Show dieco U aj S BY liy JOSEPH esith pan nan DELIVERED in tn fhe the tabernacle taberna e salt zake lake city Satu sate saturday iday afternoon in gene orad erat conference october 1 ath 1882 1832 J BY jonn JOHN I 1 HAVE havn been requested to occupy the remaining portion of the time and I 1 trust in so doing I 1 may enjoy the liberty of tho spirit t and the faith and prayers of the latter batter day saints that the time I 1 may occupy may bu be profitably spent as I 1 have no desire to 10 hold the attention of this vast but I 1 realize that without the aid of the spirit of the lord I 1 am not capable of imparting to this congregation the word of eife I 1 am thankful for the opportunity that wo we enjoy of meeting together under such favorable circum betances et ances I 1 am pleased to see the vast numbers that are in atten atter attendance danco dance at this conference conferences and I 1 trust that we may be amply repaid by the instructions which we vo receive for the time and troubie trouble which it has haa cost to attend in order however that we may r tay lay receive the blessing which L we need it Is necessary in my I 1 judgment for ail all to come with the splat spirit of the lord in their hearts yin in the spirit of prayer and the love of truth having a doehre for the up building of the kingdom of god and for tho the accomplishment of all mii ine ino purposes and designs which have been made manifest concerning this great work jesus taught the doctrine dool 1 rine nine that wo we should pray for those that despitefully use us that we should love jove our enemies that we should do good to them that do evil to cs us that wo we should not return evil for foe evil but good for evil there Is no parti cu lar jar credit due to any rny penson person wie who returns good for good even the publicans public ans and sinners did this t but ut it la Is somewhat difficult to return good for evil nevertheless to do so was vas enjoined by the commandment mandi mandl man dment nent of ane lord jesus wo vvo are to love our eno ene enemies nales rales do good to them that hate hato and persecute cute cuto us aud and when we aro arc ted por per beccu not again when we are ere derided deride not in return if it we are injured seeli not to injure those who injure ure ue us thas which is required at our hands is estaba lish liah peace on earth and good will to man bences when we forget the object of our calling and step out of the path of duty tp to return blow for blow biow b I 1 OW to inflict evil for evil to persecute because we may be persecuted we forget tho the inal injunctions anc inc of tho the lord and the covenants wo we have made with god to keep his commandments it is a difficult matter I 1 am aware for human nature to become subject to these scriptural injunctions II 11 is difficult for men to curb their passions to restrain their feelings and to resist tho the temptation to rebel reu and administer measure for ron measure but it is enjoined upon ua Us wd vo have been actually commanded in the revelations given to us in this dispensation pensa pens atlon tion to forgive our enemies without their asking forgiveness it Is laid down that if your enemies come up against you to destroy you the first time if the lord delivers you out bf f their bands you yoa shah shall forgive them and if they come the thu second bon ton d time you shall forgive them and if they come the third time against you the lord has said eaid they are then in your lma lna hands baa da to do with them whatsoever aven aver you will but buh it will redound to your honor credit and glory it ayou you forgive them the third time even if they have not repent ed and have not asked forgiveness now this may seem to be rather a difficult requirement nevertheless elees it is so written and ia is eo so required of the latter day saints but how hov often shall wn wo forgive them jf they repent of their bins sins and aad ask for gi veness jesua jesus has laid down the tho law that we should forgive them as often of ten aa RD they will repent and ask forgiveness I 1 lam iam am speaking now of individual tres passes of leopla who offend me or you or trespass against us I 1 am not sot ap caking taking of those thure who tie trespass spass against the immutable the righteous and the holy jaws laws of gud they come comei under another laws law and god and hia hla servants will reckon with them it is for us ux to obtain the spirit of forgiveness to feel to love knose that are eo so ignorant as ado evil uvil to their fellow creatures without a caused cause we should feel as ch carla felt feit elt eit when upon the cross he said father forgive them for they know now not what they do it was urged yesterday by one of the brethren that we could scarcely claim this for many of those who berei were r engaged in persecuting the saints today to day for they do know what they are doing and they are not ignorant of the course that they are pursuing th rhey they ey are in a position tion ilon to learn the truth if they would and to comprehend the fact that they are lying about us yet how do we feel toward them for this do da we feel that we should retaliate do we feel that we should execute vengeance upon them wei wet know that they are telling falsehood falsehoods and are misrepresenting and slandering the people of this church no for years and years we hayo havo eat quietly down and listened to their abuse insults slanders misrepresentations and falsehoods which they have spread broadcast throughout the land to the utmost of their power and no man has BO so much as said why do you so they enjoy the utmost liberty to lie lle and slander and go to the fullest extent of their power to accomplish their wicked and nefarious desires and purposes and we are willing to risk the judgment of god in these matters in lils his own due time we do jo not propose to keep ourselves eternally in hot water wrangling contending and snarling with our enemies if we did we should soon boon become as sour as vicious as ra foul as low and as contemptible as ns they are themselves ves vea well do you love them now kow here is the rub do you love these elan blan darers these liars retainers detainers deta iners reg these persecutors of the innocent and of the unoffending do you love them several voices no no nol I 1 can scarcely blame you laug laughter later but that is not according to utie tuo law of god I 1 want to tell you how I 1 feel towards them I 1 love them so much that if I 1 had it in my power to annihilate them from the earth I 1 would not harm a hair of their head not one hain hair of their head I 1 love them so well that if r could possibly make them better mens meny men convert them from the error of their ways I 1 would do it god being my helper I 1 lovo love them EO so much that I 1 wold wald not throw a straw in their way to prosperity anu and ao so far aa possible ble bie I 1 would hedge up their headlong g and downward courso to destruction and yet I 1 detest and abominate their infamous actions and their wicked course courso that is how I 1 feel towards them and that is how much I 1 love them and und if this is not tho the love that jesus jebus desired us to have for our enemies tell me what kind of love we should have for them I 1 do not love them BO fo that I 1 would take them into my bosom or invite them to asso associate plate glate with my famil that I 1 would give my daughters to their embraces nor my sons to their coune counsels eIs els I 1 do not love them so well that I 1 would dinv inv invite to them to the councils of the priest hood and tiie the ordinances of he the home homo of god to scoff ecoff and leer at sacred things which they do not understand nor would I 1 share with them tho the inheritance that goj my father has given me in zion I 1 do not lovo them well enough for this 9 and I 1 do not believe that god ever designed that I 1 should but I 1 love them eo so much that I 1 would not hurt them I 1 would do CIO them good I 1 would tell toll the truth about them I 1 would benefit them if it was 2 in my power and I 1 would keep beep them tham to the tha utmost of my ability from doing harm to themselves and end to their neighbours I 1 love them that much but I 1 do not love them with that affection with which I 1 love my wife my brother my sister bister or my friend there is a difference between the love we should benr bear towards our 01 enemies aud that we should bear towards our friends do not bay eay that it Js is hatred of our enemies when we would keep them from hurting themselves and anci their neighbors neigh borc do to not call that hatred that ia Is love for them themi if it were poss possible bibie elble to find one of this thia class of pomplo who had been deceived and who had slandered the saints of god ignorantly as paul did and we could prevail upon him to of his hia sins to turn away from wicked nos and hig hie laws then we should love lova him as a brother as a friend friends and as a neighbor that atwould Th would be the tho difference fe r ence enco but we do not mot love iove loveto to associate with our enemies and I 1 do not think the lord luord requires us to do it if he boeshe does doeg he will have to reveal it for I 1 cannot find it anywhere revealed I 1 have never read it in any of the books b ok I 1 have never heard beard it taught tau ht that t h t 17 wo a aro are a to t love our enemies so I 1 much ch as to become b me liao them or condescend to their vile and emd contemptible ways or aa as to share the inheritance god has baa given as us with them or as to suppose for tor a moment that the wicked and the ungodly will ever inherit the kingdom of god or enter into his ilia presence or enjoy the society blessing ing and award of the faithful they neter will they cannot for they are not worthy they have hava not obeyed the law and therefore cannot receive the blessing thereof we web Wee hauld keep ourselves aloof from the wicked the dividing line should be distinctly drawn between god and between christ and the world between truth and error ind between right and wrong we ought to cleave to tho the rif right ht to the good to the truth and forsake forsyhe the evil I 1 lam iam am going to read a little scripture upon this subject iest leat our friends or this congregation should feel that counseling the latter day saints to keep aloof from the wicked and ungodly to not divide their in herf heri with them etc is unwarranted by the scriptures I 1 will to read a little scripture on this very point which will be found in and 2nd corinthians ath chap beginning at the verse be yo so not unequally yoked joked together with Ile lle lievers verB for what fellowship hath bath righteousness with unrighteousness aud and what communion hath bath light with darkness and what concord hath bath christ with or what part hath bath he that believeth beli bell eveth with an infidel and what agreement hath bath the temple of god with idols idola for tor ye yo are the temple of the living god as god hath bath saidi will dieh dwell in them and walk in therm thorn and I 1 will be their god and they shall be my people wherefore come out from among them and be ye yo parate separate ee anith the lord and touch not the tho unclean thine thing and I 1 will receive you yon and v will I 1 11 be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith balth the lord almighty 21 now here is the law of god upon the subject it is the word of the lord come acome out from among almonr them and be ye separate and coucci not the unclean thing what affinity can we have for them let them alone let them go their own way help them to all the happiness that it ia is po sible ble bie for them to obtain in this world for it win em air ina inai uney iney wl will wiil I 1 ever get unless they repent ot of their bins sins and forsake their wicked ways in conclusion I 1 desire to say eay a few words worda in relation to some remarks that were made by one of the brethren yesterday it ia is written in the scriptures that the the tho kingdom and dominion and greatness of thu thy kingdom kingdon under runder the whole heaven shall be given to tho the people of the saints sainta of the most moat high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him this passa passage ge ot scripture was in part quoted doted yesterday by one of the brethren who spoke in the conference and then the question was asked when will the kingdom be given to the saints the answer was when the saints become wise visa enough no t to turn it right over into the lap of the enemy the moment they obtain posses possession BIon sion of it and not till then there never was a truer baying saying than this it takes several things to make a kingdom first there must be a king second there must bo be a people third there must be territory or a place for the people to dwell then come the laws and the rules of government of the kingdom now the territory or dwelling place is a part of the royalty of that kingdom ia 13 it not could you have a kingdom without a place to put it no isu we must have a place to put the king kingdom 0 9 and it ia Is as necessary to have bue sue such a place as at it ia Is to have the tho king and nd the people now which ia Is worst to eeli itell out our interest in jn the king the people or the torii teril territory tory to the enemy if you betray jhb king to the enemy you are a traitor yet Yett here there are some people who betray the king they do not care much about christ tho the king of kings and lord urd of lords and they sell out their interest in himor betray him with very little compunction of conscience eci enee ence and there are some people as I 1 have beard heard that can sell eed are some people as I 1 have beard heard that can sell eed thein their neighbors or betray them I 1 havo bavo heard beard of eomy people who had bad sunken eo ED low that they would w ouid sell anything for money mother or father oather or brother or ort cister ister or friend or neighbor would woula pe ver stand in the way they would io to anything to obtain money money is 13 theli thet god such nople tople people would sell eel our their interest in n their king thelt people and their country for money we wo only want to tind flad out who will roli eel god and alid the people for fon filthy lucre and we bring them to trial and in a very short abort time we manage to bever sever connection with them we say eay he has departed from the faith and we cut him off from our fellowship in the church but what do we do with those who sell their Inherit aneca to the enemy why wo we pat them on the shoulder we hug them to our bosoms we love and cherish them and it is in all au right t no apostasy apo apos stacy there therel but suppose we should all cell sell our inheritance we should then have to move to some other clime it may not be considered prudent to thus publicly express our feelings on this subject as slanderers slander ers and vill fiers are apt to wrest the truth and mise misquote quote and misrepresent the facts yet I 1 feel as though I 1 would be chargeable with a neglect of duty if I 1 did not say at least this much on this subject subjects and I 1 am not afraid nor ashamed to meet this view of the matter if men will sell out their homes and their inheritances to the wicked and the ungodly for money when I 1 ask will vill they be pre predated to go and build up the center stake of zion who of this class will be called to do this work and will they have an inheritance in the new jerusalem why I 1 suspect they would pull up the paving stones and sell them for money they would steal the dla dia monds monda pearls and precious stones from the pearly gates of the new jerusalem and sell them for the coveted coe cle cleasel ashl ashi I 1 am urn opposed in my f ft elings to td parting with my inheritance to those th that atwould would destroy the people of god from the |