The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-04-10
CONFERENCE.
THIRD DAY.

Hsrk, the soBg ofiubilOe.
Loud as mighty thunders roll.
Prayer by Counselor oh. Wells.
The choir sang the hymn
Though deep ming trial thrsng your way,
Press Cd, press on, ye saints Of Ged.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH f. SMITH
addressed the congregation. There
had never been more prosperous
time for the saints since the organ
Eizatfen of this church than the pres
ent. They were more numerous
also than at any other time. We
should acknowled the hand of
G. q and rely upon his wisdom in
comforting upon us the surrounding
blessings. He has not only made US
acquainted with the plan of saliva
ton, but he has gathered us from the
nations, has blessed US here in
this once barren desert with
a great abundance Of earthly things.
Besides this, we have had the
spirit Of the Lord by which we
have been enabled TO maintain our
tstanding in the church. This was
not day for trembling and fear on
the part of this people who have
received the spirit of the Lord.
God has demonstrated hisEpower ia
delivering them from their enemies
and those who would doubt his
power to preserve them in the
future show lack of faith. 1t
would be an insult to God for any
saint TO doubt that God would pre-
serve them provided he kept the
laws which mad been given. In
adversely we are inclined to re-
member God and in prosperity to
forget him. Here lies the greatest
danger that threatens the saints.
Many of US are blessed with q great
amount of worldly things, which
engross the minds of some to such
an extent that they forget God.
They are apt to forget the pit from
which they were dug, and to for
get the source of their life and
being. The Injuries of the
world do not lift us up above our
dependence upon God, for the rich
are as dependent upon him for life
as are the poor. God regards nei-
ther riches nor influence, but is
lpleased with man whose heart is
fright, whose mind is frightened up
with the Holy Spirit. If the time
should ever come when this people
would be swallowed up in their
greed of gain, nothing but this alb
solute repentance could avert their
being smitten and humbled till they
remem bered their covenants. The
blessings of tie gospel cannot be
purchased with money. The spirit
of God can only be obtained by life
of purity and holiness before God.
The gift of the Holy Ghost can only
be maintained by a proper life after
it is first obtained. Men have their
agencies to do right or wrong, W hich
privilege was given to the rich and
/ poor alike, to the black and white
land all races of men upon the earth,
who will be held accountable
for the use they make of
that agency. No man can obtain a
remission of sins except by obeying
the law of baptism by immersion
administered by one having author
ity. Light has come into the world
but men loved darkness rather than
light, and while acting upon this
agency the great majority did not
wish to comply with the laws of
God. Norman can obtain the priest
hood. nor b2come an heir Of God and
joint heir with Jesus Christ. except
by walking in the path marked out
by the laws of God. The saints
should not lose sight of the great
responsibilities resting upon them.
There are thousands and millions
who will perhaps never become citi-
zens of the kingdom of God in this
world. But as the sun shines on the
evil rs well as the good SO God Will
continue to bless and lead them as
well as US till they become ac-
quainted with the truth. So long as
we keep the commandments of God.
so long God is bound to bear US off
conQuerors over our foes. But the
moment we forget God, and will not
repent, that moment the spirit of
God will be withdrawn and we will
be left alone. The work of the Lord
will never fail. It has grown too
large and has become too well rooted
in the earth. The best time for its
obstruction was the 9th of April.
1880. 1t now is formidable before
the nations, and cannot be moved
out of its place. However, we may
Fail and give way to sin, but as soon
as we go into sin we will become de
tached from the tree of life. We
lshould feel to praise God that we
have been permitted to live to see
the predictions of the prophets being
fulfilled. What could a man take
in exchange for the testimony of
the truth? 1t was more than the
equlvalenG of everything. Every
man should be so interested in'this
work sthat he should feel it is
his work, his church and kingdom,
1t is true sayingthat unless man
is willing to sacrifice every earthly
consideration for the gospels sake
he is not worthy of it. The sooner
therefore, we come to a knowledge
of this fact the better it will be fol
= US. May God help US to live for hi.
kingdom
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. GANNo1
was the next speaker. The Lore