| Show DISCOURSE w BY I 1 fenohr fl LUtui LORENZO SNOW cuvi muil ae at me the weber stake conference in the ogden Ta bernade sunday morning october 19 1879 REPORTED BY JAMES taylor AS a foundation for a few remarks this morning I 1 will viii read the verse of a revelation commencing on page liage bok asok of doctrine and covenants Cove nanta therefore if it any man shall take of the abundance which I 1 have made bladel and impart not mot his bis portion according to the law of my gospel unto the poor and the needy he shall with the wicked lift up his eyes in hell bell beina being in torment also a few verses contained in the same book on page com corn at the 3rd ard verse which sho aho show abow w what is required ol 01 every man in his stewardship S 1 I tha lord haxe have ap donte ponte them and ordained them to bo be stewards ate hards wards over the revelations and commandments which I 1 have given unto them and which I 1 shall hereafter give unto them 4 and an account of this stewardship will I 1 require of them in the day of judgment 95 5 wherefore I 1 have appointed them the mand jand sand this thia is their business in the church of god to manage them ahem and the concerns the thereof roof rooi yea the benefits thereof 6 wherefore a commandment I 1 give unto thelo thorn that they shall not give these things unto the church neither unto the world 41 T nevertheless inasmuch as they receive more than ia is needful for their necessities and their wants it shall be given into my storehouse 8 and the benefits shall be b consecrated unto the inhabitants zion and unto their generations inasmuch as they become heirs according to the laws of f the kingdom 9 behold this la Is what the lord requires of every man in his hia ate wards hip even as Is J the lord have appointed or bhail hereafter appoint unto any miln man 10 And Aud behold nono none are exempt from this thia law who belong to the church of the living god 11 yea neither the bishop s neither the agent who the lords lorda storehouse neither he who la Is appointed lifa iri lif a stewardship over temporal things the tho short time lime that I 1 occupy this md morning ruing I 1 ibish wish to speak in a man ner that will be for our edification and mutual improvement in those things that per partain salvation for this purpose I 1 desiro desire the faith and prayers of all those who believe in looking to the lord for instruction str st ruction action and intelligence V V e should realize the relationship that we sustain to the theli lord lond ord our god ka and the peculiar we oc grupy to properly discharge the obligations devolving upon us we require supernatural aid the character of the religion that thai we have espoused demands a certain course of conduct that no other re that we know of ot acquires of bf its adherents adhe rente and the nature of those upon us are aro buch euch that no person can comply with them unless by assistance from the All ail mighty it ia is necessary that we comprehend at least in part the great and important blessings that we are to derive eventually by complying with the requirements of the religion or gospel that we have hare received the sacrifices that are required of us are of that nature that no man or woman could make them unless aided by a supernatural power and the lord in proposing these conditions never intended that his people should ever be required to comply with them unless by supernatural aid and of that kind that is not professed by any other class of religious people he has promised this aid the demands ua u are of a peculiar nature and aa as I 1 before said no man or woman could comply with them unless enlightened and sustained by the power of the them almighty the thel religion we have received ia 18 not it ia is not something that has been devised by the cun ming ot of man maa but it is something th that athas has been revealed by lne ine almighty it is a foft act it is something sone bone that truly exists it is something that is tangible itis it is something that can be laid hold of by the minds of the latter day saints it is something that can be directly understood and be fully comprehended BO so that there can be no doubt in the mind of any latter day saint in regard to the nature and character of the ultimate outcome of the course that he proposes to persue in complying with the demands of the gospel he hus has received but bat those demands are of a nature that perhaps would be almost appalling to the minds individuals that were darkened that had no light or understanding understand irig 1119 ia in regard to tho the outcome that is expected to be bits experienced by the latter day saints inasmuch aa as they faithful in adhering to the principles which they these demands are not et of a nature that have no parral lel in the history of the people of god they were required in every age and period when god called a people to serve him and to receive his laws jaws they were required in the days of israel atil in the beginning of that people they were required of ibraham abraham isaac and jacon jacob they were required of moses and of the people mad mat he led jed from egyptian buo too bon uon laze lage they weld were by all the prophets that existed from the days of adam to the present period optime of time they were required by the astles apostles that leca ieca ived their commission by the laying on of hands of jesus christ the son of the living god and by the adherents of the religion that the apostles proclaimed and taught to the people in their day and no man or orbet bal sat of men or class of people from the day of adam to the present time could comply with these requirements except the people of god aa as they were endowed with power from on high which could proceed only from the lord our god and it would be simply foolish indeed to expect the latter day saints in these days to comply with the celestial law with the law that proceeds from god and with his designs to elevate the people into hig hia presence except they were sustained by a power tho the gospel promises this it promises the gift of the holy ghost which is divine in its onar enar acter and which is not enjoyed by any other class of people and which we are told by the saviour should lead into all truth and inspire those who pos possessed essed it and give them a knowledge know lege of jesus a know lege of the father and of things pertaining to the celestial world that it should inspire those who possessed pos essed it with a knowledge know lege of things to come and things that were past and inspire them to an extent that they should enjoy sup er natural gifts the gift of tongues and prophecy to lay hands upon tb the a bick sick by which they should be healed those who received this gospel were promised these supernatural power and gift gifts and a knowledge know lege for themselves that they might not depend upon any man or bet set of mouin regard to the truth of the religion that they had received they should receive a knowledge know lege from the father that the religion came from him that the gospel came from him and that his servant had bad the right and authority to administer those ordinances dinan din ances ces cea so that no wind of doctrine should shake them or remove them from the path in which they were walking to bo that they might be prepared for the glory that sh should 0 uld be revealed and bo be made participators participatory therein so that they might endure any trial lor lon or anti anni affliction atlon i that it should be the tho will of god to be brought upon them to prepare them more fully for celestial glory eo so that they should walk not in dar darkness knees but in the light and power of god and be raised above the things of the world and be superior to the things around them so that they might walk independently beneath the celestial world and in the sight eight of god and heaven as us freb free freemen men pursuing that course that should be marked out to them by the holy ghost that course by which they could elevate themselves to knowledge and aud po thus themselves to receive the glory that god proposed to confer upon them nna ana to occupy the exalted exulted position to which god designed to rais rats ethem in view of or this jesus told the young man who came to him and wished to know what he should do to inherit eternal ilfe life to keep the commandments the young man I 1 replied that ho he had kept these com cem mand ments referred to from his youth upward the savior looking upon himy him saw there was still something lacking the joung young man had kept the moral law the law given to moses and for this jesus loved him but baw saw that there was one thing lacking he was a rich m man an and held influence in the world in consequence of his superior wealth jesus knew that before he could elevate him or any other man to the celestial world it was necessary that he should be submissive in all things and view obedience to the celestial law of the utmost importance jesus knew what was required of every man to gain a celestial crown that nothing should be held dearer than obedience to the requirements of heaven the tho savior saw in young man a cleaving to was not in accordance with the tho law ot of the celestial kingdom he saw peradventure a disposition in him to adhere in his bis feelings to that which was injurious to him and would render a compliance to all the demands of the gospel disagreeable gree able or impossible therefore he be told him that be he should go and sell all that he be had bad gand and land give to the poor and follow him this commandment man dment made the young man feel sad ead and sorrowful he looked upon riches as the great object la in we lite aa as bilu bringing glug lalm naz vaz x of the world worl dand aad and all things that were desirable as procuring him the blessings and enjoyments enjoy ments of life and as the means of lifting him to high positions in society he could not conceive the idea of a persons per securing the blessings en joy ments and privileges of life and buch such things as his nature craved independent af his wealth bu but t the gospel wat waa of a nature that pro for everything that was necessary to fulfill fulfil the wants and requirements quire ments of man and to make him happy riches biches were not eo so calculated cu lord desired him to give up these ideas and to dle dig lodge them from his mind and feelings eo so be he might secure him as his bis servant in all things he desired this man to be wholly devoted to his bis service and to go into his work with tuli full purpose of heart and follow the dictates of the holy spirit and prepare himself for glory but this young soung man was not willing it was too great a sacrifice and the savior said upon this occasion how hardly shall they that have richea riches enter into the kingdom of heaven Itis it is easler easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of god the disciples were astonished out of measure at this saying among themselves who then can be saved they thought that no man could possess riches and be saved in the kingdom of god this was the idea they received from the remarks of the savior but jesus anaw answered erod ered 61 with men it ia Is impassible impossible but not with god for with god all things chingare thin gare are possible now we want to look and anc eee fee how this is possible I 1 have read in the book of doctrine and covenants the revelations that have been given in those days gip botn fire latter day saints betting setting forth the requirements of god in relation to temporal affairs here are remarks that are pretty straight which I 1 have read on page if a any ny man shall take of the abunda abundance nce which I 1 have mado made and impart not his portion conling according ac to the law of my ray gospel ho he shall lift up his eyes ia iodell hell heli being in torment 11 now this Is straight language and looks perhaps rathor rather ec ivere lvere when the lord revealed his gospel in these those latter times to the world he commenced teaching the people what was required of them in their temporal affairs as he taught the young man and as he taught many others and as the apostles were taught and others who received the gospel under their administration the greatest trouble that has bas ever beens been probably that the lord has had with the people in any age has been in reference to their temporal affair affairs ss their financial matters the latter day saints at the present day are very united in reference to their spiritual principles du dij 1 d il carines ct rines we see eye to eye in regard to principles that pertain to the doctrinal portion of the religion we bave have espoused but when it comes to our temporal our earthly possessions and our conduct in relation to them we beem teem to be a little confused in reference to what whal is right and wrong and more or less lees we feel disposed to pursue our own owa course in regard to these matters and as in the days of the judges every man la Is doing what seems right in his own eyes we seem to forget ahat that the lord has distinctly pointed out our duties and that there is a little book boob doctrine and covenants that god hus has given by direct revelation in regard to these matters by which we should be governed we forget these things as it is natural for us to for get got the things of god awesome we some bome times think of the many good things that we do and imagine perhaps that because of these good acts we aue are excusable in not bothering ourselves in reference theome to bome some other things that we do not perform in giving his revelations to us in regard to thebe these matters the lord took certain individuals and made them examples to the had sad bainte te t and hewl be wished shed the hainta saints to dooh looh upon these individuals and follow their example the lord did not at first to call upon all the people at once to do in relation to these temporal matters because thay were very ignorant and ano more or less covetous ae in march 1830 one month before the organization of this church the lord commenced to instruct or laj jay down principles which should govern the people of god in all their temporal af affairs lairs the foundation was raised as a standard or beacon shining in a dark place that every latter day dap saint balat might look at sad ud lox tox toi ihl lil melt what would be required the first rev revelation elation that I 1 recollect of that was given in regard to the temporal obligations of the saints or what should be bere bare re quiren of them was given to martin harris you will find it on or page book of doctrine and covenants martin harris was a man who posses possessed ed considerable wealth or at least was tolerably bellof well weil of the lord nord gave him a revelation touching Dg temporal ani afi annaire aire alre the bame same as jesus gave the rich young man the lord nord baid said to martin harris impart a portion ol 01 thy PrO property perty POrtY yea even part of thy lands and all save the support of thy family this revelation applied simply to martin harris and not to everybody only as you consider it an example to latter day saints but on page book of doctrine and covenants there is a general commandment in connection with the divine law which was given in this revelation it applies to everybody as for instance thou not lie 11 ia is a general commandment and applicable to every latter day saint here is the commandment velee verse 65 55 band cand and if thou obtain est eat more than that which would be for thy support thou ehalt give it into my storehouse that all things may way be done according to that which I 1 have sald eald in connection with this subject wo we find on page e that the lord called together six of his elders and gave them commandments mand ments and revelation and appointed unto them a |
