Discourse 1879-05-31
After devotional exercises, brother Allen ^W. Woodruff^ adrdressed the
Conference. He was pleased to meet with a Conference of the Saints
for the first time in this Territory. Read from the Doctrine and
Covenants part of a revelation given to Thomas B. Marsh con-
cerning the Twelve. He never met with the Saints in Conference
but what he reflected upon the position they occupied with theier God
each other and the world. We little comprehended the responsi-
bilities that rests upon us as apostles, seventies, elders and saints.
Every prophet from father Adam down had spoken of this great
last dispensation. Adam 3 years before his death spoke of all
that should transpire untill the millenium. [Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-56] Isaiah had written
our history in coming up to these mountains. The Lord has
reserved spirits to tabernacle in this last dispensation. Abraham
was chosen to stand at the head of Israel. [Genesis 12:1-3] Has the Lord set his
hand to build up this kingdom at random? No. God had
reserved spirits to come forth in this last dispenseation. Joseph
Smith was reserved to open it up, and the apostles, seventies
and hundreds of others had been kept back in the spirit world
for 6000 years to come forth at this time. Others were inspired
to do their part in starting certain principles or perform
certain works, such as Calvin, Columbus and the establishers
of this free and independent government. When the Gospel came
to the world it took one of a family and two of a city, and
the the hand of God was in this. [Jeremiah 3:14] We recieved the priesthood in
the spirit world, now has come our time, and what has God
for us to do? What manner of men had we ought to be. Refer-
red to Moses day, how few men held the priesthood in his
day, now 999 of every 1000 of the males in the Church holds
