Show DISCOURSE D B S C 0 U R SE br lelur der HER DRON HYDE HYDL in the tein tempie temple ale st georgeon george geon on the 51 th h of april 1877 reported BY clfo GEO 0 F GIBBS I 1 have not language my brethren and sisters to express the feelings fee tee linga and emotions of my heart on coming into this temple yesterday morning I 1 could not describe them if I 1 were to undertake to do so and colise consequently I 1 will sum up in short by sa ying saying that the sentiments of my heart were thank god for such a place in which to worship p and to reverence his high and holy name we have been listening this morning to very ii interesting Ate resting and truthful remarks and I 1 have felt edified instructed and comforted in my feelings and I 1 thinkie thin kIf we all remember our prayers in UL the season reason thereof in sincerity and truth that our light would shine before ui us according to our needs and wants it is too often the case that this important duty is neglected I 1 look at the rivers of or water I 1 trace them to their sourm bourm source and I 1 find that many times the places where rethey originate are small and oft linea hid hidden bidden debt deft from the popular gaze but notwithstanding they flow down and the waters increase until by tributaries tributa ries rles the main channel becomes a mighty river so 60 our prayers in private and family circle are secret and retired from the public but they keep the fire burning bunning upon the altar attar of ot our hearts and it is ig not often that persons who faithfully attend to this duty walk in darkness it is seldom that they and turn away from the faith especially when we couple our prayers with a F short sermon or lecture of comfort andoe and of peace to our wives and children sanctify sanctifying ing our prayers by words of consolation consolati oil oll and then we have a little littie heaven on earth andi have noticed that those who do this can generally give a reason for the hope that is in ill them where these things are neglect neglected edi edl however small they may appear in the estimation of some there is a want of the vital principle that feeds the soul boul that keeps the leaves and branches green that imparts beauty and loveliness to all nature I 1 have thought that if we were a little more punctual in thedis the discharge of our obligations one with another and to all men it would be the means of opening wider the door of light and truth to all pursuing that course it is too often the case that we sometimes contract duties and make promises to di discharge them when our present condition and future prospects are altogether too slim to justify our doing so yet we feel we must go in debt to supply our immediate wants and when the time comes for payment to be made it is not at all an chapter in our livest lives that bat at that particular time we were not so well prepared to meet the obligation as we were the day we made the contract this I 1 apprehend ia Is a barrier to our success and our pio prosperity and I 1 feel that if there was more punctuality manifested by us in pay paying ing our obligations ligat ions lons than now exist swe would have more confidence in one another than we already have I 1 do not recommend any person to take tak 0 his neighbor in hanl haul and say pay me that which thou me J so I 1 far as my memory serves me in such casos cases as when persona persons owed me who failed to pay me according to promise and I 1 believed them honest and upright in their feelings seeking not to take advantage I 1 do not recollect ever having crowded such auch persons or putting them to the least inconvenience I 1 think it la Is good and honorable on the part of the creditor to establish his name and cha character by showing mercy alad and easing elsing the burden bf those who may maybe be indebted to him for there should be a disposition orr arrone one part to avoid contracting debts and a disposition on the other to be as lenion laa taa as circumstances permit to move away all the obstruction we can from the path of each others prosperity however small these matters may seem they are important por tant at the time our prophet and patriarch were killed oc or at least soon afterwards when the twelve returned to nauvoo their immediate circumstances were not altogether agreeable and pleasant or profitable tabie table but suffice 4 t to bay pay we had bad a meeting a conference at which president young was the centre of attraction on his arising to speak and as soon boon aa as he opened his mouth I 1 heard the voice of joseph through him anait was as familiar to me as the voice of my wife the voice of my child orthe voice of my father and not only the voice of joseph did I 1 distinctly and aud unmistakably hear bear but I 1 saw the very gestures of hi hia hla s per person son eon the very features of his countenance andia and if I 1 mistake stAe not tho very size of his bis appeared on the stand and it went through me with the thrill of conviction that Bilg brigham badi was the man to lead this people and from that d day ay to the present there has not been beely a qu query ery or a doubt upon my mind with regard to the divinity of tuis appointment ta I 1 know that he hd was the man bele selected b t of god to fill the position hp now holds holde I 1 have found f in n my experience that there iya ivd isa 13 a good dealan deal deai in a mans having confidence in lu himself A person having little confidence in god and more in ih himself is not glod the capital stock bould should be bhain in the lord our god and the ibe smaller portion in the creature ope operating ing when the lord created man nan I 1 believe he placed in him a portion portio R of himself that is a portion of every qualification that thai he heinse himself I 1 possessed and in our esphera we are to td act independently but under and by the power of those principles ples pies of natural inspiration there is a good deal of natural inspiration in man and when that is louch touch touched edby by the finger of the almighty it makes the cup a del dei delicious licious one it makes the mind truly enlightened brethren and sisters I 1 have all confidence in the lord our god I 1 say all confidence perhaps that calls for a little qualification at any rate I 1 believe in him and that ha h is just wise and merciful if I 1 did not believe he was merciful I 1 could not believe my own ow n eyes while looking upon this vast congregation gre gation of hia hla people assembled in this isolated place here in the portion ot oun our territory I 1 tell you how I 1 feel in relation to the matters that have been spoken of here today to day if ii I 1 had more confidence in myself and in my own ability limited though it may be I 1 could venture farther and do more and perhaps overcome my natural timidity and become a more enni effi efficient clent agent in the hands of our father of doing good this I 1 desire with all my heart I 1 can say that what little I 1 possess of this worlds goods are suhl subject act to the orders of my superiors in the priesthood myself and all that I 1 command are altheir at their dictation to be used in the service of our god foi for the advancement of his kingdom I 1 labored with my hands until JE reached my seva seventieth yeni year when I 1 had to ce cease working and for the la last two years I 1 have not been ablo able to do aaa anything I 1 not even to cut a stick of wood or fetch a bucketful of water but I 1 feel thankful that my health is as good as it isa is and that I 1 have lived to see this day and to behold this elegant structure reared to the honor of our god and to have the privilege of meeting and joining with so many of my brethren and sisters to worship within its walls wails brethren I 1 rejoice in the service of god and I 1 want to continue in it and if our religion had no more consolation than it now affords it would be ampie ample to inspire us to honor it and to live it I 1 look around me and see a great grout many heads as white and many whiter whlter than my own I 1 wish oh h I 1 that I 1 were again active and anu able to work manfully and aud energetically in the cause of truth but no like many others of my age I 1 am subject to rheumatism and pains in my limbs which at times disable me nie billave I 1 bave have commenced to feel the infirmities of increasing ageana age and years and so many of us now after these many years of toila toil have to Ft struggle ruggle with the going down sun of our earthly existence ence euce but we have the consolation of knowing that our mortal body will not always impede our progress we shall not forever suffer its I 1 neon venie vonie nees jr we are gladdened in the tile hope of either laying down this mortal tabernacle or undergoing that welcome change which will free us from all afflictions and annoy annoyances auces ard we hail hall the day when we shall shail befree be free from sorro sorrow w and death to forever rejoice in the joys of everlasting lives but while hile bile we remain let us struggle on and continue the rood good fight of faith until we are called home I 1 calculate the lord being my helper to do the tiie very best I 1 can how long I 1 may live I 1 know not neither do I 1 feel much anxiety annit feeling as 1 I do donnat ift af I 1 am in the hands of my heavenly father who will do with me nie as him good sut but bub yet if I 1 could be sparer in healthy I 1 woula would like liki to live jive 16 to skee swee bee eee the adversary bound to trouble troubie and hammam baran no ro more the children of oti ott ot pod wa woul like to live to s see bee ee redeemed from the tradition of forefathers we have inherited through entailment dud nd comple tuy tWy baptized in the elein elemen elements entA td of ilfe life avei everlasting these are my alear hearts bearta desires I 1 pray that mac may y c continue it n ue tc b bless biess e s usand us and help ua us to w walk il k da day y 6 by y i day dayn an obedience obed ferice I 1 to the tha requirements ui teyen is 0 of 1 f J laheen heaven amen |