| Show I 1 ise tse G 7 ris kis 0 7 BV u r ilent PRESIDENT JOSEPH esith F SMITH DELIVERED atthe general conferences conference salt lake city sundays sunday a w m 01 april aa 1883 there never perhaps was ws a time tirrie bince since the church was organized when the people of god were more prosperous or so BO numerous nume rous as they are today to day notwithstanding all the efforts that our enemies havo have direct ed against us but while wiilie wo we have hava triumphed over opposition and all the forces of the wicked that have been exerted against us by newspaper and pulpit and the power of con COD congress gress it la Is meet that we shou should id acknowledge the hand of god in all our victories it has hns certainly not been by the wisdom power or intelligence of maii man that we have been delivered until now but by the favor tavor and blessing of god in our behalf and we aro alo today to day a living monument of gods goda special mercy favo fave rand raud protection he has not only biess bless blessed edus na with the privilege of bo be coming acquainted with his mib laws and with tile the piani piang of salvation but he has hns gathered us to ton a goodly land and notwithstanding its former sterility barrenness ba renness and ind forb forbidding fild lold 1 U aspect aspects he has modified the e elements blessed the earth and hns has made these those valleys valley s desirable as a home for the saints and he ha has s us with an abundance of earthly things besides bestowing upon us the richest of all blessings that man can enoy enjoy in this life the holy spirit and a knowledge of the new and everlasting covenant we should have the utmost confidence in the and wisdom ot 0 tho the almighty to consummate the work which he has begun from our experience and knowledge of the past this thia is no day for trembling or fear it is not a day for doubt or misgiving god has demonstrated hla llila power and superior wisdom in so BO many ways and at EO many times during the history of this people to in delivering them from the grasp of us no now doubt him whatever the po position altion in which we might be placed would bean benn be an indignity to our great preserver an insult to god it seems to me impossible for any latter day saint in the face of all the lord has done for this people peoples to doubt for a moment his ability or intention to frustrate the designs of wicked am bilious men and to continue ula his work in thel future lutu reto roto to ultimate victory and triumph over every obstacle or opposing roe foa the only real danger that I 1 foresee in the path of the latter day saints is in the results which naturally follow the possession of wealth h pride and vanity self seif indulgence and forgetfulness of god and a disregard of the eacret obligations and duties that we owe to nim rim and to one another and this because of the abundance of earthly blessings which he in his goodness has bestowed upon us it Is said that jn in adversity we are inclined to feel after the lord but that in prosperity wa we remember him not it appears to me that in this lies the greatest danger that threatens us today to day this does not apply to the whole people perhaps for we are not all rich in this worlds goods but to individuals and they are not a few but many who are being blessed it if it proves a blessing with an accumulation of wealth and I 1 am sorry to say bay that many seem to be indulging in speculation to that extent that their whole souls appear to bo be wrape up in the love of the a world it Is very evident th that borne somme of us are yet grof of the world for fon ilke them fethe the moro more we geh get of it the more wo we want and it does seem beem impossible to satisfy the arav cra v ings of such minds for the perishable things of time As individuals gather around them riches and become eng engrossed romed with the care that natu natt naturally fally faily attaches to them they are prone to forget the pil pit from which they their were dug or the stone from which whick they were vene hewed to forget god upon whom they are quite ad as dependent when assessed oas essed of wealth as aa when in the lut lu tut t abject poverty rr fon wealth glayt make men independent of ol 01 from taher does it bellevo them thom to each cach obligations that they owe pendent up ups the rich are as de hila hita boirie to glod for the light of the blessings SL L them and fo fon for r the lne holy of poorest of the poor AB a are th the this ulis regard la Is pho pao no 1 respected 1 ettl ord in 1 it per 0 i wt alls akka sons 11 the station or worldly condition of man la Is not regarded by the almighty it la Is mans righteousness and humility it la is the willing mind and the obEd obedient lent heart that la Is accey acceptable ble bie to him and ulices we are righteous and humble willing and obedient he will withdraw his spirit from us and we will be left lefi to ourE ourselves elves elvee as others have been before us neap reap what we sow BOW if the time should ever come which adorn I 1 i ot anticipate when the majority of this people will be swallowed up in the cares of the world I 1 know of no remedy to check the evil and thus prevent the destruction of the church more effectually than to bo be subjected to the power and persecutions of our enemies to be driven and smitten perhaps until we shall shail be humbled and brought to a benbo benso ot of our oar obligations to the lord hord almighty and leam leab wisdom by the tho things we have to suffer there are blessings which pertain to the gospel of jesus christ and to tho the world to come which cannot be secured by personal influence nor be bought with money and which no man by his own intelligence or wisdom can obtain except through compliance liance ilance with cel col contato tall tati ordinance laws laws and commandments which have bean given and Andi it is well weil in my judgement jud gement for the latterly latter LY aay baiata saints to continue to bear in mind that the inestimable of the gospel have been bestowed upon them through their faith that a remission of sins hasteen has been obtained by baptism and repentance tancey and that it is only through continuing faithful that they can retain the tho gif gifts ts rend and blessings which pertain partain to eternal life there aro are many blessings however which are common to the human family which all enjoy without regard to their moral status or religious convictions god has given to all men an agency and has granted to us tho the privilege to serve him or berve serve him not to do that which is right or that which is wrong and this privilege is given to all men irrespective of creed color or condition the wealthy have this agency the tho poor have this agency and no man la Is deprived PY by any power of god from exercising it in hi the fullest and in fre freest abt ni manner dianner anner this agency has been gi given ven to ii ail nil this is a blessing that god has bestowed upon the world of mankind upon tili till his children alike but he will hold us strictly to an account for the use that we make of this agency and as it was wad said of cain BO it will be said of us if thou cheat well thou not be accepted and it thou doest not well sin ileth lieth at the door 2 there are bo however certain blessings which god bestons bestows upon the children of men only upon the condition of the rightful exercise ezer czer cise of this agency for instance no man can obtain a remission of his sins but by repentance and bap baptism by one having authority it we would bo be free from sin from its effect so from I 1 its ts powei we must obey this law which god has revealed or oc we w never can obtain a remission of sins bins therefore while god has bestowed upon all men i irrespective of condition this agency to choose good brevil or evil he has not and will not bestow up on the children of men a remission 1 of sins but by their obedience to law therefore the whole world lle ife lies s in sin and is under condemnation 9 inasmuch as light has come unto the world and men will not avail themselves of that light to put themselves in a proper position before the lord and this condemnation rests with tenfold force upon all those that have yielded obedience to this laws law and have once received a remission of their unto binand have forgotten or disregarded dla dis regarded the covenants they made in the waters of baptism all xii allmen men are blessed with the strength of thel their r body with the their mind and with the right to exercise the facilities with which they are endowed in ila a way that good in their sight without regard to religion but god bod has not and wili will nol not buffer suffer the gift of the woly holy ghost to tri be bestowed upon any man or woman except through campli ance with aw I 1 th the th laws of god therefore no man can obtain a remission of sins no man can obtain the gift of the holy ghost no man can obtain the revelations of god no man can obtain til the e priesthood and the nights rights powers power a and privileges thereof no man can become an heir of god go d and a joint heir with w ith jesus christ except through compliance with the requirements quire ments of heaven these atau utne are am universal blessings they are aro great g reat an and 4 privileges wt which pertain to the gospel and to the plan of life and salvation which nrc aro open and free to all on certain con dit kitiona editions di ions tlona but which no creature beneath th the eb heavens beavens can enjoy but bat through walking in the channel that god bbs bbb marked out by which they can obtain them and these privileges and blessings when obtained may be forfeited land prid jand perhaps lost for all eternity unless we continue steadfast in the coaree course that is marked marke dout out for us to pursue it is well in my y judgment that the latter day saints do not lose sight of the great ireat privilege that has been bestowed bestow ed upon them no man can become a citizen of the kingdom of god but by entering jn in nt t the doors door there thera are thousand and tens of thousands aye millions of people who will never become of the kingdom of GA in this world because they fall fail to exer exercise cibe clee the agency and aud the power hower that that has hla been beell given to them in the right Wre direction etton elese they enjoy many of the blessings that are bestowed upon the world in common the sun ehinea upon the evil and the good but the holy ghost descend only upon the righteous leous and upon those that are forgiven of their sins bins the rain descends upon the evil and upon the good but the rights of the priesthood are conferred and the doctrine of the priesthood distilli di stilla the dews of heaven souls of those only that receive it in geda own appointed way the favor of heaven the acknowledgment jentof of the almighty of his children upon the earth oa as his liis sons and mid his daughters can only bo be secured through obedience to the laws which he has revealed riches orthe wealth of the world cannot purchase these things dmn magus magua desired to purchase the pow arito cast out devils with moneys but peter bald baid unto him athy thy money perish with thee these ba bles bies es singe powers and privileges are not to be purchased but by the atonement of christ they are not to be obtained by personal hi influence fluence wealth position or 01 power or jn in any othen other way but the direct way in which god has decreed that they should be obtained now 66 so long as the latter day saints balnys are content to obey the of to appreciate tho the privileges and blessings which they enjoy in tho the church and md will use uee their time their talents ants their eu su substance betance in honor to the name of god to build up zion acilto and to establish truth and righteous ousa ous oue nessin hessin the earth so BO long our heavenly F ather eather Is bound by his oath and covenant to protect them from every opposing foehand to help them to 9 verdome every obet obstacle nole noie that can possibly be arrayed arrived against them or thrown in their pathway but the moment a 8 community begin to be wrape up in themselves become sel sei fieh become engrossed in the tem term moralities of life and put their faith in niches riches that moment the power of god begins to withdraw from them and if they repent not the holy spirit will depart from them entirely and they will be left let to themselves thai that which was given them will be taken away they will lose iose that which they had for they will not be worthy of it god Js Is just as well us as merciful and wo we need not expect favors at the hand of the almighty except as wee wei merit them at least in the honest desires of ou our hearts and the desire a and n of intent will not always avail aval unis unia our oui acts cor correspond for wo are engaged e in ina a literal work a rea nea reality ity and we must practice as well as profess we must be what god requires us to be bey beg or else weare not ris ria people nor the zion which he designs to gather together and to build up in the latter days upon the earth am aware Is the last day of conference that there are many to speak and much to be done therefore brevity is desirable I 1 find booi too that it la Is difficult for me to speck loud enough to be heard by this vast assembly y I 1 rejoice in the work of god I 1 hav enever been seen a moment since I 1 became acquainted with the ples pies of the gospel when I 1 had the least doubt in my mind of their truthfulness I 1 have never feared and do not know whal inthe feeling of fear la 13 ai aa to the result of this work I 1 know that god is ia able to bear it ofa oaf offs and that he will do it I 1 fear often ton for mankind and formy for myself Belf knowing my own weaknesses better perhaps than anny living being except god I 1 often nave have fears and trembling for myself when I 1 am made to feel my own weakness and see myself as I 1 am seen by bye the lond lord but as abr to the wor work of god s it cannot fail for god has decreed its atlon and chilsi whilst man may way oppose it and his efforts fall the work of god will never fall now wow mark iti ili As aa I 1 have often hald haid laid the most favorable opportunity that the adversary of mens menis souls ever saw to destroy this work was on or before the ath day of april 1830 but falling failing to accomplish it then notwithstanding tho the efforts that were put forth in this direction failure to do so bo in the future must only be the more apparent there Is more to grapple with now than then the cathe kingdom has taken deeper and stronger root in the earth and its branches have expanded and spread out into many lands there are more people to kill off now than ever before and we are rapidly increasing there Is no use of thinking this work will be destroyed by martyring mar a few of the people peoples although they might be our leaders mormonism to Is a living principle in the hearts of all true saints every soul of whom must be destroyed before it can be wiped out rt ft has been through the overruling provi dences of the almighty allowed to grow until bithas attained strength and power in the earth and thanks he be wita mita god the ruler and maker of heaven and eart earth bl feel it in my very bones that the kingdom of god is beyond the reach and power of the devil or hi his 13 agents and in this condition it wili wiil remain ever even advancing inas luss much sa the saints keep the law of god if we should become corrupt and wicked he has bald eald that we shall be removed out of our place and every individual who will not keep his commandments will tall fall for no man can stand in this church but upon the foundation of righteousness and ti truth ruth and whenever we undertake to build upon tha foundation of error and f selfishness aud and sin bin that moment our oun foundation will crumble crumbie beneath 0 |
