we shall comprehend things clearly
as they are. We can see the Lord
speaking to the nations and vexing
them in his hot displeasure, and still
many eat, drink, and are satisfied,
and do not appear to be as energetic
and active as they might be. It is
our duty to be alive and wide-awake
to the times, for the things that are
transpiring are joyful, because in them
we see the accomplishment and fulfil-
ment of the predictions of the Pro-
phets of God that have lived in this
generation. The things we are ex-
periencing now are attended with
salvation, and are preparing us to
magnify our callings and fulfilling
the object of our creation upon the
earth.

I always rejoice in seeing my
fellow-men come to a knowledge of
the truth by obedience to the Gospel
as taught by the servants of the Lord.
When men have gone forth in the
waters of baptism, and received the
laying on of hands for the gift of the
Holy Ghost, they receive the same
truth, the same light as we have re-
ceived; and thus we become of one
heart and one mind, and follow out
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost
which attend his Gospel. In preach-
ing the Gospel and administering the
ordinances of the Lord's house, the
Spirit of inspiration of heaven ac-
companies those who officiate, that it
will remain ever with them, if faith-
ful, in all the duties of life.

When I hear the brethren speak of
the dealings of God with the present
generation, I perceive that their minds
all run together. The record which
they bear is one; they all agree in
their testimony; they are one in
stating that the work of the Lord our
God will prevail over all its enemies.
But it is a calamity, as we look at it
naturally, for the generation in which
we live, that the Gospel is preached
and by them rejected; in consequence
of which the Spirit is taken from
them, because they follow the devices
of their own hearts and their wicked
imaginations. They follow the de-
vices of the Evil One, and they spread
it broadcast, as it were, the cross
which brings death and destruction,
which brings sorrow and mourning;
and this is the case with many in the
present day and age of the world.
There is not a man to-day that has
the Spirit of the Lord, and that is
faithful in his calling, but what can
see the state of things both in and
out of the Church. He can see them
with his eyes, and hear them with his
ears, and they can see the hand of
God thrown over his people to-day.

I rejoice in the blessings that the
Lord gives, and I feel that we ought
to be faithful. If there are anybody
who are blessed of the Lord, it is the
Latter-day Saints; and if there are
anybody upon the earth who are and
should be willing to obey counsel, it
is the Saints of the living God. We
have reaped the benefit of it for years,
and we know that it brings forth joy,
peace, and consolation to the souls of
men; and we would certainly be very
foolish to turn away from the only
source that will bring us joy, salva-
tion, and eternal life. To do this,
we should have to turn our backs
upon the only friends we have, and
shut up the only source from which
we draw the blessings we have in
this life.

The world really do not know
what they are doing; they don't
comprehend what lies before them;
they jndge after the hearing of the
ear, and while calamities will over-
take the wicked, as the Lord has
spoken, we have something to hold
on to and to rely upon. We have
seen the hand dealings of the
Almighty with us; we have learned
his promises. Has he broken his
promises to his people? He has not;
He has been faithful and true. I
firmly believe that we shall partake

BLESSINGS ENJOYED BY THE SAINTS. 57

we shall comprehend things clearly as they are. We can see the Lord speaking to the nations and vexing them in his hot displeasure, and still many eat, drink, and are satisfied, and do not appear to be as energetic and active as they might be. It is our duty to be alive and wide-awake to the times, for the things that are transpiring are joyful, because in them we see the accomplishment and fulfilment of the predictions of the Prophets of God that have lived in this generation. The things we are experiencing now are attended with salvation, and are preparing us to magnify our callings and fulfilling the object of our creation upon the earth.

I always rejoice in seeing my fellow-men come to a knowledge of the truth by obedience to the Gospel as taught by the servants of the Lord. When men have gone forth in the waters of baptism, and received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, they receive the same truth, the same light as we have received; and thus we become of one heart and one mind, and follow out the inspiration of the Holy Ghost which attend his Gospel. In preaching the Gospel and administering the ordinances of the Lord's house, the Spirit of inspiration of heaven accompanies those who officiate, that it will remain ever with them, if faithful, in all the duties of life.

When I hear the brethren speak of the dealings of God with the present generation, I perceive that their minds all run together. The record which they bear is one; they all agree in their testimony; they are one in stating that the work of the Lord our God will prevail over all its enemies. But it is a calamity, as we look at it naturally, for the generation in which we live, that the Gospel is preached and by them rejected; in consequence of which the Spirit is taken from them, because they follow the devices of their own hearts and their wicked imaginations. They follow the devices of the Evil One, and they spread it broadcast, as it were, the cross which brings death and destruction, which brings sorrow and mourning; and this is the case with many in the present day and age of the world. There is not a man to-day that has the Spirit of the Lord, and that is faithful in his calling, but what can see the state of things both in and out of the Church. He can see them with his eyes, and hear them with his ears, and they can see the hand of God thrown over his people to-day.

I rejoice in the blessings that the Lord gives, and I feel that we ought to be faithful. If there are anybody who are blessed of the Lord, it is the Latter-day Saints; and if there are anybody upon the earth who are and should be willing to obey counsel, it is the Saints of the living God. We have reaped the benefit of it for years, and we know that it brings forth joy, peace, and consolation to the souls of men; and we would certainly be very foolish to turn away from the only source that will bring us joy, salvation, and eternal life. To do this, we should have to turn our backs upon the only friends we have, and shut up the only source from which we draw the blessings we have in this life.

The world really do not know what they are doing; they don't comprehend what lies before them; they jndge after the hearing of the ear, and while calamities will overtake the wicked, as the Lord has spoken, we have something to hold on to and to rely upon. We have seen the hand dealings of the Almighty with us; we have learned his promises. Has he broken his promises to his people? He has not; He has been faithful and true. I firmly believe that we shall partake