Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-01-25

lne consequence Inc Hntn WIN uhfN
borne the Priesthood have been kill d,
and the Lord has taken the Priesthood
to Himself, until tc set time should
come for 1t to be again restored. II
has been restored In our day, through
the visitation oil God Himself with His
son Jesus, and through the sending OF
John the Baptist, who suffered death by
violence to crafty a lewd woman. Alter
him came Peter James and John, Two
OF whom had also been slam Tor the
word OF God. They came from the
heavens to bring once more to the
earth the Melchsedek Priesthood, OF
which they were bearers, and OF which
Peter held the keys while he was upon
the earth. Aud again the war conf
mencedl Again lies began to be circu'
lated without limit. Every evil inbrica'
ton that the human mind could con
ceive was circulated, and has been from
that day until the present time. Light
has been made to appear dark, truth as
erroneous, righteousness as iniquity-
until men and women have become so
thoroughly warped in their minds,
through the steady circulation OF false
hood, that they cannot discern truth
from error light from darkness, a man
of God from a man of Satan. In this
way Satan has sought to pervert the
whole human family. And he has found
willing agents In this generation, Just as
he did in preceding generations, until
the blood Of prophets and men OF God
has flown freely In our day and the earth
has drunk the blood OF the righteous.
Nor TO this day are their characters fully
vindicated. The world. TO a certain ex-
tent, upholds and iustiiies the shedding
OF the blood Of Joseph Smith-thc man
whom God chose out oi the whole hui
man family to be the instrument In Ills
hands toiound His Church. Those who
slew him justified the cruel and inhu-
man massacre because OF the blackncss
OF the character which they had given
him, and the dangerous nature Of his
intentions and designs. And to this
day his memory Is not vindicated. his
lie stands blackcned by the lies that
Satan succeeded In disseminating
throughout the earth.
Now, we know that Joseph Smith was
a man OF God. We know that he was
pure man. We know that his charac.
ter was white. and there was NO black
ness attached to him. Yet this man,
whose lie was filed with labors for the
benefit and salvation OF his fellow mem
this man who endured everything that
human nature could endure TO save his
fellow man, was stricken down In this
manner by the power OF Satanl And
he is only a type OF hundreds OF others
who have been slain for the testimony
OF Jesus; not all slain by violence, but all
martyied Tor the truth, because Of the
cruelty OF the wicked. The pathway OF
this Church can be known by the graves
OF the men, women and children who
have fallen victims to the violence Of
the wicked. In this territory also many,
many souls have gone down to death
because OF the inhumanity OF men to
the Latter.day SAINTS.
Now, my brethren and sisters, Satan
IS not dead. do not know whether
you have got the idea up here that he
no longer lives. II you have, let ME
advertise this morning that he still lives.
Let me tell you that he has lost none OF
his animoslty nor his murderous inclina-
tons and his lying tendencies. They
are just as strong within him today aud
within those who will listen TO him aud
be influenced by his spirit. We deceive
ourselves Il We imagine for one mo-
ment that he has changed In the least
degree in his hatred towards the work
OF God or In his determination to use
every means In his power to thwart the
purposes OF our God and His Son Jesus.
While Brother Brigham Young was
talking, thought | would turn to
passage or two that suggested them
selves to my mind. You doubtless re-
member that there was great change
wrought among the Nephites by the
sign that had been predicted by the
prophets, particularly by Samuel the
Lamanite, concerning the birth OF Christ.
Whereas just before the birth oil the
Savior they had set day for the des
truction oil those who believed In the
coming oil the Savior. when that great
sign was given, their hearts were
changed, aud the historian makes this
record:
And Il came to pass that thus passed away
the ninety and nth year also, and the people
began 10 forget those signs and wonders which
they had heard, and began to be less and les
astonished at sign or wonder from heaven
insomueh that they began to be hard in their
helIis, and blind In their minds, and began to
dabclieye all which they had heard and seen
Imagining up some vain thing Ia their hearts,
that Il was wrought by men, and by the power
Of the devil. 10 lead away and deceive the heart,
ollhc people. and thus did Satan get possession
OF the hearts oithe people again, insomueh that
he did blind their eyes. and lead them away 10
believe that the doctrine OF Christ was a foolish
and a vain thing.
And !, came 10 pass that the people began to
wax strong In wiekedncsS and denominations.
and they did not believe that there should be
any more signs OF wonders given.and Satan aid
90 about, leading away tho hearts Of the people.
tempting them and causing them that they
should 90 great wIekedneis In the land.
A little later on another record of
the same character is given;
But il came to pass in the twenty and ninth
year, there began 10 be some disputings among
the people and some were lhed up unto pride
and boasungs, because Of their exceeding great
riches, yea. even unto great prosecutions.
Tor there were many merchants In the land
and also many lawyers, and many officers,
Ana the people began 10 be distinguished bv
ranks, according TO their riches, and their
chances for learning yea, some were ignorant
because OF their poverty, and Others did receive
great learning because Of their riches,
some were lifted up In pride. and Others were
exceeding humble; some did return railing for
railing, while Others would receive falling and
persecution, and all manner Of Affections, and
would not turn and Tcyile again, but were hum.
bic and peniteni before God.
And thus there became a great inequality In
all the land, insomueh that the church began to
be broken up; yea, insomuch that In the thirleth
year The church was broken up In all the land.
save u were among lew OF the Lamanites,
VINO were converted unto the true faith. and