Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-17

We read IN Scripture OF the warn.
ings which were given ny tbs Savior
llimsult upon this very subject. lie
said that a h)uss diviIei Agaln9, IT.
sclt ojuld not stand. Ho warned His
disciples to seek for that spirit OF ono.
ness which was cnaract srlHtic OF III im.
self AMI His Father la heaven; for He
said, "lf ye are no. one, yo ard MT
mine" You, my brethren ani sisters,
nJe aware Of the special features which
characterized the saints In former
days, aud which nte charac,eristlc OF
bitter.lay Saints as well. You 10.
member the result which followed the
preaching NJ the Apostles wnen they
received tue Holy Ghost on Tia day OF
PcntecOst AMI this nultitu lu cried
unto Potter for Inform itl1n as 10 how
they might be sivcl. After receiving
tho ordinances OF tho Gispel, they be-
canie ono IN all things as result OF
their acceptance OF ,these principles.
ThBy were aliks In their temporal ni.
fairs as well as Ia their spigitlal
concerns. They saw eye TO eye.
There were no b ckerings among them.
There was no strife nor contention.
But there was a spirit nlling cash
heart aud resting down upln every in
divlduai that made him love his neigh.
Dor Us himself. aud love God, his Gre.
nt0r, with all hls heart. They were
ready - show that supreme love OF
which Jesus says there Is mono greater
to lay down their lives for their
friends. The Apostles showed their
love, not only for their brethren, bu.
for the principles which they hal es-
pouled, by themselves suffering mar.
tyrd0m ut the hands Of their enemies.
That same spirit has found place In
the husrHot the people VINO have re-
celved this Gospel la this day, la every
lani where II has been preached sue.
ccsslully. There have been no national
lines separating the Saints OF God.
The brother from the Islands OF the
sea was as welcome to the circle OF
the Saints aa the one who came from
Europe or from America. Tho brother
or sister Of the dark skin was con.
sldered Just as welcome IN the midst OF
tho L1tter-day Saints aud NJ having
equal privileges In the work OF God, II
they were OF the House OF Israel, as the
brother or sister OF the white skin.
The Gospel levoled the whole COM
munity. IL maize OF US one people, as
long a. we practiccI Its principles anu
the love OF 1t was supreme la our
hearts. But Immediately upon any
other spirit taking possession OF US, Il
banlshed thie spirit OF love and OF
union; and those who gave encourage.
ment to any such feeling gradually
drew away from the il)ck OF Christ
and went into darkness and apostasy,
from which II was impossible 10 return
tylihut1f ainnarn rananfanna IL In i'm.
possible for people TO continue In tho
pale OF this Church II thcy are ui-
vided one against another. IL IL
lust rs impossible for men who
are continually raising disc)rd AMI
strife among the saints TO remain In
the midst OF the people OF uoi as It
was for Lucifer. the Son OF the Morn.
Ing, thBt talented and brilliant son Of
God, to retain his position In tue heav-
only kingdom when he rebelled against
the Will OF the Father. You know how
IL was then. The Lord presented to
His children the plan or plans which
He had concerning the earth upon
which we dwell. Lucifer had plau
TO present 10 God. He wantel the
the salvation OF all the human family,
and to be The instrument OF eilecting
hutlI ItltullNiOn III his o"h way huu
for this labor he was 10 receive the
glory. But Jesus, the Beloved, the
Only Bpgoiten OF the Father IN the
flesh, desired that tho will OF God
should be d0uc, and that tho glory
should be given unto the Father
hlmsel. The plan OF Jesus was
rec lived; the plan OF Luciier was
rejected. He reb 'llei In heaven, anu
he drew after him third part OF the
hosts OF hsavel, aud they were cast
down to earth because OF that rebellion.
IL was impossible Tor them 10 dwell In
the presence OF God possessing the
spirit which filed them.
So 1t has been In the Church. A
spirit OF dissension will bring disaster
81 those who encourage IL. You re-
member by reading the history OF the
days OF Kirkland, how half OF the
Twelve A poslles turned upon the
Pro phet VI God, and 10 lille were they
with the spirit Of Satan that II they
could have had their way he would
have been slain nj the hands OF those
WIN had been his frlends and who had
been in the closest communion with
hlm. hut through the mercy OF God
his iiIo was spared. They were not
permitted to work out their evil dc.
signs, aud the Prophet lived until ne
could soal his tcslimonywllh his blOouat
the hands OF those who had rejected his
testimony. But those who were In re-
belliOn, those who had sought 10 dls-
rupt the Church and TO break the in.
liuence OF tho Prophet OF God, had
fallen on the "stone" aud had been
shattered 10 pieces, and thoy went
down 10 destruction, having lost the
Spifit OF God. some OF them alter
wards returned and made full atone
ment, ms far ~ 1t was possible Tor them
o. do, for the wrongs when thoy hau
committed; but others never roturneu'
These examples, ald numerous
others which might bo cited, should DO
a constant warning to Latter.uay
saints TO not permit any spirit TO take
| p0ssession OF their hearts that u APT 70
| lend them In the ways OF unrlshleous'
ness, IL they divergs from the pain
which God has marked out for thom 10
follow, they will certainly lose the
spirit OF the Gospel. Tho Holy ohosl'
which gives them testimony OF the
trnth OF God, viii depart from them,
and they will 20 into darkness anu
down to destruction, unless they TO
nent. We should seek not only 10
remove any spirit of this kinI from
our own hearts, but also from wy
hearts OF those who arc around Us. A.
we are called to preside In amy capaol'
ty in the mids, Of the people, our con,
slant effort should be to oveIcolhe any
spirit whlch is likely to divide the peo,
pic 10 regard to spiritual matters An, Ana
We certainly cannot indulge IN iauit.