a

“And I say also unto thee, that thou ham blessed his son Isaac; Isaac art Peter, and upon this rock I will

blessed his son Jacob; Jacob blessed his build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

twelve sons from his four wives, and "And I will give unto thee the keys they became the founders of the house of the kingdom of heaven; and whatso. of Israel. In this Jacob officiated as ever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be

a Patriarch, and he not only blessed bound in heaven; and whatsover thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in

his sons, but he prophesied what should heaven."

befall them, even unto the latest day.

I refer to these instances that we may It is the latter remark I wish to re

have before our minds the fact that it fer to more particularly. Peter at that

has been the custom in various ages time held the same position that Presi

of the world to exercise this divine audent Lorenzo Snow holds today, and

thority for the benefit of the children this was a very great endowment that

of men, Enoch, the Prophet of God, he received from the Lord Jesus Christ, to bind on earth and it should be bound

also officiated in this Patriarchial orin heaven, or to loose on earth, and it

der, and Enoch was a friend of God. should be loosed in heaven. This same

The Lord our God talked unto him as power has been bestowed in these days.

one man talks to another, and Enoch It is

became so familiar with the mind and our custom when we

will of the Father that he not only led marry wife to go to the

his people
out of

he man who

this great power holds

bondage, but

brought them to see eye to eye. They and by His authority we are sealed to

became of one heart and of one mind. gether in the holy bonds of matrimony for time and for all eternity, according

and the Lord was so pleased with them to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ,

that He took Enoch and his city unto and we will be husband and wife in

Himself.

I wish eternity. There are many other eter

to draw your attention es

pecially to the Patriarchial order nal blessings that have been given unto the children of men. I wish to re

that has been revealed in these last fer to a great promise that the Lord

days for the benefit of the Church and made unto Abraham, our forefather.

kingdom of God. We have a man who The Lord was very much pleased with stands at the head of the patriarchal Abraham and his course in life.

That
order in our Church.
But

man is Abraham would be a very

Brother John Smith. unpopular

He always sits man today. Out of all the millions of

here with the First Presidency of the people that dwelt upon the earth then,

Church. Why is it that he occupies the Lord saw fit on one occasion to

this exalted position when sitting bevisit His servant Abraham, and while

fore the people in their general conferHe was there He gave him command

ences? It is because the Lord acknowlments. He said unto Abraham:

edges a Patriarch as a man who is en

dowed with very high office in "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's

the Church and kingdom of God, and house, unto a land that I will shew

who has a special endowment given unthee;

to him for a special purpose. If there "And I will make of thee a great na- is any man in this Church who has a tion, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a

special calling for life it is a Patriarch. blessing;

I have sometimes thought, however, “And I will bless them that bless from remarks which I have heard from thee, and curse them that curseth thee;

men bearing the holy Priesthood, that and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

the ignorance regarding the Patriarch

al order is extremely dense among the Here is another instance of Latter-day Saints.

whom the Lord visited and In order that you may better underconferred divine authority upon, stand my remarks, I wish to refer to a to bless the children of men, conversation that I had the other day and they should be blessed, or to with a gentleman in one of the Stakes curse them and they should be cursed. of Zion, One of the Twelve Apostles in accordance with the authority, Abra- had been around in that locality, mak

a

a

man

was а

man

as a

ing some changes in the ward. What to say to the Bishops of wards, you are is the duty of the Apostles? We are not called there for life; but when you informed by the Apostle Paul that they are released from your Bishopric your are placed in the Church for the work Priesthood is never taken away from of the ministry, for the edifying of the you, except through transgression. body of Christ, and to bring the people Now to return to this Bishop of whom to a unity of the faith. All these men I was speaking. The Apostle had felt on my right and on my left are engaged inspired of God to recommend to the in this kind of a calling from one year's First Presidency of this. Church that end to another. As I was saying, one

said Bishop be ordained a Patriarch. of the Twelve had been around and he Did that man appreciate that patrifound a certain Bishop presiding over a

archal order which was bestowed upon ward. He felt impressed that it would

him? No, he did not. Now, let me be well to make a change in that ward. make a quotation to those who are The Bishop was quite aged, but he had

!áboring in this calling: been a faithful man all his days; so

“The rights of the Priesthood are infaithful indeed that this Apostle felt separably connected with the powers of impressed that if he could get the con

heaven, and the powers of heaven can

not be controlled nor handled only sent of the First Presidency this man should be ordained a Patriarch. The

upon the principles of righteousness." change was accordingly made. What

This man, I understand, said that he

had never received the spirit of the was the result? This Bishop began to

patriarchal order. I want to tell you complain immediately that he had been

that there never

in the laid upon the shelf, and that he had

Church of God that received the spirit been dropped from his calling

of any calling whereunto he was called Bishop without receiving any special until he started to administer in that notice that this change was going to

calling. If I am called on a foreign take place in his ward.

mission and expect to get the spirit of Before proceeding any further, let me

that mission, I must go to work and explain a moment. As I understand the

prepare myself and begin to seek after order of this Church, a man who is

the Lord. It is the same with a Patricalled to be a Bishop is called to that arch or any other officer in the Church office for the especial purpose of looking

of God. Now regarding this change after the business affairs of being made without any notice to the that ward,

and when through Bishop, which seemed to give him so old age, sickness

incapacity much offense. There is no man under he becomes disqualified to perform the the sound of my voice that can cite me duties of that office, or when through to an instance where the Lord has ever his faithfulness he is called to a greater said, "I will come and tell you when ordination in the Church, it is right I will need you for some other kind of and pleasing in the sight of God that a work." I have heard this kind of this change should take place. When talk until I am tired of it. Το the First Presidency of this Church its always an indication of men's ignorinforms a Bishop that he is released ance concerning the glorious promises from presiding over a certain ward, connected with the Holy Priesthood. I there is just as much propriety about it have heard of an instance where a man as there would be if that man were pre- said that he had been laid upon the siding over a mission and he were re- shelf. I have heard of others who have leased from that mission by the Presi- actually been offered the privilege of bedency of the Church. I am now called ing ordained a Patriarch and have reto preside over the Colorado mission. I fused it, because they felt like they do not expect that I shall stay there were being degraded rather than exall the balance of my life, and if I re- alted in the Priesthood. I say again ceive a release from the First Presi- that the Lord never informs people dency of this Church at any time in the when he is going to make a change. In future, I assure you I shall never enter his own time he comes and makes the any complaint against them, or any- change. Let us see what one of the body else, for being released. I want greatest

that ever lived. in my

or

me

men

a

opinion, said when a change of this was the mind and will of God, and this kind was made with him. He was a should always be considered above all man whose character I have always ad- other things. Hyrum Smith went forth mired. I have loved his memory, and and officiated in that calling, and here I love his descendants today. As I re- is his descendant today, the Patriarch member, he was occupying the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latternext to the Prophet, Seer and Revelator day Saints. to this Church-exactly the same high Another thing. When I received my and exalted position that President patriarchal blessing there was a clause George Q. Cannon occupies in the in it which has always been a warning Church today. I refer to Hyrum Smith, unto me. My blessing concluded like The mind and will of the Lord came this: "I seal these blessings upon your unto him without any notice whatever, head according to your faithfulness in and he did not complain about it, he did keeping the commandments of God." I not feel like he had been laid on the advise all you Patriarchs when you shelf. The word of the Lord is as fol

bless the children of men to put in a lows:

clause of this kind, because, as I have

said, the blessings and powers of "And again, verily I say unto you, let heaven are inseparably connected with my servant William be appointed, or- the Priesthood, and they can only be dained, and anointed, as counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of

controlled and handled upon the princimy servant Hyrum, that my servant

ple of righteousness. The young man Hyrum may take the office of Priest- said to Jesus, “What shall I do to be hood and Patriarch, which

was ap

saved?" Jesus told him to sell all his pointed unto him by his father, by goods, give them to the poor, and follow blessing and also by right. "That from henceforth he shall hold

him. That was the condition. When the keys of the patriarchal blessings Jesus promised a blessing to the inupon the heads of all my people,

dividual or the people he always added "That whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be something that they should do to secure cursed: and whatsoever he shall bind the blessing. Said he, "Blessed are the on earth shall be bound in heaven; and meek: for they shall inherit the earth. whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven;

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs "And from this time forth I appoint is the kingdom of heaven. 'Blessed are unto him that he may be a Prophet, and they which do hunger and thirst after

Seer, and Revelator unto my Church, as well as my servant Joseph."

righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Elessed are they which are persecuted The last paragraph contains a special for righteousness sake: for theirs is the appointment unto Hyrum Smith and kingdom of heaven.” If you will nodoes not refer to Patriarchs in general, tice, Jesus always put in a condition without they receive a similar commis- upon which the blessing could be resion from the Lord. But the power to ceived by the children of men. I sugseal on earth and it shall be sealed in gest to the Patriarchs that in your heaven belongs to every Patriarch blessings you also add a condition. As in the Church of Christ.

we were told yesterday by President Did Hyrum Smith stand up and tell his Lorenzo Snow at the opening of the brother Joseph that he was occupying conference, God will judge us by what the position of one of the First Presi- we do and not merely by what we say dency of the Church and stood as the I have known people to receive Patri. second man in the kingdom, and he did archal blessings which have not been not wish to be released from that posi- fulfilled, and their sons and daughters tion to become the Patriarch of the have stood up in reproach and made it Church? No, he did not. Why? Be- known that their father's or their mothcause he realized it was the mind and er's blessing had not been fulfilled. But will of God ,and instead of being a step I want to tell you that there would be backward in the Church, it was a step very few Patriarchal blessings unfulforward; in other words, it was a step filled, if those who received them would into another department which was remember that no blessing

can be equally honorable. More than that, it vouchsafed unto the children of men,

a

а

an

excepting through their faithfulness in our minds by those who speak to us. I keeping the commandments of God. realize that it requires a constant efGod bless you Amen.

fort on the part of each and every one The choir sang the anthem, "Jesus, I of us to make a success of our lives. My Cross Have Taken."

It requires no effort at all to roll down Benediction was pronounced by Elder the hill, but it does require an effort Rulon S. Wells.

to climb to the summit. It needs no effort to walk in the broad way that

leads to destruction; but it needs AFTERNOON SESSION.

effort to keep in the straight and narThe choir and congregation sang: row path that leads to life eternal, and God moves in a mysterious way

we are told that but few find this path.

The all-important thing for you and me Prayer was offered by Elder Angus

is to discover whether we are walking M. Cannon.

in the straight and narrow path that Singing by the choir:

leads to life eternal, and if we are not, Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell.

wherein have we allowed the adversary

to blind our minds and to cause us to ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.

depart from that path which will lead Saints cannot ploid Ignorance as an excuse-A

us back into the presence of God? Each constant effort necessary--The Lord does not expect impossibilities of His children-What one should search his own heart to find the Lord requires of His people is the Word of

out wherein he has failed, and then he Wisdom-Encouraging home industries.

should diligently seek unto our I rejoice exceedingly in having the

heavenly Father for the assistance opportunity of again assembling with

of His Holy Spirit, that he may come the Latter-day Saints in general con

back into the straight path. By the ference. I have listened with much in

assistance of our Heavenly Father there terest and pleasure to the remarks that

is no obligation and no law in the have been made thus far, and while I

Church that we cannot fulfill. The stand before you I most earnestly de

Lord will give us the strength and the sire that the same good spirit that has

ability to accomplish every duty and inspired the remarks of the previous labor that rests upon us in an acceptaspeakers may be with me. There is no

ble manner in His sight. The only other desire in my heart than that I

question is, have we the disposition? may be able to say something that shall

I heard yesterday of a Bishop who said be beneficial to those who listen as well

that he could not give up drinking cofas to myself, and which may be calcu

fee. I do not believe that that man lated to strengthen our determination

tells the truth. I think he lacks the to serve the Lord. I believe that every

disposition to try and give up the habit. true Latter-day Saint desires to know

I believe emphatically in the statement the mind and will of God and to have

of Nephi. If there is one character the strength of character to perform,

more than another whose history is rein the daily walk of life, those duties

corded in the Book of Mormon who has that will tend to advance the cause of

inspired me with respect and with God upon the earth. If we have not

desire to follow in his footsteps, that this desire in our hearts, then we are

character is Nephi. When he came to not true Latter-day Saints.

his father's tent, after conversing with We have the commandments of the

the Lord, his elder brethren were comLord before us in the written word, and

plaining against their father because from time to time we have our minds

he had asked them to go back to Jerurefreshed by the outpouring of the

salem for the plates of brass. They Holy Spirit upon those who are called

said that he required a hard thing of upon to preach to us. There is there

them. But when Nephi came, his father fore no excuse for the Latter-day Saint

blessed him because he did not murwho does not keep the commandments

mur, The record says: of God. We cannot say that we do not

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, know what our duties are, because they

said unto my father, I will go and do are so often and so forcibly brought to the things which the Lord hath com

a

we

manded, for I know that the Lord giv- Saints to keep His commandments. eth no commandments unto the chil

Ever since I can remember we have had dren of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accom

preached unto us what our duties and plish the thing which he commanded obligations are. Well do I remember, them."

when a boy, hearing President Brigham

Young, in the conferences that were held This is the spirit that should animate

in the old bowery, teach the Latter-day every Latter-day Saint.

Saints their duties and obligations. I They went up after the plates and were driven out. The elder brethren

say as Nephi of old said, that God has

required nothing at our hands save He desired to go back to their father; but Nephi said unto them, "As the Lord

will prepare a way whereby we can ac. liveth, and as we live, we will not go

complish it. What does God require down unto our father in the wilderness

at our hands? He requires that until we have accomplished the thing shall overcome our selfishness; that we which the Lord hath commanded us."

shall be honest in our dealings with They then gathered up their gold and Him, and that we shall pay an honest their silver and their precious things tithing.

I want to make a little exand went up once more to try to get planation here with regard to my rethe plates. Laban stole their wealth

marks that were quoted by Brother and tried to destroy them.

Nephi's Smoot.

Any young man who would go brethren commenced to murmur again, around and make the statement that I and they took a rod and beat him with said ninety cents would pay more debts it. As they did so an angel of the Lord than one dollar, simply states what is stood before them, and he commanded

not true. It is like hearing a man say, them to go up again, promising that

"I killed John Jones in self-defense," God should deliver Laban into their and then quoting him as saying, "I hands. I call the attention of the young

killed John Jones," and leaving the men and young ladies to this, for I

“self-defense" off. I say to the Lathave heard many of them say, "Oh, if I ter-day Saints that God will bless the could only see an angel, I would be- man who is honest with Him, and that lieve and forever after be faithful.” the nine-tenths will go further and will The seeing of an angel amounts to noth. bring down upon his head the blessing ing, unless you are keeping the com

of God more than though he robbed mandments of God. No sooner

had God and kept the ten-tenths. That is the heavenly messenger departed than

what I said, and I repeat it. these elder brethren. who were lacking

I have heard taught to the Latter-day in faith and did not keep the com

Saints all my life that they should obey mandments of God, commenced to mur

the Word of Wisdom; and I say that a mur, and instead of having faith in

Bishop, a father of a ward, who so far the promises of the angel, they said forgets his duty and the example which unto Nephi, "How is it possible that

he should set as to break the Word of the Lord will deliver Laban into

Wisdom, is unworthy to occupy that

our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man,

position; and if he does not repent, it and he can command fifty, vea, even he

is only a question of a short time before can slay fifty; then, why not us?” Did

his resignation will be tendered to him, this discourage Nephi? Did he lack

and he will have to accept it. The day faith? No; he believed in the promises

is gone by when the Lord will trifle of the angel of God, and he said unto

with the Latter-day Saints. He has them, "Let us go up again unto Je

said that His Spirit shall not always rusalem, and let us be faithful in keep- strive with man. In the very first secing the commandments of the Lord; for

tion of the Book of Doctrine and Covebehold He is mightier than all the

nants the Lord says: earth, then why not mightier than La- "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin ban and his fifty, yea, or even than his with the least degree of allowance; tens of thousands?" They went up and

“Nevertheless, he that repents and were successful.

does the commandments

of the Lord God has commanded the Latter-day

shall be forgiven;

"And he that repents not, from him