The Lord compared the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins; five were wise and five were foolish; five had oil in their lamps and five had not. Now the question is, how can we keep oil in our lamps? By keeping the commandments of God, remem- bering our prayers, do as we are told by the revelations of Jesus Christ, [and otherwise assisting in] building up Zion. When we are laboring for the kingdom of God we will have oil in our lamps, our light will shine and we will feel the testimony of the spirit of God. On the other hand, if we set our heart upon the the things of the world and seek for the honors of men, we will walk in the dark and not in the light. If we do not value our Priesthood and aad the work of this Priesthood, the building up of the kingdom of God, the rearing of temples, the redeem- ing of our dead, and the carrying out of the great work unto which we have been ordained by the God of Israel—if we do not feel that these things are more valuable to us than the things of the world, we will have no oil in our lamps, no light, and we shall fail to be present at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

I would not preach tithing if I did not pay it. I consider it my duty to pay my tithing. I consider it is a law of God to me, and I am no poorer for obeying it. I wish my brethren and sisters to take this principle to heart. As the President has said, the Lord does not care any thing about our cattle, our gold and our silver. The law of tithing is a law of God to us. Obedience is bet- ter than sacrifibe.

Who can comprehend that, by obeying the celestial law, all that our Father has shall be given unto us—exaltations, thrones princi- palities, power, dominion—who can comprehend it? Nevertheless it is here stated. How few there are on the earth to-day, or in any other dis- pensation, who have been able to abide the celestial law of God. It brings down the hatred of the whole generation in which we live. No man can live the celestial law without bringing upon his head persecution. It cost the Savior his life; he suffer- ed an ignominious death upon the cross. Joseph Smith sealed his tes- timony with his blood, as also have others connected with this Church and kingdom.