencing now are attended with salvation and ani ate preparing us to magnify our callings and anh bulf fulfilling illing the object of our creation upon theearta the earth I 1 always rejoice in seeing my fellow men come to a knowledge of the truth by obedience to the gospel as taught by the servants of the lord when men have agne forth in the waters of baptism and received the laying on of hands handi for the gift ot of the holy ghost they receive the same truth the same light as we have received and thus we become of one ne heart and one mind and follow out the inspiration of the holy ghost which attend his gospel in preaching the gospel and administering the ordinances of the lords house thet ihei spi rit of inspiration of heaven accompanies those who officiate and it will remain over ever ver with them if faithful in all the duties olif t lite life when I 1 hear bear h 1 le tat tam p 1 brethren bet ahr isseak w at 0 mho who M de al I 1 of G god lo 10 writ h the present generation generi generl at ra 91 tze tee perceive ce tb that at tw efnair ar mint minds all ail altun allun nun run together the record which whir bithey hey ilear is ome yde y ma ali ail all lii ili agree in their testimony they are one in stating I 1 that the vork vork york of the lord our god will prevail over all its enemies but it is a calamity as we look at it naturally for the generation in which we live that the gospel is preached and by them rejected in conse aenice ot of which the thel spirit ia I 1 taken from them themy because they follow the devices of their own hearts and their wicked imaginations they t h follow ibe davi divi devices ces of the evil one and t they hy y i sere spread ad it broadcast asit were the cross which chic I 1 brings death and destruction which brings sorrow and mourning and this is the i cae cage with many in the present day and age of the world there is not a man today to day that I 1 has the spirit 8 pir of the lord and that is faithful I 1 I 1 in his baill calling ng but what can see the state of things both in and out of the church he I 1 can see them with his eyes and hear them with his ears and they can see the hand band of I 1 god thrown over this people today to day I 1 rejoice in the blessings that the lord gives give and I 1 feel that we ought to be faithful JE if thare are anybody who are blessed of the lard rd it is the latter day da y saints and if there are abbody anybody upon on the earth who are and I 1 should willing I 1 g to obey counsel it is the saints of the living god we have reaped i the benefit of it for years and we know that it brings forth joy peace and consolation to the souls bouls of men and we would certainly be very foolish to turn away from the only source that will bring us joy salvation and eternal life to 0 do this we should have to turn our backs upon the only friends we vve have and 1 shut up the only source from which we draw drav the blessings we have in this life the world really do not know what they i are doing they dont comprehend what lies before them they hey judge alter the hearing of ithee the ear arand and ans while calamities mii will overtake the wic wicked kedas as the lord has his spoken wee we have I 1 bom eom ething to hold and ana on to to rely U upon 0 e have seen the hand dealings of the t ar j with us uis we have learned his promises has he broken his promises to his people ile he has has been faithful and true I 1 firmly b bileve believe lieve that we khail partake of all i the he blessings of the kingdom of god by obey ling in the counsel of thole those set over ovet us for I 1 know ow that god has established a government gover n ment tto ito to control to gaide gilde and to dictate and we shall not find so perfect a government as this in any part of the earth for it is the government of heaven I 1 desire that we may have power and a disposition dispo po to live faithful today today to day aay to do right tb obey bey counsel that whatever we are told to do we may unite together and do with all our hearts if there is strength anywhere it is is here if it does not exlie ebitt here it does not exits anywhere there ts no spirit of friendship in the world it has taken the wings of the mornin morning and flown away from many of the nations and the blessings of the lord are being withdrawn in a great measure from the nations n of the earth the people have no diosi disposition tion to obey that which is right or i give th the P servants of god an opportunity of preaching the truth for the tile salvation of fallen man those who dispose those blessing and privileges will find that the consequences i and reward will vill follow I 1 feel thankful that we are here in the valleys of the mountains and I 1 rejoice that we are at peace and not obliged to fortify great salt lake the people are obliged to do in washington nor is our president ent compelled to flee to ta canada to save his life we are safe and in quietude the enemies of this kingdom do not understand the spirit and power of the caspel it is a spirit and a power that they cannot cope with and it is so with all the sectarian world we kave have the privilege of lying down and of rising up in peace we have the privilege of bowing in our ont families in race reace and getting up and speaking our sentiments and none to make us afraid these are great blessings that we as a people enjoy I 1 bear my testimony that these things are true and faithful you know these things as well as I 1 do and every man who lives his religion knows it the lord is with this people and this kingdom kin doin doln will spread abroad and when the lord has destroyed the tb e wicked ag there will be room for zion to spread herself abroad and to rebuild the waste places thereof then all things spoken of in the book of doctrine and covenants will be fulfill lui fui fulfilled eeli fill df it is good to reflect upon these principles pr 1 ipie aiple for or the promises will be fulfilled whether we ave believe them or not I 1 pray god to guide us that we may maybe be prepared to partake of eternal life and ana salvation and share in all the benefits of the go gospel of christ and of the holy priesthood which i c has been bean revealed to us in our day dav and abd in the name of jesus esus christ amen |