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Show '200 JOURNAL OF and gardens, in vineyards and fields, These and extended possessions. things, compared .with eternal riches, are' nothing, though in their place You may say, "If we are good. they live, WEAKNESS AND DISCOURSES. dedicate ourselves, our families, our substance, our time, our talents, and us have upon the face of everything this world, with all that will hereafter be entrusted to us, to the Lord our we drink, and, wear God; let the whole be devoted to the '1< He that provideth building up of His kingdom upon the and, must .eat, we -elothing : " not for .his own household, has dented 'the faith, 'and is worse than an infidel;" numberless, arguments of this kind earth, and whether you are called here or there, it makes no matter; but this morning let every heart be humble, will present themselves to the minds watchful, and prayerful, dedicating of the people, to call them away from themelves unto theLord. ThIS people have passed through the line of their duty, when they know, of deep sorrow and affliction, scenes themdedicate to is their it privilege comfortable cir selves" their families, and all they but they are now in is cumstances. They have been miserably Lord.' the to How quick possess I may say, in the enemy, how ready to present some- poor, but they are now. We have been wealth. of an 'opposite nature to what is' comparative, thing We have been now we are well. right before them! You know the sick, comforted, 'Ve mental and physicalweaknees of man, tormented, now we are have been afflicted by our enemies, so common to mortality, and which You the enemy is so ready to turn against but we are now far from them. You 'think pause, and ask, how long will it be so? own advantage. to you, his and I serve that your business needs your con- I answer, so long as you our hearts, just so all with Lord the that tinua1 and undivided attention, or to that, long shall we be free from our enemies. you must attend to this, We have now a comfortable habita dedicate yourselves before you can There may tion to meet in, and we enjoy, the and families to the Lord. of assembling here in peace. perhaps be some few here this morn- privilege it been in by-gone years? has How be to who feel , plowing, they ought ing .fencing, building, or attending to some minor affair, and cannot possibly spend Look back six, seven, 'eight, ten, or twelve years ago, or to the year] 830, Jesus Christ of time to remain at the Oonference- If when the Church of with six: to the counsel of Latter- day Saints was organized hearken will you is 'members-which to twenty-twoyears will say your humble servant, you tell me of a the fields, the flocks, and the herds, to a.go this day, and can you or of three months to the and the year, of six months, the gold silver, goods and chattels, to the tenements and the and to all the world- possessions, Stand aside. thoughts, for I ship the Lord. from my get away am going up to wor- Let it all go by the that Joseph was not hunted like the deer upon the mountains, by sheriffs with writs in their hands to drag him from us to prison; when he and his brethren were not menaced with blood until this people board, brethren, and who cares? I thirsty mobs, of the do not. Your oxen and horses will bled in the peaceful valleys them now? troubles Who mountains? occa'die will not live for ever, they No person who fears God. who serves sionally : and sometimes we are deof Hosts; and and the King, the death of our prived by clldren, other members of our families, I say, let ,e dead bury the dead, let the all other corn and the wheat, and takecare of thanselves, but let things, assem Lr who are willing to love our Father in heaven, supremely-aboe all things else upon the face of this earth, or in eternity, will be found none . IMPOTENCE OF 201 ME,N, ETC. even n idolater, to say fashion me as seemeth Him good; 'per8cutin of the Saints of the Most and if He will make known to me His mine shall bow to it, my affecLet us now seek WIth greater dili- tions shall be placed upon eternal and not rest upon the kingdom of gence to build nothing : Hjgh., heaven, and . .. 'il1, .shall higs, up. the. e?tabhsh rigbteousuess : fading, transitory objects of time and magmfy the Lord' God, and sense? Can we make this covenant sanctify our own hearts; establish with ourselves this morning Not pace on earth, destroy every root of only to say we dedicate this house and bitterness fro among the people, and ourselves, our flocks, herds, families, from this moment to find fault and possessions," to the Lord. but 'ease 'WIth any brother or sister, eve though actually el'form the work, dedicating .they do wrong, for the Lord WIll apply our affections to His service. If our the c.hastening rod to tbe.m if they affections are won and wholly (I'edi seek to We serve our children so; if' we eonsider they need chastening, we-chastise them, but we do not thereby -hate them If it is necesary, we will ". -correct -theIr faults. But should we .contend with them? By no means. .Are thse who have assembled here 'this mODlng prepared to make a covenant With themselves that they will evil practices, from all evil -need It. cea:,sromall -speaking, and- rolD all evil. thin,kin. and say from this I will vry morning, .never do another evil as long as I live, the Lord being my helper? I will cared to His cause we have then obtained the' victory.' Perhaps we may find one here and there who will' say, I cannot do this, I may say it with my lips, but to feel it in my heart, the case is hard; I am poor and needy, and desire to go to ," the gold mines to obtain, something to help myself, by speculating upon the Gentiles, and thus getme a good farm which to get out of an.d team, with and this thraldom difficulty; my mind is so perplexed, I cannot say my affec tions are fully dedicated to the Lord What is to be done in do all the good I can, and prepare for my God." the corning of the son of man? To such a case? I know what I would :ihis end I wish we should' dedicate our do, for I have experience in these' matters-I would call upon the Bishop, our affections, and our whole life to the cause of God on the earth. and make known to him my distress. I do not feel like preaching a dis- There are many who in these words ,course.uponanypartcnlarsubject; but complain, and say they are so poor of urmg the necessity of the brethren they cannot pay their tithing; say and SIsters absolutely coming to this they," I have only got three horses determination this morning, and dedi- and two yoke of cattle and about fifty 'eatmg themselves and all they have sheep; I want one horse to ride, and to the Lord from this time henceforth. the others to haul wood, I therefore Can we ome to this conclusion, to do not know how I can possibly pay and unitedly enter my tithing." Vlhile on the other into a covenant WIth ourselves, saying, hand, others who have only got half a. ,earts, rmly, faIthfully,. I m ror the Lord and no?e else; from dozen chickens can willingly pay their You may say, "It is easier this time hencefort. I.wIll do the will tithing. for them to pay tithing than for those of my Father who IS I he heavens, who has called me to munster the ful- who possess so much, for they are so ness of the. Gospel, and to shae the very poor. it does not infringe upon glory that IS prepared for the righte- other matters." Now if I had but one. ous : I will e like clay ,in the hands cow, and felt thus, I would give her of the potter, that He may mould and away forthwith. If you have only six |
