The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-08
President wilford woodruff.

morning last. There were the usual opening
preliminaries, and President MILFORD Woodruff
was the first speaker.
President MILFORD Woodruff.
Following is a brief synopsis of his DISCOURSE:
feel that every heart in this congregation
should be filed with gratitude and thanksgiv-
ing 10 God our Heavenly Father for the
blessings which we enjoy this morning, that so
many of us have the privilege of meeting in
this tabernacle in peace and quietude 10 wor-
ship Him. Neither the president of this church
nor his cOnuselors. nor the twelve apostles,
nor any man who uwells in the flesh has any
power of himself 10 instruct or ediGy the saints;
he can only do so so by the power and blessing
OF Almighty God. We are all dependent upon
the Lord The Prophet Joseph was humble
man; he was chosen as one OF the weak instru-
mcnts in the hands of God. raised up in this last
aispensation TO lay the foundation of tails great
church and kingdom of God upon the earth. He
was taught by the administration of angels He
knew full well that his strength layin God and
not in himself; and that is our condition at the
present time. Whenever the president of this
church orany of those in authority feel in their
hearts thai God cannot do without them in the
carrying on of his work they stand ON slippery
ground. What old Joseph Smith say when
Oliver COwdery told him that he was the second
apostle in this church and kingdom and that
Il he left The church it would fall: His. reply
Gas, oliver you Try 1T Oliver Cowdery did
Try II, ana he fell, but the Kingdom of God did
not. The Lord is not dependent upon any one
man orany set of men Tor the carrying On of
His work.
We have been called in this day generation
10 20 forth ana preach the gospel of Jesus
Christ, to the geutiles first and then TO the
house of Israel This has been my lot. 1t has
been the lot of the Apostles and of thousands
OF our elders. We have been called 10 warn the
inhabitants of the earth OF the judgments which
are to come, TO teach them the law OF God for
the salvation of the human family. Strong testi-
monies have been borne by the various
speakers during this conference concerning the
revelations OF Jesus Christ TO the inhabitants of
OF Israel. We have the Bible. the stick of
Judah, the law of God through Moses through
the ancient prophets and patriarchs, which has
been handed down to us. While thousands of
Of years have passed and gone, the Bible and
the revelations OF God have been preserved
unto this generation. The Book Of Mormon and
the Book of Doctrine and Covenants contain
some OF the most glorious and sublime reyela-
tons that God has ever given 10 man. They
Show what lies before us, what awaits our ma
tion and the nations of the earth These things
are clearly pointed out and will be fulfilled,
whether men believe them or not. The ques-
ton of revelation sometimes arises in our day.
President Young led us for good many years;
he led us TO these valleys; he was o man of God
and Tiled with revelation. BE laid the founda-
ton for the building up this territory and in all
that ne did the Eord-was with him. The same
may be said of President Taylor. II men do not
have the Holy Ghost they have no business TO
teach others.
would say 10 the President of the United
States, TO his cabinet TO all the inhabitants of
this laud-sixty or seventy millions OF people
TO all the nations OF the earth, to kings, empe
TOrs and princes. DO not worry about these
Latter-day Saints. If they are not the people
of e1God, If this work has not been es-
tabhshed by God Almighty, they will fall Of
themselves; they will be swept away as with a
bosom Of destruction from of the face of the
earth by His Judgment. Have the nations
forgotten that there is u God in Israel. who
created the heavens and the earth, who governs
and controls all these things? Jehovah holds
This work in His hands; He rules the destinies
81 all men; but here has been the great diff
asaH HN Has4rn s.HH . IL
people have failed 10 acknowledge the hand of
God in all things. The work of the Lord has
been an uphill business throughout
ihe entire history of the world Nc
person who believes in The Bible in
The revelations OF God, can deny that the Lord
has proclaimed that in the latter days He would
set His hand 10 Duild up church and 10 gather
together his people. The hour of Gods iudg
ments has come, and We are called upon to
warn the nations, TO preach the gospel unto
them Whether we are popular or unpopular
II we had not obeyed that command we would
have been condemned; the Lord would have
gut Us of and raised up people who would do
The work. No king, emperor. prince or pres-
ient has any power over the souls of men, and
their subjects should have the privilege of wor-
shipping God according TO the dictates of their
OWN consclenceS. Our rulers are not the Great
DIS Of those rulers over whom they preside
God, our creator has placed us here, and we
are responsible to Him alone for our religion
Tor our faith and work God will bless no ruler
who viii not guarantee his subjects their rights
and privileges n their relationship and COM
munion with Him.
We are here on a mission, and can we afford
to reject the gospel of Christ or turn away from
His commandments because it does not suit tn,
world: cannot. There is power above al
men and governments and when men shed the
blood OF The righteous because they follow the
word of the Lord they will have TO pay for i
py and bye. The blood of Joseph and Hyrun
Smith was shed; but the bill is not paid yet.
Let not your hearts be troubled. If we dc
our duty, il we unite together and keep III,
commandments OF the Lord, ali will be well il
aF11 Il l..an= f-asrr
OF this church and kingdom Of God. striving 70
our overthrow, but in vain. There has neve
been but one gospel ON earth, and there neve
VIII be. 4 great responsibility rests upon us
lei us not be afraid with regard To our work
Serve and trust in God, for you cannot pu
your trust IN man. thank God for tn
privilege OF bearing my testimony TO this grea
work; If We were not Gods people Their
would not be the combination which exists nov
tor our destruction. Watch the signs OF tn
times watch for what is Observation-Disclosures
lghtnings. earthquakes storms, cyclone.
pcstlence and famine. When the judgments
Of The Almighty are gathered together in III
heavens when the testimony OF the elders O
Of Israel is closed. Gods awful messenger vii
visit the earth. Therefore, prepare yourselve
Tor these things which await US, for they ar
sSsurcdly coming ana no power can stay tn
hand OF Almighty God
Apostle Franklin ID. Richards.
Following is the substance OF his remarks:
esteem it great blessingto be at this confer
l
hear such precious testimony from our venel
able president. What has been said are tn
eternal truths % heaven. They are the eterna
truths by which the people OF this generatio
sill be judged. Brother Woodruff has lived an
lohored in This work iifty-scpen years. hay
lived IN II fiiy two years. II Is not the work G
man but OF God II has confounded the wisdom
Of the worldly wise. COG has taken the youn
and inexperienced, ana through them brouCh
His DEGREES TO pass.
There is a'philosophy in the gospel, and thos
who are ripeaed in experience understand tn
necessity o. some things which exist. Thos
sho have come into the work later arc no
practically familiar with the past and probably
n consequence. cannot SO clearly see the futur
As can those who have been longer identities
With the church. Those who were scattered an
peeled and were driven here have felt sraIefu
ior the season OF rest We enjoyed for a time
When we came here, we were united and happy
We had no drunkenness nor profanity. Sine
she avenues Of communication have opened
however, all manner OF alluremont has com
among us. ana every saint should be on hi
guard. If the elders all haa the spirit of revela
ton, there Ncuic be no oifficulties among tn
people. The church courts would have hut Iii
tie 10 do. The people being taught cCrrec
principle. would govern themselves. All shoul
cultivate the spirit OF prayer and humility
Prosperity is causing many to forget thei
prayers If you cease TO keep up cominunica
lion with God you will dry up ana 20 away. I'm
less you repent. Ii is important that we keel
mp connection between us and the heavens
When we send telegraph message and get n
reply. we understand there has been q storn
and the wires are ont of order When conneC
tcn is unbrolSen we know all is well. We h.av
had precious season during this conference
Every soul must have been comforted and fed