Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-15

pel-lacking among this people.
wonder how many Of us would today do
as the early Saints did when they were
driven from Nauvoo and only a few peo-
pie were possessed OF the means TO
transport themselves to a place OF safety.
Every man covenanted before God that
he would not rest nor would he withhold
his means until every soul had been
gathered from out that city, which had
been attacked by the mob; and in
marching across these weary plains
there was no thought on the part OF the
people TO neglect their poor brethren
and sisters who were eft behind wait.
ing the time OF deliverance. How many
OF US would do this today II we were
driven hence, or II the occasion arose
Tor the sacrifice Of time and comfort and
property for the good Of our iellow-men1
! fear the trial would be greater than
any we have yet encountered In this
Church, because OF the increase OF
wealth among US and It's Il was going to
say its unjust division; / will not say
that, but its unequal division among the
Laiter-day Sants-a condition which
will not be pleasing to God when HIS
work is established in It's power and in
It's glory in the latter days, Tor lie has
loreshadowed in the revelations which
lie has given TO US, that there must
come a time when this inequality, these
bills and hollOws among the people be-
cause OF wealth, cannot exist; they must
be equal in all things, whether they be
temporal or spiritual. II Is then look
iOr one OF the greatest trials the people
have ever met. And do you think u
will come about from our own inclina.
ton, regardless OF the manipulatiuns OF
God concerning the lawp do not eN'
pecl IL, because We have made the effort
to establish the principle OF equality
among us and have been unsuccessful
In Il, and we rest under the condemna.
ton, to some extent, Of disobedlence;
but It will come around In such a way
that We will be glad to see the Law
established, and the people of the nation
and the earth, seeing It's perfect work.
ings, will rejoice that there will be a
place upon the earth where the conflict
betW cen the rich and the poor does not
exist, and where there will be no idle
ness nor paupcfs; where peace will
reign, even the peace OF heaven, when
the whole world Otherwise will be In
confusion, discord and strife, and mems
hearts vii fail them for fear, and their
eyes will cast about to fad a place OF
refuge and Of safety from the troubles
that aiilct the human family. That day
is coming, and II is nearer than the
Latterday Saints estimate. Those who
have the love Of the Gospel in their
souls will find no trial in this new con.
dition Of things. Those who observe
the greatest and the second greatest
commandments as enunciated by the
Savior will find no difficulty In meeting
these requirements they will love God
with all their hearts aud their neighbors
as themselves. DO you think Il would
be any trial for me to give my brother a
half or the whole of my property II /
loved him as MYSELF There would be
no trial whatever In IL. But the selfish.
ness OF mortality. the covetousness OF
this fallen estate, clings TO me and clings
to each one OF us, and chokes out the
pure love OF God-that love which was
exemplhed In the life OF the Savior. In
this respect we have departed from the
original feelings which inspired Latter.
day Saints In the early rise OF the
Church.
We are lacking In another thing-in
the seekhg Of counsel from those who
preside over us. What make slaves OF
the peoplel Ask them to seek counsel
OF these bishops, these men who work
side by side with themp That was the
way they did In Nauvoo, In Kirkland, and
IN other places; they sought the counsel
OF the brethren, and sought II with a
view to following Il, not to ridicule Il or
to neglect IL. Will some argue then
that Il was obedience TO counsel that
caused the people to be driven and to
suffer as they did Ia those daysl The
argument Is without foundation. They
found success and blessing In following
counsel, and IL was disObedience to
counsel that caused their driving out.
II you will read the revelations OF God
as contained in the Doctrine and Cove.
nants, you will find that He explicitly
states this, | want counsel OF my
brethren-of my bishop, OF those who
preside over me ~ the ward and stake
and in the church; want their counsel
because In their counsel there Is safety.
Do show weakness or cowardice In
thus advising vita my presiding author
iliesf No; teel that IN doing so ! show,
not only my humility, but my good com.
mon sense, In the world those who are
educated, who are the most renowned,
are the men who seek COUNSEL who
mingle with their fellows and draw from
each soul with whom they come In con.
tact some item of ruth to add to their
store OF knowledge. Today you find
that people generally seek counsel to
get out OF difficulty, after they have
plunged themselves INTO II. For a time
| kept a record OF people who sought
counsel OF the presiding authorities OF
the Church, as ! heard OF these cases,
and there was not one in twenty-five
who sought counsel before performing
the labor he had In mind. TWenty.lour
wanted counsel alter they were IN
difficulty That is the way you general
ly find IT, will warrant the bishops
have ten times more trouble with those
who fail to seek counsel until after In.
jury has come than with those who seek
counsel with the idea OF following II be-
fore they engage in enterprises OF
various kinds, Why, the greatest men
who ever lived sought counsel, Wash
ington, with all his genius rs a military
commander, counseled with his generals,
and above all he sought the advice aud
guidance OF God the Eternal Father.
do advise every Latter.day Saint TO
seek counsel. ] say II Is a duty that
rests upon you to seek COUNSEL oil your
brethren and your sisters. What would
you think OF a savage, who had never
lived In house, coming among Us and
without watching the processes OF build
ing. without seeking the advice Of his
more favored fellows, would begin lay
ing one stone upon another without
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