Friday, February 26, 2010

President B. Young's Journy South - Indian Difficulties - Walker - Watching and Prayer - Thieves and Their Deserts - Eastern Intelligence - Finacial State of the Church - Gaining Knowledge, Etc. delivered in the tabernacle May 8, 1853. pg 103-111
"I do not wish to rush into danger imprudently" pg 105
"I have always acknowledged myself a coward, and I hope I always may be, to make me cautious enough to preserve myself and my brethren from falling by a band of Indians." pg 106
-the relations and dealings between the Mormons and the Native Americans
-Native Americans the descendants of the Lamenites of the Book of Mormon
"Again, you may pray as fervently for them as for yourselves, which I have always done; it is my business to pray for them, and seek the redemption of Israel," pg 106-107
"Who are Israel? They are those who are of the seed of Abraham, that have received the promise through their forefathers; and all the rest of the children of men, who receive the truth, are also Israel.... I love Israel, I long for their salvation, and look forward with a desire full of hope and peace to the day when they will be gathered and saved; when their forefathers who enjoyed the Gospel, and through their faithfulness received great promises and blessings for their posterity, shall see them fulfilled upon their heads." pg 107
-don't make it easy for bad things to happen to you, have common sense
-great faith is necessary and without it watch out
"Are you sure you have faith enough to bind Satan so that he can have no influence in this city? If you are not, you had better watch as well as pray.... Even suppose you have faith to accomplish all this, will you add no works to your faith?" pg 107
"I will mix works with my faith, and watching with my prayer, and reap the benefits of their united operation." pg 107
"We must continue our labors until we have faith to bind Satan; if you and I do not live to do it, our posterity will step forward and accomplish it after we are gone." pg 108
-when we cannot do for ourselves the Lord will do for us, but if we can do for ourselves then it is our duty to do so
-be prepared!
"I now wish to say to the Latter-day Saints that which will be a great comfort to them. We laid before you our Church indebtedness a year ago, last April Conference; it now gives me great consolation to be able to say that every dime of that debt is paid, and money left enough to answer our purpose at present. [A general expression of satisfaction in the congregation.]
The Lord has delivered us from this difficulty." pg 110
"When the brethren go to the word to administer salvation to them, we wish them to go perfectly clean, and represent an honorable and independent people." pg 110
"We can now put forth our hand and help the poor Saints, the are scattered abroad, to this place..." pg 110
"If we do right, there will be an eternal increase among this people in talent, strength of intellect, and earthly wealth, from this time, henceforth and forever." pg 110
"...if you will do your duty, and live as you ought to live before God and your brethren, you will have good with [you] all the time. It is our duty to apply our hearts to wisdom, and learn enough of the things of God to enable us to see the world as it is, which is one of the greatest privileges that can be granted to man..." pg 111
-just read pg 111
"Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts, then shall we be weaned from the world;" pg 111

Friday, February 19, 2010

March of "Mormonism" - The Power of God and the Wisdom of Man - Good and Evil Influences - The Law of Increase.
delivered in the Tabernacle, June 13, 1852 pg 88-94
"As there is more time which remains to be improved this morning,..." pg 88
"A weight of testimony always accompanies the promulgation of the Gospel of Salvation." pg 88
-persecution and wickedness do not change the truth of the Gospel
"Men may persecute the Prophet and those who believe and uphold him... but this does not affect the truths of "Mormonism" one iota, for they will stand when the elements melt with fervent heat, the heavens are wrapt up like a scroll, and the solid earth is dissolved. "Mormonism" stands upon the eternal basis of omnipotence. Jehovah is the "Mormonism" of this people, their Priesthood and their power; and all who adhere to it, will, in the appointed day, come up into the presence of the King Eternal, and receive a crown of life." pg 88-89
"These men know that "Mormonism" is true, they have moved steadily forward, and have not sought to become noted characters, as many have; but unseen as it were, they have maintained their footing steadily in the right path." 89
"...they are found continually attending to their own business. They do not appear to be great warriors, or as if they were likely to win the battle. But what is their true character? They have faith today, they are filled with faith, their words are few, but they are full of integrity. You will find them to-morrow as they were yesterday, or are today." pg 89
-the true believers are probably not going to be flashy, or big hero's, but they will be working faithfully towards their salvation
"They are the ones who will win the race, conquer in the battle, and obtain the peace and righteousness of eternity." pg 89
"If they live to it, their whole lives will aim directly to the one grand object, namely, to be encircled, wrapt up, and surrounded with the Knowledge of God; that will make them one, (according to the text),... to keep the whole law of the Father and the Son, and all the laws of the Celestial Kingdom which have been, or will be, revealed, and to meet the Savior at his coming." pg 89
"It yields solid satisfaction to hear men testify of the truth of the Gospel." pg 89
-without the Holy Ghost a testimony is just a bunch of sounds
"What is it that convinces man? It is the influence of the Almighty, enlightening his mind, giving instruction to the understanding.... Anything besides that influence, will fail to convince any person of the trugh of the Gospel of Salvation." pg 90
-it is much easier to understand a thing through the Holy Ghost
"...the Holy Ghost prceeding from that individual illuminated my understanding, and Light, glory, and immortality were before me...I know for myself that the testimony of the man was true." pg 90
-there is great beauty in simplicity
"The glory of man is fleeting as the twilight, and liek the "brashless fabric" of a dream, it vanishes away." pg 91
"If we train ourselves to think what we are about to do before we do it, and have understanding to know, and power to perform the good, we can therby avoit the evil that is present with us." pg 92
"I frequently exhort the brethren not to be in a hurry, for we shall not stop here, we are only hunting for the grave, and there is no fear but we shall find it." pg 92
"The Lord will help those who help themselves do right."pg 92
-if we were all really comitted to doing good in a very short time we would see a very notable difference
"It is enough for me to know that mankind are made to improve themselves." pg 93
"All creation, visible and invisible, it is the workmanship of our God, the Supreme Architecht and Ruler of the whold, who organized the world, and created every living thing upon it, to act i it's sphere and order." pg 93
"Furthermore, if men can understand and recieve it, mankinde are organized to recieve intelligence until they become perfect in the sphere they are appointed to fll, which is far ahead of us at present. WHen we use the term perfection, it applies to man in his present condition, as well as to heavenly beings. Ware now, or may be, as perfect in our sphere as God and Angels are in theirs, but the greatest intelligence in existence can continually ascend to greater heights of perfection." pg 93
"It is the Diety within us that causes increase. Does this idea startle you?" pg 93
"Nothing short of the Holy Ghost will do us any lasting good." pg 93
-"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
-for full justice to this discourse, just read it.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Joseph, A True Prophet - Apostales - Dream, Etc. delivered in the tabernacle March 27th, 1853 pg 81-84

"All men and women know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, by the spirit they know it, by the light that is in them, for light cleaveth to light, and truth embraces truth. These are pure attributes..." pg 81
-these people knew Joseph Smith and saw him week in and week out and they knew and would testify that Joseph was the prophet that he claimed to be
"[speaking of apostates and those against the church]... I say to the former, Go in peace sir, go and prosper if you can." pg 82
"...I say to those persons, you must not court persecution here, lest you get so much of it you will not know what to do with it. DO NOT court persecution." pg 83
"We are on the Lord's side, and we have the tools to work with. But shall this people sink? No. the time has come that Israel shall be redeemed, and they never shall be trampled under foot again. Now is the time; Joseph told us, before he was killed, the set time to favor Zion has come." pg 84
"...and I pray, all the time, that we may be preserved in the truth, that when the Lord has anything for us, we may be ready to receive it. and thus serve Him all the day long." pg 84