| Show ambut ABOUT ac CLEANSING TH ju m CHURCH tait elders eldera inq upon a whom devolves tl th duty datlof of teaching the saints iffa public rapacity are largely bargel by the splat spirit to and this 13 the genius of genuine teachers tep teachers chers in ia the community like sleepless aen they ey are gre ip ali warning yosoe evils tut that are an creeping in ia among amoo thack ehg cac itis specially urged upon the olli officers cers of the church that they perform the important duty of ridding the body religious of corrupted and ind dead members T tahe he condition of the people requires just such AU an attitude on the part of those who wish to see the purity of the hurch Church maintained and I 1 la if the lord ho holds in n his hand band a sore scourge for application upon the wicked of the world justice which his hid throne is seated requires requires that he ele shall not pass by with impunity those who profess his name who perpetrate similar evils tor for which he will condemn the nations neither will he guiltless who suffer such things to exist in the community of saints whose du duy y it 1 is I to see thea they are eliminated that the church may be preserved so far as practicable free from ain and uncleanness there are two processes by which the desired object can be attained 1 by means of repent repentance anoe of the wrongdoer of course this applies only to that class of offenders whose infractions of the laws of god are not of that gross and flagrant character that demands their unconditional expulsion then it is the plain duty of the officers to labor with backsliders back sliders and offenders with the sole object of bringing them to repentance we are of opinion that more can be accomplished in this line oa na private capacity than by public t machine in fact the very position of a backslider and offender is such wat that it is rare that he accepts ol 01 aa 0 opportunity to be taught and admonished in moni 0 dished shed in a public assembly even when he happens t tt be present he is left free to take general teachings or strictures home to himself or conveniently couve imagine they have an aa application to other people not so when approached pro ached privately then matters can te be brought directly home to himself teachings and advice to tn us tendered are also accompanied by the personal influence of those who seek welfare if the teacher be exemplary as he be should be this will have considerable weight in order to ito have iDl influence luence with an offender against the laws of the church he who seeks to reclaim him should not approach him in a combative denunciatory or querulous que rilous spirit he should be dealt with la in the spirit of friendship and sympathy the welfare of the individual belne beina the chief object in connection with inducing him to repent men and women as a rule will listen with respect to people cople who are seeking their interest and ad if they are convinced that such is thease they will not be aside their advice tas a trifle unworthy of notice experience has convinced us of the greater potency of private methods of reclamation over those of a more public char character picter their 4 has bils been dem demonstrates on strate a abroad w well as at home people abroad are frequently captivated and sq by the force and truth of the of but this effect is often more or less evanescent kletthe let the elder who is kind and persuasive mingle among the kepf pie gain their dodl feelings jn in ithie that way even without his saying a great deal about religion the for conversion ot of lovers of truth is laid for the explanations of the missionary will be listened to their acceptance acce otance being made more mord sure by the confidence re reposed ased in him had and the esteem in which ee he is held and so it is in the gathering place of bf the saints perhaps it a little more of that zeal and caw care exhibited in making con converts 0 the faith were shown here in 1 n preserve ng people in it and their gol going in uto nto forbidden paths a better and 49 purer condition would exist at no time in our history has it been more necessary for all good anen me ia the church 1 te act ter lor theba the benefit and purification af zion won I 1 mety a man should to ia the i language of revelation be diligent and stand in his own place and not in that of another that harin harmony ny may be preserved bad all conflicts and disagreements cements disappear many of the chief watchmen including the venerable president of the church whose hearts yearn yeam after the welfare of the corn com munley are hunted as were the aery ants ill ll 11 of god in ancient times their v voices 0 ic es are no longer heard beard in the ion don gregat ions ot of the people to direct them em in the ways of righteousness the tie spirit of god 1 19 being withdrawn withdraw from the nati nations onit and satan ady great ikei 11 power the hearts of I 1 the children of men he is aado a to draw dravo away the saints rom the restraints of their theirry re induce ujeno to indulgence 16 wrong are multiplying ab 9 j e very haat aud athe s 6 plank plan upon u on which h h tuf taw keppa mu may ly lide glide down own to d ap beim 0 oiled M 1 for or the hoped 0 i uana we e gay here witti with a solemn doffe desire for or the thereal weal of the community that all those are ire possessed not of aad envelope by the spi spirit tat of god I 1 ta tad i g the ot that di divine liitt anu ence lor for thier aber gulda gul deare are in 11 danger the ilie spirit ol of eidness ewd ness of lying of sabbath of of a disposition aoa to bi be covers oi of pleasure rique than lovers af pf pod Is attoa abro aTin the earth it is more abie or less legs manifest pal rest here for those who have laut yet rid ad themselves of the spirit of the world are liable to be affected by y ahe tha ieli a ances adas by it Is sieved those wh who suffer themselves jb be overcome anit will continue ap n wrong dohig g have fid no lot abr norbart ap pp a mong among he people of god when calletto call calls tto to repentance tance vallre fall re course should invariably be hild bad to the lav of the church hewko abo sinnett ind aad teth not shall be cast out and shall not have place among you yon the commandment is express and unqualified ivis it is the final means of purification of the we the initiatory process being repent ance II if the latter is not exhibited by the wrongdoer wrong doer door after being labored with tue almighty wih hold the sluggish wat watchmen chWen who fail to apply the law edw responsible to some at least for the corruption of the church of Christ whose power is clogged not only by the presence among the faithful of the unrepentant sinner but by the effects of the batters example lor every man good or bad hap hajj an influence in in one direction or other It should also oe remembered that within the ranks there ia aa no privileged class partiality in the me enforcement ot of the aw of god Is id a solemn and inescu sable asble mop waft ry such as must till the an ge I 1 s h sorrow and disgust if ute the law ts Is applied in 14 some cases while others equally e wi ally I 1 flagrant gran are all allowed oceo to pass as asif 1 the they y had no existe existence nep aho those P who are dealt with haab some ground 0 of f complaint tuat th decrees in refe reference to them may be founded in justice injustice difficulties stand in tap way layf of the officers derk in complying the requirement to cleanse tb the e interior of thu platter they may appear a almost ost insurmountable BU flut as a ruie e dissolve before the ac acan of of the PM prayerful erful up upright just and conscientious tio s mim man it does not that it would be judicious ludl clous to make an slaught upon thoe g guilty ty ot t what might be termed minor offe hAfs ahill t hole of a e heinous beinous character are ari disposed of for it ignot is not consistent to neglect the 1 weightier matteer matt fer of the aw 17 an and omatine at attach taw too much comparative t importance to those that are lighter light dr in all these matters two prime objects should be kept kepi in view the salvation of X those in error and the welfare ot 0 the church asa as a whole all personal person kl and selfish ends eads should be eliminated for abe condemnation of those who rae use a sacred ai calling tor for the oal feelings and the of 61 buds cuds will wil b be greit great and whether in calliel cal lica the backslider to or ane application of the law in relation to offend ers there should be no nor harshness such exhibitions are inconsistent with wit lithe abe proper use of authority getoor mt ty amditis An ditis is ip in the exercise of p power thai a roan man shows leow s the greatness great nesb or of his in this do connection I 1 we kel cannot do da better than quote frosti the vs of tae ane prophet joseph jb eph smite as con co n in tae W jook rk of doctrine a and ad COVA covenants V i I 1 that the tight 2 of the i priesthood are inseparably connected with the P powers ot of cliatt the powers of heaven toe be controlled nor liand handled led only upon the principles ot of I 1 righteousness that they may be conferred upon us usi iti atrue but when alien undertake to tover cover our sins sina or to t out our pride our to exercise cono con arol or domimgo dominio domi moo 3 or compulsion tupou the souls of the children of men inen in apy any the heavens withdraw themselves the spirit of the lord is grieved and when it is withdrawn amen to the priesthood pr or the authority of that man i 1 I ij |
