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Show eH 50 day of the month which is called April. 16. Wherefore (meaning the Church) thou shalt give heed unto his words and commandments, which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, loalking in all holiness before me; 17.for his word shall ye receive as if from mine oWn mouth, in all , patience and faith." 18.Here, then, we perceive 'What is binding upon the Church of the living God, Wa.t was ·binding upon them thirty years ago, and what has been bind ing upon them ever since, from th day that it given, until the day the Prophet was martyred, down untU the year 1860, and until the present of time. 19.All this time there have been a. kingdom and Church of the living God on the earth, and a man placed at the head of that Church to govern, direct, counsel, preach, exhort, testify. and speak the txuth to the people, and counsel them in the things pertaining to their duties and sixth I I I I . pertaining to the kingdom of God. 20.Now,then,·let me get back again. 21.The great subject before me this morning is the words I have been repeating before you, and how they apply to myself. 22.There have been a few things wherein I bave done wrong, ldlerein I have disobeyed these instructions that are here la.1d down, rmerein, no doubt, I have offended, the Lord, and liherein I have, no doubt, grieved the feelings of my brethren; and inasmuch as I have done this, no doubt I have also brought a.t many times dazknesa upon my own mind. 23.1 want to make a confession to-day. 24.I do riot know that brother Brigham, or any of the rest of the Twelve who ha.ve come here this morning, except brother Benson, knev of my . intentions. 25.1 did tell brother Benson I thought of making a confession this morn ing, but the others were not aware of this. 26. There are a feN things which have been a source of sorrow to myself, at different times, for many yecL'T"'S. Perhaps you may be desdzoua to know what they are •. I will tell you. 27.There are soma points of doctrine which I have unfortunately thrown out before the people. 28.At the time I expressed those views, I did most sincerely believe that they were in accordance with the word of God. I did most sincerely suppose that I ;;as justifying the truth. 29.But I have since Learned from my brethren that some of the doctrines I had advanced in the "Seer," at Washington, were incorrect. 30.Naturally being of a stubborn disPosition, and having a. kind of a selfw1l1 about me, and moreover supposing really and sincerely that I did understand. what true doctrine was in relation to those points, I d not :feel to yield to the judgement· of my brethren, but believed they were in error. 31.Now, this right? No, it was not. ·Why? Because the Priesthood is the highest and only legitimate authority in the Church in these matte 32.Horr is it about this? Have we not a. right to make up our minds in relation to the things recorded in the wrd of God, and speak about them, whether the Iiving oracles believe our vie'WS or not? We have not the right. . . . 33. Why? Because the m1nd. of man is weak lone· man m..y make up his mind in this my, and. another man may Eke up his mind in another iaY, and a third individual may have his views; and thus every man is ·le:f't ·to be his ovn authority, and is governed by his own judgement, 'Which he takes I l r: hs. )4. Do you not perce!ve that ·this would, in a short time, cause a complete disunion and division of sentiment throughout the whole· Church. I |
