Sermon of John Y. Barlow, 14 May 1944: Increase of the Spirit of God Among the Short Creek People; Have Integrity and Faith in God
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14 May 1944
Sermon of John Y. Barlow, 14 May 1944: Increase of the Spirit of God Among the Short Creek People; Have Integrity and Faith in God
A dated talk by John Y. Barlow from the compiled volume Sermons of John Y. Barlow. The wording has not been changed. Reported by Leona Jeffs.
Salt Lake City, Utah, Lincoln Street
I just got back from Short Creek, and I can say that this trial has made a big difference to that people. The brethren have got together. They have been holding prayer meeting morning and night. They have a very fine system of it. They meet at prayer at 7:30 in the morning. They all go to breakfast at the same place and determine what they are going to do that day, and then all go direct. Sunday we held a fast meeting, and in all the history of these people I have never seen the Spirit of the Lord manifest as it was there. The young people could not get up fast enough. One sister had to get up five times and finally made it. We have boys in the prayer meeting?just boys. Sister Fawn and Brother Rich have boys there, and David is one of the finest boys there. He goes with Uncle Fred to see what the people need from house to house. Brother Marion here goes to see what the people need and puts it in the warehouse and leaves it there until they need it. They are really getting towards the United Order, and will if they keep on like they are going. I visited nearly every home there. Many came for Patriarchal blessings and wanted to know what they could do to further the work of God. I only wish that the rest of my family was down there. They do not go to shows, but they have good times. They had a kangaroo court and enacted Judge Johnson and the prosecuting attorney. They had lots of fun and later they danced. You people that have been down there, where Aunt Lizzy lives, they have put a great big tank, and they are letting the water down and preparing a garden. The women are digging there and putting in gardens. At the chicken coops the girls were sorting eggs. I had a talk with Brother Carling Spencer and his wife, and they are turning in money for the cause there. Some others that have not been in are coming in. That is a little bit of what is going on down there. And I notice in praying, they did just what the Lord told them to do about it?mention the names of the men against us. We can pray them right out of our homes, if we will. I know God is with these people, and I know why they are right and why God gives them a testimony of these things that are right. These men who are prosecuting us, they may kill our men and put some in prison, but that would not make the laws any less true. I want to tell you that if we get an exaltation, we will get it by living the law, not any other laws. Joseph Smith was asked about that, but he could not get it through the people?s heads. We talk and talk of these things, but the only way you can get it is to do it. Unless you do these things you will not get the blessing. I like to hear Rone [Jessop] talk. I knew Lorin Woolley, and he also told me things. I want to bear my testimony to the truth when he said that the Priesthood came on down from John Taylor, etc. Read the 90th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, where it tells us that the keys of the Kingdom were given to Joseph Smith. Now I want you to find any other place in the Church where they say that. The keys came on down through John Taylor and the others. I was glad to hear my brother say that he got that testimony for himself. I want you to find out these things for yourselves. Let us be humble and prayerful. If we get through this in the courts now, it will only be because we are humble and prayerful that He sees fit to do it. If our attorneys are hedged up and we go to jail; well, better men than we have gone to jail. We heard a good talk this morning on integrity. We do not know whether we will go through or not, as Rone said. If we have the integrity, then we will go ahead. The same is true of this people. If we have the integrity and faith in God, we will go on. If we do not, we will be pushed aside. I received a letter from my son Louis, and he said he and Erich Olschewski see each other and have good times together. He said the things that are going on in the world just make you sick, and he has to go off to himself. It will not be long until the One Mighty and Strong will be here and set the Church, the temple, etc., in order. Then we will have to go and walk as the Lord said. Then seven women will take hold of one man; that they will eat their own bread and wear their own apparel. Now, brothers and sisters, we have a lot to say, a lot about the brethren at the head. Let us not be too hard on them, but thank the Lord that we are the people that too have been chosen to receive these truths. Do not pray too much for the judgments to come. May God bless us and help us to live His laws and commandments more fully, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.