Saints Need Blessings from God

We understand very distinctly, I suppose, that whatever blessings we as Latter-day Saints secure to assist us in the great work which we are endeavoring now to accomplish in the interest of God must come to us through the operations of His Holy Spirit, and this, too, according to the faith which we exercise while together on such an occasion as the present. Hence we should endeavor as far as possible to forget all worldly matters which grieve and vex us, and fix our minds upon the Lord, having a sufficiency of His Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to receive such knowledge and suggestions as will help us in our onward path. ¶

I believe there never was a time since the organization of this Church and Kingdom of God upon the earth when it was more necessary than now for us to obtain spiritual aid and blessings, in order that we may be prepared for the great event which seems now to be rapidly approaching, and in which our collective interests are deeply involved. In the past history of the Saints there have been times when God has seen proper to bring about such circumstances as would try our faith and see what progress His people have made in a knowledge of those principles which He has revealed to us. How far we have been successful in securing that amount of testimony and knowledge from God in relation to the importance of keeping his commandments, it is not for me to say a [sic] ¶

We have been told that there exists disunion to a certain extent among the Latter-day Saints—that there is not a feeling of sentiment of union and mutual interest among the people of God which should prevail. In order to prepare ourselves for that which is coming, we ought to look around and try to discover clearly what are the privileges to be obtained through the Gospel which we have embraced. I believe there is a way by which perfect union can be effected if we will but understand things aright. Jesus urged upon His disciples the necessity of union—that the same should be promoted among them as existed between Himself and His Father. We must perfect ourselves before we can attain to the great exaltation and glory which have been promised unto the faithful. We should at all times be willing to make sacrifices for the Gospel’s sake, no matter how disagreeable the duty may sometimes be. ¶

I see before me this afternoon thousands of people who have received the Gospel of Christ from among the various nations of the earth. They have made sacrifices which have astonished the world at large. Leaving all that was near and dear to them they have come and settled in these mountain vales, exposing themselves to danger both upon sea and land, and journeyed to a place of which they knew comparatively little. What inspired them to do this? The Spirit of God opened their understanding; it removed part of the veil which hung between them and the knowledge of God, and they became convinced by His power and intelligence of a supernatural nature that there was something which could not be reached through any other source of life, through any other system or order of things than the Gospel which had been proclaimed to them. ¶

I had an intimate acquaintance with Joseph Smith, the Prophet, for a number of years. The position he occupied before the world and the declarations which he made were of an extraordinary character. It was a position which no individual before or since has attempted to resume. I knew Joseph Smith to have been an honest man, a man of truth, honor and fidelity, willing to sacrifice everything he possessed, even life itself, as a testimony to the heavens and the world that he had borne the truth to the human family. We, as a people, have been making sacrifices for the last sixty years; we think our religion worth all else, and it most assuredly is. ¶

Having spoken of some of the trials and persecutions through which the Saints have passed, including imprisonment and long separation from relatives and friends, Apostle Snow said they were willing to continue to undergo them for the Gospel’s sake. They would yet be successful in their work among the children of men. No impediment placed in the way would ever prevent the onward progress of the Church of Christ. Dark clouds may sometimes pass over our heads, we may be sorely tired and perplexed, and efforts made to thwart us; but the truth is mighty and will prevail. The world, which knows not the purposes of God, may think that “Mormonism” is now about to be destroyed, that the voice of the Latter-day Saints and the Priesthood will never be heard again throughout the world; but when these dark clouds thicken about us, and the Saints are put to the test, it is then that God is more glorified, in the fact that we are ready to show our willingness to pass through the fiery ordeal. We make no complaint, but feel thankful that we are able to show how precious is to us the religion which we have espoused. Let us go on rejoicing. ¶

Apostle Snow next related some of the extraordinary manifestations of the power of God which he witnessed when in Kirtland some fifty-three years ago, among these being the speaking in tongues, visions, and the ministering of holy angels. ¶

There is no danger of this Church being destroyed. We know too well the strength and value of our religion. The speaker cited the trials through which Job was called to pass by way of testing his faith; the Lord even permitted the prince of darkness to have dominion over him for a time, and but for all this Job’s name would probably never have passed into history. So with the trials of the Latter-day Saints. ¶

God bless this people is my prayer continually, especially in the obtaining of knowledge and intelligence from heaven, so that we may be able to withstand the difficulties, trials and afflictions which may arise in our path. ¶