| 236 A discourse delivered by Elder Joshua Grant, jun. at the Conference.
My Friends:-As an opportunity presents itself, and I am requested, by my brethren to speak to you, I cheerfully embrace the present opportunity, and address you for the first time from this stand.
You have been entertained during the conference, with many interesting, instructive, and edifying discourses, and it would seem superfluous in me, to attempt to add very much to the remarks already made by many of my senior brethren, who are much more competent than myself, to lay before you the principles of eternal truth; but having been called upon to address you, I embrace the present opportunity with cheerfulness, and feel happy for the privilege that I now enjoy of communicating, as well as being communicated unto, after so long an absence from your midst.
Since I last stood among the saints of the most high God, in this place, I have journeyed in different parts of the United States, to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, my voice has been heard in many towns and villages, far from here, who had not before been made acquainted with the principles of salvation, as made known in these last days, and my labors have not been futile; for the Lord has blest my humble endeavors to propagate the gospel of truth, and I have been an humble instrument in his hands, in bringing some few to a "knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus" who are now rejoicing in the "liberty wherewith Christ has made them free." Although I have travelled [traveled] in different parts, my labors however, have been principally confined to the southern, where, for the last three years, in company with my brother, Elder J. M. Grant, I have travelled [traveled] and raised up a church, consisting of upwards of two hundred members.
In looking at the large concourse of people that now present themselves before me, in this conference, my mind is carried involuntary to other scenes, and I am reminded of the situation of this church, when in its weakness and infancy, which, contrasted with its present numbers, respectability and influence, was "but a drop in the bucket," and brings with renewed force to my mind, the great work in which we are engaged, and that, as God has hitherto put forth his hand to defend his people, in the day of adversity, that, as they have, in their weakness, baffled all the attempts of wicked and designing men, aided by the powers of darkness, to overturn and destroy them; that, as they have hitherto been aided by the arm of omnipotence, and sustained by the power of Israel's King; that, if they still continue humble and faithful, the same power, the same intelligence, the same arm, will yet sustain his own people, bring to pass all the things spoken of by the prophets, gather his elect from the four winds, and crown the saints with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.
Without any further remarks, by way of preliminaries, allow me a short time to call your attention to the following text, which you will find contained in Matt. xxiv: 14; "And this gospel, of the kingdom, shall be preached in all the world, as a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
These are the words of our blessed Lord, that he spake to his disciples in answer to certain questions which were propounded by them; in relation to his coming, and the end of the world. After entering into many particulars partaining [pertaining] to the events that should transpire in and about Jerusalem, speaking of the calamities that should destroy that city, and bring destruction upon the Jews, he goes on to describe the signs that should precede the coming of the Son of Man, and the end of the world. Among other signs that are referred to by him is that contained in the words of our text, which is one of the greatest and most important, "and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, as a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come."
In all the dispensations of the lord, and in all his dealings with the children of men, he has pursued one uniform, undeviating course, though the earth by revolutions may have changed, and man has been wavering and fluctuating, God has declared concerning himself; "I am the Lord, and I change not" and wherever we can trace the dealings of God with man, we shall find that they have been unchangeable, he has always taught man by revelation. In regard to the gospel, it is a principle that has always existed, in all ages where God has had a pure church; and if the children of Israel were placed under a school master, and the law was added, it "was because of transgression," and not because of the changeableness of God, for he has always pursued one uniform course, to edify, instruct, and give the world a knowledge of his law; and in unfolding the principles of truth to the human family, he never instructed them at random, nor suffered them to go according to their notions, or at the bidding of men; they never wage "a warfare at their own charge" but they were endued with power from on high; wisdom and intelligence was given through the great source of the priesthood, which God has given to regulate the affairs of his kingdom, and thus being endowed
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