OCR Text |
Show LEGITIMACY AND ILLEGITIMACY! 273 of latter-day saints has a footing. Is there a monarch, potentate or power under the heavens that undergoes a scrutiny as fine as this ? No, there is not; and yet this is done twice a year, before all the saints in the world. Here are legitimacy and rule. You place the power in their hands to govern, dictate, regulate and put in order, the affairs of the kingdom of God. This is Vox Dei voxpqpuli. God appoints ; the people sustain. You do this by your own act; very well, then, it is legitimate, and must stand, and every man is bound to abide it if it takes the hair off his head. I know that there are things sometimes that are hard, tough and pinching; but if a man is a man of God, he has his eyes upon eternal things,- and is aiming to accomplish the purposes of God, and all will be well with him in the end. What advantage is there, then, between this government and others ? Why we have peace, and as eternal beings we have knowledge of eternal things. While listening to the remarks made on this stand, what have we not heard-what have we not known ? The curtains of heaven have been withdrawn, and we have gazed as by vision upon eternal realities. While, in the professing world, doubt and uncertainty throw their dark mantle over every mind. Let us now notice our political position in the world. What are we going to do ? We are going to possess the earth. Why ? Because it belongs to Jesus Christ, and he belongs to us, and we to him; we are all one, and will take the kingdom and possess it under the whole heavens, and reign over it for ever and ever. Now, ye kings and emperors, help yourselves, if you can. This is the truth, and it may as well be told at this time as at any other. |