The spirit of gathering had already rested upon her, and he explained to her the importance of this principle of the gospel. The Father desires that His children shall be gathered in unto one place where their hearts shall be prepared against the day when tribulation and desolation shall come upon the wicked. The Psalmist referred to this subject and exclaimed: "Gather my Saints together who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." (Ps. 1: 5.) Isaiah, looking to the future, saw that in the last days the mountain of the Lord's house should be established in the tops of the mountains to which all nations should go. (Isaiah ii: 2.) Here the Lord was to give them one heart, and make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isaiah xxxii: 37-44.) And in that day the Lord should set His hand again the second time to recover the remnants of His people. (Isaiah xi: 11-16.) John, the revelator, saw this time, and heard a voice from heaven saying: "Come out of her [Babylon] my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. xviii: 4.) It was, therefore, in strict accordance with the scriptures that she should have the desire to gather, as well as that the Saints should have an assembling place where they might learn to walk in the paths of God more strictly than in the world. There are ordinances, too, to be performed in the holy temples, for the living and the dead, that cannot be done elsewhere. It is not well, however, that this act of gathering should be considered thoughtlessly and in haste, but rather with deliberation and careful forethought. In the conversation, Elder Durant had incidentally remarked, that marriage was not only for time but also for all eternity. The newly wedded couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, who had remained to witness the confirmation, were naturally interested in this, and the subject was further inquired into by them. "What is the belief of the Latter-day Saints in relation to marriage?" said Mr. Sutherland. "We believe," said Durant, "that marriage is ordained of God, and is binding for eternity, when properly performed by a servant of God having authority." "Then it would appear that you believe in the family relation continuing throughout eternity?" "Certainly, why not? Everything that is done by the Lord receives the impress of eternity. That being the case, marriage, being sanctioned and ordained of Him, is also eternal if performed by one having power as the ancient apostles had, to bind on earth and it should be bound in heaven. It then becomes a work of God, and, as the Preacher exclaims: 'I know that whatsoever God doeth it shall be forever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it.' (Eccles. iii: 14.) Can you think of anything more comforting than that the loving ties formed in this world are to endure through out the ages of eternity?"