Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-01-19

There arc so many subjects upon
which an Elder, Il he can but enjoy the
influence Of the Holy Spirit, may speak.
that unless the prompiings arc direct to
him It is difficult sometimes to make
selection. Up to this point the Lord,
by His Spirit, has aided every one of our
brethren that have either prayed or
spoken to as, as also our brethren and
sisters who have given as sweet strains
Of music 10 gladden. our hearts.
The theme thus Gar in this Conference,
q have been enabled to partakc Of the
spirit OF the Conference, has been %
reformation ia our lives; curing our.
selves, so far as possible and seeing to
II that In the example we set among our
fellow creatures d shall be OF that
character that no reflection shall come
upon Us because we preach something
that we do not practice; that when we
occupy station among the l.auer-day
Saints, whether Il be President, Apostle,
Patriarch, Bishop. High Priest Seventy,
Elder or Of the lesser Priesthood, or
whether perchance it be as mothers Of
the sons and daughters Of Zion, each Of
US can look into our own souls, consider
the circumstances in our own homes,
the necessary reformation therein, and
seek in prudence, wisdom and judgment
to overcome those bcse,ments that are
in our pathway aud that hedge up our
influence.
Among the requirements laid upon
the La,ter.day Saints by our Father IN
heaven Is the obligation TO attend to our
prayers; to pray not alone in the family
circle, not alone to teach our children to
pray. but that they who have become
conversant with the will OF our Father
should retire to their secret places and In
the humility Of their souls should ask
Him, the Giyer OF all good, TO besIow
upon them the faith, the iortitude and
the strength to overcome within them
selves those things that lie has pro-
uounccd improper ior MS to say or to do.
am fearful that In the midst Of the
cxctemcnts that attend us In our eK.
periences many OF as become unmind'
full OF the responsibilities that attach to
US in this respect. Too frequently We 80
TO our labors Ia the morning having
failed to bow with our households ana
return to our Father IN heaven gratitude
that lie has permitted Us 10 rest IN peace
during the night. am fearful also that
too many OF Us, before we retire to that
rest which Is so desirable after the
labors and cares OF the day forget TO
get down upon our knees and, casting
our eyes back over the experience Of the
day, ask our Father to forgive rs for the
wrongs or Tor the mistakes that We may
have committed, and thank Him that
lie has preserved US and our huu- eholds
from sickness and death. Probably there
Is greater neglect OF this among the
latter.day Saints than Of any OF our
other duties. Yeti is a simple require
ment for which there IS no outlay Of our
worldly means, and only calls tor the
simple expression Of our gratitude to the
Being whom we reverence, thanking
Him that we have life, that we have
families, that we have some knowledge
Of the truth; thanking Him that upon
US, In the midst OF our weaknesses,
have been bestowed the rights OF His
Priesthood, and that In Ills providence,
II we can be but faithful IN the discharge
Of the duties that rest upon US, we shall
stand at the latter day IN the presence Of
the Living God, the sayiots Of the races
from which we have sprung. But Il per-
chance, in the midst OF the cares, temp.
tltions and trials OF lie we become
iorgeiul Of the Being who planted with
mus that faith that caused us TO leave the
lands Of our birth and to unite our des'
tln.es with the Latter-day Saints, beliey-
INK IN the promises OF the Father and In
the hopes inspired by the knowledge Of
The Gospel-if we forget Him and cease
70 importunc Him Tor the aid Of His
Holy Spirit, and permit the cares that
press upon US IA the morning TO shut rs
oil from the discharge OF tins RESPONSE
biiltY or II perchance we find ourselves
az the close OF the day worn and tired
and so annoyed with things that have
arisen during the day that we dare not
upon cur knees present ourselves before
our Father We shall find that step by
step as the days roll By this sacred re-
qulrement OF our Father will grow to be
asIegarded by Us until we permit our
selves to dnft away entirely. / am
wondering whether N the midst OF this
experience Of ours, our sisters are MS
mindful IN regard 10 this responsibility
today as they were wont TO be IN the
days OF the past, when they were seem.
lngly more dependent upon the goodwill,
love and esteem OF our Father than In
These times when around them arc more
OF the comforts and blessings Of lie.
regard this requirement as resting upon
The Lattcr.day Saints in the most sacred
lloTm; that II enters into our very liycsi
Nat It is the source OF spiritual HE itself,
and that In a little period Of time the
neglect Of this requirement will shut
mem oil from accomplishing the
sweetest mission ever given 10 them-lhc
nope OF becoming indeed the uniter OF
ucr race under the laws and ordinances
OF IT'S house and In harmony with the
1lea that lie has given by which the
hearts of the fathers are 10 be turned Ia
we children aud the hearts Of the chill
uren to be turned to their fathers.
my brethren and sisters, the prnCl-
PIES OF everlasting life are indeed har'
mohlons IN every respect. The man who
Sg4aes 10 pray and pour out to God the
necessities OF His own lite and the con-
Gluons Of his own soul IS taking a step
eia. leads him to cease in striving to full
hu me obligations that rest upon him m
Huuorng the primary laws given tor our
government and by which we may stand
"'e before our fellow men, such as the