These discourses are Brigham Young's witness to the existence of God, the divine mission of Jesus the Christ, the restoration of the Gospel in its fulness by Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and the possibility of securing happiness here and hereafter by obedience to the requirements of the Gospel. This volume is but another testimony that the Lord continues to speak through his prophets. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION The reception of this book far surpassed the hopes of the publishers. The first edition of fifteen thousand was soon exhausted. The second edition of ten thousand is the same as the first edition except for some minor letter corrections. THE PUBLISHERS. Feb. 15, 1926. CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE GOSPEL DEFINED Composed of Eternal Laws--Embraces all Truth--Increasing Knowledge of Gospel--Holds Power of Priesthood--The Gospel of Life and Salvation--Offers Salvation to All--A Guide in Daily Life--A Fountain of Truth--We Need a Practical Religion--Temporal Labors are Necessary--We Need a Present Everyday Religion--We Must Learn to Support Ourselves CHAPTER II THE GODHEAD Our Father in Heaven--Personality and Fatherhood of God--The Son of God--the Holy Ghost CHAPTER III THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOD AND MAN The Spirit of God--Revelation--Angels--Prayer CHAPTER IV PRE-EXISTENCE, THE PLAN OF SALVATION Time--The Organized Universe--Man and Matter Eternal--Man the Offspring of God--The Spirit of Man--The Council in Heaven--The Plan of Salvation CHAPTER V FREE AGENCY Definition of CHAPTER VI THE POWER OF EVIL Lucifer--False Spirits--Priestcraft--Sin and Wickedness--Temptation--Apostasy CHAPTER VII THE LAW OF ETERNAL PROGRESSION Object of Mortal Life--Man to Endure Forever--The Business of life--Prepare to Live--Eternal Increase--Blessings are Proportioned to our Capacity CHAPTER VIII THE DESTINY OF MAN The Gift of Eternal Life--Eternal Increase--The Celestial World--Opposition to Death CHAPTER IX DISPENSATIONS OF THE GOSPEL The Earth--Adam and Eve--Enoch and Moses--Jesus on Earth--The Apostasy--The Restoration--The Book of Mormon CHAPTER X THE LAST DAYS Confusion of the Last Days--Ultimate Triumph of Righteousness--Return to Jackson County--Coming of Christ--The Millennium--Rapid Movements in the Last Days--Zion--The Land of Zion--The City of Zion--Purpose of Gathering--The Jews and Jerusalem--The Indians or Lamanites CHAPTER XI THE SCRIPTURES The Bible--the Standard Church Works--The Use of the Scriptures CHAPTER XII THE PRIESTHOOD The Priesthood--The First Presidency--The Apostle and Melchizedek Priesthood--The Bishop and the Aaronic Priesthood--Church Organization and Government CHAPTER XIII THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL Importance of the Principles of the Gospel--Need of Ordinances--Faith--Repentance--Baptism--The Gift of the Holy Ghost--Healing the Sick CHAPTER XIV THE SABBATH; MEETINGS; THE SACRAMENT