Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-13
[REPoRTED BY ARTHUR wrNrER.1


lam very happy to be with you at this
conference to listen TO the excellent in.
structions that we have received, and
| certainly hope it will be beneficial TO
me; for it is not SO much what we hear
as what we believe and obey that bene.
fits us. As | understand, the object of
our meeting together is that we may be
spiritually fed. And this enters into
our everyday lie. We are instructed
how to live upon the earth in order that
we may attain to everlasting lite. | do
not know what you are living for. but as
far as am concerned want the better
resurrection; and do not, think | can
attain to that better resurrection unless
conform TO those principles that lead
10 it. There are certain conditions that
are necessary; in fact, we may narrow it
down TO what we teach our little child
rem in the Sabbath schools. frequent
" think, when we are teaching the
children, how appropriate it is for grown
people as we'll as these miniature men
and women. We teach them that they
are either willing and obedient or I'M
willing and disobedent. We teach
them that they should be natural. We
impress upon their minds that there is
nothing that the Lord requires OF them
but that is perfectly natural. 1t is the
same with us; and when we do not &C
cept OF the conditions that lead to ever
lasting life it is because we prefer to be
unnatural. When Jesus Christ sent His
disciples out to preach the Gospel, He
gave them similar instructions TO those
that were given through the Prophet
Joseph Smith to the Apostles in this
day. The mission they had was to so
into'all the world and preach the Gospel
TO every creature; he that be ieved and
was baptized should be saved, and he
that believed not should be damned.
Why this heavy penalty upon unbeliev-
ersf Simply because it is unnatural TO
reject a message from God Almighty,
the Father Of the spirits of all flesh
The message that we have to the human
family is to tell them that God has again
spoken from the heavens, and that He
has restored to the earth His Church,
with apostles. prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers, and that these
men have the power and the authority
10 preach the Gospel and to call men to
repentance. The message OF the Al
mighty is, Repent. We call upon the
people to worship the living and the true
God. the God OF Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob the Maker Of heaven and earth,
and to accept OF Jesus Christ and HIS
atonemept; and we promise them that
il they will repent and obey the Gospel
Of the Lord Jesus Christ they shall
know OF the doctrine. We do not 20 in
our own name; we do not go in the
power OF oratory or education; but we
take them a simple message, that can
be understood by a child. We tell them
that the angel which John saw flying
through the midst OF heaven, having the
everlasting gospel TO preach, has come,
and that that Gospel is restored TO the
earth. And we call upon men to repent
and to obey this Gospel. What iorl
For their own sakes--that they may be
redeemed from false doctrine and false
education, and that they may be taught
VI SOus Inc lolh jesus Shiiot bOlN iliS
people in His day:
My doctrine is not mine, hu, his that sen,
me. II any man will do his will, he shall know
OF the doctrine.
Consequently man who rejects this
Gospel is under condemnation, because
he rejects God; he prefers darkness to
light, and proves himself unworthy of
the blessings of the Gospel OF Christ.
Men who reject die in their sins. reject
ing the efficacy OF the blood Of Christ.
In order that His blood may be tificaci-
GUS in our behalf it is necessary that we
should worship the living and true God,
in the name OF Jesus Christ Then it is
necessary that we should cease to do
evil and learn TO do well. We must re-
pent OF our sins, and manifest our re.
pentancc by walking in all meekness
and lowliness before the Lord. We
must be honest and upright, and restore
unto men that that is due to them. II
we have been guilty oil backbiiing, lying
and slanderlng, we must stop II; il we
have stolen, we must steal no more: il
we have been guilty of sexual sin, we
must stop ii, and manifest unto God that
we do desire to keep II commandments
by taking the right course and separat
ing ourselves from the workers OF
iniquity. That Is true repentance, and
il IS natural condition. We may have
sinned in ignorance; but when we come
10 the light we have to hearken 10 the
counsels OF the Almighty and be taught
OF God. To do this we must place our
selves in a position where He can teach
us. First OF all, it is necessary that we
should have faith in God. Then, hav
ing repented OF our sins, we are in a
condition to go forth into the waters OF
baptism and be baptized by immersion
Tor the remission OF our sins. We are
then prepared ioI the efficacy OF the
precious blood OF Christ, which follows
the water. and by which we are sauclifi-
ed and prepared for the reception OF the
Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will not
dwell in unhoiy temples, and 1t is there
lore necessary that this preparatory
work should be attended to in order that
We may be fitted TO receive this high en-
dowment even the gift of the Holy
Ghost. 1t is easy to understand this.
We have the Bible, the Book OF Mormon
and the Doctrine and Covenants, which
call our text books, and the same
principles are taught in all OF them
Ihey agree one with the other. We re-
Ter to them TO show that the same prin-
dples that are taught today were taught
anclently, that II is no new doctrine, but
restoration oil the old doctrine oil
those everlasting princiDles that lead to