Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-08-22

A nissionsry's Exhoriation 20 Mem
her. OF the Family az usms.

Following is a letter written by Elder
]. W. Musser to his brothers, Barr w.
and Frederick S. Musser in this city.
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee,
luly 18TH, isg5
A lew spare moments are due me, and
( wish 10 devote them TO a good cause,
a cause which ever Is near my heart, and
is my sou Is ambition. Seldom ever does
day pass that my thoughts do not. ivan.
der home In anxiety for your future vel
iare-your course In life and your devo-
ton to the Gospel Of Jesus Christ You
arc endowed with the best parents on
the earth, and they have taught YOU aud
plead your cause as none but faithful
parents can do. The seeds OF love and
obedience have been planted IN your
hearts, honesty and honor characterize
All the teaching 81 your youths, and
God has reflected His blessings upon
YOU, You are clothed with the Priest.
hood, an honor 10 be envied by the
great men Of the nation today Kings,
rulers, presidents, none Of them can
claim the boon given YOU. You are liv-
ing IN the midst OF Lpn, environcd by
influences conducive 10 good training
and intellectual, moral and spiritual dc.
yelupment You have Sunday schools
that outstfip those OF the world IN al
particulars; you have your associations
that arc lar superior TO any have yet
seen out OF Utah. your Priesthood meet.
ings. reading societies aud faith promot
ing exercises are such as only Latter
day Saints enjoy. II Is the ambition OF
father and mother and those OF our
brothers and sisters who have already
grown up 10 maturity that you and the
rest OF the children constantly develop
Ia true man aud womanhood, and honor
your God and your parents. ! feel as
though | would willingly give twenty
years Of my life could | see my brothers
and.sisters iill the measure OF their ere.
alton faithfully, aud pass from this sphere
OF existence into the celestial glory. |
have no fear OF you boys not seeking 10
be good and true TO your callings. but
there are 80 many temptations surround.
ing You now, What was once zion to
us has many OF the temptations OF a
Babylon, and greater exertions must be
put forth u you would remain faithful
You arc surrounded by many evil In.
fluences. Satan will try and tempt YOU
Ia ways that will require great wisdom
and strength on your part 10 detect. lie
will murder your innocence u possible
consign you TO utter ruin u he can. The
key 10 your deliyefanee is thiii Honor
the Priesthood Of God, with those who
preside over you, and by all means obey
and honor and love your parents. II
YOU will do this, Satan viii have no
power over you, but the angel OF hight
will shape your destiny cacn day. II
you are IN doubt or In trouble, do as
have successfully done ON many occa.
sions-go to your privalelcloscts and ask
God for light, wisdom and power. You
will get what you ask for In righteous.
ness.
want to impress the fact upon your
minds that soon you viii both be called
into the foreign missionary field. You
are now missionaries, but your labofs
will be extended. ! want you to con-
slider the lact that before YOU your elder
brothers have fulfilled honorable mis-.
sions. and that our dear father has spent
some seven years IN the world battling
against error, and today, while gray
hairs eniecble his frame, he works hard
Ia the interests Of Zion. Our mothens
are missionaries, working In the temple
Tor the salvation OF the human family
who have died and almost become Tor.
gotten: and working at home, trimming
tie young minds Of the children which
God has Blessed them with. No greater
calling eau be given devoted mother
than that OF modelling the character Of
her children. But say our parents have
and are performing faithful missions; 10
their order, our brothers have added
their strength to the work, and you will
be called upon to carry the banner OF
truth among those less favored who are
In darkness spiritually, and In many in.
stances intellectually.
For this grand achievement and un.
derlaking | would have you prepare
yourselves. Develop faith, seek for
wisdom, work for intelligence. and at All
times honor your callings IN the Church
OF God. Many missionaries who come
into the world have never applied them.
selves ut home as you, | hope, are now
doing They arc not prepared to per.
form their duties, and become discour.
aged. frequently. aud 70 home 10 dis.
honor. You should study good books
Take up the Book OF Mormon, aud learn
a little each day. Lean something each
day. The successful fnancier saves
something each day, be Il only one cent,
for you know the vast ocean Is made up
OF tiny streams that play down the
mountain side. The successful philoso.
pher learns little each day, and by the
constant storing away Of knowledge be.
comes a mighty power among the chill.
dfen Of men.
iecl an interest In your welfare, more !
than ordinary. | want TO live to be |
worthy OF your associations IN our inn |
mortal state. Were unsuccessful In |
the performance OF my labos here, |
would dishonor my parents and you. |
My brothers and sisters would have ]
cause TO be ashamed OF me. love my /
brothers and sisters, and therefore want |
TO work In honor TO them. / want them |
to be proud OF me, aud me OF them
am busy and must close My work I
keeps me busy. | am happy aud CON
tented. ] know the prayers OF loved /
ones at home are daily offered for me. /
hope you, my dear brothers, will grasp |
the situation and put forth every effort |
IN the direction OF righteousness. You
are entitled 10 pleasure, but only engage
IA Innocent pleasure, and do all possible
TO make our sisters happy and con
tented. May the Lord ever be with you.
losEW w. MUssER
what Utah HOY ANS An sny nj Rnrt af