Show ABIDE IN THE COVENANT IN the latest epistle of the first presidency the attention of the latter day saints is called to the word of the lord given soon after the organization of the church saying 1 I will prove you in all things whether you W will il abide in my covenant even unto death that you may be found worthy for if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me this decree of the almighty is for the wisest of purposes those who attain to the great exaltation prepared for the righteous must mast be tested to see if they are worthy the crown of eternal lives the glory and dominion of which have been measurably revealed to the saints is of such inestimable value that all earthly eart aly thin things fade into nothingness in comparison wealth balth property comfort the praise raise of men the honors of this w world r the pleasures of mortality are C counted t d as dross in the light of the eternal riches that will be the sure inheritance of the true and faithful the trials through which those who endure unto the end may have to pass the shame the contumely bonds imprison imprisonment n bodily wordily pain mental anguish I 1 sh an ignominious ign ominous death can all be borne with equanimity by those who have the assurance of the great reward how can any one be counted worthy who has not been put to the test and honcan the unworthy who appear to be worthy be relegated to the their r ow own n place until their failure to endure is proven to themselves and their associates as well as to the eternal judge of all the ordeals we have to face are intended because they are necessary at intervals in the history of this church these testing times haye have come upon us they purity purify the people they cause the true to clin cling g closer to the lord and put away evil from their hearts and homes and they purge out the hypocrite and the t traitor they thus cleanse the individual and the community in times of peace and ease warnings are always given of ithe periods of trial approaching they come lu in great plainness yet they are often unheeded and therefore many ar are e overtaken unawares un wares as they will be when the lord shall come suddenly to his tem temple ae although the cry has gone forth athold behold the bridegroom cometh nothing that the saints are now enduring should be surprising after the warnings that have been given by the leaders of the church for many years and we need not imagine that they are over or that they are all comprehended in the few sufferings feringa suf which a fewox few of our brethren and sisters have undergone through tile the vindictive action of courts and officials we are to be proven in ALL THINGS shall we abide in the covenant that is the question it all depends on this if we falter if we turn aside if we try to excuse ourselves if we value the opinions of men rather than the interests of the kingdom if we do not abide in spirit in act in our whole life and being with all we have and all our powers in the holy covenant we have received we cannot obtain the falness of celestial glory because we shall have shown ourselves to be unworthy let this be remembered in every trial and difficulty through which zion may be required to pass we must expect opposition we must mast be ready to meet all that may come life is nothing death is nothing compared to the glory of the gift of endless lives of perpetual increase iH crease of boundless opportunities port unities of joys supernal of eternal dominion in the society of the gods at the little trials of the present crusade we can afford to smile they are trifling compared to what the church has passed til through rough they are small indeed compared to those that are yet to come but strength will be as our day and the lord who has decreed that these shall come will give us breathing time and opportunities tuni ties to renew our strength and take courage there is no need to fear offenses must come ifor for our trial but woe unto them by whom they come it had been better that a millstone were hung round their necks and they had been cast into ithe depths of i e sea than that they should have sealed their own damnation by wilful acts of injustice and wrong against the anointed of the lord but we must not indulge in revengeful feelings to say nothing of acts of retaliation patient endurance is required in the test of the saints and it if they can maintain the spirit of kindness calm mess and meekness in the midst of their oppressions oppress ions it will be counted unto them for righteousness but there is a duty imposed upon by the of their aff afflictions fictions it is that a record of the evil doings of their enemies shallie shall be kept that all tile the sufferings suffer inars and abuses abases the damages to person erson and property the names of aly all who take part in oppressions oppress ions and the nefarious and murderous murderous impositions practiced apon the people may be recounted and presented ted to the heads of government this we are told should be attended to with great earnestness and the word of the lord is let no man count them as small things for there is much that lieth in futurity pertaining to the saints which depends upon these things see doe doc cov section ex xiii there is a great deal connected with the present assault upon the liberties of the people that should be recorded affidavits should be made of the depredations of marshals the unjust and unprecedented examinations before commissioners the vile and insulting before juries the wrongs imposed upon witnesses tile the abuse of women and children and numberless wrongs that need not be mentioned these should all be noted and testified to in writing attested by a notary or some other person having a seal and ana authorized to take acknowledgments edg ments in order to gain the help of the mighty one we must attend to all our duties and hearken to all his counsels these chastisements are for bourgo our go d and the benefit of ills his cause and when they are over we will see how bow he has overruled all for his glory and our exaltation be of good cheer latter day saints fret not because of evildoers let the trial of your faith work patience put the kingdom first in your affections let principle not passion rule you be diligent la iu every duty and whatever comes abide in the covenant even unto death if necessary and when these present clouds clear away as they will you will see now how the hand of the almighty has been over all and your joy that you endured in the covenant and are counted among the worthy will be inexpressible and eternal |