Repentance

I desire to enjoy a portion of the Holy Ghost to direct my words. We are blessed with pleasant weather, peace and health. The conditions seem favorable for a good conference. ¶

Since we last met in this capacity, there have been many changes—some pleasant and some the reverse. Individuals have repented of wrong-doing while others have been excommunicated. Should there be any of the latter present, may they listen humbly to what will be said. All men are prone to err, some to a greater degree than others. It seems necessary according to the law of the Church, to deal decisively with persons who are guilty of a certain class of offenses. This phase is continuous. I desire to speak to those who are liable to err. There will be an offense if those who consider themselves perfect should arise and leave this building. ¶

It is grievous to note the fact that men suffer themselves to be cut off the Church. It is difficult for me to control and look after myself, and keep from encroaching on others. There is a way for all men to repent. Those who are given to drunkenness can forsake that evil and indulge in it no more. So with dishonesty of every kind. He who commits this wrong should return to honest habits, and the Lord will forgive him. So with the sin of falsehood. Let those guilty of this evil learn to feel and love the truth. Christ said concerning those who should love evil, that they should be placed outside the New Jerusalem. If we give way to temper and speak harshly, let the person showing this weakness learn to govern himself. Let us learn temperance in all things, that our posterity may be healthy. If we break the laws of nature we will have to pay the penalty. If we have neglected our prayers, either in secret or in the family, we should attend to this important duty. When men begin to apostatize they generally leave off their devotions before the Lord. God will be sought after in worship and gratitude. ¶

There were but few persons here yesterday. One would have thought that the people had mostly gone to fast meetings in the Wards. This is a necessary and important ordinance. The testimony meetings are among the most interesting. To one is given a tongue, another the interpretation, and so on, so that all are edified. Those who have paid their tithing faithfully are to be congratulated. It is an ancient law, Abraham having obeyed it. The Lord has revealed it in our day. If any of you have neglected compliance with it, repent of your omission and do better. If the lord has given a home in Zion, appreciate it. If you have entered into the eternal marriage covenant keep it sacredly. If you have not, repent of your evil doing. ¶

My experience has convinced me of one fact. He who has received a testimony of the truth from the Lord, it remains with him until he sins away the light by which it was imparted. It causes either joy or sorrow. If one does a good, it creates pleasure, while the commission of wrong creates the opposite effect. This is universal with the Saints. I have had come to me during the last year men and women who have sinned. They have asked what they could do to recover lost ground. You can only say to such people, as long as there is repentance in a person’s heart there is hope. It is not the design of God to destroy that soul in whom this principle exists. This repentance is to forsake evil and turn unto the Lord. Lift up your heads, ye Saints, unto your God, for He is not a tyrant. But he will chide and rebuke us, to draw us back to the true path. ¶

There have been remarks made by different brethren for the purpose of making sin hateful. Some of these remarks have had a tendency to destroy all hope, and may not in that way have accomplished the object intended. Let hope be destroyed and the individual in whom it is extinguished is lost. Except for murder and the sin against the Holy Ghost, there is forgiveness and redemption through the payment of the penalty attached to sin and by repentance. [The speaker here explained, by quoting from the Doctrine and Covenants, what is the meaning of endless punishment. It is God’s punishment, that being its character, but it does not follow that those subjected to it are always retained in that subjection.] I say this that those who have sinned may not be without hope. Those who repent should do so in sorrow and mourning, rending their hearts. Remarks were made yesterday in relation to the preaching of the Gospel to the dead. ¶

Peter explained that Christ, after being put to death in the flesh, went and preached to the spirits in prison. Among those to whom he ministered were people who had been shut up in prison in the spirit world from the days of Noah. They, while on earth were great sinners, having been destroyed from the earth because of their wickedness. They were offered, through the advent of Christ among them, liberation and forgiveness, through repentance, that they might live according to God in the spirit. This shows the long suffering and mercy of God. Therefore let the sinners in Zion repent, that they may be forgiven in this life or in the next. ¶

There is a feeling among Saints not to forgive one another. When one does wrong we speak evil of him, endeavoring to create the impression that he has not only sinned in one way, but in many other ways. This is uncharitable. The Savior instructed his disciples how often they should forgive one another. The same law has been revealed to us. You are doubtless familiar with the law of the Lord in that regard. The spirit of exaction is not of Christ. There is hope for all men if they will repent of their sins. ¶

It might be said, if you offer the sinners a chance they will go on sinning all their lives. If a person gets burned with fire and has felt the effects of it, will he not avoid the fire in future? The relief comes by repentance, and he who goes on doing wrong does not repent, and for such there is no promise. They must cease the performance of those deeds that have necessitated the application of clemency. [The speaker here cited the example of the Savior in relation to the woman taken in adultery. Also that of the prodigal son]. ¶

I speak of these things to show that there is hope for the repentant sinner among us. After all that I have said on this subject, whosoever has a testimony of the Gospel who falls into sin is filled with remorse and shame. Be not too much bound up in your feelings. But give hope to the sinner, and exhibit the infinite mercy of the Lord. Although I have exhorted you to perform your duties in the Church, yet if you do these things and have not faith, hope and charity the performance of these things avail you nothing. Let us therefore take away from our hearts all things that are impure, and partake worthily of the Sacrament, having no hardness of feeling one toward another. The speaker continued for some time in the same strain, closing with an invitation for sinners to repent, that the blessings of the Lord may be poured out upon them. ¶