Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16

that always filed me with admiration;
never heard Brother Franklin ID.
Richards Indulge In any criticism OF his
brethren. | never heard him sit down
and talk over their faults. ! think he
was very remarkable In this respect,
All the leaders of this people are free
from that to a very great extent; but
none surpassed Brother Franklin ID.
Richards. | never heard an unklnd
word from his lips. Mems names would
come up their characters would be re-
viewed, and, OF course, criticism would
be INDUCED In; but / cannot recall an
instance where | ever heard Brother
Franklin ID. Richards utter an unklnd
word or express criticism unfavorable
TO anyone. have noticed this great
deal In my association with him. and
think II was lovely feature In hls
character never saw him out Of tenn
per- either. In all the seems through
which we have passed, do not recall
a single instance where Brother Frank
lin ID. Richards displayed temper or lost
control Of hiinsels IN the least degree.
He was always even. lie was so ur-
bane, so mild, so kind that no one
could find fault with him. II there was
any fault In his character probably 1t
arose from this; for sometimes II be-
comes fault In a man; but II was
remarkable feature In his character. He
was not naturally an aggressive man,
though II his priesthood was called into
question, he coull assert himself with
great deal Of vlgor
Brethren and sisters, 1t Is not
well to occupy very much time
this afternoon, so many have spoken,
but | could not help thinking. while
sat here contemplating the scene, OF
what the Lord has In store for men OF
this character, and what the promises
Of the Lord are 10 all who VIII be
faithful as this our brother has been.
Is there anything that can be thought
OF by the human mind that will not be
within the reach Of this our beloved
brother who has gone before? The Lord
tells US concerning the Savior that by
Him, and through Him. and Of Him The
worlds Were created and the inhabitants
thereof begotten sons and daughters
unto God. All this glory Is His. And
We are promised that we shall be heirs
Of God and jolnt-helrs with Jesus
Christ. Brother Richards will share In
all this. He is an heir 10 all this power
and authority Jesus tells us that He
and the Father are one the Father Is
In Him and He In the Father; and that
we should be I'm Him and He In us as
He is In the Father~-glving us an idea
of the oneness that He desires His
disciples TO attain unto even unto the
Godhead, being swallowed up In the
power and authority belonging to the
Godhead. This our brother will share
In all this. as all viii who are faithful to
the truth. We cannot conceive In our
mortal condition, unless God reveals 1t
unto us the glory that awaits this
faithful servant Of God Yet the revel-
atoms we have received from the Lord
plainly foreshadow the great glory that
Is In store for those who fight the good
fight of faith. who are full Of integrity
and courage, and whose knees never
remble and whose hands never shake
when II comes to the defense Of truth
and the advocacy OF righteousness.
Men Of that kind--and they are very
numerous among us-wlll receive great
reward; and not the men alone. but the
women too will receive great glory at
the hands Of our Father and God.
There Is everything. therefore, to en-
courage us to be faithful and TO be
spotless In our lives. What is the ad-
vantage Of committing sin? 1t soils our
souls, II defles us It brings sorrow and
remorse.. and gives no real pleasure.
Worse than this, IL brings forfeiture
of the favor Of God and the promises
He makes unto US. What pleasant
thought IL Is to think Of man faith
full in the midst Of temptation. man
who walks through life undefiled, who
maintains his integrity and keeps all
his covenants unto the close of his
career! VIII such a man not be re-
ceived into the presence OF God and
the Lamb? VIII he not associate with
the noblest that have ever been born on
the earth? He certainly will; and there
Is open bfore him career, never
ending career. progressing In light, In
knowledge. in truth. In power.-ln
everything, In fact, that makes our
Father and God great. glorious and
adorable This Is promised unto us.
The Gospel Is given 10 US, by which
we have the power to attain unto all
these great blessings. II we do not
accept Of It and use II righteously, the
sorrow will be ours.
feel TO pray the Lord for His choice
blessings to rest upon the family OF
President Franklin d. Richards. upon
all his kindred, and also upon all the
Latter-day Saints. which humbly