| Show communicated THE philosophy OF TRIAL tji THERE is something wonderful in that order which evolves from the unwelcome lessons of trial the finer attributes of human nature it may be called a divine order an eternal one if you please and one to which the most lofty standard of humanity was subject even jesus christ the righteous it was said sald of him that he became perfect through suffering and yet during his thorny experience peri ence he made declaration the son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the father do implying that divinity was but glorified humanity purged and purified by suffering enlarged by experience and trial and through this process I 1 having overcome become entitled to the majesty on high NV what hat this advancement is may be measurably felt if otherwise unrealized when the truth is presented that he char geth his angels with folly and that even the heavens ae unclean in his sight yet of man he saith no more than that he remembers we are but dust and consequently subjects of that mercy in its infinitude which comprehends ends unfolded man subject to infirmity temptation and death if the ex experience peri perl ence of any community has had the imperfections of human nature brought home to it it is the community called balled the latter day saints and if there are 11 living ving witnesses to the fruits of trial they cabbe found right here the larger the experience e the more certain the conclusion but even small and an d nn narrow r experience comprehends that the he discipline of trial wonderfully aids in the creation of a latter day saint the first rude lessons taught in the school of discipleship disciple sh was this one that obedience to divine law brought condemnation from the disobedient every mans tongue and hand was against the neophyte in the gospel schoolmates lows religious associates and social companions could each find time to contemn and sneer at assumptions assum P eions of new found light all the weapons of argument sarcasm raillery and even gradual ostracism had to be encountered character and sanity had to be impeached the reason and judgment otherwise courted were considered at fault those once I 1 called models of shrewdness were i held to be deluded and deluders de luders and pity was indulged for the victims of a fraud but all this opposition produced its efrece effects detects effects not ant anticipated ic I 1 a ted b by y the appo opponent nent may be byi byl but t good fo for r the opposed it induced humility it fostered faith it drove to study to comparison to analysis it made men think prayer was found to be a source of power the scriptures were found to ijo bo an armory of weapons offensive and defensive and as t the he hollowness and inconsistency of sectarian system and logic became more and more apparent the truths of the gospel appeared more and more orderly systematic and conclusive until countless cl little davids 11 were prepared with the sling of testimony and scriptural pebbles from the stream of truth to do battle in the name of the lord of hosts with a any ny of the religiously intellectual goli goll achs on the battle fields of christendom every encounter was a means of strength every battle fought was a conquest an and devery every victory exposed the hidden weakness of the adversary and made the stripling more and more a man the faculties be came sharp and ready the timidity of inexperience was supplemented by the sense of the gospel having come not in word only but in power and in the holy ghost and an in much assurance until the champions of orthodoxy fled the field resorting finally uto to guerrilla warfare with the weapons of misrepresentation and downright lies and this mental and religious training was not confined to the male youth of the early converts Verts in this church there was considerable discipline imposed upon the fairer sex in the factory and the schoolroom school room I 1 in the tho th 0 tea party and social gathering it was found that no half received half believed or half understood theory would enable them to stem the tide of gossip and clamor or satisfy the query of the suppositious wise pise in th the e household visiting for the distribution trib ution of tracts the smile of welcome was rare the jeer and scoff the rule scarce a thoughtful enquiring question was ever put but there suggestion assertion and falsehood and while sensitive woman might have shrunk from a thankless mission god went with the factory girls and the more tenderly reared women on their otherwise solitary errand sometimes they gan fan answered a fool according to his folly lest he might be wise in his own conceit and again they would answer otherwise caring not to cast their I 1 pearls pearis before swine and even their warmth of love for their desire to do good in and their knowledge and testimony as to the gospel laid the foundations and created that superstructure of womanly character which has aided their similarly trained and cultured brethren in connection with themselves to become social and religious magnets in the local centres bentres of attraction in the colonies of the saints the line of duty and discipline of trial was in early life a wondrous thing for them it developed latent powers ift it brought out unknown talent it created individual stamIna it encouraged local union uni on it suggested the advantages of gathering it prompted self denial it whispered of a brotherhood more dear than ties of blood and by proving the weakness of human institutions and exhibiting the depths of human folly it brought about sympathy with al all ali I 1 the prophets of god who looking or peering into the misty future made clear this necessity and gave birth to the assurance that the restoration st of the gospel and the coming of the kingdom of god were among the of divine procedure thus every lower ambition of country and family of wealth and purpose of pursuit and action were of slight moment to the privilege of laboring in the divine order for a gramme pro which includes redemption and exaltation for all those who with undivided affection seek geek first the kingdom of god and ris his righteousness 11 and ind unto thom them atone alone is the promise that all other things shall be added thereunto |
