Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-03

I
E. our souows, disappointmsns an
}, Affections. But IL we take slhii
n ual view and look ct thirgs arign'
d il will not be so difficult to see IN
e purposes Of the Almighty even u
n our untoward surroundings ana ex
l. periences. The ways of God ar
2 not as mans ways. He knows VIVA
1 is best for His children, and VIVA
4 experiences it is needful that the.
{ should pass through, and He ondain
= cur greatest trials, as individuals ant
7 as people, for our publication an,
! development.
j The Prophet Joseph told Presi
2 dent John Taylor, soon after tn
: latter Joined the Church, tina
/ he had received the Spirit Of rrgtr
: which, II he cultivated and heedeC
= at all times, would always lead him
: Alright. Ii might often prompt hin
, TO 90 contrary TO his personal in
clinations, but if he would listen To
and obey it, and sacrifice his OWL
desires, he would neve- 20 astray.
remember an incident in the history
OF one of our missionaries which II.
/ luSllAit> TINS u lAAl- DA14pp W MT
ney here related how n "MUrmon''
Elder in early days, who had given
out an appointment to preach in a
certain place in the backwoods, was
Threatened with death by burly
ruffian if he attempted to I'LL the en-
gagement. To emphasize his threat,
TIE man, after the people had as
sembled, and before the Elder had
arrived, walked 10 and fro before
the meeting house door with an ax
on his shoulder, prepared TO carry
out his murderous design. But the
Elder calmly and deliberately
walked In while the fellows back
was turned, took his place in the
pulpit, read q few verses from the
Bible and preached his sermon rs il
nothing had happened, while his
would-be assailant, amazed at the
Elders intrepidity, threw down his
AK and departed, powerless to exc
cute his threat. Here was an
instance where human judgment
would have prompted the Elder to
forego his appointment, but which
the voice OF The Spirit babe him full
al.
Many Elders might relate similar
experiences. l remember reading OF
an incident in the life Of President
Woodruff. He was camped one
stormy night unSer some trees,
when the spirit babe him arise and
move his wagon away from them.
he din so Just in time 10 save him
self, his wagon and team from being
crushed 10y the falling Of one of the
trees stricken by lightning. Thus
is proven the inestim2bie value
OF the Spirit Of God, as
guide and monitor, far more
reliable than the most excel
lent natural judgment. The most
important thing for the Saints 10 do
is to live so that they may have the
Spirit OF revelation and inspiration
b direct them in all the Affairs o!
their lives.
When Jonah was commanded to
go 10 Nibeveh and predict the city's
destruction, he shrank from the I'M
dertaking. lie probably renem-
bered the fate Of other Prophets sent
forth TO warn the wicked and was
appalled, at the danger Of the pros
pect. But the Lori was resolved
that Nineveh should be warned and |
that Jonah should fill the mission to |
which he had been called. God in |
this did not tamper with JOnah's l
agency.as some might suppose. But |
He so overruled events a. TO induce 1
Jonah, Of his own volitiOn, to pre-
fer the path Of duty to that of dis
Jonah took passage in 4 /
ship going in another direction,
perhaps he could hide
himself IN some remote corner Of the
earth where the all-seeing eye OF
God could not behold him. But
great storm arose which imperiled
the ship and crew aHd passengers,
until Jonah, feeling that the hand
Of God was pursuing him, and that
be was the cause OF the tempest.
in his contrition asked TO be
thrown overheard, which was done.
and n whale swallowed him. AT
the end Of three days, Jonah, hav-
ing probably concluded by that time
that Nineveh would bs quite as
"A place as the whales
belly, was rescued from his strange
and perilous position and went forth
and fulfilled the nilsson 10 which
he had been called. His experience
mad converted him, ami in it, we
IRE taught, was given a type of the
burial and resurrection Of the Re
ieemer.
Thus a man may say: 81 will DO
Eus and SO, "or a nation may deter
nine TO carry out some plan, but ,
iod may override the efforts OF that
nan or that nation SO that they will
irUduce an effect the very opposite
4 that which was intended. "Man ,
proposes, but God dispOses," and
There is a divinity which shapes
'ur ends, rough hew them rs we .
WILL"
Joseph the Prophet was told, as
Ie lay imprisoned in Liberty Jail.
hat If the angry ocean should (.
wallOw him, or the earth open AMI :
axe him in, or the very mouth Of !;
ell gape wide TO engulf him no 4
natter what terrors or pains or =
rOubles he was called upon to en- i
ure-all would give him expert :
uce and would be Tor his good. Can :
re not put our trust in such n God, ;,
no can override all things for our =
aviation and welfare, turn our sor- -
,ws into joy, and out Of our disap- =
Dintments and seeming defeats ,,
ring forth success and victory? 7,
hat God who gave His only be- !,
1tten Son TO be prosecuted, spit :,
pom, scourged and erucified; that l,
hrist who not only laid His lie but y
is reputation upon the altar Of I.
ans salvation. Yes for He was 4
ucifie1 as an impostor, as a conf -
on criminal, dying with thieves. :.
ow millions own Him as the :,
IN Of God, anu give honor and r:
'aise 10 Him as the worlds Re- =,
.emer. But at that time only 4 -
W believed Him 10 be indeed the -
IN OF God. Peter Sas one of the =,
W to whom The true character and :,
ission Of the Savior was revealed. ~
I'd 1t was a great honor to be thus =,
essed Of the Lord, for flesh and =.
pod could not reveal Him, but =
ly His Father in heaven. -
No matter how our hopes may be :,
lsteG, our idols shattered, as indi- ~
tuals or as a people, God will per "
IN His act, His strange act, and n,
flesh will glory in His -
esence. This is Ills work 9,
d 1t will triumph. But rs -
d is long-sufieriug, patient and r.
He expects His people ~
be likewise; to be broad, and iiblt5i
u, charitable and philanthropic. ~
ever since / can remember have ~
er heard servant of God utter a j -,
nj against the principle OF the s.i
herhood ofGod, and the brother ~ ~
oil of man; never have L been
Ight that l should return cursings a,
IN cursings, hatred for hatred. ". ".
N TO our bitterest foes. But TO ~
urn good for evil, and though IL IL
enemies should cJme against US -,
h sword and bayonet 70 destroy m
that we should meet them with All
olive branch OF peace, and trust
.ItrN 60 "a. - ~.