Discourse 1882-12-12
President Wilford Woodruff in
listening to the reports given to-day,
was reminded of the parable of the
ten Virgins. He felt that the time
had come for the Priesthood either
to magnify their callings or repudi-
ate them, for if there ever was a
time when the Priesthood should be
faithful, it was the present. They
possessed the keys and authority to
minister in the ordinances of the
Gospel for the living and the dead,
and such men had too much to do
to lend themselves to evil practices.
The Priesthood should be clothed
upon with the spirit of revelation to
direct them in the performance of
their duties. It was important that
all should be faithful in attending
their meetings and in the perform-
ance of all other duties, for this
work did not devolve alone
upon the leaders of the Church,
but each one had a work to perform.
Those who had passed through the
early scenes of our history as a peo-
ple were passing away, and it was
important that the Priesthood
should qualify themselves to carry
on the work. He felt especially im-
pressed with the importance of
building temples that ordinances
for themselves and thousands of
those who have passed away with-
out an opportunity of receiving the
Gospel might be performed. He
feared that we did not realize the
importance of our callings. The
power of God that would exist in
the last days would be manifested
through the Priesthood. Joseph
was endowed with the spirit of his
calling which was also enjoyed by
those who succeed him. The
Priesthood should be selected from
those whose lives were devoted to
the building up of the kingdom. He
illustrated the mournful condition
[of] those who denied the faith after
once partaking of the spirit of life,
while there were no happier people
on earth than those who were faith-
ful, no matter what their circum-
stances were, this was exemplified
in the indifference that was mani-
fested concerning the efforts that
were made to destroy this people.
He felt that there would be an
awakening among the people and
that the work of God would increase
until it prevailed in the earth.
