The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-06


our God, and to prepare US for the COM
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He
shall be accompanied by His angels, IN
order that His great purposes might be
accom- plished and when the knowledge
or God shall cover the earth as the
waters do the bosom of the mighty
deep. And when peace and happiness
shall reign universally oyer the globe;
when all men and women who dwell
upon its face shall enjoy the blessings
and privileges which were determined
| by God when this earth rolled from
dark chaos and was established for the
inhabitants OF his children.
1t is just as necessary for US to pass
through experiences Of trouble and
afflictiOn in order to keep US from
growing careless. II we were in q con-
dition OF afiuence and our surround
ings were beautiful, pleasant aud de-
lightfui, it would be all g great many
would care for. They would not reach
for the spiritual blessings and priv
leges which belong to the gospel. And
while the circumstances now look
gloomy to great many, still they are
what they have been from time
immemorial, or since the eS-
| adjustment of this Church
the past fifty-eight years, and
while we have, before this crusade
| commenced, had many years of peace
and plenty-Of lo7eIiBesj, our sur
| rounGings were encoura4 lug and agree
| able. But L doubt very much whether
we were improving them and accom-
| pllshing the good as people, as we are
az the pres 3nt time, in the midst OF
these trials, difficulties and the perse-
cutl0ns We are undergoing. We, per-
haps, have now an opportunity of
showing our devotion to God and our
| determination to adhere to these prin-
| ciples which have been made known
unto us. And there is one thing that
| is perhaps IS great as anything that
can Ue offered to gain satisfaction, and
that is that there Is q channel we have
| reached through which we can obtain
the most perfect knowledge in regard
TO the religion We have espoused-a
CLEAN OF those glories that are to be
| revealed to us if we are faithful, to that
extent that we are willing TO go through
suffering and trouble. This is a
privilege that the gospel in every age Of
the world has granted. In fact, Tesus
said that the kingdom Of God, tue
church of God and the people of God
should be established upon this knowl-
edge. On one occasion the Savior
| asked His disciples whom the people
said He was; but they hardly knew He
was the Son of God. Peter ansW cred:
'Some say Thou art John the Baptist
others. Elisha, Jeremiah or one Of the
prophets" Now this was very extra
ordinary, that they had not gained that
Information. Then he asked Peter:
Whom do you say that I, me S1n OF
Man, amp The answer was by Peter:
Thou art Christ, the Son of the living
God" Jesus turned to Peter and said
BLESSED art thou, Simon Barjona, hesl
and blood has not revealed this unto
you, but my Father which is in heaven,
and upon this rock will 1 build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it," This WAS the rock
of revelation--a knowledge of the Son
of Coda knowledge Of things in
heaven. And upon this rock this
church has been established. And
those who live humble Will have the
spirit OF truth, the comforter-Which
Jesus said should communicate
a knowledge OF things in the eternal
worlds. lead you into all truth
and show you things to come. And
this promised Holy Ghost was to be
given to all who should repent OF their
sins. 1t is very remarkable tt at the
Latter-day Saints. in the midst of the
confusion and threats and the perse-
cutions, are SO calm In regard to the
outcome of these things. We are calm
and cool in the midst Of the storms
and tempests that surround US and TO
which we are exposed, because we
know if we are faithful in the midst
OF these difficulties and do not ignore the
testimony God has given US, we feel and
know that ultimately all will come out
right. And the apostle on one occasion
in speaking of this matter says, who
shall seperate Us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulations, shall famine, shall
distress, shall sword, shall PERIL or
any of these things? And there ara
thousands of Latter-day Saints who can
utter the same sentiments.
Now these are lessons the Latter-day
Saints have learned during the past
difficulty and trouble that. have been
as hard to bear as auy that were
mentioned by the Apostle Paul. The
Lord has blessed and sustained the
Latter day Saints wonderfully-Heh has
supported US during all our difficulties
He has done all he has promised.
He has found US among the nations of
the earth. Thousands and tens OF
thousands were in the midst of poverty,
and in spiritual darkness. He has
promised relief, redemption, and
help. He has brought Us through
affection, sustained US in times of trial
and removed darkness from our under
standing wherein we knew not God. He
has show His care. wherein we knew not
our relationship to God. He has shown
US that we are His offspring and that
His Son came here to redeem as in this
probationary state. He has shown Us
His love in many marvellous ways, and
there is no people on the face of the
earth who have greater reason to be
grateful for the blessings bestowed than
the Latter-day Saints. He has told US
that we shall dwell in the presence
of God if we are faithful unto
the end. We will have the
privilege of associating with God as we
now associate with each other. Our
bodies will be glorifed, like unto our
Savior. Mothers will have their lovely
little infants if they die while young.
They will clasp them TO their bosoms in
the eternal worlds. Husbands shall
have their wives, and wives their hus-