Nevada national., 1859-06-18

lt Is here shat We are called upon TO use
that prayer taHt our Lord gave 10 MS. to sp-
ply 60 our comfcrt aud souls salvation thos-
saerRments which He instituted Tor US. to
observe aud receive.
Here i His ministry which lie command
ed rs t. obey; aud in the maintenance aud
support ui these. His peculiar Institutions
which lie gave Himself FOR. W. ruuf.ss that
lie prayed lha1 VIC N sht preserve = uaigrd
and Harmonious body.
Ia short In no light In which ron ran place
the subject can the question OF ,hr uopor
tance Of the Church be disre.Agdrd pr nuili-
fet without direct uiolafi0n of our oblisa-
u on as members OF His family.
Christianity is not a mere intellectual raw
shedding light upon the dark nyst,ries Of
our existence
1t is 4 school oi dioipline, in which the
heart, tie mind and the will ere to b- train
ed &c those promptings OF Submission aud
obedience which are so essential to the peace
and happiness OF Heaven, and where. let NE
ask you, can this discipline bebetter or more
eliectually exercised than in his Sanctuary.
! 10 that communion OF saints. which we are
assured ever attend tie faithful whsre so
likely to meet with the righteous. Whose
prayer we read. availeth much" as
/ in the House Of tho Lord.
| Let the portals Of shis Temple be closed
I deprive yourselves OF the regular ministra.
iions OF His Holy Altar and. alas you too
though now the faithful few. may soon be.
numbered among tue backsliders.
Think me not harsh, friends and brethren.
in laying before you these observations
Judge youTselyes.'
II is inseparable to poor humanity. aud
our ever watchiulhawk eyed adversary is ev-
: II our ..1l,opv usI rf.
and suggesting new thoughts and ideas that
may shortly and surely allay the reproof. Of
conscience.
Steadfasi as many Of you would sa,h BE-
lieTe yourselves in the good old ways.
yet your own experience must teaeb you
that, at best, we are Of the earth, earthly" ="
Brethren, in all ages it has been found re-
quisiie to appeal to the senses, tastes aud
feelings of populace. even in the matter of
eligion-hyperbolica though il may SEEM
hence the gorgeous aud elaborate nppurte-
nanees of the Tabernacle OF the wilderness,
costly with precious stones, curtains Of blue.
purple and scarlet, trimmed with silken
Z trapping ngs-with inner wells. still more rich
Z " wrought and ovorlaid with cloth OF fgold.
( Hence, too. those marvellous temples OF the
I East, with their sivered domss. aud gilded
elohcs. surmouutng the whole hence too.
The numerous colossal edihces. rich in sculp-
ture and elaborate in architectural design
Of highly flashed touch. which we iiud dot
ted all over Europe, all proving the necessi-
iy Of aids, physical as well AS spiritual. to
call up man to his allegiance TO bis God -
And why should il not be so The Taber
naclc OF the chosen people Of God, and the
Temple OF the present day was and is TO be
tie dwelline-place Of God. symbolicAl in all
its visible and material ordSI Of realities
more grand and glorious.
/ Give unto the Lord the glory due unio
His name; bring an Offering and come unto
! bis courts" 'Ye shall keep my Sabbaths.
aud reverence my Sanctuary 4; | am the
Lord"
Brethren. have said We are likely, In tie
absence Of His Sanctuary wherein TO ''assem-
bic and render thanks,n too soon to fall
away as "backsliders;r need ! 20 further
than our own circle to verify the fact that
such has and does occur; look at the hume
rous families represented in this state. whose
scions have been nurtured in the ways OF
the Lord" from infancy TO mature. sisd
age, whose footsteps have unfalteringly fol-
lowed tho footprints of the mighty Jeho,
yah; yet. alas! when severed from the asso-
Citations Of home-family-C the
E NCuAEuuAst kFullt re-
proof oi that aged pastor, whose hair has viii
tened under their own eyes,-how soon, alas
hotc soon have they numbered themselves
among the host Of backsliders. as though
the gentle Saviour had never called them TO-
nor folded them in His gracious arms, and
enrolled them ss yonng soldiers; signing them
as Ills own, with His seal. 1t was 10 bring
these wanderers back that He instituted His
Church,-to keep His sheep within the fold,
that He sent forth His shepherds. Oh then,
brethren, If such was the design OF His
Church, such the claims upon US. as members
OF his body, lot us not forfeit our privileges.
but Tor love OF Him, having put our hand to
the plough, vow not 10 turn nor look back.
There are. too, certain duties required at
cur hands that We cannot perform. except in /
connection with the Church OF Christ and at
all times we are called TO life Of obedience I
TO the will and commands Of God, and If (
we love the Saviour we shall keep His /
commands.
Brethren, many will say II can orship .
my God. though the Church never existed
| have already told you that the peculiar .
abnormal condition of our organization re.
quires the aid OF our senses, tastes and feel .
ings to keep us in the pathway OF God. aud .
have referred you to the host OF living
evidences by which you are surrounded for I
ocular demonstration Of this fact; and | I
again repeat that the Church is n necessary
part OF Christianity.
In the Church there is christian fellow
sbip-a communion which. for various rea.
sons, is indspensaby necessary TO the Chris
tian, when 10 can be had
The Bible, alone,--whethcr read IN the
privacy Of bis own closet, or preached 20
him by the chance visitations OF some Que
"gi fed with utterance of divine things is
not all that man nesds.-is not al that his
Saviour has provided for him.
He needs a home-Man. spiritually. as
well as phy ysicRlly is q social animal, and
needs = cooperation of sympathizing hearts
"a communion VI saints--a fellowship OF
kindred minds ; and ii is here. in the Church,
this workshopof The Lord--that His jewels
are polished and fitted to take a place In
His palace.
This. brethren. is the character Of the
Church instituted by Christ these are her
claims upon us.
Thus much have said in behalf Of thia
Church that you should not go far forget