communicated with their own rela- THE INCREASE OF CRIME. "There has of late been a great deal of controversy among the secular press Next to the Fourth of July, regarding the religious condition of the the Fourth of March is, percountry. The New York World re- haps, the most impressive date_in cently expressed its concern about the the annals of American history. Inmatter by inviting the expression, through its columns, of the opinions dependent of its being the great inof many eminent clergymen and lay- augural day for new Presidents, it men on this important topic. The has other events associated with Ledger of our city has taken up the it calculated to arrest the attention subject in a manner that would be of the reader and student. It was on highly gratifying to contemplate, were March 4th, 1681, that Charles II. The Detroit Evening News recently the assertions made and the conclu- gave to William Penn the grant of published the results of an inquiry sions arrived at substantiated by the what is now the State of Pennsylvanrelating to crime in the principal cities facts and figures of the case. The latter ia in lieu of an inherited claim for of the United States This inquiry, paper claims that religious feeling is £16,000 against the British crown. addressed to the chiefs of police, cov-not growing cold, but that it grows Two years later Philadelphia was ered twelve points, as follows: warmer with each new year,' and says founded, and in March, 1684, the further, 'A church, besides being a temple for the worship of God, is one Commonwealth Assembly of the forces of the police power of any vened in the new Capital city. country, and the more churches there Though the royal warrant entitled are in any city or village, the fewer William Penn to regard the aborigpolicemen will be required. Churches inal Americans in the same category are conservators of the peace, of law as wolves, bears and other vermin, and order. Such being the case, it is he did not do so; and the greatest more than gratifying to know that monument to his memory today exthey are not decreasing, but increasing ists in the lines of the poet: 1. Is crime on the increase or decrease in your city? 2. What special form of crime is most prevalent? 3. So far as your observation leads, is prostitution on the increase or de crease? 4. From what class, as a general rule, do the worst criminals develop? 5. Is drunkenness among women on the increase or decrease? 6. About what percentage of released criminals actually reform? 7. Is the opium or chloral habit a permanent feature of the vice of your city? 8. What nationality furnishes the most criminals? 9. Which sex is the easier to reform and gives evidence of genuine repent ance? 10. What class, the upper or the lower, gives evidence of most cunning in crime? 11. What has been your experience in dealing with criminals? Do they appreciate kind treatment or do they behave better under harsh discipline? 12. About what percentage of those who rob and steal and murder are de tected? The answers are a startling commentary on the morals of the day. They represent the center of population throughout the union and most graphically illustrate the tendency of the times. Summarized, they show that crime is either increasing, or at least holding its own, in a great majority of American cities; that prostitution is steadily on the increase in four-fifths of the big cities; that drunkenness among women is alarmingly on the increase; that women are harder to reform than men; that the more intelligent classes produce the more cunning criminals; and that, on the whole, the evidence of veteran police chiefs of cities throughout the country shows that crime of the worst sort is decidedly on the in in number.' increase in the number of churches "Pennsylvania, while thy flood con Waters fields unbought with blood, Stand for peace as thou hast stood." March 4th, 1801, is another day worthy of contemplation. John Adams, the retiring President, sneaked out of Washington before daybreak lest he should witness the inauguration of his hated successor, Thomas Jefferson. Both these men were patriotic Americans, but each believed the other a traitor and a disloyalist. When we see both dropping off, and disappearing beyond the awful veil on the same day, almost at the same hour, on July 4th, 1826, we cannot help asking ourselves, did the great men carry their bourne? Well might the latter-day petty dislikes beyond the poet, like his predecessor of ancient "Can such direful Rome, ask: hates exist in heavenly minds?” "The Ledger also cites the sum of money which has been contributed from 1819 to 1880 for home missions, being $232,826 from 1819 to 1829, and increasing to the enormous sum of $31,272,154 between the years 1870 to 1880. Unfortunately, the Ledger mixes Churchism, which is but the means of creating religion, with true religion itself, and its influences on morality. But admitting for a moment that the Ledger is right, and that the gradual throughout a land meant a corresponding decrease in crime and morality, would not crime have lessened year after year in this country, where thousands of churches are annually built? Let us see if this is the case. According to the return of previous censuses, 'crime has made astonishing progress in this country. In 1850 the number of prisoners returned was 33,474; in 1880 the number was 59,257 —an increase of 80 per cent, and out of all proportion to the increase of population. Of this number, 46,338 were March 4, 1817, is another day that natives and 12,917 were foreigners; comes prominently before us at the showing that, notwithstanding the present time. This is the date of statement of the Ledger, which shows the famous Monroe inaugural which that $31,272,154 was spent from 1870 to 1880 for home missions, yet 81 per cent subsequently developed into the of the criminals of this country were well known Monroe political docnatives. We have, as yet, no census trine a doctrine at the time so popup to the present time, nor is it neces-ular that Monroe was adulated by sary to show by statistics that crime all parties and sections to the point has not decreased in later years, not- of absolute extravagance. Monroe withstanding the growth of churches, also in a mild way advocated proand the phenomenal increase of the tective measures for American inmoney contributed to the cause of do- dustries. But this is not all. An expression mestic mission." Statements like in the reply of the chief of police of these of the Ledger are very misleadMobile indicates that vice is permeat-ing, when made without reference to ing other than the distinctively crim- cold, hard facts, which, in this case, inal classes. He declares that "private prove that journal to be entirely prostitution has killed public prostitu- wrong. Don't brag about the increase tion," and this, revolting and improb- of religious feeling through the agency able as it seems, is tacitly supported of the churches or the millions spent by others, who represent the social annually for home missions, as long evil to be growing less open in its as crime and lawlessness, fraud, demanifestations. It is not pretended bauchery and murder are rampant in in any of the answers that the evil is the land." less general, but that it is less public, and several refer to specific causes of My letter has already grown too the alarming increase of the evil long, or else I would touch on La noted, chief among which are the Tosca and Verestchagin. However, back-room drinking resorts, where these topics will hold fresh a while. young girls are permitted to be enter- The articles on crime are clipped tained by male acquaintances, and the from well known journals, so that moonlight picnics, so popular during the Ananias of Utah can't say recent years. crease. Here is another extract on crime, versus religion. It is taken from the Philadelphia correspondence of the Chicago American Israelite of a recent date: they are "Mormon" fabrications. JUNIUS. CHICAGO, February 27, 1889. In the selection of James G. Blaine for Secretary of State under the present Administration there is almost poetic appropriateness. Whatever his faults, or his failings, or his weaknesses may be, or however much disliked by political opponents, he certainly is the most thorough incarnation of the Monroe doctrine today in America; and at present, when a conflict with foreign powers is imminent, he is the man best fitted in his party for the place assigned to him. He is even better fitted now than he was eight years ago. March 4th, 1778, is another day that at the present time strikes the general observer as a very impressive one. On this day was born Robert Emmett, the bravest, purest, noblest personage in the gory calendar of Ireland's sad history. Contrast him with Richard Pigott, and oh! what The palm for each martyr that dies for us now; Spite the flash of their muskets, the roar of their cannon, The assassins of Freedom shall lower their pennon; For the will of a people what foe dare with stand? land! SO moras cratic nominee for mayor, is said to have endorsed the attack on Judge Tuley by several democratic newspapers. If so, his chance for mayor of Chicago are about as good as being made surveyor-general of the moon. It must be remembered that Palmer worked on issues directly touching the interests of the masses. He upheld free speech, independence in local affairs, and the total exclusion of mercenary police for the execution of the laws. Harrison's unpopularity owing to the statement that he favored small wages for workingmen turned hundreds to Cleveland. The only chance of success for the democrats next April is in nominating a man who espouses free speech, made blunders two years ago by Carter Harrison admits having which the democratic party was entirely wiped out in the 1887 election. He declines absolutely to be further identified with politics. at a realm in the world of humanity lies between! Yet the unfortunate Pigott, in his fearful act, brings home to the English Crown a lesson that the death or murder of the glorious Emmett could never teach. Is it a decree of Providence that the combination of madness, extravagance and folly, of falsehood, de- Then patriots, heroes, strike! God for our pravity and drunkenness, should be made the instrument for bringing It is a cold fourth of March for British Tories to a sense of duty? Bonfield, Shaack and Lowenstein, What a miserably melodramatic cli- the suspended peelers. The present max to England's 700 years' pos- grand jury has ignored their bills session of Ireland is the suicide of against the Times, their stories were Pigott in a Spanish hotel! Since actually laughed at. I think it is in the day in A. D. 1169 when the old Bible that the story is told Pope Adrian IV. gave Henry of some person at whom a stone was II. of England a grant or thrown. He took up the stone, but bull to invade Ireland, and bring found at the time he could not use the island into the Christian fold, it with effect, so he put it in his poc-free assemblage, and execution of up to March 4th, 1889, there is noth-ket. This is just what Lieutenant the law by constituted authorities. ing to equal the Pigott incident in Duffy, of the Chicago police, did. In fact, the party must take up Gen. all those 720 years of rapine, rapacity, Some fifteen months ago, when Palmer's banner and with that go bloodshed, religious warfare and Bonfield reigned supreme, he dis- into the fight. race hatreds. It is disgraceful to charged Duffy from the force for Christianity, to civilization and to purely political reasons and to gratify statesmanship. The only feature personal spite. Duffy bore up like a lacking in the tragic story to make Parnell. In constituting the March it the most darkly realistic, and the grand jury, Duffy happened to come most fiercely judicial, either in song in as foreman; so, when Bonfield's or romance, is the fact that Pigott case came up, is it any wonder that did not end his miserable life in it was to be considered as that Everybody here is talking about Rome rather than in Madrid. the inauguration ceremony of a martyr's cause? Far from Well, the Englishman of today, it, Washington. Mrs. Harrison, it is poor Bonfield is like however much he may regret the an Irish Jack O' Lantern, doomed said, will appear in a purely Ameroccurrences of the past, cannot but to wander in bogs and ican dress. By this it must not be feel a pride in his three great coun- ses. It is supposed, though, that supposed is meant the buckskin and trymen, Gladstone, Morley and Bonfield will make beads of Pocahontas, but a simple Labouchere. The Irishman who lations during the coming April neck to foot. No decollette busdress covering the person from still breathes vengeance against election. He is mad enough now to iness about it, no fluffs, ruchEngland should remember that do anything, except to criminate these men stand beside Parnell and himself. It is hinted that he willings or ruffles, and very little of demand justice for all. Then why charge politicians with a "bustle." It is the product should the English and the Irish helped to hang the anarchists on having American farms and the fabric of workmen quarrel? Why not constructive murder. That is why American looms, and the structure hands grasp and trample of American art. This is the kind on the talk of pardoning Neebe is talked the political parson, the scheming about. of protection America wants. Wear patriot, and parasite aristocrat who Neebe was sentenced to seventeen nothing but home manufacture first, have been the cause of this terrible years in Joliet at the time of the last and everytime. You may have work? Protestant and Catholic are anarchist trials. He is now proto pay a little more, but the extra alike guilty. The Catholic Adrian mised a pardon provided he con- payment goes into a bank that will first sanctioned the spoliation. The fesses that anarchism really means in the end return 100 per cent. robbed and murdered Irish citizens says he has no confession to make, Patriotism is the protection that England all that was charged against it. He lesson of this kind will apply to Utah as well as to Washington. just as deftly as did the Protestant that he was merely "an honest labor In Ireland the politician, agitator." This leaves matters in a whether Liberal or Tory, Whig or very mixed condition, and people Conservative, had only one article are saying that some Le Caron in his creed, and that was, "Steal might have thrown the bomb. and grab as much as you can, and Local politics are fearfully mixed. never say a good word for the Te most hardened veterans are at Irish." It was just about as it is in sea, and Bonfield may yet make a Utah-whether a man is a democrat stir. At the Nov. election 125,000 or republican, a liberal or barn- votes were cast in the city of Chiburner, a loco-foco or log-cabiner. It cago. At the next election, in April, is all alike; the moment he sets foot it is safe to say that not more than in Utah his creed is, "Get what you 100,000 will be cast. Cleveland carcan, and to Hades with the Mor-ried the city by a plurality of 3600 over Harrison, while l'almer, demSpeaking of the warfare between ocrat, had 7800 over Fifer. While England amd Ireland, the poetess the city went overwhelmingly demSperanza, no other than Lady ocratic in the national and State Wilde, the mother of the well ad-tickets, yet the local ticket was more vertized Oscar Wilde, says some- or less mixed. The Democrats did thing that will apply to Utah as not carry more than half the local well as to Ireland. Here it is: Catholic monarchs of ones. mons." With faith like the Hebrews we'll stem the Red Sea God! smite down the Pharaohs-our trust is in Thee; Be it blood of the tyrant or blood of the slave, We'll cross it to Freedom, or find there a grave. Lo! a throne for each worker, a crown for each brow, some reve offices. The labor ticket was hardly Newberry, the probable demo A America wants, and this she must cultivate within her own limits. Gen. P. Edward Connor, of Utah, is in Chicago. He has been hunting reporters to get himself talked about. Why he writes his name "P. Edward" is as much a mystery as why the well known Mr. Poore used to write his name "Ben: Perley." Ben favored a colon, Pat a period. Some malicious persons suggest that Geneeral Connor's first name was Pat, and that he is ashamed of it. His stories of what he has done in the past reminds one of old Osborne in "Vanity Fair." The poor man tried to depend on past memories, and used to produce and describe old documents to show that he was once a business man. General Connor refers to his tilt with Brigham Young to show that he once tried to be a military dictator. His conversations on this topic savor of monomania. Well, the poor man is fast approaching the senility characteristic of irreligious age, and must be looked at charitably. JUNIUS. CHICAGO, March 4, 1889. DESERET WEEKLY NO. 13. TRUTH AND LIBERTY SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1889. HIDDEN SWEETS. Not every threatening cloud brings rain, MRS. N. A. MONFORT. to many who are here-that there is VOL. XXXVIII. great height. He was the second Elder in the Church of Christ. But he fell; and how great was the fall! He fell to a depth that he could not possibly have reached, had it not been for the gifts he had receivedthe favors that heaven had bestowed upon him. It might have been thought that a man like Oliver Cowdery, who had, in company with the Prophet So it is with us. The greater the blessings that we receive, the greater is our danger and the greater should be our humility. The more favor we receive from heaven, the more we should be humble before the Lord and before our brethren; not be lifted up, not be filled with pride, not imagining that because the Lord has blessed us in some peculiar way, we are especial favorites of heaven. Such a feeling is destructive to whoever indulges in it. The Lord, in speaking to Moroni, who deplored his own weakness and expressed the fear that the Gentiles would mock at his words because of their weakness, said to him: "If men will come unto me, I will show unto them their weaknesses." Then He makes another peculiar remark. He says that He gives men weaknesses in order that they may be humble. And if we go to the Lord and seek unto Him to show us our faults and our imperfections, the sight of our own characters, in the light of the Holy Spirit, will cause us to shrink before the presence of our Lord and feel that we are as the dust of the earth. Instead of feeling proud and lifted up, and that we are better than our neighbors or our brethren, the opposite feeling will take possession of us, and we will feel that we are utterly unworthy of the goodness and blessings which God has bestowed upon us. This is the spirit which every servant of God should have. If he does not have it, he is not in the path of blessing; because, as I have said, if the Lord loves him, He will not Apostle George Q. Cannon. A body of men such as have assembled here this evening, holding the Priesthood of the Son of God, if they were united in all their Joseph, been ministered unto by thoughts and feelings and actions, John the Baptist, and by Peter, would be an irresistible power upon James and John, and Moses and the earth, because there are great Elijah, and who had beheld the Son promises made to those who bear of God Himself, would never have the Holy Priesthood. In one of the apostatized, never lost the faith; but revelations which the Lord gave to it is a lamentable fact that he left the Prophet Joseph, in speaking the Church and became a castaway, about the reasons why the Elders though before he died he was again did not have more power, and why baptized and received the Melchisethey did not have the vail rent and dec Priesthood. This shows that it behold the Lord as He is, He said is not gifts, it is not the abundance that they were not sufficiently hum- of blessings and manifestations that ble; they were troubled with jealous- will save men; they must be saved ies; they had too many imper- by their own conduct, added to the fections of character, to have these grace of God-the salvation and the blessings bestowed upon them. It is atonement which Jesus has provida remarkable fact-probably familiar ed. Oliver Cowdery attained to a bless him beyond that which he is er in heaven. If an officer of the Church has this Spirit, he will not feel to find much fault with his brethren; he will not pick flaws in their characters; he will not look at them with a magnifying glass, to see the defects that they have. He will be looking more at himself, and he will have the spirit of charity, and if he has the spirit of charity, he will feel kindly disposed to his fel able to bear. But if he be in the mind and will of God, that it should Twelve Apostles before his deparline of blessing, he will not be have. I suppose that some have had ture, to the same authority that he proud, he will not look upon him- this idea, though whether it is ex- had. Did these men all have the self as the embodiment of perfec- tensively entertained or not, I can-authority to reveal the mind and tion. On the contrary, he will look not say. But I wish to say to you, will of the Lord to the Church? No, upon himself as low, and weak, and my brethren, that the Priesthood only in the matter of teaching. If helpless, and entirely dependent for which the Lord bestowed upon His you will read in the sixty-eighth all that he has upon the good- Prophet Joseph is the only Priest-section of the Book of Doctrine and ness and mercy of our Fath-hood that any man can receive. Covenants, you will find what the What I mean by that is, that it must Lord has said concerning His come to us in that direct channel, Elders. Speaking about the Elders and it cannot be received through going forth and laboring in the minany other channel. There have istry, He says: been men who have professed to have had the ministration of angels and to have received revelations, and to have authority to lead the Church and to give revelations to the Church, having been called to do this as they have claimed, outside of the Priesthood given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. I wish to impress upon the minds of my brethren that all such pretensions, you may know for yourselves, are false. No man can, no man ever will, receive this Priesthood of which we are the bearers unless he receives it through the channels which God has appointed. low-servants. "And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto the Priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth; "And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost, "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation: "Behold this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants." careful to speak by the influence of the Holy Ghost. If they do not, that which they speak is not the word of the Lord. Oliver Cowdery, as I have said, had authority from the Lord the same as Joseph had. He had the Apostleship. But did he have the right, because he had the Apostleship, to give revelation to the Church? It is exceedingly painful to me to hear of divisions in branches and wards of the Church, and between men bearing the Priesthood, who ought to have an influence with the Saints. It is a strong evidence that there is some one not living as he should do, and not having the spirit of his office and calling. It is This promise is made to the a good time now for us to indulge in Our Father in heaven sent His Elders. They can go forth and some self-examination. Let us bring servant John the Baptist from the speak by the power of the Holy ourselves to the light. Let us exam-realms of glory to lay his hands Ghost, and when they do speak ine our own characters. Let us seek on two chosen vessels Joseph thus, it is revelation to the people, unto the Lord with earnestness, to Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery. it is scripture, it is the voice of the give unto us the spirit of repentance, They were ordained to the Aaronic Lord, it is the word of the Lord, it that wherein we have done wrong Priesthood. He afterwards sent is the power of the Lord, etc. But, to anyone, or sinned against the three heavenly messengers--Peter, of course, the Elders have to be Lord, or been careless and indiffer- James and John-who held the ent in regard to our duties, we will keys of the former dispensation, unrepent of this and seek to overcome der the Son of God, and they beit and put it away far from us. Let stowed the Apostleship and the keys us unite our families. Let us set of this dispensation upon Joseph them an example of union, praying Smith, Jun., and, in conjunction with them, exercising faith in their with him, upon Oliver Cowdery. behalf, and striving diligently to The fulness of the Priesthood was get their hearts mellowed and soft- then bestowed. Subsequently other ened by the influence of the Spirit heavenly messengers, who had of God. If we each do this, and acted in various dispensations, came induce our neighbors to do likewise, and ministered unto the Prophet there will be a great change in all Joseph and revealed unto and bethe Stakes of Zion. The adversary stowed upon him the keys which will not then have the power over they held. Moses, Elias, Elijah and us that he has had, and the Lord others came in their various times will lift from us our burdens and and seasons and restored to the earth afflictions, and He will temper and these keys and this authority. control them for our salvation. Joseph Smith ordained other men to Yesterday I spoke at a Priest-hold this authority, or caused them hood meeting in the Salt Lake to be ordained. In this way the Stake of Zion, and I remarked in that meeting that I had sometimes thought that there were some of our people who indulged in the idea that there was not the same power connected with the ruling Priesthood of the Church that there should be; that there was something deficient; that the Priesthood did not have the revelation and the power to guide the people and to make known the authority that he had received was I will say here, however, that the Lord in a previous revelation, given through Joseph to Oliver Cowdery, said: "Wherefore it behoveth me that he [Joseph Smith] should be ordained by you, Oliver Cowdery, mine Apostle." That was also the command which was given when they received the Aaronic Priesthood. Joseph ordained Oliver and Oliver ordained Joseph. So also when they received the Apostleship, Joseph ordained Oliver and Oliver ordained Joseph, although both had been ordained by the angels. But notwithstanding Oliver held this authority, another revelation says: "And if thou [Oliver Cowdery] art led at any time by the Comforter, to speak or teach, or at all times by way of commandment unto the Church, allow some side persons to receive the blessings that we have and not thou mayest do it." it in some surreptitious and illegal be looking forward with eager manner? That is, he could speak or teach at all times by way of commandment unto the Church. That was within the province of his Priesthood and calling. Now listen "But thou shalt not write by way of a fear-perhaps through unbelief commandment, but by wisdom." Oliver Cowdery had no right to write revelations to the Church or give in writing the word of God. He had the right to pen words of wisdom and instruction; he had the right to teach and speak under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; but there was only one man who had the right to write revelations and commandments to the Church, and that was Joseph; for, says the Lord: "And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the Church, "For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead." that the Lord has withdrawn in expectation for some great event to I speak about this, because the idea happen, and overlook the blessings has entered into my mind, for some and principles that we have today. It reason, that there are doubts and un-is the privilege of every man in the certainty in the minds of some con- Church who holds the Priesthood, to cerning these matters; and there is have revelation from God for himself. You can have your minds enlightened; you can have the Spirit and power of God rest upon you. It is not necessary that you should preside over the Church, or that you should be one of the Twelve, to have such gifts and blessings as these. Read in the Book of Mormon about the sons of Mosiah. See what mighty power Ammon, one of the sons of Mosiah, attained unto. Was he the President of the Church? No; Alma was the President of the Church. Ammon was one of the servants of God, holding the Priesthood. Was there any limit to the But some have got the idea that power of that man? Scarcely any, there is something lacking, some apparently. The work that he did absence of power, which some among the Lamanites is one of the great prophet- a prophet great-greatest labors and missions that Therefore, so long as Joseph lived er than anybody we have ever were ever performed by man. no other man, however great his au- had, will have to restore. Yet, as I have said, he was doubtthority, had the right to give com- Such ideas unsettle people in their less only a High Priest or a man mandments written command-minds and faith and produce dissat-holding the Melchisedec Priesthood. mandments-to the Church. When isfaction and discontent. I am look- His brethren also attained unto he departed, the right fell upon ing for great manifestations of the very great power. In their fourteen Brigham Young; and although he power of God; but I am not looking years' mission among the Lamanwas no more of an Apostle than his I never have been-for any great ites they performed an extraordinfellow Apostles, he had a different and wonderful thing of this kind to ary work, and God was with them. calling. It was his calling to pre-occur. Prophets will undoubtedly Then, after their day, there were side over the Church. It was his continue to arise. We shall have the two sons of Helaman-Nephi calling to be the mouthpiece of the and Lehi. We have the most told Lord to the people. When he passed us about Nephi. Probably he was away it fell to another; and when he the senior; he was doubtless the died, it fell to another, who is in our presiding High Priest over the midst today-President Wilford Church. But Lehi was scarcely a Woodruff. He has this right, and whit behind him in the power of no other man. Though there may God that he attained unto and the be many Apostles, there is only one blessings that were bestowed upon man at a time on the earth who can him. hold the keys, and who can exercise this authority, as the President of the Church, in giving voice to the mind and will of God in written rev-a elations to the Church. men with various gifts. The Prophet Joseph was succeeded by the Prophet Brigham, who, as I remarked today, was one of the mightiest Prophets that ever lived. Of course, there is a difference in men's gifts. Very few men have ever lived on the earth who have been gifted like the Prophet Joseph. We would not make any comparison between any So it is with us. If we will live Apostle and the Savior, and it for these blessings, there is no limit is scarcely right to make to them. The only limit is our faith. comparison between any If we have no faith; if we do not prophet and the Prophet Joseph. He qualify ourselves; if we do not live Now, to return to the idea that I was chosen expressly to lay the near unto the Lord and seek unto started out with: Suppose any num- foundation of this great work, and Him for power and for gifts and ber of men should pretend that they the Lord gave him wonderful power graces, He will not bestow these had been visited by holy messen- and wonderful revelations. He re- blessings upon us. Every one of gers and had received manifesta-ceived a continued stream of revela you brethren who bear the Holy tions from God, can you for a mo- tion from the time that the Father Priesthood should be in such close ment imagine that God would give and the Son visited him until the communication with the Lord that any authority, except it were given time of his death. He was a great you will know for yourselves all in the line or channel which He and mighty spirit. I always try to things pertaining to your duties; has prepared, and through which avoid making comparisons between that you will not need to be taught, the Priesthood has already come? servants of God; but I doubt or, if you are taught, that you will Can anyone think that the Lord whether there ever was a prophet understand in a moment what is rewould send His holy angels from who received so much light in the quired of you. If you were in such heaven to lay hands upon Joseph same length of time; for he died in a condition, would Elders be conand Oliver-chosen vessels for this comparative youth, being only tending one with another? Would purpose and restore the everlasting thirty-eight years of age. they be arraying themselves one Priesthood, as He did, and then Brethren, let us be satisfied with against another? Would there be |