Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-12


away from us our agency, and all he
asked was that God would give him the
honor. But the Savior was willing to
come and do as the Father wished.
This made Lucifer angry, and 1t IL
written that he led away after him one
third of the hosts of heaven. No doubt.
he was parsonage Of great influence.
and of great sophlstry: for he sue
ceeded In convincing one-third of the
entire family of God that his plan was
the better plan. He rebellod. and was
thrust out; and the punishment was
that he and his followers should not
have tabernacles. And from that day
to this they have striven continually
to get possession of human taberna-
clcs. We read of legion of devils being
in person, and when the Savior was
about to cast them out they begged
that they might enter into the swine
Therefore. | say, the evidence that we
Kept our first estate is to be found in
the fact that we are hero today with
tabernacles. There may have been. and
doubtless were, differences Of degree In
our faith md our zeal. Some, no doubt.
at that great crisis We're more valiant
and steadfast than others. But that we
all kept our first estate is evidenced
by the fact that we are here.
We have been sent here with our
agency, for the express purpose of be-
ing tested and proved. We have had
this second estate granted unto us that
II may he ascertained whether we shall
keep II or not. a veil has been drawn
between us and our Father in heaven
That which pertains to our pre- exist
ent life Is concealed from us. though
there Is scarcely person of mature
years perhaps who has not had come
across his mind a shadow of something
that has occurred at some previous
time which he could not recall; but
our pre-existent state has been con-
ce1led from us, and wisely So no
doubt; for IL 1t had not
been, we should become so tired
of this existence and its trials that
We could not be contented here
We are left to exercise our agency
just as we did in our first estate ut
the time of our trial, to see whether
we Will be faithful to God in this sec,
ond estate. We are shut out, as |
hai said. but God points out to us the
way in which we should walk. He tells
us what to do, and entreats us to he
obedlent to Him. He asks us to cu-
tivate His Spirit, to seek to Him for
light and guidance; and He promises
us that If we will do this and be faith
full to Him in this earthly existence, He
will crown us with glory and will give
unto us eternal happiness. We are
the children OF God. God is our Father
He wants us to be like Him. He wants
us to enter upon career that will lead
us to as great heights as He has at
tanned to. Therefore, II is well that
we should be tested-tested even unto
death, IT necessary; because He intends
to make us His heirs and to bestow
upon us the glory that He possesses,
leading us along in the path of prog
ress TIL we will be in our sphere as He
Is In His sphere. But Satan has de-
termined to destroy this plan. He has
determined to lead away as many or
pf nor q hn Ia
Do you doubt the existence of devil
and of evil spirits? Need l ask the
Latter-day Saints this? Have you not
seen his spirit manifested? You have
seen men and women In this Church
who once We're faithful and devoted to
the work of God; but they fell into
sin, and another spirit took possession
of them. Men as high as members or
the First Presidency have done this.
/ remember very well William Law, n
counselor to the Prophet Joseph,
friend of the Prophet. a friend of God
apparently, staunch man In the
Church; but he committed sin. and that
man, who had occupied that high and
exalted station, comprised the death OF
the Prophet. He was one of the chiet
conspirators in arranging plans for his
destruction. and took an active part
in urging on his martyrdom. Members
Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
also partook of the same spirit. 1t is
the spirit that Satan possesses, for
Jesus said of him that he was a liar
and murderer from the beginning.
He Is seeking constantly to destroy the
work of God, filling men with his spirit.
and urging them forward to acts of
deadly hate, even to kill and to destroy.
That is the spirit OF Satan. and we see
II manifested in men.
Brethren and sisters, God has sent us
here. He has selected us from all ma
tions where the Gospel has been
preached. that we might be His in
struments in laying the foundation of
this work. A new era is dawnlng-a
new epoch. There are a thousand years
of peace ahead of us. The day Is not
far distant when Satan will be bound,
when he shall not have power to tempt
the nations. and when the reign of
Righteousness to which all the Prophets
have looked forward will be ushered
In. The Lord has gathered us from the
ends OF the earth for this purpose The
Latter-day Saints have heard the voice
of the Shepherd, which filled them with
joy. and they have come trooping to
this land imbued with peculiar feel
ings. A newly begotten love has en-
tered into their hearts, which has
bound them together, and drawn them
to each other; and they are now
throughout these valleys. striving to
lay the foundation deep and strong OF
the glorious work with which they
have become identified, and working
for Righteousness.
1t is for us to keep our second estate.
We should think of this continually.
The Elders who return from missions
should think Of 1t. Il want to keep my
second estate. and to maintain my in
tegrity as did in my first. | want to
be true to my Father, as l was true be-
fore / came into this earthly existence.
l want to listen to Him. l do not want
to listen to Satan, nor to be led by
him. ] want to say. Get thee behind
me. SATAN have chosen my Father
as my guide, and will be led by Him
all my days on the earth; | will not
listen to evil nor yield to it" This
should be the feeling and spirit OF
every man and woman In this Church.
All this may seem strange to many
minds; but let us turn to the world and
ask what they have got that will supply
the place OF this knowledge that we
have. You are here. What are you
here for? Why have you been sent
here? Henry Ward Beecher confessed
that he did not know: and thousands
of the most enlightened men of the
earth can truthfully make the same
They do not know why
man Is here. what his origin Is, or what
his destiny will he. Ask the most
learned preachers, who profess to teach
the Gospel to tho people. why man Is