Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-30

We can determine why we do not pos
sess more, why we are not stronger,
why we are not better established and
fixed in the Gospel than we are. For,
though the strength that we have comes
from the Lord, it depend, upon us as
to the measure of that streugtn and faith
that we receive. upon the exercise OF
our Judgment and upon the execution oil
the will OF God by each OF us; for the
power is in US, in connection with our
agency, 10 bring TO pass much righteous
ness. And we are expected to be oe-
cupied therein. | have noticed how
ready and willing our heavenly Father
is to bestow strength and faith upon US
and how quickly It is done, when we put
| ourselves in proper condition, as we are
able TO do. say that every man III this
| Church is able to put himself in con.
| dition to receive what the Lord has to |
| bestow upon him. We have ability, for |
we are the sons oil God. We inherit |
life from him, and spirit and faith, under. |
standing and wisdom. As natural |
men, mortal, fallen men, we are endow |
ed with measure OF understanding, in
telligence and power, every particle oil
which comes from our heavenly Father.
But He has yielded it to us; we are en-
titled TO it; we inherited ii; for we are
His sons and daughters, and we inherit
/ what He has and the power that he pos
sesses. We are like Him; we are His
children, born as He was burn, and tried
and proven, and having like experience
as that through which our foreiathers
have passed, and our brothess and Sis
tiers who have gone before us in the
early generations OF men. We inherit
in common with them, and we have the
power to serve the Lord and to Keep
His commandments, or we have power
to reject them. There is no compulsion
upon the souls OF the children OF men
There is no compulsion upon US when
the Gospel is presented to us as TO
whether we will receive it or not Every
man exercises his own agency aud his
own judgment. And after we have sur
rendered and have received faith from
the Lord, and have entered into cove
nant with Him to serve Him and keep
His commandments, it depends then
! upon US as to whether we will continue
ia His service or not. As we came
,, freely and OF our own choice into the
, Church, and have taken these obliga-
tons upon us. so ATE we just as Tree to
, | 20 out OF the Church and desert the
, | Church whenever we please. That is
= the liberty that we enjoy, and the Cos
i pei does not deprive us oil 1t, and never
/. will. This agency will endure, and the
:. power in us will endure, and will In
q crease with our knowledge and with oui
:, experience
y Now, it is very desirable, my breth
=. ren and sisters, not only desirable anc
n pleasing to the Lord, but it Is very I'M
portant to us as individual members o
this Church. to know that we are actual
=, " progressing, and that we are iaith
- fully laboring for the salvation OF th'
souls OF men; first, our own souls
Il Man should FIRST save his own soul.
ia think il we turn to the history OF any o
:, the men whose record may be seen ant
- read in any OF these books, bible am
-, Book OF Mormonl you will mad tina
- where one has become devout lahore
=, for the salvation OF the souls OF men
W there has been wrought salvation in hi
~ -, soul FIRST The first soul to be save
~ with me is my soul. | say the first sol
10 to be saved with our Savior, the Messiah
n, was His soul; and 1t required the devo
20 ton and humility and determination this
-. possessed His soul before He coul
es come to be my Savior and yours. ii
y, had first to work out the salvation {
~ His own soul. as every other son OF Go
W has had to do. But He was the senio
W He stood next to His Father. He We
~ our Elder Brother. And as He had fir
,s labored and secured His own salvation
Nv He became the Prince OF saviors. II
~ was worthy 10 come as the Savior
nc all saviors, the Lord OF all lords anon
nv ~, the children Of men; for i'll valiancy II
~ was valiant; He was valiancy itseit Il
nc was obedient, He was devoted, He W.
W the very personfication oil humility ar
go OF integrity and obedience. He su
B., rendered His whole soul entirely 10 Il
py will of the Father. There were I
80. questionings in HIS mind. IL the TIN
~, had ever been in His life that question
had possessed His soul, as they ha'
possessed the souls OF great men, {
w questions had been settled, and He h;
pa. ga gone SO far he has passed the dang
lon line, and Jesus, our Elder Brother, hi
''I accomplished this; and He had done
ID in His own proper person and spirit,
~ His own devotion and iaithtulness,
iei' His own serenity of mind and spirit. al
a~ His deep and undying devotion to +
IA Father who dwelt in heaven And
we reason that He stood pre'eminen
ols above all was because that He had o.
lta' stripped ALL He had done more tn
icn all. He was first and foremost, and
s'A greatest, the champion. the chiell /
.ni tween Him and His Father all chant
- of division and separation naS Vahlsnt
gie | might say all possibility OF it had be
Vn9 dismissed. He had thus proven hi
1hu self But first, as would draw your
put tention to-fIst saving himself, secnri
pc His own standing and fellowship W
u Is HIS Father. Then He was prepared
as help others.
is will read a little TO you from the
feel of Alma. He was giving instruct
n If and exhortation to his son Helaman,
not benefit OF fathers counsel and I
ey. perience. A thought | would not like
,ere lose sight OF CAME TO my mind WI
!, en- Brother John was speaking OF the pr
and aries meeting with older people, an
veil will digress enough 10 speak OF It he
and OH how valuable it is tor children
IN. meet with their seniors, their fathers
ave their mothers, people who have had
ex- perience. Aud II it be valuable
arc rhildren to meet with their parents d
nal. have the benefit OF their .experien
i he tnowledge and wisdom, is it not Just
na ar true that it is profitable Tor the yo,t
, he neople in Zion to meet with the oil
srnv pnes and the experienced, and to 8
a, ., ear 10 them, that the young may hi
and Inc benefit OF the experience oil
has agedp For, as said, there are time:
thTOtIUh