Morning Star

For the Morning Star.
The present Generation—their Sacrifice not equal to that of their Fathers.

That the ministry and the laity must make a
sacrifice of time and property to advance the
cause of Christ seems to be useless to discuss.
for when this has been done, Zion has greatly
prospered. Our fathers in the ministry and
in the laity tell us of their efforts for Zion
when they were in poor circumstances. Then
they paid for their land, cleared it, built their
dwelling, school, and meeting houses, were
obliged to go some way to market, but spent a
good proportion of their time and substance in
attending and sustaining meetings. But those
days are past; land is paid for, houses built,
&c., but those fathers and their sons are far
from doing what was formerly done in proportion to their circumstances, and then wonder
why Zion does not prosper more. Though
brethren should contribute much of their substance, still it would not compensate for the
time that ought to be spent in personal conversation and in attending meetings. Our wealthy
brethren do not attend Quarterly Meetings as
much as they did when they were in poorer
circumstances, and thus their children are not
trained to be interested in Zion as they ought
to be.

Man's nature requires him to spend some
portion of his time every year in attending
great public religious meetings—that his mind
may not be too much glued to the world—
that, like the earth, it may be stirred up
every year. And where our brethren take no
pains to attend and bring their children to such
meetings, the youth generally spend a great
portion of their time in vain amusements.—
Ah! I fear that many who are hoarding up
riches for their children, to the neglect of religion, will find at the judgment day that property left thus, caused their children to be dissipated.
and ruined them for this and the eternal world.
Oh, brethren, remember Zion's wants, that
she was never more needy than now, and that
while her wants in our country are four times
as great as formerly, not one fourth as many
in proportion are designing to preach as then,
and not as much in proportion is contributed
as then. Brethren, beware of covetousness;
do you understand the word? Remember.
then, how great is this sin. I presume my
good eastern brethren, whom I may never see
again till the judgment day, will bear with me.

W. B. HAMBLEN.