Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-25

eating the fruit Of the trees, all of
which we had offered as willingly as
Abraham offered Isaac. There was no
more willingness ON the part OF Father
Abraham u offer his son Isaac at the
command Of God than there was on the
part OF the Lattcr-dHy Saints to offer
this sacrifice, this burnt Offering to the
Lord, of all that they had, except that
which thcy could carry in their
wagons. They were willing to make
this sacrifice for Ills sake and for the
sake OF the Gospel He had revealed
Now. this Is the faith that the Lat
ter-day Soints have. It is, | might
say new faith at least 1t Is new in
our age. such faith in God has not
been known among mon for CEN
turics. OF course. patriots have
made sacrifices in many lands. Men
have been willing to make great sac
riiiccs for the cause of liberty. | do
not mean to speak disparnEingly IN the
least of these. But / speak OF this in
cldent m our history because It Is 50
different from others. We were
prompted by the love of God and the
love Of that truth which we believed
He had revealed. and Of which we
We're the witnesses, and when the
voice OF God came through His SER
wants the Saints were willing to make
that sacrifice. or any other the Lord
might ask.
Now, believe that the Lord ac-
ceptcd that Offering. l believe that the
Lord has blessed this people becuuse
OF their action at that time, and that
He has blessed those men and women,
and lie Will bless their children after
them. | know lie Will bless the land to
which He led us, and Ia which we re-
jolce SO much, but which we were so
willing to abandon at His command.
When we came here we hoped that
here was n resting place after the
trials and prosecutions Of the past.
Some ot The people had been driven, or
had to abandon their homes five or
six different times. They came here
fleeing from that persecution, as they
hoped beyond the reach Of their per-
secutors. They hoped they would not
be followed to this place which was 80
dcsolate ana so furbiddng; that they
would not he envied that which they
possessed here, and that men would !
not come TO drive them from their !
homes because they wanted their pos
sessions. They felt that there would |
not be such temptations as thcge In |
this land. and therefore it was uneN-
pected To he called upon TO move out |
and leave the land which they had be- |
gun to love MS they did this l will !
here then had never seen any spot on |
earth, although 1t was 80 desolatc. |
that they loved as they did this. be-
cause their residence here was in such |
striking contrast with their residences !
of the past. There were no mobs to !
atllict them here. They looked up to |
these lofty mountains, and were filled /
with the spirit of liberty and freedom. |
They loved the land. and it was a |
severe trial for them to forsake II un- /
der those circumstances.
say to you that the Lord Is doing n /
great work In the earth in this man
ner He Is raising up a peculiar peo-
pie, a people capable OF making any !
sacrifice the Lord shall ask Of them .
| win not say that. however, because !
it may seem like Boosting. but "A poo-
pie who up to the present have been !
willing to make every sacrifice that |
has been asked of them. / trust they .
viii be equally willing in the future as |
they have been in the past.
My brethren and sisters. we have
this to encourage us: our belief, our |
hopes our anticipations, our prayers |
agree with those OF our predecessors |
who obeycd the Gospel OF the Lord /
Jesus Christ in His day. We are like /
them; our Church is organized as !
theirs was the ordinances OF the |
Church are the same as We're taught |
and practiced by them; the faith of |
the Church Is the same faith that they 1
had. we pray for the same blessings /
they enjoyed; our Elders can truth
fully say that they 80 out as their
Lord and Master commanded His i'm
lllthlhAt lblliNtIF 10 Eps lIltA exercise
the same faith; they pray in the same
manner: they are obtaining the same
experience; and when they leave this
life they Will occupy the same heaven.
They viii say, Il preached the Gospel
through the power of God" What"
somebody might ask. didn't you go
To college? Didn't you receive n theo-
logical training as the preachers did
In those days." No; / did not:
went out trusting in God" Didn't
you preach FOR salary" NO;
never received any pay for preaching
the word of God. Well. didn't peo-
pie support you when you labored In
their midst" Yes; when | was
abroad preaching the Gospel. But Mt
home laborcd as "A Bishop. ] labored
as counselor, ! lnbured as High
Councillor / labored as the president
Of stake, and as an Apostle, and
didn't get paid, only If / needed any
thing they helped me. But / worked
with my own hands FOR my support,
and II l stood in need they helped me
just as they did any poor person that
needed help. We had no salarled min
listers among us; We had no class that
claimed to be superior to other people
in TINT respect" well. well;" one Of
the ancient disciples could say who
should hear such n conversation,
that Is Just as we We're when we We're
upon the earth"
Now, win not this he delightful?
Let US live for 1t, my brethren and
sisters. Let US cherish this faith that
God has given us. Let MS live SO near
to Him that His power, His gifts and
His blessings win rest upon us
pray that this viii be the case with all
Of us. and that we shall eventually
meet together in that glorious place
which or Father has promised to all
His faithful children. | humhly ask il
IN the name Of Jesus, Amen.