Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-27

found himself surrounded by numer-
Gus host OF Assyrians who had come TO
capture him, but he rested In peace.
confident IN the protecting power OF
the Lord, whom he served. His servant
was alarmed on seeing the beleaguerlng
hosts. but the Prophet told him there
was no occasion for alarm. and then he
asked his heavenly Father to open the
vision of his servant. so that he could
see the reality OF the situation and not
only tho outward appearances, and
when his prayer was heard, the servant
Of the Prophet became aware OF the fact
that they were surrounded by heavenly
hosts and not only by the Assyrlan
forces. The faith Of the Prophet rested
on facts that were perfectly plain to
him. though not apparent "a the mere
natural eye. Such Is faith. Ii pene-
trates the veil and grasps the facts Of
the Invisible.
Thore is another remarkable instance
Of faith in the history Of the
return Of the exiles from The
Babylonan captivity. That return
was made by imperial authority. Ezra
could have commanded imperial troops
as an escort for himself and his little
company OF emigrants bound for the
far distant Land Ut Promise. Humanity
speaking, no would have needed such
an escort. for the desert through which
he had TO travel was then, as IL Is now,
infested by lawless bands. They could
expect to be attacked especially AS
they were carrying Il precious treasure
to Jerusalem. for the purpose OF
building up the temple and the ruined
city. but the leader of that devoted
company OF returning exles refused to
ask for an imperial escort. His faith In
God was his strength. He gathered
his followers Mt the river Ahava and
proclaimed a fast and explained 10 the
people that because he had told the
king that God was mighty TO protect
them during the journey. therefore he
had felt ashamed Of asking for soldiers
to give them the protection he had
claimed the Lord had promised them,
and therefore, they were now about to
commence their journey through the
desert, relying entirely on tho strong
arm of Jehovah. This was faith. con-
slslent faith. II was faith that acted
In accordance with profession. Ezra
did not boast about what he knew"
the Lord would do for him, and then, in
the hour OF trial. sought protection be-
hind the Babylonlan soldiers, The out.
come proved that he was right. Not
soul was lost in the wilderness. Not a
shekel Of The sacred treasure was miss.
ing AT the end Of the Journey
This was the kind Of faith the Proph-
ct Joseph had. when called upon by
the Almighty TO perform one OF the
greatest missions ever given to man.
AZ the time of the call he was weak
instrument, unlearned poor, and OBJ
scure, though OF noble lineage. II there
ever was mobility" on earth. HUI
NANNY Hi'dhilib, IL was liUpoSSlOlc Tor |
the young boy to undertake that work.
But to The eye Of faith there are no
Imposslblllties when the Lord com.
mands. sand therefore he obeyed, and |
The way was prepared for him step ~ |
step. until he finished his earthly work
n the glory OF martyrdom. shared by !
his ever faithful brother, the Patriarch.
Such Is faith. II rests upon the wori |
of God and prompts to obedencs. It |
Is the evidence Of things not seen"
and therefore silences doubt and re-
flutes opposition. Without 1t no man Is
acceptable to his Maker without
faith It Is impossible to please God" |
Heb. II. 60