Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-11-28
REMARKS
Made at the
1896,
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
tREPoRTED ny ARTHUR WINTER

and trust that while ! attempt 10 speak
to you | may have the assistance OF
your faith and prayers. / enjoyed the
treat that was given to those present this
morning in listening 10 President vii.
ford Woodruff and Elder Franklin d.
Richards, two brethren OF such long and
faithful experience in the Church. |
sometimes wonder how long the Lord
will preserve these aged brethren ard
give us the benefit of their experience
and wisdom. i think | never heard
President Woodruff talk for fifty.five
minutes with greater ease and give SO
many interesting items OF his experience
as he did this morning. and ali who
listened were greatly favored; He has
been preserved to such great age and
has had such remarkable experience
that the Latter.day Saints cannot prize
too highly the opportunity OF listening
to him, the Prophet OF the Lord, the
mouthpiece OF our Heavenly Father to
all Israel, the fourth in line from Presi-
dent Joseph Smith, and one who was as
ISOLATED with the Prophet through a
great share OF his life and labors. feel
that all Israel are blessed in having his
presence and labors among us, and that
our faith and prayers should be exercised
in his behalf, that he may remain among
us for great many years. We have
learned to have confidence in him and
to love him; for he has so thoroughly
proved his faith and devotion TO the
Prophet Joseph, to the Prophet Brigham
Young and to the Prophet John Taylor
through all their administrations. We
have felt in the case OF all our leaders,
that it was a calamity when they have
been taken from us. We have always
wanted them little longer, and have
done all that we could to preserve them
and to keep them among us. 1t is rare
thing that we want changes in the ranks
OF the brethren whom the Lord has
chosen TO represent Him among His
people. We rarely ever want change
in Apostles, or in Presidents OF Stakes,
or in High Councillors. or in Bishops.
We become acquainted with our breth-
rem and with their integrity and devo-
anu VIC iCdtli W ioNC anu VIC
do not contemplate with pleasure the
time when we Unjust part with them.
Every time ! see President Woodruff
stand upon his feet to talk, feel as
though | want to listen to him Just as
. long as he can possibly talk. Doubtless
all Israel feel the same. We feel in our
councils OF the Presidency and Twelve
that as long as he can talk 10 us, sitting
or standing, giving,us advice land coun-
sci and the word OF the Lord, we are
honored and favored more than we
know how to appreciate. As in the
case OF the Prophet Joseph and his other
successors, we may not fully appreciate
our present Prophet till after he has
gone; yet | believe that Israel has
learned, and is learning better all the
time, TO appreciate their faithful breth-
rem, not only those who preside over
them, but their neighbors land kindred
who are faithful. The Gospel is calcu-
lated to bring us into nearness to each
other, to make us one, TO correct in us
all our errors. our trangressions and our
weaknesses. and to give us strength by
the inspiration OF the Holy Ghost for
the discharge of our duties. 1t is i'm.
portant that we submit ourselves to the
inspiration OF that Spirit.
:. was delighted this morning also in
listening to Elder Richards speaking IN
regard to the necessity OF our obtaining
the Holy Ghost, emphasizing what
President Woodruff had said concerning
the words of the prophet Joseph and
the Prophet Brigham in relation to the
Importance OF the presence OF the Holy
1host. 1t is the especial office and call
ing OF the Holy Spirit 10 be with us, to
pear witness to us, TO convince us OF the
truth, and TO enable to become &C.
9ualnted with the Father and with the
Son. No man can know the Father ex-
cept by the revelations of the Holy
Ghost. No man can know the Son but
by the Holy Ghost. No man can know
me Prophet Joseph Smith, the Prophet
brigham Young, the Prophet John Tay-
lor the Prophet MILFORD Woodruff, the
Apostles OF olden as well as OF modern
times, 10 be men OF God except by the
inspiration oil the Holy Ghost. They
may believe that these are great men,
aud possibly that they are servants OF
me Lord; but to know it, and to know
The truth and the plan OF life and saliva.
uon, no man can only as the Lord re-
Neals 1t. But when the Lord does reveal
~ II is just as plain and simple TO the
mind as anything that we see or hear.
An our faculties are convinced by the
inspiration OF the Holy Ghost 1t is
more than the testimony OF man. 1t is
more than the voice of the Lord. 1t is
more than the visitation OF the Father,
or oil the Son. For it is an abidiny testi-
minony. 1t is the channel of c6mmunca-
lion between heaven and earth Through
comes all knowledge all intelligence,
ana all testimony. 1t has always been
lne order OF conveying knowledge and
a ~ ltfsaw a. 4
God
Hence the importance OF our taking a
Iourse to obtain the Holy Spirit and to
heePl II. Il is not enough that the gilt Of
Tue Holy Ghost should be conierredlup.
uh Us at our baptism; not enough that
we should actually receive il; not
enough that it should bear witness to us
VI the Father and OF the Son and of the
Muh OF this work; but ii is important
ulal u should dwell with us and be our
uoupanlon, SO that the testimony within
vs. may be kept bright unto salvation.
rs not possible 10 obtain eternal life
tau 20 back into the presence OF the
s;ame;, except we are led by the inspira-
aon Of the Holy Ghost. No man has
oeen led back into the presence of |
ns rather by an angel. 1t is not the |
yssIness Of angels to be with us con.
sntly, to lead us by the hand, and TO |