Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-25
DISCOURSE
porvored stake Zion
tabernacle Salt Lake City Utah. sunday Afternoon.
1898. by
PREst ENT JOSEPH F. SMITH,
PREslt ENr JOSEPH r. SMITH.

and Influence OF His Spirit. they are
b generally able to perform their duty.
90 least to Ills acceptance. ! feel very
pendent upon the Lord at his time.
and ! desire an interest In your faitn
end prayers. that may have the good
Spirit with me during the time that I
fhlIi occupy.
We have met together this afternoon
in the capacity " conference " thu
etako Of Zion. We have had presented
before us the Stake authorities. a.
ggther With the home Missionaries
that we might sustain them by our
vote. which means also by our faith
and prayers and to stand by them In
thu discharge Of all the duties that de-
yolyc upon them. II l. an important
duty resting upon the Saints who vote
a. sustain the authorities ~ tho
church. TO do 20 not only by the llft.
irr " the hand. the mere form. but In
decd and IN truth. There mover should
he IL day pass but all the pcppla com.
posing the church should llft up their
voices In prayer 20 the Lord 10 sustain
lfIs ssryants who arr placed TO pro-
eide over them. Not only should they
d1 this In bchalf ~ the President ~
thu stake and his counseiors. but they
should do u len behalf of the lilrh Coun-
cli before whom. In connection with
The Presidency Of the stake. matters u
vast Importance to tho members VI the
church are brought from time to time
fIr ih.if judgment ana counsel. These
m.H Hhluld nave the faith ~ the PEG.
UI. .. suaiuin them ~ the discharge
Df tu.Ir duties, Ia order that they may
o. .Nnug In thu Lord. These authon-
tI.a Irr also presented before the pgu-
pi that " there In any fault in thu -
worthy ~ objection to their acting lu
Tho positions tu which they are called,
The Saints who know u these 0biec-
tons may make them manifest. IN orr
der ,hlt such Inquiry may be- institute
81 nH may BE- necessary 60 ascertain
N truth. that those who are not w0r-
thy may be- dropped ana only such na
mr. worthy ana faithful In the per-
Torrance ~ their duties he sustained
IN these exalted positions IN the
church, rs pl,as'd to see thg
uuanlmlty W. which the people voted
60 sustain an those whose names were
prerrntsd before them this afternoon.
and ! hope that The feeling or deter
miuntlon ~ tho people is as unanimous
and hH sincere a. the vote would lndl-
cate.
We should not permit ourselves 10
40 about from dgy 20 day with spirit
Of murmuriun and fault nnding IN uuf
hearts against those who nre presented
before us To- he sustained In rrapnuaibls
positions n We have anything lu utir
hearts against any Of these brethren.
u ~ our iuiy. ~ conscientious member.
~ The church. ilrsi, a. the Scripture.
direct iu go TO them alone ami make
known 90 them our feeling toward them
nnd show them tho cause nf such fool.
ms; not with a desire IN our hearts
~ widen or Increase the difficulty hut
we should 10 to them In the spirit nf
reconciliation and hrutherly love. In a
tfu" Christian Hplrit. Hp that II any
feeling ~ bitterness exists within ~
~ may be- absolutely removed. and IN
N' have cause against our brother that
10 may DE In position 60 remedy the
'NlL We should seek 60 love one an,
uthrr and o. sustain each other n.
children ~ God ana nH brothers aud
sisters In the cause of Zion.
The presentation ~ the authorities
N the church before conference d,
made obligatory upon the church. II
o. the command ~ the Lord thar We
thAll meet together tn transact the
business NJ tho Church. an important
l1H ~ which D. o. sustain the nuthurl-
Ties ~ the church. thus renewing uut
covenant to uphold Gods authority
which lie has Instituted In the earth
Tor the government ~ Ills Church
Ana I cannot emphasize too strongly
The importance ~ Lhtter.day Saints
honnfing nnd sustaining In truth and
IN deed the authority ~ the Holy
Priesthood which IN called 10 preside
The moment "a spirit enters into the
heart ~ u member 10 refrain from
sustaining the constituted authuritic.
pf the Church. that moment he becomes
Possessed Of spirit which inclnOH to
rebellion or dissensiOn; ana n he per
init that spirit 10 take hfm root In
hlH mind,lt viii eventually lead him Into
darkness ana apnstusy N makes mo-
difference how much we may profess
o. love the Gospel ana prize our stand
ing IN the church, N we allow the spirit
m darkness Ia take possession nf oui
minds the Hight ANA love within ~
VIII go out ana bitterness ana onmlty
viii take possession ~ our souls, Then
OH how dufl. how bitter ana wicked
No may hecnmol
President Angus NJ. Cannon. In his
remarks, rather admitted that one-half
ni the people Wtif given a. neglect OF
luty ana On practices which are C0n-
iury 90 the requirements ~ heaven.
vance NJ the Sabbath day As | came
ip this meeting I overlook one 81 tho
brethren, aud ne remarked 10 me that
ora hc passed by the station he saw
vast crowd of people there ready 10 go
OUT Co some pleasure resort, Now. some
~ these may have been prlfossedly
lntter-dny NnlntH | do not say they
were, because | ala not see them; but
U any N thDFr profess 10 BE- Latter
Gay Saints then the course they are
pursuing today II contrary 10 the law
nt God, contrary 20 the covenants they
nave made In the waters Of baptism,
nnd contrary TO the covenants entered
INTO In The most sacred places 10 which
lHti'r-day Saints are admitted They
1fg violating the Sabbath day, they arr
nhnnorlnE commandment ~ the
l;NIli they are proving themselves dis
,hpdleni 70 the law, and they are doing
VA. which IL not pleasing IN thr slght
4 God.and which viii result eventually
IN ih'lr Injury. " not In their ap0siaHy
ns much tho duty of the Latter
nay Paints 10 honor the sabbath day.
.'N ln attend tn those duties which arr
'gulred NO their hands upon the sab
,.Jh. goa IA Do for them tn be honest
IN their uoirhbnir nn1 otherwise 10
IN" righteous lives There are many
l'nplr. especially the young, who arc.
ilH ur less Indifferent ln regard tn
NOR religious duties. They appear ~
20 ihnughuess, They do not UNDER
ilnnd tho necessity FOR thom 10 observe
w Won the commandments Of the Lord.
Ahd There IL connected with this nagli-
t'nce ON the part OF the Young people
greater negligence on tho part ~ tho
pp,t,nts or these young people Whore