| Show ast 1st PATIENCE POSSESS YE YOUR SOULS WHEN picturing to his disciples the tribulations and afflictions of tile the latter days the incomparable nazarene who suffered for the truth and died as its exemplar after predicting that ills servants sei should be delivered up to prisons and be brought before dignitaries and rulers be betrayed by parents and brethren and kins folks and friends and be hated of all men for his names sake gave to them this exhortation in your patience possess ye your s souls 11 luke axi 19 1 that we are living in the times predicted by the great master is as certain as that tile the latter day saints are called to do the work of warning which lie he requires and to prepare the way lor for the second advent they must accept the position with all its responsibilities they have not entered upon their labors without fair notice of tile the consequences they were not induced to engage in the cause by specious promises or concealment ceal ment of the trials and difficulties involved therein they were forewarned that their names would be cast out as evil and that they would have the whole world to meet tile the trials that have come are lighter than they have had reason to expect for many years there have been comparatives peace and tranquility the opposition ow we have encountered has been chiefly polemical pole A f few ew mobs a f furore acore now and then which was like thunder without a bolt and lightning that cleared clea redi the atmosphere without a stroke an occasional case of violence and much discussion denunciation and aad threatening summed up the forces arrayed array edl against us now we are in front of some stern realities that try meus mens souls stares many ift in the face they are likely to be despoiled of their earthly goods the rights of citizenship are wrested from them fam fabir alies which are their temporal tempora lt heaven are scattered and distressed wives and children are hunted down as a prey to spies and informers and insulted as unworthy of respect traitors lurk in the circles of tile the saints and a mans foes are of often teri they of his own household falsehoods are received as the facts concerning us ua and our very i integrity to truth is against us the he basest creatures un der the sun berate us with impunity and vile and loathsome libertines andi and debauchees debau chees invade our houses andi force virtuous women and tender children before courts and inquisitions our faith is misrepresented our motives are misconstrued and our actions are maligned our oar leaders are compelled to remain in concealment or be sacrificed to the malevolence of va ao godly and unprincipled officials TIL tha lecher is promoted the chaste are aire condemned the infidel mocks ands anch the christian pharisee taun taunts ts us u with our afflictions the nati national nationiel oniL power which should be exercised to se cure equal justice tp p all and to uphold the civil and religious rights of citizens is either cither quiescent or turned to the support of our enemies the legislative executive and judicial arms of government are all moved by tile the spirit of oppression and escarc scarcely y a voice is raised in our behalf now is the time to exercise patience this is one of the hardest tasks bea before ore us it is difficult to wait the injustice we have to bear provokes intense indignation we naturally want to do something retaliation impulsively suggests g eats itself violence wants to su grapple ra ale with violence it would be easier to arise in our might and our union and make a clean sweep of the wretches who assail us it sometimes seems it would be better to battle at once and die in the struggle than to sub submit mitto to undeserved ignominy but these are the emotions of fallen humanity the voice of wisdom and of christ criep out in your patience possess ye your souls the troubles of the present after all are but a few they are aie small compared with what have been they are slight compared with those that will be among the persecutions to precede the great tribulation to come upon the earth it is written then shall they chev deliver you up to be afflicted an and d shall shaft kill you yon also ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake the dobbings mob bings and and burnings and ravish ings of miss missouri ri and illinois exceed everything that has since been endured by the ille saints and the time is to come when he that would kill the servants of the lord will think he is dome doina god service all nations are to tg look upon zion and say let her be defiled we are suffering but a little this is a small test to try our faith and develop velo the th e hypocrite h 0 r ite and the traitor the lr lord d ap will perhaps keep silence fora season that our integrity may b gauged and our confidence in ia him be proven in all this we must exercise patience meekness and tu charity arity this however does not involve cowardice or base surrender to dishonorable deminds demands there is more bravery in quiet determination and silent endurance of wrong than in bluster und ind contention violence and wrath when the injuries we endure bt become coine sailing galling and auger anger arises at some new injustice remember the word of tue lord to joseph the seer when shut up ul in juil at lat liberty missouri my sons son peace be unto thy soul thine adversity and thine afflictions shall ahall be but a small moment and then if thou endure it well god shall exalt thee on high thou triumph over all thy foes cursed are all those that shall lif lift t up their heel against mine anointed saith the lord and cry they have when they have not sinned before me saith the lord but have done that which was meet in mine eyes and which I 1 commanded them but those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin and are the children of disobedience themselves woe unto all those that discomfort m my y p people eople and drive and murder and testify against them saith the lord of hosts a generation oi of vipers shall not escape the damnation of hell bell behold mine mine eyes see and know all their works and I 1 have in reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof for them all let no latter dav saint be discouraged the mighty oue one is a god at hand and not afar off this is the day when he will cut his work short in righteousness events will ha happen e wian marvellous marcellous marv ellous rapidity small th things unfold into mighty changes changer and when the wicked seem to nave have reached the object of their lo 10 hand they saw not will smite down an and turn their projects blessings for his people be and true brethren and sisters away evil from your midst set houses in order be temperate and honest sanctify the lord in hearts and homes live together love and charity and ia times of trial 1 and undeserved and ignominious abille tiou tion in patience possess ye your souls As god lives the day of your redemption tion night nigh |
