Discourse

said, in substance: He was gratified for the privilege of meeting with the Saints in Conference. He desired the presence of the Holy Spirit. Many changes have taken place since we last assembled in this building in a similar capacity to this. They had seriously tried many of the people. We are living in a day when each individual member of the Church should be in possession of the Holy Spirit. It is a time when we need comfort and instruction such as cannot be given by man. The Savior informed His ancient disciples that they must tarry at Jerusalem until they should be endowed with power. He promised to send upon them the Spirit of Truth. Those who know its operations are aware that it imparts comfort and knowledge. The greatest desire of the speaker was that he might enjoy the presence of that Spirit. He thought of this more especially when he partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. When it was taken unworthily such action was followed by condemnation. Some of the Saints asked where they could go to seek counsel. All who had the Holy Spirit could receive it in every time of need from God. It is said by some that the Saints are poor and illiterate. There may be some truth in this, but it is not entirely true. A few of them were wealthy when they embraced the Gospel, but the bulk had been poor. This verifies the statement of the Savior, who thanked the father that He had given Him the weak things as pertaining to the world that by them the things that are powerful might be overturned. There are many churches here who claim to have been established among us to redeem us from bondage and sin. The facts will show that the Latter-day Saints will compare favorably on the plane of morality and religion with their professed regenerators. Examine all the denominations and it will be found that they claim to enjoy the Holy Ghost. The chief office of that spirit is to guide the possessors into all truth. If they have it why is it that they walk in so many ways diverse from each other? There is a method by which it can be ascertained whether people possess the Comforter. The presence of that Spirit is attainable by all. When John was banished upon the Isle of Patmos, and was in bondage for the testimony of Jesus, he was about to fall down and worship an angel who appeared to him. He was told not to do so, as that holy being was one of his fellow-servants the prophets. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, consequently those who possess it have the prophetic spirit. Paul proclaimed that no man could say that Jesus is the Christ, save by the Holy Ghost; therefore it is the Holy Spirit that imparts the testimony of Jesus. It is of infinite importance that the Saints understand these things for themselves. The same ancient Apostle exhorted the people in his day to contend earnestly for the best gifts. He also enumerated the various miraculous gifts conferred by the Holy Ghost. The Comforter was to show the disciples things to come, and lead them into all truth; consequently all upon whom it rests are to a greater or less extent prophets. An understanding of things yet future is the prophetic gift. It was by the power of the Holy Ghost that all the ancient prophets were enabled to foretell events that still lay in the bosom of the future. The speaker illustrated his remarks by scriptural references, and various Biblical incident. He also explained that even the prophets possessed this power in different degrees. The Savior is said to have possessed it without measure, while it was given to others more sparingly. An incident was related wherein Moses was led to express a desire that all Israel should be prophets. When a people are thus blessed disunion disappears, as truth could not conflict with truth and that which comes from the Lord could not be untrue. It is common to charge the Latter-day Saints with being led by one man power. When a people are led by the voice of the Holy Ghost through an authorized servant of the Lord they are led by the power of Jehovah. If all the professing Christians in the world possessed the Holy Ghost they would enjoy the testimony of Jesus and would understand things to come by the gift of prophecy. ¶

Brother Taylor exhorted the Saints to seek earnestly the best gifts, and also invited any who might be present who had not yet obeyed the Gospel to come forward and test its truth as revealed in this age. If they conformed to the principles it incorporated they would receive an individual witness of its divine origin. The secret of the unity of the Latter-day Saints is because of the Holy Spirit they possess. In reference to the operations of the Spirit, it is not that which is seen which is the most potent, but rather that which is invisible. As for instance the body of a mortal is visible, but the spirit which inhabits it is not, to the natural eye; yet when the spirit leaves the body it is dead, the more powerful and quickening part having departed. ¶

The speaker asked the question whether the young people listening to him had a testimony of the work of the Lord for themselves. The reply would probably be that they could not see it. It is not tangible, so we cannot behold it. Your spirit is an entity, yet you cannot see that; nevertheless it exists. The speaker further illustrated this part of his remarks by incidents in point. An electric current cannot be seen, yet it not only exists but is a most powerful agent, and produces wonderful effects. So with the Spirit of God. It may not be seen with the natural eye of man, yet it is powerful and sharp as a two-edged sword, and a searcher and discoverer of secrets. The day will come when the potency of that Spirit will be exercised in the world, when it is filled with corruption, anarchy and confusion. Examples of exhibitions of this power, manifested in sacred history, were cited and dwelt upon, and still more wonderful phenomena from the same cause, to be developed in the future, were quoted. He desired that all might repent and enjoy the presence and effects of the Holy Spirit and be prepared for the coming of the Lord. ¶