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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. Luci-
fer and one-third of the hosts of
heaven rebelled and were cast out.
That warfare has never ceased, but
has been manifested in every dis-
pensation of the Gospel committed
to man. Did Jesus undertake to
please the Jews? No. He was faith-
ful 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 dis-
appeared 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 proph-
ets 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 con-
sequence 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 judg-
ment 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 wo-
man 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 identi-
fied 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