| Show DISCOURSE D IS COURS E BY ELDER ORSON PRATT DELIVERED IN nIleth ivard ward meeting houge house sunday evening september 1875 REPORTED nu pouted rouTED DY BY DAVID DAWD W EVANS thebe THERE aro are a few words in ono one of df tile tho prayers uttered by our saviour which it may bo be well enough to refer to as a foundation for a few remarks the words in substance are something like this 11 our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on the earth as it is done in heaven whether I 1 shall dwell on tile the subject embraced in these few items any very t great length of time I 1 do not know I 1 have already exerted my myself this afternoon in in the nc new w tabernacle where I 1 am obliged to speak very loudly and it is quite exhausting to both body and mind to speak for any length of time and sufficiently loud to make all the people hear in that large building I 1 hope however that I 1 shall be strengthened by your prayers and faith and that I 1 may be ables able in my communications this evenin evening 9 to speak by the tile inspiration and voice of the holy spirit without which my speaking and your hearing will be in vain the few words I 1 have referred to in the prayer of our saviour are aie taught in all christian nations nati ors and I 1 presume that there are axe no denominations which profess christianity but what more or less use these words both in public and private at least so jar as my knowledge extends I 1 have heard this prayer uttered bya by a great many different christian denominations what is the full meaning of the words our father in heave heaven n 11 sy 11 we ave are taught to address the lord by this title our father who art in heaven some perhaps think that this title is merely honorary and that there is not connected connected with it that relationship which exists between father and children here in this life but that he is merely a father in the same sense that many of those holding high offices as well as aged persons who are addressed as father to whom although we are not particularly ticul arly related to them we give tilis tills title as a title of honor believing that their age and tile the qualifications which they may have entitle them to this mark of respect I 1 do not think however that our saviour in teaching his ills disc disciples P les ies regarded the words to which J have ave referred as a mere title of honor but that he meant to convey the idea that a certain relationship existed between that being who dwells in the heavens called god and the children of men here on the earth and that the relationship which we bear to him is that of children sons and daughters and that his relationship to us is that of a father alfather wo ave all know that the latter day saints sinco since the rise of this church have had some information on this subject that the world of christendom have havo not fully tally understood we have havo been taught by revelation concerning tills relationship of father fattier and children and wo we have learned by revelation that we existed with that personage whom wo we are called upon to address as father before tills tilis world was made we have been taught this and we believe it with all our hearts if wo we are truly latter day saints it is not a matter of speculative doctrine with us it is not a mere opinion on that our elders have taught us or that we have picked up by our reflections but it is a doctrine that has haa emanated from god by direct revelation from the heavens that we not only existed with hith him before this world was made but that wo we also existed in tho the relationship of children and father and that he actually was our father just as much as these aged or middle aged brethren who sit upon these seats who have families aro are the fathers of their children how do you feel feol in relation to your children have you not a tender feeling feel feell ipg pg a feeling of affection as no other being ca can n have towards these children certainly you have you understand cheso emotions for you havo experienc experienced od them they aie aio joyful feel feal feelings ingul fe feelings elingo that you delight dolight in and it makes you glad when you look upon your sons and aud daughters and realize that they are the offspring which god has given you your own sons and your own daughters you feel a peculiar anxiety for the welfare of these children and they feel a peculiar affection af for you as a father and oftentimes address you by that endearing title and especially when you return home in the evening after having been absent during the day and you delight to have them do so and they delight to have the privilege and the relationship that exists between you is stronger than death and many of you if not all I 1 would peril perli beur own lives and lay down your lives to rescue your children from any danger well the same kind of heavenly feeling that wo we have here hero on the earth in tn tile tiie relationship of parents and children existed before the foundation of this world was laid between our father who is in heaven and his sons and daughters there and to a far greater extent than what it exists here all of these heavenly emotions and affections which we have hero in this life are only given to us in measure for the good of those who bear these relationships bilt but there thero is not that sarno same intensity of feeling existing on the part of parents and children here although it is stronger dg than death that would exist in personages that had more knowledge ld e and understanding for they hey t are capable of feeling parental affection faction and emotion to a far greater extent than children of mortality can I ilow how enduring then must have been this feeling leeling among all the family anterior to the creation of this earth god was there with them they could behold his face and they had a long acquaintance with him we cannot tell how long for this is not revealed but the probability is that wo we had an acquaintance of thousands of years with our father in heaven and during all that time we beheld beheld the tile light and glory of heaven the light lit and glory of the countenance of our father and we dwelt in a celestial kingdom for our father dwells there and he begat us and consequently unless he banished us and sent us away from his presence we 0 dwelt in the tho same kingdom and were acquainted with all ail the brightness of the heavenly mansions palaces and cities anu and and greatness and glory of that celestial world we were the sons and daughters of god and were prepared to perform and accomplish many great and important works that were entrusted to us so far as we had llad gained experience our elder bider brother was there wo we were well acquainted with him even jesus christ the oldest of the family and we no doubt conversed with him from time to time and he probably informed us of a great many things that would take place when the new creation should be prepared for us when wo we should take bodies and should become fallen beings and when ho lie should offer up an atonement by which wo we might be redeemed and restored from tho the fall all these things I 1 have no doubt were conversed over and we had a great many conversations in regard to the future and I 1 presume that in those days many promises were made to us in fact the scriptures inform us to this end we read in pauls baues epistle to titus if I 1 recollect right these words in hope of eternal life which god that can cail not lie promised before the world began 11 here then is is a promise made before the world began to persons who do not believe in our pro exist ence this passage would be altogether without meaning the question might be asked at once if we did not exist before bei ore the world began to whom was this promise made who had the promise of eternal we lifo before the world was wu made the lord gave these promises to his children on what conditions dit ions on oil condition of their fulfill fulfilling ing al tho iho 1 le law which should be given to them em when they should come forth to this world and receive their bodies it was said in substance as an follows laws will bo be given to t 0 you then enand theland th and if you keep those laws I 1 promis promise you eyou eternal life and these promises PrOMIS CS were no doubt recorded for wo we are told that all things are written by t he the father and I 1 have no doubt that these ancient records made before the world began contain tho the promises that made to tho bons sona and daughters of the tho almighty before they became fallen and mortal beings we have forgotten our relation shi ship by coming here herc wo wc havo have for gotten those thom things which we once understood and enjoyed in atle tile presence of god wo we have forgotten bow the celest celestral celestial lal fal world loot looks s and how the cities and habitations we formerly dwelt in look we have forgotten how the angels look and how our father his son and the heavenly host appeared we have forgotten all this but has god forgotten in relation to these things oh BO no has he not still the same affection for his own offspring though wo we are fallen and though we are cast out from lis his his presence though we are filled with sorrow and mourning and many imperfections and have to endure aillie eions yes the lord has not forgotten he comprehends all this and his bowels of compas comras compassion sion slon are drawn out towards his sons and daughters therefore there is no wonder that jesus should speak to his disciples and ilis his followers and tell felt them to address that being who is in the heavens by the endearing title of father our father who art in heaven 3 it is pleasing to god and it is pleasing to us to be able to do so but we will pass on after having spoken of these relationships let us go on to another very important thing contained in ln thi this thib sprayer prayer of our saviour he taught his disciples to pray that ills his kingdom might come this item Is contained IH isi the prayer of our saviour as laid down in the evangelist buti ihen jesus appeared to thye the ancient tes tea on this continent and taught them this same prayer he left out the little sentence thy kingdom comp corn and it ignot Is not in the prayer as given in the book of mormon you fon will recollect that when jeans jesus this prayer prater to his disciples in palestine his kingdom had not then come had bad nor then been fully organized on the eartha the other comforter bad not yet been given the endowments had not then been bestowed and und the organization was not full fall and complete neither were the blessings fall and corfi complete piete but bat ho he commanded them to commence their proclamation after his death and sufferings beginning at jerusalem and from there it should go 90 forth to all the nations of the earth hence it wan war with great propriety that he taught them in those days to pray thy sethy it kingdom ug come but after his kingdom had come and had been f fally tally established and organized with apostles and all its necessary officers and after the holy ghost had been airen alren and after the tha great endowments were poured out oaf and the comforter lad had come after all these things we find him lim appearing to the ancient Nep hites andin and ana in teaching them ihla this prayer this sentence was left out ont and I 1 think with great propriety for the kingdom come it was not necessary for them to pray thy kingdom come now an impostor if it had bad been possible for such each a person to hate have framed the book of mormon in copying the lords prayer would not have been apt to leave any part of it out and this one small email fact Is an additional proof of the divinity of that beok book A thing that had already been accomplished was not necessary to be prayed d for by the ancient bat but we will I 1 pass on still further thy will be done on the earth as it Is done in heaven this it I 1 the substance of tho the words perhaps I 1 have not quoted them exactly this Is a very important item in the prayer of our saviour and one upon which mankind should reflect as it embraces a vast variety of practice and conduct among the children of men thy will be done on tho the earth as it Is done in heaven it ills Is true that we do not f ally understand any further farther than what is revealed how the will of god is donela donola done doue in the heavens but I 1 think that wo we can draw conclusions in rel rei gillim lon lun to this matter rno fro from in what is revealed I 1 think that we can find out by a little reflection some of the great principles es that govern the inhabitants of heaten heaven wo may as weil well ask a few questions in relation to the society that is organized in heaven and gee eee how far we can nind find ont out in relation to their conduct and dins doings in the first place god is there with them and he Is their great king and lawgiver and he governs and controls all the inhabitants who dwell in the heavens heavins but bat upon what principle does he control them I 1 answer he gives his laws and they aro are obeyed by bel every there or if i t there should bo a rebellion there that rebellion would be checked as it was before the world was made by casting out from the celestial kingdom or from the heavens all personages engaged in that rebellion leaving only that portion th that a t would bo be perfectly obedient to the laws which govern there do you suppose that they their are divided in regard to political matters in heaven do you think that they assemble in their caucus meetings and select certain persons to do this that thai and the other and then vote voto the democrat and republican ticket for these individuals and that those who get the highest vote Tote act in the tho offices to which they are elected la IR that tho the way ney they do the will et of god in heaven no Is it it if votes be called they aro are cast unanimously not one dissenting voice not one dissenting vote la Is that consistent with such a government as is organized here henein herein in this great re republic publia yes wye we have a most splendid government there is no necessity in our government for any divisions whatever divisions are no part of 0 the government Of course conrEe mankind are very imperfect naia and it was expected by those who framed the constitution that because of these imperfections there would be majorities and minorities that some would tolo volo in one way and eoma some in another and the constitution was co to framed as 11 to protect the minorities froin from being trodden tro biden fiden down under the foet feet of the nna a that the voice of the people could only rule role within the tho constitution that Is the nature of our government it was framed bulted suited to the ot of the childr children enot enof of men badnow but bat now supposing but suf supposing posing that these imperfections did ho hot bot exist and that all the people of the american union should be per featly united when they selected and voted for a candidate for president of the united states and another one for vico vice president would there bo be anything wrong in this thib unity supposing they should moot together in all their elections from one end n a of the country to the other ad ard should have no no divisions division but should all bo be perfectly united upon these men and let it be supposed they were good men and worthy of the utmost confidence of tho the people would there be any infringement of the constitution by the people being thus united not in id the least would it be inconsistent with the form of the american government for this union to exist not in the least degree bat the government has provided for the imperfections of the tho people peopled and add for contentions and and for jars and nigh figh sightings tings and they have aiso also al a 0 made |
