Discourse 1890-10-05 [D-35]

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THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

"HE THAT HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH ME: AND HE THAT LOVETH ME SHALL BE LOVED OF MY FATHER, AND I WILL LOVE HIM, AND I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM." Jesus Christ. [##John 24:21|John xiv, 21##].

No. 45, Vol. LII. Monday, . Price One Penny.

GENERAL CONFERENCE.

-[CONTINUED FROM PAGE 694.]-

AFTERNOON SESSION. 2 p.m.

Singing by the choir.

Prayer by Bishop Orson F. Whitney.

The choir sang.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, the priesthood of the Twentieth Ward officiating.

President Wilford Woodruff addressed the Conference. Following is a synopsis of his remarks: I know not how long I may be able to talk, but while I do I want the attention of the congregation. The Saints have often heard me testify concerning the power by which this Church has been established. I have no power, nor have these apostles, to preach the Gospel and build up the kingdom of God, except by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Whatever testimony we bear to be productive of good, must be by the Spirit of God. We live in the greatest of all dispensations, and there are many things which the Lord has withheld from the foundation of the world, and which have never before been revealed to man, which will be revealed to the Saints of this dispensation.

Every dispensation of the Gospel has had its work, and at no time has God ever set His hand to do a work among men, without having an element prepared to work with. This is true of this dispensation. God has raised up a prophet in this age, and to him sent messengers who had once lived in the flesh. The Lord raised up Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and who did the work appointed to him. So the Lord raised up Joseph Smith, at the time set for him to appear and perform His work, and to him He revealed the same Gospel which was revealed to Abraham and Moses and to the prophets. It is the only Gospel God ever revealed to man. In fulfillment of the revelations of St. John, and other Scriptures, this Gospel was revealed to Joseph Smith. It cost him his life to pro-

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claim those teachings. It cost Jesus and the apostles their lives also. Jesus was a Jew, through the loins of Judah, yet he incurred the hatred of the Jewish nation. Is it not strange that a righteous man cannot stand up among the people and not incur their hatred?

There was a war in heaven. Lucifer and one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled and were cast out. That warfare has never ceased, but has been manifested in every dispensation of the Gospel committed to man. Did Jesus undertake to please the Jews? No. He was faithful to the mission He had received from His Father, without regard to whether the Jews were pleased with Him or not. The Lord revealed to Moses and all the prophets of every age that a Savior would be born to redeem mankind. In the meridian of time He appeared, and organized His Church. The apostles whom He chose faithfully labored to spread the work which He introduced. But it cost a great sacrifice to belong to the Church of Christ in those days. The persecution of the Saints was so great, that at length the last man bearing the priesthood disappeared from the earth, and the Church went into the wilderness. This opposition to the Church will continue until He comes to reign whose right it is to reign, and cast Satan into the place prepared for him, where he can no more deceive the nations. There are different degrees of glory to which men will attain. The number of men who will reach the highest is few, for there are not many who are willing to make in the flesh the sacrifice necessary to entitle them to it.

We cannot please the wicked. In order to do so, every Latter-day Saint would have to deny every principle God has revealed to us. I have been with this Church more than fifty years. I can testify that whatever the world may say, Joseph Smith was one of the greatest prophets that God ever raised up, save Jesus only.

The Savior said on the cross, of those who were the cause of His death, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." [##Luke 23:34##] They did not know what they did. They did not comprehend what they would have to pass through in consequence of having shed the blood of the Son of God, any more than did the mob who slew Joseph Smith. The yoke remains on the neck of the Jewish nation to-day. Our business is to honor God and serve Him. Our aim is eternal life. It will pay any man that ever breathed to keep the commandments of God and be virtuous and upright. I say to the Saints, "Fear not, little children; it is your Father's good will and pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Brother Cannon this morning delivered one of the most solemn discourses ever uttered by any man. What he said was true. I am pained to see the increase of crime in all its various and most hideous shapes in my own and other nations. These things are noticed by heaven. If you want to know what is going to come to pass, read the Revelations of St. John. They will be fulfilled. After two-thirds of the inhabitants are destroyed, the other third will continue in wickedness and unbelief. There is no power on earth can govern the Almighty. No nation committing sin can escape the judgment of God.

If you are curtailed in any of your privileges, you may know that God will hold responsible those who cause the curtailment. Joseph Smith said if he had power, he would sustain every man and woman on earth in their religious liberty. I know this is the Gospel of Christ, the Zion spoken of by the prophets, and God will sustain it to the end of time. I have never seen any reason, since I became identified with the work of God, to desert it. I bear my testimony to the Latter-day Saints concerning these things. I pray that you all may be faithful. If you are, you will be satisfied when you get behind the vail. There are many to-day who would lay down their lives for the work of God, if it were necessary.

All classes of men will have to go into the spirit world, and will finally

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[l]earn whether or not "Mormonism" is true. I testify that it is.

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