Discourse 1894-10-07 [D-73]

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REMARKS

Made at the General Conference of the Chu[r]ch, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, , by

PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.

-[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]-

I feel as though I want to say a few words to the Latter-day Saints, although I am in very poor condition physically to talk to the public. This has been one of the most interesting conferences I have ever attended; and if I am allowed to be proud of anything, I certainly have felt proud and have rejoiced at the spirit that has been manifested by the Apostles in their teachings. One of the subjects that they have dwelt upon I desire to speak of, and that is with regard to the Word of Wisdom. The brethren have dwelt very strongly upon this subject, and it is right that they should. The Word of Wisdom applies to Wilford Woodruff, the President of the Church, and it applies to all the leaders of Israel, as well as to the members of the Church; and if there are any of these leading men who cannot refrain from using tobacco or liquor in violation of the Word of Wisdom, let them resign, and let others take their places. As leaders of Israel, we have no business to indulge in these things. There may be things contrary to the Word of Wisdom that we indulge in, and that we think we cannot live without; if we cannot, let us die.

President George Q. Cannon has been laying before us the truth with regard to the position which we occupy here. This is the work of God, and we stand as an example to the world. Therefore, all of us, from head to foot, should make up our minds to keep the commandments of God. If I do not value my standing, my salvation, my crown of glory and eternal life more than I value those things which are represented as being unwise for us to use, then I am not fit to occupy my position. And this applies to every man in Israel. We all ought to take a course whereby we might be justified before the Lord. We live in the last dispensation and fulness of times, and we are placed here to guide and direct the affairs of the Church of God on the earth. Hence we ought to be wise men; we ought to be righteous men, holy men, temperate men; we ought to be men that will stand in a position to receive the Spirit of God to guide and direct us. If we do not stand in this position, we are not fit to perform this work.

Brethren and sisters, give heed to the teachings that we have received during this conference. As a people, we are advancing, and not standing still. We send Elders abroad, and they report to us every little while what they are doing; but there is a class of Elders at work every week that do not report to us. You see their works, though you may not comprehend them. As the Savior said, "Ye may discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" [##Matthew 16:3##] The Latter-day Saints should observe the signs of the times. The Lord is fulfiling everything that He has said. There is nothing given in these records of divine truth but will have its fulfilment. Messengers have gone forth in the world to make the commencement and to carry out these great events that are spoken of in the revelations of God. I think it is time we should improve and advance. The Lord is going to cut His work short in righteousness, or no flesh will be saved. The Lord is at work for Zion, and He has made no mistake in calling the Latter-day Saints to these Rocky Mountains—the everlasting hills which old father Jacob gave to Joseph in blessing him. We are here and laboring to promote the interest and welfare of the Church of God. I feel to rejoice at the manifestation of the Spirit of God during this conference. Many of us have been in this Church a good while and are advanced in years. I hope that what time we remain here we may spend to good advantage. Let us try to do our duty in all matters appertaining to the work of God. I am thankful for the blessings we enjoy today. Zion is growing. The earth is advancing. The judgments of God are approaching. The Lord says:

After your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground, and shall not be able to stand.

And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea, heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people. [##Doctrine and Covenants 88:89-91##]

The revelations of God have got to be fulfilled. When? Some time before the coming of the Son of Man—and that is not far off. Therefore, let us try to live our religion, and set an example before one another and the world. I accept the reproof of any Apostle or Elder if there is any requirement of the Lord that I am not fulfilling. That is the way I feel, and I think we all should feel so. We are greatly blessed in having received the Gospel of Christ, in having received the Priesthood and the power to go forth and warn the nations, that they may be left without excuse in the day of God's judgment. And the honest and meek of the earth have been gathered to the mountains of Israel, that they may stand here in holy places while the judgments of God overtake the world. Joseph Smith was raised up by the power of God, and the Priesthood and Apostleship has been with us from that day to this, and will continue until Christ comes to reign. Christ has passed through His trials and afflictions; He has redeemed the world; He has gone home, and He sits in glory with the righteous, and will come with them. All the prophets and apostles, those of our day as well as of other generations, will come with Him. Joseph Smith stood at the head of the greatest dispensation God ever gave to man.

These things are true. Let us try to do our duty, walk uprightly before the Lord, and appreciate the blessings we enjoy. Let our prayers ascend before the Lord to assist and guide us in everything, that when we get through with our work we may be satisfied. If the eyes of this people were open to comprehend the truths of eternity, they would see the importance of laboring while the day lasts. Our sons and daughters, if their eyes were open to comprehend what lies before them, would also labor with all their might to qualify themselves for it, and our sons would be prepared to go to the nations to warn them, that their garments shall be clean from the blood of all men. Elders are being sent to almost every part of the earth, and the cloud is beginning to lift from off Zion. The world is beginning to see us as we are. They open their eyes and marvel at what they see here. We are beginning to be understood better than we have been, and this will go on until a great many in the world will feel that Utah is a good place to live in. Our lakes and rivers will not overflow and drown us; but we will be protected from the earthquakes, from the cyclones, and from the judgments that are now overtaking the world. Very strange things have taken place during this year, and the judgments of God will continue.

I pray God that His blessings may rest upon us; that our eyes may be opened to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to understand our duty and what He requires at our hands, that we may be justified when we get through. We are all passing along. Many of our missions will close in a short time, and we will go as others have done. Then, if not before, we will comprehend the blessings we enjoy. When we get the other side of the veil we will appreciate this dispensation in which we live. I do not know whether we do here or not. I think many times we do not. I have

Last edit 3 days ago by Jason Godfrey
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a desire myself that as President of the Church, as Counselors, as Apostles, we may be united as the heart of one man; that our spirits may run together, and we may see alike, feel alike, and understand alike, and that we may be a bulwark at the head of Israel, that we may be justified before the Lord, so that when these judgments come upon the earth we may be prepared to meet them; which may God grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.

Last edit 5 months ago by mhutch1197
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