Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-07-19
SPIRITUAL PROGRESS.

lAaLttI-GaN SdluI-, on WnOm de-
wolves the duty Of proselyting
among all the peoples Of the earth
where access is obtainable, naturally
tends to the cultivation Of the art Of
public speaking among the male
members. The proclamation of the
Gospel is a common duty in which
every eligible man is liable, during
some portion Of his life, 10 engage.
The power to express in appropriate
speech the thoughts which present
themselves like pictures TO the mind
is desirable, as it extends the useful
ness Of the IOssessor. Clear and ex-
pressive speech is the result Of pro-
found and well digested thought. 1t
II not always the case that the
effective thinker can express per
spicuousiy what has been grasped
by his mind, but he who does not
clearly think is sure not TO have
that ability, for the reason that a
person cannot convey either by
speech or otherwise, that OF which
he is not himself in possession.
This being the case the indispens-
able prerequisite Of the effective
minister is a well stored mind.
Itmay be said that this process Of
culture means preparation, and is
therefore not harmonious with the
Injunction Of Christ not 10 think
beforehand in relation to what
should be said This direction Of
the Savior only referred 10 special
preparation for emergencies. The
storage OF the mind does not conflict
with but conforms TO this instruc-
ton. When an exigency arises, if
the mind has been cultured and
stored with truth, the Spirit Of
Truth has a more capable executive
through whom TO operate. The
same injunction regarding special
preparation was reiterated through
the Prophet Joseph Smith, but the
latter also said that the mind Of man
should engage in active contempla-
ton until-using a figurstive ex-
preSsion-it becomes as broad as
eternity"
But how, it may be asked, can
mans mentality be thus compared:
By grasping tine laws of God and
truth, which are eternal and oper-
ate everywhere. For instance, jus
tice, mercy and economy have no
beginning nor end, being continuous.
II the mind follows them in their
operations it stretches into eternity.
These are fixed, Interchangeable and
iuflexible laws, and are "iniepend-
cnt in the spheres in which God has
placed them to act'' for themselves.
When this becomes clear to the
mind how plain must it appear that
none Of their conditions can be en-
croached upon with IMMUNITY. This
understanding leads TO the further
comprehension of the fact that God
cannot possibly be unjust.
According to this view Of the
laws which govern the universe Of
the Almighty, individuals and ma
tons cannot possibly infringe upon
them without sooner or later plung-
ing into difficulty. The very disas-
ter resultant from departures from
the lines Of exact truth is in the
nature Of a corrective, tending 10
lead the victim toward an effort at
recovery through the rectifying
process OF repentance, which
means a return to conformity
with the good and true. An
understanding Of eternal, divine laws
by which all things are governed
except that which perversely in
sists on being law unto Itself
enables the individual to gauge mat
tiers in general, because the infor-
nation comprises so many keys.
Light cleaveth unto light, intelli-
genee to intelligence, and truth to
truth. In this statement appears to
be comprised 4 key to spiritual pro-
gress. An effort on the part OF an
intelligent spirit to grasp the truth
is responded to by the Spirit Of
Truth, by which the mind il quick
ened. With this inspirational as
sistance the subject under contem-
plation is graspei. Thus truth is
planted In the human mind. Other
truth, having an affinity Tor that
there, seeks a Judgment
beside it and gains admittance. Thus
spiritual enlargement becomes
natural growth, being governed by
law.
Some people in the Church have
oeen known tosay that their religion
was practical. While they did not
desire TO be engaged in the perform
ance Of spiritual duties, they were
always ready to do their part in tenn
poralities, such as contributing TO
the support Of the poor, or any need
ed work Of similar character. The
support OF the poor and duties Of a
similar nature are essentially a part
Of a spiritual labor, and should be
10 from that standpoint.
But the meaning Of the class referred
to wss that they preferred to confine
their religious work almost exclu-
sively TO certain line or limit. This
is liable to lead to self.
qualification. The evenly developed
religiOnist is he who is capable, by
the blessing Of God, Of dispensing
bread Of both kinds-that which
perisheth and that which endures
for ever.
He VINO desires TO be useful in the
labor OF increasing truth and right
eousaess in the earth must bring
his powers into activity. To allow
them foreman inert is . contraven.
ton OF divine economy, whose de-
mands cannot be disregarded with