| Show THE dispel dispensations OF providence 1 in thia this infidel infidel gohe gobe generation ration the do doctrine trine of a special apeci al providence in in the affairs of men 1 ia 8 almost utterly extinct As a general principle it is excluded from the arena of debate and we think wisely BO so for them under the most favorable circumstances its evidences dences are but inferential and in degree clear or otherwise as la Is the mind and dispo sitton of the person exercised thereon it is a doctrine that la its palpable toche to tue the souls aona aoua of 0 tue the righteous cheers cheera the hearts at 6 those who retain the ancient f diab and however difficult it may be or seem seera impossible to establish by logical acumen the relationship of this result with that cause to others and to trace with unerring hand band from the receiver back to the giver it is none the less a sacred obligation proper and becoming in the saints individually and collectively 4 to acknowledge the hand hald cf of the lord in all things 1 to look back bick upon the early history of this ibis latter iatter day work to familiarize oneself wi b h the situation of the young prophet joseph with his bis mind i with his education with his surrounding surroundings si sandwith and with general circumstances attendant on the first public announcement of the organization of the kingdom e of Go dupon the tha earth the tha most remarkable and forcible fact to the mind ia is the seeming of the means to be employed in the accomplishment ment ol 01 the great woric to be attained and of which he was the pioneer nothing could have been uttered by joseph more ridiculous to un believers everi everk than the magnitude ct of the work which the lord had then commenced and the oung young prophets unchanging unvarying testimony in the overruling over ruling almighty power that was pledged for its protection tec tion in la earlier days we have listened somewhat with impatience to the appellation of a drea Area dreamer merk a visionary young man and language t of that tomp complexion lexion but W with ith riper yearb years and with more enlarged experience with the world and with this great work we have ceased to look on the scoffer and the incredulous with the bame sams wonder and ast astonishment of former days dap the world was shrouded enshrouded en in darkness and was pondering over and reading only the past in the obscure glimmering gli mering shadowy shadow y bight light of a eua sun long since set joseph was alone and in another position peering through the dar aar darkness ness of the night catching the first rays raya of morning light aught 11 that every moment increased in bright ress ness resa till the vestiges of or midnight md m night were for tor lever fever ever chased away they gazed upon the past joseph looked upon the tte f future 3 he read the past he knew his bis day he saw baw ours curs and hs he gazed gried beyond to the end of time it was hla hia gift to comprehend the end from the ibe beginning and to know the ultimate issue of the struggle upon which be he had ventured all that was hig his when he spoke with the confidence of an illuminated mind he became the butt of scorn and of ridicule but who can this day ponder and meditate over the great work that was lan lau out by him and view in the opposite ranks aleo also the untiring labors of those who have been diligent in their masters blasters service to thwart the of the prom ses of the lord through the prophet without seeing everywhere the evidences evid erces of that special providence that has brought us to what we are no argument is needed the facts are plain palpal a legibly written in every step of our path patho and the soul spontaneously pays its debt of gratitude in praise la in a few week weeks more twenty years will bave lave passed away since the bloody hand of triumphed in carthage jail and the prophet of the nineteenth century sealed his bis testimony with his blood the saints I 1 in n humility bowed before the bad lesson of bitter experience and f felt tolt eli elt the heavy darkness of the worlds triumph whey they bore ore it lt I 1 lyet liet battled with the po power we that mote smote them themi they yielded d naught they sacrificed nothing CP they preserved their integrity and the same sanne haps hand that had lid led them thim before brought them delav I 1 enarce gain again we bhail shall not now attempt lo 10 travel back into the he past to touch this and that and to gather f from rou here and from there tha thel evidences of a special providence iu in our history it is a pleasant task for every one who enjoys the light oe of the spirit and kp d an enjoyment W eat to hi which none need be pressed Great fully then do we acknowledge our indebtedness to the almighty for the past and with increased confidence do we gaze upon the future the world never can comprehend us and we are perfectly contented with waa their bewilderment whatever they ther think sav say or do la is immaterial to us our destiny is fixed the worlds history is written we but play out our oar parts and believe it or reject it who may there to a providence in the iha affairs of men all must bow and sooner or later we shall realize that nothing can transi transpire lre ire here or thele ibele now or hen then but what is for the good ot of all who trust in him and keep his hig commandments tru and will pi evail evall |
