Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-11-24

dress you my NItAUltW hNN Hln.ilHf
humbly crave an interest in your
faith and prayers; for II say anything
that will be instructive, il will have to be
through the aid Of the Spirit OF God. It
Is seldom that have felt as weak as /
now do in standing in the presence OF
this vast assembly
The conference thus Car has been one
of great interest to me. have enjoyed
the remarks Of the brethren very much,
and feel that the Spirit Of the Lord has
been with His servants In addressing us,
and much valuable instruction has been
given that II remembered and acted up.
on will cause us to be better people. I
think there IS no people that ever lived
at least, I do not lind an account Of any
that has had such wealth OF insiruc'
ton and counsel as the Lalterday SAINTS
have had since the organization OF the
Church in these days II Is true that
there have been dispcnsatious IN which
the people have been further advanced
than we are, because the Lord aud Ills
servants had worked among them for o
greater period OF time than they have
among us. as. for instance, in the days
OF Euoch; but for the length Of time
that the Church has been established
there has been an ouipour.ug OF insirue-
ton and counsel that, think, Is without
parallel In the history Of mankind II
we are not a great people, through good
ness and fidelity to the principles OF the
Gospel, II Is because we have neglected
the opportunities that the Lord has
gwen unto rs, and the counsels and
revelations that have been so freely inn
parted to us. do trust tina, the words
that have been spoken at this conference
have not been spoken in vain; that they
have not fallen on barren soil; that they
have not reached unwilling hearts, but
that the spirit which has prompted them
will rest upon Us and inspire as to carry
them out IN our lives.
am deeply impressed myself with
the importance OF the Latter'day saints
living SO close to the Lord that lheN WIN
feel for themselves the importance OF the
principles which are taught to them. we
live In a peculiar time. there arc
great many agencies nj Work among me
children OF men, q great many false and
delusiye spirits; and a great deal Of un.
belief concerning God and HIS power
and interpostion IN the affairs OF the
children OF men. There may have been
times In the history OF mankind when
an equal amount oi skeptitism upon
these points prevailed; but doubt very
much whether there ever was genera
ton that was so completely hardened IN
their hearts In regard to God and Hts
pfovidenccs as this generation Ia
which we live. You can scarcely mud q
people now who have any faith that God
iuteposes In the affairs ol the children
Of men. Those who call themselves the
most enlightened proclaim that the unl'
verse Is governed by fixed and immut
able laws; that effect follows cause, and
that God does not suspend these laws,
nor interpuse IN any manner to prevent
their operation Therefore, they say, %
Is useless 10 ask Him, Ia the name OF
lesus, to iuttrpose Ia behalf OF mankind,
men must endure the consequences OF
their own acts, and there Is no way of
avoiding the operation OF these laws.
There is, no doubt, an element Of truth
IN these theories; still, they mislcad and
have a wrong effect upon the mind. For
God does ask us to have faith m Him,
10 believe In Him, and to appeal to Him,
and He gives Us the promise that II w
do so IN faith lie will interpose In our
behalf, and lie will bless Us IN ways that
are unknown to men and by means
which are invisible 90 mortal sight lie
gives as this encouragement In the Cos.
pei, aud lie calls upon Us to exercise
faith IN Him and IN lis word; and we
have proved Ills words to be true upon
these points. But It is q difficult thing
In the midst OF this widespread unhcliei,
and these false doctrines and Theories
which come to MS and to our CHI dren 90
the guise OF science, to prevent the
spirit OF unbeliei from influencing US.
This also Is one OF the great obstacles
In the way OF the education OF our chill
dren The books which are IN our
schools, and from which our chlldIen
are taught, contain theories that are Nm
sound; they are based upon false prem
ises, and that lead to wrong conclusions;
and Il requires the utmost care on the
part Of parents and teachers To prevent
bad effects following education based
upon such text books. Hence It is that
when our young men go east TO obtain
education they are exposed to dangers
that are more terrible, according to my
view, than contagious disease.
would rather my sons and daughters
should run the risk Of some infectious
disease than be exposed to the influences
that prevail in some Of the schools OF
the land and In the text books that are
used thcreiu-,hat is, without some in.
huence TO coun,cract their effect and to
show wherein they are iallacous and
unsOuud.
We have all these things TO contend
with. The rising generation have to be
watched over with care that IN former
times was not necessary. There Is
danger In education OF this kind Yet
there is an ardent desire on our part
that our children should be educated,
aud upon their part to receive education,
because II Is the spirit OF the age. Our
young people are lull OF desire To- obtain
knowledge and to qualify themselves for
'he duties and lahuS That are likely 10
levolve upon them, Bat while giving
hem education there is danger Of their
oslng their faith IN the eternal truths OF
leaven, Although we have taken pains
20 organize our young men who 10 east
% school, and TO have them hold regular
meetings, partake of the sacrament and
Dear testimony, yet the information
zones to as that there IS an inclination