Show t jupe alk mrk 1 qa up tas yas Ws S yf s wr 1 t f ij by i F brt bri M i q jj 11 M tabei on ork th a afan 0 oj 4 sunday dec 1868 REPORTED BY G D WATT euls euis it 18 ahert shor t visits mako make long iong short sermons perhaps make meetings nie Mee eting tinge I 1 am sure this is the case sometimes I 1 am thankful for of being instructed and of meeting 1 with a people who manifest by f theil keff ll 11 lives ilves ves a desire for improvement I 1 am thankful that we have the brivil privilege eg e in this tabernacle from sab I 1 bath ath to 16 sabbath sab Bab loath last sabbath I 1 referred ed to the meagre congregations that e P attend in the tho mornin gand toay Jre aly aljy expected to eee sea every seat in occupied 1 I cannot chirik thia till th al L the thet people are sleigh ridin riding for ther barq els eis Is 40 0 snow neither can I 1 conclude conT conclude lude that vat fhe ibe th yaro eyare in the canion cannon can car on fai the roads cari fifoot flOt be traveled I 1 do not think that they are fishing at this season reason of the tile yeav year r neither can they all bo be in attend ance anoe at sabbath schools then wh what ut are arel they doing t are they praying resting sleeping or wasting theli their time in ir 1 olous and unprofitable employ ak sterile nt i t eddle erilE ela etious wo we ard arc happy to see large congregations gregat r lons ions of the tho saints in th afternoons this is the only public meeting meet ng house in which meetings are held hold in the morning and afternoon on the sabbath day in this city the people of great salt lake cit city y make to one ond point to attend meeting in tha th mornin morning and afternoon in unlike tho the people oy or the large cities ion lepof of the mohd I 1 havo have seen them go to meeting in some of those citie sand compare them to anything th that rt will lil describe them as as they appear ea edib b me mo better than the inhabitants of an an anft antt t hill they run in all directions the methodists jostle against the bap ar abid d the baptists against the pres and the presbyterians rians against the quakers etc kletthe people come to meeting and hear what is said and if any of you are not hot instructed d to your satisfaction be ba kind as to send up a card to the stand intimating your desire to speak and wo ne will give you an opportunity of doing so to display your wisdom for dewish ii q wish to learn wisdom and get gedun un der standing two twe we are in a great school and we should be diligent to learn and lind continue fostore 6 A store up the knowledge miledge of heaven anil and of earth earthy and read good books although I 1 can not say that I 1 would recommend the reading of ail all books hooks for it is not hot all books which are good bead reaf books and extract from them wis 9 omand understanding as much as you sou au isible can aided by the jaspir f od for without irita e aro alq left IPA in the tho li 0 d ki ik I 1 have ve very ry frequently urged upon the ilie people peo fe to aliye so that they can enjoy the spirit fc of revelation even that intelligence which proceeds directly ft heaven from the fountain of all ail intelligence e do people live soll foll t yat yge ya measurably mo astira bly wo we improve slowly ana and as brother George Gdorge A smith has saidee said baid we donot do not improve nit lit fast fit enot enoi enough ili I 1 acknowledge wat Oat ilits people are im provin gand I 1 am pro plo tido tiao it t when I 1 address the th throne ethOne of grace in prayer iam rim lam happy to be able fo to thank god that the latter day saints are striving to order orden their lives correctly eforo before him I 1 ain aln I 1 am happy I 1 atil aill am full of comfort bof joy of peace because because of the progress this people are making and yet isee F see how easy it is for a person to slide elide backward and mt get into darkness and blindness of mind Wear we are epro prone neto to w mander ander wander and do that which our inclinations bidus bidas bid us do like the boys with their sleds sieds we go up hill very sio vly but ru rush h quickly down again we adaoo apt an artto to be slow to learn rIghteous righteousness fiess and aud quick to run in the ways of sin ain th jhb adversary of our souls is constantly watching to decoy us from the path of truth with and duty to god clod until we bec bee become ome re reckless e i in our di disobedience to his 1119 com ants and to the counsels of his servit servants zits there ther e is one path one line toj toi follow to obtain and und continue in the 10 love iove e ah and ight light of the lord which is as it were ere a compass to direct the saint to the 11 haven of safety and it will not vary for its directions are sure we have many duties to perform and a great work is before us we have zion to build up and upon this wo we are all agreed but ve we din diu armore or less respecting spec ting the modus operandi operand for we the majority of instances to follow the dictates of our own rowil inclinations eions 0 we do this too much for our good if the people will livo live so sons as to ba directed erected continually by the light of the spirit of the lord loid they naver never will go much astray in many instances our anxieties our desires and our wills are so great that wo we actually plead with tho the lord to allow swe sky y s MS to bend bent I 1 duty auti a little p artl arti cl A f 0 the t tho h 0 purpose u r 0 S 1 a of accomplishing wis wish we V e are pleased lo 10 dob doh doi dorthis this y ils lis anji to td do evil also nince hence 1 mantis 1 s born to tid trouble as the sparks fly upward we WO are very prone to wander let the people watch themselves lest they take a a course that will lead them into darkness and they know not the things of god twebe and be left to alie ailo a lie lle instead of the truth what ia ii that which turns turna people a way away from this church very trifling affairs are generally the commencement men cement of from tho tile right path if we follow a compass the needle needie of which does obe s not point correctly a very blight slight dev dav deviation lation in the beginning will leittl lettl us when we have traveled some ome distance far to of the this true point for which wo we aro nie aiming it m when ceif men take upon themselves es stran strength til depending upon their own wa m light and knowledge saying 1 I am right and I 1 care hot what what anybody else says and 1 I will do thus thas and so on my own responsibility asking I 1 n gloo no odds dds of god and his servants if I 1 wl wish sh togo to go to the north south east enst castor or west or 01 follow this tills or that employment or pursue this or that course to obtain the necessaries of life it is my aff air ain and I 1 canno can notee tsee that any other man has anything whatever to do with it at 1 I 1 sadaf say eay if wo vo thus thug arrogate to ouie ouis ourselves strength wisdom apa and power an and d think that we can judge for ou ourselves in all ail 11 things independent of god and add his ais servants then liable to be led astray every man and lind woman who walks in the light of the lord ean can sae see and understand these things for themselves but through our anxiety and over desire to have our own way we often swerve and turn to the right or to the left of the tho true line of our ours duty how often have we sealed blessings of health and li life ilfe fe upon our children and nd companions I 1 in n the he nameon jesus christ and by the authority of the holy priesthood of the bon eon of god and yet our faith and prayers did not succeed in ift accomplishing the desires of our hearts why is this in many instances our anxiety is so great that we do not pause to know the spirit of revelation and is Us operations upon the hu man mind we have anxiety instead of faith when a d man prophesies by the power of the holy ghost his word words 8 will be fulfilled as sure as the lord lives livo butia but if he has anxiety in hi his bis heart it swerves him from froin the thread of the holy gospel from the true thread of revelation so that he is liable to err and he prophesies but it does not come como to pass he las lays his lands hands but they arii arti are not healed it is in in cn consequence of not being tn completely mou mon I 1 it e i fo to the will of god 0 gd do we vii not realize that this is io so adado we not real reni realize that we should constantly strive to ilvo live in 14 the counsel and light of god day by day dagand and hour by hour if wo we do this thib we shall bhail certainly make sure thour to our oar selves a celestial inheritance we hae have gathered til the best people from among the nations na kigns of the earth and yet we are not so good as as we should be why are we not a as s good as we should be because we wo have eternal light and knowledge here bere and no per bon ban sta sia is deprived of the privilege of asking and receiving of god for himself but we do noh not all ali avail ourselves of this great privilege we agrenot are not like othe others rp who are alre called by men to goon missions to the world we aie ale are called of god and carry with us true credentials not the credentials of paul peter or any of the old apostles and servants of god who used them a thousand years ciffo ago but we have the living oracles and the teg holy priesthood restored in our day giving authority to men in the nineteenth century as in days of old having this authority and these areat great advantages wo should be better than anybody else we have believed in the lord jesus christ we have received in our faith the fullness of the gospel we have yielded obedience to gods com corn mand ments obeyed the ordinances of his house receiving them in our faith and practice and anti these we have received through apostles and prophets called of god in our own age as was aaron these those blessings and callings the tho almighty mighty has reve revealed aled aleI in this and in all ages for the benefit of finite beings that through obedience to the gospel eternal life in the tile preg presence ence of god might be brought upon all who endure to the end in righteousness by obeying the ordinances of god mankind florl glorify fy god but if they do not obey him the they do not detract one particle from his glory and power although all his children should wander from the holy commandments god will w ill be glorified for they are left to choose for themselves tc tv choose death instead of life darkness of light pain instead of ease delight and comfort this lib erty all beings enjoy who oro ore created after the likeness and und image of god and thus th ey become e for nor tiler their own d actions teeg commandment godare given iven t to 0 u us s expressly for our benefit benefi tand a if iffe iv e eine lne ine obedience in obed lence lenee to them we ive shall live so as to understand the mind and will of god for ourselves and concerning ourselves als this is a subject upon which a great deal can be said but I 1 shall not allow it at this time I 1 exhort lay say brethren continually to that they may have the I light ht of the holy spirit intern to know their duty and when they know their duty fully it irwill will be to follow truly those whom god dod has placed over them to lead them a as a community as a people as a kingdom of god it will be to obey the counsel that is given them froia time to time what does the man who understands the spirit of his religion believe with regard to hf his s own affairs with regard to his libei life ilfe with regard to hib his hia business transactions etc he believes that it is li his Is privilege lo 10 be dictated by b the constituted authorities of the church of god and the spirit of revelation in all things in hla hia mortal life there is no part pait of his bis life that he will consider 1 exempt from the guidance and dictation of the priesthood of the son of god we wish the tho latier latter day saints sainta to meet at their thelt respective houses erected for that purpose on the day appointed for a hast tast and take fake with their thein of their to feed the poor and the hungry among ua u and irit is necessary to c cloth oth the naked we expect to see the sisters there thare thereof fon for or they aro are generally firt first and foremost oret in deeds of bf charity ahil abil an d kindness kendrie sq let t hearts of bf the poor be andje their prayers koor goor and fth thanksgiving a ascend unto god gound and receive an n answer af rich blessin blessings ggs upon our beads heads I 1 thins think ibold I 1 told you last uit sabbath that I 1 would ifould mention nien nied tion this subject again today to day if you would be health healthy y wealthy full fall of wisdom light and knowledge knowledg eido oldo do all 1411 youcan you sou can oan for the kingdom of god I 1 expect that there are brethren who are well weil to do who cali eail can command their thousands ands who con consider sider that their business crowds them this ibis year and they do not see bee how they eail can ean give anything for fon the gathering of the thil poor saints I 1 have a word of consol consolation at loll 1011 for such you merchants mechanics and farmers farmer yea every one let me console you and eay say to you keep your money and pay your debts and buy your teams and your farms and your goods you think I 1 am speaking to you ironi ironically evilly well I 1 acknowledge ge to you that I 1 am you keep all and do not apply one dollar for any purpose out side of your business and I 1 will promise you in of tho the lord that you will be than you would have been if you had alven given of your substance to thedoor the poor do 0 you ci consider these hard bard words they are true words the earth is the lorala and the fullness thereof the gold and the silver are all his and he ile throws up the precious metals to view whenever he please sand ihen iben he pleases resends his m to hide them in the bowels of the he earth beyond the reach of man he also closes the eyes elyes of wicked gold hunters that they cannot see ee them but they wak ivak vak over them theland the mand and leave them for the righteous to I 1 S gether ther in the due time of the lord who think that you must keep your means and that you cannot spare a portion torather to gather the poor another year remember tha that y you ou wi will 11 not get rich by so doing y you 0 u m may ay ask what I 1 am going to do I 1 am UM going to get rich for I 1 calculate to give considerably sl sider bly ably more to gather the poor than any other ma man nn because I 1 want to be richer than any other man I 1 want more because I 1 believe I 1 know what to do with it better than boat most of men these are a few words of consolation to the brethren who wish to keep their riches and with them I 1 promise you leanness of soul darkness of mind narrow marrow and contracted hearts and the bo bowels of your compassion will be shut up and by and bye you will be overcome with the spirit of apostasy apo stacy and forsake borsak e your god and your breth brethren ren I 1 see around me a great people joseph smith was called of god and sent to lay the foundation of this latt latter iatter erday er day kingdom he preside presided dover doven over this people fourteen years then he be was mar war byred since that time conr humble servant has presided over and counseled this people he has directed the twelve apostles the seventies priests and every quorum and depart ment jentof 0 the Melches meiches idec and Priest hoods gui gul guiding dirig them through the wilderness where there was no way into adry barken land forthe space of twenty four nour years he has watched over i their interests li liol lioi diug at sit bay their e enemies ne teaching them tin m bow to live and redeem thit thle country from the barrenness and desolation that have for many 0 t f t f 9 f generate gene generations rati ont ind made it unfit for |