Show REMARKS ET elder JOHN taxa TAIA taxi K tah tab tabernacle eclet sunday sundy at afternoon apil april 13 1162 r REPORTED BY sy I 1 T V LONG it is pleas ant to eray an opportunity of as we do dol from time to time 4 f ta the words of eternal truth as they flow flos ef from icim the lipa lips of the ser vans of god and especially as they have bare been communicated moo unto us during the conference that is past we ve have all ail of us be been envery very nuch much interested inte ested and and the only abir for us to do to tr seek to improve by those teachings that ate e have received that they may not be lost upon us but against the time that another conference comes round let us be beable abl to feel that we have very much progressed in the things of god the work of god is one of continued pro progress gress grese it hab baa been from the time of its omu comil emu ence nent ent until tl tte te tle e present although we improve we have not always been enabled to disc discover di ver the hand land of god in regard to bis big wilh wilb the human family yet at the present time there is nothing more clear visible end and easy to counrel comprehend comp reLend end some yeats eais ago we used to preach about the ushering in of the k egdom of god upon the earth we used to talk about god having reveals himself from the be heavens averis and that be he had bad re a pure religion as it bad had existed in r tinclent da day a with apostles prophets teachers evangelists gifts bea hea healings lings arid and administering ange 9 nd rid the power of or the holy ghost through me tiie priest boi bol d we felt happy and re joicey in the things communicated unto us and which we gladly made known to others we rejoiced to be participators participatory in hose things that god hab has rev revealed aled for the salvation of fa ien ten lenman man we at the same pame time had our minds in inspired by the he spirit of god and the eldr eldir a that made known unto tta lia things that would transpire in the vater aa days told toa loa us u ot 01 judgments to come upon the tle wicked and of salvation novation to be extended exten ded Jed to the ri that god had undertaken to manage the thi affairs of his people and of the and that he would bless kiis itis followers Inasi inasmuch nuch as they would walk in obedience obedie nce nee to bis big laws fans and hig bis precept a nt zit only with the blessings of thia this world but with salvation in the celestial ce estial kingdom kingdo T of god we can now see that at that line lint re we beheld only in part the glory of the latter day beginning to dawn and as the abe vision oe of our mind began to be enlarged and expanded we were enabled to look forward into the future and 14 we e now r joice in the bright prospect that is being developed from time lime to time in the br ginning of thi this work our minds were and een exen now are contracted more inore or less but yet we have a more general view of the events that have been spoken of concerning the last days these events that were foretk id by the prophets ard ad beers seers of past ages agea are row transpiring up dpn n the earth a and rid iid abbe sobe as he last ten fifteen or twenty years bae late passed those events have rolled along ut with h accelerated speed and we have seen tien the visible band of god the persecutions that we have from to time have bare shown us the ibe feeling and arid pint spirit of the religious religions word but out ol 01 all tute lute tribulations the almighty has haa delivered us ils and arid notwithstanding tt e orpo opposition on that we have had to 0 o combat be he has now bro brought tight us to a position that we can command some respect in this and other nations of the earth for the people not only look apollus upon us as a religions rel rei gions community but as a great people politic politically allys ailys occupying a des rable position upon this thia ct continent nent it is true when we bave the spirit upon us we look forward to the time when we shall have the literal doin doln ot of god established and when we khail khali exercise exer cice rule and arid dominion dom nion and beh heh ve we bhai obal sha increase and so continue until the kingdo kingdoms ins of chis world shall become the kingdoms ot k bour our god and ot of his bis christ these feelings occupied our breast in our infancy in the churik but some bome ideas of the reality of the vast unborn future were acre more or less confused it was very difficult for tor us to have bave just conceptions of gods god dealing dealings with va s and mith uh the nations of the earth it wag was thought by many tt at when nhen joseph smith offered him hun felt telf t fekas ewas elt elf as a candidate for tor president of tbt the U cited states that it wals wais wag wab dangerous ami awl an ani 1 foolish policy and in fact it was quite eini oiHi cult for many to bring their feeling up to that point we have been struggling against the pow pon powers era eia ot of darkness so tar far as reli religion ion is concer concert neil reil from tile the 3 ear 1830 as a we tave dave nave increased in lumbers numbers we c hae have natu raly assumed a social and end loli cil clinical cli status and have been obliged to organize a government and make la lam law a n accordance cor dance darice with w ith of that nation with w ith which we s ii we are arc now struggling and expect to have to struggle for our religious cecial and political rights many intelligent men have long understood tha that i t there was bothin in the religious systems of mer met we hae have bae comprehended them weighed them in the balances ard abd and found them wanting wanti want irp irr rg the general feeling has brei for a loik lolk looe tune time that there was wes no argument that auld be brought in a religious point ot of view that could stand before becore our elders eldera there are very few of our elders that would fear combating the doctrines of the ministers of the he world they all feel that the kaow knowledge ledge which god has communicated unto them is superior to everything else they feel to rely i upon the almighty and ask no odds of any of the wicked an fn in the he world thebe three have been the fedin feelings gs of tle eiders elders of tuis church for years I 1 in a political point of view we have had bad doubts whether some systems were not ag as good nood as ours and whether we had not batter be governed by the powers 0 the world than listen to the teaching teachings of god however as we have gressed progressed ro the mist has been removed M and in relation t thes matte matter nl th the e elders of israel b begin egin to understand that tha t they have som tom something om ething to do with the world politically as well as religiously religious lyp that it is i as much their duty to study correct political principles enow E inow as weil well as rel rei religious i i ous and to seek 0 ci know now and comprehend th the social and political interests of man and to lear i and be able to teach that which would be best calculated calculate d t promote the th interests of the arll As president 1 young says frequently frequents we hai bai haie hale e made advancement van cement and n now 0 v begin to comprehend compie compi ellend hend many things of which we were belore before ignorant 1 we have been striving to a certain degree to get correct information in relation to all matters ne cesary for our future advancement van cement and understanding of things in connection with the sains of god we have been endeavor ing to promote the righteousness the putting away and overcoming rin of in equity and the hand of god has hai been w with ith us guiding and direct direction inc inz in us it is not necessary to go over the details of ou history but suffice it to say that many circumstances that I 1 of a critical character and trying for the time being have til ned out to 0 o be for our best good nd rid to our future advantage many of 0 uke ute thought thou ubon it wab was difficult dieu dicu and try I 1 ing to leave nauvoo but should we like to go back the there nou now there is not a man but woud would 9 say y that be he is better belter orf off than be he would have been it t he haa hart remained in the state of Illi sols yet as an one of the roeva has said god moves maves in a wa way y his won wonders I 1 fers lers to perform pe form ile he plant plants his footsteps in the sea and ard and rides upon the a orm deep in unfathomable mines or of never failing skill ile he treasures tip up b L a bright designs and works his sovereign will ye fearful stints fresh courage take the clouds ye so much drad are bie ble bi with mercy and shall rhall break in blessings on jour your head judge not the lord by febbe sense but trust him for bib bis grace bh bob rid nd a rr owning frowning providence ile he hides a smiling fac hir hib purposes ses aes will ripen fast unfolding every hour the bud may have a biller bitter tast byll BV will be the flower 11 we have bare proven that the ghe hand band of go god has directed us and by it we are sustained as we now find ourselves here on the present occasion well now if the lord has blessed us as lie he has done what reason have we to fear for the ful future tu e some people ask what will be the result of our acts at th present time I 1 dont care god has dictated and anti ir it is his business to dictate those that guide us and direct our enair earies en rles ries les ies if it you hive illva h li lve ive got a religion that is different from chatot other wont they persecute you yes yf but bilt what of that we dare to have a religion of our own years ago we dared to have faith for or 0 r selves alid and to come forth amongst the contumely of the world ard to bay say we were sainte saints arid anil that we bad taken upon us the aarre narre of jesus christ and were resolved to fulfill fulfil the obligations which the church of chiist christ bad in imposed rosed upon us this we felt years and years ago did we experience U certainly certainty men would persecute ua us laugh at us and deprive us of our happiness it if they could A great many influences were ere brought to bear against us well Wel wellow bellow low s city is it consist ent thau that all ali the churches that are spoken of in the book of mormon normon as well as in the bible that have been and that still are belai being built up to get gain and for khe the purpose of or keeping hoi hot haidea des idea it men living upon the beope in comparative idleness I 1 ask is it reasonable reason bie ble that all these systems and organizations of men will gl give i ve up without a struggle I 1 tell you nay if f such be the position of the re i bious world I 1 would further ask is it reasonable that the political powers of the earth wll wil give up gibout vil kii hout a strub struL struggle gle gie it would be at variance with history with ith scripture ant an prophecy and human nature and contrary contrare to anything we ever beard heard of the quest question may le asked then what shall we do yield ma to tile tiie the rr prejudice and arid diction of men iner i or to lle lie the god sod the ile bays saye do what i right let the consequence follow 1 l this i the city of the latter day saints in their at tempts and endeavors to bield up zion and am not to ak any ques ions as to what men may maj think of us or our acts that we as a people this nation and the world are in the hands bands oi of god it is for us to do our duty and fear nc no con consequences ces the results of our acts and those spences of 0 other t er men and nations the almighty will control but let us seek that wisdom wh ah ch chomth from above and let us pursue that course that will keefus under the hi fluence influence ol 01 I 1 the spirit of god in all of our doings before the be great etrheim are you 0 u not afraid oat trat the president of the united states slates tates will operate against us tib and send an army hert no I 1 am ain not for god has the control of him and all armies armlee but I 1 do expect th t influence upon influence and stratagem upon stratagem will be bro gh t to 0 bear until unil this kingdom becomes the kingdom of our god an i of his christ and the saints take it and possess it forever and forever we have been talking for years about the rule and government of the kingdom of god and its ginal final establishment upon the earth in peace and righteousness and also about the time when every creature which is in the beav in and on the earth and under the earth a d such euch as are in the sea and all that are in them will be heard saying blessing antl anil honor bonor ald and aid glory and power be unto him that upon the thearone brone hrone and unto cl the lamb for ever and ever ay we have been talking about abou these there things but there is much to be done in the intermediate space between the present and that impenetrable period in the great future it is no all a matter of faith but there is bome some action required it is a thi g that we have got to engage in ourselves in divi bally lually and collectively as a and it is a matter of no small concern this cause and kingdom is 13 attracting the lat attention of al good men upon the earth aa as of prophets and saints that have nave pass pasa d behind the veil apostles Apo aties atles and prophets Pro poets poeta have desired to see the d ay iy that we a e and to par i ii ci pate in atie blessings bleb blea singa that we e enjoy but 11 have a v died without tile the sight eight they used to talk taik of the kingdom that should be established the they y also talked of the t me when the tle powers of darkness should be destroyed and when god gott would organize his bia kingdom upon the earth control ills bis people popie and become the ruler and dictator of the world ile he ivill then rally deliver them thein from the he m mists sto and darkness with which they hive bt ben ban n enveloped and give light difex life ilfe wisdom and power to all the obedie obedient i nt of the human family then all shall be taught of god and understand correct principle and every saint bave have a living monitor within to quaife them to understand the great blessings with which they are endowed the saints of former days das looked forward with joy to the time when the he pi inci ples of truth should be established throughout the world and so to do we these were things that the ancients looked forward to but they iut did not bave have twe the privilege to look odi ax at bem luem hem aa as we do and they died without havin th ill hiyi e e of enjoy enjoying nig the blessings ings 91 promised the world hag has been full of darkness and wickedness an ant ani t has not he risings of god but many of the pastas well as the present preset generation generations s have been full of bloodthirstiness thirstiness flaud and oppression without a ady any ily correct principles without the spirit of the lo 10 d to direct them it is eo so now and hence the wars ware and that at present exist in these united states a war of brother aga list brother to destroy each other and to 10 bring each other into bondage tha aba is the condition of things aa as they exist in this country at th pres nt tim ami and this state of things will increase throughout the whole world and a I 1 th the inhabitants thereof will participate in the very things that are now transpiring in this ration nation la Is there no balm in gilead is there no physician there there seems indeed to be ery very cry little hope we talk about c conquests and victories but we talk without god his decrees must roust be accomplished plis pil lied shed I 1 la gods work to stand still no for the salvat on of the people depends upon its progress established this kingdom wi h order arid and laws and every thing pertaining thereto that we migu un ersland his will and operate in his kingdom that we might be taught of god and understand correct |