The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-05

q PcoIdl uOut VI uOHOr UDdG nOG a lew nave
omitted to discharge-the refunding of
means supplied by brethren to enable them
TO come to this country. This is not right
sucn an o5lgatlon is sacred. We should
remember our benefactors and not be
guilty OF the base sin of ingratitude.
we should not forget the object of
gathering. 1t is to learn more fully the
ways of the Lord We have progressed in
this respect, but many have neglected to
give then children proper instruction in
these matters. Some have imagined that
their time has been too much occupied to
give their children these benehcent teach
lngs. Those who cannot occupy much of
their own time IN this labor should be par
ucular to send them where they can get
the instruction church and Sabbath
schools. In this way they may become
grounded in the faith of the gospel and be
able to give reason for the hope that is in
them. Many parents, seeing the result of
former negligence in this regard now
regret their sins of omission. Some have
thought that their children could receive all
Lnat was necessary at ordinary meetings.
This is an error, as children are only cap
able of receiving but little at a time.
Apostle Mariner W. Merrill.
In substance be said: He had had many
reflections since coming here in relation to
the past. Thirty eight years had gone by
since he first became associated with the
Saints in this city and territory, and during
that period how many of the brethren with
whom he had been intimately acquainted
had passed away He dared say there were
many present that morning who had never
seen the face of President Young, Presi-
dent hImball, Brother George A. Smith,
and others of the early pioneers and settlers
nd hn 4 oil
that there were very few persons now in
the church who had ever beheld the
Prophet Joseph. He himself was one of
the latter. But the Prophet Joseph's tes-
tlmony was still in force; his spirit had
continued in the earth at his death; his
mantle fell upon the shoulders of President
Dung; in turn 1t fell upon those of Presi-
dent Taylor, and now it was borne by
President Woodruff. Thus we saw that the
spirit OF the great latter day work was
fully sustained among Gods servants: in
other words, the ms piration of the Holy
Ghost that rested upon the Prophet Joseph
and his brethren In an early day was still
with the church. That spirit and inspira-
ton would continue in the earth and could
not be taken away. The man or woman
who had lost the spirit of this work had
done so through his or her own neglect
through the non-Observance of the com
years Of close observation he had seen that
those Saints VINO had faithfully kept the
laws OF the Lord, who were honest in their
dealings, had attended to their duties, and
been prayertul in their daily life, were
flrm and steadfast in the truth to-day The
speaker counseled the Latter-day Saints to
examine their acts closely, to sit in judg-
ment upon themselves, as it were, and see
II needs be, wherein they had lost the gifts
nj 10 4 al rLN,, 4
people, or they would aSsuredly lose the
spirit of this work. Apostle Merrill next
dWelt upon the subject of tithing, the strict
observance of which he strongly enforced
opon his hearers. The payment of tithing
was an important matter among the Lat
terday Saints. Though some had perhaps
parted with thousands of dollars in this
way, they yet had an abundance OF this
worlds goods; they were full Of faith and
greatly blessed of the Lord.
In bearing a strong and earnest tssti-
mony to the truth of the latter-day work
the speaker urged the Saints always to be
honest and fOrgiving. They must not en-
courage hard feelings in their hearts
against one another: they could not afford
to do this, Enough the world might do it.
He said the Latter-day Saints had the
grandest organization on earth, and he
pointed with pride to the Sabbath schools,
Young Mems and Young Ladies' Mutual
Improvement associations, and Primary
associations. If we keep the command
ments OF God, he said, we would be sus-
tanned in our work and lifted up TO a far
higher place than those who now ridiculed
and revlled them, and upon whom they
looked with pity because of their ignorance,
Apostle John W. Taylor.
l desire to be directed in my speaking by
a hOl irit
interest 10 the remarks OF Elder Merrill. l
have paid particular attention to his testi-
mony regarding the truth of this work.
ANY strangers who may be present will
think his declaration in that regard rather
remarkable Our Lord and Savior prom
lsed that all who should do His will should
know for themselves as to the divine origin
OF the gospel. This is the reason why
Elder Merrill is able TO make such a posi-
tive statement Of the knowledge he has Oh
tanned.
What is necessary to be done in order to
be in accord with the will Of God and as a
result obtain similar testimony! There
are many opinions abroad on this subject
The best source of information is the Scrip
lures, which Christ commended to the CON
sideration of men in His day. The speaker
here read from the sixteenth chapter of st.
Marx, showing that baptism by immersion
IN water, and the obtaining of the HOLY
Ghost, by a prescribed ordinance were
necessary parts of the law of the gospel
He also dWelt upon the commission given
to the servants of God in that age to preach
the gospel, free of charge, to all peoples
In the same chapter is also statement OF
the spiritual signs that were to follow the
believer as a result of obedience. An ex-
PLANTATION was given by Elder Taylor of
the manner in which the divine message
was carried to the people by the ancient
apostles and the results of the reception or
rejection OF their teachings. He next re-
1erred to the case of Nicode nus, who
visited the Savior under cover of night to
make inquiry regarding the steps he should
take TO obtain salvation, the answer being:
Except man be born OF water and of the
Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God''
Christ asserted that he testified of things
That he had seen and did know.
Here then is an instance of a similar
character here this morning, Brother Mer-
rlll having testified TO what he does know.
Christ gave other instructions to His ser
wants in the days of the primitive church
he enJolned them TO tarry at Jerusalem un-
I'll they were endowed with power from
on high. He promised that il they did He
would bestow upon them the Holy Ghost,
the Comforter, who would instruct them
and show them things to come. 1t is this
spirit that imparts this knowledge of tue
things of God. These are not new doc
trines. They are laid down in the Scrip
lures, which state that the Testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy The
speaker then dwelt fer some time upon the
gifts of the Holy Spirit as defined by the
Apostle Paul, asserting that people among
whom these spiritual manifestations do not
exist are not IN possession Of the power
OF God unto salvation He ad-
monished all his hearers to take the advice
of the Apostle Paul and seek earnestly the
best gifts. He promised strangers that
those who would believe in Christ, repent