Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-29
The Spirit of Mormonism:
A Slander Refuted.
A Discourse by Elder B. H. Roberts, in the Taber-
nacle Sunday, January 16 1910
tRcported by F. W. otterstrom.

MI
, ms ihignt' and reap while the day lasts
that nc may treasure up for his soul
| God: 10'i VI
Yea. whosoever will thrust in his
Cod: -
Therefore, If you VIII ask OF me you
shall receive: il you viii knock il shall
be opened unto you.
Now, as you have asked, behold. I
say unto you, keep my commandments.
and seek to bring forth and establish
the cause OF Zion,
Seek not f,r riches"-Why, We were
told here but few days ago, In our
local prints, as about a year ago In
ono OF tho great magazines of our coun-
try, we were told that lust of gold,
not love OF Cod was the motive pow
er of Mormon1sm. In view of that
cnarge made against us read this pas
sage again: seek not for riches. but
for wisdom. and behold. the mysteries
OF God shall be unfolded unto you, and
thcn shall you be made rich. Behold,
he that hath eternal life is rich
verify. verify. say unto you. even
as you desire of me. so II shall be unto
you; and IL you desire. you shall be
the means of doing much good in this
generation.
Say nothing but repentance unto
this generation: keep my command
mcnts, and assist to bring forth my
work. according to my commandments
and you shall be blessed.
Therefore be diligent, stand by my
servant Joseph. faithfully. in whatso-
ever difficult circumstances he may
be for the words sake.
"Admonish him in his faults" What
prophet with faults? o yes: and to
be admonished by his brethern? Yes
What humility is here required of the
prophet; what frankness, what god
like quality, "Admonish him in his
faults, and also receive admoDition OF
him. Be patient; be sober; be temper
ate; have patience, faith, hope and
charity"
We are told. and It is charged in
the old anti-Mormon books OF fifty.
sixty and seventy years ago. that these
men were liars. Incorporate. idlers.
money diggers; that they were utterly
untrustworthy; and. yet, get behind
the scenes where the word of God
comes to them. and, loi the purity
of the fountain whence Nor
monism comesl And this was no
playing to the galleries OF the
world. either. These revelations were
not published to the world at that
time, indeed there was no idea that
they would ever be published. AS the
secret thoughts of man Is to his
actions, so were these revelations to
the Church.
PEOPLE JUDGED BY THEIR
LAWS.
With historians it Is common to re-
gard the laws that are enacted as
being among the truest means of In
sight to conditions prevailing among
q people; because the things that the
laws forbid or the things that the
law commands are truly revelation
of the incllnations OF the people. And
so, too. the legislation of people
VIII reveal their aspirations, their
strlvings after justice and righteous
ness. as do the revelations which God
gave through Joseph Smith, out of
which the Church of the Latter-day
Saints has developed, the spirit of
which Is to be seen in the revelations
we arc now examining.
Again, the Prophets brother, Hyrum,
his lifelong companion, and Fellow
martyr at the last, In the spring OF lSz9
came from Manchester down TO Har
mony, upwards of hundred miles, to
inquire OF the Lord. His brother
Samuel had recently been in touch
with Joseph and oliver. and had re-
ceived the testimony of the Lord that
the work these young men were en-
gagged In was true; and he mad re-
ceivcd baptism at their hands. 1t was
he who carried the word up to the
Prophets fathers home. that the
brethern had received the ministra-
ton of John the Baptist. and had
received divine authority to teach the
gospel of rcPentance-thc prepara-
tory gospel-and to baptize for the
remission of sins. And this occasioned
Hyrum to Immediately repair to
Harmony to find out II there was O
word from the Lord for him, and
this word came:
"a great and marvellous work is
about to come forth among the chill
dren of men" Abserve how that pre-
diction Is constantly repeated in these
revelations. One need only call your
attention to the great latter-day work
and its wonderful history. TO prove
the prophetic character of this re-
peated utterance in these early re-
velations. Continuing
Behold, / am God, and give heed
to my word, which is quick and pow
crful sharper than two-edged
sword. to the dividing asunder of
both Joints and marrow; therefore
give heed unto my word.
Behold. the uelu Is Nnlts dIeduS
TO harvest, therefore, whose desireth
to reap. let him thrust In his sickle
with his might. and reap while the
day lasts. that he may treasure up
for his soul everlasting salvation In
the kingdom of God;
YEA, whosoever will thrust in his
sickle and reap. the same Is called of
God;
therefore, IL you will ask of me.
Won shall receive, II you will knock,
IL shall be opened unto you.
Now. as you have asked. behold.
I say unto you. keep my command
ments. and seek to bring forth and
established the cause in Zion.
Seek not for riches but for Wis
dom. and, behold. the mysteries OF
God. shall be unfolded unto you. and
then YOU shall be made rich. behold,
he that hath eternal life is rich"
..VeriIy. verify, I say unto you, even
as Won desire of me. so it shall be done
unto you: and. II you desire. you shall
he the means"-of doing what? ReVel-
linz in luxury living without the la
bor of his hands-be deprived of the
blessing OF earning his bread in the
sweat of his brow-and participate In
the pride and glory and honor and ap-
plause of the world? No; not so; but:
'.you shall be the means OF doing
much good in this generation.
Say nothing but repentance unto
this, generation Keep my command
ments. and assist to bring forth my
work, according to my commandments
and you shall be blessed
THE CALLING OF SIDNEY RIGDoN
-, 1.ot1s s,ood a = IN other char