Annual Conference
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Elder Orson Pratt spoke of the vastness of the labors of the missionaries of this church; portrayed the wonders that have been wrought by them in the past thirty years and asked the question, “What shall thirty years in the future develop and bring to pass?” Said the progress of this kingdom will cause nations and thrones to totter and tremble with fear and excitement and the hearts of the righteous to swell with a fullness of joy; that the days of the wicked are numbered; the kings, rulers, governors and gentile nations have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Alluded to the many testimonies that are to be given in the last days, after the testimony of the servants of God.
2 o’clock, P.M.
Elder Orson Pratt delivered a discourse on the nature of the testimony possessed by the Latter Day Saints, and that which is and will be made manifest to all people. He knew of no other way by which the gospel can be preached by the dictation and power of the Holy Ghost; we may learn many things from the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, but unless we read these books under the influence of the power and gift of the Holy Ghost they will do us but little good, for no man knoweth the things of God but by the Spirit of God. Referred to the testimonies of the brethren who had spoken relative to their knowledge of the gospel of Christ, this knowledge was given them by the Spirit of God, and was manifested spiritually to the people. Took up the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew as translated by Joseph Smith, reasoned on the purity of the translation; spoke of the signs that are to precede the coming of the Son of Man, the voice of the seven thunders, the testimony of angels, the sun being turned into darkness, the moon into blood, and the other mighty wonders mentioned by John the Revelator.
[Deseret News, Apr. 11, 1860]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]