The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-02-02
SERMON DELIVERED BY
APOSTLE 0. F. WHITNEY
At Afternoon Meeting Of Recent Conference Of TIL,
Cache Stake.
Apostle orson r. Whitney.


tered this tabernacle on the occasion
of a stake conference. President John
Taylor was then at the head Of the
church, and George q. Cannon and
Joseph +. Smith were his counsel
ors. / had come as a travelling agent
for the Deseret News of which Brother
Penrose was then the chief editor.
And desiring to see him upon mat
ter of business made my way toward
the stand upon which he was seated.
Bishop Preston was then presiding
over the Cache stake, and he being &C.
quainted with me and recognizing me
as / came up to the stand to whisper
TO Brother Penrose, said, come up on
the stand, Brother Whitney" / said
mo, just want to speak to Brother
Penrose a moment" l did not feel
that my proper place was on the
stand among those prominent and
great men. And Brother Preston, eye
ing me remarked, Every well, but the
next time | come into the 18th ward"
that is where l was bishop at the
time, land you ask me to step upon
the stand, will come" President Jo-
seph F. Smith overhearing this re.
mark said, "Orson do as Brother
Preston desires you to do" said, "all
right and took a seat on the stand.
l have never forgotten that lession
that have learned by experience and
observation that 1t is always the cor
rect thing to do, to do as you are de-
sired by the proper authority. And in
speaking of aphorisms, | sometimes
have this occur to me. One of my IA
vorite ophorisms is this, THAT wher-
ever God needs man, that is his
proper place" whether it be setting
gregation, whether it be to hold a
high office or lesser office. The true
and proper policy to pursue, and the
only proper one, is to accept the call,
to respond to the invitation-and |
never forget that lesson given to me
by President William b. Preston.
Suppose as a ward bishop had
asked man out of the congregation to
pray and he had declined; suppose
had asked one of the brethren to
speak to us and he had declined, how
would have felt? Why, would have
felt, at least, as If that man was putt
ing up his judgment against mine, and
] was the presiding officer; / had the
right to the inspiration of the holy
spirit as how to direct that meeting
] had the right to know who should
pray, who should spealS-a deciding
power in the selection of both; but be
hold the man on whom ! called deem
ed it his prerogative to object, to de
cline either from diffidence. bashful
ness or something else. 1t matters
not; it is necessarily an affront should
rightful authority call and no response
is made, or an objection is raised, un
less there is some very good reason
for the objection, as sometimes hap
pens. A man might be sick Then II
would be perfectly proper for him tc
excuse himself in a respectful man
ner, but nothing from false SENSE
of modesty or from a feeling of un
Willingness to serve or from any feel
ing Of rebellion or discord, would be
sufficient reason TO put up his iudg
ment against that of the Spirit o
God, whenever men do that they make
a mistake
When | was called upon a mission
as a young man felt that ii would
be a disgrace not to accept that call
| hadn't any too much faith at tn
time; | had been more or less indii
ferent in the things of God as pei
tanning to religious discipline, and pei
haps some Of my brethren thought
would not accept that call. Why,
never dreamed of refusing it; | neye
hesitated one moment when the ca
came to me to go to the eastern state
to preach the gospel | felt that
was upon my honor as member {
the church to do as | was told, I
accept the call that had come and thu
! had no right TO put up my iudgmen
my will, against that of the Almlght
or His servants, which is precise
one and the same thing.
This church is governed, not !
what God gave to the Nephites; n
by what He gave to the Jews; n
by what lie gave to the Latter-d,
Saints yesterday; but by what !
gives to us continually, in the way
revelation through a living and (
Epired uripgthoOd Thic Churcb Oh,