Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-08

been number Oh auuslOnS 10 our IisiuH
generation and the importance Of train
ing them. Probably there can be no
subject mentioned to us that possesses
greater interest, because our future as
Church and as families depends upon
our children being trained in righteous
ness. II is one OF the saddest things 10
contemplate, in connection with the
history OF our people. that families which
have been prominent in the Church, or
whose head has been prominent man
in the Church, have now no representa-
tive among us. Among the highest and
most glorious promises that the Lord
has made to His faithful servants is that
their posterity shall be numbered among
His people, and that they shall be bless
ed OF Him. All the records that have
come to us from righteous men convey
with plainness the great Importance OF
having faithful posterity. You remem-
Der the case OF Rechab that is recorded
by Jeremiah. Because of the iaithfulness
oil this mans posteity, the LORD told
Jeremiah that he should never be
without man to stand before him. We
find that men Of God have always en-
deavored to exercise faith in behalf oil
their posterity. The Lord made cove
nanis with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
and with the sons oil Jacob, concerning
their posteriiy, and these covenants the
Lord holds in great esteem. and has
cd hat In, the last daye ttav Chnll
be fulfilled. 1t is TIE same in our day,
the pos,erity OF faithful men may stray
from the Church, but the Lord will feel
after some branch OF their family and
bring it back in days to come to the
covenant people.
At times it has been matter of sur
prise to some individuals that they have
been enabled to Join the Church and re-
ceive the truth while SO many around
them have turned deaf ears to it. But
II we understood the past as we do the
present, we would doubtless see that
there are reasons for this, which have
existed long before we were born.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
gathering together Of this people from
the various nations of the earth, and The
manner in which they have received the
Gospel, is due to the promises made TO
their fathers.
1t is our duty now, enjoined upon us
by the Lord, TO bring up our children
properly, and TO see that everything is
done to preserve them in the faith.
Every sort OF appeal is being resorted
to in order to captivate and lead astray
the rising generation OF this people.
And as modern education spreads, and
ha thanrias of nj the
taught in their present form, so the
danger Of the loss OF faith on the part OF
our children increases, because in all the
teachings OF the educational institutions
OF the cay there are conveyed doubts and
unbeliei concerning principles contained
in the records that have come down to
us from the Lord through His servants.
We have seen this proved, from the fact
that many of our young men who have
gone away to institutions Of learning
have lost their faith in the Gospel. 1t
seems to be dangerous Tor young men
and young women to go east to graduate
at some university or college, because of
this tendency to unbelief. Then there
are the sinful influences that surround
them there, and here also, and the con-
slant danger they are in Of doing some
thing that will greve the Spirit of the
Lord and cause it to be Withdrawn from
them, believe there is great respon-
sibillty resting upon us in this respect,
and concerning which we are too forget
iul' 1t is pleasing, however, to see the
care that is being taken ey the Mutual
Improvement Associations, by the Sum
day schools, by the Primaries, and by the
quorums of the Priesthood, in behalf of
tue young people These influences are
having good effect. and no doubt the
sending Of missionaries abroad as we do
has good effect also, to arouse faith In
the hearts OF those who go, giving them
atestimony concerning the work OF God.
They come back having knowledge,
proved by experience; and il they con-
tinue to labor diligently at home in their
callings, the Lord blesses them and in
cieases their faith. Ga this account we
have great cause to rejoice.
But, brethren and sisters, it is Of the
highest importance that we, as parents
and as members Of the Church, should
comprehend the purposes Of our God
concerning us as a people. On this
point think there is not the light and
the comprehension In the minds of the
people mat there should be. 1t seems
to me that we all need instruction in this
direction. In our eagerDess to make a
living, and especially in view of the new
conditions that surround us politically,
our minds are, to some extent. diverted
from the great purpose that God has had
in view in founding Zion. We have
grand mission entrusted to us. The
Lord has assigned TO us wonderful
amount OF important work to perform;
and in order to prepare us Tor this, He
has poured out HIS Spirit upon this
people in their scattered condition, and
has impressed them with the necessity
OF gathering together as we are in these
valleys at the present time. Allusion
was made by B'other John w Taylor oil
me gathering OF the people and to the
inlhllment of tn prediction of Isaiah
and other prophets concerning their
gathering. The gathering OF this people
from the nations OF the earth appears 10
De the most miraculous work that has
eVer been performed There is nothing
IN history, sacred or profane, that comes
anywhere near being so wonderful in all
ns details as this gathering. G d has
poured out His Spin, upon us, and UPON
W, iathers ana mothers, and has I'M
PEELED them to leave the lands OF their
SSn.n and come together as we are to-