| Show SUNDAY SERVICES religious services were neld field to in the tabernacle salt lake city sunday july 29 1888 commencing at ai 3 2 p in high councilor alias elias morris presiding and congregation sang the spirit of god like libe i a fire is burning the latter day glory begins to come forth prayer by elder edward the clisly sans sang 1 I know that my redeemer livos 1 what comfort this sweet sentence gives the ta priesthood of the twelfth ward officiated in the administration of the sacrament ELDER ARTHUR STAYNER was called to address the congregation gre gation gallon me he said in the book of doctrine and covenants which contains revelations for the guidance and instructions of the carch ch of jesus christ of latter day dav saints given through the prophet ajoseph joseph smith on page the lo 10 lord says leathem Let Leti them him speaking of some seme portion of the Sai saints fits repent of all their i sins and of all their covetous desires before me saith the lord for what is op ert me gaith saith the lord for ed pave av e I 1 not made t the fowls of heaven and also tb the e ll 11 fish sh of the sea and the beasts of ef WE the mountains have I 1 not made the earth do I 1 not hold the destinies of all the armies of the nations of the earth therefore will I 1 not act make solitary places to bud and to blossom and to bring forth in abundance ath the lord 0 although althou itt this was spoken to joseph smith fifty years ago it is true with regard to this people today they need the instructions let them repent of their sins and of all their covetous desires before me saith the lord the spectacle which this people presents to the world today is certainly a peculiar one without a parallel in modern history here is a church less than sixty years old founded upon revelation et ot the lord in the latter day through a servant whom he raised up to do anis work an 1111 illiterate terae boy bey when the lord revealed his the latter day human intellect would suggest that he might have revealed it through some popular community it would seem that he might have saved a good deal of trouble by choosing some well established church many or of the them m have large bodies of missionaries and preachers adorned with learning and every advantage human intellect might ask were there not many minds through which he might have revealed himself him sell with what pleasure would not the churches of the world have re calved his revelations and clothed them in proper garments and held them up against the jhb enemies of their theology theolog but it seems thattie abat the lord did not choose this means to introduce the gospel lie he sent this gospel under circumstances similar to those these under which he sent his bis son to the world most humble circumstances there was no college education in the boy of fifteen years of age there was no understanding of the sciences but the lord chose this manner of introducing his hip gospel at the time joseph received the heavenly messenger it would have been an impossibility for ulm aim to write the records he received unless I 1 inspired aspired it would have been a physical impossibility at his bis ake age to translate those records by his own power the latter day saints do not claim that joseph ceph had any great talents of himself he received his ability from almighty aleigh a ty god ta therein brein lay bis power the organization of a church of six members took place a few years after the first vision but however small this power was it was sufficient to arouse the opposition of the whole world an and yet aps fps same church exists today we have h v e not improved one tots iota on the revelations first given to us we have not succeeded in k keeping to perfection the commandments nta first given we are yet only learning the alphabet as it were of obedience to the commandments of god but what we have learned or what we have not learned I 1 still make the remark that what this people is today is without ai parallel in history the physical dangers which we have gone through are written in the archives archive of heaven and also in the hearts of those that have bave passed through them the teaching of christ is that we should have no hard bard feeling a against 8 t any of those who persecute us wa this la 10 1 is 8 something peculiar here is a people the leaders of whom are by force of circumstances driven away from us a people who see their property taken away by a power they cannot resist and yet I 1 see no tears in their eyes but I 1 see dee that they with calm resignation are waiting for the outcome let me say in view of the tha text we have just read what is property unto me ine saith the lord V I 1 that even it they succeed in taking all we cannot help it tike lurd lord bas baa told us in this book many years ago that he did not give us as his bis gift K sf that we might live after the manner of the world the world is grasping gra spins laying lating their hands upon everything bachman bach man is seeking his own in interest ferest and that of his immediate family As soon as he be can be buildt builds urge houses and givel his fam ily all too toe world lir advantages that can i be thought of j dacet ther her wita plenty of means to equa squander away upon their pleasures and ana I 1 am m sorry to say lasts bat our father did not intend that we should dja di abi IV h n he gave us un an junure miti inlo eion elon b laith alien we heard the tae gospel a mission to uphold the banner of righteousness he also covenanted biti as to carry out this mission when he sees us running into pride and vanity what surprise is it that he should put out his hand and check us so that we do not run into forbidden paths and be prevented from fulfilling our missions the ful fulfillment fulfilment dIment of which is for our own good goad Is it not kindness that our heavenly father arouses us to a sense of repentance inthis in this connection I 1 desire to remember a revelation given nearly six years ago through the president of the church john taylor the lord in this revelation called upon the whole people to purify themselves he called upon all from the first presidency down to the humblest members of the church he called upon the heads beads of families to set their houses in order promising that arwe would do thi sour enemies should have no power over us the lord also said that he would not be mocked in these things those that will not honor him he will not honor our position can not be trilled trifled with it is one of the most responsible that was ever accepted by anybody and rests upon us not only as a people but bt as individuals As each one possesses faithfulness so he or she becomes stronger in faith and thus the whole body becomes faithful but the faith of one can not help the lack of faith in another it is true that when a man is faithful and exercises faith he can assist his bis brother also to be faithful by his bis example but if his bis neighbor or family set themselves against his example his bis faithfulness to is of no use to them everyone must be judged according to the deeds done in the body it if we could remember the covenants we have made and ask the lord to lift thia the veil of the past so that we could coald recollect the covenants we made when we agreed to come here and take bodies we would realize how valuable is the time the moments that pass by the opportunities that have gone will never be offered again we may ask can we afford to lose the opportune 1 ties of studying reflecting and keeping the commandments of god the power that has been sealed upon this people is wonderful I 1 sometimes wonder if even the angels of heaven do not marvel at our carelessness in utilizing our opportunities of power of communication with god of knowledge the priest hood is a golden key with which to unseal the locks of heaven a cup with which to drink of the stream of intelligence that flows from the throne of god our work is not done we have barely commenced to prepare a people for the second coming of the son sen of god among us should belcome now has faita enough to meet him in the air who is prepared pre oared to keep the commandments of god Until that day comes no one is prepared to meet and associate with heavenly beings humility is the way to power with god this is plainly set forth in this book it seems that prosperity has sent this people into a kind of somnambulism which god has set his hand band to wake us up f from r om it seems that this is a natural i sequence of prosperity we are also becoming more steadfast as the winds and hurricanes sweep over us all the experiences we have passed through have had this effect upon us there is an amount of ef rowing growing among us we do not f M our faith faith to sleeve pie are now getting to know for themselves that this is the work of god right here a mong among us there are men who will stand upon the earth among fire and flames here are men who will go out and bear testimony to the gospel and the holy spirit will accompany their testimony among the latter day saints will be found those who will carry the word of god the law shall be given out oat from zion it will be seen that god nere flere has many daniels many prophete many whom we now do not regard much will be called upon to occupy the position of saviors among men thip this s we do not speak peak of with arrogance because w we realize the dephia of humility we must reach in order to obtain this favor we cannot use physical but spiritual means to gain this we have no over another until we have overcome our selves arien we haye ave purified ourselves we have power to control evil in others this is the principle we are endeavoring to learn leam he that over overcomes conva himself is stronger than he that takes a city says solomon solomon received wisdom from god so that he be could discharge nis his duties as a king but bat he tell into temptation and turned away from the god gave all blessings it is a question whether we can not learn something from this we pray tor for wisdom tor for power and so on failing to realize that god opens the windows of heaven to give spiritual blessin blessings 8 as well as temporal we need power to conquer ourselves jesus says he that loseth his lite life shall find it t to lose it is to practice self denial this is a word that would be profitable to the saints to consider you will agree with me that it would be better tor for us to have th holy ghost though we were compelled to walk the earth naked and homeless rather than to live sumptuously every day and have none of the bless inga of heaven it am ae expect to excel the world in glov glory we e must excel in righteousness we cannot go some short cut or private way by which we can reach the inner temples of god while others are snut shut out on account of unrighteousness we have a glorious opportunity of excelling in righteousness god has given us na 1 laws commandments mand ments and the faith that laws and commandments cams came from him if we over overcome comae impurity and selfishness it is because god las has gifun us opportunities and means whereby this can be done and also power from the almighty J ad k d we cougil to honor him for it we honor great men without honoring god from whom all ali greatness comes we honor for instance columbus for his perseverance when he discovered this continent but bat in the book of mormon it is re corded 2000 2900 years ago that god would send such a man god 4 inspired him as he did jesus or john the baptist his forerunner or joseph smith who raised up this remarkable kable church or brigham young to do what he did and the present leaders of the church and the whole people As we look forward our hearts will wili bo be burning as we refit reflect ct upon the fact that god will enable us ra to accomplish our work the latter day saints have hav come to ata stay Y ri right lit here are men that will be prepared to meet jesus the testimony oay shall be borne that there nowhere exists a power that can brush this work from the face of the earth for god has set his baud to raise up a people that shall be the embodiment ol of righteous principles we have many weaknesses but we are growing ig in strength my testimony is anis is cods work this is gods people and gods laws and we are preparing for a greater work thau than the world gives us credit fora for a work through which the whole world shall be renewed and aad this is my iny testimony in the name of jesus christ amen the choir sang the anth anthem m the earth is the lords 11 benediction by elder |
