Show DISCOURSE delivered by president frent george Q cannon in adanti sanpete county on the me alwang of feb 15 1891 reported by L i daum brethren and slaters sisters I 1 dball rely upon the lord to suggest to my mind such things as will best beet meet the needs of the saints sainte here present tonight and satisfy their desires in coming together I 1 feel it a great pleasure to be here with you and it is a pleasure I 1 am well prepared to enjoy because it is one which has not fallen to my lot jot very frequently of late years it does doea me good to get away from the every day cares of business and meet in conference with the saints sainte it is very comforting encouraging and strengthening to me it does me good in body mind and spirit I 1 do not recollect that I 1 ever attended a better conference than this of these last two days in ephraim Ephr alm and I 1 doubt but I 1 may be wrong if the people in general feel the benefit aal blessing of it as I 1 do I 1 nm am glad to feel and to realize that there is no decreane of the spirit of the lord among us but on the contrary I 1 feel inclined to say there ismore is nwe of if it manifested now than formerly nod and it is a testimony to me and should be a testimony to all of us that the lord has not turned away his face from ills his people Heba he has snot not forgotten us and is not slow to hear our prayers we have it is true our tribulations and they are different from those we haj bau in former times once our per t arue arne in the form or oi mob bings and driving hunger and naked bess uess and these things tried the faith of mana man of some dome so sorely that they turned away from the truth they fell tuto into darkness dar knees and left the church which they once delighted in our recent trials have bave been in the haape of imprisonments nf our brethren and of our property and thie these things are hard bard to bear but if there is any ap apostasy kind and I 1 suppose there chore must be some on this accod account at it is good to know that it has not dot been beau extensive I 1 am aware that there is a disposition on the part of a few to make comparisons pari sons between things past and things present to the disadvantage of things present and to conclude that the church is gone stray that it has ben allowed to drift without the guidance of the power of god glod the manifesto has been a stumbling block to some arid and other things have tried the faith of the latter jay day saints sainte in varying degrees but I 1 think they should not I 1 am rather pleased that we should have these things to contend with because I 1 realize that they are necessary in order that we may gain strength to stand not alone but by our own faith in the lord and with his help he seems determined to teach us no to rely on him and not on our own strength nor on the strength and wisdom of man if there ever as a time when the saints stood in need of an individual personal testimony of the truth of the gospel which they have eui embraced braced it 8 surely is now and they must muse have it or there to is no security for them the sending of so many of our brethren to the penitentiary was well adapted to test teet their faith and that of their families and I 1 am glad to say my they have stow stood the test nobly both men and women I 1 am glad to say I 1 do not know a case where the women have failed to be true to their faith and their cause to their devotion courage and singleness of heart and I 1 have for myself tny self this testimony to bear concern iii the latte rd salute sainte the lord lord has baa accepted edour our offerings our sacrifices and our integrity he is satisfied with us as a people and has recorded our deeds in the heavens and laid up blessings in store for us I 1 do not say that each individuals record is eti entirely c clear cear ear but I 1 speak sneak of the people as a whole and I 1 repeat that the lord is satisfied with u us a and our efforts and now it ft remains for him to deal with our affairs lairs af I 1 know he loves us and pours out his spirit upon us and blesses us with light aud understanding upholds u holds comforts and strengthens us asid and enables us to bear our afflictions with patience and fortitude I 1 have this testimony and each of you my brethren and sisters may have it if you seek aright every individual has a right to a personal knowledge of the truth and of the mind so and will of god concerning his bis wn personal affairs our father does not ask you to walk in darkness nor by an others light but it is his good pleasure to give each one of you the light of his holy spirit in your own souls by this light you have a right to examine all things that you may hold fast to that which is good it is your privilege to know for yourselves not only if joseph smith was a true prophet but whether wilford woodruff is gods gk adle own choice of a leader in his church if the twelve apostles are approved of him and all things whatsoever which concern you to know I 1 would not give much for a latter day saint who does not know these things because the wa want I 1 t of this knowledge proves that ingv individual bidual slothful ful and lax but bui aney who have it are awake and active ready at all times to put a shoulder to the wheel and aid in rolling forth the great work of the last dispensation and herein lies the strength of tile the latter day work I 1 can testify that the lord makes known his will and pie sure allmand all yand every step taken in the general conduct of affairs in the church to is by his direction and he will continue to lead his people and love and bless them whether any one man lives or dies in the days of joseph smith many of the saints sainte were so firmly persuaded that none but the prophet could lead the church of god that when he had laid down his bis life for his bis testimony they actually looked for him to be resurrected at once and sent back to his big earthly duties but we may all rest assured that the lord always knows where to lay lav his hand on the tool which this work requires he has fidei given the keys and powers of his holy priesthood ie t hood to his servants on the earth and has promised that they shall never be taken awty from now until the savior shall come we who have received his precious gifts and been entrusted to perform his work may expect many tribulations and difficulties much opposition and reviling but the lord has spoken and this word will be fulfilled to the very letter his kingdom will grow and prosper and his work will go on he has all power and cannot be thwarted by the puny strength of man and he will prove it to them on every occasion as tie he did when the wicked had slain his prophet he raised up another in his bis stead filled him with the holy ghost thus enabling him to discharge every duty belonging to his high station those who were present on a certain occasion bear witness to the veritable transformation of brigham young before their eyes when lie bespoke spoke with the voice and bore the countenance of the from that time brigham young through the inspiration of the holy spirit was quite capable of discharging every duty belonging to his bis responsible and difficult position see too how the lord has blessed and favored our present leader wilford woodruff his life and strength are long spared and he has boon been delivered in times of affliction in a remarkable manner and preserved preserve si his hie vigor of mind and body to old age thus god will continue to raise up and inspire suitable men so that we shall never be without an efficient leader when he sent his holy angels to ordain and prepare mortal mau for his service he promised never to take that priesthood away from the earth again men who had lived in ia former times and had been trusted in with certain visited the earth and bestowed those powers upon the chosen of the lord moses mom gave the keys of gathering israel ellas elias bestowed the keys he be held all gave as was necessary karyto to make this latter day dispensation indeed a dispensation of the falness of times could this wonderful work of gathering the people of the lord from every nation kindred tongue and people ever have been accomplished by purely human means meana no the combined wisdom of all ail men could not have so moved the hearts of men with the desire and spirit of separating from the world and cleaving to each other for the truth trutha a sake the lord has certainly redeemed his word that he would perform a ma marvelous work and a wonder in this latter time and there are greater wonders yet to be performed by him but when they come they will not appear more strange than this when the ten tribes come according to his word as they surely will it will be no more marvelous than this gathering which has been accomplished only through the bestowal of the keys of gathering upon joseph smith and by him epou his successors they will remain in this thib church until all things foretold by the mouths of all the holy prophets have been fulfilled to the uttermost let me repeat we may be afflicted I 1 imprisoned ri deprived of our property 11 and of our political rights for these are things within the power of man but man has no power to thwart the purposes of god or even to hinder his work anti and his kingdom will triumph it would seem that passing events are sufficient to convert all men to a belief in the fact that our religion is divine and under divine protection all schemes against us fall fail all plans come to naught the holy spirit has been poured out upon the people and they have rejoiced in the midst of their afflictions and given thanks to their heavenly father that they have been deemed worthy to suffer for his names sake and for his cause upon the earth still there are and have been times when men and women too have felt downcast and have wondered if god had forgotten them but I 1 say to all such fear not the elouis will pass away the light will shine and your joy and courage will return if you preserve your integrity aud and wait for the salva salvation tiou of your god it will surely come and seek out he has delivered and comforted his people and he will not forsake us now dow kits his arm is not shortened he is not asleep nor gone on a journey he will succor us in the deepest distress and deliver us in the direst extremities if we will live so that we may have the fellowship of the holy ghost which is the minister of god and whose presence pie sence is the presence of god without that blessed communion we are blind and helpless and if we do not live so asto as to enjoy it we fail to rise to our privileges as saints it to is indeed our right and privilege V to have the companionship of the holy spirit of the lord and we need it even children may have it if they will and need not be left to walk alone on earth every woman should win and keep it for herself and never try to walk by an others light if she puts her whole trust in another even if he be her husband and a good man he will surely some time fail her let her learn to stand alone so far as human aid is concerned depending only on god and the holy most ghost do not brethren put your trust in man though he be a bishop an apostle or a president if you do they will fail you at some time or place they will do wrong or seem to and your support be gone but if we lean on god he never will fail us when men and women depend on god alone and trust in him alone their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the church should step aside they could still see that thai he is just and true that thai truth is lovely in his sight eight tand and the pure in heart are dear to him perhaps it is his own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that his saints may learn to trust in him and not in any man or men therefore my brethren and sisters seek after the holy spirit and his u unfailing n testimony of god and his work upon the evah earth rest best not until you know for yourselves that god hasset has set his hie hand to redeem israel and prepare a people for his coming if any present have it not let jet me advise you to begin seeking for it this very night pray fast stuby aud and open the doors of your hearts tha wisdom may enter and you shall know when you have received the holy ghost by a great increase of faith courage strength understanding and all good gifts this is indeed a precious gift the source and fountain of all other gifts ask for it therefore until you receive it because we should have it we sometimes ask for things which are not best for us and often feel grieved and disappointed because we have not received that which we asked or not in the way and manner which we desired but let us consider in such cases that the thing for which we asked was unsuitable to our needs or condition and strength and was withheld Ith held in love and kindness think of our own children who ask us so often for things which we dare not give them and trust that our father will answer us according to his wisdom and tender mercy he is sure to give us all the blessings we are able to bear and we should not dare ask for more men sometimes receive more think of the three witnesses to the book of mormon they who saw angels who heard beard them speak and bear witness to that book and the divine mission of joseph the prophet turned away from the faith said joseph was a fallen prophet and the church which he be organized gone astray but well for them they never did fall fail to te bear their especial witness faithfully no pressure from any source was ever strong enough to shake that great testimony and because they were true to that trust there was mercy for them two afterward returned to their former faith humble and penitent it seems to me they received greater blessings and glories than thaia they had bad strength to bear oliver Clow cowdery dery was ordained by the same angels to the same priesthood as joseph smith but that did not save him from falling away from the truth then pray for blessings and always remember to ask for the strength to bear them and the wisdom to honor them I 1 will give you a rule by which to judge if you have received the holy ghost it gives strength it gives hope it gives wisdom it gives joy it gives love of god and man and if you bollow its guidance it will lead into the presence of god bod because it is the spirit of god and the power of god all that his servants know of his will comes cemes to them by that spirit because it is the spirit of revelation and the only source whence such knowledge can come it dwells in the hearts of men and do does not mask a man outwardly nor change bis bill appearance so that he may be known in that way to possess it and this we may know from the fact that even the savior was with difficulty recognized as the son of god even by his own disciples brother lyman promised to pray for me if I 1 would speak first and even then I 1 fear I 1 have spoken too long but brethren and sisters we who nave have come hereto here to visit you have a great I 1 desire for your welfare both spiritual and temporal I 1 believe I 1 never enjoyed a conference better than this of the last two lays days I 1 rejoice to feel that the lord is with his people and that his people are trying to be with JIM him if you will accept the counsel you have received during this conference you will be united true to each other to your faith and to your god you will feel fet 1 humble and hopeful willing to forgive each other and to ask to be forgiven we should always come too to the lords supper full of forgiveness gi veness for all who have aggrieved us and desiring to be forgiven our trespasses tress trem passes I 1 I 1 pray the lord to bless blees you abundantly and keep you full of his spirit that you may walk in his hie ways and not deviate amen |