The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-06-08

read these Scriptures he wanted tr
say to those holding the priesthood
and the 6aints generally, that revela-
tions had been given in this genera.
ton. In what condition were the
saints in the sight of God7 Gould
they sit quietly and declare all wa
peace, while Wickednees Was abroad
in the land, and the gospel had not
been proclaimed to the whole worlds
No, they could not, and be justified
by God. The Lord had given them
revelations and Het work TOR them 10
do, and they must do it. They must
gather together the house Of scattered
Israel. The church had been estAb.
lished by God, and was prospering
under bis direction. Ii was the duty
OF the saints to fulfill ell the com.
mands of God, and particularly those
in relation to the building up Of Zion.
The work had been put into the
hands of the saints and they were not
justified in failing in their duties.
They should live their religion, and
fail in nothing that had been COM
manded of them. This was an i'm
portant generation, when great
changes were taking place and the
preparations were being made for the
coming OF the son OF man. There
WAS not much time to lie down and
slumber, or to try to get rich. They
had too important labors to perform.
When he Looked around him, and
saw what had been dUue in these
mountains, lie regarded this as a
marvellous work, and this was still
going on. There never had been
such a time as the present, when
events moved 90 rapidly, and 30 much
was being done, Joseph Smith, an
illiterate boy, had established
church upon the earth, in the exact
form OF the ancient church 81 aRgan-
lied by Jesus Christ, with the priest.
hood, powers and gifts as formerly.
1t had grown rapidly from the begin
ming, notwithstanding that great
power had been arrayed against it,
and many attempts made to destrvy
it. II the church had not been OF
Ged, it would long since have
persisted; but it was established by
the Lord, and nothing could prevail
against it. The speaker had no fears
for the gospel, but he had fears for
the people, lest they apostatize and |
go sstrsy. II they do not live in fear
OF the Lord, and humble themselves
before him they we're in dagger of |
destruction. There were devils sur
rounding and among the people,
trying TO lead them astray, and lure
them on to destruction. He cared |
not who the man was, if he did not
obey the instructions OF God and live
MS religion, be was in danger. He
Ielt to warn the saints to live their
and be prepared tr the
coming Of the Savior, who was soon
10 make his appearance. Only those
would be saved who had been faithful
n the gospel. Gold. silver, wealth,
IT physical strength cannot save
hem any more than those things
could in ancient Babylon, which was
destroyed in all its glory, riches and
power. The word of the Lord will be
and the judgments of God
would certainly overtake the world,
BE urged the elders to be faithful ID
heir duties, 10 be ready and willing
10 bear of the kingdom, as they had
been commanded. Gold and silver
we're OF little account as compared
With eternal lie. Riches, houses and
ards could not be carried into the
1ther world; we came here naked
and must 60 TO the mex. world in the
iame condition, no matter how much
We may possess while on earth.
ELDER ORsON PRATT next addressed |
he congregation. He said the re-
1oIters present were not the only
3cIibes. There we're seribes behind
he veil who take down the sayings Of
he elders, and keep 8 record Of what
sss done. This record would come
Up at the day OF judgment. to prove
whether men had been faithful to
what had been commanded st their
hands. Every one on the judgment
lay will be judged according to the
aw and testimony and according to
he deeds done in the flesh. People
we're not compelled to obey the laws
1f God. They were free agents, and
could obey or reject the law, and they
would be rewarded or punished &C
,ordinely. In q revelation given in
1882, the Lord said be had given
aW to all things, in their times and
The law in relation TO
seemed to be obeyed; if net |
we could not detect the wrong. The |
earth seems to take one continual |
course, BOT deviating from It's orbit.
some might say the earth was obliged /
10 follow that course. The speaker |
thought if We could see further We
would discover that there was living
governing the esrth's move
nent. 4 great many Of the laws
governing IN the universe man had
been able to fathom and comprehend.
they were called by some natural
avs, but they were the laws OF God,
and had been given by hlm. be WAS
he author OF Rll these natural lava,
Is that particularly kDoEn SO grAvi-
.atiop. the revelation Of the earth
around the SUD, etc. These we're
not lave OF nature, of blind material
knowledge or intelligence.
Elder Pratt here spoke interestingly |
Of the science ard laws Of astronomy,
1f velocity, gravitation, mathematics,
ETC., as illustrating how perfect were
these laws In their operation, and
bow necessary was one to anuther.
DE said VIVA, people called nature
was an intelligent spirit which was in
and about everything. 1t was God
who had made AL these laws. ami he
could counterfeit them, as be lad done
in numerous instances, one OF which |
vas the rolling hack of the sea that
he children OF Israel might pa s over
iry shed, as recorded In the Bible.
Were Gsd to withdraw bis avs, there
would be q wreck and rulnstion OF
everything. Referring to the greatest
Of God's works, The human body, the
speaker remarked that it was a
machine. dthcate bu. peffect in every
detail. Il vas easy to keep it in
o,dsr, but should 1t get out OF order.
and become disarrsngsd, it could
be readily adjusted b. ~ apoEca
ton of another OF Gods laws.
namely, the laying on OF hands, in
the name Of the Lord, Gs bad been