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

| you have believed il II you had not seen
itr Why, things have come to our ears
OF the most shocking character concern
| the exercise of the authority OF the
| Priesthood. 1t has been plainly aud
| publicly stated that the men who lead
the people were exceeding their powers
and were putting letters on the people;
and one man has risen up and de-
nounced the servants OF God, unirutd-
lully, and there have been those WHO
have ieit to sustain him and to justify
him in it. say that unless they repent
in the name OF tn Lord Jesus, God viii
withdraw His Spirit from them, aud they
will go Gown into darkness. 1t is a ser
ious think TO fight against the Priest
hood OF the Son of God, no matter who
holds it The men who do bear 1t are
falllble men, and when they bear t pro-
| perly, are conscious of their own weak
nesses and inhrmltie'. They feel not
only as II they were utterly unworthy
of the authority the Lord has placed
| upon them, but incapable of exercising
it But they have been chosen by the
Lord, and He will sustain them and
bear them on triumphant ALWAYS, as He
has done thus Tar AMI no man can lift
his heel against the Priesthood OF the
son OF God without the curse OF A.
mighty God coming upon him, unless he
repents Why, we Latter-day Salts,
what blessing is 1t that you enjoy OF a
spiritual nature, aye, and Of a temporal
nature, too, my say, thai has not come
to you through the Priesthood. Can
you think OF anyn | am sure you cannot.
Its fruits comprise the whole of our lives,
our interests, our prosperity, in iividually,
and as people.
feel to say to the La,ier-day Saints
who have been guilty If indulging In
this spirit, that they must repent II they
want to regain the favor oil God; Tor
tell you 1t is a dreadful sin to fight
against or in any manner oppose the
Priesthood of the Son of God, and
everyone OF us should repent Of such
opposition with all our hearts
Some men imagine, that God having
restored His authority to the EARN,
theret is danger. OF it being exercised
in an improper manner. That is he
charge winch our enemies frame against
us They say we are pretty good
people, but there is danger in men hav-
ing the authority which we claim to
have-danger of 1t being exercised In
some manner to injure the community.
Now, say, and say it boldly. that no
such instance can be found in our hi
tory When men have at empied 10
exercise the authority OF the Priesthood
in an improper manner, the Lord has
Withdrawn His Spiri, from them, as
Brother Grant read this morning from
the Book OF Doctrine and Covenants,
that the Lord won d do. He will have a
pure people. and Hs will have peopls
who will be led by His servants. When
a man ceases to be true servant OF the
| - -.
from him, and leaves him to himself.
Happy would that man be if he should
die before he did this. Bat men have
seen prestcrait in the world, and they
coniound that with Priesthood; but |
want you to undertand that there s a
wide distinction between Priesthood and
priestcraft Men who exercise prest-
craft become wrong-doers and Cypress
ors, and commit great sins under the
guse OF religion, while trying TO appear
in the eyes OF the world as being in the
servic. OF God. But the Priesthood is
not of that character. 1t is benefcent
in its operations. 1t bessss. it upholds,
it strengthens. it diffrses love, union,
peace, and every godhke quality among
mankind. Has not that been its opera
ton among usi leave it to YOU to say.
Has not the influence and labor of the
Priesthood among the Latter-day Saints
been Of benehcent characterl (Cries
of "Yes.D Undoubtedly it has lhave
no doubt that this whole CONGREGATION
would say with one voice, Eyes, we
know its operations have been benefi-
cal." You never heard the Prophet
| Joseph Smith say thing that would in
the least degree be oppressive to any
human being. He was friend OF
liberty OF all men, think. that ever
lived, Joseph Smith was the strongest
advocate OF human liberty and giving
every human being his full rights. He
commended for this continually. He be-
lieved in the exercise of mans agency.
President Brigham Young had the same
spirit. His labors are before us IN these
mountains to show the spirit that
he was OF. No man could love his TEL
low man seemingly more than he did, or
be more willing to have the people exer-
else their agency the fullest extent.
So it has been with President Taylor
and President Woodruff and throughout
the Church in all its ramifications. o.
course, there have been men who have
abused their privileges and their power
but they have not lasted long; they have
lost their influence and their positions
IN the Church oil Christ. hut, take it as
whole, the influence of the Priesthood
has been most benefcent in behalf o.
the children of men. Any attempt tc
show anything contrary to this mus
fail. OF course, we are, as have said
tallible men. We are yet in state o
probation, subjec; to the fall. We have
not overcome the consequences of thi:
yet. But. taking this into consideration
the exercise OF the Priesthood has beef
kindly, loving. diffusing peace, encour
aging union, and making the people
better all the time.
There are, oil course, as you can wei
understand, very great reasons VIII,
Satan should seek to curtail the influence
of the Priesthood. Satan does not wan
this power and authority perpetuated
because 1t is menace to his king dom
and dominion. 1t was this that prompt-
ed him to seek the life OF the Son o
God, and the lives OF His apostles anc
inspired servants in ancient days. He
did not want the Priesthood TO be on the
earth. He stirred up men to hate IL, anc
to hate the men that exercised il, and
the bearers oil this power were slain.
II has been the same ever since thi.
Church was organized. The men tina
bear the Priesthood are hated by Satan
They are hated by those who are under
bis influence. They would have de