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Show r Wi mihwhiiiiiii t J t ? I r t EDITORIAL Fiom PAGE the beginning of this dispensation, Lord has spoken of His Second indicating that it is near, even forgotten and members of ' this Church begin, to Jove filth also? u 1 (D.C. 42:9). His Gospel surely is a light to the world, as He says. Indeed it is a standard for the Saints to live by, and something toward which the Gentiles may seek. It is truly like a messenger before His face, preparing" the way for His coming. MUCH MIGHT be said of this great statement, but let us refer for a moment to the Gospel as a standard of conduct for the Saints. It is really made up of many standards standards of morahty, dress, integrity; standards of marriage, of family life, of attitudes both within and without the home, and many more that might be mentioned. which sets He said that His Gospel is everlasting. Then these' standards where did these standards originate? Not with Joseph Smith, not with Moses, hot even with Adam. The Gospel was made known in life. The standards were esour tablished then, and they were intended to remain unchanged all through the history of mankind, to act as guides to bring us back into our Fathers presence. Saints igThen why do some Latter-da- y nore or strive to change those standards? Are they to be altered with the whims of men? Because it becomes fashionable for the world to love and enjoy filth, is that any reason why Mormon standards should be pre-existe- nt r IF PORNOGRAPHIC movies art; a lure to the world, should they be likewise to Latter-da- y Saints who know better? If it becomes popular for the youth of the world to corrupt themselves with drugs, He did this more than a century ago. In His measure of time, indeed it was near even then. In our measure of time, we blindly suppose that He deiayeth His coming. But regardless of hew soon or how remote it may be, we must be ready. In less than a year after the organization of His Church, He gave a revelation containing a most significant statement: I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world to be a light to the world, and to be a STANDARD for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. J t at the door. V - y r ; . 9- t - , -- liquor and tobacco, is that any reason for Latter-da- y Saint youth to think it is smart to follow them like sheep? , If dishonesty is a common practice in the world, if students in school cheat their way through their classes, if campuses are used for rioting, should that persuade Latter-da- y Saints to be dishonest or rebellious, forgetting their own standards? If women of the world delight in exposing their bodies in the name of fashion, is that any reason why Latter-da- y Saints should ignore the Gospel which teaches them to cover their nakedness? GOD GAVE us standards. They are stan- A mission helps a young man to find out who he really is. It helps him to set patterns, attitudes and habits that will carry into his adult life. I just believe it is easier to build a boy than to mend a man. For our young people a mission is life in miniature and a journey not a camp. A mission most of all provides the ohance for people to accept the Gospel and to take upon them the name of Christ through faith, repentance,- baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The reason we go to those who are already of a Christian faith is because we be- - In this same revelation the Savior lamented: I came unto mine own and mine own received me not, but unto as many as received me gave I power to do miracles and to become the sons of God. Will He ever have occasion to say to any of the Latter-da- y Saints that He came unto them, and they received Him not because they rejected His standards of conduct? Or by contrast will He be able to say of Saints that when He delivthe Latter-da- y ered His holy Gospel to them, they became workers of miracles, and were granted the power to become sons of God ? The answer will depend upon our acceptance of His standards. Standards for my people He said standards for the Gentiles to seek. Will the Gentiles ever seek them if we fail to uphold them? Those who sit in darkness can follow a beacon light, but if the light goes out, how shall they find their way? 16-CHU- RCH 0 lieve that the was in Christianity still is. We believe that Paul on the road to Damascus is no different than Joseph Smith in now called Sacred. the Grove God speaks today! During the past year I have watched one of societys outcasts, an rise from the' depths of a prison cell to become a responsible citizen, a worthy Latter-da- y Saint. This mans life" was changed because two of our missionaries brought him a message of hope and of salvation. He had thought, because of his past, all was lost and his chance had passed. But these two young el ex-convi- ct, if . M , WEEK ENDING JANUARY f Safe Until Morning them. Fruits Of Missionary Work Excerpts from 8i add.es by Elder Paul H. Dunn at General Conference of the Church, October, 1970. ZION'S CAMP dards of decency and right, of health, honesty and cleanliness. They are standards of progress, genuine progress, and Latter-da- y Saints must stand by them or bear the consequences. There is no progress without 16, 1971 ders brought him the Gospel and a new life. Unfortunately there are some in this world who continue to e or invalidate the principle of true repentance and say, Once a thief, always a thief, or Leopards dont change their spots. Need I remind you, who say such things, that, we dont work with leopards, we work with men, and ' men change every day. Our missionaries knock bn each door knowing and believing that a basic premise of this Church is that when men and women are motivated by the proper spirit, they can and do change their ig-or- ' 1 lives. x Leaving their secluded camp on the prairie Wednesday, June 18, 1834, Zions Camp marched 17 miles toward Richmond before halting for breakfast. , As they broke camp, Hyrum Stratton and his companion discovered two prairie rattlesnakes sleeping peacefully beneath their blankets. Following earlier instructions from Joseph Smith, the men carefully carried the snakes out of camp. The Prophet Joseph Smith reported that his health was so poor I left the affairs of the camp to the management of General Wight. Joseph rode in Heber C. Kimballs wagon during the day. Zions Camp crossed a slough a half-mil- e wide forcing the men, who were walking, to wade waist deep in mud and water. Journalized the Prophet: General Lyman Wight, who had traveled from Kirtland without a stocking on his foot, carried Bro. Joseph Young through on his back. When the camp stopped for breakfast, about 10 am., food was limited to com meal mush, or hasty pudding. We had not meal enough in our company to make a mush of the consistence of good starch, wrote the Prophet. After passing within a mile of Richmond, the troop camped that night on a small prairie encircled by hazel brush thickets. When Joseph reached the camp, he became so anxious about the safety of the men that he almost forgot his sickness. For reassurance, he walked alone some distance into the brush where he bowed down and prayed my Heavenly Father to suffer no evil to cpme upon us, but keep us safe through the night. I obtained an assurance that we should be safe until morning, notwithstanding about 50 of the Jackson County 'mob had crossed the Lexington Ferry that evening for the purpose of joining the Ray County mob and of making an attack upon us. , ; He added, All was quiet in the camp through the night. While the brethren were making their beds, they discovered a very musical rattlesnake in the tent of Brigham Young. John Carpenter picked the snake up in his hands and carried it out of camp where he left him to enjoy his liberty, telling him not to return. - - (Arioifter in a Series) |