Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-04

MY brethren anu tlN'eIts 4 Nhht Hlcuh-
ufc In nssociating with you In a wor-
shipping capacity. have been pleased
and edited In the testimonies and re-
ports Of my brethren. and | with them
desire an interest In your prayers while
I shall occupy this responsible place.
IL must be very evident to all classes
OF people who are thoughtful. and who
are honest In their motives. that the
Lattcr-dny Saints are a sincere people:
and we chccrfully accord to all classes
Of religious people sincerity In their
convictions OF the truth. We do not
come unto the world with the purpose
or intent OF assaultIng the religious
Institutions OF the world. nor OF dcpre-
clatlnE the honesty and purity OF the
Votnrlca OF the various religious Hccta
and parties. We believe that there ~
large percentage OF them who are
honest In their motives and In the OBJ
soryancc OF that which they conceive
TO he their duty to God and to man
kind. We also chccrfuily advance the
principle that mans action rc'igiously
~ we'll ms otherwise. should be accord
ed the utmost freedom, no long M that
action does not infringe upon the rights
~ others; that II men are mistaken
IN their Views. through depending upon
tho Interpretations given by learned
men Of different orccds and through
errors that may have come down
through the ages because Of a lack ~
direct communication with God. they
ARE responsible to God and not TO man.
We. however. bear IA very solemn
testimony that the Lord has inn,itut-
cd new dlspcnsation. Aud
what We mean by that II the
rcopcnlng OF the heavens. the giving
nvaln OF direct communication between
God and man. the establishment upon
the earth of the principles uf the Cos
pei na Jesus taught them, organizing
the Church with the same ecclesiastical
form of government M lie Instituted
in Palestine, and teaching the same
faith. promising the snine results 60
follow the acceptance oi that faith. and
declaring the same Kind OF repentance.
which consists In turning away from
nin-not the shallow prctonHlon that
win satisfy any mistaken sentiment of
man. but the turning away from the
actual practice Of iniquity In all It's
fuitnr. With ~ determination 10 serve
God and keep His commandments un-
Co the end. We teach that baptism IL
an outward ordinance essential to be-
observed an manifestation Of faith
In God. and that true repentance and
baptism shall he followed By "a rcmia-
sion of sins, hut lnaamuch M the
outward ordinance Of baptism does not
reach all the necessities n the human
soul. and In order that We may indeed
be born Of God, II IN necessary 10 re.
cclve a birth OF the Holy Spirit. by
which we are placed IN communion
with God. II u the spirit of rcvcla-
ton. and II attended with all the gifts
NJ 'he Gospel, such as the gift " heat
inF, the rift OF tongues the gif,
~ prophecy. the receiving Of heavenly
visions. and the manifcHtntion " the
power Of God In various ways, The
possession Of these gifts IN tho result
of being born Of the water and OF the
splHt-born ~ God.
In teatifying that such condition
han been restored 10 the earth. and
that we have received II. We cnnn-i
but have "a spirit ~ charity ana NJ low"
for the salvation OF the children otinen;
not disposition Ia tear them down,
nor 60 dcprccinte the true principles
which they already have but rather "a
Joyful sentiment and desire 10 extend
unto them greater llght. And while We
believe there are fragments ~ truth In
every Christian sect upon the oafth,
and also among the heathen, We believe
und We testify that In the restoration
~ this Gospel the truth has been re-
stored 10 the earth In It's cntircty-that
g. that all the blessings and gifts
which were enjoyed by the primitive
Saints have been restored FOR the hcnc-
III and blessing of mankind In this age
Of the world.
wish to nsk you, my brethren and
al f.lA - IA a. AZ
unreasonable In the thought that nuch
condition should be brought about
IN this age 81 the woTldf II n We're
necessary that men should enjoy the
spirit OF revelation In past times IN or
dor 10 thoroughly understand the doe.
irlnrH Of Christ, Il certainly " essential
that We should enjoy the same spirit
today. | wish 10 refer you 10 few
passages OF scripture 10 show you that
THIS position II not unreasonable nor
unscripturnl In the iirat place elite
YOU 10 the fact-n fact which must be
apparent 10 every thoughtful man and
woman who takes any Interest what
ever In the religion of Christianity
that Notwithstanding the intellectual
attachments ~ men In the world, from
The days Of Jesus down to the present
century. they have never been hhle 10
bring the people TO a unity OF the faith,
ana they have never become harmon
rites and ceremonies Instituted by the
Son N God Himself These young men
who have spoken this afternoon have
borne testimony ~ the truth. For two
or three years they have been travelling.
one In the Northern states ana the
other In the Southern states and when
they have stood up 10 declare the Cos
pei they have done Il without pfemedl-
tntlon ms 10 what they were going To
sny-not that their minds were blank
and empty for II has been
rapccially enjoined upon the Latter
dly Saints that they should TREASURY up
ne words OF eternal life, aud that they
should not be idle. and that they should
continually seek for wisdom out OF the
ucHt " books. You may read such IN
functions IN the Sith and ksth sections
or the Rock of Doctrine and Covenants
a book which contains the revelations
~ God 20 the Prophet Joseph Smith for
The guidance of His Church In this dis
pensatiOn, These young men have been
alone. 80 20 speak among strangers,
without porchance any high scholastic
attachments. hut they have received
convictions OF the truth. ana they have
blood up before the congregations of
We people and explained the doctrines
oi Christ unto them M they Understood
thom' and borne testimony nr they were
Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul. In writing TO the
Corinthians. says
For what man knoweth the things
OF man. save the spirit % man which
IN him? even 70 the things of God
.hnWeth no man, hut the Spirit OF God
i CorinthiauF. 2. If