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Show 4 engaai) tm EDITORIAL J, Tbs GEMS INI PAGE Some Need And (President IPiroiplheft the Church there is a rapidly to speak of President David 0. Me-- 1 prophet" And rightly so. Kay the Lord has had a people on when In each age them He has by revelation. Always that earth guided revelation has come through a living prophet. While "search-th- e scriptures and profit urging the people to neverby the advice He had given anciently, the Lord the for direction day. present theless gave current This is one of the outstanding elements of the restoration bf the Gospel. The principle of prophecy has Jieen restored. But it was not given merely that future events might be foretold, for such is hardly the whole field of prophecy. Probably more important than giv- divine guiding predictions is providing the day by day Throughout ance which We need. Conditions vary from time to time making continuous guidance necessary. It was never the intent of the Lord to leave His people groping In the dark; but to live successgive them light and direction to help them servanointed His fully and this He has given throih ants. ANCIENTLY AMOS said appropriately: Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his se' crets to his servants the prophets. Lord On the day the Church was organized the regave a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith this for of the status official prophet establishing the I day He decreed that the president of the Church should be His prophet, seer and revelator, as well as His inspired translator when, such service was . required. The Lord at that time told the Church member-shi- r that if they would hearken to His prophet and fol- low His directions as if from mine own mouth they would be preserved and prospered in their lives. President McKay is the pronhet for this day. He is the Lords mouthpiece now He gives us the divine guidance which the Lord has for us presently living. With him are his counselors, also sustained as prophets, seers and rcvelators and the Council of the Twelve. These men. in their apostolic callings, are, entitled to the revelation of God for their respective assignments. A VISITOR once asked Latter-da- y Of THOUGHT what distinguished the Saints from other Christian. The reply he received was: Prophecy." The stranger in our midst did not understand. Then it was explained to him that God in our day,has restored all that waa had anciently among the people. Probably the outstanding characteristic! of ancient Israel was that prophets ministered among them. This was true also of the early Christian Church. Christian prophets were placed In the Church by the Savior himself even aa prophets were given jn Old Testament times. When the visitor was told that prophecy was the. mark of distinction, he was taught In effect that ther Latter-da- y Saints are different because here and now they receive the guidance of the Almighty. To them the heavens are not sealed. Although they accept the Bible as the word of God, they dont believe it contains ALL of his revelations. ; In modern times, people need heavenly guidance as much as did those who lived anciently. That guidthose who peep and ance is not to come mutter" nor by mysterious uncertain tactics traditionally handed down through the ages. AS PAUL SAID, God does not work "in a corner." He is open and what He does is in harmony with , , scripture. His way of communicating with His people was known to everyone anciently. All knew the prophet Many consulted him, even on political matters. His word was accepted as if from mine own mouth. This gift. He restored in modern times. The Church now is headed by prophets, .with the president as the leader of them all. Today that man is President . McKay. He holds the powers which the angels bestowed unon the Prophet Joseph Smith. He has the samg authority held by Peter, James and John; by John the Baptist, Moses. Eliiah, Noah, and others who came as even diversbtlicr angels" as explained by angels Josenh Smith.- The presidents of the Church today are among the greatest of all th prophets. Who but they have held all the authorities and powers of all former . times? And at the head of this unique but vast organization is President McKay, our leader for today, our prophet, Gods seer, our esteemed friend and colaborer. God strengthen htm for his every duty'! To 'Unlearn' raise Notions ' Excerpts from an address by Elder bert L Stapley deist ered at General ference of tba Church April 1967. DelCon- Some of us need to unlearn personal attitudes which are contrary and resistant to Gospel teachings and requirements. Certain attitudes are destructive of true character. They inhibit growth. If allowed to develop, they may produce disastrous consequences. Negative, cynical, and kindred attitudes are dangerous to faith, ' hope, humility, righteous desires and high purpose; which virtues are essential to the discovery and retention of that which is best in the learning process and of unlearning" the undesirable in life. One should, therefore, be well aware of the many types of present in daily living. wonder why people . behave asthey do. Perhaps it is because they are unwilling to unlearn the reasons fpr their unwarranted behavior. I do not want you to think I am advocating the 'unlearning of eternal truths, principles, standards, ideals and ordinances because these Gospel verities never chapge. Gods laws are immutable and endure atti-tud- es By increasing our learning, howevwe become acquainted with additional truths and higher ws referred to In scripture's troth, light, spirit and the'tnysteries of Godliness. A scientist frequently forsakes theory he er, has 1 darned because research uncovadvanced knowledge which changes or makes obsolete some former concepts, but does not eliminate basic principles. The sciences are subject to constant change. This Is true also In technological advances where we forsake the old and accept the new improved methods of performance which have advanced our civilization. While all this advancement takes place in our modern world we cannot afford to forsake nor discard the teachings and revelations of God. ers -- THIS WEEK IN CHURCH HISTORY: Plans Laid For Mormon Battalion Bel Sept. 16 1815-rT-he rront, Vatne. Instigator of ttie Mormon Battalion was born In He was the last of Thomas and Relief Little's dozen. . children. They named him Jesse Carter. While he was still young, the family moved to New Hampshire. There young Jesse became well acquainted with John Steele who later became governor of the state. Jesse gradOated from the New Ipswich Academy in 1833, and at 18. began teaching school at Sharon, N.H He clerked in stores and, for a time, operated his own store in Peterborough, N.H. In 1839, he married Eliza French who became the ? mother of 11 children. Jesse and Eliza joined the Church in '18$1. Elder Parley P. Pratt of the Council of the Twelve darned Jesse a high priest and appointed him president over the branches in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Jessisrl was prospering in the business of manufacturing carriages and sleighs. 0 After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Twelve appointed Jesse president over all the eastern branches of the Church. , He was advised by Brigham Young, If our government shall offer any facilities for emigrating to the western coast, embrace those facilities if possible. Pres. Little abandoned his business and devoted his full time to the work of the Church. While visiting the Philadelphia Branch, he was introducedat the close of a meeting to Col. Thomas L. Kane, a young man who had many Influential connections in Washington. Col. Kane said he was interested in traveling to California with the Pioneers. aid foMe refugees who were then camped on the Missouri. Col. Kane offered to hols and gave Pres. Little a letter of introduction to Vice Pjsjdent George M. Dallas. Armed with this and other letters, including one from hi old friend, Gov. Steele, Pres. Little went on to Washing- ' , i WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 0 30, 1 The Iwo men agreed to meet for furthpt discussion of the matter at the home of Judge John Kanethe colonel's father. This interview lasted so long' that Pres. Little missed the evening conference session. In visits continued during the next three days, Pres. Little narrated the history of the Mormons and explained their beliefs. He also told of his plan to visit President James K. Polk to seek ?67 . ton. War with Mexclo had been declared a few days before, and the President was happy to listen to the proposal that 500 Mormons be equipped ancf jjiarched to California to as- sist in securing that area. Pres. Little worked out the plan In several conferences with President Polk and other officials. Col. Kane assisted. Kane and Little left Washington together, Kane bearing instructions to the commanding general at Ft. Leavenworth, for recruiting a battalion. Pres. Little hurried to tell the good news to President Young. The Mormon Battalion was organized and marched away. Pres. Little joined the Pioneer company in blazing the trail to Salt Lake Valley. His friend, Col. Kane, due to jliness did not travel west with the group. Pres. Little returned to his post in the East from the Valley. He moved his family to Utah in 1852. Four years later, he was called as a counselor to Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter. For 18 years, he served in this position. He also held civic offices Including that of Salt Lake City fire chief and was active in business and farming. He spent his last yeafrs on his farm at Littleton, Morgan County, and died in Salt Lake City, after a long illness, on Dec. 26, 1893. Arnold Ifvine Seerte letters anti reports written by Jeno C. little. |