Show AVOID coM contention RECENTLY we treated briefly upon the present situation of affairs affat in the world showing how precisely some of the pointed predictions of joseph smith the seer had been and were being fulfilled the saints in this connection were warned against being influenced by the false spirits by which the people abroad generally were being SWO swayed aed special attention was directed to the spirit of contention cropping out in various forms and in every place this being the genius of war with which the nations according to the prophecies of joseph smith are won soon to be distracted when this spirit increases and Is fed and fanned it ultimately bursts bursts into open flame it is exceedingly important that the disposition to divide does not obtain in the the latter day saints if it is allowed to grow then there is trouble ahead in its moat distasteful form there is no affliction so great as that which ensues from internal coA contention outside pressure in the form of persecution is frequently the cause of greater good than in if there are no interior jarring elements because it tends to still greater solidification which means increased strength observation ih increases eream solicitude for the avoidance of division and contention in the midst of ane afie community instances arise which indicate the incipient stages of pulling apart they appear in various shapes some ate are in the farm of doctrinal theories someone is struck with an idea oy oi a novel character or it may be a new tho thought kight revamped without due consideration it is given to the people as teaching probably not ent weight is given by the exponent of the particular theory to the necessity of ascertaining whether it com ports porte with the revelations of jesus christ or of in ih other worlds hethel thet or not it is true should it happen to be unsound hurtful impressions are made offends ate produced and division and contention ensue ISo thing is clearer in connection wath the golja than that its ex pou liders should be sure that their teachings are upon a sound ams if f there is 19 it a discrepancy a favorite lav individual theory and ithe file revelations rev eMons given to the church chu reh the should go out of sight eight especially ally so far as m teaching it to the people is concerned business difficulties axe are a prolific source of division mid arid a cause of much ill id feeling in these at af fairs each should keep in mind the christian alan itte AAs better to suffer stiffer wrong than to do wrong if the parties on each side were fully imbued with this disposition differences would be comparatively easy of settlement each would seek not to gain advantage vanta geover over his neigh neighbor bok but to reach the justice of the question at issue when Whon selfishness is eliminated from a controversy this is easy of ascertainment and the matter to is adaus adjusted on that basis that one ond party to a difficulty is ig unreasonable provides no excuse for the other being by the same spirit justice demands demandEr that when a person feels he to is wronged he should make every effort to convince the offender of the fact but that does not mean abat he be should quarrel about the matter or encourage and cultivate indis in fais heart a spirit of bf revenge even when he knows he has been injured jealousies in business matters are despicable in every form so are jealousies in every ettery department of life if lo louellan on eman sees another proe to a greater degree than he is ih envy eavy should not enter his cotil no man to Is willing to acknowledge that he is animated by this sinister sentiment flut there Is no need that he should the evidence of its pre presence is unmistakable whenever he decries decried condemn sor sneers st at those he esteems tod to be his bis rivals ri gaii these them are but the poisonous outs out growths of the canker the seeds of which he hm hair permitted to be planted in his mind the sooner he e tears the unsightly shrub out by the roots the better it will be for foghis his spiritual growth otherwise Ms his soul will shrivel and wilt these them jealousies constitute an element elemet it of division they hive have operated in that way ay from the beginning and they ate are reactive mo now than they should be by a long way to be bo jealous of another from aty any cause isban badin in root and ALM branch if there be benien men who cannot see am an other advance beyond their own status intellectually or temporally aby are lacking in hi one onea of the chief of grea greatness thess the e soul roT ces at thebe he increase reise of intelligence and prosperity because it swells the beneficent effect upon the whole every harsh VIM spirit should be avoided by those whose duty it to is to nid minister nister among the people aspeci ally in the spiritual things of the kingdom its appl application lAtion may produce in some a seeming cotar orm ity to what aliat to Is desired but when that is thi the cause of a change of conduct the reformation is not lasting to comfort us well as instruct is one of line highest functions of a servant of god thunder wid and forked lightning may terrify ter rity but it is the gentle do dew and sun sunshine which soothe freshen and make glad EW electric are needful occasion occasionally oMy to elear ele arhe the atmosphere but happily they are far apart while the patt pattering efing rain sue ceedee by the scheer wid and warm warmth of the orb ot of day are the che cheering efing and A productive life giving con conditions 5 of I 1 the elements in a revelation chih olaa oil page of the book of doctrine Doc tritt tribe and chews clearly 0 4 chief cause visited the church in lie its early rise we ve i quote behold I 1 say unto YOU yea there and contentions and e and fes and lust lunt ful and covetous desires desired among them seeing that the spirit of contention ie Is abroad in the earth abid as it is plain that that sweeps over the world finds some foothold among the saints especial care should b be taken to note the nature of causes of dill division sion slid and to act accordingly by shunning them lit jit may be samly safely said eaid that he who gives way vay to the spirit of contention will be aure rb to get into serious |