Discourse 1877-09-16
AFTERNOON, .
(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)
NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL—THIRTY YEARS PROGRESS IN THE
MOUNTAINS—THE GOSPEL UNCHANGABLE—JOSEPH INSPIRED—PRESI-
DENT YOUNG'S WORK—WORK OF THE TWELVE—LABORS IN ST.
GEORGE TEMPLE—GATHERING OF THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD.
It is with much pleasure and sa-
tisfaction I again stand before the
Saints of God in this Tabernacle.
A year nearly has passed since I en-
joyed this privilege, my labors hav-
ing been directed elsewhere. What-
ever I may say to you depends en-
tirely upon the dictation of the Holy
Spirit. And I may say that we all
need the inspiration of the Almighty
to dictate us, whether we preach or
listen, and not only in our public
gatherings but in all of our labors
connected with the building up of the
kingdom of God, yes, just as much
as the Saints of God did in every
past age and dispensation.
I can truly say as the Apostle Paul
said, "For I am not ashamed of the
Gospel of Christ; for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth." [Romans 1:16] I am not ashamed
of what the world is pleased to call
"Mormonism;" I am not ashamed
of any revelation that God has given
unto the Latter-day Saints, through
the mouth of modern Prophets; I
am not ashamed to acknowledge my-
self a firm believer in the literal ful-
filment of the Bible, as well as every
communication of God to man, al-
though I am well aware that the
Scriptures have been more or less
spiritualized by the whole Christian
world, especially during the last
hundred years. I believe that holy
men of old wrote and spoke as they
were moved upon by the Holy Ghost,
and that they meant what they said
and said what they meant, and that
the Apostle Paul spoke truly when
he said, "that no prophecy of the
Scripture is of any private interpre-
tation." [2 Peter 1:20] The Lord has taught us in
a modern revelation contained in
this book, the "Doctrine and Cove-
nants," that it matters not whether
he speaks from heaven by his own
voice, or by the ministration of an-
gels, or by the mouth of his servants
when they are moved upon by the
Holy Ghost, it is all the same the
mind and will of God; and although
the heavens and earth pass away,
my words would not fall unfulfilled. [Doctrine and Covenants 1:38]
I desire more particularly to ad-
dress myself, this afternoon, to the
Latter-day Saints; and at the same
time if any of the strangers present
can receive any benefit from my re-
