Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-19
DISC q 4 II : Il
pEnvEHhp M
PRESIDENT GEORGE 0 ClNNO'
REPORTED ny ARTHUR WINTER.

december lAhi loDl.
REPORTED ny ARTHUR WINTER.
In arising to address the Saints this
afternoon | do 10 with great deeirc
In my heart that may have the rs.
slsiance aud prcsencs Of thc Spirit Of
God, that that which may be said may
he OF profit to all who shall hear; aud
that this may ~ the case ! trust that |
shall have the faith OF those who are
present. do not believe that any
Elder Of tho Church OF Jesus Christ Of
Iiatter-day Saints, who feels rs he
should do, would ever have any In.
clinalion 70 speak u the people unless
he had the ASSURANCES that the Lord
would assist him aud give unto him
that which should DO said. never
wish TO speak unless / can be- ciiiied
by my own Remarks; aud when We
have the Assistance of the Lord,
those who speak and thoso who hear
are mutuhly benefited.
Asa people, and a. individuals, we
need to know tho mind aud will Of
God concerning ourselves. We are
told this Is our privilege. The Lord
has told US In great plalnnoss that he
Ia willing to pour out His Holy Spirit
In power upon His people who seek
for 1t. lie has also told us 1t IL His
desire that His people should live 10
near unto Him that lie can communal
cate unto them HE mind and His will:
In other words, that He will guide His
Church by revelation, rs In days OF
old. And this constitutes one OF the
great differences which exist between
the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter.
day Saiuts and all other churches and
organizations OF religious character
upon the face VI the earth. There Is
one church, at least, which DO.
lleves IN priesthood which, II
Is alleged, has derived It's power
from the days OF the Savior and His
Apostles. hut It 10 not n general be-
lief that the Lord inspires men and
gives unto thom His word Ia our
day. In the Church Of Jesus Christ,
however, II Il distinctly Understood
that the Church cannot stand, cannot
progress, cannot accomplish the mis.
sion assigned unto II, unless there be-
constant communication from God 10
man. This, as have remarked, il n
distinctive feature, and causes great
deal OF opposition, because men who
do not have faith are apt TO at,rlbntc,
and do attribute, 10 meu's brains aud
mems imaginalons that which the
Church may nccept as the counsel OF
heaven. But II Is most unreasonable.
N We believe tho words contained In
the Bible, 10 suppose that the Church
Of Christ can be organized on the earth
without receiving communication from
the Head Of the Church. II " true
that In Christendom tho universally
accepted belief Il that there has been
no communication from God 70 men
since the days u the Apostles. Moth.
ing that has been written or spoken
since the close NJ the Scriptures Is ac.
cepted by Christcndom ~ authoritative
or coming direct from God. The canon
| Of Scripture has been closed, according
TO the general belief. But II IL believed
that In previous times God did com.
munlcate His mind and will to the
children Of men. The writers OF the
books Of the Old aud New rostAments
are credited with the gin Of inspira-
ton. They wrote "a they were moved
upon by the Holy Ghost, and among
religious people who believe IN Chris,
a. tho Savior Of the world these writ
ings are considered sacred.
| II n n remarkable fact that God
never had u people upon the earth
whom He acknowledged as His who
did not receive communications con.
corning His mind aud will and HIS
purposes connected with the earth aud
the Inhabitants thereof. He revealed
Himself to the prophets. He scnt them
forth M Jonah was sont 10 Nineveh,
and He confirmed the truth Of their
words by fulfilling them. In thoso
days, when their was no cOmmuuica.
ton from Hin II was considered n
sign oftho departure Of the people from
the right path. After the death oil
Samuel, Saul epught TO obtain
communication from heaven. There
was no prophet In the land, no Trim
and rhummlm; and he had recourse
to the wilton OF Endor to obtain some
knowledge concerning that which he
wanted To know. And this Is recorded
as an evidence OF Saul's wickednoss.
The case Of Elijah aud the priests Of
Basl IL another notable instnnce OF the
difference between servant OF
God and those who are not His
servants. These priests professed
10 have divine authority, aud Elijah
proposed u test 10 show 10 the people OF
Israel whether they were what they
pretended TO he or not. Elijah looked
upon II ~ essentially necessary that
there should he communication from
God TO man, and that there should be
a recognition by God OF the authority
which He had bestowed upon him. So
II has been In all the history that has
come to us from Genesis 10 Malachi.
When The Savior came among men
there had been u long period OF time
wherein there had been no voice OF
inspiration heard among the Jewa, and
tho whole nation was startled at the
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