an important one. I have considered
the responsibility that rests upon men
in regard to these things. There
seems to be very few that really have
faith in the Lord God of our fathers.
If we judge them by their works, we
must certainly come to this conclu-
sion. It is certainly a great blessing
to this people that they have faith in
God and in the promises of our
Heavenly Father.

Truth is one of the attributes of
the Almighty, and what he promises
he will fulfil. Now, if the children
of men believed this, they could save
themselves a great deal of trouble.
If those who embrace the Gospel
could have confidence to abide in the
truth, they would escape many trying
scenes through which the wicked will
have to pass. The trouble that awaits
this nation, and that other nations
have had to pass through in various
ages that are past, has been because
they have had no confidence in the
Lord. They have not obeyed him,
but have turned from him—rejected
the counsel given to them. It will
be precisely so with this nation when
their afflictions begin to come upon
them, for the Lord will be avenged.
We can now see the words of the
Lord and his Prophets fulfilling
before our eyes.

This is a peculiar generation—a
singular time in which we live.
There seems to be a great deal of the
word of the Lord fulfilling in our day
and age of the world. We profess
to acknowledge the hand of the Lord
in what we see around us, and I trust
we do it in our hearts. We have
read, many years ago, the promise
contained in the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants concerning the nation
in which we live. The Lord said, in
the early rise of this Church, in
speaking of this land, that we should
hear of wars abroad; but at the same
time we should not know the hearts
of the children of men in our own
country. And the commandment
was to his people to prepare them-
selves to stand in holy places when
the indignation of the Almighty
should be passing over the earth.
We now see these things coming to
pass. They are plain and clear before
our eyes. We have a part fulfilled;
and as truth is one of the attributes
of the Almighty, everything that he
says he will fulfil. The promise is to
the whole world—"He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved, and he
that believeth not shall be damned." [Doctrine and Covenants 68:9]
This promise is sure; and if the Lord
fulfils in one instance, he will in
another. He will save the people if
they will obey him; and if they do
not he will not save them, but they
will have to reap the reward that is
due them for their works.

I consider that it is a blessing that
I have the opportunity of believing
in the Gospel and in the word of the
Lord. I believe in them, and rejoice
to know that they are true, and that
they will be fulfilled. I bear my
testimony to the truth of this Gospel.
I also testify that Joseph Smith was
a Prophet of the Lord. I know this
as well as I do that I exist. I know
by inspiration and by the revelations
of Jesus Christ and the manifesta-
tions of the Spirit of God from year
to year and from time to time. I
likewise see around me the fulfilment
of prophecy, and this tends to
strengthen me, and also every Latter-
day Saint. The Scriptures tell us
that there is a spirit in man, and that
the inspiration of the Almighty
giveth it understanding. It is upon
this principle that we become ac-
quainted with the truth, and the
power of the Gospel which we have
received. The principles of eternal
life are manifested unto us by the in-
spiration of the Holy Ghost; for that
Spirit rests upon us—it influences our
minds; and if we watch those teachings,
having within us the right feeling,

56 JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES.

an important one. I have considered the responsibility that rests upon men in regard to these things. There seesm to be very few that really have faith in the Lord God of our fathers. If we judge them by their words, we must certainly come to this conclusion. It is vertainly a great blessing to this people that they have faith in God and in the promises of our Heavenly Father.

Truth is one of the attributes of the Almighty, and what he promises he will fulfil. Now, if the children of men believed this, they could save themselves a great deal of trouble. If those who embrace the Gospel could have confidence to abide in the truth, they would escape many trying scenes through which the wicked will have to pass. The trouble that awaits this nation, and that other nations have had to pass through in various ages that are past, has been because they have had no confidence in the Lord. They have not obeyed him, but have turned from him—rejected the counsel given to them. It will be precisely so with this nation when their afflictions begin to come upon them, for the Lord will be avenged. We can now see the words of the Lord and his Prophets fulfilling before out eyes.

This is a peculiar generation—a singular time in which we live. There seems to be a great deal of the word of the Lord fulfilling in our day and age of the world. We profess to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in what we see around us, and I trust we do it in our hearts. We have read, many years ago, the promise contianed in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants concerning the nation in which we live. The Lord said, in the early rise of this Church, in speaking of this land, that we should hear of wars abroad; but at the same time we should not know the hearts of the children of men in our own country. And the commandment was to his people to prepare themselves to stand in holy places when the indignation of the Almighty should be passing over the earth. We now see these things coming to pass. They are plain and clear before our eyes. We have a part fulfilled; and as truth is one of the attributes of the Almighty, everything that he says he will fulfil. The promise is to the whole world — "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." This promise is sure; and if the Lord fulfils in one instance, he will in another. He will save the people if they will obey him; and if they do not he will not save them, but they will have to reap the reward that is due them for their works.

I consider that it is a blessing that I have the opportunity of believing in the Gospel and in the word of the Lord. I believe in them, and rejoice to know that they are true, and that they will be fulfilled. I bear my testimony to the truth of this Gospel. I also testify that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Lord. I know this as well as I do that I exist. I know by inspiration and by the revelations of Jesus Christ and the manifestations of the Spirit of God from year to year and from times to time. I likewise see around me the fulfilment of prophecy, and this tends to strengthen me, and also every Latterday Saint. The Scriptures tell us that there is a spirit in man, and that the inspiritation of the Almighty giveth it understanding, It is upon this principle that we become acquainted with the truth, and the power of the Gospel which we have received. The principles of eternal life are manifested unto us by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; for that Spirit rests upon us — it influences our minds; and if we watch those teachings, having within us the right feeling,