DISCOURSE BY ELDER WILFORD WOODRUFF, DELIVERED IN THE 13TH WARD ASSEMBLY ROOMS, SALT LAKE CITY, JANUARY 12, 1873. (Reported by David W. Evans.) THE SIGNS OF THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN—THE SAINTS' DUTIES. My address this afternoon will be intended for those who profess to be Latter-day Saints—those who have entered into co[v]enant with the Lord our God. I am surrounded with those who know by experience that we are dependent upon the influence ...

Nobody that I have any knowledge of, without it is the Latter-day Saints, and I for one feel that we are not half so much awake as we ought to be, and not half as well prepared as we ought to be for the tremendous events which are coming upon the earth in quick succession in these latter days. Who can the Lord ex- pect to prepare for his second coming but his Saints? None. Why? Because, as is said in this revelation, light has come forth ...

you. The Lord has chosen the Lat- ter-day Saints, and through them has sent a message to all nations under heaven. The Zion of God is opposed by priest and people in every sect, party and denomination in Christendom. The Elders of Israel have been called from the plow, plane, hammer and the various oc- cupations of life, to go forth and bear record of these things to the world. We have followed this up until the present time for more than forty-two years—forty-three years ...

come. They do not believe in Jesus of Nazareth now, nor ever will until he comes and sets his foot on Mount Olivet and it cleaves in twain, one part going towards the east, and the other towards the west. Then, when they behold the wounds in his hands and in his feet, they will say, "Where did you get them?" And he will reply, "I am Jesus of Naza- reth, King of the Jews, your Shiloh, him whom you crucified." [

and kingdom. And, as I have said, this responsibility rests not only upon Prophets and Apostles, but upon every man and woman who has en- tered into covenant with him. I say that we are too near asleep, we are not half awake to the position that we occupy before God, and the responsibilities we are under to him. We should be on the watch tower. Who is going to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah? These men who enjoy the ...

you, Latter-day Saints, in one sense of the word, hold in your hands the salvation of your dead, for we can do much for them. But I think many times that our hearts are too much set on the vain things of the world to attend to many important duties devolving upon us connected with the Gospel. We are too much after gold and silver, and we give our hearts and attention to temporal matters at the expense of the light and truth of the Gospel of ...

an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the ever- lasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to him who made the heavens, the earth, the seas and the fountains of water, for the hour of God's judgment has come." [Revelation 14:6-7] Oh! ye Gentile nations, wake up and prepare yourselves for that which is to come, for as ...

So it will be with us in a little while. We shall pass away and go to the other side of the vail, and the burden of the building up of Zion will rest upon our sons and daughters. Then rejoice in the Gospel of Christ. Re- joice in the principles of eternal life. I am looking for the fulfillment of all things that the Lord has spoken, and they will come to pass as the Lord God lives. Zion is bound to rise and ...

thing to do with the affairs of men, or that he has power to do anything for them, either as individuals or na- tions. If their eyes were open one moment they would understand that God holds them all in the hollow of his hand, weighs them in the balance and that they cannot make a move without his permission. They would no longer wonder why the Latter-day Saints have faith in God if their eyes were open so that they could under- stand ...