Ask any portion of Christendom why the an- cient order of the Church of Christ is not among them—apostles, prophets, revelations, and other gifts, and they will inform you that they were only needed in the dark ages of the world, to establish the kingdom of God, but in this enlight- ened age are not necessary. It makes me think of a remark made by Mr. Kirkham in his Gram- mar; he says, "The Lord hung the Bible out of heaven, and retired." It appears so indeed among the Gentile nations, for in process of time the gifts, and graces, and powers of the kingdom of God were taken away, and the men who offi- ciated in the ancient Church of God were nearly all put to death; they were slain because they endeavored to maintain it in its purity, and tried with all their might to establish the principles that God had revealed to the Jews, for they were the chosen people of God, the promised seed; but they fell because they would not receive the Mes- siah, the Shilo, their Savior; when they put him to death, and imbrued their hands in the best blood that had flowed through the lineage of Judah, they had to foot the bill; blood was shed, the laws of God were broken, the ordinances were changed, and the Priesthood of High Heaven trampled upon: the Jews must, therefore, suffer to pay the debt they contracted

When Jesus was teaching the women the things of the kingdom of God, he used compari- sons which they understood. Hence he says, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." He knew the women understood about making bread. And so he talks to the farmer about sowing grain, that some sow seed on good ground, and others on stony ground, and others among thorns, liken- ing the kingdom of heaven unto it. He used these metaphors to make a deeper impression upon the minds of the children of men; and at other times he used dark sayings in the same way. We understand a figure as a figure, and a parable as a parable, but the meaning of the Savior is plainly manifest in them.

This man to whom the angel appeared obeyed the gospel; he received it in meekness and humility, and bowed down before the Lord and worshipped him, and did the best he could in his illeterate state, he was as it were but a mere plowboy. He laid hold of it with all his heart, though he saw he would have to wage war with sin, and wicked- ness, and abominations, and the oppositions of the people; he began to trust in the Lord; and what was the consequence? Wherever the words of the gospel, which the angel revealed to him, were preached among the children of men, it has had its effect. The church was at length organ- ized with a few humble men. The learned might laugh at them because of their ignorance, but their words were like daggers to their hearts, and like a two-edged sword, piercing and dividing as- sunder the very thoughts and intents of the hearts of men. The honest in heart began to receive their testimony, and it continued to spread from town to town, from city to city, from state to state, and from nation to nation, until we see the fruits of it here to-day in this Tabernacle of the Lord in the tops of the mountains.

As Latter Day Saints, we look upon the signs of the times, we are not ignorant of them, but we understand them. We look upon the events that are rolling upon us with great interest. It mat- ters not what the minds and feelings of men are, the Lord is determined to raise up a people that will worship him; and if he has to whip, and scourge, and drive us through a whole generation, he will chastise us until we are willing to submit to righteousness and truth, or until we are like clay in the hands of the potter. The chastise- ments we have had from time to time have been for our good, and are essential to learn wisdom, and carry us through a school of experience we never could have passed through without.

Do I blame President Young because he chastises us? No. Would he be a father to us, a Prophet, and a High Priest of God, if he saw his brethren going wrong, and would not warn and chastise them? The chastisement of a friend is far better than the kisses of an enemy. When I am out of the way, and when you are out of the way I thank God that we have a man to pre- side over us, who loves us enough to chastise us; it is for our good, and I believe we have been al- ways ready to receive the chastening rod from our superiors when they thought fit to give it to us, and kiss the rod that chastened us.

It is better for us to fall in defence of truth, than to deny the words of God, and go to hell. It is better to suffer stripes for the testimo- ny of Christ, than to suffer and fall by our sins and transgressions, and then have to suffer after- wards. I would rather seal my testimony with my blood, and lay my body to rest in the grave, and have my spirit go to the other side of the vail, to enjoy a long eternity of light, truth, bles- sings, and knowledge which the Lord will be- stow upon every man who keeps his law, than to spend a few short years of earthly pleasure, and be deprived of those blessings, and the society of my friends and brethren behind the vail.

The ten tribes will also come in re- membrance before the Lord, and they will again return with out stretched arms to their lands and be led by leaders inspired by the Spirit and power of God, and they will come with visions, revela- tions, and prophets, and they will be baptized and ordained under the hands of the children of Ephraim, who bear the Holy Priesthood on the earth at that time, and they will be crowned with glory, power, immortality and eternal lives before God.

It is the decree of the Almighty God that the kingdom of heaven shall be established, and shall never again be overthrown, that judgments shall lay waste the nations, enough at least to give that kingdom room to grow, and spread and pros- per. This is the truth and you will all find it so. Those judgments have begun that will never leave the earth until it is swept as with the besom of destruction, until thrones are cast down and kingdoms overthrown, until each man draws his sword against his neighbor, and every nation and kingdom that exists will be at war with each other, except the inhabitants of Zion. The Lord has spoken it, and it will come to pass.

I again say I am thankful that we have men to preside over us, who are determined to rebuke sin wherever it shows itself and God will sustain these men, and uphold them whether we do or not. I do not care in what circumstances they may be placed, even if it be necessary for them to seal their testimony with their blood, as Joseph and Hyrum have done; it is all right, they only pass to the other side of the vail, where they can operate still better for the salvation of the people. We shall not be left without leaders that have the Spirit of God. This people will always have lead- ers that are just men, that are good men, and that delight to do the will of God, and would sacrifice life and all things for it if required.

Will he receive us to himself? Are we pre- pared for his coming and kingdom and the fulness thereof, unless we are sanctified and lay aside sin, and do right? No. We must sanctify ourselves, and keep the commandments of God, and do those things that are required at our hands before we can be prepared for the coming of the Great Bridegroom.

I pray that we may live in such a manner as not to be among the foolish virgins, but under- stand the signs of the times, do our duty, main- tain our integrity, overcome the world, and be prepared to receive our Redeemer when he comes with joy, and not in grief and shame; which may God grant for Christ's sake: AMEN.