Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-24
[REPoRrED ny ARTHUR WINTER

they got herr, and at once expressing
| their desire N d IL tentinn 10 10 back TO
the old coun ryf If you have. it has
been rare except 10 the RUE. As
rule, aud almo 1 lheuniv rsal rule, those
who tramped thr plans with the and
carts, and mex those who came W Ii tle
| ox-teams, have bee rooled an ground
ed in the faith They had occasion o
put tier trust in God, and their fat
WIS develop d, their love for the trhh
was brought out, and they nave,buen, as
a rule, stable and stea fast in the Gospel
i, oil Christ. While today many Who
come from distant lands by stean snip
and by railroad, soon after they ggt to
| Zion become diss tiisfied and dis.
col'ented and they long for tue eeks
and the onions and the llesn-pcts OF
Egypt; and frequently pt ople who have
, elnlgrated here in that way have within
week from the lime they landed in
This city or in other places, wanted 10
return, and some oil III m h I'VE ieturl ed
| lhey came too easy; they did not gam
experience in coming; their faith was
not tried; they had nothing to develop
within them he principle OF integrity to
the TRUTH and they were discouraged
and wanted to go back at the least
difficulty. Now, the Lord has said that
he would have a tired peope; and it is
+, stated in the scriptures that the Lord
chasteneth every son and daughter
whom he receiveth. 1t IS also said,
in The Book OF Doctrine and Covenants.
nat God will try His people unto death,
to see II they are worthy OF the bless
ings OF the Gospel OF the Son OF God.
lSecuon 9S:Ii.) | contend that a man
I. ., n 4 Al.
and temptations in the worlo who is not
ified IN his feelings and proven to the ut.
termost, to see II he loves the tru h
more than he loves himself or the world;
and believe that II will be most difficu
Tor any man to stand firm IN the Gospel
VINO is not thus put 10 the test. NV
prayer has been constantly, not that /
might be spared trias, but that might
nave wisdom and judgment, patience
ana endurance gwen unlo me, to bear
the trials that might be called to lass
through. While | cannot say truthfuly
that have been tried in my faith in the
Gospel OF Christ, yet | can say truth
fully that have been tried in MANY
ways. My patience has been tried, nv
love has been tried, my integrity has
been Tried; but my faith in the GOSPEL,
in the divine mission OF the Prophei
Joseph Smith. in the organization OF the
Church OF Christ in these latter DAYS.
has never yet been sorely' tried have
never experienced anything calculated
to try my faith seriously in regard to
these matters; for ! have grown up. |
believe, in them. | have been taught |
from my childhood that Mormonism
was true. that Joseph was a prophet,
that Brigham Young was his lawful sue
cessor, thai John Taylor was the law nj
successor OF President Young, and tiiat
President Woodruff is the lawful sue.
cessor OF John Taylor in the Presidency
oil the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter.
day Saints; and what intelligence Dos
sess convinces me that these things are
not only essential, but that they are true |
so that, however much men may have
tried me, or however much may have |
been tired by clrcums ances in which |
have been placed, wherein my love for my |
brethren and my integrity to them has |
been tested, ! have never yet had a |
doubt cross my mind that Mormonism
was true, or that the Church OF Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints was properl,
organized and recognized of God
These things seem to have been made
clear TO my understanding, and they
have been engraited into my heart, until
my whole being is saturated with them
know that God will no more leave His
work unto another people, and that it
shall continue until His purposes shall
be completed in the earth
This brings me to thought awakened
in my mind by a letter which received
yesterday complaining of me because |
occupied the position that hold in the
Presidency OF the Church; not simply
because | occupied that position, but
the writer found fault with the existence
OF the First Presidency of the Church.
and claimed that 1t should not exist:
that there never had been successor
TO the Prophet Joseph Smith
and that therefore my presence in ,ha,
quorum was wrong to him and TO the
whole Church. Now | wish to read a
few words from the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants. The Lord, in q revela.
lion, says:
There are, in the church, two Priesthoods
namely, the Melchisedek, and-Aarcnic, in
Guiding the Levidcal priesthood.
Why tile first IS called the Melchisedek
is because Melchsedek was such
great High Priest.
Before his day II was called the Holy Priest
hood. after the order of the Son of God;
But out Of respect or reverence to the name
-epetiiion Of his name, they. the Church. in
incient days, called that Priesthood after
or The Melchisedek Priesthood. |
All other authorities or Offices In the church |
he appendices to this Priesthood.
But there are two divisions or grand heads
,ne is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the ,
'ther is the Aaronic, or Lcvitical priesthood.
The Office of an Elder comes under the
of Melchisedek.
The Mechisedek Priesthood holds the right
II Presidency and has power and authority
,yer all the Offices in the Church in all ages Of
he world. to administer in spiritual things
sec. evil, I'S.
The Lord further says;
or necessity there are presidents, or presiding
,ffices growing out of. or appointed OF or from
mopg those who are ordained TO the several
ifiices in these two Priesthoods.
OF the Melchisedek Priesthood, three Pre-
iding High Priests. chosen by the body. an !
pointed and ordained TO that office. and upheld
" the confidence, faith, and prayer OF the {
hurch, from quorum of the Presidency of /
he Chureh.-Sec. cvIII., 2r.a7.
This is the law, aud, do what we will. S
We cannot set it aside, nor can we adopt I
nv other plan or method aud still be In
harmony with the glorious and perfect
rider OF this Holy Priesthood which s
iod has revealed from the heavens in
he dispensation Of the iullness OF times d,
The Lord continues:
The Twelve travelling eounselors are called i
. be the Twelve Apostles, or special Witnesses Y