All my travel- ing was done without purse or scrip; and God was with me, although a young man, and revealed unto me his mind and will. And here let me say to our young deacons, teachers and priests, I had as much of the power of God with me, and was blessed with as much of his spirit, while I held the Aaronic priesthood as when an apostle. I had as much of his power to help me to preach and to deliver me from the grasp of my enemies as I ever had since. I say this for the encouragement of our young men and our boys who are called to the priesthood; and I would say to them, fill your position, magnify your call- ing in humility before God, and seek after him in your youth, and also seek to prepare yourselves for future usefulness in the great work which lies before you, and the Lord will work through you, making you hon- ored instruments in helping to bring to pass his great and eternal pur- poses with regard to the salvation of mankind and the overthrow of wick- edness in the earth.

And while laboring under Brother Parrish, and still holding the Aaronic priesthood, I received a letter from Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, informing me that they wished Brother Parrish to come home, and me to remain in charge in his stead; and among other things, Brother Joseph said to me, "I will promise you, in the name of the Lord, that by so doing you shall lose no blessing that would otherwise be conferred upon you." Just before Bro. Parrish left he ordained me an elder, and during that year after Bro. Parish left I baptized some thirty persons. When I received the letter referred to from the Prophet Joseph, I was in Brother Smoot's house; he was there and had read my letter. I remember how well I felt at the promises that had been made to me; and when bedtime came I retired to the small room which I occupied, shut the door, and soon received a heavenly vision. Here let me say with regard to seeing visions; when Joseph Smith received the visitation of Moroni, Peter, James and John and others, they came and talked with him as one man talks with another, face to face. In other cases men have been wrapt in vision, as, for instance, Paul, when describing his state, said that he did not know whether he was in the body or out of the body, but he saw and heard things not to be uttered. And it was so with me; I could not tell whether I was in the body or out of the body; but one thing I do know, I was not asleep. I saw a great many things in that vision which were truly wonderful. I saw the resurrection of the dead; I saw the sun turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, and the stars from heaven fall. I saw seven gold- en lions sit in the heavens as burning brass, and the angel told me that they were representatives of the different dispensations. These are things I hardly ever talk about, and I only do so now because it is in the line of my remarks, and because they come to my mind. If I had been a painter, the next morning when I awoke, or even to this day— as the scene has a lasting remem- brance on my mind—I could have sat down and portrayed these glori- ous things; they made a much stronger impression on my mind than if I had learned them from books. I name this to show you, my young brethren, that it makes no difference what office a man holds, or what his condition in life may be, as long as he trusts in the Lord and he magnifies the office he holds, no matter what may be that calling.

I was in Kirtland at the time of the great apostacy, which some of you have read of in the history. Men have asked me why men who have borne the apostleship have apostatized. I would ask, why do men apostatize to-day? Because they set their hearts upon the things of this world, which in time alien- ate them from God and from the duties of the holy priesthood

when men hold- ing this holy priesthood magnify it, it becomes a power and a key in them, and they have power before God and the heavens.

We say a great many things sometimes in confirming people when under the influence of the Spirit of God, that appear to the natural mind almost impossibilities, and which we do not understand ourselves, only as the Lord confirms them.

if I could live 1,000 years here in the flesh, and had to labor in pov- erty and hunger all the days of my life, and if by my acts and course of labor I could secure unto myself the privilege of having my wives and children with me in the morning of the first resurrection and could have them with me in my family organization in the celestial world, to dwell with me in that state and glory, I should feel amply repaid; it would more than reward me for any trials and inconveniences and troubles that I may have to endure here.

of all things un- der heaven I dislike to see, it is to see men who have once known the truth and seen the light, turn round and deny that which they have known and seen. I can bury Latter- day Saints, I can see my brethren and sisters laid in the silent tomb who have received of the ordinances of the House of God, and who have been true and faithful unto death, without feeling to mourn; but after traveling with men, as I have done, for years and years, and heard them bear record that they knew that this was indeed and of a truth the Church and Kingdom of God, and after being valiant for the cause for 40 years, then turn and deny all, deny God and every principle of life and salvation, in this there is some- thing truly sorrowful.

Brethern and sisters, let us live our religion and keep the faith and labor to overcome the world.

There are great changes at your door; there are great changes awaiting Zion; there great changes awaiting our own nation, and there are great changes to come upon Babylon. And the elements financial, social and political, which have been re- ferred to this evening, will be used by the Lord to overthrow this power- ful nation, and I know it, and bear testimony of it; although men gen- erally know not, and seemingly care not to know, but I know the hand of God is in these things, and he will rule and overrule in these material matters, and although not interfer- ing with men's agency, he will so order things that men will on natur- al principles bring about their own destruction and they alone will be to blame for it because their cup will be full.

God says in a modern re- velation that he is angry with none save those who refuse to acknow- ledge him in all things. The world of mankind does not acknowledge the hand of God in anything. The sins of this generation are ascending up, like smoke out of a pit, before high heavens, and the anger of the Lord is kindled against the wicked and ungodly, and his angels stand ready to receive the command to go forth and reap down the earth. This time must come sooner or later; the days of the reign and rule of sin and wickedness are numbered, and the destruction of the wicked will come upon them like a thief in the night and when they shall be marrying and giving in marriage and engaged in all kinds of revelry.

If we build up the Kingdom of God we shall see the necessity of re- ceiving constant aid from our Father and God to direct us in carrying out to fulfilment his great and glorious purposes.

The judgments of God await the world and the nations that live to- day, when the inhabitants shall be- come fully ripe in wickedness. As the Lord lives all the revelations of God concerning them will surely come to pass. Therefore prepare yourselves, ye Saints of the latter-

I have strong feelings for the welfare of our boys and girls. I look at the evils around them, which beset their pathway in life, which are the means used by the devil to overthrow them; and he seeks the overthrow of this whole people; and he will overthrow every- body that can be overthrown. There- fore, I would say, teach your boys and girls the principles of the gospel; teach them to pray unto God, to call upon him that his spirit may rest upon them and touch their hearts, that they may be led in the paths of righteousness, and thus be saved from the evils of the world.