Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-08
DIS COURSE
PRESIDENT GEORGE 0. CANNON,
= ma
Tabernacle, SAT- Lake Cgty, Fe5ru-
0Iy 23rd, 1899.


arg 2srd, 1899.
Very rarely in my life have fell
more timid in arising 20 speak than
/ do this afternoon; and I do arise in
the hope that shall have the faith
and prayers OF tho Ilstier-day
Saints, that I may he able TO speak
such words as shall be profitable,
and as shall be dictated by the Spirit
Of God. / do not want, neither do
| suppose that any servant of God
desires TO appear, before the ccngre-
tons of the Saints merely for the
purpose OF rpessing, of being heard;
but OF being an instrument in the
hands OF God Of giving to the Peo-
pie the bread of life, OF speaking
words that shall he instructive and
profitable, and that shall be a source
of strength to US in the performance
OF our duties.
1t seems to me there never was a
time that l as an individual felt
more the need of the guidance and
help OF the Almighty than l do in
these days. 1t is a very responsible
station for n man TO stand as an
| Apostle Of the Lord Jesus Christ, 10
stand as one Upon whom the re-
I spon-ibility rests of counseling the
/ people, Of directing them, and Of i'm
! parting TO them such instructions rs
are needed by them; snd 1 naturally
shrink from thi. responsibility. /
never did desire prominence among
men. The Lord revealed TO me
when was quite young that l al
some time would be an Apostle. l
never told it to any human being
but on more than one occasion |
have gone out and besOught the
Lord to choose some one else, and
TO relieve me OF that responsibility.
have bSsought Him earnestly, time
and again, that if l could only get
my salvation and exaltation with
out being called to that high aud holy
responsibility, | would much rather
de would cheese soTeother person.
These have always been my feelings
concerning responsibility IN this
Church; yet I hare andeavored to
the Lest Oh my ability when re-
sponsibiiity has been placed upon me
to bear it of, with the help Of God,
the best | could. / feel so today.
feel that il is one OF the greatest
blessings a human being can have
bestowed upon him % be cliusen n
servant Of !esus Christ, and to enjoy
the p5wer and the gifts and Inc
blessings that ought TO rest upon
those who are thus chosen. And
there is this to comfort all those
upon whom this autllurity is be-
stowed-tie Lord is always able and
always willing 10 sustain His serv-
anti in the performance Of all the |
labOrs and duties which He assigns |
unto them. He does not leave men
to themselves when He calls them !
to Office; but He gives them gifts 1
and graces and qualifications. and |
the Spirit suited to the duties de-
volving upon them. and the laburs
which they may have to perform.
And Notwithstanding riy own
weakness aud .he realization Of my
own incapability, can testify TO
you this day that the Lord has al
ways, throughout my life and NV
varied labors, blessed me beyond
what l, IN many respects, could |
have expected. And ] have seen
that this has been the case with my
fellow servants; He has been eN-
ceedingly kind 10 them. He has
bestowed His Spirit up.r them.
and He has siven unto them
knowledge and wisdom. rev
elation and counsel TO i'm
part unto the people, and to guide
them in the performance OF the
various labOrs that have uevoly,d
upon them. 20 il has been with
This entire people. If this work had
depended upon US; if it had been
The duty Of the Latter-day Saints 10 ,
provide for it and TO take care OF IL.
10 control Il and manage It's Affairs.
I would hove been an utter faiIure.
This Is great consolation to me at ,
east, and certainly it is 10 all OF Won. :
In the midst Of trials. and the diff
;ulties that We have to contend
with, aud the Affections ve haze 10 ! /
Dear, the te-iiuicny constantly Is ,
nat .tlls Is Gods work, that He is /
airing for 1t. that II does not depend {
lpon us to manage it with our short I
lighted wisdom; but that He, with :
supreme wisdom and with His Z
Almighty power, aud with His (
ternal providence, IS caring for all a
Is interests, is watching over every i
Ietail, anu Is controlling all the 4
abors Of His people, the counseis r
nd instructions of His servants =
nd even the acts Of the wicked I
themselves, for tie ACCOMPLISH /,
lent Of dis purposes and the full O
Hing OF His great designs. This j
a constant consolation which God n
ives unto His pcop'e. And how h
0miOrting and sslsraining II is I,
What comfort II has Brought "a n
lany, yea, to all hearts. in times II
nat are past, as it will do 10 an e
earts In times yet to come. q
/ am thankful this day. NV breth- HI
m and sisters, to have standing le
your midst; to be a member Of n
le Church Of Jesus Christ of Lat IA
r-day Saints. / am thankful every 4.
mute Of my life to have the fell d,
wship OF this people who are \
enbers OF this Church, and re- 81
ri 1t as one OF the greatest of br
essings. When l 20 out and Is
ingie among other people and see h,
at which is going on in the world n
y heart swells with thanksgiving AZ
d JOY to think that my lot is thus to
St; that In the kind providences of De
ID our Eternal Father [ am a he
.mber OF His Church, and associ- In
al with this people, who are so al,
splsed because they are His au
ople-thesc Latter-day Saints. m m
ies me the greatest Of pleasure 10 an
nix of this; and I often tbink he
len l nm away from home what in
uid be my reflections, and how ha
tlld feel If / were not associated m,
Tn the Latter-day Saints, &c / had or,
prospect before me for myself and va
my family anu for my friends. mr
y the prospect that / Behold he co,
the world, and that they are up.
king forward 10; it seems to me an,
mat were the only hope | had. mo-
If this were the only prospect tn,
ore me. that | would have no en- me
ment in life. l think that / ext
aid be a very miserable man, and the
I lit seems to me-would have mo
desire for posterity. Because the
wing the world as 1 view it from liyi
standpoint, and viewing the pul
Ire as | behold it, it would seem are
Ihougn there were very little to Mi
Tor. Now, in taking this view lIgi
ay be, in some respects, a pessi- DIV,
|, that is | may look at the dark upo