Journal of Discourses Volume 21

BY: PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR

HIS COUNSELORS,
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
AND OTHERS.

Reported By
GEORGE F. GIBBS, JOHN IRVINE AND OTHERS.

Respectfully Dedicated to the Latter-Day Saints in All the World.

VOL. XXI.

LIVERPOOL:

 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ALBERT CARRINGTON 42, ISLINGTON.

LONDON:

 LATTER-DAY SAINTS' BOOK DEPOT, 10, DORSET STREET,
 BRIDE STREET, LIVERPOOL ROAD, ISLINGTON.

1881

Preface 

Vol. 21, p.iii
In presenting the Twenty-first Volume of the JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES to
our readers, we pray that those who read the counsels therein given,
may do so by the light of the Holy Spirit of Truth, that great benefit
may be obtained therefrom, and that by a wise application of the
teachings of God's servants, from time to time, the Saints may finally
be exalted in His Heavenly Kingdom.

THE PUBLISHER [p.1]

John Taylor, August 31, 1879

The Object of the Gathering of the Saints—Conflict Between the Powers
 of God and Evil—the World Growing Worse—Work of God Progressing
—Exhortation to Righteousness and the Spirit of Union

Delivered at Logan, on Sunday Afternoon, August, 31st, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.1
If the congregation will try to be quiet I will endeavor to talk to
them a little in my way.

Vol. 21, p.1
It is some time since I met with the Saints in this place, not because
I was not desirous to come but because circumstances have controlled
and prevented me. We come here, now, more particularly to attend to a
little affair associated with your Temple. There seems to have been a
little misunderstanding about its construction, and as we have a
Temple Committee and architects for the Church, we thought it best to
have the brethren composing this committee and the architects,
present, that we might confer with them, so that everything pertaining
to this building might be done properly according to order and correct
principles.

Vol. 21, p.1
Elder Truman O. Angell was sustained at the General Conference as
Architect of the Church, and William H. Folsom and Truman O. Angell
Jr., as his assistants, and were therefore the proper persons to
consult, in the adjustment of any matters that might be in question.

Vol. 21, p.1
I speak of this as one of those things in connection with the holy
priesthood, and with the building of this sacred edifice that we are
erecting to the name of the Lord. We found that a slight change had
been made from the original plan, which however is not material, and
there will no difficulty arise therefrom. I thought I would mention
this because people generally like to understand things as they exist.
It is much better to tell things right out as they are than to hear of
whisperings about this and the other thing, which in many instances
are incorrect.

Vol. 21, p.2
We are pleased to find the [p.2] progress you are making in the
erection of this temple, the energy and zeal that are being displayed
and the liberality that has been manifested by the people of this
temple district.

Vol. 21, p.2
We are engaged, as has been mentioned by Brother Snow, in a great
work; in the work that prophets and seers have gazed upon and
prophesied of, namely the gathering together of the Lord's elect, the
building of temples for the redemption of the living and the dead; in
the establishment of the kingdom of our God. These things have been
more or less understood according to the power of the spirit and the
light of revelation that has rested upon his prophets ever since the
world began. It is difficult, as has been remarked, for us sometimes
to realize the position we occupy—the relation we sustain to our
heavenly Father—the responsibility that rests upon us and the various
duties we have to perform in the fulfillment of the purposes of God;
in the interest of a world lying in wickedness; in the building up of
the Zion of our God, in the establishment of righteousness and in
bringing to pass those great and glorious principles which have been
contemplated by the Almighty "before the world rolled into existence
or the morning stars sang together for joy." It is our lot to be
placed upon the earth in this time it is our lot to have our minds
enlightened by the Spirit, intelligence and revelation that flows from
God. It is our lot to operate and co-operate with God our heavenly
Father,—and with his Son Jesus Christ,—and with the ancient
patriarchs, apostles and men of God who have lived before; and while
they are operating behind the vail in the interests of humanity in the
fulfilment of the purposes of God and in the establishment of
righteousness upon the earth, we are here to operate with them, that
we and they may act conjointly under the influence and guidance of the
Almighty and the power and Spirit of the lying God, it, carrying out
the designs of the great Jehovah. This is what we are here for. And it
is necessary that we should comprehend our position; for in the
performance of our duties associated with this work it is not as some
people seem to suppose. We have got something else to do besides
folding our arms and crying "Lullaby baby on the tree top, when the
wind blows the cradle will rock." We have something to do besides
"sitting and singing ourselves away to everlasting bliss." It is our
duty—and God expects it of us, that we should seek unto hint for
wisdom, for guidance, for revelation and for a knowledge of his law,
that we may be filled with the Holy Ghost and the power of God and
that we may be enabled to magnify our calling and priesthood and
accomplish that work which God has designed from before the foundation
of the world. It is in reality a labor. We have gone forth, as many
have gone forth to preach the Gospel of life and salvation to a fallen
world. We have gathered in "one of a city and two of a family;" we
have combated the errors of ages and inveighed against the wickedness,
corruptions and strategems of wicked and ungodly men, who have opposed
us on every hand; and we have, with the help of the Lord, succeeded in
gathering out many of the honest in heart from among the different
nations of the earth. And we have come here to carry out the will,
purposes and designs of God. I never supposed that we were to come
here to get rich, to  increase in worldly possessions; but we came as
I understand [p.3] it in accordance with an express command of the
Most High, that we may be taught in the knowledge of God, that we
might come to an understanding of his laws. We are not here to follow
the devices and desires of our own hearts; we are not here to carry
out any particular theory of our own; we are not here to build up any
system of man's creation; but we are here simply to do the will of God
in the establishment of his kingdom on the earth. In many things
however we have not lived up to that high and glorious privilege which
has been presented to us; we have been careless and indifferent, and
it seems as though Satan has been permitted to try and tempt us in
every possible way. For a few years past a spirit of greed and
covetousness has run through the land and cursed as with a withering
blight every thing it has touched. It is as bad in its effects upon
the mind of man as any pestilence or plague upon the human body. We
have begun to run after the things of the world; our hearts, feelings
and affections, in many instances, have been estranged from God. It is
time that something should transpire to wake us up to a sense of the
position we occupy; it is time we realized how God and angels look
upon men who are absorbed in the things of this world instead of
living up to their professions and the covenants they have made with
him.

Vol. 21, p.3
We have many of us however been doing a good work notwithstanding
these grievous evils. It is true it is not always smooth sailing.
Sometimes we seem when a little difficulty comes along to be struck
with amazement, as though something very extraordinary had happened.
There is nothing very strange about these things. "What are you doing?
What is the position of affairs? What are you going to do? etc." Those
words express the kind of feelings that actuate the minds of the
Latter-day Saints. There has been a war ever since the commencement of
the world to the present time between the powers of light and the
powers of darkness. Adam, we are told, had two sons. One was a
covetous man, a wicked man who did not fear God; the other was a
righteous man who feared God. The wicked son, who was instigated of
the devil, said, I will kill my brother and then I will have his
possessions. He did so and it seems that this kind of feeling existed
until in a short time that influence had so prevailed that wickedness
and corruption made such rapid strides that the world had to be swept
as with a besom of destruction, and only a very few men were left. And
then it seemed necessary that the same spirit and the same power
should continue; and hence a part of this Canaanish seed came through
the flood. Why? That there might still be the two powers—the power of
light and the power of darkness; the power of God and the power of the
devil—that the struggle and warfare among men might still go on, so
that man might be made perfect through suffering. Hence the servants
of God in the different ages of the world have had to combat with the
powers of darkness. John the Revelator speaks of a great company of
people whom he saw arrayed in white, singing a new song. And on his
inquiring as to who they were, he was told that they were they that
had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
They were they that had come up through much tribulation, therefore
they were next the [p.4] throne. It is in consonance with the
fore-ordained plan of the Almighty that a man should pass through
certain trials and difficulties, and be tested in every possible way,
in order to be prepared for an exaltation in the kingdom of God. It
was so with Job. He was peculiarly situated. It seems that the devil
appeared among the sons of God in heaven, as he does on earth very
frequently. When the sons of God were assembled together, the devil
was among them, and he went, as it appears, to instigate a feeling
against Job. The Lord said to him, "Hast thou considered my servant
Job?" "Yes," said he, "I have considered him." The Lord said that Job
was a perfect and an upright man, etc. "Oh, yes," said he, "I know all
about him. You think that Job is a very good man; but just let me have
a rap at him, and I will show what Job will do." "Well," says the
Lord, "you may try him." He went to work and concentrated the
lightning in one focus and hurled a thunderbolt against his oldest
son's house, where all his children were feasting, and destroyed them.
No sooner had the messenger reported the result of this catastrophe to
Job than the news came that a certain people—I was going to say
"Christians"—had fallen upon his oxen and asses and killed his
servants. They called them in those days Sabeans and Chaldeans and
Hittites, I think; we call them now-a-days Baptists, Presbyterians,
Methodists, etc. They called things by different names in different
ages, but they are the same class of people. They went after his
camels, his asses, his goats and all his property that they could lay
their hands on, leaving him helpless and destitute—and he was, it is
said, the richest man of the East. Job, in looking at his changed
situation, summed the whole thing up in these few words: "Naked came I
out of my mother's womb, and naked shall return thither: the Lord gave
and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Vol. 21, p.4
Well, the devil did not succeed that time; but like the lawyers who
are after the executors, however, I suppose he thought he would take
another shoot—serve some fresh papers. He presented himself before the
Lord the second time. And addressing him the Lord said, "Well, what do
you think about Job now?" He said his efforts had not succeeded very
well as yet; but "skin for skin, all that a man hath will he give for
his life; let me lay my hand upon his body and he will curse thee to
thy face." "Well, I put him into your hands, but do not, interfere
with his life." The devil then let loose something like smallpox upon
him—only it was called by a different name in those days—covering him
with boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, and he
scraped himself with a potsherd wallowing in ashes. And while he was
in this condition some of his friends came along for the purpose of
sympathizing with him; and after offering a great deal of advice, they
came to the conclusion that Job must have been a very wicked man, or
such a calamity never could have come upon him. And then, to cap the
climax, his wife came along, and in her way says, Job, you are a feel
for putting up with all this; you have suffered enough, and were I you
I would not stand it any longer. I would curse God and die like a man.
Job replied, "You talk like one of the foolish women of old. Have we
not received good at the hands of the Lord, and shall we not also
receive evil? The Lord gave, and the Lord  taketh away, and [p.5]
blessed be the name of the Lord." And then he looked around and saw
his desolation, stripped of his children and possessions, sick and
weary, deserted by friends, laughed at by enemies and upbraided by his
wife, afflicted with a loathsome disease, lonely, deserted and
desolate, he cried out, "Though he slay me yet will I trust in him.
The lightning may destroy my offspring, the Subeans and Chaldeans may
rob me of my possessions, and Satan may be permitted to lay his hand
upon me and smite with this loathsome disease, and although I may be
clothed in sackcloth and have to to wallow in ashes, and go down into
the grave, and worms prey upon this body and crawl and revel in my
brain, yet in my flesh shall I see God; I shall see him for myself,
and not for another." Inspired by the spirit of revelation and the
power and light of the Holy Ghost, he could say, I know in whom I have
believed; and although I do not know—and it matters not—where I may go
or where my resting place may be, yet I shall stand in the latter day
upon the earth, and shall behold my Redeemer, whom I shall see for
myself and not for another. This is the kind of religion he had. But
we think it very strange sometimes that we should have a little
bother; we think we ought to go along peaceably, having nothing to
disturb our equanimity, that everything should move smoothly and
pleasantly along until we reach the celestial abode of the Father, to
associate with the gods. Some of us would make curious gods, if such
were to be our lot; but we may rest satisfied that such will not be
our lot. The Lord does not do things in that kind of a way.

Vol. 21, p.5
When we were traveling abroad preaching to the world, among other
things we predicted was that the world would grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived. Thousands of our Elders have preached
among the nations to the effect that God was having a controversy with
them; that he would arise and shake terribly the earth and vex the
nations sorely. Many of you Elders before me to-day have proclaimed
these things; and you have told the people that empires would be cast
down and the kingdoms overthrown and the nations wasted away, but that
the work and purposes of God would grow and increase until the
kingdoms of this world should become the kingdoms of our God and his
Christ. Are you astonished, then, that these things should begin to be
fulfilled? Quite a favorite theme has been with many of our elders,
that the "little stone" spoken of in the Scriptures has been cut out
of the mountain without hands, and it is destined to strike the image
whose head was of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of
brass, legs of iron, and feet part of iron and part of clay, upon its
feet, breaking it to pieces; and that the materials, which represent
the various nations of the earth, composing the image should become
like the chaff of a summer's threshing-floor, carried away by the wind
until there was no place found for it. This is exactly as it has been
foretold many thousands of years ago, and you brethren are perfectly
familiar with it from having preached it both to the world and to the
Latter-day Saints. When this little stone, then, as it rolls forth,
strikes the toes of the great image, are you surprised that there
should be a little kicking? You don't like to have your toes trodden
upon any more than anybody else. The fact  is, the same great conflict
is going on between the two great powers; the only [p.6] difference is
that we are in much better circumstances than many who lived in
earlier days who had to wander about in sheep and goat skins, seeking
the dens and caves of rocks as places of retreat and safety. You, my
brethren and sisters, do not look to-day as though you were pushed to
such extremes, do you? I think it another kind of spectacle. We are an
integral part of this great government of the United States not a very
large part, but a very small part; and we have assumed a species of
political importance; and every now and then they get after us without
knowing hardly the why or the wherefore. They talk sometimes quite
loudly about our corruptions. Why, as I told them some time ago in
Salt Lake City, in talking about this matter, there is more wickedness
carried on in Washington, where they talk so much about purity, in one
day, than there is in these valleys of the mountains in six months,
the Gentiles and all thrown in. And yet it is quite important that
they should call upon a number of European nations to help them to
correct the morals of two hundred thousand people in these far distant
mountains. What magnanimity Well, what about it? Not much. But there
is this much about it—that this nation, nor the powers of Europe, nor
any other power, can overturn the Church and Kingdom of God that he
has established on the earth. It will go on in spite of all the powers
of earth and hell. You have heard that prophesied over and over again,
and I will prophesy it again to-day. And every power that lift its
hand against the kingdom of God will be wasted away: for God will have
a controversy with the nations who oppose his work, and he will manage
them in his own way; he will put a hook in their jaws and will lead
them whithersoever he will. The wrath of man shall praise him, and the
remainder he has said he will restrain. Hence I feel a good deal like
taking the advice of Jesus: "Fear not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell."

Vol. 21, p.6
The only fear I have for the Latter-day Saints is that they will not
live their religion. And I call upon you here to-day to lay aside your
covetousness, your greed and your a varice, and act honorably and just
one with another as your brethren, humble yourselves before God and
seek unto him for his guidance, and he will help yon, he will bless
and sustain you, and be will deliver you. And I say unto the
priesthood, be one; for if you are not one you are not of God. No
contention, no strife, no backbiting, no hard words; but let us have
the love of God dwelling and welling up in our hearts, and extending
to all men. But war against evil, corruption and iniquity of every
kind, wherever found; stand firm in upholding and maintaining the
principles of truth as they have been revealed to us, before high
heaven, before all men. We want to be united, and, as Paul says, "Put
on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world against, spiritual wickedness in high places.
Paul had to maintain the truth as he had received it in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation; and we have to do the same, and God
will sustain us in our endeavors. But if we are trembly and shaky, our
religion is not worth much to us. [p.7] We have a few among us who
say, "Oh, don't! you'd better take it easy! Keep quiet! You may offend
the devil, for what I know. We have a few dollars somewhere, and we
are afraid something will disturb them, and the property we have made
will go!" Well, let it go; who cares about it? "Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him." We ought to be governed by
correct principles and act wisely and consistently, and treat all men
alike. There are a great many who have the idea that there are certain
classes that have rights which do not belong to others. I do not know
of any such people. We are all the free-born sons of Zion; we all
partake of the holy priesthood, and we all have our rights and
privileges with God. We want to act according to correct principle,
and be governed by the law of God, not one law for one man and another
for another man. But operating together and maintaining one another's
rights upon the pure principles of truth and equity, as they exist in
the bosom of God. When the things spoken of referring to the last days
shall transpire, righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and
faithfulness the girdle of his reins, and it will be as was remarked
by Brother Richards, and as the Prophet Jeremiah foretold: "I will put
my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will
be their God, and they shall be my people." As we adhere to the
principles of law, equality, justice and right, and are governed by
those principles. The man who is governed by the Spirit of God and
lives in the light of revelation, has the law of God written on his
heart and it is engraven in his inward parts. He feels as Jesus did
about these things. It was said to him on a certain occasion, "Behold,
thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with
thee." When he said, referring to his disciples, "Behold my mother and
ray brethren; For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in
heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother." That is the
kind of feeling. We want to be united in our hearts and feelings:
united to each other; united to the holy priesthood, bound together by
those indissoluble ties that will unite us in time and through
eternity, according to the principles of the everlasting covenant
which we have entered into which reaches beyond the vail.

Vol. 21, p.7
We have a struggle. Some of the "Amalekites" and Hittites are abroad.
But who cares? Satan works for a little while, and he will work and no
doubt do his utmost as long as he is permitted; and when the time
comes for him to be removed, God will remove him. We may struggle as
we please and do as we please in regard to these things, but we are
all in the hands of God. As has been remarked, it is quite easy for
the Lord to handle us in these mountains. He can send grass-trappers
if he wants to; he can withhold the snows from coming on our mountains
if he wants to, and thus cause drouth in the summer season and he can
send the moths to destroy our fruit; all of which we have more or less
already experienced. In fact he can do with us just as he pleases and
we cannot help ourselves. Our only resource is in him. We want to be
right ourselves in our families, every man with himself. Forsake your
sins, and cleave unto God. Pay your tithings and your offerings and
comply with the laws of God in every particular so that [p.8] you may
feel that you are acceptable before the Almighty, and then teach your
families the same thing. Humble yourselves as families before God. You
severities, high priests and elders. Do the same thing as quorums and
seek for the guidance and blessing of the Lord. Have you cheated or
defrauded anybody? If you have, then make things right, and try
forever afterwards to be governed by correct principles. And then let
there be perfect union in all the various quorums and among all the
people; and let us all say in our hearts and lives, whatever the Lord
commands us to do that we will observe and do; and let all Israel do
the same, and the devils then may howl and all hell may boil over, but
God will preserve his people, he will stand as our shield and buckler
and our strong defence.

Vol. 21, p.8
We have got this kingdom to build up; and it is not a phantom, but a
reality. We have to do it, God expects it at our hands. We have got to
have—now do not tell any body for it is a great secret; we have got to
have political power. What, will not that be treason? Perhaps so, but
no matter; we have got to go on and progress in these things. We have
got to establish a government upon the principle of righteousness,
justice, truth and equality and not according to the many false
notions that exist among men. And then the day is not far distant when
this nation will be shaken from centre to circumference. And now, you
may write it down, any of you, and I will prophesy it in the name of
God. And then will be fulfilled that prediction to be found in one of
the revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Those who will
not take up their sword to fight against their neighbor must needs
flee to Zion for safety. And they will come, saying, we do not know
anything of the principles of your religion, but we perceive that you
are an honest community; you administer justice and righteousness, and
we want to live with you and receive the protection of your laws, but
as for your religion we will talk about that some other time. Will we
protect such people? Yes, all honorable men. When the people shall
have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders
of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and
proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the
hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations. This is part of
the programme, and as long as we do what is right and fear God, he
will help us and stand by us under all circumstances.

Vol. 21, p.8
Therefore, Latter-day Saints, fear God; work the works of
righteousness; live your religion; keep the commandments and humble
yourselves before him; be one, and be united with the holy priesthood
and with each other, and I will tell you in the name of God that Zion
will rise and shine and the power of God will rest upon her; and her
glory will be made manifest, and we will rejoice in the fulness of the
blessings of the Gospel of peace; and the work of God will go on and
increase until the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of
our God and his Christ, and every creature in the heaven and on the
earth and under the earth will be heard to say, Blessing, and glory,
and honor and praise and power, might and majesty and dominion be
ascribed to him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and
ever. Amen. [p.9]

Joseph F. Smith, December 7,1879

Law of Celestial Marriage—The Resurrection
and Judgment—Extent of the Mission of the Savior

Delivered at the Funeral Services Over the Remains of 
Elder William Clayton, Held in the 17th Ward Meeting House,
 Salt Lake City, Dec. 7th, 1879.

Vol. 21, p.9
By request of President John Taylor, I arise to make a few remarks. I
deeply and sincerely sympathize with the family, the wives and
children of the deceased, Bro. William Clayton, who remain to mourn
the loss of the society of their husband and father for a little
season. And yet, when we consider all the circumstances, we may
conclude that we have not very great cause to mourn. For when a man
has lived to a good old age; worn out as it were through toil, passes
away, we can realize at least that he has accomplished his mission,
that he has performed his work on this earth, and is ready to return
to the father from whence he came; behind the vail.

Vol. 21, p.9
Brother Clayton had reached a ripe age, after laboring unceasingly
among his brethren from his first connection with the Church.

Vol. 21, p.9
He has had a long and varied experience among this people. He was a
friend and companion of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and it was to his
pen to a very great extent that we are indebted for the history of the
Church—that is, the history of the Prophet Joseph more particularly,
during his acquaintance with him and the time he acted for him as his
private secretary, in the days of Nauvoo. We have the journals which
he kept during that time, in the Historian's Office, from which—in
connection with those of Elders Willard Richards and Wilford Woodruff
and the Times and Seasons, a publication of the Church at that time—we
have obtained the history the Church during that period. It was his
pen that wrote for the first time the revelation in relation to the
eternity of the marriage covenant and of a plurality of wives.
Although that revelation had been given to the Prophet Joseph many
years before, it was not written until the 12th of July, 1843, at
which time Elder William Clayton, acting as a scribe for the Prophet,
wrote it from his dictation.

Vol. 21, p.9
I am happy to say that he has left on record a statement in the shape
of an affidavit, prepared by himself, in relation to this important
subject, for it is a subject that is of the most vital importance, not
only to the Latter-day Saints, but to the whole world; for without the
knowledge contained in that revelation, we never could consummate the
object of our mission to this [p.10] earth, we never could fulfill the
purposes of God in this estate.

Vol. 21, p.10
I have this paper in my possession, and have had for a number of
months past. In fact, it was written at my request, and then given
into my care, and I have preserved it with a view, when thought
proper, to have it published. And as it is a sermon of itself, it
would perhaps be more interesting than anything I could say on the
present occasion, and therefore, with President Taylor's permission, I
will read it to the congregation.

Vol. 21, p.10
[The affidavit was then read by Elder Smith.]

Vol. 21, p.10
He then continued:

Vol. 21, p.10
As I before said, I felt to read this document because of the
instruction it would afford, and for the further object of showing
that although "he is dead, he yet speaketh." For this testimony of
Brother Clayton will stand forever, though his body moulders into
dust. And I am, and so was the deceased when living, at the defiance
of the world to dispute those statements. They are made from personal
knowledge derived from personal associations with the Prophet Joseph
Smith himself, not with a view to gain notoriety, but rather to leave
behind him his testimony with regard to this important principle. He
has done so. And as he has here stated, as having come from the mouth
of the Prophet, this doctrine of eternal union of husband and wife,
and of plural marriage, is one of the most important doctrines ever
revealed to man in any age of the world. Without it man would come to
a full stop, without it we never could be exalted to associate with
and become gods, neither could we attain to the power of eternal
increase, or the blessings pronounced upon Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
the fathers of the faithful.

Vol. 21, p.10
There are but a few witnesses now living in relation to the coming
forth of this revelation; there never were many that were intimately
acquainted with the prophet and his teaching upon this subject. I look
around me and see a number of persons in this assembly whose hair has
grown grey in the service of God, and who had an intimate acquaintance
with our martyred prophet; but few, if any of them, were so closely
identified with him in this matter as Brother Clayton.

Vol. 21, p.10
There are, however, enough witnesses to these principles to establish
them upon the earth in such a manner that they never can be forgotten
or stamped out. For they will live; they are destined to live, and
also to grow and spread abroad upon the face of the earth, to be
received and accepted and adopted by all the virtuous, by all the pure
in heart, by all who love the truth, and seek to serve Him and keep
His commandments; they are bound to prevail, because they are true
principles.

Vol. 21, p.10
Now we are called upon to pay our last respects to Brother Clayton.
His spirit has taken its flight; it has gone to the Father from whence
it came, as is taught in the Book of Mormon. When the spirit leaves
the body, it returns, says the prophet, immediately to God, to be
assigned to its place, either to associate with the good and the noble
ones who have lived in the Paradise of God, or to be confined in the
"prison" house to await the resurrection of the body from the grave.
Therefore we know that Brother Clayton has gone to God, gone to
receive the partial judgment of the Almighty, which  pertains to the
[p.11] period intervening between the death of the body and the
resurrection of the body, or the separation of the spirit from the
body, and their uniting together again. This judgment is passed upon
the spirit alone. But there will come a time which will be after the
resurrection, when the body and spirit shall be reunited, when the
final judgment will be passed on every man. This is in accordance with
the vision of the Apostle John the Revelator.

Vol. 21, p.11
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books
were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life;
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works.

Vol. 21, p.11
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death.

Vol. 21, p.11
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire."

Vol. 21, p.11
That is the final judgment, which we will all receive after we have
performed this our earthly mission.

Vol. 21, p.11
The Savior did not finish his work when he expired on the cross when
he cried out "it is finished." He, in using those words, had no
reference to his great mission to the earth, but merely to the agonies
which he suffered. The Christian world I know say he alluded to the
great work of redemption. This however, is a great mistake, and is
indicative of the extent of their knowledge of the plan of life and
salvation. I say he referred merely to the agonies of death, and the
sufferings He felt for the wickedness of men who would go so far as to
crucify their Redeemer. It was this feeling, and this alone, that
prompted him to cry out in the agony of His soul, "It is finished,"
and then He expired.

Vol. 21, p.11
But his work was not completed; it was in fact only begun. If he had
stopped here instead of his being the Savior of the world, he, as well
as all mankind, would have perished irredeemably, never to have come
forth out of the grave; for it was designed from the beginning that he
should be the first fruits of them that slept; it was part of the
great plan that he should burst the bands of death and gain the
victory over the grave. If therefore his mission had ceased when he
gave up the ghost, the world would have slumbered in the dust in
interminable death, never to have risen to live again. It was but a
small part of the mission of the Savior that was performed when he
suffered death; it was indeed the lesser part; the greater had yet to
be done. It was in his resurrection from the tomb, in his coming forth
from death unto life, in uniting again the spirit and the body that we
might become a living soul; and when this was done, then he was
prepared to return to the Father. And all this was in strict
accordance with the great plan of salvation. For even Christ himself,
though without sin, was required to observe the outward ordinance of
baptism, in order to fulfill all righteousness. So after his
resurrection from the dead he could return to the Father, there to
receive the welcome plaudit, "Well done, you have done your work, you
have accomplished your mission; you have wrought out salvation for all
the children of Adam; you have redeemed all men from the grave; and
through their obedience to the ordinances of the Gospel which you have
established, [p.12] they can also be redeemed from the spiritual
death, again to be brought back into our presence, to partake of
glory, exaltation and eternal life with us." And so it will be when we
come forth out of the grave, when the trump shall sound, and these our
bodies shall rise and our spirits shall enter into them again, and
they shall become a living soul no more to be dissolved or separated,
but to become inseparable, immortal, eternal.

Vol. 21, p.12
Then we shall stand before the bar of God to be judged. So says the
Bible, so says the Book of Mormon, and so say the revelations which
have come direct to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith. And then
those that have not been subject and obedient to the celestial law
will not be quickened by the celestial glory. And those that have not
been subject and obedient to the terrestrial law will not be quickened
by the terrestrial glory. And those that have not been subject and
obedient to the telestial law, will not be quickened by a telestial
glory; but they will have a kingdom without glory. While the sons of
perdition, men who had once been in possession of the light and truth,
but who turned away from it and deny the Lord, putting him to an open
shame, as did the Jews when they crucified him and said, "Let his
blood be upon us and upon our children; men who consent, against light
and knowledge, to the shedding of innocent blood, it will be said unto
them, "Depart ye cursed, I never knew you; depart into the second
death, even banishment from the presence of God for ever and ever,
where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched, from whence
there is no redemption, neither in time nor in eternity." Herein is
the difference between the second and the first death, herein man
became spiritually dead; for from the first death he may be redeemed
by the blood of Christ through obedience to the laws and ordinances of
the Gospel, but from the second there is no redemption at all.

Vol. 21, p.12
We read in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that the devil tempted
Adam and he partook of the forbidden fruit, and trangressed the
commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil
because he yielded unto temptation, and because of this transgression
he became spiritually dead, which is the first death "even that same
death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be
pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say, depart ye cursed!"—Book
of Doc. and Cov, p. 147.

Vol. 21, p.12
But who will receive such punishment? Only those that deserve it,
those that commit the unpardonable sin.

Vol. 21, p.12
Then there is the banishment of the transgressor, (not the sons of
perdition) into the prison house, a place of punishment, with no
exaltation, no increase, no dominion, no power whose inhabitants after
their redemption may become servants of them that have obeyed the laws
of God and kept the faith. That will be the punishment of such as
reject the truth, but sin not unto death.

Vol. 21, p.12
But as touching the terrestrial kingdom, as the stars differ from each
other in lustre, so those who enter into the telestial kingdom differ
in glory.

Vol. 21, p.12
"Well, now, how is it with Brother Clayton? He was not without faults
in the flesh?" But what were they? Were they such as partook of a
deadly character? Did he ever deny the Lord? Did he ever deny the
Prophet Joseph, or did he deny the  truth or prove unfaithful [p.13]
to his covenants or to his brethren? No, never. I can in all
truthfulness before God and man bear that testimony of our departed
brother, for I have known him from my youth. Yet, he was not without
his failings? but then, they were of that nature that injured nobody
perhaps except himself and his own family. But notwithstanding his
unflinching integrity, and his long life of fidelity and usefulness,
let me say to you, that for his faults, however trivial, or important,
he must answer. But he will be able to pay his debt and to answer for
his failings, and he will come forth and all that has been pronounced
upon his head by Joseph Smith and by the Apostles, will be confirmed
upon him through all eternity; and there is no power on the earth or
in hell that can deprive him of them. For as it is said—and, indeed, I
need not refer you to the revelation on celestial marriage; but will
quote from the words of Christ, as given in the New Testament.
"Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not
be forgiven unto men, *	*	* neither in this world, neither in
the world to come." Our departed friend and brother whose remains are
now before us, has not sinned unto death. I would not have it
understood. for a moment, that I or any of the Elders attend funerals
to smother over the weaknesses of the departed dead, trying to make it
appear that they were without faults, and therefore will not have to
answer for any. We know that every man will be judged according to the
deeds done in the body; and whether our sin be against our own peace
and happiness alone or whether it affects that of others, as the Lord
lives we will have to make satisfaction or atonement; God requires it,
and it is according to his providences, and we cannot escape it. We
must comply with the provisions of the law, which Brother Clayton in
my belief, is abundantly able to do. And when this shall have been
done, he will come forth to receive his crown, his glory, dominion and
kingdom, and the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which have been
pronounced upon his head.

Vol. 21, p.13
Then let me say to the family of our deceased brother, Follow in the
footsteps of your husband and father, excepting wherein he may have
manifested the weaknesses of the flesh; imitate his staunch integrity
to the cause of Zion, and his fidelity to his brethren; be true as he
was true, be firm as he was firm, never flinching, never swerving from
the truth as God has revealed it to us; and I will promise you, in the
name of the Lord, that you will rise, to meet your husband and father,
in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory,
immortality and eternal lives. Which may God grant in the name of
Jesus. Amen. [p.14]

John Taylor, February 8, 1880

A Funeral Sermon By President John Taylor, Preached Over the
 Remains of Joseph M. Cain, Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Cain,

In the 14th Ward Assembly Rooms, Salt Lake City, Feb. 8, 1880.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.14
We are met here to-day, as we frequently have to do, to pay the last
tribute of respect to the departed dead. Time with all its changes and
mutations brings us face to face very frequently with the kind of
thing that is now presented before us. We come into the world, we
struggle a little while with the affairs incident to human nature, and
by and by the struggles of the present are over. The weary wheels of
life stand still and we go into another state of existance. As wise,
prudent and intelligent men it behooves us really to comprehend the
true position we occupy in relation to the past, in relation to the
present, as well as to the future.

Vol. 21, p.14
Speaking of the past, we all of us have had our ideas about a
pre-existence. We consider that God is Father of the spirits of all
flesh, not only of those that fear him, but of those who do not fear
him, and who disobey His laws. He is the father of the spirits of all,
and as is spoken of in the Scriptures, "We are His offspring" and
emanated from him. We came into this world to attend to certain things
which are designed by the Almighty and which in the programme of the
Lord it was necessary that we should take our part in. We had very
little to do with our coming here; all things move along naturally But
we have something to do, however, with our affairs while we are here,
in a state of probation. But about our leaving, in ninety-nine cases
out of a hundred, or more than that even, we have little to do with
it.

Vol. 21, p.14
There are certain inscrutable purposes associated with the divine
programme which men generally do not comprehend. We know a very little
of the world in which we live, and of its inhabitants. But what and
how little do we know in relation to the past, or in regard to
anything pertaining to the future? Who can comprehend the purposes of
God pertaining to the organization of the earth, say to commence with,
and the peopling of it, and the maintaining of it, or in regard to the
position of the nations and their destiny; or in regard to the world
itself and the various changes yet to  transpire upon it. And then,
who of us knows anything definite pertaining to ourselves, [p.15] or
about the impulses by which we are governed and actuated, or of the
powers of darkness, or the powers of light, as the case may be, with
which we are surrounded? How many of us comprehend these things? Very
few indeed. It is the design of God, as I understand it, in our coming
here, to give unto us bodies, that the spirits that were created
before, might have tabernacles wherein they might live and exist, and
move and act, as corporeal substances, if you please; and that
according to certain inscrutable laws of God pertaining to the human
family and the future destiny of man, and the world in which we live;
that through the union of the body and spirit, and their obedience to
certain laws which the great Eloheim has given for the guidance of His
people, that they might be more exalted, more dignified, more glorious
than it would be possible for them to be, had they not come here to
sojourn in these tabernacles, and combat with the various evils to
which the flesh is heir.

Vol. 21, p.15
Under these circumstances, from time to time, he has made known his
will to men. He has in different ages raised up men with whom he
communicated, and to whom he revealed his will, and under certain
circumstances to whom he committed his law, and he has made them his
mouthpiece to the human family, and through them has revealed life and
its principles, and has unveiled the heavens and given man a knowledge
of the future, and has shown his condemnation, or evinced his hatred
to evil and iniquity of every kind, and has shown through them the
evil effects of pursuing this course. These men, in the different ages
in which they lived, warned the people and the nations in regard to
evil, and have tried to incite them to good, and held out to them the
principle of lives, eternal lives hereafter to be obtained in the
celestial, terrestrial or telestial kingdoms. These men and these
principles, which have been introduced by the Almighty, have had their
effect more or less among the human family. But there has been
associated with this a spirit of antagonism to God, to virtue, to
truth, to purity, to holiness, and to those principles that were
calculated to elevate and exalt humanity through time and through the
eternities that are to come. Thus two influences have been at work
among the nations and among the various peoples of the earth in the
different ages. Sometimes it seems mysterious to the human family that
things should be as they have been. They do not comprehend the meaning
or the purposes or designs, or even the law of God in fact, some of
these laws have not been made known generally to mankind. Permit me to
say there are eternal laws that exist with the Gods in the eternal
worlds, and from which they cannot depart, and to which they are bound
in all their acts, I was going to say as we are, but I will say not as
we are, but as we ought to be, subject to the law of God in all our
acts, and that it is absolutely necessary that men should be placed in
a state of trial, in a state of probation. It was just as necessary
that Satan, if you please, should exercise his power as that God
should exercise his. This is a thing that is not always understood by
men, and, in fact, they understand very little about it. We are told,
however, that "It must needs be that there is an opposition in all
things," good and evil, light and darkness, happiness and misery,
corruption and incorruption, life and death, heaven and hell.

Vol. 21, p.16
[p.16] We talk about a futurity and about heaven, of which men have
certain vague ideas. Some think heaven is beyond the bounds of time
and space. It is a kind of poetic thought, which sounds very well; but
where is such a place? When we reflect upon it in our sober moments,
we naturally conclude that it is nowhere. But men have entertained
singular notions and ideas pertaining to the future, many of which
have been erratic, foolish and ignorant; and the fact is, it is
impossible for man, unaided by the revelations of God, to comprehend
anything about him. Job says: "Canst thou by searching find out God?
Canst thou find but the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as
heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know?"

Vol. 21, p.16
We are told emphatically that no man knows the things of God but by
the Spirit of God. And how are they to become acquainted with these
things, unless they are in possession of that light and that spirit
which is capable of imparting to them that intelligence? A knowledge
of God is out of the ken of uninspired humanity. Who can draw aside
the vail of the invisible world? Who can penetrate into the future and
look, as some men have, through the dark vista of future ages and see
the purposes of God roll on with all their majesty and glory to
consummation; of which, they nor we, nor anybody can know anything
about, except by and under the influence of that spirit? They cannot
know it; it is out of their reach.

Vol. 21, p.16
Well, what then in regard to the things of men? We see men bickering
and quarreling over religious matters, over things really that they
are just as ignorant of as babes are. They contend about certain
principles, dogmas and theories, and get up debates about them, oft
times causing troubles in families, and neighbourhoods; often
persecuting one another and even putting one another to death
concerning things that they knew nothing about themselves. This is all
very foolish.

Vol. 21, p.16
How does God feel towards the human family? He feels that they are his
children. What, all,? Yes; the white, the black, the red, the Jew, the
Gentile, the heathen, the Christian and all classes and grades of men;
he feels interested in all, he has done so from the beginning, and
will continue to do so to the end. He will do all that lies in his
power for the benefit, blessing, ank exaltation of the human family,
both in time and eternity, consonant with those laws and those eternal
principles that I have referred to: from which he himself cannot
deviate. We sometimes get up feelings about parties that do not think
as we do, and do not believe as we do, and we are apt to cast
aspersions upon them. Why, these are their affairs. What! would you
allow everybody to worship as they please? Certainly. What? If you
knew they were in error? Certainly? I would not wish to control the
human mind; I would not control the actions of men, God does not do
it, he leaves them to their own agency to combat with the trials,
temptations, adversities and evils of every kind that are in the
world, to which humanity is, or can be incident. He put within their
reach, however, certain principles and would like to lead them to
himself if they would be led. If not, he then does the very best with
them that he can. In some instances he  has had to come out, as it is
said, "in his fierce wrath," upon [p.17] the peoples and upon the
nations of the earth; and many other things have been in his
programme; because this life, with its few years is only
comparatively, as it were, a few moments in the estimation of Jehovah.
It is but a span, a dream, or a tale, that is told and passed away.
But in regard to the eternities that are to come, and the realities we
have to do with hereafter, that is another affair. I have heard men
talk about the cruelty of God, just like some foolish people talk
about their fathers. Who knows anything about God? Did you ever see
him? Some think it was very cruel in him to destroy the world at the
flood. How do they know but that it was the greatest boon he could
confer upon that wicked people? How do they know but that it was one
of the richest blessings he could pour out upon their heads in
sweeping them off the earth and sending them into another existence
and then shutting them up in prison after that. How do you know?
Certainly you do not know that it is not the case.

Vol. 21, p.17
Let us reason for a few moments and look at things about as they are;
I will tell them as they are and as they were. Satan before the days
of the flood obtained the ascendancy over many men and brought them
under his rule and dominion. He started in with Cain and made a
murderer of him the very first thing he did and taught him many
principles of evil, and he was called the great Master Mahon. Under
the influence and power of Satan he operated to thwart the designs of
God and to stop the purposes of Jehovah. Satan first started in the
heavens, but was cast out and succeeded in obtaining a great
ascendancy over the minds of the people; whom he caused to corrupt
themselves, leading them into evil, folly, vanity and corruptions of
every kind, so much so we are told that the "imaginations and thoughts
of their hearts were only evil and that continually." What had to be
done then? There were other parties interested besides those upon the
earth. There were innumerable hosts of spirits in the heavens that had
to come and take tabernacles. Was it proper and righteous, was it
equitable, was it according to the principles of justice that those
that were pure with their Father in the heavens should come and take
bodies and be forced to enter into tabernacles, that were the
offspring of those corrupt beings who were then peopling the earth? If
I or you had been there should we not have spoken to our Father and
said, "Father, do you see the corruptions that exist upon the face of
the earth?" Yes, I know it." "Is it just that we should have to go
into these corrupt, contaminated, evil, wicked bodies to receive our
earthly parentage from them; and be subject to that power and iniquity
in all its phases for thousands or millions of years to come?" "No,"
says He, "it is not, and I will sweep them away, I will destroy them;
they possess the power, while living to propagate their species, but I
will deprive them of that power. I will send in the floods upon them,
and then I will shut them up in prison." Did he do it? He did. But
before He did it, he had the Gospel preached to them as it is now
being preached, and men clothed upon with the priesthood were sent
forth among the peoples to proclaim to them the great principles of
life, and they had the Gospel and the revelations of God and communion
with their heavenly Father. Enoch was a preacher of righteousness, and
 numerous Elders at that time were sent forth among the [p.18] people
and proclaimed the principles of eternal truth and gathered the people
together so that every man who would fear God and obey his law and be
governed by the principles of righteousness, might have the full
blessings of the everlasting Gospel; and He gathered them together
before destruction came. They were gathered unto Zion, and that Zion
was caught up, by the power of God, away from the earth, and then the
avenging hand of God came upon the corrupt inhabitants that were left
because of their iniquities. Would it be proper to allow corruptions
and wickedness to predominate, and the powers of Satan to have the
presiding influence, and God to be left out of the question? No.
Therefore He accomplished what He did. Did He injure them? No; they
would only have lived a few years longer anyhow; but He did not want
them to perpetuate that kind of folly, wickedness, and corruption that
then prevailed, and said "I will stop it," and he stopped it. Now,
what about the future of such people. We may have curious ideas about
them. Some think that they are going to remain in hell for ever and
ever. But they were in the hands of God, and He did right by them. By
and by when Jesus came, what did he do? As soon as He got through with
His short mission upon the earth, "He was put to death in the flesh,
and was quickened by the Spirit, and went and preached unto the
spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient when once the long
suffering of God waited in the days of Noah;" that they might be
placed on the same plane and in the same position that others were;
that they might obtain their proper status in the eternal worlds, and
be rewarded with all that was possible for them to enjoy, according to
the eternal laws and inscrutable justice of Jehovah. Thus justice was
satisfied, the law vindicated, the wicked punished, the unborn and
pure protected and provided for, and finally, the imprisoned released
from their bondage and salvation extended to the prisoners. Was there
anything wrong in that. "Yes," says the ignoramus who does not know
anything about it, "it was very cruel." Well, the greatest cruelty
there is about such men is that they are cruelly ignorant and do not
know what they are talking about.

Vol. 21, p.18
Now in regard to other things. The Gospel has been sent from time to
time among the people. And what does it do? It brings life and
immortality to light. Has God ever given up his idea in relation to
the inhabitants of the earth? No; but He has in the different ages
given certain laws and principles to certain classes of individuals.
It is said that God has made of one blood all nations of the earth,
yet there are certain classes of men among the nations just as much as
there are certain classes of metals. Everything is not gold,
everything is not silver, everything is not brass; everything is not
iron; all hold their proper position and have their relative value. So
in regard to the heavens. There are bodies celestial, there are bodies
terrestrial, there are bodies telestial. We are told there is one
glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, another glory of the
stars, and that as one star differs from another star in glory so also
shall it be in the resurrection. This distinction arises from the acts
of men, as it is said "Ye are servants to whom you yield yourselves
servants to obey."

Vol. 21, p.18
Now what are we here for? What are the things we profess to do? I will
ask what did Jesus seek to do when he was here?  Did he come to [p.19]
curse mankind? No, but to bless them; he came to seek and to save
those that were lost; He came to to unfold the principles of eternal
truth, to bring life and immortality to light by the Gospel. He came,
according to the eternal decree of the Almighty, to offer his life as
a sacrifice, as an atonement for the sins of the human family. He came
to introduce principles that emainated from God to organize his church
upon the earth, and to endow his disciples with authority that they
might go forth as His messengers to proclaim the principles of eternal
truth to the human family. Hence says he, "Go ye into all the world
and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
This is one of those eternal decrees that you cannot get away from.
And then we talk about the damnation of hell; and people have as
strange notions about that as they have about other things. I have
read statements from men which were really terrible when depicting the
state of the damned. It is bad enough, but it is not the kind of thing
they represent. I remember, too, reading a piece of poetry, which ran
something like this:

Vol. 21, p.19
Infinite years in torment must I spend,
And never, never, never have an end.
Ah! must I lie, in ruinous despair,
As many years as atoms in the air;
When these are past as many thousand more,
As grains of sand upon the ocean shore.
When all these doleful years are spent in pain,
And multiplied by millions yet again
Till numbers drown, the thought, could I suppose
That then my dismal years would have a close,
This would afford a hope; but ah! I shiver
To ponder on this dreadful word, forever;
I in this burning gulf blaspheming lie,
Time is no more, but vast eternity."

This may be poetic. It is certainly grim and terrible; but it is not
true. Is there justice? Yes. Eternal justice? Yes. These men that I
have referred to suffered eternal justice; they were destroyed by the
Almighty, and at last were saved again by the Almighty. Have we
eternal punishment? Yes. What is it? It is God s punishment. Are there
everlasting prisons? Yes. What are they? God's prisons. Do people stay
in them forever? No. Not in all of them. We have prisons upon the
earth, penitentiaries, in which to confine people for one, five, ten
or twenty years, as the case may be; and when their time expires they
come out; but the prison is there still. Is it an everlasting prison?
You may call it so if you please; but people do not stay in it always.
Has God a way to manage his affairs? Certainly; the Judge of all the
earth ought to be at least as capable in the management of his
affairs, as mortal men are in theirs.

Vol. 21, p.19
We have come upon this stage of action, and are called to preach. And
God has revealed his will, and some people seem to be very angry about
it. Joseph Smith had revelations from God. Do I know it? Yes, I do.
Could he help it? Suppose the Lord were to speak to any of you, could
you help it? or if an angel were to come to you, could you help it?
No, you could not. Now, you might do what they tell you, or not; that
is optional. If you did what they told you, however, the world and the
devil would say you were a fool; and they have always said so in every
age of the world; and the devil and the world have always been opposed
to God. and his law, and they would persecute you as they persecuted
him. Very well, do we have need to fight? I do not. I thank God for
the light [p.20] and intelligence he has revealed unto us, through the
medium of the everlasting Gospel. Could we have it if God had not
revealed it? No. Who knew that God lived? Nobody until Joseph Smith
came, and the Lord spoke to him pointing out to him his son, saying,
"This is my beloved Son, hear him." Who knew anything about it? Nobody
on the wide earth. Could he have helped it if he wanted to? I do not
think he wanted to much; I do not think anybody need want to much, if
God would condescend to reveal his will; I do not think they would be
very desirous for him to hold his peace. It is true a number of the
children of Israel did when they heard the thunderings on Mount Sinai.
They said to Moses, speak to us; but do not let the Lord speak to us,
lest we die. The fact is, they were not prepared for it.

Vol. 21, p.20
Now then, this Gospel is introduced for what? To spread life and
salvation to the world. God blessed Abraham in the same way. What for?
In thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. I
will give unto you my law, I will reveal unto you the principles of
eternal truth; I will open the mysteries of heaven to your view, and
you shall gaze upon me and upon my purposes. I will instruct you in
the principles of life and salvation, and I will tell you what to do
with those principles when I shall have committed them to you. As he
spake unto Moses, he told him to select a man to be his mouth-piece;
and said, Moses shall be a God unto you, and I will speak through him.
That is it. Now, he has done the same in this day, and restored the
same principles, and has sent forth a message to the nations of the
earth, and gathered together men who had the manhood, integrity and
desire to carry out the purposes of God, and who would be valiant for
those principles which he had revealed; and he prepared them for his
purpose; and if he had not sustained them they would not be here
to-day. Are these men enemies to the world? If teaching men the truth
is enmity, they have done that; if going without purse or scrip,
traveling among the nations to proclaim to them the glad tidings of
salvation is enmity, they may possess it. But impelled by the spirit
of eternal truth and enlightened by the spirit of the Almighty and
comprehending the, position they occupied, they have gone forth among
the people of the earth and proclaimed to them the glad tidings of
salvation, and God has taken care of them. Very well. Anything great
about this? No; it is simply performing a duty. I have traveled
hundreds and thousands of miles in this way myself, trusting in God.
Was I ever forsaken? No. Did I ever need anything? No, not that I did
not get. Did I ever have to go hungry, naked or destitute? No, the
Lord always provided and raised up means in every kind of way, and I
did not beg either. I would like anybody to tell me when I ever begged
anything from them either here or anywhere else. But I have begged of
the Lord, for my religion teaches me to go to him.

Vol. 21, p.20
Now then, we have a work to do. Do we wish to villify anybody in our
midst? No. Do we see wicked, corrupt and abominable men among us? Yes.
What will we do with them? Leave them in the hands of God, he will
manage them; it is for us to do right, to work righteousness and
pursue a course right before the Lord.

Vol. 21, p.21
[p.21] I see that time is passing. My mind has been led rather
discursively on some of these matters, arising partly from
circumstances with which we are surrounded. How is it with this young
man here? Well, I wish it were otherwise; I wish he had lived a very
good Saint, which, however, he did not do. We have not come here to
indulge in any kind of false sentimentality. He was a drunkard; that
is a truth and many of you know it. When you have said that, can you
say anything worse? That is bad enough, but I do not know anything
evil about the young man further than that. I knew his father. I
baptized him thousands of miles away from here, in the neighbourhood
of 40 years of ago, when he was a much younger man than he (his son)
is now. His father lived up to the Gospel, and died strong in the
faith; and his mother has been a very good woman, so far as I know; I
have never known anything against her. This boy has caused her a great
deal of trouble; and I have been sorry for him. Well, should we tell
things? Yes, always; that day is not far distant when the coverings
will be taken from the face of all people, and we shall all stand
naked, as it were, before God —both you and I and this young man. Well
this boy,—I call him a boy, he is a young man, and is a nephew of mine
by marriage; and I would not want to say anything about him on that
account, neither would I falsify the young man on that account; but
let us tell things and understand them as they are. Let me call the
attention of the youth present. Would you like to be lying in this
position, under these circumstances? You would not? Then let us look
at things as they are. What next? We will do the best we can; and what
is it? There is a curious saying that Paul made on a certain occasion,
in speaking about the Jews and the Gentiles:

Vol. 21, p.21
"What advantage hath the Jews? or what profit is there of
circumcision?

Vol. 21, p.21
"Much every way; chiefly, that unto them were committed the oracles of
God.

Vol. 21, p.21
"Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ
came, who is over all, God blessed for ever," etc.

Vol. 21, p.21
Is it a sorrowful thing to see our youth pass away as he has done?
Yes. He did not die drunk? No, but that was the cause of it. We may as
well talk honestly about him. What next? He has gone. Has he hurt
anybody? No, only by his example. Has he hurt his mother? Yes. I do
not think he did sin while his father was living; but since then he
has caused his mother many a sorrowful hour? Did I feel sorry when he
died? No. Why? Because I knew it was much better for him to leave the
earth than to be in the position he has been.

Vol. 21, p.21
Now, what about the future in in relation to these things! What
advantage has the Jew over the Gentile? Much every way. Their's were
the fathers; and unto that people were committed the oracles of God.
Their's were the fathers—we have fathers that are living in the
eternal worlds; fathers that are interested in our welfare; fathers
that are associated with the beings that exist behind the vail;
fathers who are operating with us in trying to bring about the great
purposes of God and the salvation of the human family. Can anything be
done? Yes, and all that can be done will be done, but the future has
got to be left with the Almighty in regard [p.22] to these matters.
But we can do a great deal according to principles that God has
revealed to us, and these things will be done, as far as they can be.

Vol. 21, p.22
I would say, I do not utter these things to cause any unpleasant
feeling in the bosom of the family; they cannot help it. If I could
have helped it, I would; if the mother could have helped it, she
would; if the sister could have helped it, she would; if the friends
could have helped it, they would. But we cannot control circumstances.

Vol. 21, p.22
We are now talking not to the dead, but to the living. I would say,
Let us avoid these evils, they lead down to death; let us seek to live
our religion, to obey the laws of God and keep his commandments. And
in regard to the future, we leave that in the hands of the Almighty
who doeth all things well; and we will do all we can to promote the
comfort of the living and the dead. We are doing a great deal for the
accomplishment of this object; we are building temples and
administering in them, and we are doing it in obedience to the law of
God, and in consonance with the feeling of the patriarchs and apostles
and men of God who have lived before. And we will try to go on and
live our religion and keep the commandments of God that we may rejoice
together hereafter. And I would say to the mother, Let your heart be
comforted for you shall be blessed both in time and in eternity. And I
say unto all of you, Live your religion, keep the commandments of God,
for in that only there is safety. God bless you in time and in
eternity. Amen.

Erastus Snow, October 1879

Rest Signifies Change—Time As Related to Eternity—
Wonderful Mechanism of the Human Body—Integrity in the Face of
Opposition

Delivered at Brigham City, on Sunday Morning, October 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.22
I feel somewhat weary in body from the effects of labor and
infirmities; and were I to consult my own feelings I would be inclined
to waive this privilege, and sit and listen to my brethren. Indeed, I
may say I rather counted upon a rest in  coming to Brigham City; yet I
never allow myself to shrink from bearing that portion that properly
attaches [p.23] me in life to the calling and duties devolving upon
me. I feel that we are all here in a shool, that we have a work to
perform; and if when we shall have done that work we shall be
satisfied with it, we will not regret having worn ourselves out in
accomplishing it. But on the contrary we shall rejoice at our success
in having got safely through and entered into the "rest" which is
prepared for the people of God in the future state. This is a
scriptural phrase, implying that there is a rest beyond for the people
of God. But I have sometimes thought that strictly speaking rest was
only a change, and that a change was rest; because to be absolutely at
rest, to be entirely free from labor and care would be inconsistent
with our existence; in such a condition our being would be a blank, a
nonentity. The course of God, we are told by the prophet Nephi, is one
eternal round; that like eternity, it has neither beginning nor end,
and is illustrated in the Book of Abraham by the hieroglyphic of the
circle. You may start upon this ring at any given point, and in
traversing it you will come to the same point—it is without beginning,
without end.

Vol. 21, p.23
We sometimes speak of eternity in contradistinction to time; and often
say, "through time and into eternity;" and again "from eternity to
eternity," which is simply another form of expressing the same idea,
and "pass through time into eternity." in other words, time is a short
period allotted to man in his probationary state—and we use the word
time in contradistinction to the word eternity, merely for the
accommodation of man in his finite sphere, that we may comprehend and
learn to measure periods. And for this purpose the Lord gave unto Adam
his reckoning after the movements of the planets, which would appear
to him stationary, or at least comparatively so, making a suitable
standard by which math in his mortal state may measure periods and
count out the days and the months and the years and the cycles.

Vol. 21, p.23
The Scriptures speak of a time "when time shall be no more." And the
Apostle John in his visions, while banished to the Isle of Patmos,
heard the angel say, "time shall be no more." We may not fully
comprehend the meaning and the purport of this expression. All phrases
or expressions whether used by men, angels or God have a relative
meaning, as one thing is compared with another; and to understand the
full force of them, we must understand that to which it has reference
by comparison. I simply understand by this, that so far as we are
concerned, time will be no more when we shall be merged into eternity,
and we cease to reckon our periods by the diurual revolutions of the
earth, and the changes of the moon, etc.; when we shall enter into a
sphere where we can mingle with the gods and become acquainted with
their reckoning, and the eternal periods or cycles of revolutions of
numberless creations in space, which to-day the most profound
astronomers of the earth are unable to fathom or mark their place of
beginning. And this is called eternity by man, and, as far as man is
concerned, is in contradistinction to other periods and modes of
reckoning known and in use among the Gods. For they have their periods
and reckoning as well as we, only on a vast and, to us,
incomprehensible scale. We are in a state of progression, very small
beginnings, but onward and upward for a more exalted sphere, in which
they move. But I conceive of no stopping place; I [p.24] conceive of
no absolute resting place, but only, as before remarked, a change, a
change in our circumstances and conditions, and consequently a change
in our labors.

Vol. 21, p.24
I speak now of man as an immortal being, having no reference to this
earthly house of our tabernacles; for this mortal house which we
occupy for the period of a few short years upon the earth, will not be
associated with the immortal man the god in embryo. The clothing we
wear covers the nakedness of the body; it answers a good purpose for a
little season—until it becomes worn out, when it is cast aside as of
no further use for that purpose. So with the outer house of our
tabernacles. This mortality serves the purposes intended for a few
short years until it is worn out with use, like the farmer's
agricultural implements, like the machinist's or mechanic's tools, or
any other piece of machinery—for the human body is one of the finest
and most perfect pieces of machinery known upon the earth; there is
none superior. Indeed, most of the mechanism employed by men in
various branches of industry is founded on the anatomical structure of
the human body; the angles, the joints, the tendrils, the cords by
which they are bound together: the wonderful construction not only of
the outer portions of the body, but the very fine mechanism of the
nervous system, and also that of the eye, the ear, and of the means of
sensation, and that by which knowledge is communicated from one part
of the body to the other. If the finger be abused or injured, a
telegraphic communication is made to the seat of knowledge—the
government of the body; conveying the information that a finger is in
danger; and wherever pain is felt, in whatever part of the body, it is
but the ringing of the bell of alarm, living notice of a hostile
attack, and to make preparations for defense, lest the enemy making
the assault take possession of the citadel and destroy it. The
wonderful mechanism of the nervous system, through which the spirit
makes its impressions upon the body, is, as it were, an intermediate
organism between the fine spiritual body and the courser elements of
our tabernacles. And those who have given the most time and study to
this wonderful machine are lead to fully appreciate and endorse the
saying of the Psalmist, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Its
adaptability to the uses and purposes intended, with its remarkable
endurance when suitably guarded and protected against disease and what
we term accident, is in itself sufficient to call forth the admiration
of all intelligent beings. We look upon an aged person, say, 70, 80,
90 or 100 years old, and realize that there is a machine, a mechanical
structure—shall we call it a model representing perpetual motion? Not
exactly, but a machine that has been in motion say, 100 years; a
double action pump that has been constantly going, distributing the
fluids of the system by way of keeping up a constant circulation of
the blood; sometimes working very hard to remove obstructions arising
from colds and and other causes to keep the channels from becoming
stopped up, and at other times working slowly. And the functions of
the body are ofttimes kept in such constant use for such a period of
time without the touch of the mechanic to repair a break unless it
may, perchance, be the surgeon's saw to remove a disabled limb that
threatens to encumber the whole  body, or the tying up of a broken
artery to prevent the escape of the vital fluid. But [p.25] otherwise
the most skilful physician is unable to make a single repair or
improve any part or portion of it; and the most he can do is to give
something to be taken into the stomach to effect a chemical change on
the fluids of the system, to neutralize perhaps an excess of the
acids, thus working a change in the quality of the blood, and
consequently a change in the deposits that are being made in all parts
of the system by the circulation of this fluid. But this wonderful
machine is kept in motion by what power? We say it is the power of
God; we say it is in Him we live and move and have our being. And,
yet, He always works through means, all His wonderful works being
performed by agents; but He is not confined to one agent nor any
special method in performing His works. But there is a spirit in this
earthly tabernacle of ours that is relative to our Father and God, and
who is the owner of this tabernacle, and for whom the tabernacle is
organized as his dwelling house. It is this spirit that keeps the
functions of this tabernacle in motion; when this spirit leaves the
body, it is either because the Father calls it away, wishing to use it
in another sphere, considering the time it has spent in this
tabernacle sufficient for the purposes required, and therefore takes
it to a higher school, through special design to do a special work; or
it may be, it has used its tabernacle until it is so worn out that it
has become like a bow which has been long and constantly bent,—it has
lost its elasticity; its bones impaired in strength, its muscles
stiffened, and the whole frame ready, like our old clothes, to be
thrown aside; and the spirit comes to the conclusion that it has had
its run with this old tabernacle and that it is time this old garment
were laid aside for a new one. Our Father comes to this conclusion and
gives the spirit a ticket of leave, and removes it into another
sphere. But this is all necessary as a school for us. The various
pains and sorrows to be endured in life are all necessary in their
time and place; the trials as we term them, are all necessary in their
place, they are all a part of the scheme of education or training to
prepare us for the future. One of the sacred writers, in speaking of
Jesus, said: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin." And again: "For God giveth not the
spirit by measure unto him." It is measured out to you and me in the
providence of the Lord; but for him there was a storehouse to draw
upon, as it were, without measure. He could continue to heal the sick
and raise the dead and perform great and marvelous things, and yet the
supply of vitality was not in the least abated. Mortals less gifted
and less favored who should be the means of healing many sick by the
power of God, would feel that in taking their infirmities upon them,
they were sinking under the weight, and would want to hie themselves
away to rest and recuperate their exhausted frames. Jesus was an
exception in this respect; he took upon himself our infirmities and
bore our sickness, as had been predicted by Isaiah the prophet. He
truly did heal the sick wherever he went; and some found that if they
could even touch the hem of his garment the disease from which they
suffered could be rebuked; and one instance is given where this was
done, in which case we are told, virtue went out of him. But
notwithstanding [p.26] the great burden that he bore, together with
the vast amount of vitality that was at various times communicated
from him to others, he did not faint under the load; his mortality did
not give way. But no man, unsupported as he was, could have done it
without sinking under this weight; none other could have grappled with
devils and east them out of individuals and held them at bay, as he
did, without suffering from bodily exhaustion, and therefore had to
seek retirement and rest. He, however, waged war constantly, and was
well prepared for this work, having an inexhaustible source of
strength to draw from, the Spirit having been given to him without
measure. But at length the time came when the Father said, You must
succumb, you must be made the offering. And at this dark hour the
power of the Father withdrew itself measurably from him, and he was
left to be taken by his enemies, and, like a lamb, was led to the
slaughter, but he opened not his mouth, because his hour had come. And
when he was led to exclaim in his last agony upon the cross, My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me? the Father did not deign to answer;
the time had not yet come to explain it and tell him. But after a
little, when he passed the ordeal, made the sacrifice, and by the
power of God was raised from the dead, then all was clear, all was
explained and comprehended fully. It was necessary that the Father
should thus measurably forsake his Son, leaving him to his enemies,
otherwise they never could have fulfilled what had been prophesied
concerning him. So we may say with others, it is only a sample for us
to reflect upon, that may be equally applicable to us all in our times
and seasons.

Vol. 21, p.26
It is not necessary, in the providence of God, that we should all be
martyrs; it is not necessary that all should suffer death upon the
cross, because it was the will of the Father that Jesus should so
suffer, neither is it necessary that all the Saints of this last
dispensation should perish because our prophet perished, but yet it
may be necessary that some should, that a sufficient number of
faithful witnesses of God and of his Christ should suffer, and even
perish by the hands of their enemies, to prove and show unto the
world—the unbelieving and unthinking—that their testimony is true, and
that they are ready not only to bear testimony in word, but in deed,
to sustain and honor their testimony through their lives; and also in
their death; and greater love than this no man can have for his friend
or for his bosom companion, not even David and Jonathan, whose love
for each other is said to have surpassed the love of woman. No one can
give a stronger assurance of his devotion to the principles he has
received and which he teaches to his fellowman, than to patiently
endure suffering, for their sake, and, if need be, to continue that
suffering and endurance even unto death.

Vol. 21, p.26
In the economy of heaven, it has been deemed necessary, at various
periods of the world's history, that such witnesses of Christ should
suffer death for their testimony's sake, and that others may yet have
to suffer in our own time is probable. Nay, the Scriptures give us
clearly to understand that such will be the case, that more or less
will suffer, but to what extent the servants of the Lord may be called
upon to thus  suffer is not given us to know, nor is it necessary we
should. For what difference does it make when we [p.27] have performed
a good work or so far completed it that the Lord accepts of it and is
willing for us to pass behind the veil, and perhaps gives his consent
whether we go by a bullet or through violence at the hands of our
enemies, or whether it be by a lingering sickness? In most cases the
former would be preferable, so far as we are personally concerned, for
in such the pain and suffering would be slight, although it would be
calculated to shock the sensibilities of living friends who would
mourn over us.

Vol. 21, p.27
In philosophising upon these things, I scarcely have a tremor or
thought or care in relation to the death I may suffer, or when it
shall come, or how it shall come. It matters not when or where or
under what circumstances it may be, my feeling is as it always has
been—it will be all right. I take no more thought or care of this
matter that the infant child does about the preparation of its food.
The Lord cares for us and such matters, and will order them in their
time and season.

Vol. 21, p.27
But there is a principle involved. When a matt is faced by his
enemies, when the wicked conspire against the righteous, threatening
death and destruction if he do not turn truant and deny our God and
obey their behests; all this is calculated to try the faith of the
people and put them to the test, as to whether they have more
confidence in God and his promises, than in his Satanic majesty and
the host of his servants upon the earth, who in many instances offer
them what they have not power to give. They remind me of the devil
when he took the Savior into a high mountain and showed him all the
riches of the earth, promising to give him all he could see if he
would only fall down and worship him. The Savior replied: "It is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve." He did not revile him by telling the poor devil that he did
not own anything, that he had not the power to give what he proposed
to; but merely quoted the Scripture referred to, which was applicable
and suitable for the occasion. And I for one propose to obey the
command; and this is all we need say to our enemies when they place us
in similiar circumstances. They may say, "you are a very great people
in your way; you are a very economical and frugal people in your way,
and are predisposed to be peaceful. You have redeemed the desert from
sterility, and built up fine homes, and made roads, railroads, and
telegraph lines, and you possess all the elements and natural
advantages calculated to make a people prosperous and happy, and a
nation great; and there are many good things to commend in you. But
then, you have one evil existing and encouraged among you which we
deplore and which we are desirous and determined to eradicate. Now, if
you will renounce that and cast it from you, we will give you the
right hand of fellowship and be friends, and all the fullness of the
earth is yours; and we will welcome your delegate, your
representatives and your senators to Congress, and we will give them a
seat by our side, and we will even call off our dogs of war, and
withdraw our governor, and judges and marshals and attorneys whom we
send to harrass you, and also the little cur dogs that follow along
barking at your heels; we will call them off, and let you possess the
earth in peace if you will only deny your principles and lay aside
those which we pronounce to be evil, and fall down and worship God as
we do." Whether we will [p.28] be true in all these things; whether we
have the same confidence in God, the God we serve, who has led us all
our lives and been true to us in all conditions and circumstances, and
to the promises made to us up to the present time; whether we will
still trust in him, and face the cannon's mouth, if need be, or face
death in any form it may come, or imprisonment, if that form of
treatment is preferred, or anything that they have power to inflict
upon us, rather than deny our God. "How far will they go," says one? I
answer, just as far as our Father permits them, and no farther. He has
set bounds to the waves of the ocean and he has also set bounds to the
wrath of the wicked. He controls the elements that war in the
heavens,—the fearful thunderstorm—that darkens the firmament and that
shakes the earth with its roar, the vivid lightnings that add terror
to the scene, the tumultuous waves that leap and dash in the fury of
the gale, and the earthquake that bellows forth its lurid flames,
which make men tremble at the gaze. But He speaks, and all is still;
the thunders are hushed, the clouds dispersed, the lightnings cease
and the belching of the earthquake is heard no more; all is peace and
quiet. So with the wrath of man and of nations that may be heard
raging in the midst of the wicked, under the control of the prince and
power of the air, who works and controls in the midst of discordant
kings and rulers who array themselves against each other. Nations are
at loggerheads, and war is proclaimed; the energies of war are set in
array, and misery and death stalk in their wake. And again by some
slight means, the Lord changes the fate of nations and turns the
fortunes of war, and changes the tide of events, and all human
calculations fail. He causes some angel of his to put some obstruction
in the way of the march of some general and his army so that he
arrives, perhaps, at the scene of battle five minutes too late; he
causes a chariot wheel to fall off or some slight accident to happen
to an engine of destruction, and the best calculations of the
shrewdest officer and the proudest king fall; and their works come to
nought. He sets up and pulls down men and nations at his pleasure. He
did this in the case of the first great and proud monarch of the
world—the King of Babylon who swayed universal sceptre upon the earth.
He was a strong-minded, and strong-willed and haughty monarch; but God
taught him by an extraordinary and humiliating experience to know that
the Lord, the Most High God rules in the heavens and also controls the
affairs of men as it pleases him. And his hitter experience God caused
to be written as a warning to kings and rulers and the great ones of
the earth; and they are lessons of warning equally appropriate to
every human soul.

Vol. 21, p.28
I have occupied more time than I intended or thought I could. I pray
God to bless us in all our labors, that union, peace and love may
abide in your midst and in your habitations, and that prosperity may
attend you in your business, that the difficulties which annoy you and
impede your progress may be removed and the dark clouds that to-day
seem to hang over your heads, be dispersed and the genial warmth of
the sun's rays again be felt among you, that the hearts of the Saints
may be cheered, and those who feel the weight and responsibility of
carrying on the work you have so nobly  [p.29] undertaken, be
encouraged and relieved from any apprehensions they might have felt in
consequence of the misfortunes and losses you have recently sustained,
which may God grant, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John Taylor, April 9, 1879

All Temporal Concerns Need the Attention of the Saints—
We Should Prepare for the Evils Coming Upon the Earth
—Co-Operation and the United Order—Functions
 of the Two Priesthoods—Home Manufactures

Delivered at the Semi-Annual Conference, Held in the
 Tabernacle Salt Lake City, April 9, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.29
It has been very properly remarked that we are becoming a great
people; and there are a great many interests of a temporal, as well as
spiritual nature, that must necessarily be attended to—in fact it had
been so contemplated from the beginning. We talk sometimes of earthly
things: at other times we speak of heavenly things. Sometimes we speak
of things pertaining to time, and at other times of things pertaining
to eternity. We have to do with both or we could not have been here.
And being here it is proper we should come to a right understanding in
regard to the position we occupy; and especially that we should
comprehend our duties relating to our temporal affairs and by acting
truthfully, honorably and conscientiously avoid so much annoyance,
trouble, litigation and difficulty that so frequently exists. In
relation to the Gospel of the Son of God, it gives us information
pertaining to our existence and to our general relationship to God and
to each other, pointing out our various duties and responsibilities.
Associated with it is a priesthood which among other things is to
promulgate the will of God to the ends of the earth; it has taught us
principles pertaining to our future, both in relation to the living
and the dead, relative to the present, past and future. We talk a
great deal about our Gospel, about our spiritual affairs; we have our
church organized according to certain principles associated therewith.
We [p.30] have a priesthood organization, embracing our Stake
organization; we have organizations pertaining to spiritual things, if
you may so call them, and also for temporal things, for we have to do
both with time and with eternity, both with earthly and with heavenly
things, and consequently it is necessary we should be interested in
all. When we reflect upon our position, there is something peculiar
associated with it. At first the Elders of this Church were told to go
forth and preach the Gospel to every creature; then they were
instructed to gather together those who believed. According to the
Scriptures, "I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I
will bring you to Zion. And I will give you pastors according to mine
heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." We are
gathered together; but being gathered together there is something more
than spirituality associated with our existence. We brought our bodies
with us when we came, and we necessarily have to eat and drink and to
have houses to live in, etc.; in fact, we require the common
necessaries of life just as much as any other people. And then, if we
have children, as Bishop Hunter says, "there are none of them born
with shoes and stockings;" but these things have to be provided.
Furthermore, being gathered together, we necessarily form a body
politic, if you please, and we cannot help ourselves if we would; but
we do not want to. We frame laws according to the usage of the nation
we are associated with; for being here and finding ourselves in the
territory of the United States, we necessarily have had to organize a
government which has assumed a territorial form; and that means a
legislature with its enactments and all the various adjuncts of a
government. Laws have to be made, officers must be created to execute
those laws; and we necessarily become an integral part of these United
States, and have to perform all the political functions associated
therewith.

Vol. 21, p.30
These things naturally flow unto us, and they will continue to grow
and increase, if it be true what the Scriptures say, and if it be true
what many of our brethren have preached to you since the assembling of
this Conference. Then it becomes a matter for us to reflect upon that
we understand our true position, how we can best sustain ourselves
religiously, socially, politically and financially, and among other
lessons learn to produce at home those articles we stand in need of.

Vol. 21, p.30
We have been brought up in the world, and have imbibed many ideas in
common with mankind generally pertaining to commerce, trade and
manufactures. But we need the inspiration of the Almighty in all of
the affairs of life; for we profess emphatically to be the people of
God, and as it is with us in our religion so it ought to be with our
politics, our trade and manufactures. They ought, in all things, to be
subservient to one grand principle, and that is the acknowledgment of
God and his laws. Permit me here to state that before the revelations
of God to man in these last days, there were no people that had a
correct knowledge of God, that we have any knowledge of, anywhere upon
the earth. All were without prophecy, without revelation, without a
knowledge of the doctrine or ordinances of the Gospel. And to whom are
we indebted for a knowledge of these things? Certainly not to
ourselves, and as assuredly not to any earthly body or system  in
existence. We are indebted alone to God for a [p.31] knowledge of
these things; through His revelations made first by himself and by his
well beloved Son, and then by the ministering of holy angels, by
communication from the heavens to the earth. We are indebted to him
for all the light and intelligence we possess in relation to these
things. What did we know about the first principles of the Gospel?
Nothing. What did we know about the gathering, or about Zion, or about
the ordinances of the Gospel or about the holy priesthood? Nothing at
all. Nor did we know anything about the building of Temples, or about
the mode of administering in them until directed by the Almighty; it
was He who revealed the necessity of the construction of those sacred
edifices and the mode of administering therein. What does the outside
world know about, these things? Nothing. And if they had our Temples
they could not administer therein. We are indebted to God alone for
the light and intelligence we have received.

Vol. 21, p.31
Again in regard to political matters, where is there a nation to-day,
under the face of the whole heavens that is under the guidance and
direction of the Lord in the management of their public affairs? You
cannot find one. It is true that the founders of this nation, as a
preliminary step for the introduction of more correct principles and
that liberty and the rights of man might be recognized, and that all
men might become equal before the law of the land, had that great
palladium of liberty, the Constitution of the United States, framed.
This was the entering wedge for the introduction of a new era, and in
it were introduced principles for the birth and organization of a new
world. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that "The Constitution of the
United States was given by the inspiration of God." But good, virtuous
and holy principles may be perverted by corrupt and wicked men. The
Lord was opposed by Satan, Jesus had his Judas, and this nation
abounds with traitors who ignore that sacred palladium of liberty and
seek to trample it under foot. Joseph Smith said they would do so, and
that when deserted by all, the elders of Israel would rally around its
shattered fragments and save and preserve it inviolate. But even this,
good as it was, was not a perfect instrument; it was one of those
stepping stones to a future development in the progress of a man to
the intelligence and light, the power and union that God alone can
impart to the human family. And while we acknowledge, as citizens of
the United States, the laws and institutions thereof (which by the way
are very easily complied with), we have a higher law, more noble
principles, ideas that are more elevated and expansive; principles
that reach to the whole human family, and which he will continue to
reveal to us. Does that prevent us from obeying the laws of the land?
Certainly not. But then, is that a perfect system? I do not think that
many of you will say it is, nor do I think that the people of the
United States of any political party will tell you it is. I do not
wish to cast any reflections or refer to any events that have taken
place; I am merely speaking on religious principles, and principles
too in which we as Latter-day Saints are interested. We are united,
then, as a body politic, as an integral part of this Government, and
it becomes our duty to submit to the laws and institutions of that
Government—to all that are constitutional, framed [p.32] and based
upon correct principles, and not in violation of what the fathers of
the country instituted.

Vol. 21, p.32
But have we any higher aim than this? We have. Do any object If so why
should they? Do we in anywise interfere with any man's rights,
Government, or make war upon any parties? No, but we are interested in
the preservation of justice, equality and the rights of man in the
developement of peace, the further establishment of correct, more
elevated, refined and exalted principles, in placing ourselves in at
position more in accordance with things as they exist in the heavens,
for the welfare and happiness of the human family. God has given unto
us certain principles which we feel bound to observe. Is there
anything wrong in this? I think not. We have all kinds of institutions
here in the United States and in other nations, such as Odd Fellows,
Free Masons, and others; and they have a right to their ideas and
manner of doing things as long as they observe the laws, and so have
we, and have a right to be protected also in those rights. But to say
we must stand still is a thing not connected with our creed. if others
do not desire to accompany or keep pace with us, we must still go on
under the guidance of the Lord. As was said of ancient Israel, "The
Lord is our God, the Lord is our king, the Lord is our judge; and he
shall rule over us," so we say. We need information and revelation in
regard to our religious matters, we also need information,
intelligence and revelation in regard to our political, social and all
temporal matters. If we humble ourselves and purify ourselves, and
magnify our callings as the Elders of Israel, according to the
Scriptures, we will yet teach the princes of this world wisdom and
their kings know edge and understanding; for these things that are
spoken of will assuredly come to pass when "out of Zion shall go forth
the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." The purposes of God
shall yet be fulfilled in relation to these matters; God's work will
most assuredly progress, until "the kingdoms of this world shall
become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ, and he will rule for
ever and ever," not in war, not in confusion and strife and
discussions, not in evil and corruption; but in the interests of
humanity, according to the laws of life and in accordance with the
intelligence that dwells in the bosoms of the Gods, and in the
interests of a fallen world.

Vol. 21, p.32
Now we come to other matters pertaining to our mercantile
associations, I might talk further about our social relations, etc.,
however, these are subjects we hear a good deal about; we are pretty
well in formed in relation to them. The information we have pertaining
to our associations with our wives, and wives with their husbands has
been revealed to us by God, and we are striving to carry out those
eternal principles,—principles that will exalt us, our progenitors and
our posterity in the celestial kingdom, where we can enjoy the
presence of God and that of the celestial hosts who have gone before

Vol. 21, p.32
We come again to our temporal interests. Has the world been our
exemplar with regard to any of these things that I have mentioned. No,
the Lord has been our teacher, He has been our guide and director;
without him we could have accomplished nothing, for we knew no more
naturally than anybody else did.

Vol. 21, p.33
In relation to temporal things. Are we capable, as Latter-day Saints,
of [p.33] fulfilling our destiny on the earth, and procuring a full
temporal salvation and sustaining ourselves, on temporal principles
without the interposition of the Almighty? I tell you no, we are not,
no more than we are in regard to any other things. We read in the
Scriptures of a time that is coming when there will be a howling among
the merchants in Babylon, for men will not be found to buy their
merchandise. This is in accordance with the prediction of John the
Revelator. And the gold and the silver and the fine linen, etc., in
Babylon will be of no avail. But before that time comes, we as a
people must prepare for those events, that we may be able to live and
sustain ourselves when in the midst of convulsions that by and by will
overtake the nations of the earth, and among others, this nation. The
time that is spoken of is not very far distant. "He that will not take
up his sword against his neighbor, must needs flee to Zion for
safety." And Zion herself must flee to the God of Israel and hide
herself in the shadow of his wing, seeking for his guidance and
direction to lead her in the right path, both as regards spiritual and
temporal affairs; things social and things political, and everything
pertaining to human existence. We are not prepared as a people today
for the accomplishment of this object; we need the interposition and
guidance of the Almighty. It is just as necessary that we he under his
guidance in relation to these matters, as it is in regard to any other
matters. Who made the earth? The same being that made the heavens. Who
made our bodies? The same being that made our souls; and it takes the
"body and the spirit to make the soul of man." We need not arrogate to
ourselves any particular intelligence,  whether of mercantile,
manufacturing, chemical or scientific nature, for if there is anything
good or intelligent, it is the Lord who has imparted it, whether man
acknowledge it or not. We want to acknowledge the Lord in all things,
temporal as well as spiritual.

Vol. 21, p.33
I wish now more directly to touch upon some other principles
associated therewith. Some of us seem to be very much confused in our
minds as to how we shall operate in regard to temporal affairs. We
have brought with us the feelings, views and ideas of the people from
whence we came, which are conflicting, and which tend to
disintegration and division, and lead to covetousness and fraud, which
ought not to have an existence among the Saints of God. We have
advertisements published in our newspapers by the Latter-day Saints
too, things that are infamous, that are untrue, that are a shame and a
disgrace among honorable people, and stand as a living lie. The
community at large should not countenance such things as we see daily
in our papers to attract the attention of the unwary and bring what
they call grists to their mill, in the interest of the individual. We
as a people are not called together to act in individual interests; we
are called together as Saints of God to operate in the interests of
the Zion of God, for the welfare of Israel, and not let ourselves
float along with the balance, and all swim together, or all sink
together. We ought to be governed by principles of union, fellowship
and right feeling, carrying out honorable and upright principles that
should be acknowledged before God, the holy angels and all honorable
men.

Vol. 21, p.33
Now after speaking so much upon general principles, let me touch upon
some things referred to here about  [p.34] these reports, etc. We have
long talked about the united order and about co-operation; and we have
started in a good deal like some of our little boys when they begin to
run—we have made a great many stumbles in this matter. Little Willie
and Annie often think they can manage things better than Daddy and
Mammy; and we, like them, have assumed to ourselves strength, and the
first thing we know are pulling this way, that way and the other.
Then, have the institutions been exactly right? No, all kinds of
foolishness and all kinds of blunderings have occurred in their
administration. But shall we quit I think not; that is just what the
devil would like, just what many of our merchants want, and it would
be the very thing that would suit the world, and the devil would laugh
at us. What we want to do is to purge out the things that are wrong,
and correct them and place them upon a correct basis, and then adhere
to them as we would any other part of our religion. In the Church, if
a man lies or swears, or commits adultery, or does anything wrong, we
deal with him according to the laws of the Church. But because men do
wrong, we do not abandon our principles, nor leave the Church, but we
turn such individuals out that will not be righted, and we aim to
adjust all things and place them on a proper basis. Why not do the
same in temporal things? We have, for instance, Zion's Co-operative
Mercantile Institution; it is called the Parent Institution, and it
ought to be the parent of all these institutions and act as a father
and protecter and benefactor, doing all it can to promote the welfare
and prosperity of the people. And then the people, on the other hand,
ought to protect it and sustain it by doing their business through
that institution and act prudently, wisely, orderly and unitedly in
regard to these matters, that we may be one; for our revelations tell
us, If we are not one, we are not the Lord's. And if we are not the
Lord's, whose are we?

Vol. 21, p.34
We talk sometimes about the United Order. I do not propose to read to
you on this occasion from any of the revelations bearing on this
subject, but will quote to you in substance from one of them. The Lord
has told us that those who would not comply with the requirements
connected with this order should have their names erased from the book
of the law of God, and their genealogies must not be found on any
church records or history, their names shall not be found nor the
names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the
book of the Law of God. These words are to us, Latter-day Saints; they
are true and are binding upon us.

Vol. 21, p.34
Another thing; what did we do when President Young was among us,
urging these things upon us? Did we not enter into covenant by
re-baptism to be subject to the Priesthood in temporal as well as
spiritual things, when we took upon ourselves the obligations of the
United Order? Let me ask you, what do we mean by doing this? Is it a
mere form, a farce, or do we intend to carry out the covenants we
made? I tell you in the name of Israel's God they will be carried out,
and no man can plow around these things, for God has decreed that they
shall be accomplished; and any man who sets himself in opposition to
these principles which God has established, he will root him out; but
the principle itself will not  be rooted out, for God will see that it
is accomplished. And in [p.35] the name of Israel's God we will help
him to do it; and all who feel to do it, say amen. (The large
congregation responded with a loud, "Amen.")

Vol. 21, p.35
We have started co-operative institutions, and I will touch on a
principle now, showing how they ought to be governed. God has ordained
two priesthoods upon the earth—the Melchisedec and the Aaronic. The
Melchisedec presides more especially over the spiritual affairs of the
Church, and has done in all ages when it has existed upon the earth.
You will find this provided for in the Doctrine and Covenants; you can
hunt it up at your leisure, I do not wish to stop to make the
quotation now. The Aaronic priesthood is presided over by the
presiding bishop. If we had a literal descendant of Aaron he would
have a right to preside over the bishopric, and to operate and manage
and direct these things without the aid of counselors. In the absence
of such men the Lord has directed us to take men from the high
priesthood and set them apart to be bishops to administer in temporal
things. This Aaronic priesthood is an appendage to the Melchisedec
priesthood, and its province is to administer in temporal affairs. One
reason why we want men of this class to administer in temporal things
is because there is a special provision made for it. Nevertheless a
High Priest that is after the order of Melchisedec may be set apart to
administer in temporal things, having a knowledge of them by the
Spirit of truth. And before a man attempts to administer in Zion in
temporal things, he ought to obtain a knowledge of that spirit of
truth to administer according to the intelligence which that spirit of
truth imparts. Thus we have the Aaronic priesthood in its place; the
Melchisedec priesthood in its place. And in all the various functions
it is necessary to enter into all the various organizations. it is on
one or two particular points that I wish to speak now.

Vol. 21, p.35
In the first place the Lord requires certain things to be done to meet
his approbation; and everything has to be done under the direction of
the presidency of the Twelve, both temporal things and spiritual
things. The bishops and the presidents of Stakes and all the officers
in the Church of God are subject to this authority and they cannot get
around it. And when any officer of this Church who by virtue of his
calling does things without counselling with the proper authorities of
the Church, he takes upon himself things that he has no right to do,
and such a course cannot be acceptable before God and the Priesthood.

Vol. 21, p.35
Now then, we come to the bishopric. Ought the bishops to be consulted
in regard to temporal things? Yes, they ought. And as an example, let
me tell you that for the last year Bishop Hunter has associated with
the Council of the Twelve whenever they have met to consider temporal
matters. And I may say we have been pleased to have his company,
because it was his place to understand the position of temporal
things, that we may know his feelings, and counsel with him and he
with us, that everything may be done according to the order and laws
of God, that there may be perfect unanimity. With this view he was
placed as one of the counselors to the Trustee-in-Trust—because the
Trustee-in-Trust thought it belonged to him to hold that position, and
thinks so to-day. But then, does he preside over the Melchisedec
Priesthood? No, he does not. Who [p.36] and what is he? A high priest
ordained and set apart to the bishopric. By whom? The Presidency. Does
he control the Presidency? No, he is set apart by them; as bishop he
is an appendage to the higher priesthood, and does not control it. No
man controls it. I remember a remark made on one occasion by Joseph
Smith, in speaking with Bishop Partridge, who was then Bishop. He was
a splendid good man, as Bishop Hunter is. But he got some crooked
ideas into his head; he thought he ought to manage some things
irrespective of Joseph, which caused Joseph to speak rather sharply to
him. Joseph said, I wish you to understand that I am President of this
Church, and I am your president, and I preside over you and all your
affairs. Is that correct doctrine? Yes. It was true then and it is
true, to-day.

Vol. 21, p.36
Well, it is necessary that we should have an understanding of these
things, that we may make no mistakes in our administration. I want,
then, in all our operations to confer with our bishops. And if this
institution of ours is "Zion's Co-operative," then it should be under
the direction of Zion, under the direction of the Priesthood; and if
it is not "Zion's" Co-operative, then it is a living lie. But do we
wish to interfere with them? No, we do not. Do we wish to interrupt
them in any of their operations? No, we want to help them; we want to
unite them and all the people into one, with God at our head, governed
by the holy priesthood. Have they rights? Yes. Do we respect them?
Yes. Have the people rights? Yes. Shall the people be respected in
their rights Yes, they shall, all the people in all the Stakes; and
while we sustain them they must sustain us; and if they expect to have
our support, they must give us theirs.

Vol. 21, p.36
Having said so much, I will tell you that I believe sincerely that the
men managing our Co-operative Institution are doing just as well as
they know how. And I will state further, that I don't know of any
persons in this community who know how better than they do. And I have
been now for some time associated with them, and am acquainted with
their proceedings.

Vol. 21, p.36
There are other principles besides this; we want to learn to
manufacture our own goods. And while on the one hand we use the best
talent and financial ability we can get to attend to our mercantile
institutions; on the other hand, we need to cherish a spirit to
encourage home manufactures of every kind, and we want to get this
institution to help us do it. If we manufacture cloths and boots and
shoes or anything else, we want the institution to dispose of our
goods. If we need encouragement in regard to the introduction of any
manufactures of any kind, we want them to help us, and we have a right
to expect this of them so far as is wise, prudent and legitimate. I
will state that the directors of Z. C. M. I. feel interested in the
very things that I am talking about, and I say it to their credit and
for your satisfaction. I do not think there is an institution in the
United States in a better condition than that is today; and it is
improving all the time, not after any fictitious manner, but on a
solid, firm, reliable basis. Now then, I have proposed to these
brethren, which they quite coincide with, that when they shall be able
to pay a certain amount as dividends on the means invested, after
reserving a sufficient amount; to preserve the institution intact
against any sudden emergency that [p.37] may arise, which is proper
among all wise and intelligent men, that then the profits of the
institution outside of this, should be appropriated for the
development of the home manufactures, the making of machinery, the
introduction of self-sustaining principles and the building up of the
Territory generally, and they acquiesced in this feeling; and I say it
to their honor and credit. And I will tell you again that the Church
has got a large interest in that institution, consequently we wish to
see everything go aright, not on any wild erratic principle, but on a
solid, firm, reliable basis, that can be carried out and that will
elicit the admiration and confidence of all good and honorable men.

Vol. 21, p.37
Sometimes little difficulties have arisen outside through interested
individuals who have resorted to a good deal of trickery; other times
perhaps from just causes. And I will say too that complaints have been
made that we have not sufficiently sustained our home manufactures. I
will say however that the Institution has stood in a very delicate
position. We have been struggling with the financial crisis that has
cast a gloom over all this nation for the last number of years—since
1873. But we are now getting into a solid firm position, and when we
declared 3 per cent. for the six months dividend, it was because the
Institution was able to do so. And when we are able to extend this a
little farther we will be quite willing to do so.

Vol. 21, p.37
Some of the complaints that have been made against the institution we
have heard; and we have thought best to have a board and refer to that
board any complaints that might be made from any part of the
Territory. This board that has been temporarily organized has given us
these various reports which have been read in your hearing, which
indicate their views and feelings in regard to these things. We wish a
board of that kind to be organized upon a correct basis according to
the order of this Church and Kingdom of God; and then as the people
throughout the Territory send to purchase their goods from them, let
the people that make these purchases be represented; and if there is
anything not straight in their operations let them be made straight.
And this is what this committee is for, that the people may be
protected as well as the Institution.

Vol. 21, p.37
Then Stake organizations are recommended, with a representative from
each Stake at the general or central board, and it will make it much
more pleasant for the management of that Institution to have a
criticism of that kind. And it will also tend to allay many of these
foolish things which are frequently put in circulation in different
parts of the Territory. The object then, of this Board is that the
people may be represented, and that Zion's Cooperative may also be
properly represented, that it may serve as a balance wheel to adjust
and correct any matters of difficulty that may arise.

Vol. 21, p.37
I am happy to say that in many parts of the Territory they are
introducing the manufacture of leather and boots and shoes and a
variety of other articles. And suffice it to say that, according to
these reports, the Parent Institution has sustained the manufacturers
of these home-made articles quite liberally; and we want it to be in
that position that everything we use can be bought there. This is,
too, the feeling in relation to this matter. And when we get things
into a proper fix we will pull with a long pull and a strong pull
[p.38] and a pull altogether. We will strive to be one; and if we
cannot go so far as to sustain co-operation in regard to these things,
how in the name of common sense are we ever going into the United
Order? But we will begin with this, and then co-operate in all the
different Stakes, not only in your merchandising, but in your
manufacturing affairs and in your producing affairs; and in every
thing it will be the duty of this general Board of Trade to regulate
the interests of the whole community, honestly and faithfully, at
least we will do it according to the best ability we have; and if
there should any mistakes arise, we will try to correct them; if they
are on the part of the people, we will talk to them about it, if on
the part of the institution, we will talk to its management about it.
And we will keep working and operating until we succeed in introducing
and establishing these things that God has desired, and until Zion
shall be a united people and the glory of all the earth.

Vol. 21, p.38
God bless you and lead you in the path of life, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

H. W. Naisbitt, November 23, 1879

Salvation Dependent Upon Effort and Progress
—We Should not Be Discouraged By Difficulty

Delivered in the 13th Ward Meeting House,
 Salt Lake City November 23rd, 1879.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.38
My brethren and sisters: I can say that I have had some very pleasant
and interesting reflections while listening to Brother Fowler's
remarks, and think the purpose for which we have met this evening has
been a success. I have felt that I have been fed, that I have been
blessed, and that I shall carry with me more or less of the influence
and spirit of those remarks, and upon reflection we all understand
that this is really the purpose for which we come together.

Vol. 21, p.38
Mormonism, in a sense, is opposed to formality. All that there is
associated with it is meant for use, and there are results expected to
accrue from all the practices of the Church that have been established
by revelation, and everything is  intended to aid in the great work
[p.39] which we call salvation. To be sure, that is a very common
word, it is a word that we are all familiar with, it is something that
we have heard from the time that we were children, from the time that
we went to Sabbath school, and before we went there, and after we
attained to youth and manhood. But in the light of the Gospel how
narrow and contracted and how offensive the word in its sectarian
sense becomes to us, so much so that many of us scarcely like to use
it; we would prefer to use another expression which more thoroughly
carries with it all the ideas associated with the reception and
practice of the Gospel.

Vol. 21, p.39
Our memory has been cited to the fact that during the history of this
Church, and during the history of the primitive church, there were
those who possessed the spirit of unbelief, there were those who
became more or less indifferent and negligent in regard to that which
they received, and we have been referred to the history of those who
have fallen from this Church—men who have seen great things, men who
have had wonderful experiences, men whom we might have considered as
stable as the eternal hills by virtue of that experience. Now what is
the difficulty in such cases? What is the difficulty in any cases, in
your case, and in my case, when we lose an interest in the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God? Is it a healthy sign? or is it not
rather, if continued, a sign of approximating death? Is the man or the
woman who are alive to their duties—are they those who apostatize? Is
it the faithful man or the active, stirring woman, who are laboring
earnestly, following the practice and principles of the Gospel, that
leave the Church? No, it is not, but it is those who, from some cause
or other, become cold, heartless, indifferent, and neglectful of their
duties.

Vol. 21, p.39
Salvation, in its largest aspect, consists in the proportion of truth
received; men and women only are saved in proportion to the truth
which they appropriate. An ignorant man will only obtain the salvation
which belongs to the ignorant. The idler will only obtain that
salvation which belongs to an idle man. Is it not "the hand of the
diligent that maketh rich?" and there are parallels running through
all the actions of the Saints in a religious sense similar to those
which run through the actions of men in a social sense, even down to
the lowest details of human life, into every avenue of life, in every
direction in which human happiness is involved, constituting as they
do in their entirety that which is spoken by the Apostle Paul, "how
shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" I presume, if I am
to judge by my experience, that every man and every woman realizes
that it is just in proportion to our experience, our use of the
opportunities of life, our understanding of the principles involved,
that we are successful. If you find a man who essays to be a merchant,
who desires the accumulation of wealth, you will find a mast who
points his energies in that direction. He is a man who not only looks
at things in general but at things in detail; he not only looks at his
business as a whole but he looks at it in its parts; and if he were to
abstain or refrain from a consideration of the details which insure
success the probability is that he would find himself in the courts of
liquidation. Many a man, fortunate in a a mercantile sense, has gone
to the wall through carelessness in regard to little things as boxes,
paper, time, etc., through trival waste that every [p.40]  prudent man
would be disposed to notice; but the successful merchant in almost any
instance—and these instances are the exception and not the rule, is
the man who is economical, prudent and careful of the details of his
business. If you go into our houses, and you take our girls that are
grown up, and they are unable to bake bread, unable to cook a potato,
unable to wash and attend to all the duties which belong to domestic
life, how much of a domestic salvation will they receive? What
attraction will there be for the husband, working away in the battle
of life, when he comes home to find that rest which is so desirable?
Our domestic salvation depends upon attention to the details which lie
at the foundation of domestic happiness, and there can be no peace in
the domestic circle where there is a lack of intelligence, there can
be no success only where the good housewife masters the details of her
daily life.

Vol. 21, p.40
As it is in these two every day yet diverse instances of life, so also
it is in all other directions, and the same principle is just as
prominent and just as applicable to the details of our most holy
faith. You go out into the missionary field and preach the Gospel of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After you have finished your
discourse some one may come up to you and say, "my friend, I believe
the doctrine which you teach, I acknowledge the existence of the
Deity, I believe in the message of his son, I understand the necessity
of obedience to the first principles—including baptism." But mark when
a man has been baptized if he becomes careless and indifferent and
says "Well, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints to this extent." In your estimation now, what would be the
amount of salvation that man would receive? Why, he might receive the
remission of his sins and that is all he is entitled to, but the
salvation which belongs to the ordinance of the "laying on of hands"
would form no part of his blessings. But supposing he advances a step
further and says: "Having done so well I would like to enjoy a little
more of the blessings," and he goes and receives the laying on of
hands. He feels the promptings of the spirit of intelligence from
above, he rejoices in its influence; it suggests, persuades counsels,
and advises. Supposing that under the operations of this spirit he
should turn a deaf ear to its promptings—suppose that it prompts him
to go in one direction and he feels to run the other, suppose that he
should resist this influence, how much of a salvation in that respect
would he receive? For instance, you are all aware of the power of the
spirit, or rather the impulse it gives to gathering. We have all felt
this. It has been a part of our experience when we have been under the
influence of that spirit; we desired to associate with the Saints in a
local capacity in their general assemblies, and in a larger sense we
have been desirous of gathering with them to the great gathering place
wherever that may be. Suppose that spirit of gathering is resisted,
and a man says "Well, I have got a good situation here, a nice little
home, I enjoy the society in which I mingle"—and he continues in that
course, how on earth or heaven or any where else, can that man get the
special and particular salvation which belongs to gathering? It cannot
be done; it is not in the nature of things. If he would enjoy that
salvation he must absorb the  principle of gathering until it grows
and blossoms in