The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-08

SeQCO VI Debt6T tu1uSSp hIS 6OOu OhOuSo
in their way. But the spirit OF prophecy
reckons not by such means. but plerces
through the wall OF probabilities, 1t
takes no account of things as they ap-
pear; its doctrine is not the doctrine OF
chance; it only knows that such and
such things will be, and so declares them
The Latter-day Saints who have
gathered to these mountains from
all parts of the earth, have done
so under the conviction that they are
Gods people, the children of Israel
who had been scattered abroad during
! a cloudy and dark day; but that in
these latter times the word has gone
forth that they should be gathered in
obedience to the predictions of the
ancient prophets. The spirit of pro-
phecy spoke thousands of years ago
words which are just beginning to be
fulfilled. The spirit of prophecy does
not confirm itself TO the age in which
lives the man who is made the medium
of its uJterance; it overlaps the bounds
of time and fulills itself, if need be, in
eternity. Hear ye the word OF the
Lord" said jeremiah, land declare it
in the isles afar off. and say, He that
scattered Israel will gather him and
keep him as shepherd does his flock. !"
And Isaiah, speaking of the same great
event, said that it should come to pass
in the last days that the mountain Of
the Lords house should be established
in the tops of the mountains
and be exalted above the
hills and all nations shall flow
unto it, and many shall go and say:
Come ye, let US go up to the mountain
of the Lord, TO the house of the God of
Jacob, and He will teach US OF His ways
and we will walk in His paths. for out of
Zion shall go forth the law and the word
of the Loru from Jerusalem We. the
Latter-day Saints. believe that these
things are being fulfilled, but the world
do not believe it. They think it is the
height of arrogance and presumption
for a little handful of people to pretend
to be the Israel of God IN these days.
and that handful of people, the despised
Mormons or Latter-day Saints. They
look at it naturally; they take the
human view; they look at iG temporally,
because they look at things as they seem.
1t appears to them to Be deception and
delusion, while they who have received
the spirit OF prophecy. the Holy Ghost.hy
the laying on of the hands of the priest
hood, who have had faith enough to re-
pent of their sins. to be baptized for the
remission of them, and to receive of that
Spirit which leads and guides into all
truth. look at things spiritually and
they see them as they are. for they oc-
cupy a spiritual eminence and can see
things afar off which are hidden from
those standing down below. You may
ascend these mountain tops on a clear
day. You need not go upon the sum-
nit, but may just ascend the bench. or
halfway, and look southwark, and you
will see Mount Nebo, a hundred miles
distant; but you caDno. see it from the
valley below. You must get
mp where the atmosphere is
clearer, above the mists which
obscure the gaze. Get up on the noun
natural eye. things i'll the distance
that are invisible to those VINO are
down here in the valley. It is 50 with
those who have assembled to this
spiritual height whose vision is clear;
whose minds are illumined with the
light of the Holy s irit. They see
things afar off. because they are gazing
above the clouds, above the vapors and
mists which hang over all below. W lie
those who are at the base. VINO have
not faith to go up; who think it LOO
much trouble to ascend the mountain,
who are not humble enough 10 begin
the ascent from the very bottom. gszs
up at the clouds an 1 are blinded by the
mists that obstruct their view
Such is the tendency of mankind to
gazs upon things and decide them with
the natural eye, ignoring the use of
their spiritual ia ;ulties, that it seem,
to have be part of the programme
of the Almighty in different ages of the
world, to choose a select few who are
inclined more to look at things spirit
ually than the rest of the world. and
make of them examples to the many.
There seems to be class of spirits who
are scattered abroad among all nations
for this very purpose, so that the leaven
may Ieaven the whole lump, that by
the example aud faithfulness of lone
of a city or two of family" the rest
may be drawn to follow their example.
This is doubtless the meaning of the
phrase: $50 will He sprinkle many
nations;" sprinkle them with blood of
the faithful, scattering those faith
full spirits far and wide among
all nations in order thai their ex-
amples, their good works and precspts
may draw men unto righteousness.
Abraham was chosen because of his
great faith. Though the clouds over
Swallowed him, hiding the light from
his natural gaze, he could believe that
the sun still shone. Few men have
been tried as Abraham was. He was
tested in the crucible OF the Almighty
before he was elevated and exalted to
the position where he was called the
father of the faithful and the friend of
God. His own father was an idolater-
a worshipper of wood and stont-one
of people who inundated human lives
on the affairs of their gods. The LORD
called this man, Abraham, out of the
world and told him that he would make
of him great nation. He told him to
leave his fatt ec, his mother, his bro
theirs and sisters and come out from
them, to worship not their gods and
follow after none of their ways. God
chose him to be an example, setting him
up as torch to enlighten the world TO
bring back the knowledge of the true
and living God. And hsw was Abraham
tried? He was tested all his life long.
in one way or another. He was tested
by the imperiling of his own life, by
long journeys. by discipline of
righteousness which always involves the
n Il