Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-08
A CONFERENCE LESSON.

nv NlAAN lAAAl NNinN-hNnNMA hNNNNI
ence which closed Sunday, Oct, 7, VII
be long remembered % one Of the I'm
poriant gatherings Of the LattCf-dai
Saints Il has been time Of splfilua
enjoyment. Those who attended .
will undoubtedly return 10 their home
strengthened ia thoir resolutions Il
serve the Lord, and through them III,
good influence will be communicated
throughout all the stakes and wafdl
Of the Church, and all will be- bcno
fitted 10 a great extent The word Of
theLofd has been given In abund'
anoe to the Saints, warning, teaching
and sdmonishing them. 5olomnly
and improssively, as by Inspired
men OF old, the Prophets Of God have
declared the eternal truth and pointed
out the way Of salvation, while songs
and hymns Of praise and JOY have
sounded and ro-ochocd In the hearts Of
the people and their prayers asconded,
as aholy incense In the sanctuary, to
the throne Of grace.
one feature OF tho meetings IL the
earnSslness with which the speakers
urged upon the people oi God the
necessity ofliving pure lives aud keep.
log all the commandments Of God,and
particularly those pertaining to the
Word OF Wisdom aud tilhing. II can
scarcely b. denied that the world IL
fast becoming corrupt, its moral
atmosphere being impure TO AL
hiatriing degree. Moral dlavAses
atyrAgiug both Inside ami outside the
,rsos,d clrcls Of hone, because mon
disregard laws Of nature, the laws Of
God. Surely, It is Of great importance
that the Saints should be made aware
OF this condition OF the world and be
wAfnod-as they were 70 brAvoly, 10
pleadingly aud eloquently--oith the curse
attending a course In harmony with
hat OF the degraded element Of the
world. Personal purity In body a. In
spirit lisa condition without which NJ
one eau serve the Lord Rcceptably
There IL a close connection between
the duty Of observing the Word VI
Wisdom and keeping tho law Of
uthes and offerings aud the
necessity OF attaining personal purity
and holiness. Anybody who supposed
he can obtain the latter without OBJ.
serving the former II likely 10 be- sore.
ly disappointed. A character, too weak
10 stand the tss, Of personal sacrifice
involved IN abstinence from the lhings
forbidden and the conuecraiion Of a
little properly 10 the Lord and the
poor, is beyond doubt also too week 10
stand tho battle against those more
subtle temptations to overcome which
much strength Of will, integrity of
purpose, humility and above all a
measure OF the Holy Spirit In the
heart are required. In other words,
one who can not master HE
Hste for tobacco, liquor, etc., can
probably not regulate any passion that
may take hold Of his soul. II tempted
TO anger he IL likely to fall; II tempted
to- do Injustice In trade, or Ia any deal.
Ing with his fellow man, he probably
viii DO It, aud 10 on IN every direction
whore sin II possible, He viii follow
its alluroments, because, being 10 the
habit Of yielding Ia what appears 10 DO
small matters, there IL no moral
strength to Withstand In other things.
A child who has never acquired any
sinful habit IL morally stronger than
the oldest professor Of Christianity who
has been overcome habitually by the
evil one,
That these laws OF God have been 10
strongly urled upon the Saints at this
Conference, perhaps more earnestly
than FOR macy years, Is a sign that the
Lord has great thiuRg In store Tor HI
people, II they arc willing % obey.
When the Almightp at the mount ln
the wilderness told lsrael to sauctli,
themselves Il was because lie was
about 10 reveal His presence on Sinai.
testimony TO tue world throughout
all ages. In the ehmr way when our
Savior tod His disciples TO hold them.
solves Ia Feaiiuoss 10 Jerusalem, #
was because the outpouriug OF tue
Divine Spirit was at hand. In thu
same way tue preparation Of the |
heavenly bride IA tho Apocalypse was |
only preliminary 10 tho coming |
tue Bridegroom. Thusit IL, that when |
great events In the spiritual Kingdom |
0. God arr near ut hand, the urgency |
II preparation for them becomes maui. |
'ssL We believe that the Saints gen.
orally viii Wow the teachings Of tins |
Conference In that light ana by the
grace q God seek the strength needed |
OF great and thorough reformation