The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-09


heavens withdraw themselves; the |
Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when |
it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priest
hood, or the authority of that man.
Behold ere he is aware, he is left
unto himself, to kick against the pricks
to prosecute the Saints, and to fight
against God.
We have learned, by sad experience,
that it is the nature and disposition of
almost all men, as soon as they get
little authority, as they suppose, they
will Immediately begin to exercise IN
righteous dominion.
Hence many are called, but few are
chosen.
No power or influence can or ought to
be maintained by virtue of the priest
hood, only by persuasion, by song suf-
fering, by gentleness and meekness, and
by love unfeigned;
By kindness and pure knowledge,
which shall greatly enlarge the soul
without hypocrisy and without guile;
Reproving betimes with sharpness,
when moved upon by the Holy Ghost,
and then showing forth afterwards an
increase of love toward him whom thou
hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be
his enemy;
That he may know 4hat thy faithful
ness is stronger than the cords of death;
Let thy bowels also be full of charity
toward all men, and TO the household
of faith, and let virtue garnish thy
thoughts uncessingly, then shall thy
confidence wax strong in the presence
of God, and the doctrine of the priest
hood shall distil upon thy soul as the
dews from Heaven.
The Holy Gaost shall be thy con-
slant companion, and thy soeptre an
unchangiug sceptre of righteousness
and truth, and thy dominion shall be
an everlasting dominion, and without
conn ulsory means it shall flow unto
thee forever and ever.
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON
said he found himself in a somewhat
embarrassing position, feeling the i'm
portance of addressing so large an as
semblage of the people of God. He
desired the sustenance Of their faith
and prayers while he sought humbly to
perform the duty to which he had been
called. he greatly enjoyed the teach
ings that had been impaired during this
conference, and endeavored by the aid
of the spirit of truth to scrutanize the
facts and exhortations which bad been
delivered by the servants of the Lord.
Many important questions have been
pre-, ented TO Us. One Of these related
to the necessity of devotlne a closer at
tention to the interests of the rising
generation.
The speaker had, for some time, been
deeply impressed with the character of
our surroundings, and the situation in
which We find ourselves as the people
of God. We are in the most efficient
sChool-that of experience-that it is
possible to institute. 1t is one that is
essential for the development of faith.
Without it, faith could not be de-
veloped; and instead of Icing disconso-
late at the appearance of obstacles, he
felt to lift up his heart in gratitude be-
cause Of them: for, where there is
nothing to overcome, there is no pro
gress nor Development. 1t is plainly
laid down in the revelations that, in
order for the Saints to take hold of the
principles of salvation, so that thew
shall know that their course is
accepted of God. they must be willing
to sacrifice all things, including life
itself, for the sake of the truths.
Doubtless many are not in position to
accept an ordeal of this character.
Some of the noblest instances of self
sacrifice were made mention of during
this conference. One OF these was the
case of the three Hebrew children
Shaderach, Meshac and Abednego who
were left to choose from one or two al
ternatives. And what was their posi-
ton when they were confronted with
these post onp Their attitude was
this. They we're in position OF prepa-
ration for the ordeal. 1t was ques-
ton whether they knew the cOnse-
quenc3s of being cast into the fiery
furnace, out they knew that they would
not fall down and worship the image
They were conversant with that fact il
not with the other. u behooyes the
Latter day ,ints to consider whether
that is their position is well.
The Lord has made various promises,
and the Saints should not fear for He
will fulfill them. In a revelation the
Lord had said, Be not afraid of your
enemies, for whosoever iayeth down
hts life in my cause shall lake it up
again. And [ have decreed in my
heart that l will try you and
prove you even to the laying
down of your lives, to sc
if you will abide in my covenant
Therefore, this Is one of ten promises
to the Saints, that they shall have the
opportunity VI choosing between two
alternatives. Then We will see who
will say I'VE do not know whether We
will be overwhelmed by the TO ces that
are brought to hear against US and
crushed under the weight of the powers
that be; bus we do know that We will
not go ba upon the re relations OF
Jesus Christ
The Lord has decreed that He will
have a tried p ople in the day of His
power. If the dav of His power is
iminent, Immediately preceding that
Will be the cav of trial, not to few
men who are willing to go to prison or
to deoth if necessary, nor to 4 few
families who have suffered, but it will
have wider application. The present
situation of affairs is preparing the peo-
pie for that which is before them.
Elder Nicholson alluded to the
interest which is being taken in behalf
of the young. He had the deepest
solicitude for their welfare. A mum Der
of the children CT Zion are departing
from the ia tn and repudiating its
principles. We should ascertain the
causes which produce this effect and
annlv q remedy Rv rnmnvino tho