I desire that I may have the attention of the people, also a good degree of the Spirit of the Lord, for I have lived long enough, and have had experience enough in this Church to know that I cannot edify any- body by talking to them unless I do enjoy the Holy Spirit. In the first place, I do not know what to say to the people only as that spirit may direct me; and I am dependent upon it, not only in this duty, but in all the duties of life, both temporal and spiritual.

I rejoice in the goodness and mercy of God, and in the principles of the gospel of life and salvation that He has revealed in our day and generation for our exal- tation and His glory. I feel that of all people under the heavens we have the greatest reason to rejoice, be thankful, faithful, prayerful and humble before the Lord our God. The Lord has seen fit to organize the kingdom and put it into our hands to build up. He has committed to us the plan of salvation, and has given us the holy priesthood, revelation and an organization--even the Government of God, whereby we can go to work here on the earth and mag- nify our callings, fulfil the object of our creation and receive ordinances and blessings which will give us exaltation and glory in the presence of God and the Lamb. This is as much as He has ever done for any people that ever dwelt upon the fact of the earth

Our blessings will depend upon our acts; they will be withheld as long as we are careless about God's com- mands, but as soon as we yield implicit obedience thereto they will be multi- plied on our heads. This we shall find to be true.