Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-15

The negligence OF some Eldere
reminded him VI the Hottentot savage
who plays with the diamond a. a toy f,
though its size and purity make il
worth "a fortune; 40 II was with those
who esteem the Priesthood they pos.
sess as OF little consequence, knowing
gem.
Elder Roberts here read n portion OF
theslth section Of the Book OF Doctrine
and Covenants and used II ma tex; IN
showing the grand privileges which
slothful Elders were ignoring. lie also
POINTED out the TACT that great gifts
ami powers are accompanied by great
responsibilities. and that a. great r..
wards follow obedience. 20 great pun.
ishmcnts follow dlsobedience. He n.
lustrated this by citing the case OF
Ekeklcl, who. being called Of God TO
preach TO tile Isfaelites, delayed In his
mission, and the Lord warned him
that II he did not call upon them to 10.
pent He would destroy them and their
blood would be required at the hands
OF the slothful Prophet. Elder Roberts
applied this to those Elders who re-.
fused TO go upon missions when called,
etc.
He had heard In his recent Iabors In
tle southern counties that IN fidelity
was increasing among our young peo-
PIE. He was surprised that such "a
condition should exit In the mtds,Of a
ffiestho0d clothed with power to teach
and bear witness Of the truth. lie de.
clared that II was the duty Of the FL.
ders, clearly and positively, to stem
this tide OF unbrIief, and encourage
faith In God. The Elders are partly
TO blame for this condition. How
many Of the Elders bear their t.sti.
monies 10 their associates In daily IN.
tercourseP How many pray to their
Heavenly Father night ana morning?
How many attend 10 their duties In the
ward and eltewhefo2 "AlOTmonisn,''
u The only remedy for this evil, for II
"Mofmoniam" II not truth, then there
u no truth under heaven. IL his re.
ligion Is false then life was farce, and
creation nnught but chaos.
Heabjuied the holders Of the Priest.
hood 10 be careful, for all those who
did not magnify their calling would be
stripped ofuvcry vestige Of Priesthood
when brought before their maker. He
was strongly opposed TO holding n man
In the Priesthood who was not worthy
OF II, for there were cases where men
had teen kept within the pale Of the
Priesthood when unworthy, with the
result that many became demoralized
and often n whole ward, OF n whole
Stake became careless Of their duties
ih consequence. lie considered Of all
places on the earth thl-, ought 10 be
the last where lnfldelity could flourish.
There was great cloud OF witnesses to
testify to the truth OF the Gospel. FL.
der Roberts analyzei the Bible, the
Book OF BOrmon anu Hook OF Doctrine
n Covenants, aud took the ground
that We had great deal stronger evi.
dence TO support IA than any OF ers
hat, for the Book OF Mormon comes
nom pure source, but the book
Of the Bible have descended
through the turbld stream
Of tradition, and much had been lost
OF the original scriptures. The Book
OF Mormon contains the fulneas Of the
everlasting Gospel, whole and entire,
bearing emphatic testimony that God
lives. Hence, he reasoned that as n
people we should have greater faith, for
faith Il bnsed upon evidence; aud yet,
We hear that inhdelity IL Increasing!
There are some sixteen quorums Of
Elders and twelve or fifteen quorums
OF Seventies In this stake Of Zion, be-
sides NJ. |. A. associations, anu many
other facilities to study the Gospel, and
yet lnndelity was increasing! He
thought II WIS shame 10 the Elders
OF Israel that such a state Of things
should exist, and hoped that reforms.
tion would shortly set In among those
who at present neglected their duties
Us Elders In the Church OF Christ,