Discourse 1891-10-04 [D-106]

THE DESERET WEEKLY.

President Wilford Woodruff. then addressed the congregation. In the year 1833 he had heard the first Gospel sermon. In the first year after having embraced the Gospel, he had held the office of a Teacher. In the second year he was ordained a Priest. The following year he became an Elder and the next he was ordained a member of the quorum of Seventies. For about fifty-two years he had been a member of the quorum of the Twelve.

The speaker would say that during this time, he had endeavored to preach the Gospel to the world, and in so doing had traveled enough to go round the world six times, yet he had not tried to preach or to minister in the ordinances of the Kingdom of God, except by the power of Jesus Christ. And now after having labored so many years he felt still as much dependent on the Holy Spirit as ever, and on the faith and prayers of the Saints. There never was a Prophet on the earth who could instruct the children of men except by the power of the Priesthood.

The speaker then very strongly refuted some of the slanders that have been hurled against the people of God, even by prominent men who have visited the Territory. He made an eloquent appeal for liberty of conscience. The Latter-day Saints accord to all men freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences, and we ask for ourselves only what we are willing should be enjoyed by others. The speaker wished the blessings of God to rest abundantly on the Conference, and all the people.