THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ETC.

From my childhood up, I have
prized the gospel. Before I heard it
proclaimed, I felt when perusing the
account of the blessings and privi-
leges enjoyed by the ancient Saints
and servants of God that I would
have been glad to have lived in those
days when the priesthood had the
keys of the kingdom of God, when
they had power to unlock the hea-
vens and to command the elements
and they would obey; when they had
power to heal the sick, cast out de-
vils, cause the lame to walk, and the
blind to see; when they could receive
communication from God, and com-
mune with holy angels. I could see
a power, glory and exaltation in those
principles for which I looked in vain
among men in my day; and I desired
to live to see a people by whom such
blessings would be again enjoyed. I
have lived to see that day. The first
time I ever heard this gospel preach-
ed, I felt that it was the first gospel
sermon I had ever heard; and I went
forth and was baptized and received
the testimony that it was true, and I
have rejoiced in this gospel from that
day to this, because I know it is true.
And I have wondered many times
that there are not more of the inha-
bitants of the earth who will open
their ears and hearts to hear and re-
ceive it that they may enjoy its bles-
sings both in time and eternity.

This Gospel makes us free. Was
there ever a more free people than
the Latter-day Saints are? No, there
never was in any age of the world.
There is not anything that will give
a man joy or consolation, or any
blessing temporal or spiritual, but
what is within our reach as far as
man in a mortal state has a right to
receive.

When we contemplate the gifts
and blessings the Gospel of Christ
has given to us, we of all men should
be the most cheerful, thankful and
faithful, and should honor our cal-
ling, and acknowledge the hand of
our God in the mercies which we
enjoy.

All men who have obeyed this
Gospel for the love of the truth, and
whose minds have been inspired by
the Spirit and power of God, have
felt to rejoice and take consolation in
it, and they have felt a great desire
to spread the knowledge of its prin-
ciples among their fellow men. When
first embraced by them it has seemed
to them as though they could con-
vince the world; and they have been
anxious to lay these principles before
their father's household, their uncles,
aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends,
believing that they would receive it.
I felt so myself. But I, with many
others, have found myself mistaken
in a great measure. I have traveled
hundreds and thousands of miles to
preach this Gospel. In my travels
I have warned many thousands of
my fellow men; but have been the
instrument, in the hand of God, in
gathering very few when compared
with the many I have preached to.
This has been the experience of all
the Elders. We have found, when
we came to lay these principles be-
fore the world, that they were not
ready to receive them. There would
be one of a family and two of a city
who would open their ears and hearts
and would receive the truth, and ga-
ther home to Zion. That is the way
the Kingdom of God has been built
up in this and every other age of the
world. There have been but a few
here and there that have been quali-
fied or prepared to receive and abide
the law of God. The minds of the
majority have been prone to evil as
the sparks to fly upward; and it has
been a hard matter to get the inha-
bitants of the earth to listen to our
message, and then make it a sub-
ject of prayer and receive and obey

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ETC.

From my childhood up, I have prized the gospel. Before I heard it proclaimed, I felt when perusing the account of the blessings and privileges enjoyed by the ancient Saints and servants of God that I would have been glad to have lived in those days when the priesthood had the keys of the kingdom of God, when they had power to unlock the heavens and to command the elements and they would obey; when they had power to heal the sick, cast out devils, cause the lame to walk, and the blind to see; when they could receive communication from God, and commune with holy angels. I could see a power, glory and exaltation in those principles for which I looked in vain among men in my day; and I desired to live to see a people by whom such blessings would be again enjoyed. I have lived to see that day. The first time I ever heard this gospel preached, I felt that it was the first gospel sermon I had ever heard; and I went forth and was baptized and received the testimony that it was true, and I have rejoiced in this gospel from that day to this, because I know it is true. And I have wondered many times that there are not more of the inhabitants of the earth who will open their ears and hearts to hear and receive it that they may enjoy its blessings both in time and eternity.

This Gospel makes us free. Was there ever a more free people than the Latter-day Saints are? No, there never was in any age of the world. There is not anything that will give a man joy or consolation, or any blessing temporal or spiritual, but what is within our reach as far as man in a mortal state has a right to receive.

When we contemplate the gifts and blessings the Gospel of Christ has given to us, we of all men should be the most cheerful, thankful and faithful, and should honor our calling, and acknowledge the hand of our God in the mercies which we enjoy.

All men who have obeyed this Gospel for the love of the truth, and whose minds have been inspired by the Spirit and power of God, have felt to rejoice and take consolation in it, and they have felt a great desire to spread the knowledge of its principles among their fellow men. When first embraced by them it has seemed to them as though they could convince the world; and they have been anxious to lay these principles before their father's household, their uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends, believing that they would receive it. I felt so myself. But I, with many others, have found myself mistaken in a great measure. I have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to preach this Gospel. In my travels I have warned many thousands of my fellow men; but have been the instrument, in the hand of God, in gathering very few when compared with the many I have preached to. This has been the experience of all the Elders. We have found, when we came to lay these principles before the world, that they were not ready to receive them. There would be one of a family and two of a city who would open their ears and hearts and would receive the truth, and gather home to Zion. That is the way the Kingdom of God has been built up in this and every other age of the world. There have been but a few here and there that have been qualified or prepared to receive and abide the law of God. The minds of the majority have been prone to evil as the sparks to fly upward; and it has been a hard matter to get the inhabitants of the earth to listen to our message, and then make it a subject of prayer and receive and obey