|
Although he had been called to the Twelve some three and a half years earlier, this is the first General Conference address from Elder Taylor I have located.
I feel grateful this morning for the privilege of meeting with my brethren and sisters in a Conference capacity, and I pray that the spirit of truth may rest upon us, both the speaker and the hearer, during the time that we shall be convened together in Conference.
Many changes have taken place since we met together the last time in this building, which have resulted in serious trials to many Latter-day Saints; while others of the people have simply looked upon the transpiring events as matters of history;--not taking any particular part in it themselves. I feel that we are living in a day that every Latter-day Saint should put himself in a position to be in possession of the Holy Spirit of promise. It is a day when we need instruction. It is a day when we need comfort and consolation, such as cannot be given by man.
The Savior, addressing Himself to the apostles before His death, says in this wise, "Tarry ye at Jerusalem until ye are endowed with power from high." "The spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; and he will show you things to come."
All who have tasted of the fruits of the Spirit of God will understand that it has a comforting influence, and that it will teach them things both new and old, guiding them continually in the ways of all truth. Thus every individual who is blessed with this spirit and testimony, as it were, is in a position to receive revelation for his individual self to be guided in the ways of all truth.
I wish to state to the Latter-day Saints that my greatest desire is to live in such a manner that I may enjoy this spirit; and every time I partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, I remember that my heart should be pure in His sight, when the prayer is offered up, "We do this in the name of Thy Son, whose blood was shed for us," etc., and ask that His spirit might always abide with us; realizing the condemnation that those are under who partake of the "bread and wine" unworthily, as the Savior said: "Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord * * * For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
Therefore, I admonish the Latter-day Saints to cherish this spirit, and to live in accordance with the pure principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We hear expressions among the Latter-day Saints, occasionally, "Where can we go for counsel? Who is there to whom we might go and appeal for advice concerning our affairs in these troublesome times?" I will tell you. Go unto the Lord; seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you, ask and it shall be given. And put yourselves in a position to enjoy the Holy Spirit of promise, and you will then be guided into the ways of all truth, you will be shown things to come, and you will have no need to say to your brother "shall I go this way, or shall I go that way?" But you will see things clearly and plainly, and you will have wisdom according to the day and hour in which you are living.
There is a point upon this subject to which I wish to draw the attention of the Latter-day Saints. It is frequently said, concerning the community of people known as Mormons, that they are the off-scouring of the earth, the poor and illiterate of the world. This cannot be denied in the whole, neither can it be said to be true in the whole, for the Latter-day Saints have gathered together from the different nations of the earth. There are some among them who were wealthy before they came to this land. There were many others who were very poor. Let this be as it may, the words of the Savior are remembered by all when he said, "I thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast chosen the weak things of this world to confound the wisdom of the wise." And Peter spoke plainly concerning this subject when he said, "The Lord has chosen the poor of the world, rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom of heaven."
Now, concerning this Holy Spirit, there is a point that I have always considered of the utmost importance to us, as also to all other people. You go up Salt Lake City for a walk, and you will find various sectarian churches established in this city, and they are also established throughout the several communities of Latter-day Saints throughout this Territory. What is the object of these various missions established in Utah? The object is set forth plainly in the reports of individuals who are presiding over these various societies, when they send back their reports to the various churches to which they belong in the east or in the west. Therein they state that they are here "to regenerate the Latter-day Saints." They are here to "turn the deluded Mormons from the error of their ways." They are here "to bring us back from bondage and from wickedness, and to preserve us from the hands of those who are leading us from the paths of sin and iniquity."
Now, this is no secret to the people, nor to the people of the United States. Let us take this matter up for a moment and analyze it, and see whether the position of the Latter-day Saints will compare favorably with that of their accusers and their "regenerators." Don't understand me for a moment, my brethren and sisters and friends, that I am making an attack upon the sectarian denominations of the day. I have been taught from my earliest infancy to accord to all men the freedom of conscience and the right to worship God as they thought proper. I wish to call the attention of this audience the few moments I have to speak, that you may see the position the Latter-day Saints take in regard to one of the principles of the gospel. We are told by the Apostle Paul "to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good." I desire to announce my willingness here this morning to withdraw my fellowship from any doctrine that is not in accordance with truth and righteousness.
Appeal to the various denominations of the day, at home or abroad, and ask them "Do you enjoy the Holy Ghost?" and you will have one united reply, "Yes, we do enjoy the Holy Ghost." The question naturally arises in the mind of the inquirer when they hear the words of the Savior: "The Holy Ghost, when it is come, will bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you, guide you in the ways of all truth and show you things to come." From this it will be seen that whosoever possesses the Holy Ghost, will be guided in the ways of all truth. How is it possible that they possess this spirit, all of them, and yet walk in so many hundred different directions? I wish to say to this congregation this morning, concerning this Holy Spirit of promise, that there is a way of testing the children of men, as to whether they possess this spirit or whether they do not. And it can be done in a simple way, so that none can misunderstand. There is a way of ascertaining the various pieces of machinery which, in a whole, make-up what is known as a "watch" which gives us the daily time. There are just as certain evidences of the Holy Ghost when possessed by an individual as there are evidences of the existence of the wheels of a watch. And it is this particular discrimination that I wish to speak of here to-day before the Latter-day Saints and before their friends who have come here to attend this Conference. If it be a fact that there is a Christian denomination which does not profess to have the Holy Ghost, I am ignorant of the same.
Therefore, taking it for granted that all Christians profess to be in possession of the Holy Ghost, I wish to analyze from the Holy Scriptures, this morning what the Holy Ghost is; and let us see if the sectarian world is willing to acknowledge that they are in possession of the same. The Latter-day Saints, also, should put themselves in a position, at the same time, to answer the same question, and if they do not have this spirit they should turn from the error of their ways and go to those who have it to give. For fear that there should be one present who doubts the possibility of all men receiving this gift and blessing, the words of our Savior will do away with all misgivings on the subject: "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (St. John, 7th chapter, 17th verse). This saying plainly illustrates to us that this great blessing is attainable by all the children of men who will keep the commandments of our Father who is in Heaven, and he will give them a knowledge of the truth. The question, therefore, naturally arises in our minds, what is the Holy Ghost? On one occasion when John the Revelator was banished upon the isle of Patmos, and worked as a slave in the lead mines, for having testified of Jesus Christ--he was a slave, I repeat, for having testified of Jesus Christ, I hope you will remember that last phrase. There was an angel appeared unto him and John "fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me: See thou do it not; I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Thus we are taught that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and all persons who possess this spirit must of necessity enjoy the spirit of prophecy. Now, therefore, let us ask our friends who have taken what some term "the better way" of dealing with the "Mormons," that is, sending their missionaries into our midst, if they enjoy the spirit of prophecy? What would be their answer? They would be just as unanimous in answering: "No, we have no prophets in our midst," as they were united in acknowledging they all enjoyed the Holy Ghost, saying: "We have the Bible, and prophets are no longer needed." Is it difficult for us to reconcile such ideas as these when we remember the words of the learned Apostle, Paul: "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost"? It seems, then, that the Holy Ghost gives the children of men the testimony of Jesus, and if this testimony is the spirit of prophecy, as stated by the angel to John the Revelator, we will understand plainly that this knowledge comes by the Holy Ghost. What a manifest inconsistency we here find in the professions of the sectarian world professing to have the Holy Ghost, but denying the spirit of prophecy, when we have the testimony of angels, inspired apostles and prophets, saying that they are one and the selfsame spirit. Hence the Apostle Paul, knowing such to be the case, says: "Brethren contend earnestly for the best gifts, but rather that ye prophesy * * * for to one is given by spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit, to another faith, to another the gift of healing, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues. But all these worketh that one and selfsame spirit dividing to every man severally as He will." These are the gifts and blessings of the Holy Ghost. Referring again to our Savior's words that the Holy Ghost, which is the Comforter, "will bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, guide you in the ways of all truth and show you things to come." Therefore, all persons who see things to come are prophets. It was by this spirit that ancient prophets foresaw future events and made predictions concerning the same. Isaiah, the prophet, said: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name shall be called Immanuel." And that was fulfilled hundreds of years after the prediction. Again it was by the Holy Spirit that Joseph in Egypt prophesied unto his brethren that they should be in bondage 400 years, which was verily fulfilled. It was by this spirit that the Savior of the world prophesied that the temple should be thrown down and that the Jews should be led away unto all nations, and Jerusalem should be trodden down of the Gentiles, that Peter should deny Christ, and that the Gospel of the Kingdom should be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations before the end should come, all of which have been fulfilled excepting the last named, which is now being fulfilled by the Latter-day Saints.
By the same spirit of prophecy, Noah predicted that a flood would come. Elisha, by the same spirit prophesied that there would be no more rain for three years, etc. Hence Jesus says: "This is eternal life to know thee, the only true and living God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent," "for no man knoweth the Father, save the Son, neither knoweth any man the Son excepting the Father shall reveal it unto him."
Therefore, I desire to say to this people and to all the world, that, wherever you find a person who enjoys the Holy Ghost he enjoys, in a measure, the spirit of prophecy, nevertheless some have it in part only, while others have a much greater foreknowledge of future events, for example, Marian and Aaron complained against Moses because he married an Ethiopian woman; the Lord was angry with them and rebuked them, and said unto Aaron, "Who are you that you should complain of my servant Moses, to whom I speak face to face as one man speaks with another? But unto you I have spoken as in the similitude of dark speeches," illustrating that while Aaron's communion with God was very limited, the Lord spake to Moses in great plainness. I draw the attention of the Saints to this point to show that while some may enjoy the spirit of prophecy to a limited extent, others have a greater abundance of the spirit. The apostle, speaking of Christ, said: "Unto him was given a fulness of the spirit, but unto us it was given by measure." I desire to refer to a circumstance that happened during the sojourn of the children of Israel in the wilderness: A servant of Joshua came unto Moses and said: "Behold two young men, Eldad and Medad, are prophesying in the camps of Israel, forbid them, Lord, I pray thee." Moses answered and said: "Would you forbid them for my sake? Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets and that He would put His Spirit upon them." As much as to say: If all the Lord's people were prophets, or enjoyed the spirit of God they would also enjoy the spirit of prophecy. We can here see how important it is for all Saints to enjoy this spirit. Were it not so there would be confusion and dissensions among them, for the Savior said: "My work is truth," therefore whosoever possesses this spirit will be guided alike and see eye to eye in all things. We frequently hear it said concerning the Latter-day Saints, that they are led by the "one-man power." It always gives me pleasure when I hear such statements, because I believe in the saying of the prophet when he said: "Surely, the Lord God will do nothing save he shall reveal his secrets unto his servants the prophets." The people were led by a one-man power in the days of Moses--no, I will not say a one-man power, I will say, they were guided by the voice of the great Jehovah, the Creator of the heavens and earth, the seas and fountains of water and all things that in them is. And I can say plainly, if all the children of the earth enjoyed this spirit, they would all be guided in the ways of truth; they would see alike and do alike; they would all understand and keep the commandments of God alike. It is now as it was in the days of Christ, when he said: "O, ye hypocrites! ye draw near unto me with your lips and with your words do honor me, but you have removed your hearts far from me and teach for commandments the doctrines of men." I say unto this audience, if the sectarian world enjoyed the Holy Ghost they would enjoy the spirit of prophecy, and would see things to come, and they would have the testimony of Jesus; they would lay aside their man-made systems of religion, cease contending one with another, and united hand and heart, would join the covenant of peace, and proclaim to all the world, "peace on earth and good will to men." The enemies of the Latter-day Saints, while they have inscribed on their banners, "United we stand, divided we fall," seem very much exercised, at times, because of the union that exists among them. Would they make division in our midst? Would they seek to bring confusion upon us, and divide us as they are divided? Do they remember the words of our Lord and Savior, when he uttered the prayer: "O! Lord, make these my servants one, even as Thou and I art one from before the foundations of the world."
My brethren and sisters, I would admonish you to seek earnestly for the best gifts and for a testimony of the truth. And I want to say to this congregation before I close my remarks, I want to make unto you a promise. I say unto you, if there is an honest-hearted soul here this day, seeking the way of salvation, who will repent of his sins and come unto the elders of this church--or I shall be pleased to offer my services for the same object--if he will go down into the waters of baptism, be baptized for the remission of his sins, come forth out of the water repenting of his former sins, have hands laid upon him for the gift of the Holy Ghost, I say unto you that you shall know that the principles of this Church and Kingdom are true; that God has spoken from the heavens in His own voice in this the last dispensation of the fulness of times; that this Gospel of the Kingdom will go into all the world; that the sound thereof will be proclaimed among all people; that the Kingdom will be built up in this day, preparatory to the coming of the Bridegroom; and that every honest soul that lives in the earth shall have the privilege of seeing the Son of Righteousness descend in power and majesty.
This is my testimony unto you. There is a light that is given to every man that comes in the world that lighteth his being and giveth him understanding. It is a person's conscience--it is the Spirit of the living God. It is a match kindling a flame of brilliancy--a light that shines and illuminates as the rays of the sun, shining brightly upon the children of men, emanating from God, the Eternal Father--from the fountain of truth.
People wonder why the Latter-day Saints are united. They wonder why it is that we follow, as they term it, "the one-man power." Why, I tell you why we follow this one-man power--why I do,--we take a vote every Conference to sustain a president of the church as prophet, seer, and revelator in all the world, and this one-man power is like it was in olden times.
When the Savior was about to depart from this earth he conferred the keys of the priesthood upon that very quorum of apostles, even Peter as the head, who was the senior member of that quorum, saying unto him, "Peter, upon you I confer the keys of the kingdom of heaven." And he asked him, "Peter, whom do people say that I am?"
Peter answered, saying, "Some say thou art Elias, others Jonah, others one of the prophets raised from the dead."
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter, without hesitation, having a ready answer, having received a testimony, said, "Thou art Christ, the son of the Living God."
The Savior, turning to him, rejoicing with pleasure at the testimony Peter had, said: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven; and upon this Rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. "
What rock? Upon the rock of the testimony of Jesus Christ. The rock of revelation. For this revelation is founded upon the testimony of Jesus. There is a power in the priesthood in this rock of revelation, which is not generally understood. It is a power which cannot be seen. We can see the leaves quivering upon the trees, but the power which causes it is not visible. I want to tell you it is so with many of the elements. The powers exist inert. They cannot be seen. The things which we see are not the most powerful--it is those which cannot be seen. When the spirit leaves the body and goes back to that God who gave it life, the earthly portion remains; it is but clay. But that spirit which was once in possession of that body which we cannot see, is of greater potency and power, and it is that which will live forever; for nothing that God creates will ever die; that is as eternal as God himself. We have fathers of our flesh; but these bodies which are created of man will fade and waste away. God who created our spirits, made them to be eternal.
John saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell upon the earth; and I testify unto you that the angel which John describes in his writings has come and revealed the Gospel to the Prophet Joseph smith.
But what about these invisible things? I do not refer to things you can grasp in your arms; I refer to those things which to me are more real. I recollect taking a trip to Ogden Canyon with Brother L.W. Shurtliff, and I saw on one side a sign forbidding persons to cross a bridge near it. I dreamed that there was a powder magazine there. Here was a visible danger--one that could be seen. Going up still farther I saw another sign warning people of danger again. Here it was the electric light works; this time a danger also, but an invisible one; electricity has many wires. It is a potent agency in the progress of civilization, yet it is something we cannot see, but we know that it exists from the effects that it produces.
Neither can we see the Spirit of God, because it is beyond the power of human agency to discern it. Still we can see its effects. There is a power in the Spirit of God which will strike those who corrupt themselves by immoral practices with leprosy as white as snow. I tell you the world is becoming corrupt and wicked. The powers of darkness are sweeping over the earth. From the north to the south, from the east to the west, are the children of men becoming corrupt and licentious.
And I say unto you that the day will come when they will turn their eyes toward Zion and realize that the power of God comes from a nucleus of virtue, and they will exclaim, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." I tell you this power will be given unto the pure. Their energies will make the nations quail. One will chase one thousand and two will put ten thousand to flight. When Nephi of old was commanded to go up to Jerusalem to get the records of his father, Laman and Lemuel laid hold of him and whipped him; and when they were about to destroy his life the power of God rested upon him so greatly that they were afraid. And again they came to him to take his life, and Nephi took hold of their hands, and by the power of God they received a shock that caused them to fall down before him.
I want to say unto you, some of us have a little spark of the Spirit of God, just as it were, upon one edge of a piece of charcoal. Others have the spark increased, and still others have the coal all aglow with fire. They are happy, cheerful and bright, full of the spirit of their calling.
There are many among this people who have been baptized for the remission of their sins, and received a testimony of Jesus Christ. I say to one and all, "Come, partake of the waters of life freely." I pray that the Spirit of God may rest upon all Latter-day Saints, upon the strangers in our midst, and upon all the honest-in-heart in the world, that they may have a knowledge of the truth; that Zion may rise and shine and become the glory of the whole earth, and that Christ our Redeemer may come and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, and that we may be prepared for all the events that are to transpire for the reign of righteousness upon the earth.
May the Lord bless us all and his aged servants who stand at the head of His church, administer to their wants, give them wisdom that they may be wise and prudent in all the great and responsible duties that are incumbent upon them. I pray that he will pour out His Spirit upon those who are in prison for doing that which they believe to be right in the sight of God, that he will bless their wives and their little ones with the Holy Spirit of truth, that it may burn in their bosoms even unto the perfect day; that they may not be as seed sown by the wayside.
|
