Temple Work

I have rejoiced in listening to the testimonies of the brethren who have preceded me this afternoon, and in the words of counsel and admonition we rereceived from the Prophet of the Lord and His counselors, in the meeting of the conference held this morning. I desire that, during the few moments I shall occupy, my utterances may be under the guidance of the Spirit of God, because this is His work with which we have become identified. ¶

I was very pleased with the remarks of President Kimball, in regard to being true to the Gospel, and to the obligations we have assumed in connection with this great latter-day work. I remember meeting a man who had been diligent during his early experience in the Church, who had been valiant in testimony regarding the principles of the Gospel that God had revealed for the redemption of His people. This man left the Church, after having been faithful to the Gospel for many years. I asked him how it was that he had lost the testimony. He said he could not say, that he was just as sincere after he denied the faith as he was at the time he was preaching the Gospel. I met him again, a few years afterwards, when he was reunited with the Church, and I asked him how he accounted for these changes. He told me that the cause of his apostasy was made known by the revelations of the Lord to him, and that it was because he had grieved the Spirit of the Lord by talking against his brethren, men who were appointed to preside over him. He told me that President Young had inaugurated cooperation in temporal affairs, and that! it came in contact with his own preconceived ideas; that he murmured against President Young, and also against others of the servants of God, and the Spirit of God became grieved and by degrees withdrew from him, and he was left to himself. As he fell into darkness he neglected his duties, neglected to say his prayers and to live according to the requirements of the Gospel, until his mind became blank, the light that had shone within him before ceased, and he was an apostate. Subsequently the Lord touched his understanding, and caused him to realize his position; he then began to see if he could not regain the light by humbling himself before the Lord and manifesting exceeding humility. By degrees, the Spirit returned to him, and the light in its glory, and the beauties of the Gospel, dawned upon his mind, and he again became faithful and diligent, and continued so until the time of his death. Now, the light of the sun, when it illuminates the world, does not come suddenly, for we, with our natural eyes, would not be able to endure it. If you will arise early in the morning you will, probably, see the morning star preceding the daylight, then a glimmer of sunrise in the east, and, as time advances, the earth becomes bathed in an effulgence of light, and, by its coming gradually, we are able to endure it. Just so with the Gospel. The principles God has revealed for the redemption of His people do not manifest themselves to the people suddenly, but the man who conforms to the first principles, having faith in the Lord Jesus, repenting of his sins, going down into the water and being baptized for the remission of his sins, receives the Holy Ghost, which will lead him into all truth. As he obeys the laws of the Gospel, and conforms to its sacred requirements, his understanding of the Gospel broadens; but when he ceases to do right the light of truth begins to wane within him. As long as he proves faithful and diligent in the observance of the laws of God has revealed, that light continues to grow within him, and the Gospel satisfies his heart's desire in the shape of religion; but when he becomes derelict in his duties, and begins to neglect his prayers, and speak evil of the servants of God, criticising those who bear the Holy Priesthood who preside over him, then the light begins to wane again, and the Spirit of God withdraws until he is left entirely to himself. ¶

This work, my brethren and sisters, is the work of God. He has revealed it to bring mankind back into His presence. By strict obedience to its requirements we will have joy in our life and labors; when we neglect to conform to its teachings, the reverse will be the result. May God enable us to comprehend properly the principles He has revealed, and to live by every word that proceedeth from His mouth, is my desire, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. ¶