The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-07

man; baptism brings about a remis-
sion of sins, when connected with
faith. The spirit conferred upon us
by the laying on of hands has borne
testimony to US of the mind and
will OF the Lord concerning our
walk and life on this sphere and
told us of the power of the priest
hood conferred upon man. This
spirit has enabled us to gather, has
bound US together in unity of mind
and purpose, and had we been less
selfish and more devoted to the re-
auirements of the Lord we would
have been even more united and
had more of this testimony and
power. There is a proper amount
of time and attention to be given TO
the development of the earth, and
become acquainted with what there
is in it, and there is also
requirement that we should
gain knowledge of God and
his works. of the plan of salvation.
Of the principles that develop the
elements of our moral and spiritual
man. God has enriched and blessed
us more than man could anticipate
in such a land as this was thirty
years ago. If there come trying
times now we also know that we
have had trying times before. In
the days Of the prophetIJ oSeph there
were trying times; in the days of
Jesus the saints were tried and the
Lord himself was prosecuted even
to the death, as also his apostles.
Opposition to the purposes of God
has been upon the earth ever since
the days Of Adam, and it is natural
to suppose that it always will exist.
Can we endure it? We have en-
dured it, and can do so with the
knowledge that we are the servants
of God and we will be supported
and sustained. It is not possible
that we can sustain ourselves by
our own strength or the power of
the sword; that is not cur purpose
or our mission. The mission Of the
kingdom is peace on earth; this is
the keyword among Israel Re
member this, that it is not by Vio-
lence that Gods purposes will be
established. Let US feel calm and
serene and collected in our spirits,
for we have the majority, God being
on our side and being our leader
and friend, and he will watch over
us to help us. If some may be
prosecuted, let US remember that
other good men have been perse-
cuted before US for righteousness,
sake; but if wrong has been done
bv any, let them repent and stand
pure before our king and our leaders,
BISHOP JOHN SHARP was pleased
to have the opportunity of meeting
with the saints in conference. He
could look back upon the records OF
this people with entire satisfaction
and has no anxiety or trouble as tt
what designing men may endeavol
to bring upon US. He did not eX
pect that the people would have i
all their own way, and do just a:
thev please all the time, but if W.
live by the principles that have
been revealed the protection Of on
Father will be around us and abou
US, and the purposes of the Al
mighty will be accomplished. 1t i
for us to live our religion in on
every day life and leave the result
of mans designs to him who dispos
eth of events as seemeth best to &C
complish his purposes
BISHOP w. W. CLUFF rejOiced il
the gospel and the work we are en-
gagged in-in establishing the worl
Of truth and righteousness upon tn
earth. We have tribulations, c
course, and expect them in GU
walk and life, but we have tn
satisfaction of knowing that all Wi
be well and come out right. Th
folmer-day saints had to pas
through persecution. Jesus said
we preached righteousness W
would be prosecuted, and the wOrl
always has despised those who wer
on the side of the Lord. We Cal
look back at the time when we re
ceived the gospel and obeyed its OF
dinances and it was a happy,
glorious time and ever have rejoice
and been comforted ever since
while we were waking in the pat
| of duty. The prejudice tina
exists in the world has been brougIl
about by ignorance of us and our in
situations. The government of tn
! United States has no better defend
ers and admirers than the Latter
day Saints, and the pressure brOugh
against this people has been the re
suit of ignorance among the masSe;
| We have no fear, no UrepidatlOn
other communities might be shake
! very much by the same circun
stances as surround US, but we ar
| peaceful, attending to our duties
sending our elders to the nations @
the earth, building up the kingdOI
of God on the earth and keeping hi
commandments.
! BISHOP ABRAM HATCH realize
to some extent the magnitude of tn
work in which we are engaged, an
he often reflected upon the labors {
liz people in the early days of tn
church and the labor of the elder
in onening up the various mission
Ia the world. The labor was great
and it was the more SO when tn
small numbers of the members o
the church was taken into consider
alton, and in connection with thi
vast labor the saints also had TO es
dure persecution. We have .prC