love and union, as it was designed they should do, they are divided into a vast number of sects and parties, each one appearing to be at perpetual enmity with all the others. So much is this the case, that instead of the earth being the abode of peace and happiness, it is made a vast field for contention and strife, in which the combatants are trying, with all the skill and resources at their command, to gain the pre-eminence of their own at the expense of the downfall of every other party. This lamentable state of things is not confined to any particular locality or community, but is prominently noticeable in every nation throughout the habitable globe. The pages of history furnish no parallel to the present state of discord, disunion and strife. Confidence and love seem to have fled this lower sphere, and have left man uncontrolled to give free vent to the fiercer and baser passions of his fallen nature. Brotherly love, about which so much is said by modern professors of religion, seems to exist but in name, and grows fainter and more rare each succeeding day. The world is divided into a great number of nations, and every nation is but the representative of a vast amount of political, social and religious division and confusion. Jesus has said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. If it is impossible for a house divided against itself to stand, it is equally impossible for a kingdom, laboring under similar circumstances, to stand, for what is true in a lesser, is also true in a greater degree. There is not a nation extant that has not incorporated within it the very elements which will contribute to its own dissolution, and that, too, in a much shorter time than many people imagine. A spirit of disunion, strife and hatred seems to have taken this fair earth for its abode, and so extensively is it diffused and so thoroughly does it pervade every grade and portion of society, that, unless some higher power interposes, it will bring about the dissolution and overthrow of every existing nation. Never, since God created the world and placed man upon it, has it presented such a sad spectacle as it does at the present time. Discord, strife, hatred, misery and degradation present themselves to our gaze at every turn we take, and so accustomed have we become to it, that the heart seems to have grown almost callous and indifferent. The recital of human sorrow appears almost like an idle tale, and it fails to excite that commiseration and sympathy within the breast which it otherwise would do. Well-meaning and intelligent individuals have, at different times, striven to stem this torrent of misery and chaotic confusion, and create something like a state of order and union, but their labors have been only partially successful. They have aimed to bring about a reign of peace and love, and have concocted schemes and framed laws which they thought would be conducive to that end, but up to the present they have proved miserably inadequate to accomplish the end for which they were designed. How can it be expected that man-weak, puny man, will be able to bring about this desirable state of things. Nothing short of a system having God for its author and supported by his power, will ever succeed in bringing about the re-union of Adam's family. We need have no dubiety upon our minds but this re-union will eventually be consummated, for Isaiah, in his 11th chapter, vividly and glowingly predicts the time "When the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain." But how is this happy state of things to be inaugurated? Simply by mankind embracing the principles of truth and making them the rule of their lives and actions. The Lord has once more spoken from the heavens and revealed his Gospel unto the inhabitants of the earth in all its light and purity, and mankind, if they will embrace it, will find that it will create OBEDIENCE. in them a feeling of charity and love towards their fellow-creatures. The Latter-day Saints have been commissioned by the Almighty to declare this Gospel unto the sons of men-to call upon them to repent of their evil deeds, forsake their wickedness, and aid in stemming the vast flood of sin and corruption that abounds on every hand. The systems, creeds and governments of this world, with all their confusion will, sooner or later, be totally obliterated, and the kingdom of God reign triumphantly upon the earth. How thankful, then, ought we 629 to feel to our Father in heaven for the inestimable privileges He has given us, of laboring to bring about this glorious time. Let us continue to press forward and labor diligently to implant the seeds of love and union in the bosoms of our fellow-creatures, and thus conduce to the accomplishment of that desirable consummation so graphically described by the poet, when, "From east to west, from north to south, OBEDIENCE, BY ELDER RALPH HARRISON. There is, perhaps, no principle of the Gospel harder to receive and practice than that of obedience, nor one which brings greater blessings to its observer, and the non-compliance with which is attended with more disastrous results. This can easily be seen by looking at the past; for, those who have observed and practiced this principle have prospered, and vice versa. While the children of Israel obeyed the servants of God they were blessed, and when they rebelled and disobeyed they were cursed. On one occasion the Lord commanded those people to sprinkle blood on their doorposts, and those who obeyed this command were preserved from the Destroying Angel as he passed by; the Egyptians, who obeyed not this ordinance, had all their first-born smitten, and mourning and lamentation were in every house: doubtless the same would have been the case with any Israelitish family who had dared to disregard this injunction. Thus, some by sad and bitter, and some by sweet and joyous experience, proved that God will acknowledge his servants, fulfil their words and reward the obedient believer. Saul, the king of Israel, was blessed and prospered until he became so great in his own estimation that he considered himself at liberty to nullify or disregard the commands of the Lord, and so, instead of des troying the Amalekites and all that pertained to them as he had been commanded, he saved their king Agag, and the best of the spoil of their citics and country. But this was exceedingly displeasing in the sight of the Lord; and although Saul sought to justify himself by saying he had saved the sheep and oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord, the Prophet Samuel informed him that "To obey is better than sacrifice," and that for his disobedience the Lord had rent the kingdom from him. When we have obeyed the Lord's commands, we can then offer to him the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit, and he will receive it at our hands and bless us in return. No matter how simple the counsel that is given may seem, no excuse that can be made will alter the consequences of obedience or disobedience thereto; and God will show that it cannot be disregarded with impunity. The same cause produces the same effects now, that it did three or four thousand years ago; and all the Latter-day Saints know that the path of obedience is the path of safety. If we examine ourselves and reflect upon our past course in life and the circumstances that have surrounded it, many of us will be compelled to admit, to ourselves at least, that had we always acted upon the counsel of the servants of the Lord and applied their teachings to our daily life and all its multifarious duties, that we should have been now happily situated in the Vallies of Ephraim, and that many more would have had the means on hand to take them next year. Many, also, by pursuing the same course, would have had unity and peace in their families, where now discord and perplexity prevail; and many who find themselves, to-day, without a standing in the Church, might have, thereby, continued to be good and faithful members and citizens of the kingdom of God. Indeed, had all who have embraced the fulness of the Gospel in these latter days continued faithfully to obey the counsel which has been given to them, there would have been a vast difference in the condition of the Church as a whole, as well as of the individuals who compose it. Some appear to entertain the idea that God will not require them to obey the counsel of his servants as in days gone past; but this is a false impression, and those who yield to it will be found amongst the foolish virgins; for we have abundance of evidence that God honors his servants as much now as in days of old. Some, however, think that because their circumstances are somewhat different from those of their brethren, that therefore they will be excused from a faithful adherence to counsel; but God knows the condition and circumstances of all his people, and counsels them accordingly. There are general laws which apply with equal force to all persons, such as baptism, gathering, tithing, and many others that must be obeyed if we would gain salvation in the kingdom of God; there are also many minor duties required of us all which differ with our varied and varying circumstances, and which we can only know as they are revealed to us by the Lord through his servants, by counsel which is applicable to our different circumstances; and, if we would secure our salvation, it is equally as necessary for us to obey these, apparently, minor requirements, as that we should yield obedience to those laws which we deem important and essential. But, says one, "I do acknowledge the right of the servants of the Lord to dictate me in spiritual matters; but there are things of a temporal nature which I think I understand better than they do, and I do not wish them to interfere in them." It is an old saying that, "In the multitude of counsellors there is safety," and its truth has been proved in the history of thousands who have embraced this Gospel; for all who have obeyed the counsels which the servants of the Most High have given them, however simple they may have appeared, have been, and will continue to be, blessed and prospered. It is the little things of life, as we call them, that are really of the greatest importance to us and most affect our present and future well-being and happiness, and it is precisely upon these points that we most need the advice of those who are possessed of the intelligence of heaven. But many of us have not yet faith enough to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God through his servants; therefore, we must do the best we can, only, through our lack of faith, we shall lose many blessings which we might otherwise enjoy, and often grieve the Spirit of the Lord. This is precisely the faith of the world, they have taken the control of all temporal things out of the Lord's hands, and those of his servants also, and have said to him and them, "You direct spiritual matters and attend to the souls of men, and we will take care of all temporal affairs and the bodies of men." can easily see the result of such a course, not only in the history of individuals, but of nations and of the entire world itself; for one widespread scene of corruption, poverty and woe proclaims, with unimpeachable testimony, to all mankind that, without the aid of God and his servants, man cannot, successfully and happily, govern himself and his fellows. We Who can take a glance at the different state of things existing in far-off, despised Utah, and reflect upon the prosperity attending all the exertions of its citizens, directed, as they are, by the counsels of the servants of God, and contrast it with the general condition of things in most of the nations of the earth, without being convinced HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. that it is far better to be under the | guidance and government of God, in temporal as well as spiritual matters, than to be left to our own frail judgment and the control of uninspired men. But it has been hard work for the Saints to obtain the right kind of faith, they have been driven from city to city and from State to State, and have passed through much suffering to learn that God will have his servants honored and their counsel obeyed, in temporal as well as in spiritual matters. What has been a blessing to an individual or community would also be a blessing to a nation 631 would they consent to receive and act upon it. Thus we see the Lord is bringing about his purposes, and gathering together a people who will do as they are told-no matter whether in great or small, in temporal or spiritual matters, so that it is right. Let us then, as Saints, begin-if we have not already done so-to live by the counsels of God's servants, that our faith may increase, and that we may eventually be eternally saved in that kingdom where God's will is done, as it is in heaven, without the slightest questioning or exception. HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. We would counsel all who have not received a recommend since the difficulties in Missouri, to obtain one of the Authorities of the Church, if they wish to be accounted as wise stewards. We are glad, dear brethren, to see that spirit of enterprize and perseverance which is manifested by you in regard to preaching the Gospel, and rejoice to know that neither bonds nor imprisonment, banishment nor exile, poverty or contempt, nor all the combined powers of earth and hell, hinder you from delivering your testimony to the world, and publishing those glad tidings which have been revealed from heaven by the ministering of angels, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by the power of God, for the salvation of the world in these last days. And we would say to you, that the hearts of the Twelve are with you, and they, with you, are determined to fulfil their mission, to clear their garments of the blood of this generation, to introduce the Gospel to foreign nations, and to make known to the world those great things which God has developed. They are now on the eve of their departure for England, and will start in a few days; they feel to pray for you, and to solicit an interest in your prayers, and in the prayers of the Church, that God may sustain them in their arduous undertaking, grant them success in their mission, deliver them from the powers of darkness, the stratagems of wicked men, and all the combined powers of earth and hell. And if you unitedly seek after unity of purpose and design; if you are men of humility and of faithfulness, of integrity and perseverance; if you submit yourselves to the teachings of Heaven, and are guided by the Spirit of God; if you at all times seek the glory of God and the salvation of men, and lay your honor prostrate in the dust, if need be, and are willing to fulfil the purposes of God in all things, the power of the Priesthood will rest upon you, and you will become mighty in testimony; the widow and the orphan will be made glad, and the poor among men rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Princes will listen to the things that you proclaim, and the nobles of the earth will attend with deference to your words; queens will rejoice in the glad tidings of salvation, and kings bow to the sceptre of Immanuel; light will burst forth as the morning, and intelligence spread itself as the rays of the sun; the cringing sycophant will be ashamed, and the traitor flee from your presence; superstition will hide its hoary head, and infidelity be ashamed. And amid the clamor of men, the din of war, the rage of pestilence, the commotion of nations, the overthow of kingdoms and the dissolution of empires, truth will stalk forth with gigantic strides, and lay hold of the honest-in-heart among all nations: Zion shall blossom as a rose, and the nations flock to her standard, and the kingdoms of this world shall soon become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Amen. BRIGHAM YOUNG, GEORGE A. SMITH. BENEFICIAL RESULTS OF CONTINUED OBEDIENCE TO THE TEACHINGS OF GOD'S SERVANTS. It is impossible too highly to estimate the blessings to be obtained through a faithful compliance with the counsels emanating from God's authorized Priesthood upon the earth, or to realize too deeply the unhappy consequences of disobedience to them. It is unnecessary to adduce any particular instances wherein the Lord's special blessing has been promised to, and bestowed upon, those who faithfully observed the words of his servants to do them-they are scattered, in such rich profusion, throughout the history of God's dealings with his people, as contained in the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the history of the Saints of Latter-days, that all who desire to, can satisfy themselves upon this subject from those three sources of information, if their own expérience fails to convince them of its truth. Notwithstanding these numerous and indubitable proofs, it is not unusual to meet with persons who, though once very firm believers in and zealous observers of "counsel," have become sceptical and indifferent upon that subject, because, they say, they have, heretofore, failed to realize those benefits and blessings which they expected to flow from obedience to that principle, and have even been involved in difficulty thereby. Now the human family do not always understand what is most conducive to their true interests and happiness; it is too generally the case that they take extremely narrow and limited views of life and its attendant duties and blessings, and estimate the importance and value of all things and truths simply with reference to the amount of pecuniary or physical benefit they will confer upon them in the brief span of existence allotted to them in this probation. But God, from his exalted position, comprehends, in an infinitely wider range, the effects of the causes that are operating in this narrow sphere; and, as he grasps eternity in his comprehension, with all its realities, and all the sequences of time, he inspires his servants to give such counsel to those whom he designs to save, as will benefit them, not merely through the few years they exist in their present state, but throughout the endless ages of eternity. It is true that we are promised if we "Seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, that all other things shall be added unto us;" but this promise was never meant to imply that all who obeyed the Gospel |