Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-30
[RrroKrKD BY ARTHUR WINTER. ]
pOIverod at the Utah Conferences Provo saturda
Iee7.b by

l
his conference. and TO listen 10 the re-
norris of President Partridge and Presi-
lent Iohn. These reports give us TO
understand partially the condition OF
he people, aud the Spirit OF the Lord,
trust. will enlighten us further SO that
in speaking 10 you we may give such in-
struction as will tend TO strengthen our
faith in this great work. | presume
that the object OF Organization, OF
authority and OF Priesthood in the
Church is Tor ediiyiDg the Church and
strengthening the faith OF the people,
that ii may be living faith, ior living |
faith is productive, progressive and saw
ing. while other faiths are not. we |
should be active and engaged constantly |
in performing works OF righteousness |
believe the secret OF success to us as |
individuals and to the Church is The CON
slant labor OF the members, their devo-
lion and fervency and that the Church
advances aud develops in proportion to
the works performed by the people.
find here on the 2I9th page oil the Doc
trine and Covenants some scriptures:
For behold, it is not NEE, that should COM
mand in all things. for he that is compelled in
ali things, the same is slothiul and not wise
servant; wherefore he receveth no reward.
Verify say, men should be anNously en-
gaped in a good cause, and do many things oil
their own free will. and bring to pass much
righteousness;
AGENTS unto themselves. And inasmueh as
men do good they shall in nowise lose their re-
ward.
hut he that doeth not anything until he IS
commanded, and receycth commandment
with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slo'h-
iulness, the same is damned.
understand, my brethren and sisters.
that when we become members OF thus
Church 1t is important Tor us TO be
anxiously engaged in this good cause
and in bringing to pass much righteous
ness. We are uncer Obligations TO De
workers. We have been warned, ana
have been blessed OF the Lord with
measure of faith, and the measure OF
that faith is determined by our devotion
as individuals, exercising the agency
that God has given us and the power
with which we are naturally endowed;
for we have power within ourselves 10
do right and to work righteousness.
We NAV nut ourselves in condition 10
receive faith from the Lord, to receive
from Him the power OF the Holy Ghost,
and to be endowed in manner superior
to people who have not entered INTO
covenant with the Lord. II we take
stock of ourselves today we Will hnd
,bat we receive OF the Lord iaith, intel
Wgence, wisdom and revelation IN pro
0oriion to the exercise OF that naive
4 powcr which God has endowed every
human being with. The Gospei o
Iesus Christ is the law OF hoefty, uh'
nsriect law OF liberty. There is nc
rompulsion exercised by the Father up
on the souls OF the children OF men.
we have perhaps three hundred
people here this morning in this IaDer
nacle-I am informed there are hVe nun
dred. 1 hope there are, because
would like to have great many peopi
hear me, do not come here very often
and the more there are here the better
we like to be heard by great man
people. for when we visit you and labo
with YOU. we labor as the servants
the Lord. We are in the service oil gu
Master. We are not here on our owl
account. We have not even called o
appointed ourselves. But our heaVeni
Father has called empowered ana ap
pointed us to this ministry. we ar
very anxious that the Latter-day SAINT
should be under the sound oil the voice
of inspired men; Tor that Is gre.
blessing. What a blessing u was
brethren who could sit under the SCUM
of the voice OF the Prophet Joseph an
hear him talk, and also the Apostle
who were associated with him III n
early history of this Church, What
great blessing it has been TO the Poop
who had the privilege OF listening to IN
voice of the Prophet Brigham Your
during his long presidency, and to u
voice Of President John Taylor, and
President Woodruff and the Apostle
II is a precious privilege. a privilei
that cannot be so generally enjoyed
all the people in the future as II n
veen in the past; Tor the people are o
coming widespread and numerous.
Stakes OF Zion are numerous, there
ing thirty-seven in the Church, ana IL
4 hundred Bishops wards; and the Chur
i has become very important ofgahi'
4 tion-the most important orgahizau'
Il upon this earth today. say thereto
Il the more that are here the better
thank the Lord there are hve hundre
1t is splendid improvement, and Il
II encouraged this morning when | S;
the people pour into this Tabernacle.
though there is plenty OF room lett. V
have received OF the Lord His favt
II and blessings, and the light and inspi
ton of His Holy Spirit. Inc ShuT
has been in training now Tor sixty
wears and, over. There are lew me
bers who have been in the Chur
nearly that length OF time; possibly the
II may be some in the Church today
have been sixty.six years, IN H. a
others for great number OF years !
II the members OF the Church. have
come fairly well established; and Il
1 the experience and training OF the me
bers OF the Church that determines
to the solidity oil the Church and
advancement. Not that | would !
that when the Church was made up
but few in number, the Lord could
maintain it; but l argue, from our
perience in early times, the people W
untried and unproven. But 1t not
now. The Church is numerous,
the people have long been tired, "
tried, and proven. The doctrines
discipline OF the Church are SO well
derstood by the people, and we u
passed through stages OF trial ana
perience; for there are points that
like the nariows in the road occasion
ly, and it is question as 10 who wiil
aole to stand and so through the !
rows and endure the hardshlps and
trials and the onsiaught OF the enc
that is arrayed against us, the powe
satan that is arrayed against us
against our heavenly Father, and