Show CLEANSING ta THE IE CHURCH THE elders upon whom devolves the duty ot teaching the saints in a public capacity ape am larger largely actuated by the spirit to reprove admonish and entreat this is the genius of genuine Jea cheis in the community ike sleepless watchmen 11 they A AE lifting up the warning voice concerning ing evila that art ar creeping in ia aang the flock it is specially urged upon the officers of the church that they perform the important duty of ridding idding the jae body of corrupted and nd dead members the condition of the pe people ae requires just such an attitude on the part paa of those who wish to see the purity of the church maintained and perpetuated if the lord holds ibris in djs band a sore scourge for application upon the wicked of the world justice upon which his throne is seated requires that he shall not pass by with impunity those who profess his name yet who perpetrate similar evils for which he will condemn the nations neither win will he hold these wholly guiltless guilO who suffer such things to exist in the community of saints whose duty it is to s ae e that they are eliminated that the church ma may y be preserved so far as practicable free from sin and uncleanness uncle annesa there are two processes by which the desired object can be obtained 1 by means of the repentance of the wrongdoer oer of course this thia applies only to that elm class of offenders whose infractions of the laws of god are am not of that gross and fi flagrant agrant character that demands their unconditional expulsion then it is the plain duty of the officers to labor with back sliders and offenders with the sole object of bringing them to repentance we are of opinion that more can be accomplished in n this thia line in a private capacity than by public teaching in fact the very position of a backslider and offender is such euch that it is rare that he accepts of an opportunity to b be taught and admonished moni mord shed in a public assembly eyen even when he be happens to be pree ent ho is left free to take general teachings or strictures home to himself or conveniently imagine they have an application to other people not so when approached privately then matters can be brought directly dimetry home to himself teachings and advice thus tendered are also accompanied by the personal influence of those who seek his welfare fathe tf the acher teacher be ee e exemplary e qular v as h he should be this w will W have vouse considerable era bie 0 weight in order to haye influence with ma aneff an ir the tae kwo 0 04 o uk the v church Chur cli he who seeks s t to r reclaim him should not approach him in a combative denunciatory or lous spirit ile he should be dealt in the spirit of friendship and sympathy the welfare 6 of the individual being the chief object in with inducing him to repent men and women ds as a rule will listen with respect to people who aab are seeking their interest and if they are convinced that such Is the case they will not bell be likely kely to cast aside their advice as a trifle unworthy of notice experience has convinced us of the greater pot potency eticy of private methods of reclamation over those of a more public character their efficacy has been demonstrated abroad as well to as at home people abroad are frequently captivated and struck by the force and truth of the preaching of the elders but this effect is often more or less evanescent let the elder who is kind and persuasive mingle among the people gain their good feelings in that way even without spying saying a great deal about religion the foundation for conversion of lovers of truth la 1 laid for the explanations of the missionary will be listened to their acce acceptance p tance being made more sure by the confidence reposed in him and the esteem in which he be is held and so it is in the 66 gathering place dace of the saints perhaps if a little more of that leal eal and cate care in making converts verts to tae jhb faith were shown here in preserving people in it and their feet from going into forbidden paths a better and purer condition would exist at no time in our history has it been more necessary for all good men in the church to act for the benefit and purification of zion every man should in the language of revelation be diligent and stand in his own place and not in that of another that harmony may be preserved and all conflicts and disagreements gree ments disappear many of the chief watchmen whose hearts yearn after the welfare of the community are in exile or in pris prison cin as were the servants vante of god in hi ancient times their voices are no longer heard in the congregations of the people to direct them in the ways of righteousness the spirit of god is being withdrawn from the nations and satan has great power over the I 1 4 J s h hearts of the children of men he is ia also making a lp effort kidie here a to aay a ay t he e sainte from th the areiti restraints dents dints af of their theil r religion inducements eats to 6 an fn indulgence idl 1 in a wrong are multiplying 9 on every hand alq and the plank upon which the people may glide down clown to deidra destruction c is ii being piled for the hoped for occasion and we say here with a solemn desire clemite bior for uie the weal of the community that all I 1 those who are not possessed of and enveloped by the spirit oi of god taking the of that divine influence for their guide glde are i in danger the spirit 0 of f lewdness of lying byj ng of sabbath breaking bread ng of a disposition to be covers of pleasure rather than lovers of god la in abroad in the earth bah it Is ia more or less leas manifest here for those who ho have not yet I 1 rid ther themselves WIves of the i spirit iari of the world ahre are liable habl to be 6 affected I 1 I 1 by the influences by which x it is moved those who suffer themselves to be overcome and will continue in wrongdoing wrong doing have no rightful lot nor part among the people of god when calls to repentance fall fail recourse should invariably be had to the law of the church he who senneth and teth not shall be cast out and shall not have place among you the commandment is express and unqualified Itis it is the final means of purification of the church the initiatory process being repentance if the latter is not exhibited by the wrongdoer wrong doer after b being labored with the almighty will hold the sluggish watchmen who fail to apply the law responsible to some degree at least for tile the of jhb church hurc fi of Christ I 1 whose power is clogged not only by the presence among the faithful of the In unrepentant repentant sinner but by the effects of fhe he batters lat exe example apie for every man good or bad has an influence in one direction or the other it should also be remembered that within the ranks there is no privileged class partiality in the enforcement of the law of god is a solemn and inexcusable mockery such as must fill fili the angels wa with sorrow and disgust if the law is applied in some cases while others equally flagrant are allowed to pass as if they had no existence those who are dealt with have some ground of complaint notwithstanding that the decrees in reference to them may be founded in justice difficulties stand eland in the way of the officers in complying with the requirement to cleanse the interior of the platter they may sp ap f pear almost insurmountable but AS arule le they will dissolve before ax artie action n af thi bray upright lu st and aad conscientious man maart at rt I 1 does not qin seem that it would be judicious dl 3 to make afi an onslaught I 1 upon those guilty gallt of i what might lie be minor offenses es until those of amore a more heinous character character are disposed of for it is not consistent to th n neglect the weight weightier ler matters matteri of the law 21 2 1 and attach too much c comparative importance I 1 to those that are ligh tighter tei in all these matters wo two prime ob ejects should be U kept lu in view the salvation othomae in error error and the welfare of ih the e murch church sis as a whole all personal per and selfish ends should he be eliminated forthe tot the condemnation of those who use a sacred calling for the gratification i of por personal feelings attainment iame nt of df selfish ends be great and aether whether iii in calling the backs backslider alder to rn repentance tance or the application ok or the law lik in relation to offenders there then should be na no pomposity hor nor harshness such exhibitions hibit ions are inconsistent with the proper use of authority and it is in the exercise 01 power that a man shows the great greatness neEs or littleness of his soul in this connection we cannot do better than bupte from the words of the prophet joseph smith as contained in the book of doctrine toc trine and covenants that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably in se 1 a bably connected with the powers of heaven and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor har handled idled only upon the principles of righteousness that they may be conferred con fOrred upon us it jn jis trw but when we undertake to ta cover our sins ar or to gratify our pride out valti vain ambition of or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the childr enof men in any degree of the heavens with withdrew dra themselves the spirit of the lord te Is grieved and when it te is withdrawn amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man |