I Have Been Made Very Happy While Listening

I have been made very happy while listening to the remarks of the brethren who have spoken, for the nature of the testimonies and instruction has been very timely. ¶

A WARNING VOICE AGAINST EVIL ¶

It is pleasing to know that the Latter-day Saints are loyal, as a people, to the Government, to the Constitution, and that they observe the law. Moreover, it is well to have our attention called to the duties and responsibilities that are ours as members of the Church, and to have the warning voice raised, from time to time, against the evils that prevail in the world that we may be prepared to resist them. ¶

WE LIVE IN PERILOUS TIMES ¶

I take it for granted that every member of the Church sincerely believes that we are living in the last days, and that most of those who are not of us who profess to believe in the scriptures and in our Redeemer hold the same view. This being true, I think we will have to agree also that we are living in perilous times, for the prophets of old who had their vision opened so that they could see our times have spoken of these conditions. ¶

PROPHETS HAVE FOREWARNED THE PEOPLE ¶

Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and even the Savior himself, have spoken of these things. Paul when writing to Timothy of the last days had this to say: ¶

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ¶

"Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats." And again he says: ¶

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ¶

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. ¶

"Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ¶

"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; ¶

"Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof." ¶

It appears that there is very little lacking, in this prophecy that might have been said of the evils of our times; and the Savior declared that the days before his second coming were to be like the days before the flood. The prophets who dwelt on this continent had the same knowledge revealed to them and have proclaimed it in the Book of Mormon: ¶

"But behold," said Nephi, "in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles — yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations — ¶

"And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire." — 2 Nephi 27:1-2. Then he adds this : ¶

"Woe unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth ; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish. ¶

"But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts. * * * ¶

"For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up to repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish ; ¶

"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. ¶

"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say : All is well in Zion ; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well — and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. ¶

"And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell ; and he saith unto them : I am no devil, for there is none — and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance."— 2 Nephi 28:16-22. ¶

NEPHI SPOKE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR DAY ¶

I have read these Scriptures to show that these ancient prophets, who saw our times, have spoken, not particularly for the benefit of the people of their day, but for the benefit of the people living in the days of which these prophecies speak. The world now is in just that condition declared by Nephi and by Paul. The people are denying the Lord and his atonement and the resurrection of the dead, and they are declaring that there is no personal devil, who is Lucifer who was cast out of heaven for his rebellion. Nor are the Latter-day Saints altogether free from these evils and these false teachings that prevail so generally in the world. We must not think that these things do not apply to us, for unless we walk in paths of righteousness and in harmony with the revelations from the Lord, we too will be under condemnation. It is in Zion, according to this prophecy, that people are to feel the "carnal security," that all is well, and Nephi has spoken to us words of warning : ¶

"Therefore, woe be unto him that is at ease in Zion ! "Woe be unto him that crieth, All is well! ¶

"Yea, woe be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost." ¶

Nephi further predicted that in these days there would be churches which are built up, not unto the Lord, and "they shall contend one with ■another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. ¶

"And they deny the power of God, and the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people : Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept ; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men; ¶

"Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles ; he hath done his work." ¶

Does it not appear that this prophet has truly depicted the conditions in the world today, both in the churches and generally among mankind ? ¶

MODERN CONDITIONS MAKE FOR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS ¶

It seems to me as I reflect upon these things that it is perhaps a little more difficult for a man to be righteous today than it has been in some other periods of the world's history. I think this because of modern conditions with all the temptations and evils that now confront us at every turn. If this is the case then Latter-day Saints should be just a little more prayerful, a little more diligent, and seek the Lord just a little more closely, that we might be kept free from all the evils that now prevail. The fact that we are baptized and have a standing in good fellowship in the Church will not insure for us our salvation. Evils may come upon us, for the Lord has said by way of warning. ¶

"Therefore, let the Church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation." ¶

Our Duties Pointed Out ¶

During the meetings of this conference some of our duties as members of the Church have been pointed out. It would be impossible in the limited time that is ours to mention all the duties and responsibilities which rest upon us, and the remarks we make have to be more or less of a general character. ¶

Our attention has been called very forcefully to the keeping of the law of tithing, and the observance of the Word of Wisdom. I would like to call attention in a general way to the fact that we have received many commandments, and it is our duty to keep them all. I wonder if we are all faithfully paying our tithing and observing the Word of Wisdom? I wonder if we are praying in our homes, if we are teaching our children in the spirit of prayer to approach our Father in heaven; if, in the family circle, we remember this obligation and are faithful to this great commandment? For it is a great commandment. I wish each would ask himself the question, "Am I seeking the Lord in secret chambers, and thanking him for the many blessings I receive ?" I wonder if we faithfully observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy? There are very few among the people generally in this land who do, and the Lord will not forget the breaking of this law. I wonder if we have forgotten the fast-day which has been set apart to be observed by the members of the Church? And if we remember the fast offerings for the poor ? There are so many things I cannot take time to mention all. ¶

We are to be judged according to our works, and we have before us the law. If we fail to observe it, if we reject it, or prove ourselves unfaithful, we shall not receive the blessings, for the Lord has said it. We have the Gospel as it has been restored in its fulness and if we do not observe the commandments of the Lord we are without excuse, "For of him unto whom much is given much is required ; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." We should be most diligent in our observance of the fast meetings, the Sacrament meetings, and our Priesthood meetings. I regret to say that in many of the wards of the Church there is a falling off in the attendance at the Sacrament service, which is, in my judgment, the greatest and most important meeting in the Church. We cannot afford to fail in this important duty and in the other important duties which are upon us. Our light is set upon a hill, which gives light to all the world, and we should let it shine so that people can see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. ¶

I pray that all Latter-day Saints will prove themselves to be humble, faithful and willing to serve the Lord, keeping all his commandments as they come to us through those who have the right to speak. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶