Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-17


upon other peculiarities which the
Latter-day Saints possessed, but this
was probably the most striking DIFF
ference between themselves and
those by whom they were surround
ed.
In his remarks he was frequently
led to dwell upOn the wonderful
gathering together In this Territory
Of people Of various nationalities
from the four quarters Of the earth,
men and women born and brought
up under different circumstances,
in many instances speaking different
languages and trained in different
creeds. He loved TO dwell upon 1t,
because 10 his mind ii was one OF
the most striking evidences Of the
divinity Of this work that people
could be brought from remote lands
and gathered together as they were
In these settlements, dwelling to-
gether in love and union, with a
unanimity unparalleled elsewhere.
They had become changed beings;
they had been "oorn again." they
had become new men and women
In Christ Jesus. A great change
had been wrought in their charac-
ters by an influence which the
Saints declared TO be the Spirit Of
God; for any influence that produced
love and union, ami brought about
harmony, must be from God; and
whatever change Of this nature had
been effected in this community
was attributable directly to the
Priesthood.
In the days Of Jesus, He chose
Twelve Apostles. These were called
from various avocations, several OF
them being fishermen. They were
not educated in worldly wisdom;
they were illlterate men. But Jesus
called and ordained them. and sent
them forth with the Gospel mes.
sage-the message OF salvation, and
when they returned they testified
to their Master that even devils
were subject unto them. Authority
was conferred upon them enabling
them TO do mighty works, they
were blessed exceedingly, they had
Increased power given unto them
which they exercised 20 an even
greater extent after His death. This
authority was the authority Of the
everlasting Priesthood, IL the
Twelve had gone forth without this
ordination and attempted to do what
they did, their efforts would IN.
doubtedly have resulted in complete
failure. God recognized their au-
thority, He acknowledged them as
his servants, and that which
they performed in His name
received the seal Of His approval by
the hestOwal Of great gins and pow
ers upon those who listened to their
testimony. Ii was worthy Of note that
50 long as this Priesthood remained
among men, wherever the name OF
Christ was taught by those who
bore IL, the fruits which attended its
nrst preaching continued % he
manifested and the people were
united. Wherever division existeu
among protesting Christians
whether Latter-day Saints or any
other sect-it was evidence 10 the
world that they were not Of God
that something was wrong, that
someone had gone astray. The Spirit
ut GOd did not prevail in the hearts
OF those who were thus divided. II
the everlasting Priesthood had not
been restored In our day. the blessed
fruits which had attended this peO-
pie would not have followed them.
he knew 1t was fashionable among
many denominations TO say II made
no difference about being ordained
that everybody who chose I, take
upon himself the duty Of preach
Ing the truth had the right 10 DO so
II he only possessed the education
requisite for the calling. But this
was not the belief entertained by
the ancients; and, accounting to the
Word Of God which had come down
to US, 1t was entirely contrary to
that which He had given unto us rs
guide in these matters. Every
man In the world had the right 10
preach the truth; there was 10
limit in this respect. But that wa
not the point. There was some
thing besides preaching the truth
needed to cave tie people, and that
was the ordinances of lif,
and salvation, without tho al
ministratiOn Of which no mau
could see the face Of God and dwell
in His presence eternally. No man
had the right 10 baptize his fellow
man, toimmerse him ia water, uu-
less God had called him and given
him the authority 10 perform that
ordinance. IL required authority
from God to bestOw the Holy Ghost.
This was the cause of the confusion
which existed in the Christian
world today. Men acted who had
not the authority, and hence the
people were split up into hundreds
Of sects. Men lose VI and Thought
that they, individually, had the
authority because they perceived
some truth, and had got some light
from God; therefore very frequently
II man thought the other sect
were in error, he felt emboldened 10
90 forth and lay the founda
uon OF new sect. YET
all these claimed to be the followers
OF the Son OF God, that HOLY Being
who prayed that His disciples should
he as one, even as He and tn.
Father were one. This splitting IN
and division at the present time was
indeed sad 10 contemplate. IL wa,
due TO the withdrawal Of the holy |
Priesthood-of the authority from
God. In vain men strove 10 build |
up churches to God and 10 save tn,
souls Of mankind If they lid net |
have the everlasting Priesthood
which God always hOnored when
men bore 1t on the earth. Tn,
world was shocked at the very mem !
ton OF holy angels descending from
heaven; but how else could this au-
thority have been restored? Moth
ing could be more logical, although 4
he knew this thought was very
TO people in these days.
III there Was any IA. K OF faith.
power or gifts in our day il was moi
because Goa had changed, becaus.
He withheld from His Church IN,
gifts that He once bestowed upon IL.
but because the children Of mel
themselves had departed from IN,
ruth.
The Latter-1sy Saints would be
he most ungrateful and unworth,
1eople in the world IL they did no,
honor the Priesthood. Buttbere wasl
difference between honoring the
Priesthood. the authority Of Col, am
irving away their manhood, ard do
ng such things as they were accuse
" No people on earth valued fire..
Igeney as did the Latter-day Saint;
hey preached 1t and taught Their
that they were free agent
free to choose and act for them
elves They would not bind a man
" a single hair 10 do something
rhich his own free will would mo-
lrompt him 10 do. The Latter-1sv
'aints acknowledged they were q,
me, and thanked God for tn,
gospel which had brought them TO
ether; but because Of this onenes,
did not follow that they did MOI
eason and hold individualopi :
that they were led by one MINI
T one man. People who had don,
THAT the Latter-day Saints hau
one had shown their indepeB-
ence; for it required independ.
ace and courage to embrace