Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-03-14
SALT LAKE CRY. Utah,
January 3fst, 1896.
To the Maori Saints in New Zealand,

January SYST 1870
To the Maori Saints In New Zealand;
Dear Brethren and sisters-We take
the occasion Of your being gathered to.
gether In a general conference Of the
New Zealand mission to address you
few words Of salulation, commentator
and caution.
We have been greatly pleased, from
time 10 time, when reading the reports
OF your iai,hiulness to the principles Of
the Gospel. Our hearts rejoieed when
we FIRST heard OF the people Of your
race yielding obedience to the require
menis Of our Heavenly Father. by being
baptized for the remission Of their sins,
and It has given Us unqualified pleasure
when we have learned, through the re-
ports Of the Elders. that 10 many have
remained faithful and true to the cove.
nants that they then made with God and
his servants. !, has been manifested to
US by the Spirit OF revelation. which Is
the Spirit oil the Lord, that you are
portion OF Gods covenant people,
Israel, heirs TO the promises made to
Abraham and his seed alter him. These
promises will all be fulfilled and the
blessing Of salvation brought nigh unto
those who seek to do the works OF their
great progenitor. and, like him, en-.
deavor to dwell on the earth as the
friends OF God and OF righteousness.
The Lord will never fail to keep His
portion Of the covenant, and all His
promises will be fulfilled to the utter.
most, not one iot or title OF His
premises will return to His mouth un.
accomplished. Therefore, you have
much cause to lift up your heads and
rejoice tina, already our Heavenly
Father has been mindful Of you in
your far distant habitation and sent you
messengers through whom you may
learn how to please Him and work out
your salvation aeeep,ably In His sight.
lnasmuch as He has thus shown His
loving kindness to you It behooyes you,
on your part, to draw nigh unto Him,
to seek Him faithfully In prayer, to
eleave unto that which Is good, to
esehew all evil, and, through the assist.
snee OF His Spirit, to overcome those
sins to which we, in our weakness, are
most prone. No members OF the Church
Of Jesus Christ. no matter to what PEG.
pie they belong, should permit them.
selves to be entieed to do that which is
sinful. They should not partake Of that
which the Lord has forbidden; they
should avoid gambling; they should not
give way to the lusts OF the flesh; they
should refrain from all intoxicating
drinks, and never, under any eireum-
stances. take the name Of the Lord
their God in vain, for all who obey the
Gospel are promised a portion OF the
Split OF the Lord, which Spirit will
give them strength to resist temptation,
and intelligence to discern between
right and wrong. between the good and
the evil.
We learn, through the Elders, that
some OF the Maori brethren and sisters
are DESTROYS to gather to Zion. We
shall be exceedingly pleased to greet
them In these valleys OF the mountains
when the proper time comes for them
TO JOIN us here. But the monitons OF
the Holy Spirit make ' plain to US that
that time has not yet come; we there.
fore advise our brethren and sisters to
prayeriully and patiently abide the due
time OF the Lord, with condding faith
that lie will order and control all things
in such way that they will be Tor the
best and tend to the salvation and |
glory OF all those that un0inchingly and |
devotedly seek to keep His command.
mcn,s.
We commend yos y he keeping OF |
our Heavenly Father. thu, yopr minds
may be full Of intelligence, that the
Holy Scriptures may be plair 10 your
understandings, and thai the in. |
spitatlon oi the Spirit Of Cod may ever |
guide you. And we admoniah you 10 /
give heed TO The teachings aud oOunsels |
OF those sent to minister the word OF |
life to you, that, day by day, you may
grow stronger Ia the things OF God, |
and when you have accom- !
plished you work upon the earth be
saved and exalted with your ancient
fathers. IN the presence OF our Great
Father Of us all and oil our Redeemer
the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son.
We remain, with much ove,
Your brethren In Christ lesus,
NILFJRD WoopRuPP,
GEokoK q, CASNos,
IusEPH Il. SAITH,
First Presidency ol the Church Of Jesus
Christ OF L.atter.day Saints.