Remarks

was the next speaker. He greatly rejoiced to hear President Woodruff speak with such vigor and power in his great age, and that he was spared in the providence of God to give counsel unto the people. The labors of such men are needed among us; for the powers of darkness are tremendous in their opposition to the Church of God. This work, which seems now so great, is still in its infancy, and the Latter-day Saints have need to cultivate every grace and virtue of the Gospel. We have been complained of as being exclusive. We have been made so because those who have not known us have been filled with such falsehoods that the very name of a “Mormon” has been odious to them. They have thought themselves holier than the Latter-day Saints. But the Lord is making His Gospel and its power felt in the earth. The Gospel is true, and this is being demonstrated by the people of God. We have learned by practical demonstrations that this is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as the ancient Apostles taught and practiced, and for which they laid down their lives. It is the same Gospel that the Lord promised Adam should abide in the earth until the end of the world. The leaven of this Gospel is being placed in the earth, and it has got to stay here till it shall leaven the whole lump. None need flatter themselves that they will get us out of the way. The Lord has put us here and we are here to stay. The spirit of the work is increasing upon us. The more intense the strife, the more determined does it make every Latter-day Saint feel that he will stand to the truth. ¶

Latter-day Saints should strive to the uttermost to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts, and live so as to make every desire of our heart to be subservient to His honor. In the providences of God we shall be mixed with the human family, and we should have within us the leaven of righteousness and charity, so that these qualities may be manifest to those with whom we come in contact. We are apt to have small notions regarding some things. The Lord says His ways are not as our ways, and His thoughts not as our thoughts. This is exemplified in our daily lives. How many have laid plans and devised means to accomplish certain things, and have found themselves thwarted in their narrow plans? But by and by they find themselves coming out beyond where they expected. This is the way the Lord deals with His children. A notable illustration of this is found in the Scripture. A certain woman came to the Savior and asked that one of her sons should sit on His right hand and the other on His left, in His Kingdom. She felt, doubtless, that if that could be granted her she could depart in peace. What was the outcome? Why, the Savior declared that these two sons should be among the twelve men who should sit on thrones, judging the whole house of Israel. What she had asked was a small matter compared to this. ¶

The speaker bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work of God. He testified that the truth will triumph, and that the blessings and gifts which have been promised will be realized by the faithful. In the hearts of those who are righteous the light of the truth will be increased and intensified, and their pathway will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. New revelation is not needed every week and every month concerning the order of the Church. The Lord has established that. But we need revelation for ourselves. We need to have the Spirit in us day by day, keep the commandments of God, walk in His statutes, and subdue our wayward ways and feelings unto Him. We should seek diligently to increase in knowledge, in faith, and in good works, so that we may glorify our Father in heaven. Then when the salt comes to be scattered abroad it will exert its saving and hallowing influence. Having retained its strength, it will have the effect to season and bless all with whom we come in contact. But if the salt loses its savor, it becomes good for nothing but to be trodden under the feet of men. How thankful we ought to be that these things are revealed to us. While the world is going headlong to destruction, our eyes have been permitted to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand, the truth. The work of God will prosper, and when we go hence we shall rejoice with those that have gone before, and shall be glad for that which we leave behind. ¶