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 into life. And there are those even in [p.41] this
Territory who, when they get among the Saints believe that all the
purposes of their holy religion have been served in their experience,
and they set themselves down and say, "Well now, I will endeavor to
get for myself a good home; I will try to make myself comfortable; I
will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and as for some
duties which pertain to my religion—well, I have not time to attend to
them, they absorb too much of my attention, and I will give my life to
making myself and family comfortable." They think that because they
have been baptized, because they enjoy the spirit of the Lord through
the laying on of hands, because they have forsaken fatherland and come
to the mountains, that, therefore, they are sure of "the great
salvation" which the Gospel brings. Why, it is all a mistake. They
will get the salvation which is necessary consequent upon the truth
which they have absorbed and put into practice; no more and no less.

Vol. 21, p.41
Again, we find that some of our people when Christmas comes round will
begin to make excuses in regard to their tithing. Now, tithing is one
of the eternal principles which pertains to the order of God. But a
man goes up to his Bishop and says, "Well now, it's all I can do to
make both ends meet; the necessities of my family, the
responsibilities and cares that belong to the position in which I
move, compel me to use all the income I receive, and it scarcely
suffices to serve my wants." Do you believe that that man will ever
enjoy that particular portion of salvation which belongs to those who
promptly pay their tithes to the Lord? No, it cannot be done; that man
never can enjoy the special and peculiar blessing that belongs to all
those who pay their tithing.

Vol. 21, p.41
You go into a man's house and you find there disorder, children
disputing, the wives—two or three as the case may be—at loggerheads
(to use a rather vulgar expression) in fact the spirit of peace has
fled from the hearthstone, what salvation in a domestic sense does
that man enjoy? Is that the outcome of the order of family government,
or rather was it not instituted to promote peace and harmony, so that
we might have a type of the great heaven which we desire to enjoy in
the not far distant future? The man who would have domestic salvation
has got to work for it. He must understand the nature of the element
with which he deals, he must so manipulate that it will bring forth
the domestic salvation which he earnestly seeks. But supposing a man
has got the peace he desires in this respect, yet in the morning as in
the evening the song of prayer or praise is never heard in his house.
Now there is a certain position of domestic salvation which pertains
to the carrying out of these ideas and principles which we have
received that cannot be secured by any other process, and the man who
neglects to have family prayers, and to induce and persuade his family
to join in, has lost one of the great elements which operate and
secure for him and his, domestic salvation.

Vol. 21, p.41
Well, now, there are some who attend to all these duties; but still
there are a great many other principles that require to be observed. A
man, for instance, has got the wife of his youth and a little family
growing up, yet there is a principle in the Church of Christ called
patriarchal marriage, and many a woman in regard to this will say to
her husband, "Now let us be satisfied to leave well enough alone. If
your family circle is enlarged, you will increase your responsibility,
and [p.42] there is great risk connected with the introduction of a
foreign element in your family. It is true there may be peace, but it
is far more likely that there will be contention or division." Now, is
there any advantage in the practice of the patriarchal order? That is
the question. If there is—and I know there is, inspite of any
difficulty connected therewith—how can you expect to enjoy any benefit
which accrues from the practice of this eternal principle and yet
remain in neglect or disobedience of that principle. It cannot be
done. A great many think that it can, and they will employ all manner
of subterfuge to back up their position. They will read the revelation
on the subject, and they will construe and misconstrue all that it
says, in order to justify themselves in the position which they have
assumed; but every man and every woman may rest satisfied that the
blessings which flow from this order of the Church of Christ cannot be
secured by any other process than the one pointed out by Divine
authority. "But," says one, "I have known in my experience where
difficulties have originated through the practice of this principle."
Very true. Have you never known of difficulties originating in any
other direction or arising from the practice of any other principle?
Were there no difficulties set before you when you were baptized? Were
there no difficulties presented before you when you thought of
gathering? Were there no difficulties in your way when you endeavored
to make your feet fast in the valleys of the mountains? Is it not
difficulties that make the man? Is it not difficulties that make the
woman? Is it not those circumstances and changes of life that call
forth every energy and arouse us to continued action so that we may
ensure success? In the common walks of life we are accustomed to
notice men and women who pride themselves in the assurance that where
others have failed they have brought forth success. The same idea is
applicable to many in the direction of the patriarchal order. Where a
man has failed in one or some other given direction, that failure
should be an impetus to his neighbor, requiring and stirring him to
use all his ability so as to secure success.

Vol. 21, p.42
Now when I was in the old world I met a great many of the brethren
there wire were engaged like myself in the work of the ministry, and
whenever I met a man of the character I have described I invariably
found that he was shorn of power, that he did not carry with him that
full influence which a missionary of the Gospel should carry; at all
events he had not that influence which practice and experience gives
in this direction and I have imagined a case to myself sometimes. In
going into any small town or country village, into the midst of those
peculiar influences which exist in England, you will find an audience
congregated on the village green or elsewhere listening to the
missionary. Alter he is through with his discourse a man steps up and
says, I have heard the remarks you have made; I believe in the
principles that you advocate; but I am at the mercy of the squire, or
of the Lord of the Manor here, or the owner of this coal pit, or the
one who runs this factory, and if I should embrace the doctrine that
you preach I should be turned out of my cottage; I should lose the
opportunity of earning my bread, my boys and girls would be thrown out
of employment, and I should soon be all astray in a financial and
industrial sense." [p.43] What does the elder say in a case of that
kind? He says, "My friend I hear all your argument. It is very good,
that is so far as it goes, but the Lord has promised to take care of
his Saints; he has promised that when one door shuts another shall
open; and he has declared by revelation that it is his business to
provide for his Saints; and now if you will go down in humility and be
baptized and associate yourselves with the church and kingdom of God
upon the earth your way will be opened before you." The elder believes
what he is advocating. The man goes down and is baptized, and sure
enough directly it comes to his employer's ears, he receives a week's
notice to quit his work, or quit his cottage, as the case may be. He
pulls a long face when the elder comes round again, but the elder
says, "never mind, all will come out right; exercise your faith; trust
in Providence; do what is right and let the consequence follow." Soon
after this the man gets a good situation and an advance of a few
shillings per week probably; the Lord has blessed him, he has opened
up his way before him, and the words of the servant of God have been
fulfilled. By and by through this increase he gets to Zion, and
arriving there he goes to visit the house of this missionary and be
introduced to his family. After awhile he takes the elder to one side
and says, "How long have you been in Utah?" And the answer is ten,
fifteen, or twenty years, as the case may be. "You are pretty
comfortable, nice little house well furnished." "Oh yes, first rate."
Is this all the family you have got?" "Yes, this is all I have got;
never had but one wife; I could not maintain any more families." "But
says the man, "did you not tell me when I got baptized to keep all the
commandments of God; did you not tell me it was the Lord's business to
provide for the Saints; did you not make the assertion that the path
of duty was the path of safety?'" "Yes" says the elder, "that may do
very well for Babylon, but it won't do here in Zion." Now there is
something not right here; there is surely a weak point somewhere. If
the principle is good in the midst of the nations, it is good at home,
and if men are honest and honorable in the practice of that which they
know to be right in the valleys of the mountains, the path of success
will as surely open before them as it did to the man who received the
Gospel in a foreign land. A great many of the brethren think they
cannot, afford to keep any more families. I remember when I was a lad
I used to think and say I should not be able to keep myself, and on
remarking this to my landlady she replied: "I have often found that a
man who thinks he cannot keep himself can keep a wife and five or six
children." Why? Because the responsibility called forth his energies;
he became speculative and energetic in order to secure success. There
is a blessing, there is an element of salvation, there is something
which tends to progress in the obedience to every principle that has
been received, so far, in connection with the church and kingdom of
God, and every man and every woman will receive only that amount of
salvation for which they work. Our measure of salvation, then,
consists in the absorption of the truth we hear. Truth neglected,
truth unemployed, truth unappropriated, is as valueless as the snows
of ten winters ago are for the irrigation of our fields in the coming
summer. But where the spirit of life is, where the spirit of vitality
exists, where [p.44] throughout the whole organization of a man there
burns the spirit of intelligence, the spirit of advancement, he will
lead out continually in the right direction, and his wives and
children will follow after him, they will catch his spirit, his
neighbors will feel his influence, the ward to which he belongs will
feel after and emulate his example, and society generally will be the
better for his presence; but when this coldness, this indifference,
this negligence comes in, why, the blessings that belong to obedience
will not be received any more than the blessings that belong to our
attending meeting on a Sunday can be received if we stay at home. I
recollect a person saying to me once "Well, who preached to-day?" "Oh
brother so and so." "Well, I know all he can say; and besides when
such and such persons preach I can stay at home and read the
Bible"—and not much of that I think—"I can read the Book of Mormon,
Doctrine and Covenants, DESERET NEWS, and any of the books published
by the Church and I enjoy myself better than I do in going to
meeting." Now is that a fact? A man may think so; but is it a fact
that a man can increase in the knowledge of the things of God if he
absents himself from the services of the sanctuary as established by
divine appointment? I say, no. The meeting house is the place where
the table is spread, where the food is prepared by the eternal spirit,
and when we go there and hear men speak to us under the influence of
that spirit, and we are in possession of the same spirit—we are fed,
we grow and increase, and the roots and fibres of our being run
deeper, and so enable us to "bring forth more fruit."

Vol. 21, p.44
I presume the time is exhausted. I desire to continue faithful to the
appropriation of truth, wheresoever it may originate: no matter where,
for all truth is divine. It is my privilege to enjoy the spirit of
inspiration, to feel the flow of revelation from above; and that God
may grant us peace and wisdom and save us in his kingdom is mY prayer,
through Jesus Christ. Amen. [p.45]

Charles W. Penrose, November 29, 1879

The Word of the Lord to the Church Given Through
 the Authorities—Authorities Should Be Sustained
—Powers of the Priesthood—Sphere of Woman

In the Tabernacle, Provo, Saturday Morning, November 29th, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.45
I feel thankful to meet with the Latter-day Saints in this house to
participate in the enjoyment of this Conference; for it is really
enjoyment to me to listen to the instructions imparted to the Saints
by the power of the Holy Ghost through the covenants of God. It is not
supposed that when we come together as we do this morning, that we
wish to be treated to the views and opinions of men. The Lord has
instructed his servants to speak as they are moved upon by the Holy
Ghost, and it has been shown to us that it is our privilege when we
assemble on such occasions to receive instructions, not in the
enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration and power of
the Holy Ghost; and this will be the case when we assemble in the
right way and unite our faith and our attention and our spiritual
energy so as to call down upon us the blessings of the Almighty, and
to have the presence of those influences, those ministering spirits
who are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. It is our
privilege in these public gatherings appointed for the worship of God,
to have the presence of these holy ones in our midst, and to have the
power of the Almighty to rest upon both speaker and hearer, that we
may be fed and nourished by the bread of life that comes down from
heaven, and that when we part and go to our respective callings and
places of abode we may each carry with us "a live coal from the
altar."

Vol. 21, p.45
We meet here to-day to manifest that we are willing to sustain the
brethren appointed of God in their several callings and offices of the
holy priesthood. It may seem rather a dry and formal matter to some of
the people to come together and lift up their hands to sustain the
authorities of the Church, but it is a necessary duty and, if we look
at it properly, we shall take pleasure therein. It may seem a little
monotonous, but, as I have said, it is necessary, for it was designed
by the Almighty in the organization of this Church, that the voice of
the people should respond to the voice of the Lord. It is the voice of
the Lord and the voice of the people together in this Church that
sanctions all things therein. In the rise of the Church the Lord
[p.46] gave a revelation which said that "all things shall be done by
common consent." And the Lord designs that every individual member
shall take an interest therein, shall bear a part of the
responsibility, and shall take upon him or her the spirit of the
Church, and be an active living member of the body. It is designed
that this Church shall be alive in its parts; that every individual
particle shall be influenced by the spirit thereof When the human body
is in a healthy condition, the spirit that dwells therein animates
every portion; but when the body gets into an unhealthy condition,
there are parts of it through which the spirit does not circulate. So
with the Church that the Lord has established upon the earth. There
are plenty of dead forms in the world; religious institutions that are
not alive, but are forms without the power. The Lord is building up a
society, a kingdom, if you will, which he designs to animate by his
power in every part of it. And this is necessary for the good of the
whole that every individual member of the Church may be inspired by
the spirit that dwells in the body, and that the inspiration thereof
may not only rest upon the twelve apostles, upon the various
presidents of Stakes and the bishops who take charge of the various
wards, and upon the teachers who minister among the people, but that
it may go to every individual member of the Church, that the whole
body may be filled with life, and all be in unison with the highest
powers. Therefore, we are called together from time to time to
manifest our willingness to sustain the men presiding over us, through
whom comes the word of the Lord to us in an organized capacity. It is
our privilege individually to receive the word of the Lord direct. The
twelve apostles stand to communicate the word of the Lord to the
Church as a whole. The word of the Lord to the Church comes through
its presidency In the various stakes it coates through the authorities
appointed there, and is given to the wards through the bishops. But it
is our privilege also to receive the word of the Lord direct to
ourselves each in our individual sphere and capacity, for we hold a
relationship to God as individuals, as well as a community. It is our
privilege if we live aright, each one for himself to receive direct
from the fountain of life, intelligence, wisdom and knowledge for our
individual guidance, inspiration to direct us in all things that we
are called upon to perform. The father of a family has a right to
receive the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to direct him in all things
pertaining to his house-hold, to give words of wisdom and counsel to
his wives and his children and all within the sphere of his authority
and influence. It is the privilege of every mother to have the spirit
of the Lord to direct her in the course she shall take with her
children. And it is the privilege of every boy and girl, who has been
baptized into the Church, to receive the Holy Ghost for their
guidance, so that the whole Church may be quickened, bodily and
spiritually, with that life that comes from above; so that God may be
able to impress us as individuals with desires and intelligence for
the accomplishment of his purposes. And we should so live as to be in
harmony with the authorities of the Church; in harmony with those who
preside over us, that we may be able to see as they see, and act as
they desire us to act when they give us the word of the Lord. But we
cannot do that unless we possess this spirit. And not only should we
be in harmony [p.47] with those men, but with the powers behind the
vail; and we should be so tuned that our whole natures will be in
perfect accord with the influences that come from on high, and be
sensitive to the impressions God intends to make upon us.

Vol. 21, p.47
We sustain our brethren of the twelve, as prophets, seers, and
revelators; and I have heard it remarked by some brethren, that they
could not see any need of doing so, and that holding up their hands
does not make those men prophets, seers and revelators. That is true
enough as far as it goes. But by sustaining these brethren in our
customary way, we manifest to God and the powers behind the vail, who
work with the brethren in the flesh that we are willing to receive any
revelation that the higher powers may see fit to communicate through
them in that capacity. We have a great deal of principle and doctrine
given to us through the means of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the
Doctrine and Covenants, etc., with which we ought to make ourselves
thoroughly familiar. At the same time we have men presiding over us in
this Church through whom the word of the Lord will come in our present
circumstances for our guidance and for the guidance of the whole
Church in its onward march, as the exigencies of the case may require.
And when we lift up our hands to heaven to sustain them, we manifest
that we hold ourselves in readiness to receive the word of the Lord
whenever he sees fit to impart it to us. They are the legal channels;
they are the appointed receptacles to receive the words of the Lord
for us as an organized body; and by lifting up our hands to heaven in
this way, we show to God and to angels, that we are ready at any time,
if the Lord has a word of revelation to communicate to us, to receive
it, no matter how it may come; whether by the inspiration of the Holy
Ghost, or otherwise; by means of the Urim and Thummim, if he sees fit
to restore it to the Church, which he will do as sure as we are
gathered here to-day, and a man will stand up like unto Moses, wire
will communicate the word of the Lord unto us, line upon line and
precept upon precept, until God brings forth everything needed for the
building up of his work; and the things kept hidden from the
foundation of the world will be brought forth, and all the ancient
records that have been lost will be brought to light, by men through
whom God shall operate by means of the Urim and Thummim as well as by
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We manifest to him by our uplifted
hands that we will receive his word by inspiration, by the Urim and
Thummim, or by revelation, or the ministration of angels, or in any
way he may be pleased to communicate. It is fitting then that we
should do this. We do not know when the Lord may have some new word
for us. I am sorry to say we do not all know what is placed on record,
for we do not often read it. Nevertheless the Lord may see fit to
impart to us something not placed on record, and we should be ready
and willing to receive every word of counsel, or instruction, or
command, or rebuke that he may see fit to impart. It is necessary also
that we should show to our brethren who are called to these various
offices that we are willing to sustain them. For they have not called
themselves, neither do they run for office; we are not office-seekers
in this Church. It is very generally the case that a man who seeks an
office is not a fit and proper person to occupy it. But [p.48] we are
trilling to receive any appointment or calling the Lord may see fit to
place us in; we are on hand, we are ready; but we are not
office-seekers. As I have said the men whom we Voted to sustain this
morning, the presidency of the stake, bishops, home missionaries,
etc., did not call themselves, but have been called to act in those
positions; and they are not paid for it either, that is in worldly
wealth. Of course they are blessed and paid, as every man is paid when
doing good, in the blessings pertaining to his calling. For every man
called to occupy any position can, if he seeks aright, obtain the
spirit of that calling, and in that there is peace and joy and
satisfaction, so that he is paid in his labors in any office which he
may be called to fill. But our brethren do not thrust themselves
forward to seek for position. Somebody else calls them, and we,
to-day, manifest our willingness to sustain them in those callings,
and to give them the benefit of our faith and prayers, and to assure
them that so far as we are placed under their counsel we will accept
it and act upon it. So this is a good work we do. It does not take a
great deal of time or labor and it is a fitting duty for Latter-day
Saints to perform, and I feel that we are privileged in so doing.

Vol. 21, p.48
As the children of God, we need to rally around our brethren who are
acting in the Various offices in this Church, and be one with them and
not only manifest this by lifting up our hands, but by really
sustaining them in the positions they are called to fill, so far as
lies within our power, each one taking an interest in these things,
each one feeling that he has a part in this matter. For this work does
not rest altogether upon those required to act in official positions,
but upon every individual called by the name of Latter-day Saint. Some
people think that the sphere of labor they are called to occupy, is
not a great one, that if they were called to occupy some office in the
Church they could accomplish more good and have something more to live
for. But I think we shall discover that if we are all anxious to fill
our sphere of action, we can find ample opportunity for the exercise
of those powers with which God has endowed as; every man and woman can
find a sphere of usefulness if they are desirous; each one can find
his or her own place, and we will all come to it by and by. I believe
it to be one of the powers and authorities of this priesthood that God
has revealed from heaven, to find out the place for which every
individual in the church is adapted, and to get them into place.

"A place for everything, and
Everything in its place."

Vol. 21, p.48
And the time will come when the Lord shall have established his Church
perfectly upon the earth, and all things move in their proper course,
that God will find a place adapted to every person, in which each will
have more joy than in any other place and be able to do more good to
the community than in any other. And we can find this measurably
to-day if we are desirous to do so. For there is an ample sphere of
labor for every man, and also for every woman, in this Church. Every
man in this house, this morning, whether bishop, teacher, or
missionary to preach the Gospel, can find something to do for the
exercise of the powers with which he is endowed, magnifying his office
or calling in the priesthood —for we  nearly all have some portion of
the priesthood. If we seek for the spirit of that calling, we shall
[p.49] find plenty of opportunity for the exercise of its duties. But
the great difficulty is, many of us are content simply to be ordained
to the priesthood. "I am a high priest, or seventy, or an elder, as
the case may be, and am satisfied with my calling; and do not seek for
anything further." Now, my brethren, there are privileges and powers
pertaining to these callings—and we can read about them here in this
book (Doctrine and Covenants), and what the various duties are of
these different callings in the priesthood. The powers of the Aaronic
priesthood reach out a great way, for we are told that that priesthood
holds the keys of the ministration of angels. I wonder how many there
are who obtain such a blessing as this? I do not know whether we are
fit for communion with the higher powers, the beings sent forth to
"minister unto the heirs of salvation." But we read that the
Melchisedec priesthood contains greater powers than that. It not only
holds the keys of the ministration of angels, but of communion with
the heavenly Jerusalem, the general assembly and church of the
first-born with Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant and God
the highest and holiest of all. And the time will come when under this
priesthood to those who hold this authority and calling, and have the
spirit of it and minister in that spirit and obtain the power thereof,
the Lord will unveil his face and they shall gaze upon his glory. That
time will come, for there is no word of the Lord revealed but what
will come to pass. It may not come in the time and season we expect
it, or when we are looking for it; but we may be assured that
everything that God has promised by the power of the Holy Ghost
through his servants will come to pass in his due time. The time will
come when the servants of the living God will purify themselves before
him until they will be fit to receive these blessings. When that holy
temple is built in Zion God will take away the veil from the eyes of
his servants; and the day is yet to dawn when the sons of Moses and
Aaron, having become sanctified to the renewing of their bodies, will
administer in that holy house, and the veil will be taken away, and
they will gaze upon the glories of that world now unseen, and upon the
faces of beings now to them invisible; but it will be when they have
purified themselves from the evils of thin world, and are really the
servants of the living God, and temples of the Holy Ghost.

Vol. 21, p.49
We can get a measure of the spirit of this calling to-day, and by the
power thereof' we can have communion with our Father. Not only through
the living oracles in a Church capacity, but as individual members of
the Church we can come near unto the Lord, so that there will be no
barrier between us and him, and so that his Spirit can come upon us
freely, and the light of God can illuminate our souls and so direct us
that we may have the life and strength of this eternal priesthood. For
this priesthood is a reality and not a mere name; it is not a mere
calling in word, but an office which confers upon us power and
influence that comes from the Almighty. I know that men holding the
priesthood, and who magnify it and receive the spirit and power of it;
are different from other men, their influence and motives are
different, their feelings are different and the spirit and influence
they carry with them are different. Such men can go forth in the midst
of the wicked, enwrapped in the power and  [p.50] influence of their
priesthood, like the garments they wear, and be separate from the
world, and they can carry an influence in the world which other men
cannot carry. There is force in it, there is power and salvation in
it; and every man called to hold this priesthood should be a minister
of salvation in the midst of the earth. If he is not called to
minister abroad in the world, he can be a minister of peace and
righteousness at home; he can strengthen kite weak hands and confirm
the feeble knees, and drive away doubt from the sceptical mind bear
testimony to the truth which he has received and understands and
wherever he goes he can carry the Spirit and blessing of God that will
build the people together, and thus help to build up the kingdom of
God. And he will not spread contention or encourage any spirit which
would prompt men to speak evil of each other; he will not encourage
anything that savors of contention and strife and disunion, but, on
the contrary, will encourage all that tends to unite the people
together. And any man holding the priesthood has power to do that much
in the sphere which he is called to occupy. And also of speaking a
word in due season, and of standing in his calling and of being a
representative of the Most High God.

Vol. 21, p.50
And the sisters, too, have also a good, wide sphere. I was pleased to
see that the presidency of the Relief Society was presented and
sustained at this Conference. The sisters are one with the brethren in
their labors, and have duties peculiar to themselves, in carrying on
the work which God has given them to do. It has been well said, that
"Man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the
Lord." And we shall find that through all eternity the sexes go
together, and that the female portion of God's children have a part
and a lot in this matter as well as the male. These Relief Societies
give opportunity for our sisters to do much good, and even those who
do not belong to the society have frequent opportunities for doing
good. Every mother has a field of usefulness at home among her own
children; this is her peculiar sphere. Do not let me be understood to
mean that woman should be a fixture in the house, to be tied up to a
table leg, or to a wash-tub. I think many of our sisters stay at home
too much. if they would make it their business to take more out-door
exercise they would find it a relief to the monotony of household
work. I do not believe that women should be tied up at home; but I say
that home is woman's peculiar sphere. She reigns there as queen; she
can make that home comfortable, peaceful and pleasant for the husband,
so that he would rather come there than any Other place on earth; and
that woman is foolish, I think, who does not do this. Women should
make their homes as comfortable as they can, with the means at their
command, that the husband, the children and all that belong to the
family may be glad to come home to enjoy the society of the family
circle. Right there is where a woman can exercise the great power God
has given unto her. What a blessing it is when the Lord gives to a
woman children, boys and girls born heirs to the covenant, heirs to
the holy priesthood, that they may grow up with natural rights to the
blessings of the priesthood; to become servants of the Most High; to
become vessels for the Holy  Spirit to dwell in; to become
representatives of the [p.51] Lord upon the earth; to become ministers
of salvation for the living and the dead! What a sphere for the labors
of these sisters, to train up the minds of their children in the fear
of the Lord; to teach the boys good principles; to teach them as well
as the girls to be virtuous, pure, chaste, and holy, for those that
are unholy cannot receive the fullness of the blessing and power of
God, that is, like those who keep themselves pure before him. And the
brethren can plant these ideas in the minds of their boys, and if not
fully at first, by and by they will be enabled to comprehend their
full meaning. Fathers should take all the time they can in instructing
their children but the mothers are with them so much more and have so
much greater influence over them in a certain direction, and therefore
they should seek to exercise their powers by training up their
children in the way they should go. And we are not required to train
them up by word and precept alone, but by example. If we do not want
our children to use strong drink, it will not do for us to use it. Try
therefore to set our children examples which we would feel perfectly
willing that they should imitate. Our sisters can work in this way
both by precept and example, and above all things by the spirit they
carry; they can impress the minds of the young and rising generation
so that they may grow up with a natural tendency to that which is
holy. Let girls be brought up by a mother who is full of kindness and
love and charity—which are much more beautiful adornments than the
glittering show of jewelry; earthly jewels are nothing in comparison
to those precious jewels of eternity, and all the finery that woman
could put on is nothing to the adornment of the mind which peculiarly
shines out in the mothers and daughters of Israel —let a mother be
embued with this good, kind, teachable spirit and she can surround her
children with it, she can have that spirit in the home where she
resides. And although she may have a great many cares and tribulations
and trials which may tempt her to anger, yet, she can conquer all the
passions that will rise up in her nature and subdue them, and can
train up her children in the midst of these adverse circumstances, in
the fear of God, and her tribulations will be turned to her good, and
it will be easy for her children to walk in the way of God, and they
will grow up with a natural repugnance for the things which are evil,
and a natural desire to receive in their hearts every thing that is
good. The Lord is saying to the north, "Give up; and to the south,
keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends
of the earth." He has brought us to this place from the nations of the
earth that we may become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a peculiar people zealous of good works. This is why he
has given unto us laws with regard to the marriage relations, that
Israel shall not marry Gentiles; that Israel shall wed Israel; that
the daughters of God shall marry the sons of God, etc., in order that
our children may be heirs to the blessings pertaining to the
everlasting covenant, that by and by there may be a race of men and
women upon the earth who will be holy unto the Lord, born with natural
desires in them to do right, which they have inherited from their
parents, who shall train them up in the way they should go, with that
holy atmosphere surrounding them, that they may be thoroughly under
the influence of the spirit that [p.52] comes from on high, that their
whole natures may be sensitive to the whisperings of Almighty God,
that they may grow up, his sons and daughters, and that it may be a
mark of honor that such and such men were "born in Zion." The Lord
will give honor unto such people. And their sons will go to nations
afar off and the earth will tremble under their voice, and evil
spirits that are deceiving the sons of men will flee before them, for
the power of the priesthood will be with them. And they will search
out the seed of Israel wherever they preach to them the Gospel in
their own tongue by the power of the Almighty for this the gift of
tongues was designed—and they will gather in the seed of Israel to the
Zion of our God. And he will be their strength; he will go before them
and be round about them. And our daughters will grow up pure and
virtuous, and the angels of God will be round about them. And the Lord
will multiply his people upon the earth until all things are
fulfilled, his kingdom will be built up, the Lord Jesus Christ will
come, and all that lies been spoken by the prophets will be brought to
pass.

Vol. 21, p.52
Now, these things are right before us. God expects us to be a
different kind of people from those in the world. He does not expect
us to be of the world, worldly. We have come here to be separate from
the world, that we may purge ourselves from the spirit of Babylon. We
must have different motives from the world, we must not have the same
desires as the Gentiles, for their hearts are set upon the things of
this life. They worship the wealth of the world. I hope to see the
time when every Latter-day Saint will have plenty, and the time will
come when God will give unto his people all the wealth they desire,
but that will be when they know how to use it aright, and when their
hearts are right and set upon the law of the Lord and upon the counsel
of his will, and when they will be willing to use it for his glory and
the blessing of their race. We must remember we are Latter-day Saints,
having come here to serve the Lord, to learn his ways and walk in his
paths, and to unite ourselves together, that we may be a solid,
compact body, a living body filled with the spirit of life and light
that comes from God, ready at any moment, as individuals in as an
organized church community to move forward in any direction required,
that the word of God may be proclaimed, that Israel may be gathered
and the Kingdom of God built up, and the power taken out of the hands
of the wicked and vested in the hands of the servants of God, who will
rule in righteousness in. the midst of the earth.

Vol. 21, p.52
I bear my testimony to this congregation, many of whom are strangers
to me, and some of whom I have met, conversed with and labored with in
foreign lands; I can say to you all that I know this work is true. I
know by the revelation of the Holy Spirit that the Lord has commenced
the great work of the; latter days spoken of by the, prophets. I know
it will remain, and will prevail; though all the world rise up against
it—as they will do some day, not only this nation, but others—and will
say," Let her be defiled." But they know not the Lord, neither do they
understand the counsels of his will. For he will say unto Zion, "Arise
and thresh, O danghter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I
will make  thine hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many
people: and I [p.53] will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and
their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth." Though all nations
oppose, this work will, roll onward to completion; for the power of
God will be in our midst and we shall be able to accomplish with
greater ease and facility everything we are directed to do. This
kingdom will prevail, and this work will roll on and accomplish
everything predicted. And the time will come when the pure and good of
every clime will gather up to Zion; and the Temple will be built in
the centre city of Zion, the New Jerusalem, and the glory of God will
rest upon it, and the purposes of God will be developed and his
kingdom roll on, while the kingdoms of this world, with all their pomp
and splendor, will be brought low; and God through his priesthood,
will rule from the rivers to the ends of the earth. And Christ our
Redeemer will come and bring his reward with him.

Vol. 21, p.53
May God help us to be faithful in this work, so that when he shall
come, we may as individuals and a church be purified and prepared to
enter into the joy of our Lord to receive the fullness of the
blessings of the Gospel of peace. Amen.

John Taylor, September 21, 1878

 Co-Operation and the United Order—The Saints Should Be Governed
 By the Law and Will of God—The Approaching Calamities Upon the World
—Should Be Willing to Forsake Earthly Interests for the Gospel's Sake

Delivered at the Regular Priesthood Meeting of the
 Weber Stake of Zion, Held at Ogden, on the 21st September, 1878.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.53
I have been desirous to meet with the priesthood of this Stake, and I
have invited a number of the presidents of Stakes within this district
of country to be present at this meeting, for the consideration of
certain questions that have been pressing themselves upon my mind for
some time, that I want to lay before the people here.

Vol. 21, p.53
We have met here in a capacity of the holy priesthood, and all of us
profess to be elders in Israel, and to be disposed at least to walk
according to the order of God, and to seek to establish the principles
of righteousness as far as lies in our power, and to try to build up
his kingdom on the earth. That, at least, is our profession, and I
believe [p.54] is the sentiment of the hearts of most of the brethren
now assembled. At the same time we have different ideas about many
things, particularly things of a temporal nature, so called, We go in
a good deal for what is called "free trade and sailor's rights"—we
want to enjoy a large amount of liberty. All these things are very
popular and very correct. But in our acts and doings it is necessary
that we be governed by certain laws and principles which have been
given unto us by the Lord. We all concede to this. But there are some
things we seem to be very much confused about, in regard to our
temporal matters. During the lifetime of President Young—several years
ago, it seemed as though he was wrought upon to introduce co-operation
and the United Order, to quite an extent. He told us at the time that
it was the word and the will of God to us. I believed it then; and I
believe it now. And yet, at the same time, every kind of idea, feeling
and spirit has been manifested. In many places co-operation and the
United Order have been started under various forms; in some they have
succeeded very well, and in other places people have acted foolishly
and covetously, seeking their own personal, individual interests under
the pretense of serving God and carrying out his designs. Others have
been visionary and have undertaken things which were impracticable,
while others have not acted in good faith at all. There has been every
kind of feeling among us as a people, that is possible to exist
anywhere. And I have thought sometimes in regard to our co-operative
institutions, that some of those who are engaged in them and sustained
by them are as much opposed to co-operation and United Order as any
other class of people we have. At least, I have noticed feelings of
that kind. I do not say they are general. But there are certain
reflections in relation to these matters that have been pressing upon
my mind for some time. And let me here ask myself a question—a
question not of a personal nature; I have not come here to talk about
any personal matters at all, but upon principle and upon some of those
principles that we as Latter-day Saints, and as elders in Israel,
profess to believe in. The question would be and my text would be
to-day, if I wanted to take a text: Shall we sustain co-operation and
the United Order, and work with that end in view in all of our
operations, or shall we give it up as a bad thing unworthy of our
attention? That is where the thing comes to, in my mind. At any rate,
we wish to act honestly and honorably in this matter. If we believe
that these principles are true, let us be governed by them; if we do
not, let us abandon them at once, conclude that we have made a mistake
and have no more to do with them. For we, all of us, profess to be at
least honest men, and to act conscientiously. If there is anything
wrong in these things, let us know the wrong; and if it is not a
command of God, and not binding upon us, let us quit it. And then the
question naturally arises, Are we prepared to do this? And, on the
other hand, if we believe that these are principles that are
inculcated by the Lord, then let us be governed by them. In fact,
whichever way we decide let us carry out our decisions in good faith,
and not have our sign painted on one side in white and on the other
black or some other color. But let us feel as the prophet Elijah did
on a certain occasion, "If the Lord be  God, follow him; but if Baal,
then follow him." There was [p.55] a disposition in ancient Israel to
have a part of God and a part of the devil or Baal—an idolatrous god
which was worshipped by them. I sometimes think that in some respects
we are a good deal like them. Do we believe our religion? Yes. Do we
believe in the holy priesthood and that God has restored it to the
earth? Yes. Do we believe that God has established his kingdom? Yes.
And do we believe that the Italy priesthood is under the guidance of
the Lord? O, yes; but still we would like a good deal of our own way.
If we must introduce something that the Lord has commanded, we would
like to put it off just as far as we can, and if we cannot do it any
other way we will fight against it, according to circumstances, and
how things move and operate. We often wish the Lord would not exact
certain things of us; we would rather have our own way. But let us
look at things calmly and dispassionately. As I understand it, the
Lord has gathered us together to do his will, to observe his laws and
keep his commandments. And we have certain obligations devolving upon
us in the holy priesthood which God requires at our hands. He
requires, for instance, of the Twelve to go, when called upon, to the
nations of the earth and preach the Gospel to those nations. If they
were not to do it, would they be justified? No, they would not; God
would require the blood of the people at their hands. That is the way
I figure up these things. I do not know of any half-way house. As one
of the Twelve, I do not want to dodge any of these questions, but meet
them fairly and squarely. And I think I have done it; and I think the
Twelve generally have. They have always been on hand to go anywhere
when the Lord has required them to go, whether in sickness or health,
in poverty or abounding in means; no matter what their circumstances,
or what individualism would have to be sacrificed, their object has
ever been to do the will of God. And so it has been with a great many
of the seventies, high priests and also with a great many of the
elders. Their feelings have been: Let the Lord speak, and here am I,
ready to do his will and carry out his designs. And this feeling
exists today in the hearts of a great many; but there are also a great
many who do not feel so, who want to dodge these questions. Here is
Brother Eldredge, who is one of the presidents of the seventies; he
knows how extremely difficult it is to get men, as we used in former
years—"at the drop of the hat," as it was termed, to go on missions.
However, I do not wish to dwell upon that; I merely refer to it in
passing along.

Vol. 21, p.55
We are here, as I understand it, as Jesus was, "Not to do our own
will, but the will of our Father who sent us." If God had not felt
after you, and his spirit operated upon you, you would not be here in
these mountains to-day. What does Jesus say about these things in
speaking of them? "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for
them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." You have been in
the same situation; you have seen the elect of God gathered together
through the medium of the holy priesthood, by the opening of the
heavens and the revelation of the will of God to man and the
restoration of the holy Gospel. You have been gathered together in
this way, and we all have. What to do? Is it, as they used to say in
the Church of England, to follow the devices and desires of our own
hearts? Is [p.56] it to follow out some petty scheme of our own? I do
not to understand it; I understand that it is to build up the Church
and kingdom of God upon the earth, and to prepare the earth and the
people of the earth for the things that are coming on the earth; and
to prepare ourselves, as a people, to receive further intelligence,
wisdom and knowledge from God, that he may have a people in whom he
can place confidence, and whom he can bless, and through them confer
blessings on mankind. He expects us to build up his kingdom, and that
is the first consideration with us. And this is what he told his
disciples in former days "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things" —referring to our temporal
concerns. which comparatively are like so many chips and
whetstones—"shall be added unto you." But these things, too, enter
into our daily life and our intercourse one with another, and into the
purposes of God associated with the gathering of his people together,
that they may be one, that through them he can communicate his will to
the human family, that there may be a nucleus formed around which the
honest in heart from all the world may rally; and be in possession of
the word and will of the Lord, and the light, intelligence and
revelations of God our Father; that the secret of the Lord might be
with those who fear him, and that they might fear him and understand
the things which are approaching, and prepare the earth for those
things that are coming. We appear here, as it were, in a normal
school, to prepare ourselves to carry out the purposes of God upon the
earth. Can you find a people anywhere on the earth that will listen to
the word of God? No, you cannot; neither can you find anybody to whom
God could communicate his will. We talk a good deal, and often preach
a good deal, about the judgments which are to come upon the earth:
wars, pestilence, famine, and distress of nations, and testify that
calamity will follow so continously that by and by it will be a
vexation to hear the report thereof. We have talked about these things
for years. I have myself for upwards of forty years; and as I have
said before, so I repeat, that these things which await the world, are
forty years nearer than they were forty years ago. God did no; mock us
when he told us of these things; but all that he has said concerning
them through ancient prophets and through Joseph Smith are true, and
as sure as God lives they will take place. I will prophecy that they
will take place as sure as God lives, and they are approaching very
rapidly upon us. We are told that the day will come when he that will
not take up his sword against his neighbor must needs flee to Zion for
safety. And is that true? Yes, it is. If that should take place today,
are we prepared for it? I think not. If we should go on for years as
we are now going on shall we be prepared for it? We are not, to-day,
all of us, preparing for these things. We can hardly manage a few
miserable apostates and a few Gentiles, and we feel very creepy
sometimes about anything that transpires, not knowing how or what may
be the result; instead of being clothed upon with the spirit of God
and being filled with the Holy Ghost, the light of revelation and the
power of God. But we do not have this kind of feeling, and we are
divided up in our interest, one man pulling against another,  so much
so, that we have to-day all kinds of Gentilism among us. Even our
newspapers give [p.57] circulation to certain classes of
advertisements which are a living lie, and it is a shame and disgrace
that such things should be seen in Zion. Some call it Gentile
trickery, the tricks of trade etc., but I call it chicanery and
falsehood, and it is so in regard to many other things. Does this
comport with the position we occupy as men holdling the holy
priesthood? I do not think it does. I think we ought to occupy a more
elevated and honorable position; I think we ought to he governed by
other influences, and he actuated by other motives. I think that our
lives, our desires, our feelings and our acts ought to be to try to
build up Zion and establish the kingdom of God upon the earth; that we
should be united in our temporal as well as in our spiritual affairs,
for God says: "If you are not one you are not mine." Do you believe
it? You elders of Israel, do you believe that saying? And if we are
not the Lord's then whose are we? We have our own plans, our own
notions and our own theories; and as one of old expressed it, we are
seeking for gain, every one from his own quarter. And we are governed
to a very great extent by selfishness, and too much by our own
personal feelings, and allow these things to influence us instead of
being governed by those high, noble, dignified and glorious principles
that dwell in the bosom of God, which emanated from him, and which
dwell also in the bosoms of those who in sincerity fear God and keep
his commandments.

Vol. 21, p.57
Now, I know what many of you will say, in speaking of co-operation:
"there has been a great many abuses." Yes, I admit it—numbers of them.
"What and under the name of the United Order also?" Yes, any quantity
of them. Joseph Smith in his day said it was extremely difficult to
introduce these things because of the greed, covetousness, selfishness
and wickedness of the people. I wish here to refer to one or two
things connected with this subject. I spoke about the Twelve, the
seventies, the elders and the high priests; and stated that a great
many of them had been out preaching the Gospel, and that some of them
felt as though it is hard work. It is, no doubt, very up-hill business
for a man to be a Saint if he is not one; and if he has not the
principles of the Gospel in his heart, it must be very hard work, I
may say an eternal struggle, for him to preach. But if a man has got
the pure principles of the Gospel in his heart, it is quite easy for
him to expound the truth. Well, now, I will take the words of Jesus:
"Except a man can forsake father or mother, wife and children, houses
and lands, for my sake, he cannot be my disciple." And let me say to
you, my brethren, that that Gospel is just as true to-day as it was
then, that except a man is prepared to forsake his earthly interests
for the sake of the Gospel of the Son of God, he is unworthy of it.,
and cannot be a true Saint. Now, this is where the hardship comes in
and it also accounts for this eternal rubbing and bumping. "How much
can't I do, and how little can I do to retain fellowship with the
Church; and how much can I act selfishly and yet be counted a disciple
of Christ?" Did you never feel as Paul describes it—the spirit
striving against the flesh? I guess you have, and you doubtless know
all about it; for these are plain matters of fact. This is the
position the Gospel has placed us in; and it is a very difficult thing
to serve two masters, in fact it is useless for any man to attempt to
do it, "for (as the Savior says) [p.58] either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the
other. Yet cannot serve God and mammon." And therefore Jesus said:
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of
heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.

Vol. 21, p.58
But to return to the principles of co-operation and United Order.
Supposing a man had come to you elders, when you were out on missions,
requesting baptism at your hands, without having repented of his sins,
would you have baptized him? No, you would not. But supposing he
claimed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not in baptism; would
you receive him into the Church? No, you dare not do such things. But
supposing again that he believed in baptism and in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and had repented of his sins, but did not believe in the
laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost; would you
baptize him? No. And further supposing he had complied with all these
requirements, and he had the opportunity to, gather to Zion but did
not improve the opportunity, would you consider him a very good Saint?
No. Now, beside all these, the Lord has given us a law pertaining to
tithing; and if he did not comply with that would you consider him a
good Saint? No. And we are told to build temples, and the man who
would refuse to do this work, you would consider a very poor specimen
of a Latter-day Saint. Referring to the United Order, the Lord has
given us to understand that whosoever refuses to comply with the
requirements of that law, his name shall not be known in the records
of the Church, but shall be blotted out; neither shall his children
have an inheritance in Zion. Are these the words of the Lord to us? I
suppose there are none here to day but would say, Yes. How, then can I
or you treat lightly that which God has given us? It is the word of
God to me; it is the word of God to you. And if we do not fulfil this
requirement what is the result? We are told what the result will be.
These things have not taken place now; but we have been wandering
about from place to place, and the Lord has blessed us in a remarkable
degree. And we are gathered together, as I have said, for the purpose
of building up Zion, and we are supposed to be the servants of God
having engaged to perform this work: and individually, I would say, I
do not want to profess to be a Saint, if I am not one, nor if the work
we are engaged in is not of the Lord; if the principles we believe in
are false, I do not want anything to do with them; on the other hand,
if they are true then I want to be governed by them, and so do you. We
must carry out the word and will of God, for we cannot afford to
ignore it nor any part of it. If faith, repentance and baptism and
laying on of hands is right and true and demands our obedience, so
does co-operation and the United Order. Some may say, here is such and
such a man has been connected with the United Order, and how foolishly
he has acted, and others have gone into co-operation and made a
failure of it. Yes, that may be all very true, but who is to blame?
Shall we stop baptizing people and make no further efforts to
establish the kingdom of God upon the earth, because certain ones have
acted foolishly and perhaps, wickedly? Do the actions of such people
render the principles of  the Gospel without effect or the doctrines
we teach untrue? I think [p.59] you would not say so. What do we do
with such cases? We purge them out, we cut them off according to the
laws God has laid down; but we do not stop the operations or the
Gospel, such a thought never enters our minds, for we know the work
already commenced is onward and upward. Shall we then think of putting
an end to these other principles because men have acted foolishly and
selfishly and done wrong? No, I think not; I do not think we can
choose one principle and reject another to suit ourselves. I think
that all of these things, as we have received them, one after another
are equally binding upon us, Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that proceedeth out from the mouth of God."
This is as true to-day as it was when spoken.

Vol. 21, p.59
I have seen a disposition among many of the brethren to pull off in
every kind of way, and this spirit and tendency is spreading and
growing in every part of our Territory. We have co-operative stores
started, and we have the eye of God painted over the doors, with the
words "Holiness to the Lord" written overhead. Do we act according to
that? In a great really instances I am afraid not. But what of that?
Shall we depart from these principles? I think not. What was the
principle of co-operation intended for? Simply as a stepping stone for
the United Order, that is all, that we might be united and operate
together in the interest of building up Zion. Well, having started,
what do we see? One pulling one way another pulling another way; every
one taking his own course. One man says: Such a one takes his own
course, and I will take mine. Using the same line of argument, because
one man commits a wrong unworthy the calling of a Latter-day Saint,
his doing so is to be an excuse for my doing the same thing. As I
understand it, I am called to fear God, whether anybody else does it
or not; and this is; your calling just as much as it is mine. We may
indeed shirk it and violate the covenants we have made. The Lord has
blessed us with endowments and covenants of which the world know
nothing, neither can they know anything about it. And he has given
unto us these things that we might be brought into closer union with
God, that we might know how to save ourselves, our wives and children,
as well as our fathers and progenitors who have gone before us. Having
done this, what next? God has revealed certain things to the children
of men now as he formerly revealed the Gospel to the children of
Israel. But could they stand it? No, they could not. Moses succeeded
in leading seventy of the elders of Israel to the presence of God; he
would have lead all Israel into his presence, but they would not be
led; they turned to idolatry, to evil and corruption, and hence they
became disobedient and unmanageable. And when the Lord spake to them
they became terrified and said, "Let not God speak unto us lest we
die." God wants to brine us near to him, for this purpose he has
introduced the Gospel with all its ordinances. Has he been true to us?
Yes. And when you elders have been out preaching and baptizing people
for the remission of their sins, and when confirming them members of
this Church, you have said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, have they
received it? They have, God bearing witness of the truth of your words
and of his ministry conferred upon you.

Vol. 21, p.60
Now then, he calls upon us to be one. What for? Because we are [p.60]
associated with his kingdom. With what? With his kingdom. What is his
kingdom? It is his govern ment, rule, authority, dominion, power. etc.
God has introduced his kingdom after his order, and it is for him to
guide that kingdom and direct it, and manage it, and manipulate it in
the interest of the honest in heart, and of all nations. He has
commenced it among us that he might have a little nucleus where he
could communicate and reveal his will, composed of such as would carry
that will out, and do his bidding and obey his behests. That is what
we are here for, and not to do our own will, any more than Jesus came
to do his will, but the will of his Father. What do we know about
building up the kingdom of God? What do we know about the calamities
that are to come? I can tell you that while we have peace to-day and
everything runs smoothly and quietly on, the day is not far distant
before the Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth, and it will be
felt in this nation more keenly and more severely than any of you have
seen it by a great deal, and I know it, and I bear testimony to it. We
have no time to experiment in following our own notions and ideas; we
have something else to do, we have got to build up the kingdom of God;
and in order to do this we must of necessity unite ourselves together,
and seek to know the mind of God to carry it out. And all that we do
should be done with this object in view. We have all kinds of
individual interests and enterprises among us; some men are operating
quite considerably one way and another, and some are not. Brother
Jennings, for instance, who is present with us to-day, besides owning
stock to the extent of $90,000 in Z. C. M. I., is, with others engaged
with other pursuits of a manufacturing nature, which are very
laudable. Such enterprises tend to give employment to the people, and
this is what we want, and what we must have sooner or later. There is
one thing, however, I would here say about forming unions and
partnerships in any line of manufacture: Let them be formed with the
understanding that when the proper time shall arrive they can merge
into co-operation, or the United Order. It is very important that in
all of our undertakings we should have at heart this feeling and work
to this end, and then we may reasonably expect that it can be but a
question of time to bring out a grand consolidation of all individual
interests. I have been impressed in my feelings upon these subjects
for some time, therefore I speak about them as I do. How many years is
it since this was started, and how little we have done! I tell you if
we go a little further in our drawing off, and each taking his own
course, God will leave us to ourselves. But he will not leave us as
long as we manifest a desire to do right; and I am pleased to say
there is a feeling generally among the brethren to listen to counsel,
yet at the same time we are apt to get confused forgetting the object
we have in view, amidst the variety of things that present themselves.
Shall we, my brethren, give up co-operation or shall we consider men
in good fellowship who are pulling off in either direction, or shall
we not? What shall we do? Shall we be true to our religion, true to
our faith, true to the principles that God has commanded; or shall we
forsake them We will not forsake them, and the brethren generally do
not feel like  doing it; but there are a few now and then who get off
the track. We [p.61] want to get together and unite our hearts and
sympathies into one, placing ourselves under proper direction, holding
ourselves in readiness to perform any work required by God at our
hands. I will tell you in the name of Israel's God that if you keep
his commandments you will be the richest of all people, for God will
pour wealth upon you; but if you do not, you will have to struggle a
good deal more than you have done for the Spirit and blessings of God
will be withdrawn from us, just in proportion as we withdraw ourselves
from God. We are living in an eventful age, an age in which many
wonderful changes are to be wrought. We are told many other things of
a similar nature, that he who will not take up his sword against his
neighbor, must needs flee to Zion for safety. The Latter-day Saints
will see the day when people will flock to Zion, and many of them will
say, we do not know anything about your religion, but you are an
honorable, just, industrious and virtuous people, you administer
justice and equity, and the rights of man are protected and
maintained. You maintain good government, extending protection to
everybody, and we want to live with you and be one with you. We want
to prepare ourselves for these things, for they are coming as sure as
God lives. Amen.

John Taylor, January 4, 1880

Comprehensiveness of the Lord's Prayer—The Rule and Government of God
—The Revelation of the Father and Son to Joseph Smith, and the 
Bestowal Upon Him of the Priesthood—Development of Theocratic
 Laws and Principles—Object of Gathering—Religious Freedom
—Our Relations With the General Government

Delivered in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, at the Quarterly
Conference, Sunday Afternoon, January 4th, 1880.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.61
I have been very much pleased and interested in the proceedings of
this conference and in the teachings that we have had from those who
have addressed us, and I take very great pleasure in performing my
part in these exercises in which we are now engaged. It would seem
[p.62] that this building is rather too small for us at present; I do
not know that we can stretch it any; consequently we will put up with
things as they are. However it will only be on extraordinary occasions
that we shall have the amount of people in it that there is to-day. By
and by the storms will be over and the winter past, and we have got a
larger building close by, that we can go to. I am very much pleased
however, with the exertions that have been made in preparing this
building so far, it is true that it is in an unfinished condition for
the assembling of the Saints at this conference; but I suppose that it
will be quite gratifying to the priesthood and to all who have
assembled together on this occasion, to possess the privilege we now
enjoy.

Vol. 21, p.62
There are a few thoughts that have passed through my mind in hearing
the remarks of some of my brethren. I was much pleased this morning in
listening to the remarks made by Brother Pratt and the brethren who
succeeded him, particularly in regard to the subject that they seemed
to have their minds upon, that is in relation to the observance of the
word of wisdom; and although, like Brother Pratt, I should have to
make an acknowledgement that I have not fulfilled that always, yet, I
heartily sustain and coincide with every principle that God has
revealed for the temporal or spiritual salvation of his people. There
were some remarks associated with those made by some of the brethren
that also bore a little on my mind, namely, that our religion did not
consist simply in one principle but in many, agreeable to what has
been spoken in ancient days that "man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." But we are
none of us justified in repudiating or ignoring any one of those
principles which God has given unto us, and if we have been negligent
in these or other matters the proper way for us to do is to reform, to
begin anew, or, at least if we have let down any stitches, as the
sisters sometimes say when they are knitting, gather them up again and
put things in proper position that we may be able, not only in that
but in everything else, to honor our God in all sincerity, fidelity
and integrity; that we may be able to present ourselves before the
Lord in a manner which shall always have his acceptance.

Vol. 21, p.62
We need teaching continually, line upon line, precept upon precept,
here a little and there a little. Hence we have our various
organizations of the priesthood, calculated to oversee to manipulate,
to regulate, to teach, to instruct, and to enter into all the
ramifications of life whether they pertain to this world or the world
to come. We need Continually not only the guidance and the teachings
of the apostles, the presidents, the bishops, priests, teachers,
deacons and the various organizations of the priesthood; but we need
individually to look unto the Lord for wisdom to direct us in all the
affairs of life, that we may speak aright, that we may think aright,
that we may act aright, and we may perform the various duties
devolving upon us to attend to in all of the avocations of life, and
in our prayers, in our various devotions in a family capacity, in a
church capacity and in every position that we occupy, we need the
guidance and direction of the Almighty. And it is with individuals as
it is with families and branches and portions of families, we need to
seek unto the  Lord and obtain wisdom from him. There is one fact, and
that is [p.63] a great many people—scarcely any of us—know what is
good for us. We may have our ideas about that; but we need continually
the guidance and direction of the Almighty. The disciples, that is the
apostles of old, understood this principle and they asked the Lord to
teach them how to pray and in a very few words he uttered one of the
most comprehensive forms that has ever been penned or spoken. He said
when you pray say "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done in
heaven; give us this day our daily bread; forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive them that trespass against us, and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the
power and the glory, for ever and ever. amen." That is a most
comprehensive prayer. In the first place the God of the universe is
recognized, our Father who is in the heavens, the God and the Father
of Jesus Christ. And what else? The God and Father of the spirits of
all flesh. We recognize and reverence him as "Our Father, which art in
heaven," we bow before him and seek unto him for his guidance and
direction. We hallow and reverence his name. And then what next? "Thy
kingdom come." What kingdom? All those things branch out into great
and important principles, that can only be understood by revelations
from the Most High. "Thy kingdom come." Why? That "thy will may be
done on earth as it is done in heaven."

Vol. 21, p.63
I wish to refer a little to some of these things, those ideas and
principles that are developed in this saying, in part, because these
things can only be done in part. We talk a good deal about the church
and kingdom of God. I sometimes think we understand very little about
either. The kingdom of God means the government of God. That means,
power, authority, rule, dominion, and a people to rule over; but that
principle will not be fulfilled, cannot be entirely fulfilled, until,
as we are told in the Scriptures, the kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule over
them. And when unto him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
that he is Christ, to the glory of God, the Father. That time has not
yet come, but there are certain principles associated therewith that
have come, namely, the introduction of that kingdom, and the
introduction of that kingdom could only be made by that being who is
the king and ruler, and the head of that government, first
communicating his ideas, his principles, his laws, his government to
the people; otherwise we should not know what his laws were. The world
has been governed in every kind of form; we have had every species of
government. Sometimes we have had patriarchal government, at other
times we have had unlimited monarchies or what may be called despotic
governments, where the power to rule is in the hands of one
individual. At other times we have had limited monarchies such as
exist in many places now upon the face of the earth. In other places
and at different ages we have had what is termed republican
governments where the voice of the people has ruled and governed and
managed the people's affairs. There have been various forms
independent of these, which I do not wish to enter into at present,
but nowhere have we had the government of God. It is true that for a
limited period among a very small people in early days, among the
Jews, they  [p.64] professed to be under the gudiance of God for a
certain length of time. But they were continually departing therefrom.
They had their priesthood, they had their prophets, they had their
Urim and Thummim, and through these mediums they sought the wisdom and
guidance of God in regard to many of the prominent enterprises in
which they engaged. The law given by Moses was one of those things
that emanated from God. Moses received from the Lord the ten
commandments written upon tables of stone—written by the finger of
God—and this people, who were then quite a small people comparatively
speaking, received the commands of God and professed, at least, to be
governed thereby. The Lord gave them commands and they were proclaimed
to the people, and when proclaimed it was usual for all the people to
say "Amen. These laws we will observe and do." But this was among a
very limited people. Very soon they desired to have a king to rule
over them, but the idea that was then considered proper among them
was: "The Lord is our king, the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our
lawgiver, and he shall rule over us." We see the feeling which they
had and entertained as a people, but they departed from it and they
sought a king and were led astray from correct principles—led into
folly, darkness, ignorance—until they were scattered abroad to the
four winds of heaven.

Vol. 21, p.64
There has been a time spoken of by all the holy prophets since the
world was, when God should govern his people, and the Jews, when the
Messiah came, expected that he was come to reign over Israel as a
temporal king, that he was going to take possession of his kingdom to
overthrow all other kingdoms, empires, dynasties and powers, and
declare himself the king of Israel and of the world. But they did not
understand many things associated therewith, and they do not now; and
the world does not, and we ourselves understand very little about
them. But the Scriptures say that "till heaven and earth pass, one jot
or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be
fulfilled." Now then, if the kingdoms of this world have never yet
become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ they will be, and it is
necessary that there should be a commencement to this as well as to
every other thing. This is a matter that has been looked forward to by
prophets and apostles, patriarchs, and men of God in the various
dispensations of time. It is called "the dispensation of the fullness
of times" when God will gather together all things in one whether they
be things on the earth or things in the heavens. Now there must of
necessity be a starting point for this, and the question is how is it
to originate? Who among the nations of the earth knew or comprehended
anything about the government of God? None did; nowhere; no king, no
emperor, no potentate, no president, no power upon the face of the
earth; no divine or theologian, no scientist, no philosopher,
understood anything about this matter. It is indeed the kingdom of
God, and being his kingdom, it must originate with him, it must
receive from him its teachings, its forms, its principles, its laws,
its ordinances, its institutions, and everything connected therewith
must emanate from God, and as it was necessary that it should
originate with him, it is also necessary that it should be upheld and
sustained by him and that those who should operate in this kingdom
should  be governed by the same [p.65] spirit that you heard Brother
Pratt talk about this morning. It became necessary also that a medium
should be introduced whereby man might be placed in communion with God
that they might comprehend him, that they might understand his laws
when he gave them, that they might be acquainted with the principles
which he had to develop; for there is one great principle that men
very little understand, viz: "The things of God knoweth no man, but
the Spirit of God," and if they don't know only through his wisdom it
would be in vain for God to communicate with a people who could not
comprehend him, who had not the capacity to receive these principles
which he had to communicate. The same principle holds good everywhere
among all the principles with which we are acquainted or know anything
about. You cannot teach a child algebra, nor arithmetic, until it has
gone through a certain system of training. You cannot teach the arts
and sciences without necessary preparation for their introduction, nor
can you teach people in the government of God without they are placed
in communication with him, and hence comes the Church of God, and what
is meant by that? A school, if you please, wherein men are taught
certain principles, wherein we can receive a certain spirit through
obedience to certain ordinances. And we, having received this spirit
through those ordinances, were then prepared to take the initiatory
steps in relation to other matters, and hence as a commencement the
Lord appeared unto Joseph Smith, both the Father and the Son, the
Father pointing to the Son said "this is my beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased, hear ye him." Here, then, was a communication from the
heavens made known unto man on the earth, and he at that time came
into possesion of a fact that no man knew in the world but he, and
that is that God lived, for he had seen him, and that his Son Jesus
Christ lived, for he also had seen him. What next? Now says the
Father, "This is my beloved Son, hear him." The manner, the mode, the
why, and the wherefore, he designed to introduce through him were not
explained; but he, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the
Redeemer of man, he was the one pointed out to be the guide, the
director, the instructor, and the leader in the development of the
great principles of that kingdom and that government which he then
commenced to institute. What next? The next step was that men having
held the priesthood, that had ministered in time and eternity and that
held the keys of the priesthood came and conferred them upon Joseph
Smith. John the Baptist conferred upon him the Aaronic priesthood, and
Peter, James and John the Melchisedec priesthood; and then others who
had operated in the various ages of the world, such as Moses and
Enoch, appeared and conferred upon him the authority that they held
pertaining to these matters. Why? Because it was "the dispensation of
the fullness of times," not of one time only but of all the times; it
was the initiatory step for the development of all the principles that
ever existed, or would exist pertaining to this world, or the world to
come. What next? He was commanded to set apart other men, to baptize
them that believed, that had faith in God and in his kingdom, and in
his revelations and in his government. After they were put in
possession of these principles, they were commanded to baptize those
who believed on the Lord Jesus  [p.66] Christ, who repented of their
sins, that they were to be baptized for a remission of their sins and
to have hands laid upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost. What
then? There was a priesthood organized, a First Presidency, the
Twelve, a High Council, Patriarchs, quorums of High Priests,
Seventies, Elders, Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, to carry on
the purposes of God, and to instruct men in the laws pertaining to his
kingdom, even the laws of life. Men were sent forth in the name of God
to preach the principles of truth which had been revealed, and a great
many believed and were baptized and were initiated into the Church of
God, and we may say into the initiatory or preparatory steps necessary
for the establishment of the kingdom of God. They then received the
Spirit of God, which is "no cunningly devised fable;" it did not
originate with man, it was the gift of God to man. The Elders, for
instance, were told to go forth and call upon men to repent, to be
baptized, and they were to lay their hands upon them that they should
receive the Holy Ghost. And what should that do? Take of the things of
God and shew them unto the people. This is one of the greatest
developments of power that ever existed among men. You Elders,
hundreds of you that are now listening to me, have gone forth to
preach this Gospel. You have called upon men to believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and they have done it. You have called upon men to
repent, and they have done it. You have told them to be baptized and
you have baptized them. You have then laid your hands upon their heads
and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost," and they have received it, And
you know, and this congregation knows, that what I say is true, and by
that principle, through obedience to the law of God that he had
introduced in his Gospel. What for? To prepare men to be placed in
communion with God. To prepare them to be members not only of his
Church but of his Kingdom, and to prepare them to take part in this
great event that had to transpire in the last days. Now these are
facts that you cannot controvert, nor anybody else. You know that
these things are true. What does it prove? That it is God's kingdom,
he has introduced it, and as it was said in former times, "Ye are my
witnesses," as well as the Holy Ghost that beareth witness of us. Now,
then, could you have received this without the interposition of the
Almighty and his Son Jesus Christ? No you could not. Could you have
received it without the keys of the priesthood being restored and
which some men affect to despise so much? No you could not. Hence we
trace out the order of these institutions as they dwelt in the mind of
God, and as they were made manifest among men. Have those elders that
perform these ceremonies their weaknesses? Yes, just as much as Elder
Pratt and I have our weaknesses. Have they their infirmities? Yes. Was
it a rich treasure that was conferred upon us? Yes, but we received it
in earthen vessels, surrounded with the infirmities of man. But God
knew these infirmities; he was acquainted with all our weaknesses.
Nevertheless, he conferred upon us this priesthood, this power, and
this authority, and when we went forth in his name and by his
authority, God sanctioned our acts. Is God with us while these things
take place? I think so. What do you think about it? It is a principle
that is clear, and plain and demonstrable.

Vol. 21, p.67
[p.67] Well, what next? Then we began I to gather together. And why do
we gather together? Some of us can hardly tell why, and I am often
surprised when I read letters importuning us in regard to this matter.
I get letters time and again praying that some menus may be devised
that the Sabots may be delivered and gathered to Zion, and be enabled
to live with the Saints of God. What is the reason of it? Why do they
want to gather? Because there was a spirit and influence associated
with this Church and this kingdom which led and propelled them to this
action, and you who hear me have felt this influence; you felt a
desire to gather, and you came, and those that are not here now feel
as strong a desire to gather as you did. And when you have gathered,
many of you think it is a curious kind of Zion, don't you? It is; for
while the net gathers in the good, it brings all kinds as well, good
and bad. We have some very good fish, and some very bad ones, and some
a kind of half and half, and some feel like saying "Good Lord and good
devil," as they do not know into whose hands they may fall.
Nevertheless, this is the order, and the wheat and tares, I suppose,
have got to grow together until the harvest comes, and that is not
quite here yet, and hence we are jostling one against another, and
some of us hardly know whether it is us or somebody else. Difficulties
and trials beset us, and we are amazed. But we are here, and we are
here according to the command of God and according to the operation of
the Spirit of God that rests upon us, and did rest upon us, and led us
here, and I was going to say, we are here because we could not help
it.

Vol. 21, p.67
Well, what next? Who are we, and what are we when we are here? Some
good Latter-day Saints, and some, as I have said, half and half, some
one thing and some another. But how do we stand in the position we
occupy as a Church and as other people stand? We believe in God. We
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in virtue, purity,
holiness, integrity, honesty. We believe in good citizens and good
Saints. We believe in keeping the commandments of God, and carrying
out his purposes. We believe in spreading the Gospel to the ends of
the earth. We believe in gathering together the honest in heart. We
believe in building temples and administering therein for the living
and for the dead, and we believe in acting as saviors upon Mount Zion
according to the word of the Lord. All these things add a great many
more are leading principles which we as Saints profess to believe in.
Well, we have a right to do that, although there are others who do not
believe in those things. They have just as much right not to believe
in our principles as we have to believe in them. And we sometimes feel
angry and out of sorts with others because they do not believe as we
do. Well, we do not believe as they do. Some of them think we are very
foolish, very enthusiastic, very superstitious, and very wicked. Those
that know us do not think we are so bad after all. We have our
weaknesses and imperfections, yet we are quite as good as the balance
of them, and a little better, and we ought to be, for we make great
pretensions. But they think these things about us. They think we are
deluded. Now the only difference between us and them is that we know
they are superstitious and corrupt, and that they violate those laws
they profess to believe in and those principles which they profess to
be governed and [p.68] guided by. But we have no right to expect
everybody to submit to our doctrines, our views, our principles, it is
a matter of free-will with them, and as I said they have just as much
right to believe as they think proper and to worship as they choose as
we have. These are some principles that are really correct. Well, they
try to prevent us from worshipping as we believe? Now that is—what
shall I call it? a doctrine of devils, it does not come from God, he
is more free and generous in his feelings than that. He does not
control the consciences of men nor force them to obey his behests; it
is a matter of free grace, it is a matter of free will. Well, though
they think they have a right to interfere with us, we do not think we
have a right to interfere with them. And I do not think we do. There
is a number of institutions here in this city, Catholics,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc., and I do not
know how many more, quite a pile of them. If they think they are right
I am rate willing they should think so. I do not wish to interfere
with them. Who interferes with their building meeting houses? Who
interferes with their worship? If there is anything of this sort I do
not know of it; I hope I shall not know of it; I hope never to hear of
such things. I believe that all men have the privilege of worshipping
God according to the dictates of their own consciences and then I
think we possess just the same right; and when they depart from this
principle and wish to curtail us of our rights they are violating the
spirit and genius of the institutions of our common country, and also
those of the kingdom of heaven with which we are associated. They are
also violating those good feelings that ought to exist between man and
man, brother and brother, and they are interfering with things that in
no wise belong to them.

Vol. 21, p.68
Now then, here is the ground that we stand on in a religious capacity.
If I can find a way and you can find a way, whereby we can approach
our God and have him for our guide, our teacher and instructor, if
they cannot do it, it is none of their business what we do. They have
nothing to do with it, it is none of their business in any way
whatever, and any interference is an interference with the legitimate
rights and inherent principles that belong to humanity.

Vol. 21, p.68
Well, so far as they stand on their platform and we on ours, they may
be Methodists, they may be Presbyterians; all right. They may get up
their revival meetings and think they are doing a great deal of good;
all right, and so far as they teach good moral principles, and do not
depart from truth, all right. So far as they obey the laws of the
land, all right; we have nothing to do with them? Have you? Has the
city? Has the Territory? No.

Vol. 21, p.68
Well then, we will go a little further. By being here we become an
integral part of the government of the United States, as a Territory.
Very well. Here is another thing we are talking about. Is that the
government of God? Not quite, but it is the government we are living
under, and if they treat us right and extend to us any kindness we
appreciate that. If they treat us wrong, we think it is not according
to correct principles. We think as American citizens we ought to
receive all the privileges equally with other people; we think we
ought to be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of our
consciences and be protected in our worship. So far, then, as I have
said before, we are on a [p.69] level. Now then, we are on the same
ground in regard to political circumstances. We are under the United
States, but the United States is not the kingdom of God. It does not
profess to be under his rule, nor his government, nor his authority.
Yet we are expected as citizens of the United States to keep the laws
of the United States, and hence we are, as I said before, an integral
part of the government, Very well, what is expected of us? That we
observe its laws, that we confirm to its usages, that we are governed
by good and wholesome principles, that we maintain the laws in their
integrity and that we sustain the government, and we ought to do it.
But there is a principle here that I wish to speak about. God dictates
in a great measure the affairs of the nations of the earth, their
kingdoms and governments and rulers and those that hold dominion. He
sets up one and pulls down another, according to his will. That is an
old doctrine, but it is true to-day. Have we governors? have we a
president of the United States? have we men in authority? Yes. Is it
right to traduce their characters? No, it is not. Is it right for us
to oppose them? No, it is not. Is it right for them to traduce us? No,
it is not. Is it right for them to oppress us in any way? No, it is
not. We ought to pray for these people, for those that are in
authority, that they may be lead in the right way, that they may be
preserved from evil, that they may administer the government in
righteousness, and that they may pursue a course that will receive the
approbation of heaven. Well, what else? Then we ought to pray for
ourselves that when any plans or contrivances or opposition to the law
of God, to the Church and kingdom of God, or to his people, are
introduced, and whenever we are sought to be made the victims of
tyranny and oppression, that the hand of God may be over us and over
them to paralyze their acts and protect us, for as it is written, the
wrath of man shall praise him, the remainder of wrath shall he
restrain.

Vol. 21, p.69
Now, we in Utah here are under the government of the United States; we
are a very little portion of it. It is true we have our legislators,
we have our probate judges, we have our marshals, constables, etc., we
have our city charters etc., etc., and certain immunities and
privileges of this kind. Well, shall we be governed by them? Yes.
Shall we obey the law? Yes. Shall I as a citizen of this city obey the
laws of this city? Yes. Shall I cause trouble or speak evil of the
mayor or city council or any of the administrators of the law? No, I
ought to pray for them that they may lead aright and administer
justice equitably and act for the welfare and interest of the
community wherein they live and for whom they operate. Am I a citizen
of the United States? Yes, and I ought to feel the same toward them.

Vol. 21, p.69
Well, now, there are some important points come in here. As I have
said, we are a very small portion of this government. Now, do we wish
to overthrow the government. I think not. I think we do not. Do we
wish to cause them trouble? Not that I know of. I know we are accused
of that; but it is not true. These statements are not correct. Our
religion, however, differs from the religion of many others, and as I
have said before, while they look for liberty to worship God as they
please, they do not want us to possess the same privileges. There is
nothing new in this; but because of this [p.70] have they a right to
interfere with the institutions of which we have become a part? Do not
our legislators, our governors, and all men here swear fealty not only
to the Territory, but to the United States, and say they will support
the Constitution, laws, and institutions thereof? They do. This is the
position we occupy. But we are placed in a peculiar position in some
things. They—I was going to say in their wisdom, but I will say in
their folly, and I hope they will excuse me, for I look upon it in
that way—have passed certain laws trying to interfere with us in our
operations in religious affairs. Well, we cannot help that. I told you
a while ago—you believe me, this congregation believes me with very
few exceptions—that God had introduced and instituted this Church,
that he was the founder of it, that it emanated from him, the
doctrines, ordinances principles, government, priesthood, authority,
and all that pertain to it emanated from him; we had nothing to do
with it. Joseph Smith had nothing to do with it, only as a passive
worker in the hands of the Lord. Brigham Young had nothing to do with
it only acting in that capacity. I have nothing to do with it. nor my
brethren of the Twelve. God revealed it. I cannot help it. Can you?
Can any one? Now, then, this people have been received into this
Church in the way that I have spoken of, and have actually received
communication from God by the laying on of hands received the Holy
Ghost, and have a hope within them blooming with immortality and
eternal lives, and are in possession of a hope that enters within the
veil whither Christ has gone. Can you uproot that from the minds of
this people? No, no power on earth, no power in heaven nor all the
combined nations of the earth can do it; God planted it there, man
cannot take it away, and men are foolish in trying to attempt it, Very
well. But they do try to interfere with us under a pretence that we
are very wicked here. Well, it is enough to make a person laugh
sometimes, when we think about these things, and enough to make us
sorry when we know of the hypocrisy, lasciviousness, crime, murder,
bloodshed that prevail in this nation and other nations, to bear them
talk to us about our morality. We know when they talk in that way that
they are hypocrites. We know that they know better when they tell
these things to the world.

Vol. 21, p.70
Now, then, the United States pass a law that a man shall not marry
wives according to the order that God has revealed. Now it is a fact
that we should like to obey the laws of the United States, if we could
do it. If they could only tell us how to get out of the dilemma they
have, placed us in we should be very much obliged to them, we really
should like to get out of it. But we have had no hand in either of
these things. We had no hand in making the commandment that God has
given to his people, and we have had no hand in making the law of the
United States pertaining to these things. We feel very desirous of
keeping the laws of the land if they would only let us; but we should
pray our Father in heaven that he might preserve them front making
laws that we cannot conscientiously keep without violating our
consciences and transgressing the law of God. And if they do we shall
be under the necessity of leaving them in the hands of God for him to
deal with them as he may deem proper, and we will put our trust in the
living God and risk the consequences let  [p.71] them be what they
may.

Vol. 21, p.71
Now, these are our feelings on this point. Is it well to tell these
feelings? Yes. We want to be frank and open and candid and free from
hypocrisy of every kind, and feel as though we were the children of
our Father in heaven without guilt, without treachery, without fraud
of any kind. Let us be sincere worshippers of God and believers in him
and in his law. But do we propose to govern, interfere with, or rebel
against the Government of the United States? No, we do not. That is
not in the programme. Has God given us a law? Yes. All right we will
get along and do the best we can, but we won't forsake our God. All
who are willing to abide by the laws of God signify it by raising the
right hand (unanimous vote). Now try and keep them. But will we fight
against the United States? No, we will not. Well, how will these
things be brought about? Don't you expect that the kingdoms of this
world will become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ? Yes, I do,
as much as I believe I am speaking to you and you are hearing me, and
I not only believe it but know it. Well, now, how will that be brought
about if you do not pitch in? We need not do this. There is plenty
that will pitch in; there will be plenty of trouble by and by without
our interference, when men begin to tear away one plank after another
out of the platform of constitutional liberty; there will not be much
to tie to. And how will you get along with them? We will leave them to
get along with themselves. And how will that be? We are told the
wicked shall slay the wicked, but says the Lord: "It is my business to
take care of the Saints." God will stand by Israel, and Zion shall
triumph and this work will go on until the kingdom is established and
and all nations bow to its standard.

Vol. 21, p.71
May God bless you, may he lead you in the path of light, is my prayer
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. [p.72]

George. Q. Cannon, October 5, 1879

Spiritual Gifts Attainable—Unchangeableness of God
—Universality of the Right to Revelation—The Saints Glorify
 the God of Revelation—Necessity of Self-Government

Delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, October 5th, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.72
In standing up to address this congregation there is one feeling that
rests upon me, and that is, my inability to instruct so numerous a
people unless God shall pour out his Holy Spirit upon me and upon you.

Vol. 21, p.72
We have come together to-day according to our custom to be instructed
in those duties that devolve upon us and also in the principles of our
holy religion. These meetings are to me exceedingly precious; they are
seasons of great rejoicing. And having the opportunity as we have
to-day of assembling in peace and quietness without any to molest or
make afraid, we should feel thankful, to that God who has brought us
here; who has preserved and protected us since we came.

Vol. 21, p.72
The instructions which we have had to-day since we have assembled
together, if fully obeyed by us and carried out in our lives, will
make us a people who shall be worthy the name we bear, the name of
Latter-day Saints. And as was remarked this morning the great object
in teaching the people and impressing upon them the counsels that are
given from time to time, is to have us carry out practically in our
lives the principles of that religion which we have espoused. This is
the great labor devolving upon us. It is not to be theoretical alone;
it is not to dwell with great interest and with great eloquence upon
those heavenly doctrines that God has revealed and to become
enraptured over them while listening to them, but it is to make a
practical application of them to our thoughts, to our words and to all
the actions of our lives. And in this way alone can we acceptably
serve the Lord our God, whose name we bear and whose people we profess
to be. There is no reason why this people called Latter-day Saints
should not have all the powers and all the gifts and all the graces
that ever characterized the Church of God upon the earth at any time;
there is no reason, I say, why they should not have all these if they
themselves are true to the principles which have been revealed, and
seek to carry them out. Who is there of this congregation, who is
there that belongs to this Church in any part of this Territory, who
does not have a desire in his or her heart for those blessings and
those gifts and qualifications that were promised to the ancient
Saints and which have been renewed in our day to those who embrace the
Gospel with all their hearts? The Lord  is the same yesterday, to-day
and forever. This [p.73] is the corner-stone, it may be said, of our
faith. It is upon this foundation we have built; that he is an
unchangeable God; that he does not manifest his mind and his will in
plainness and simplicity to one people, and hide the same from a
succeeding people who are equally faithful. But the great truth has
been impressed upon us; the great truth that runs through all the
writings of every man of God concerning whom we have any account from
the beginning down to the last revelation that has been given, that
God is no respecter of persons, that he is to-day as he was yesterday
and as he ever was, and that he will continue to be the same being as
long as time endures or eternity continues. And we have been impressed
with this as I have said, by every man who has spoken concerning God
and spoken by authority from him. I say, therefore, there is no reason
why the Latter-day Saints to-day should not obtain and enjoy the gifts
and graces and blessings of the Gospel the same as they were enjoyed
in ancient days by the ancient servants and people of God.

Vol. 21, p.73
Has God grown old? Have God's ears become heavy? Has his sight become
dim? Has his arm become shortened? Has age affected him or the lapse
of time detracted from his powers? Has it had the same effect upon him
as upon mortal beings who are subject to decay and death?  Is this the
kind of being we worship? Is this the kind of being concerning whom
the prophets and apostles have spoken and written? Certainly not. We
worship him, we adore him, we lift up our eyes to him, we rely upon
him as the Supreme Being, the Creator of the heavens and the earth,
the founder of the universe, the builder of the planet which we
inhabit and which we tread, the being over whom centuries have passed
without making any change to his injury; eternity has rolled and
continues to roll and will continue to roll without in the least
affecting his power or his capacity for good, his eye does not grow
dim by the lapse of ages; his ear does not become heavy by the passage
of time, neither does his arm become short or feeble. He is the God
whom we worship. When we call upon him, though he may be remote from
us, dwelling in his holy habitation in the midst of the eternities,
the very thoughts of our hearts, the very conceptions of our minds,
the feeble whisperings of our voices, they ascend to him, are carried
to him, his ear comprehends them; his bowels of compassion are moved
towards us his children, his all-piercing eye penetrates eternity, and
the glance of his vision reaches us.

Vol. 21, p.73
There is not a single thought of our hearts which he does not
comprehend; there is nothing connected with us he does not know. We
may hide ourselves in the bowels of the earth, but we cannot conceal
ourselves flora his all-piercing sight. We may climb the highest
mountains or descend into the deepest valleys or we may go to the
uttermost parts of the earth, but where ever we may go he is there,
his power is there, his vision is there to hear and to comprehend the
desires and the wishes of our hearts.

Vol. 21, p.73
This being the case, why should we not approach him in faith? What
reason is there that men and women living in this the 19th century
should not approach him with the confidence of those who lived in the
15th century of the world, or the 20th or the 4,000th year of the
world? If he could hear their cries, if he could answer their prayers
and [p.74] if he could grant to them the desires of their hearts; if
he could open the heavens to them and reveal his mind and will unto
them when they called upon him in faith, believing that he would do
so, is there any reason why we should not have that same faith and
exercise it and obtain those same blessings and receive them at his
hands? Who is there that can stand up and say, there are reasons why
this should be the case? If we admit, as we must do, that he is this
being which I have attempted so feebly to describe; if we admit that
he is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the creator of all, the
father of all, the sustainer of all; if we believe this, why cannot we
believe that if he bestowed his blessings upon other generations and
other people, he will do so to us, also that he will hear our prayers,
that he will grant unto us the desires of our hearts?

Vol. 21, p.74
Now, my brethren and sisters, I look upon these conferences and these
assemblages as having for their object the enforcement of these great
truths upon us and upon our attention; the object of them as I
understand them, is to make us Latter-day Saints not in name alone but
in word and in deed; to be men: and women of God; to place us in
communion with God; to receive communication from him; to have our
false tradition, our improper ideas, our unbelief, our hardness of
heart, and those feelings that surround us, that grow up with us, to
have them removed from us. Is there any reason why this should not be
the case? No reason except that which may be found in ourselves. There
is no reason outside of this. God is willing, he has made promises,
and he has fulfilled his promises so far as we have placed ourselves
in circumstances to receive them. When we have complied with the
conditions he has never from the beginning up to the present time
failed in his part, he is incapable of failing. If there be failure it
is due to us, the fault is our own, we are the guilty ones. Let me ask
of you, when did you ever, any one of you, humble yourselves before
God, when did you in secret call upon him in the name of Jesus and ask
him for his Holy Spirit and the blessings thereof, and fail to receive
an answer to your prayers? If there are any Latter-day Saints in this
condition then there is something wrong with them. God has made
promises unto us that if we will do certain things, if we will obey
certain commandments and ordinances, he will bestow his blessing and
he will answer the prayers of those who take this course. But how many
are there of us who go on from day to day and from week to week and
from month to month careless upon these points, failing to live so as
to receive the blessings that he has promised, until it would seem
when they bow down to call upon him that their prayers scarcely ascend
higher than the tops of their heads.

Vol. 21, p.74
As I have said, God in ancient days was a God of revelation; God in
our day is a God of revelation, and he communicates his mind and his
will unto those who seek after it, not to the President of the Church
alone; not to the apostles of the Church alone; not to the high
priests or seventies or any of the officers or all of them alone, but
he communicates his mind and his will to all who seek after him in
humility and meekness and lowliness of heart, obeying his
commandments. To the Latter-day Saints alone? No, not even to them
alone for there is no human being that is born of  woman, [p.75] there
is no son or daughter of Adam that has ever lived upon the face of the
earth who has not the right and who has not obtained at some time or
other in his or her life, revelations from God, but who may not have
understood what those revelations were. The Latter-day Saints are not
so cramped in their feelings as to imagine that they are the only and
peculiar people above all others who have, in this sense received
revelation. They believe themselves to be the people of God and the
only people who have obeyed the commandments of God; but they do not
think that, of all the children of God, they are the only recipients
of his blessings.

Vol. 21, p.75
God has revealed himself at various times and in various ways to many
people. The heathen have had communication from him. All the light
that exists; all the truths that are taught and all the correct
principles and knowledge that have been communicated and existed among
the children of men, have come from God; he is the author of all.
Socrates, Plato, Confucius, the heathen philosophers who knew nothing
about Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation, received important
truths from him, and so did many other people to a greater or less
extent, according to their abilites in improving upon the knowledge
communicated to them. But the difficulty has been concerning these
matters that mankind have not recognized God in all this. A man has a
dream. It is most wonderfully fulfilled. He has a presentiment; his
presentiment. is fulfilled, and he relates it to his friends as a most
remarkable thing. A man has a truth communicated to him after study
and research. He communicates it to his friends as a wonderful
discovery. Does he acknowledge God in it? Sometimes; but in many
instances he does not acknowledge God; but, on the contrary, he thinks
it is the product of his own thought, of his own mind. If it be a
dream or some remarkable manifestation that partakes of the
supernatural, instead of giving God the glory and praising God for
having made the communication, seine other principle is glorified or
some other thing is talked about, the remarkable character of it is
dwelt upon without the person thinking that God has anything to do
with it.

Vol. 21, p.75
Well, there is, as I have said, no human being but that has, at some
time or other, had communication front the Almighty Father. Some have
recognized God and have given the glory to him for it; others have not
done so. The remarkable discoveries that are being made in the world
of science; in fact, all the remarkable discoveries that have been
made from time to time are produced by the operations of an unseen
influence upon the mind of the children of men. For instance, it has
frequently happened in astronomy and other branches of science that
when an important discovery has been made two or three men about the
same time widely separated from each other have received the
communication; and disputes have arisen as to which of them was
entitled to the credit. This was the case as to the application of
steam and the principles of telegraphy and also many discoveries in
astronomy and other sciences. Disputes have arisen in various nations
upon these points; whereas the truth is that God is the Author; it is
God that moved upon the minds of those individuals. It was God that
inspired them to do as they did; it was he who led on from step to
step until they achieved the [p.76] results which have made them
famous, and sometimes quite unexpectedly to themselves.

Vol. 21, p.76
What is this which has led these famous men in the path of discovery?
The Latter-day Saints call it the spirit of revelation; the spirit of
revelation resting down upon the children of men. Some men possess it
to a greater extent than others. Some have the gift in one direction
and they are capable of receiving communication from God in a
direction that others are not, their minds are better prepared to
receive revelation upon a given subject, than are the minds of others.
Some will receive great moral truths, and these men differ in their
organisms; but the light they receive all comes from our heavenly
Father; it is he who gives the inspiration. And so man has progressed
from one degree of knowledge to another, from the rude canoe of the
Indian, with which he navigates the stream, to those mighty steam
ships whose keels plough every sea and circumnavigate the globe.

Vol. 21, p.76
Now, in what respect do the Latter-day Saints differ from the rest of
mankind in relation to these matters? In this: We acknowledge God as
supreme, the fountain of all knowledge, the fountain of all power, the
fountain of all intelligence, the fountain of everything that is good.
Who are men? The creatures of his workmanship, if you please, his
descendants, his own children begotten by him, descended by lineal
descent from the God we worship. The same being whom we worship is our
God, is our Creator, is our Father. When I worship him I worship him
as my Father. That which I possess, if there be anything godlike in
it, I attribute it to him, as having come from him by lineal descent.
Every aspiration, every noble thought, every pure desire, everything
that is good and holy and pure, elevating, ennobling and godlike comes
from our Father, the God of the universe, the Father of all the
children of men. In him we move, in him we have our being. He can
extinguish life; he can create life; he can perpetuate life. There is
no power that human beings can conceive of which he does not possess.
The light that now shines comes from him. The revelation we may get,
imperfect at times because of our fallen condition and because of our
failure to comprehend the nature of it, comes from God. The Latter-day
Saints glorify him for it. If there is anything good or great or
noble, if there is anything to be admired it comes from God, not man.
Man is but the medium, but the instrument, is but the conduit through
which it flows. God is to be worshipped; God is to be adored; God is
to be glorified, and he will be. And when we are saved, when we are
delivered from death, hell and the grave, we will glorify God, not
man. Man will receive no glory; it will be the eternal Father, through
Jesus Christ, who will receive it all.

Vol. 21, p.76
This is the position occupied by the Latter-day Saints. We believe in
revelation. It may come dim; it may come indistinct, it may come
sometimes with a degree of vagueness which we do not like. Why?
Because of our imperfection; because we are not prepared to receive it
as it comes in its purity; in its fullness from God. He is not to
blame for this. It is our duty though to contend for more faith, for
greater power, for clearer revalations, for better understanding
contending his great truths as he communicates them to us. That is our
duty; that is the object of  our lives as [p.77] Latter-day Saints—to
live so near unto him that nothing can happen to us but that we will
be prepared for it beforehand. And I know many, many Latter-day Saints
who are in this condition, who do live so that there is nothing of any
importance that can occur for which they are not prepared, and the
mind and will of God is made known to them, and they walk according to
it, and seek earnestly and humbly to have it revealed to them; and in
taking any important step they seek to know the will of God concerning
it. Are they perfect? Far from it. They are mortal, frill of
weaknesses, and nobody is better aware of the character of earthly
weaknesses than the man or woman who thus lives.

Vol. 21, p.77
It is the duty of all to live in this manner, and if the, inhabitants
of the earth could comprehend it as they should do they would seek to
know the mind and will of God concerning themselves. But what is the
spirit of the world to-day? Let a preacher in the world deliver a fine
discourse and who thinks about giving God the glory for it? Who thinks
of the Holy Ghost under such circumstances? God is removed tar from
them, he does not exist in their thoughts, the preachers who attempt
to preach Christ and him crucified, they are glorified. Who gives
glory to God for Henry Ward Beecher's discourses? Who gives glory for
Dr. Fotheringham's or Mr. Talmage's or any of the popular preachers of
to-day? Do men glorify God for Spurgeon's? No, he himself is
glorified. Beecher himself is glorified, and Fotheringham is
glorified. Is God glorified? No, he is not thought about. Morse
discovered the principle of telegraphy. Who gave the glory to God? I
was in the hall of the House of Representatives when a grand meeting
was held. What for? To glorify Morse, the discoverer of that great
principle and who practically applied it and made it useful. Now, I do
not mean to say that there are none who have God in their thoughts. I
am speaking now of the general feeling that prevails, of the general
course that is taken. Inventions, no matter how grand they may be, are
not attributed to the Father of them all, the Creator and Fountain of
all knowledge. But man, whom he has chosen to be his instrument, he
has blessed with knowledge concerning all these things, as the result
of his earnest, study and his untiring efforts to obtain knowledge.
The Being who does this is very seldom thought about by man.

Vol. 21, p.77
Latter-day Saints, is this the course for us to take? Shall we glorify
the creature at the expense of the Creator? As a people, I believe we
are tolerably free from this. But we have to make a degree of progress
much greater than we have in these things. We have got to seek after
God with an earnestness, a fervor and devotion that we at the present
time cannot comprehend: It is our duty as Latter day Saints to seek
for knowledge. Will God bestow it upon us if we do not seek for it? He
may in his condescension at times do this. Brother Rich said this
morning that he believed some people were too lazy to think. It is a
truth plainly expressed. There are too many too lazy or too
indifferent—it may be indifference and not laziness in every instance,
to think, to feel after, to seek for and receive the blessing of God,
although they make the profession of being Latter-day Saints.

Vol. 21, p.77
Now, I do not think a man's religion amounts to anything if he only
makes a profession of it and [p.78] does not practise it. I would
rather have an intelligent heathen, if he is honest and determined to
do the best he can, living up to the light he has, than a Latter-day
Saint who is careless and indifferent, who does not seek to enjoy the
spirit of his religion.

Vol. 21, p.78
I am in hopes that after awhile we will begin to realize as we never
have yet, that there are practical duties resting on us Latter-day
Saints; that there is something more than being members of the Church
required of us. How is it with a great many? Why, every evil thought,
every wrong speech that comes in their hearts, either to think or to
utter, they entertain and express, and then take credit to themselves
for not being hypocrites. Is not this great folly? Men and women think
evil thoughts, they give place to angry feelings; and they think it a
meritorious act, and pride themselves upon their conduct because they
give them utterance instead of quenching them! Is not this
extraordinary? Lacerate the feelings of their brethren and sisters and
friends, because they think they would be hypocrites if they did not
utter their evil thoughts, however unfounded or repulsive they might
be! What right have I to do this? If my heart is wicked does that
justify me in giving utterances to its foul conceptions? Certainly
not. If any heart were such that I could not think good thoughts nor
entertain good feelings; if I were possessed of anger and could not
contain myself, than it were better for me to sew up my mouth and stop
my utterance. It is no merit in a man or woman because he or she
thinks an evil thought or indulges in an angry spirit to give
utterance to it; and they are not hypocrites because they do not do it
either. It is not hypocrisy to quench the evil thoughts that arise in
our minds. Our hearts are evil in consequence of the fall. As the
prophet Jeremiah says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?" There are a great many things
that are conceived in our hearts that it would be well for us to
stifle before they received shape. What is frequently the result of
these evil conceptions? Innocent people suffer wrongfully; injury is
done; slanders are circulated; while those who start them justify
themselves, because forsooth they concerned them. Just as well might
the counterfeiter, the bogus-maker, say that because he makes a bogus
bill he has the right to circulate it. There is not any of the Spirit
of God connected with such conduct.

Vol. 21, p.78
It is my duty and your duty to think pure thoughts, to have holy
desires, to be charitable, to be kind, to be long suffering, to be
full of love, and not any of those evil influences. Why, the devil
would have no power on the earth if it were not for some people who
allow him to use their tabernacles. I have often thought of this
valley when we first came here. There were a few Indians; but who
witnessed the devil or his power here? If there were no wicked men nor
women here how could the devil manifest his power here? Who heard
tattling? Who heard backbiting? Who heard of litigation?  Who heard of
fighting? Such things were never heard of. But no sooner did men come
and the adversary obtain power over them, than all the evils we now
witness throughout this land and in this city, which grieves us so,
began to manifest themselves. And the more there are who will yield to
the influences of the evil one, the more there are who will be  guided
by [p.79] him, and the worse the conditions become. There are those
who would have here gambling houses and liquor saloons and houses of
ill-fame and other deplorable evils which abound in the earth. Why
because they are willing to yield themselves to the devil, I speak it
plainly, it is the truth. If such people who practice these and
kindred evils would not lend themselves to the devil he would have no
power here. What is our duty? It is not to lend ourselves in any
particular to the devil, but it is to obey God; to let the fruits of
righteousness be manifested in our lives. If we are Latter-day Saints,
let us live up to the profession and be that in truth and in deed, and
not think that we have no labor to perform in the controling of our
thoughts and our evil desires; neither to allow ourselves to imagine
that because we have become members of the Church God will do it all
without any efforts on our part.

Vol. 21, p.79
There is a work devolving upon every son and daughter of Adam; there
is a fight that we have to fight against—the evils of our own natures,
for the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. The natural
man is at enmity with Christ and with God; and unless he seeks to
conquer his nature by bringing it into subjection to the mind of God,
he is not a son, or she is not a daughter of God. This is the labor
that devolves upon us. This is why we meet together at conference; it
is to impress upon the people the character and the magnitude of this
work that rests upon each individual man and woman. As I have said
once before in this Tabernacle, we may be heralded through the earth
as famous; but unless we conquer ourselves it is in vain that our
names are known and that our deeds resound through the earth. I care
not how famous a man in this Church may be—he may be an apostle, he
may be a high priest, a bishop, or hold any other important office or
position; but unless that man conquers himself and carries on the work
within himself of self-improvement, and brings himself and all there
is within him in subjection to the mind and will of God, I tell you
his fame is as empty as the sound of a trumpet when it passes away. We
hear it; it strikes the ear, but it presently dies away, and that is
the end of it. So it is with fame of this character. Therefore I say
to you that that which is applicable to the individual is applicable
to us as a people. Our fame may go forth for great works and mighty
things that we have done; but unless we ourselves bring forth the
fruits of righteousness in our lives; unless we conquer our evil
passions, our evil habits, our evil inclinations, our evil desires,
and bring them under complete subjection to the Spirit of God our
labor is comparatively profitless, for that is the object of preaching
the Gospel to us.

Vol. 21, p.79
I would like to have the power to impress upon your minds the
importance of this great truth. There is nothing so important to me as
an individual, as my own salvation. This is the most important thing
to me that can be—that I myself shall be saved; that I myself shall so
live as to be counted worthy by the Almighty to receive an exaltation
in his kingdom. This is of the utmost importance to me individually.
As Brother Rich said, if all the rest did certain things, and he did
not, he could not receive the blessing, the reward of such works; or
if he did, and all the others did not, they could not have the
blessing. That [p.80] is a great truth; and it should be impressed
upon us.

Vol. 21, p.80
You may think it a grand thing for men to go on missions. I remember
the time, and probably the feeling still exists—I hope it does—when it
was deemed a great honor for a man to go upon a mission, especially a
foreign mission. It is right that we should value these labors. It is
a great thing to preside as a bishop or president of a stake, or to
act in the calling of an apostle. All these things are great in and of
themselves, and they reflect honor upon those who hear these offices,
and especially when they seek to magnify them. But after all, the
great labor, the most honorable labor that any person can perform, is
to do that which I have attempted to describe to you—to improve
ourselves; to be Latter-day Saints in deed and in truth, to live our
holy religion. When we arise in the morning, to examine ourselves, to
see if there is anything that is in opposition to the mind and will of
God within ourselves; and through the day to pursue the same course of
self-examination. And at night before we retire to rest, to bow
ourselves before our Father and God in secret, and pour out our souls
in prayer before him, supplicating him to show unto us wherein we have
done wrong during the day, wherein we have come short in thought, word
and deed; and then repent of the same before we lie down to rest, and
to obtain from him a forgiveness of our sins. And then, going on day
after day, week after week, and year after year until the end shall
come. If we do this, the promises of God are sure, and they cannot
fail.

Vol. 21, p.80
That it may be our happy lot to attain to an exaltation with our
Father, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Charles W. Penrose, April 25, 1880

Insufficiency of Mere Belief in Christ—Extent and Application
 of the Atonement—Necessity of Divine Authority to Enable
 Man to Administer the Gospel—Joseph Smith Called of God

Delivered in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, Sunday
 Afternoon, April 25th, 1880.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.80
The Latter-day Saints are often accused by the people in the Christian
world of being very much deluded. Our religion is  counted a delusion
and a snare. I was thinking, however, during the meeting [p.81] this
afternoon about the great number of Christian preachers who today are
standing up in various parts of the world informing the people who
listen to them that simple belief on the Lord Jesus, who died on
Calvary, is all that is necessary to save them and exalt them in the
presence of God the Father. And it seems to me that if there is one
delusion more pernicious than another it is that very doctrine, which
seems to be a fundamental principle of all the various Christian
sects. You will find, go where you will in the Christian world and
listen to any of the great preachers of the day, that this is the
common topic of discourse. Jesus Christ is preached—which is quite
right, I am very glad that he is—as the Savior of the world. So we
testify as Latter-day Saints. In connection, however, with this great
truth which is proclaimed to the inhabitants of the earth by men
professing to be sent of God, is preached the great error that mere
belief in the work which Jesus Christ wrought out is sufficient for
the salvation of the people. The inhabitants of the earth are informed
that it is not by any works of righteousness which they may perform
that they can gain any favor whatever in the sight of God, but it is
the righteousness of Christ alone which is acceptable to the Father
and which they can gain the benefit of if they simply believe in him.

Vol. 21, p.81
When we search the Scriptures and read the sayings of Jesus Christ,
and of his servants whom he sent forth to preach the Gospel, we do not
find any such statement as this. We find, it is true, that the
apostles of the Lord Jesus preached Christ and him crucified to the
world wherever they had an opportunity; they directed the attention of
the people, Jew and Gentile, wherever they went, to Jesus of Nazareth
who was slain on Calvary as the Redeemer of the world, and faith in
him was declared to be absolutely necessary. But we do not find that
in proclaiming faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to that generation they
informed the people that a mere belief in Christ was all that was
needful; we find that, in addition to teaching the principle of faith
in God and in his Son Jesus Christ, they taught the people it was
necessary to observe certain rules, and commandments, to obey certain
forms and ordinances, to comply with certain conditions that they
might obtain the benefit of the shedding of Christ's blood. We find by
searching the New Testament, which contains some of the teachings of
the apostles and some of their letters to the churches, that the
doctrine was held forth by them that "the blood of Christ cleanseth us
from all sin." We find that this applied, as they taught it, not only
to what is called ordinal sin, but also to actual sin. The sin which
our first parents committed in the Garden of Eden is called original
sin; and the sins committed individually by the inhabitants of the
earth, are called actual sin, for "all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God." The apostles sent forth to preach the Gospel by our
Savior himself, taught the people that through the shedding of
Christ's blood remission of sin might come to all and that mankind
might be redeemed from sin, original and actual. But we find this
distinction in their teaching in regard to original sin, and their
teaching in regard to individual sin; that the blood of Christ redeems
mankind from the effects of the fall and will eventually bring up all
who for " as in Adam all [p.82] died in Adam die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive,"—but that while people had nothing whatever
to do with the sin which Adam committed and therefore have nothing
whatever to do with the work of atonement for that sin, yet for their
own sins there is some action required on their part that they may
obtain redemption therefrom, inasmuch as the blood of Christ was shed
for original sin unconditionally, but for the remission of actual sin
conditionally.

Vol. 21, p.82
God, when he placed our first parents in the Garden of Eden put before
them a certain tree, the fruit of which he said "they should not
partake of, if they did they should surely die." They partook of that
tree in disobedience to the divine commandment, and planted the seeds
of death in their bodies, and that death has passed upon all their
posterity. "It is appointed unto men once to die." This act of our
first parents introduced death into the world. Death came by sin, and
death has passed upon all the posterity of Adam and Eve. Jesus came in
the meridian of time as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of
the world," to bring mankind up from the effects of the transgression
of our first parents. Hence he is called "the Second Adam," and we are
told that as in the first Adam all die, even so in Christ, the second
Adam, shall all be made alive again. And he himself proclaimed that
the time should come, "in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear the voice of the Son, of God and shall come forth; they that,
have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil unto the resurrection of damnation," or in the words of the
inspired translation, "they that have done good in the resurrection of
the just, and they that have done evil in the resurrection of the
unjust." It is through the transgression of Adam that we have to
suffer what is called the temporal death. Through that transgression
our spirits have become separated from our bodies; our immortal
spirits held by these mortal tabernacles must be taken out, and our
bodies must return to the ground and crumble into dust; but by the
atonement wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ the time is to come
when all who lived in the body shall live in the body again. Christ
was raised from the dead and became "the first fruits of them that
slept;" afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming will be
brought forth. This is the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy,"
says the Apostle John in his vision, "are they that hath part in the
first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of his Christ, and shall reign with him a
thousand years." After that John saw, that "the sea gave up the dead
which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were
in them; and they were judged every man according to his works."

Vol. 21, p.82
The atonement wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ for original sin
will apply just as far as the effects of the sin are felt. As all the
posterity of Adam died through that sin, even so all the posterity of
Adam will be raised up again through the atonement."But every man in
his own order," says the apostle, "Christ the first fruits; afterward
they that are Christ's at his coming;" and then after the thousand
years have passed away, the rest of the dead, as John said, will be
brought forth and judged each  one according to the deeds [p.83] done
in the flesh. All must give an account unto the great eternal Father.
We are responsible for the acts done in the flesh, for like as it was
in the case of our first parents, good and evil, truth and error, are
placed before us, and every individual is left free to choose the good
and refuse the evil, or to choose the evil, and refuse the good, as he
pleases. Both are set before us and, if we yield to either, it will
lead us in either direction. There is, however, a spirit in man, born
in him, which comes from God, the fountain of light and truth. This
light is planted in the breast of every man and every woman who
breathes the breath of life· It is the true light that lighteth every
man that cometh into the world, and if people would listen to the
whispering of that still small voice, be led by that natural light and
natural inspiration, they would be led up to God. By this natural
light, by this general inspiration, if people would listen to its
whisperings, and be guided thereby, they would be led up to the
fountain of light. "Every good gift," says the Apostle James, "and
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights in whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning."
But on the other hand there must he, as the Book of Mormon says, "an
opposition in all things," and there is a spirit of evil, a spirit of
darkness, which draws downward to death, and a spirit of light which
leads upward to life; the one leads to Satan and his works, the other
to God and to righteousness. But the inhabitants of the earth
generally have been more prone to listen to the inspiration of the
spirit of darkness as did our first parents, than to listen to the
still small voice of light and life in their souls.

Vol. 21, p.83
All people must give an account of the deeds done in the body
according to the measure of light they have received, and the
opportunities they have had of obtaining that light, while they dwelt
in the flesh. Some people have lived on the earth when God has sent
his servants inspired of him to make plain his ways, while others have
tabernacled in the flesh when no inspired voice was heard, when no
communication was open between the heavens and the earth. And he who
is just, who is the embodiment of the eternal principles of justice,
will deal out to all according to their light and according to the
opportunities they have had of obtaining that light, but all must be
judged, all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an
account for their individual works·

Vol. 21, p.83
Now, we will take the case of an individual who has broken all the
laws of God and perhaps all the laws of man, and finally has shed the
blood of a fellow-creature, and is condemned by the laws of man to
die; he is, in fact, unfit to live, unfit to associate with mortal
beings, therefore, they must needs thrust him out of the world that he
may mingle with immortal beings. Where do they send him to? A minister
will come and preach to him, and tell him that all he has to do is to
cast his soul on Jesus; that he has just to believe that Christ died
for him, and the righteousness of the pure, immaculate, sinless,
Christ will be grafted into that rotten branch, so that he will have
the fruits of righteousness and peace. That is according to the modern
Gospel. The man believes this, he confesses Christ with his lips and
acknowledges him with his tongue, and straightway is strung up between
the heavens and the earth, [p.84] and choked to death; his spirit is
forced out of his body, and ushered into the presence of the eternal
Father to stand before his spotless throne, and is deemed fit to dwell
in the society of the pure and holy ones on high. That is according to
the modern Gospel, but not according to the ancient Gospel of Jesus
Christ, the everlasting Gospel which says "no murderer hath eternal
life abiding in him."

Vol. 21, p.84
But some one may ask, "Is there no efficacy, for actual sin, in the
atonement wrought out by Jesus Christ? Is there no method by which
people can obtain a forgiveness of their individual sins?" Yes, there
is a way, and that is the plan of the true Gospel, but it does not
consist in mere belief in the righteousness of another; mere belief in
the righteousness somebody else will not make us any better ourselves.
What is to be done then? Here the Gospel is very plain and simple,
when pointed out by one who understands it. But "how shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a
preacher, and how shall they preach except they be sent?" It is men
who are not sent who preach the nonsense we bear in the world. It is
men who are not sent who deceive mankind with their strong delusions,
and then turn round and call the Latter-day Saints deluded. If they
were sent of God they would not preach such nonsense, they would not
deceive mankind and thus become the cause of so much sin and evil in
the world. For while people believe that at the last moment, at the
last gasp of their existence, they may cast their souls On Jesus, and
by believing in his virtue escape the penalty of their sins, they will
continue to sin on, like many of these false teachers who revel in sin
up to their very eyes, and will die in their sins and go down into the
pit where they must wait until they are released, in the time and way
of the Lord. The doctrine of belief without works is a strong
delusion. There is more to do, according to the Gospel, than merely to
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is
necessary. That is the foundation, it is the root of the matter, but
it is not all the matter. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved." Why? Because if you have true faith in Christ, if you
really believe on him, you will believe in his sayings and keep his
commandments. Hear him: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." "Not
every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock: And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the
sand: And, the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of
it."

Vol. 21, p.84
When Jesus Christ sent his apostles unto all the world after he had
risen from the dead, he commanded them to "teach all  nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost. Teaching them to [p.85] observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you." They were to go out and preach to all the world,
baptizing those that believed, and then proceed to teach all things
whatsoever he had commanded them. Christ taught his disciples many
principles while he tarried with them in the flesh, and after he had
risen from the dead he continued his instructions from time to time.
He also told them that when he went away the Comforter should come to
reveal unto them the things of the Father and the Son, and to guide
them unto all truth; for it is only by receiving truth and living it
that people can be saved and exalted. "Sanctify them through thy
truth," prayed the Savior, "thy word is truth." The Holy Ghost the
Comforter, was to come, therefore, to make plain the truth, and to
reveal things past, present, and to come. It is necessary, however, to
have faith in Christ. Why? Because every blessing that flows to the
inhabitants of the earth from God the eternal Father comes through
Jesus Christ. We must first of all believe in God, then believe in
Jesus Christ, and if we really do believe in God and in Jesus Christ
we will find out in ourselves that we have broken the command merits
of God and of his Sort Jesus Christ, and the desire will enter our
hearts to turn away from sin. Thus it is said "whosoever heareth these
sayings, and doeth them, I will liken unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock." It is taught by some that repentance is the first
principle of religion, but if a man does not believe in God, will he
pray unto him? What has a man to repent of except the breaking of the
commandments of God? And how shall he feel anything to repent of if he
does not believe in God? It is necessary therefore to have faith
first, and then comes repentance, a determination to forsake evil, and
this is what the ancient apostles taught.

Vol. 21, p.85
What next? We find that wherever the apostles went, whenever they
found a people who believed in Jesus and repented of their sins they
baptized them. By sprinkling a little water in their face? Or by
making the sign of the cross upon their foreheads? No. They were taken
down into the water and buried there in the likeness of Christ's death
and burial and raised up in the likeness of his resurrection, that
henceforth, having "put off the old man with his deeds" they might
walk in newness of life, observe his laws and keep his commandments,
and follow his footsteps, for he "left us an example, that we should
follow in his steps." Then the apostles laid their hands upon those
that were baptized, and we read that they received the Holy Ghost, the
Comforter, the spirit of truth, which opened up a communication
between each individual soul and the fountain of light and eternal
truth, which testified that they had been washed clean from their
sins. How washed By water? Yes, and no. Water does not wash away sin,
but if people desire remission of their actual sins they must be
baptized. Thus it must be, "to fulfil all righteousness." Even Christ
himself had to he baptized to fulfil that commandment, and if he had
not obeyed it there would have been no manifestation of the Holy Ghost
resting upon him in the sign of a dove, and a voice from heaven
declaring, "'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Christ
left us this example, and his apostles followed in his footsteps,
baptizing according to the commandment for the  [p.86] remission of
sins. John the Baptist also taught this same doctrine when he went out
to preach in Judea, and within the people came to him confessing their
sins he baptized and them in Jordan for the remission of sins. "I
indeed baptize you," says John, "with water; but one mightier than I
cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose; he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

Vol. 21, p.86
Baptism for the remission of sins!

Vol. 21, p.86
"Why," says one "I thought the blood of Christ redeemed us from our
sins."And so it does. Water itself will not wash away guilt. If a
person has no faith in Christ, and has not repented of his sins,
baptism will be of no avail. But baptism properly administered by one
who has a right to administer in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, will avail. The person to be baptized must
go down into the water and therein be buried for a remission of sins,
having repented, and having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his
atoning blood, for the blood of Christ was shed "for the sins of the
whole world." But the "whole world" will not receive the benefit of
the atonement unless they comply with the conditions laid down,
namely: faith, repentance, and baptism. They who do not receive this
ordinance cannot enter into the presence of the Father, for "except a
man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God." So said Jesus. This is a little different from the
teachings of modern divines, is it not? Yes, but it is according to
the teachings of Christ and his apostles.

Vol. 21, p.86
Now, then, in regard to the administration of this ordinance. Men must
have a right to administer before they do anything in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. I ask who has that
right? There are a great many ministers standing up in the various
chapels and churches to-day adminstering in the name of this holy
trinity, You can see men in the Christian world stand up before a
congregation and sprinkle a little water upon an unconscious babe, and
call it baptism, and actually do it in the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost! Who sent them? Who told them to do this sprinking? Did
God the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Ghost? No. Did any person to
whom God has spoken, having authority from God to ordain, appoint them
to that office? No. Why! Because for hundreds of years communication
with the eternal world has been shut off, inasmuch as the people who
profess. the Christian religion have not even believed in the doctrine
of present communication with God. They have been contented with the
old revelations contained in the book we call the Bible, which
contains a few of the things that God revealed hundreds of years ago.
They do not believe in having communication with the heavens. How did
they get this authority, then? When did a man ever get authority from
God to sprinkle and call it baptism, or to baptize an infant in any
form It is not to be found in the Bible. "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved," so Christ said. And you will find that
wherever the apostles went, faith was the first principle they taught.
"If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest," said Philip to
the eunuch who sought to be baptized. Baptism without faith and
repentance is valueless, it is void; and baptism  administered by one
who has not the right to attend to that ordinance in [p.87] the name
of the holy trinity is also void. Supposing men were to come to us
with as groundless claims in temporal things as they do in spiritual.
Supposing a man came from Germany to this country and professed to be
a minister from the German court. We would ask to see his credentials,
and if he had been sent as an ambassador for that people, he would be
able to show his authority. Supposing all that he had to prove his
right to represent the German Empire was, he felt called in his heart
to do so. We should consider him a fit subject for a lunatic asylum.
But there are men administering in these sacred things (administering
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost),
ordinances to which God never appointed them, for they say there is no
communication between them and God, nor has there been among the
inhabitants of the earth for hundreds and hundreds of years. They say
the canon of scripture is full; God talks no more with the inhabitants
of the earth. Where, then, do they get the right to administer in the
name of the Lord? I tell you as sure as they do this they will be
called to account and held guilty of taking the name of the Lord in
vain. How did the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ get the authority
to baptize Christ gave it to them. How did Christ get the authority?
Did he assume it himself? No. Jesus said, "I come not to do my own
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." It was his
Father in heaven who called him to be a high priest after the order of
Melchisedek, and Moses and Elias who had previously held that
priesthood, administered to hint in the mount. Thus Christ received
that holy priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek, which embraced
all the higher powers and comprehended the lesser or Aaronic
priesthood (for the greater includes the less), and he ordained his
apostles to that priesthood. "As my Father hath sent me," said he,
"even so send I you." They obtained their ordination from Christ, and
therefore had a right to baptize and also to call others as the Holy
Ghost directed.

Vol. 21, p.87
"But," says one, "there are many people who have felt called in their
hearts, they have had the spirit of the Gospel. Have they not a right,
seeing they believe in Christ, to administer in these ordinances?"
Certainly not, not a particle of right. Let us look at Paul and his
history, related by himself, Saul, of Tarsus, who went to persecute
the Saints and was smitten to the earth by the light from the glorious
presence of the lately risen Jesus. He was led blind into the city to
which he carried letters intended to be used in the persecution and
annoyance of the saints. Says Paul: "And one Ananias came unto me and
said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up
upon him. And he said the God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that
thou shouldst know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldst hear
the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of
what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be
baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Saul attended to the ordinance and was baptized. "Well, now," says
one, "surely Saul had a right to preach the Gospel. He had seen Jesus
and heard his voice. A miracle had been wrought upon him and he was
told that he should be a witness unto all men." No, he had not yet the
right. The hands of the [p.88] servants of the Lord had not yet been
laid upon him. But we read in the thirteenth chapter of Acts, that
while certain prophets and teachers were waiting before the Lord, "the
Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto
I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away." It is written, "No man taketh
this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron."
Aaron was called by Moses, who received divine authority by direct
communication from God. Aaron, it appears, could talk better than
Moses, but Moses was the man called to hold the keys of the ministry.
If any man desires to act in the holy ministry he must first be
baptized for a remission of his sins and receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost, otherwise he cannot be a teacher unto others. And even then,
although he may have had visions, although he may have seen the Lord
and had the glories of heaven opened unto his view, though the curtain
that hides the future may have rolled up before him like a scroll, so
that he could gaze into the glories of the eternities, all this would
give him no authority whatever to administer in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He must be called, he
must be ordained, he must receive the authority of the holy
priesthood.

Vol. 21, p.88
Well, what condition has the Christian world been in for centuries?
Just the same in a great many respects as the heathen world. The
people have been in the depths of error. Darkness has covered the
earth and gross darkness the people. "Stay yourselves and wonder,"
says the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of the latter times, "cry ye out and
cry they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with
strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep
sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers the
seers hath he covered." And the Lord said that in that very time, when
the people should be in this condition, when they should draw near
unto him with their mouth, and honor him with their lips, while their
hearts were far from him, "I will proceed to do a marvelous work among
the people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of the
wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall
be hid. * * * And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the
book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of
darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the
poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." Just as the
prophet predicted so it has been in the age in which we live. Out of
darkness has come forth light. God, from his holy dwelling place,
looked down upon the world and beheld that all had gone astray, that
none were doing good, no not one. They were divided and contentious,
jangling and quarrelling about creeds. Men were crying lo! here, and
lo! there; in fact the blind were leading the blind and both were
falling into the ditch together. The Lord beheld this from his holy
habitation and again restored the truth from the eternal world. He
sent his holy angels and revealed anew the everlasting Gospel. Truth
came out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven and
both joined in one, gave joy to the meek, and became a power among men
in the earth.

Vol. 21, p.89
[p.89] God called Joseph Smith to the great work of ushering in the
last dispensation. He made manifest to him the truth, sent angels to
him, enlightened his mind and gave him the gift and power of the Holy
Ghost, and as Moses and Elias came to Christ in the Mount, so also did
Peter, James and Joint ordain Joseph Smith to the Melchisedek
priesthood. The authority of that priesthood is here now, and the
servants of God who are called by that authority go forth and preach
the Gospel to every creature, for a witness unto all nations,
declaring that the end is near, and that the second advent of the Lord
is close at hand. People are called upon everywhere to repent of their
sins; to be baptized for the remission of sins, and to receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and whenever people
have received the Gospel and obeyed its ordinances his blessings have
come to them. The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which speaks direct to
their souls, has borne witness that their sins are remitted, that they
are raised to a newness of life, and that if faithful unto the end
they will be received back into the presence of the Father, to dwell
in his society and glory. This is a privilege offered to all the
inhabitants of the earth who will believe in this Gospel of the
latter-days. Yet it is no new thing. It is the old Gospel restored.
Not a doctrine, not a principle, not a precept therein, but what may
be found in the old Scriptures. And this is what people call delusion!
The Gospel came to us in the various nations of the earth, some
belonging to the various religious sects, and some belonging to no
sect whatever, and when we received and obeyed it a power took hold`
of us superior to anything we have ever experienced before, and
witnessed to us in an unmistakeable manner the truth of this work. It
is not a phantom. It is not something imaginary, but it is a solemn
fact, as certain as the fact of our existence. No one can reason us
out of it, or force us out of it. Why? Because it is stamped upon our
spiritual nature, it is a part of our very being. God Almighty has
revealed this truth to our souls, and we know it as we know we live.
That is why we are here.

Vol. 21, p.89
Now, our business is to live this religion, to learn further of the
ways of God, and to do his will in all things. The matters I have been
speaking of are only the A B C of the Gospel. We must learn "line upon
line and precept upon precept," and continue to grow and increase in a
knowledge of the truth, living by "every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of God." Now I would ask whether this is the case? Having
been redeemed? or having had our individual transgressions remitted,
are we walking in the straight and narrow way? Are we learning of God?
Are we seeking to understand more distinctly and clearly the things
that pertain to our salvation? Are we performing the task allotted to
us? For we are living in an important day. The day of the second
coming of the Savior is nigh at hand, and when he comes shall we be
found, as in the parable, among the wise or among the foolish virgins?
How is it with us this afternoon? Have we oil in our lamps to guide us
on our path? There is no need for us to do anything in the dark. We
should be the children of the light. We are accused of following our
leaders in "blind obedience." There is no [p.90] such thing in the
Gospel. We have in our midst those who give us the word of the Lord in
a church capacity, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of
the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ," but it is
our privilege to have the same light. "The manifestations of the
spirit are given to every one to profit withal." The Holy Ghost is
conferred upon each individual and it is our privilege to see our way.
When the true Saints hear the word of life, there is an echo within
their hearts and a spirit which testifies to its truthfulness When the
word comes through our inspired leaders it proceeds from the spirit of
light which guides us unto all truth. It is the privilege of every
Saint to have this light fork themselves, the light of God, the light
of truth, "the light that is in all things and through all things and
round about all things, and is the law by which all things are
governed." It is our privilege to be in possession of that faith that
we may ask and receive, that we may seek and find, that we may knock
and have the door opened unto us. Well, are we doing this? If so, then
we rejoice in our religion. The world compared therewith is as nothing
all things are as dross compared with the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ. If we are living our religion it is everything with us
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things shall be added unto you." Earthly things perish with the using
and when we pass away we must leave them behind, but we will carry
with us the Gospel, and every one of its truths we have made our own.
We will carry with us the holy priesthood and its gifts and powers, if
we have been faithful, and will be permitted to mingle with the
spirits of just men made perfect, and rejoice in the hope of a
glorious resurrection.

Vol. 21, p.90
Now let us strive to walk in this path that we may gain this great
glory. Let us attend to the duties we are required to perform. There
is nothing in the Gospel that is nonessential. Every principle that
has been revealed unto us is necessary for the salvation of man, for I
tell you before we ate fit to dwell in the presence of God and enjoy
the fulness of his glory we must become like him. Latter-day Saints,
the ordinances of the Gospel will not save you, they are only aids to
salvation. What, then, will save us? A knowledge of truth and the
practice thereof, nothing else. We must learn the ways of God. We must
walk in his paths. We must be Saints in very deed, and walk in the
footsteps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then, by-and-by,
where he is we will be also. If we turn our backs upon the truth we
will go down to death; we will be beaten with many stripes, we must
suffer the consequence of our guilt, and after we have gone through
the depths of suffering and sorrow in the due time of the Lord we may
get some kind of a salvation and glory, but where God and Christ are
we cannot come, worlds without end.

Vol. 21, p.90
I would say to my friends who are here this afternoon, that I know
this work is true. God Almighty has made it known to me. I bear this
testimony to you, and I am willing to meet it before the great
judgment seat. God has spoken from the heavens in this our day. He has
restored the Gospel of Christ and the authority to preach it. It will
go forth to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The wise and the
prudent will not receive it, [p.91] but "the poor among men shall
rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." This work will go on to this end
and purpose. Zion will be built up, Jerusalem will be redeemed, and
the time will come when Jesus, our Redeemer shall descend in power and
great glory to reign upon the earth. I bear my testimony that this is
the work of God, that he requires our whole heart, and that we should
love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us put away our follies and our
errors. Let us not drink into the spirit of the world. Let us not
pattern after the wickedness that is creeping into our midst. Come out
from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing!
Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. It is only by the
practice of righteousness and personal purity, that we will be made
fit to dwell in the presence of the Lord. A doctrine contrary to this
is the worst kind of delusion.

Vol. 21, p.91
May God help us to live the life of a Saint and finally save us in his
kingdom, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

John Taylor, April 13, 1879

Effects of the Preaching of the Gospel—Object of the Gathering
—Manifestations of the Ancients to Joseph Smith—The Gospel
 to Departed Spirits—Duties of the Saints to Each Other—
The Kind of Men Wanted to Go on Missions

Delivered at Ephraim, Sanpete County,
on Sunday Morning, April 13th, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.91
I am pleased to have the opportunity of meeting with the brethren and
sisters of this place, and of looking at your faces; and I would like
to hear more of the brethren speak to you, but I know you want me to
talk awhile; and as I have to leave this afternoon I will occupy the
time now, and we will leave some of the brethren to preach to you
then. I desire your faith and prayers, for we are all dependent upon
the Lord; [p.92] none of us can do or say anything that is good or
useful or beneficial to society unless we are under the aid, guidance
and control of the Lord. A man cannot speak aright unless he speaks
under the inspiration of the Almighty; and then the people cannot hear
aright, nor understand aright unless they have a portion of the same
Spirit. And hence there was something peculiar in the expression made
by Jesus upon this subject. He understood this principle very well,
and in speaking on it, says, "My sheep hear my voice, and know me, and
follow me; but a stranger they will not follow for they know not the
voice of a stranger." And hence when the elders were sent, out to
preach the Gospel at first, they were told to go forth and God would
go with them, and his Spirit would accompany them and his angels
should go before them. The Lord had his sheep scattered all over the
face of the earth; and those sheep, when they heard the sound of the
Gospel, understood it; there was something that bore testimony to
their hearts, which they could not well describe, and that something
directed you, my brethren and sisters, to those who brought the
everlasting Gospel; and when you heard it you said, "That is true."
And people might say what they pleased, still you believed and felt
that it was true. You experienced this feeling, but you could hardly
account for it. This was the Spirit that Jesus alluded to when he
said, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me."
He has his own way of accomplishing that object, and it takes time, a
great deal of time to fig that. But he was not going to drive them nor
force them, nor in any way to coerce them; but he would present to
their minds such beautiful principles, such lovely sentiments and
develop such glorious things among them, that they could not but see
and appreciate them, nor could they find them anywhere else. And then
when those principles were confirmed by the influence of the holy
priesthood through the revelations of God to the people, it produced
the effect upon them that we have seen. And hence you have gathered
here, left your homes in the old world—the major part of you from
Scandinavia. I was one of those brethren that started out in an early
day with this message of glad tidings; and Brother Erastus Snow found
his way to you folks, while I went to others in a different part of
the world, and still others of the brethren hunted up other sheep in
other places. What was the result of our preaching? We see it here
to-day; the result is that you have been brought to a knowledge of the
truth, and through obedience to the ordinances of the Lord, you have
received the Holy Spirit of God, which has led you into the truth, so
that you, as did the ancient Saints before you, sit in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus. You no longer experience the kind of uncertainty you
used to be afflicted with, but you have a certainty, an abiding
reality. You do not care to die; that is a matter of very little
importance. Jesus said to a woman on a certain occasion, whom he had
asked to give him water to drink, "If thou knewest the gift of God,
and who it is that sayeth to thee: Give me to drink; thou wouldst have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." We have
drunk of that stream which makes glad the city of our God. And we want
to realize and appreciate the position  we occupy before God, and the
great blessings and [p.93] privileges that are within our reach. We
have just commenced, as it were, in the great work. We have received a
great many precious principles, and have seen and experienced a great
many things. But how was it? Simply through a glass, darkly; and we
yet, in many instances, see them through a glass, darkly—at least very
many of them; and sometimes we can scarcely perceive the difference
between ourselves and the rest of mankind, or between the religion we
have embraced and that which other people have. If we could only
reflect upon it, there is as much difference as there is between light
and darkness. But we do not always comprehend these things, and hence
we labor under difficulties pertaining to this matter; because we do
not see, we do not comprehend the position and relationship that
subsists between us and our God. God is our Father; we are his
children. He has brought us into his covenant, and it is our privilege
to go on from wisdom to wisdom, from intelligence to intelligence,
from understanding of one principle to that of another, to go forward
and progress in the development of truth until we can comprehend God.
For we are his children, we are his sons and daughters, and he is our
Father. He has organized this Church in order that we may be educated
in the principles of life, that we may comprehend those principles
that exist in the bosom of God, that we may be able to teach our
children correct principles, in order that we may be placed in a
position whereby we can be assimilated into the likeness of our
heavenly Father, and have a communication opened between angels and
us, that we may feel that we are of the family of God and of the
household of faith, and that we can operate with them; and that while
part of his family who have lived upon the earth and who live again in
another state of existence behind the vail, are operating with him and
with the angels of God and with the whole of the Holy Priesthood in
developing his purposes in the heavens, that we may be prepared to
operate with him on the earth in carrying out his purposes here; that
his people may be preserved from the powers of darkness, that the
light, intelligence and revelations of God may be upon us, that we may
comprehend our true position to him, to each other, to his Church and
kingdom, and to the living and the dead; that we may realize the
position we occupy in relation to all the various duties and the
responsibilities of life. And then after realizing them, magnify our
callings, unite ourselves together as the heart of one man under the
influences of the Spirit of eternal truth as the family of God upon
the earth, and purge out everything from us that is evil, corrupt, low
and degrading, and elevate our minds and feelings to a higher standard
of intelligence, morality and obedience to his laws, and thus prepare
ourselves to carry out the things of God in relation to the earth
whereon we dwell, and each of us take a part in bringing to pass his
purposes here upon the earth, not by any intelligence we may have; but
by the wisdom and intelligence that God shall impart from time to
time, until we shall progress in every principle that is calculated to
elevate and ennoble mankind, until finally we shall see as we are seen
and know as we are known.

Vol. 21, p.93
We are now gathered together to Zion. For what? To build up Zion, and
to accomplish the purposes of the Lord pertaining to the human family
upon the earth. And being [p.94] gathered together we are organized
with apostles and prophets, with presidents and their counselors, with
bishops and their counselors, with elders, priests, teachers and
deacons. We are organized according to the order of God, and these
very principles that look small to us emanate from God. We have
seventies and high priests, and all these men hold certain positions
which it is expected of them that they will fulfill and magnify, here
in the flesh, in the interests of truth and righteousness; in the
interests of the kingdom of God and in the establishment of correct
principles among the Saints of the Most High. We are here to
co-operate with God in the salvation of the living, in the redemption
of the dead, in the blessings of our ancestors, in the pouring out
blessings upon our children; we are here for the purpose of redeeming
and regenerating the earth on which we live, and God has placed his
authority and his counsels here upon the earth for that purpose, that
men may learn to do the will of God on the earth as it is done in
heaven. This is the object of our existence; and it is for us to
comprehend the position.

Vol. 21, p.94
For instance, Joseph Smith in the first place was set apart by the
Almighty according to the counsels of the gods in the eternal worlds,
to introduce the principles of life among the people, of which the
Gospel is the grand power and influence, and through which salvation
can extend to all peoples, all nations, all kindreds, all tongues and
all worlds. It is the principle that brings life and immortality to
light, and places us in communication with God. God selected him for
that purpose, and he fulfilled his mission and lived honorably and
died honorably. I know of what I speak for I was very well acquainted
with him and was with him a great deal during his life, and was with
him when he died. The principles which he had, placed him in
communication with the Lord, and not only with the Lord, but with the
ancient apostles and prophets; such men, for instance, as Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Jesus and the Father, and
the apostles that lived on this continent as well as those who lived
on the Asiastic continent. He seemed to be as familiar with these
people as we are with one another. Why? Because he had to introduce a
dispensation which was called the dispensation of the fulness of
times, and it was known as such by the ancient servants of God. What
is meant by the dispensation of the fulness of times? It is a
dispensation in which all other dispensations are merged or
concentrated. It embraces and embodies all the other dispensations
that have existed upon the earth wherein God communicated himself to
the human family. Did they have the Aaronic priesthood in former
times? Yes. So have we. Did they have the Melchisedek priesthood in
former times? Yes. So have we. Did they have a gathering dispensation
in former times, when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egpyt?
Yes. So have we, just as it was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah: "I
will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you
to Zion." And what will you do with them when you get them there "And
I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you
with knowledge and understanding." We have that dispensation. Moses,
when he appeared to Joseph Smith, committed to him "the keys of  the
dispensation of the gathering of Israel from the four quarters of the
[p.95] earth and the restitution of the ten tribes." Read it in the
Doctrine and Covenants: it is there plainly written. Why are you here
to day, from Scandinavia and other parts of the world? Because God
has, among other dispensations, restored the dispensation of the
gathering.

Vol. 21, p.95
In relation to other matters. Was there a time to transpire that
Elijah should come to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the hearts of the children to their fathers?" That Elias has come,
and has introduced that dispensation; and in that are associated the
very things you are engaged in and which we have come to attend to,
namely the laying of the foundation stone of the Temple. Now, I will
ask, whoever thought of building Temples until God revealed it? Did
you? If you did, I wish you would tell us of it. And did you know how
to build them? No. And did you know how to administer in them after
they were built. No, you did not. We are indebted to the Lord for
these things. And when Elijah the prophet appeared to Joseph Smith he
committed to him the keys of this dispensation; and hence we are at
work building Temples; but some of us hardly know why. We go at it the
same as we follow plowing, sowing, planting, reaping and such kinds of
pursuits. There are other things behind that. There are ordinances
associated behind these things that go back into eternity; and forward
unto eternity; that are the offspring of God, that are intended for
the welfare, the happiness and exaltation of mankind; for those who
are living and those that are dead and for those that will live
hereafter, pertaining both to our progenitors and our posterity. And
that is one of those keys that have been turned. Do you think that the
elders who brought the Gospel to you in far off lands could have
gathered you here if they were not the bearers of the Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and if this had not been a gathering dispensation?
I think not. As I have said, the elders went to different parts of the
earth, for we have preached a great deal. I, myself, have traveled
hundreds of thousands of miles preaching the Gospel; and without purse
or scrip, trusting in the Lord. Did he ever forsake me? Never, no
never. I always was provided for, for which I feel to praise God my
heavenly Father. I was engaged in his work and he told me that he
would sustain me in it; he has been true to his trust, and if I have
not been true to mine I hope he will forgive me and help me to do
better. But the Lord has been true and faithful, and I have never
needed anything to eat or drink or wear, and was never prevented for
want of means of traveling where I pleased.

Vol. 21, p.95
Well, to return. After you received the Gospel and the spirit of the
same, the great desire of your hearts was to go to Zion. And in order
to accomplish this you put away your little savings and you began to
contrive how to dispose of your little properties, and many of you
were almost ready to sell yourselves to get to Zion. You could not
tell why you had such feelings, but you did have them, and you could
not get rid of them until you were brought here. You would not have
come here had it not been for that, would you? I have no idea that you
would. When you were told to build Temples, what made you build them?
Because you had received the Gospel in your hearts, associated with
which was the mission of Elijah which was to turn the [p.96] hearts of
the children to the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the
children. I wish I could tell it to you as I understand some of these
things, and I wish you could understand those principles. Suffice it
to say that Satan has tried from the beginning of the world to
overturn the Works of God, and in some instances he has apparently
succeeded admirably. He was the cause at one time of all the people of
the earth being destroyed except a little seed which was saved to
propagate the human species. Probably the devil would laugh pretty
heartily over that, thinking that he had accomplished his purposes.
However that was not the end. It is true that the judgments of God
overtook them; it is true they were destroyed by a flood in the flesh,
and were shut up in prison in the spirit; but it is also true that the
same Savior who is our Savior, when he was put to death in the flesh,
was quickened by the spirit, and that he visited those spirits in
prison, opening up the door of salvation to them that they might be
redeemed and come forth and accomplish certain purposes which God had
designed; and hence we find the Savior operating among all that body
of people that the devil thought were destroyed, but through this
visitation were placed within the reach of deliverance. But has Satan
prevailed to a great extent? He has. Has darkness spread itself over
the earth? Yes. Have people wandered away from God and forsaken him
and his laws? They have. But then the Lord will be merciful towards
them, they not having received the light that we have, hence he feels
towards them as a father feels towards his children, being desirous to
promote their happiness as far as it lays in his power; and if he
could not save them while in the flesh, he understands certain eternal
laws and principles whereby they may hereafter be redeemed. The Judge
of all the earth will do right. And while the priesthood behind the
vail are operating and preaching to the spirits that are in prison
that have been there from the different ages, he called upon us to
build temples that we may administer for the bodies of these people
that have died without the Gospel, that they may be judged according
to men in the flesh and live after God in the spirit. At the
commencement of the dispensations he sends out his elders generally to
all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature. In this
dispensation he not only does this; but as we live in a gathering
dispensation, he also gathers in the people, and when they learn a
little of his law, there are many ordained to the priesthood and sent
out as messengers, and we keep sending them out to reach the Gospel
and to gather in the elect; and we send them to their own people to
tell them what God has done and is doing. And they keep coming and
going. And whom do we send? If we send to England we send Englishmen,
or men who can speak the English language; it to Scandinavia, we send
Scandinavians: we send generally their own people, accompanied with
men of experience, after the Gospel has been introduced to them. Why?
That they may go and teach their own people the way of life and
salvation: What then? They come back again and build Temples. And what
then? They and their people from the various nations of the earth go
into these Temples and administer for their fathers, and grandfathers,
their uncles and aunts, their friends  and relatives, and thus reach
back, back into distant times to redeem and [p.97] save others. And
who are these men? Just such as the ancient prophets talked about.
They are saviors Upon Mount Zion, are they not, saving and redeeming
their people—and those men who are quarrying and hauling the rock, and
those who are engaged in laying up these terrace and temple walls, and
those who are otherwise engaged in making the necessary preparation
for the building of the temple are all laboring in the same direction.
The Lord requires this work at our hands in order to test us, to see
whether we will carry out his laws or not. And when we build our
temples and he accepts of them. we will then enter into them and
administer in in the name of God; and administering in them we become
saviors upon Mount Zion, as it is written, "And saviors shall come up
on Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the
Lord's." Don't your Bible read so? The one I have does. Who shall they
save? These men become saviors of their own nations; they administer
and operate in their interests and in the interests of their fathers
and their friends and associates. Hence this is one thing we are
engaged in, and is part of the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Vol. 21, p.97
Then what does one of the prophets say? "Behold, I will send you
Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of
the Lord." And what shall he do? "And he shall turn the heart of the
fathers to the children, and the hearts of the! children to the
fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." And what shall
be done? Saviors shall come up on Mount Zion; and the kingdom shall be
the Lord's. It is written, they shall all be taught of God, but the
kingdom shall be the Lord's not man's. We do not want to lean upon man
nor put our trust in man. While we are obedient to every ordinance of
man that is proper and right, and which does not conflict with the law
of God, while we are obedient to these things we do not want to sell
ourselves to the wicked and ungodly. We do not care much about their
ways or their theories or ideas. "The Lord," says one, "shall be our
judge, the Lord shall be our king, the Lord Shall be our law-giver and
he shall rule over us." And we, under the inspiration of the Almighty,
will introduce the laws of God that exist in the heavens and upon the
earth, and form a nucleus of truth, of virtue and intelligence, of law
and order, of principles pertaining to morals, to philosophy, to
politics, to religion and to everything that is pure, exalting and
ennobling, and the kingdom will be the Lord's. And we will operate
together, we will try to frustrate the works of darkness and the
powers of the adversary, to save the living and redeem the dead, have
our hearts turned towards our fathers who have lived before us who
have been ignorant of the principles of life and salvation which God
has been pleased to confer upon us, while the brethren behind the vail
are feeling after us who are their children. The Lord will turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children
to the fathers through Elias who was to come, which if not
accomplished, it is written, "the earth would be smitten with a
curse."

Vol. 21, p.97
Hence we are operating with the ancient patriarchs, apostles, prophets
and men of God who lived on the continent of Asia and America, and we
will gather together all things in one according to the word of God,
[p.98] gather his Israel in one from the four quarters of the earth
and also the ten tribes before we get through; and Judah will listen
to the words of life, and the principles of eternal truth will go
forth and spread and grow, "until the kingdoms of this world become
the kingdoms of our God and his Christ; and to him every knee will bow
and every tongue confess that Christ is God to the glory of God the
Father." And we are here for that purpose. Do you think we are going
to fail? Do you think the Lord is going to back down? I think not. Men
may combine against us ignorantly, for many of them are very ignorant.
I do not cherish the least feeling of wrath in my heart when I see the
courts, legislators or Congress take steps inimical to us. They do not
know what they do, hence we should feel charitably disposed to those
who seek our injury. David prayed that God would send his enemies to
hell quickly. Jesus, when he was being crucified, suffering the pain
of a cruel death, said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what
they do." I like that prayer much better than the other one. Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do. They are thy children,
though in the dark. Thou hast enlightened our minds, for which we feel
thankful; but, O Lord, forgive them and lead them, if thou canst, in
the way of life. This is the feeling we ought to have. We ought to
have it one towards another and treat one another with kindness and
not get up hard feelings. Talking about people giving away to passion
and giving expression to hard words; such things do not belong to the
Gospel, to no part of it; they come from beneath. This has been
pointed out and made very plain to us. Every spirit, says one, that
tends to good is of God; and very spirit that tends to evil is of he
wicked one and comes from beneath. I hear a man say sometimes "I hate
such a man." Why I do not know of a person that I hate in the world.
The command is to love one another. When Jesus was about to leave his
disciples, the burden of his prayer was, "Father, I pray for these
whom thou hast given me; thine they were, and thou gavest them me. I
pray for them, Father, that they may be one, even as I and thou art
one, that they may be one in us." What, a sister or a brother, a
citizen of the kingdom of God, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, one who has received peradventure of the
ordinances of the house of God, and who expects to associate with the
Saints of God, quarrels with his brother about peanuts and baby toys
and then talk about your honor being infringed upon! I tell you if you
take care of yourselves, your honor will take care of itself and you
need not be concerned about it. Treat one another aright. Have you
sinned one against another? then go and make restitution. Have you
defrauded one another? go and make it right. Have you spoken unkindly
to your brother or sister? then go and acknowledge your wrong and ask
to be forgiven, promising to do better in the dilute. And then he or
she might say, on the other hand "Yes, and I said so and so the other
day, won't you please forgive me?" How much better and how much more
in keeping with the calling of a Saint of God such a course would be
than to harbor hard feelings in the heart. And you parents, get your
families in the morning and evening and call upon  the Lord, and ask
his blessing upon your families, your flocks and [p.99] herds, and
upon everything that you have, and do not be quarreling one with
another because you are scarce of water. I tell you in the name of the
Lord God that if you will do your duties, God will do his, and furnish
you with what water is necessary. Try me "and prove me herewith saith
the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and
pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive
it." Husbands, treat your wives right; treat them with kindness and
with sympathy; try to make them comfortable, and make their houses and
surroundings comfortable and do all you can to make them happy. And
you wives, treat your husbands right; try to make their homes a little
heaven, and seek earnestly that the blessings of the Lord may abide in
your dwellings. And parents, treat your children aright; train them up
in the fear of the Lord, they are of more importance to you than many
things that you give your attention to. And you, children, obey your
parents; respect your fathers and mothers. Your mothers have watched
over you, and your fathers are desirous for your welfare, and their
hearts and feelings and affections are drawn out towards you. Do not
give them pain by departing from correct principles; but walk in the
paths of life. And parents, and children, husbands and wives and all
people, fear God and put your trust in him and carry out the
principles of your holy religion which God has revealed to us.

Vol. 21, p.99
I would speak a few words of praise of many of our brethren; I think
it would apply to many of you here. I have no disposition to find
fault, but I have a disposition to speak kindly of many of my brethren
and sisters in many of their operations. In the tithing operations,
for instance, I think that during the last year there has been paid
some 50,000 dollars more than the year before. This speaks well for
the Latter-day Saints; not but what the Lord could get along very well
without these things, but he wants to test his people. This, however,
proves that there is an increase in the right direction, and a proper
feeling that ought to exist among the Saints. Hence, says the Lord,
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat
in mine house, and prove me now herewith, if I will not open the
windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it." The Lord wants to prove his people and he
will have a tried and proven people, and this is one of the ways he
has chosen to do it. In addition to this tithing there has been
expended on this Temple and the Temple in Logan in the neighbourhood
of 250,000 dollars; this is very creditable, besides a very fair
tithing on the back of that. I think I can speak good in the name of
the Lord to a people that will do that, that is, if we will lay aside
all evil things. Let us keep doing good. You have done about as much
here as they have done in Logan, and they expect to get their Temple
up to the square this summer. But then they did not have to make the
foundation you have had to make here. They made some mistake in fixing
up the mountains here; they' do not seem to be in a right shape; but
then we can put them in a right shape, you know. The scriptures talk
about the mountains being thrown down. Well, you have done
considerable towards levelling this down. God is pleased with you, and
everything is going on right, and I speak this for your encouragement.

Vol. 21, p.100
[p.100] I am pleased to see the sisters take the part they do in their
Relief Societies. They are doing a good work and their labors are a
credit to them. And then there are our Young Men's and our Young
Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations; they are going on very well.
And then your educational interests are doing pretty well. Do I not so
understand you, Brother Petersen? [President Canute Petersen—Yes, Sir;
pretty well.] We do not want outside folks to teach our children, do
we? I think not. We do not want them to teach us how to get to heaven,
do we? If we did, it would be of no use, for they do not know the way.
Well, then, we do not want them to tamper with the minds of our little
ones. You will see the day that Zion will be as far ahead of the
outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we
are to-day in regard to religious matters. You mark my words, and
write them down, and see if they do not come to pass. We are not
dependent upon them, but we are upon the Lord. We did not get our
priesthood nor our information in regard to his law from them; it came
from God. The world profess to know a little about what they call
science, literature and the arts. Where did they get their knowledge
of these things from? And what is it they really do know? They know
something about the laws of Nature. Who made those laws? God made
them;and he knows how to govern them; and it is by his almighty power
that they are governed.

Vol. 21, p.100
I remember talking with some celebrated scientists from Europe some
time ago, and I explained to them some of the principles relative to
the heavenly bodies that were revealed through the Prophet Joseph
Smith. They were astonished to know that ideas so grand could be
developed through one that was comparatively unlearned. One of them
remarked that they were the most magnificent principles he had ever
heard of; another one said that he had read and studied a great deal,
but he had a good deal more yet to learn. We are, as the French would
say, enrapport, with God; that is in communication with God. Let us
live so that we can keep that up, so that angels can minister to us
and the Holy Spirit dwell with us. We have received his guidance and
instruction. It is for us now to go on from truth to truth, from
intelligence to intelligence and from wisdom to wisdom. And while
nations shall crumble and thrones be cast down, and the God of heaven
arise and shake terribly the earth, while the elements melt with
fervent heat in fulfilment of ancient as well as modern prophecy;
while these things are going on he will whisper, peace to Zion. But
the judgments will begin at the house of God. We have to pass through
some of these things, but it will only be a very little compared with
the terrible destruction, the misery and suffering that will overtake
tiao world who are doomed to suffer the wrath of God. It behooves us,
as the Saints of God, to stand firm and faithful in the observance of
his laws, that we may be worthy of his, preserving care and blessing.

Vol. 21, p.100
Now a word about other things. We want elders to go and preach the
Gospel. But some people will say, "Here is such a young man who is a
little wild; if he were to go abroad perhaps he would reform." Brother
Peterson, we do not want  such folks to go as representatives of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I say to you, Presidents of Stakes, we
[p.101] do not want such an order of things; we want men that have got
within them the gift of the Holy Ghost, men who have the gift and
power of God in them. We do not want men to go abroad to be reformed.
They are not fit to live in Zion if they cannot reform themselves at
home. We must have men filled with faith and the Holy Ghost. And you
seventies and high priests, wake up to a sense of the responsibility
of your callings, and purge away your follies and nonsense and feel
that you are indeed the servants of the living God; for God will hold
you responsible for the priesthood you bear. Then honor the Lord and
magnify the priesthood, and when you go forth to the nations bearing
precious seed, angels will go with you and the gift of the Holy Ghost
will accompany you in your administrations and though you may go
weeping, bearing the precious seed of the Gospel, you will return
rejoicing bringing your sheaves with you.

Vol. 21, p.101
I do not know but what I have talked enough. Brethren and sisters God
bless you. And God bless the relief societies and the young men's and
the young ladies' societies, and God bless your president and his
counselors, and your bishops and their counselors, and all that fear
God, and work righteousness. And the Lord God put a hook in the jaws
of our enemies that seek our injury and overthrow, that they may not
have power against the Israel of God. And God bless all Israel, that
Zion may arise and shine and the glory of God rest upon her. I ask it
in the name of Jesus. Amen.

H. W. Naisbitt, March 7, 1880

The Principle of Revelation and Its Application to the
 Several Phases of Life—How the Brotherhood of Man Shall Be Evolved

Delivered in the 16th Ward Meeting House,
Sunday Afternoon, March 7th, 1880.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.101
I presume we all understand that the Spirit of the Lord is in the
congregation of the Saints. If we do not understand it and if there is
any one that does not realize the necessity of enjoying it, it would
be a good thing perhaps for him to get up here a while.

Vol. 21, p.102
[p.102] When a person is called upon to address a congregation and
notices the upturned faces before him, waiting, wishing, very likely
praying, for the blessings which they particularly desire, I think
that no man can look upon such a sight unmoved, he must feel his own
ignorance and weakness, and dependence, and when he does this I
believe that all public administrations will be an advantage and
blessing both to the speaker and hearers, and I am sure that is my
object this afternoon. I have no personal ambition to serve, but I do
want to bless and I do know that I need to be blessed. And this is the
place appointed (so far as this ward is concerned) for the reception
of those blessings which pertain to the public services of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here is the place where there
should be intelligence. Here is the place where there should be
wisdom. Here is the place to expect revelation, and that not in any
vague, misty, half understood sense,—not lost or covered up by a
multitude of words, but divested of everything that will deprive us of
knowledge as to the essential principles which belong really to
revelation. The world, however, holds very peculiar ideas in regard to
this. Every elder in Israel who will look back upon his experience, if
it reaches even to the early history of this Church, will comprehend
how odd and mythical the ideas in regard to revelation were as then
held by mankind. It is true that the masses of the people as well as
the teachers believed that in the ancient times there had been some
communication with the intelligences who dwell behind the vail. They
all agreed—all Christians did at all events—that She Spirit was made
manifest and its utterances recorded in a book. They believed that
without that book the world was in a lost condition, that men were
left to grope in darkness and to wander in ignorance, but with that
book it was believed that every man and every woman could understand
themselves; they could understand something of their orion and the
purpose for which they were dwelling upon the earth, the destiny which
belonged to the human family, and also the process by which that
destiny could be best secured. But it is astonishing what a little
light will do for a man. It is astonishing how our minds expand when
we receive the key to the situation. And when we look at the vast
difference there is between the community who inhabit these mountains
and the communities of the nations from which we have been
gathered—probably most can see and are aware that between the two
there exists a great and ever widening gulf. Men who reject the
principle of revelation in any direction must inevitably become
stunted, they must inevitably cease to live, because revelation is the
element of life, it is the secret of growth, it is the power of
increase, and it is only in proportion to the receptive ability of a
man, or woman, or child, that they can increase in intelligence. Now,
divested of all extraneous or outside ideas, divested of all the
mystery that has been thrown around the idea of revelation by man-made
teachers, divested of all traditions and thoughts that have been
written in regard to it, what is the essential idea involved in
revelation in its significant simplicity. What is there that is
difficult of comprehension? What is there that it should need men of
classical education to explain it; what is there that  there should be
these large colleges and this immense army of ministers in order that
the world [p.103] may be enlightened in regard to the principle of
revelation? Why, when you come to probe and to reach the foundation of
the idea it is nothing more nor less than the communication of
intelligence possessed by one to another Who in regard to that subject
remains in ignorance. That is all there is involved in revelation, and
whenever you find a human being who is ignorant of any subject
pertaining to any direction of human thought, or in regard to any
useful field of human experience, there revelation is an absolute
necessity.

Vol. 21, p.103
Now, then, revelation may vary in degree; it may vary in character,
according to the necessities of the case, according to the
intelligence of individuals. The mother who guides the destiny of a
family and endows it with all the comforts of domestic and social life
finds herself surrounded by a few crude men and women, or, as we call
them, boys or girls. You consider the character of this offspring.
When they were born they were helpless, and in infancy they possessed
no intelligence save those animal instincts which lead only to the
preservation of life. But in a few weeks or months the spirit of
intelligence begins to dawn. The mother watches the growing spark and
seeks to fan it to a flame; to point out the remedy where difficulty
occurs in early experience; to explain the educational process through
which the Child must pass from man or womanhood; and to show that when
the first efforts are made, and even when they are comparative
failures, that these only stand as sentinels or pointsmen in the great
highway of success—prompters to ultimate and final success. The
probability is that every young woman who has learned to make bread
has had an experience of this character. And it is true that many of
the first trials, unless the mother watched very closely, would not be
successful, the bread might be heavy, or it become sour. Now it is the
mother's duty to reveal, to give from her intelligence to one
comparatively ignorant, a solution or remedy for the difficulty. The
young girl is expected to listen to the mother. She has the faculty to
receive the intelligence that is communicated, and to put that
intelligence into practice. And when the bread was heavy the mother
showed the cause which brought about that condition. If the bread was
sour, a little neutralizing element had to be put into the dough, in
order that the acidity might be removed, a little soda or something of
that kind; and this is a revelatory process from the mother to the
child. If you take one of our good mothers in Israel who has grown
grey under the weight of experience, you will find that she possesses
a vast fund of information, cud in every direction in domestic or
social life she is the great standard of appeal, and even when the
daughter has become a married woman, when she passes into the
responsibility of motherhood, when sickness takes hold of the darling
that God has given her, she instantly appeals to the higher or wider
intelligence and experience of the mother, and that which the mother,
by the advantage of years, by the experience through which she has
passed, has gained, she communicates unto the daughter, and thus the
daughter becomes the recipient of revelation. And as it is with the
mother and the daughter, so also it is with the father and the son; so
also it is with those who are learning a trade, so also it is with
those who attend our daily or our Sabbath schools, and the very fact,
that we [p.104] are so constituted that we can receive revelation in
these channels is a revelation in and of itself, written in the
fundamental organization of the human character, that revelation is
not only possible and desirable, but that it is also a necessary and
inevitable element pertaining to the highest welfare and the grand
destiny and future of those who submit to its varied processes from
day to day! Now, this character of intelligence may be said to mark
the very lowest phases of human life; but while man is an animal,
while he has his physical necessities, while he is surrounded with
domestic life, while he is subject to and is a member of the social
arena of life, there are also attributes of character which are beyond
this physical, this animal, and this social cast. There is something
in every man and in every woman which savors of the divine, in all the
circumstances of life there is a reaching out after something which is
beyond the grasp; there is a soaring of the spirit, a seeking after
something to which the present surroundings gave no clue. Man feels
that he is He not only feels that he is, but thousands and millions of
the human family have an inkling of the great fact that they have
been, and millions and millions more have an inkling of the other
great fact that when they leave this stage of existence they will
continue to be. And it is the realization of such things which
establishes the idea outside of any other special revelation that our
origin is divine as well as human. When we sense these ideas, when
they become interwoven into the fabric of our lives, when we
instinctively feel that we do possess this characteristic, there must
be certain elements and certain principles which will minister to the
growth of such ideas; just as there are elements of and in nature
which minister to the welfare of the lower, so there are elements
which minister be the higher, and fitted for the cultivation of every
attribute of the human character, no matter how low we may esteem it
to be, or how lofty we may conceive it to he, there are resources in
the economy of God for the development and growth and glory of that
characteristic. Hence when a man realizes that he had a pre-existence,
when he realizes that the present existence is but a transitory
condition, when he realizes that there is a vast and illimitable
future before him, he desires to comprehend how he shall best minister
to his individual welfare in that future. And here steps in the
necessity of revelation based upon philosophy, based upon human
necessities and human needs. The only way that we can be educated in
this direction is by revelation coming to us from outside sources,
from higher intelligences; from those who have passed through the
selfsame experience as we ourselves have and will for ever pass.

Vol. 21, p.104
Now, then, as a fundamental process for our education in this respect
we have given unto us the Gospel. That Gospel is just as systematic
and just as orderly as are the details of education in a school. It is
just as orderly and systematic as are the methods by which our boys
are taught and trained in the various branches of education or trade.
It is just as orderly and systematic as the education our wives give
to their daughters, or that mothers give to their married girls. You
never find a mother, in training her children for domestic life, begin
to tell them in the first place hoar to make one of those  very rich
cakes that we sometimes make ourselves sick with at Christmas. You
would scarcely [p.105] find a man who took an apprentice, begin to
teach him in the first place some higher branches of his trade. You
would scarcely find a teacher begin to teach his pupils the advanced
principles pertaining to a classical education. There is an order;
there are steps and processes in every educational direction, which we
take in their order and in their time and place. Now one of the most
startling revelations that has been given to the human family in the
day and age in which we live, by the elders of Israel, to a dark and
benighted world, is the great fundamental idea of "the fatherhood of
God." Now, this may not appear so startling to the American citizen
whose mind is impregnated with the idea that the human family are
equal,—that one man is as good as another, but in the Old World there
exists conditions of class and of caste. You who have come from
England or from any European nation, will realize what I mean by class
and caste. There is the charmed circle of the royal blood, into which
the plebeian never enters. There is the larger circle of the
aristocracy, or, as we call them, the "upper ten," and into the
precincts of that circle, jealously guarded as they are, a stranger
scarcely ever enters. Then you were surrounded in England by what is
called the middle classes, and even they look upon the lower classes
as being made of some material distinct and different from themselves;
but when the elders of Israel landed in Old England and proclaimed
"the fatherhood of God," and laid the axe at the root of caste and
class, they were preparing for the foundation of a kingdom that should
recognize the essential unity of the human family an d of necessity
the brotherhood of man. It is quite true that under some social,
religious or political circumstances, we hear of a certain unity and
equality among he human family; but if you attempt to put that unity
and equality into practice, what are the results that inevitably flow
from such a course? You are surrounded with obstacles on every hand,
and it is only perhaps after the lapse of two or three generations
that a man in his posterity is able to make his way from the ranks and
associate with the higher class. It is true there are those here and
there who do this, and they do it by virtue of inherent genius or some
chance legacy, and when they are accepted into this higher class, it
is by virtue of this chance, etc., but as a rule they are looked upon
as intruders. Take the Prime Minister of England, Lord Beaconsfield.
There is a man who has made himself a necessity to the government of
the country, to Her Majesty, to the higher classes; he has done this
by virtue of the inspiration of the Almighty, and yet with all his
grand attainments, that man man is looked upon more or less as an
intruder because he was not nobly born! And so I might multiply
illustrations which would be familiar to you all. But the Gospel sets
out in the first place with these two ideas, twin ideas, that never
can be put asunder, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of the
human family.

Vol. 21, p.105
Now, then, if we are one in our origin, if we are really one in
destiny, we must all reach that destiny by the self-same process, and
that process is to be found in the ordinances of the Gospel, in the
power of inspiration and revelation resting upon those who initiate
men and women into that order. And in connection with this, wherever
and whenever you comprehend this [p.106] higher intelligence that
bears rule in the eternities, controlling the destines of these great
orbs that we see from time to time in the midnight heavens—wherever
you find those that have graded from a fallen world you will find
those who graded up and through the instrumentality of the self-same
Gospel that is given to you and me. There is no other Gospel. There is
no other way to that exaltation which pertains to the Gods only
through the revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So that there is
"no royal road" to heaven; no matter what a man's condition, no matter
what the class to which be may have been known in social life on earth
by virtue of birth or by virtue of wealth; no matter what position he
may occupy because of his ignorance or lack of information; no matter
whether he may live in a hovel or dwell in a palace, or though he may
have but a crust to cat or his table be laden with all the good things
of the earth, he must submit to the self-same ordinances, be
controlled by the self-same spirit of revelation, and reach the final
issue through the self-same channel.

Vol. 21, p.106
Now, then, what is it that we expect through the Gospel? Why, that it
may develop in you and me, from our crude, ignorant, unloveable
condition—the results of many a fearful fall—the appearance and the
characteristics of the eternal Father. This self-same idea animated
the Saints in ancient times. They had faith that by obedience to
righteous laws there would be evolved in and from them, through the
attributes which they already possessed, measurably dormant or
measurably active as the case may be—that they would be able to
produce the likeness of God the eternal Father. Now, at first view
this may appear surprising, but suppose we reason upon it for a moment
or two.

Vol. 21, p.106
Here are some of you good brethren; you go to work this spring and you
set out an orchard of apple trees, and by and by the time for fruit
arrives and you go and look for pears, or plums, or cherries upon the
apple trees! Now, what would be thought of your intelligence? Why
everybody would say you have certainly made a mistake; they were apple
trees that you planted, and apples are the fruit; if you want pears
you must plant pear trees. Men don't gather grapes off thorns nor figs
Off thistles. Then, if we are the children of our Father you can see
at a glance by that illustration that if we submit to the process of
education which he had pointed out and laid down, we must become like
him. Well, now, this may seem incredible to some that a human being,
defiled and deformed as he is by sin and transgression, the result of
ages—I say it may seem almost incredible that a human being should be
able to rise to the characteristics and attributes and appearance of
the Father; but it is not only possible but it is inevitable, and all
the ancient Saints had this idea. One of the old prophets, for
instance, when under the inspiration of the Almighty, has said, "I
shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness;" and in the New
Testament, one of the apostles said, looking forward to the time of
the resurrection, that "When he shall appear, we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is." We shall have an opportunity of
demonstrating our likeness. We shall be able to make the contrast, "We
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." And of Jesus it was
said that "He was the brightness of his Father's glory and the express
image of his person." He was  like his [p.107] Father, and this
likeness was in him by virtue of the fact that he lived in possession
of the inspiration of revelation; his course was marked out by that
spirit. It animated every faculty, controlled every action, prompted
every motive, and because that spirit was poured upon him "without
measure," he became the glory of his Father and exhibited in himself
the "express image of his person," and he, in speaking to his
disciples, declared that they should become "like unto him, even as he
was like his Father," by the reception of "line upon line and precept
upon precept, here a little and there a little." Now, probably I might
illustrate this from the facts of everyday life, the possibility, I
mean, of a change in the features of those with whom we are familiar.
Did you ever notice a man and wife who had lived happily together,
whose thoughts were one, who had become assimilated to each other in
their tastes and feelings so far and to such an extent that when you
see them white with the snow of years you would say of them, "I never
saw a couple so much alike; they are positively like brother and
sister." Did that ever come under your observation? It has come under
mine many and many a time. Now, what was the secret of that? Why the
wife had become assimilated to the husband and the husband to the
wife; they were actuated upon in a great measure by the selfsame
impulses, until they had become similar in their habits of life, so
thoroughly one that they were like each other even in their facial
expression, and when death claimed one or the other, but a few hours
or days would pass before they were again and for evermore united. And
this is a characteristic in which we glory. But to illustrate this in
another direction. Here is a mother, now, or a young wife. Her heart
overflows with affection for the husband of her youth. God has blessed
the union that was made by the authority of the priesthood. She passes
along until she attains to the condition of motherhood, and in the
fulness of her heart she brings the babe to the assembly of the Saints
that by the authority of the priesthood it may be dedicated to the
service of God and to the building up of this kingdom. The mother's
heart is full. It bursts almost with gratitude for the great boon she
has received. She breathes many a prayer for the child that God has
given, and by and by, even when the cup seems full to the very brim,
some of her sisters come along and say, "what a beautiful baby you
have got; how very like its father;" and that is the last drop needful
to make the mother's soul and ambition full to overflowing. To say
that the babe was like herself would perhaps have been quite as
correct; but when it was pronounced to be like his father, more
especially if its father was a good husband, if he was everything that
he should be in regard to character—there was no limit to the love and
affection she could bear for her husband and their child.

	*	*	*	*

Vol. 21, p.107
There is an illustration we can apply in another direction. We have
all come down from the eternities of the past to this period of
probation. I think the probabilities are that while we dwelt there we
were in possession of a good deal of intelligence. There were many
facilities, I expect, for the acquisition of such intelligence as was
adapted to our condition. I believe that we were there taught the
necessity and advantage of taking a probation upon the earth. I
believe that there [p.108] we exhibited a great many of the attributes
of our Father, the Father of our spirits; but we came down here and we
took upon us tabernacles; these tabernacles are given to us by our
earthly father and by our mother. And they came to us corrupted, they
came to us contaminated by the vast variety of evils with which our
fathers have afflicted themselves during many generations. When we
consider the exalted character of our first father, when we consider
the position that he occupies, and when we consider his offspring on
the earth subject to the infirmities of the flesh, it is not unlikely
that many are lead to say, "how can we be the children of our father
who art in heaven? And if we are his children how can we renew or be
restored to his image and likeness, how can we develop the attributes
which he possesses, how can we become like him in our spirits and more
or less in our tabernacles." Why we shall have to do this by the
reception of his spirit, and by cultivating the principles of life
that come through revelation. When we come to look at each other as we
are, we sea stamped in our countenances selfishness, we see
exhibitions of sensuality, we see the evidences of a thousand and one
conditions to which we have been subjected and our fathers before us.
Now, the Gospel has been given us to do away with sin and death; it
has been given to develop in us the attributes and characteristics of
our Father in heaven from faculties we already possess. Well, now, we
will suppose that one of those angels of intelligence surrounding the
throne of God comes down to the streets of Salt Lake City. He goes, up
one of the principal thoroughfares and peers into the face of everyone
that passes. He marks our plainness, or, in some instances, ugliness.
He can detect at a glance where the faculties are perverted, and where
they are in their normal condition. He can see in a moment how we have
been beclouded by sin, how we have been subjected to evil influences,
how we have given way to temptation, and how we are the subjects of
the conditions which surround us. But as he passes along he meets one
of a little different stamp. A man may be dwelling in a travel on the
bench or in the low wards of the city, and he steps up to such a one
and says, "how do you do." "Why," says the person addressed, "you have
the advantage of me, I do not know that I ever saw you before." "Well,
now, probably you never did, but," says he, "I know you although I
never saw you." "Well, how (to you know me." "Why, I am from the
eternities that are beyond the vail, I am come from where your Father
dwells and I can see in the lustre of your eye, I can feel by the aura
or influence which surrounds you as you move from place to place, that
you are animated by the spirit of your Father's house, I can discern
in your physiognomy the lineage of your progenitors." Well, what is
the secret? Simply that there is a man living his religion. He is
filled with the Spirit and power of God It is a lamp to his feet and a
light to his path. It actuates him in all the circumstances of life;
as a father, as a member of the Church to which he belongs and as a
citizen. It is this which gives lustre to the eye and elasticity to
the step, even when the body is bent with weight of years, and the
stranger who has come direct from the eternal worlds can see that
there is a man who has been  with Jesus and has learned of him. Will
it glorify a man and woman in this respect [p.109] while they are in
the flesh? Yes, it will, and when men and women in general come in
contact with them, they will be prepared to bear testimony that they
are in the enjoyment of a good, or as we may say, right spirit. While
they are tabernacling in the flesh they are preparing for the more
exalted condition and state which belongs to them in the future, and
many and many a man and woman have exhibited some of the
characteristics which were exhibited by the indivdual who came to the
Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. John fell at his feet to worship
him, "See thou do it not (said he), I am thy fellow servant, and of
thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." John
thought from the glory surrounding him that he must be God himself;
and he began to bow the knee to him. "See thou do it not." And when we
see a man whom we recognize as faithful in all the conditions of life,
as "a man whom we can tie to"—to use a common expression, a man who is
on hand all the time, who is living his religion, we feel
involuntarily to lift our hats to such a one, and this intuitive
reverence which we pay to human character, is testimony of God within
the vail of flesh, and also an evidence of the spirit of revelation
and inspiration.

Vol. 21, p.109
Now, this is the purpose of our religion, and although our receptive
faculties may be comparatively dormant, yet they can become enlarged.
You and I have a right to enjoy revelation and inspiration. It is not
confined to officials or to the ordained elders of Israel, it is not
confined to the first presidency, to the twelve apostles, to the
seventies or the high priests, but it is within the reach of every man
and woman in Israel, and we can bring that spirit of revelation to
bear upon our duty, in our social as well as our religious life. Now,
I know there are a great many who think that the spirit of revelation
and inspiration is of no use in the details of every day life. This,
however, is a mistake, for the self same inspiration and revelation
can qualify a man in business, it can help his faculties, enlarge his
reason, and make him more noble and godlike and intelligent in all the
directions he may be called upon to act in. To be sure there are those
who say that our religion has nothing to do with our business. I
recollect one of our leading men asserting that President Young might
direct in spiritual things, he might direct in matters pertaining to
the Gospel, "but, when it came to business, he knew what; business
was!" Now, that is a mistake because the object of this Gospel is to
minister to our spiritual and also to our temporal wants and
interests. Take our bishops as an illustration. Are they not called to
administer in the temporal affairs of the kingdom? What is their
office? They are fathers to the people. They are to see that every man
becomes self-sustaining. They are called upon to open up industries
for the growing youth of our Territory. We sustain them in that
office. Thus our religion enters into temporal things and they are
ordained and set apart for this. When Brother George Q. Cannon goes to
represent us in Congress he is set apart for that office, and the
priesthood lay their hands upon him in order that he may be blessed in
that capacity. When Brother Staines goes down to New York, he goes
there to attend to those duties which are temporal, but he is set
apart by the Authorities of this Church to officiate in that
character. The Gospel therefore interferes in our temporal
arrangements. And this is no new theory. It is as [p.110] old as the
everlasting hills; it pertains to eternity, it will exist throughout
all the eternities of the future. If you turn back in the old book to
the history of the tabernacle in the wilderness, you find that under
the jurisdiction of Moses, there were certain men who labored on that
building that were inspired of God. He caused his Spirit to rest upon
them, and you will notice it in a greater degree when you come to the
building of the temple of Solomon. You will find there were men
inspired to work in that direction. And that which was good in the
years of the past is good in the day and age in which we live, and the
day will yet come in Israel when men will be set apart to act in more
temporal capacities than many in Israel dare to think of now. When a
man shows that he has received a gift from God, no matter about its
character, whether it is a gift of wisdom, or whether it is a gift
leading into mechanics, science or literature—whenever that man
exhibits these attainments, and he is taken and set apart by the
servants of God, you will see that spirit enlarge his faculties,
increase his judgment, and when that day comes, you will see a good
spirit in the midst of Israel. It will glow and grow and increase in
every direction that will minister to the welfare of the kingdom as a
whole. Why, even now, in the building of our Temples, Brother T. O.
Angell and others are sustained as architects. Now, what has religion
to do with building a house? Much. Has it to do with teaching a
school? Yes. Has it to do with domestic economy? Yes; I know it has;
and wherever you find men and women who will cultivate that spirit and
follow its counsel, you will find that they will become famous in the
direction in which they act. They are inspired of God, led by his
spirit, and have access to the intelligence that lies behind the vail,
and those who have had experience there will minister to our wants, so
that when Zion begins to grow she will fairly shine. She wilt support
everything that will contribute to the welfare and glory of the
greatest kingdom that was yet set up upon the earth, until men shall
say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the
house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we
will walk in his paths." Now, this is the purpose for which you and I
have come from the Old World, from the different States in the New
World, and from the different parts of Europe and the islands of the
sea, to be taught of God, to enjoy his Spirit, to be educated in his
Church, to be subject to his authority, and to grow and increase in
the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that is something worth
having, something that is worth living for, something that outshines
and outdistances all the organizations and systems which men may have
introduced. It is the Gospel of the living God. It is the Spirit of
the living God burning in the hearts of the Saints. But far too many
of us neglect this Spirit, we grieve it, we do not listen to its
admonitions. How many in Israel have bartered their homes and sunk
their means in a "hole in the ground," because they would not listen
to the counsels of God through his servants? How many failures in
life, because of our ignorance, notwithstanding the fountains of
intelligence are open at which we can drink? How many of us lose our
children because  we fail to apply to these great fountains, so that
all could operate and [p.111] understand how to resist adverse
influences, while we are in the flesh. Now, if we would cultivate this
spirit, if we would listen to its teachings, it would come to us in
many ways, in visions, in dreams and manifestations of the power of
God. We could have the ministration of angels, and many of us probably
the ministration of the Son—as come have done in the history and
experience of this Church—and this is the position to which we will
all arrive if we are faithful to the great trust that is laid upon us;
we shall not only enjoy the society of "an innumerable company of
angels," not only come "to the general assembly and church of the
firstborn," but we shall also be privileged to go to Jesus, and to God
the Father of us all and there bask in his presence and be educated in
his ways and sit down to the glory which awaits the just.

Vol. 21, p.111
Now, may God bless us with his Spirit, may he lift us from the
grovelling condition in which we find ourselves placed; may he infuse
into and surround us with the influence of his Spirit, that we may
live indeed a new life, and so glorify God "in our bodies and spirits
which are his," is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John Taylor, November 28, 1879

Eternal Nature of the Gospel—The Principle of Life and Increase—
The Source of All Intelligence—Right of the Creator to
 Govern the Creature—Duties of the Saints

Delivered at American Fork, Friday, November 28th, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.111
I have been much interested in the remarks made by Brother Joseph F.
Smith this morning. They are true and are a part of the Gospel of life
and salvation which embraces all truth. While he was speaking this
passage of Scripture occurred to my mind. Jesus said, "Whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended and
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it
fell [p.112] not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that
heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto
a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

Vol. 21, p.112
There is not a principle associated with the Gospel of the Son of God
but what is eternal in its nature and consequences, and we cannot with
impunity trample upon any principle that is correct without having to
suffer the penalty thereof before God and the holy angels, and in many
instances before men. The principles of the Gospel being eternal, they
were framed and originated with the Almighty in eternity before the
world was, according to certain eternal laws, and hence the Gospel is
called the everlasting Gospel. It is like God, without beginning of
days or end of years, and, as the Lord says, "I am the Lord and I
change not." The Gospel is eternal and does not change; it is eternal
in its principles and consequences.

Vol. 21, p.112
And the angel who was to come in the last days flying in the midst of
heaven was to proclaim the everlasting Gospel—the same Gospel that
Adam had, the same Gospel that Noah had, the same Gospel that Abraham
had, the same Gospel that the prophets had, the same Gospel that Jesus
had, also the same Gospel that the Nephites had here upon this
continent, and which Jesus revealed to them, and that they had indeed
before he was in the flesh. It is the everlasting Gospel which brings
life and immortality to light, and which enters into all the
ramifications of human existence and to the existence of the Gods, and
to the existence of this world and of all other worlds.

Vol. 21, p.112
As Brother Joseph F. Smith has justly said, the first command given
was, "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Vol. 21, p.112
There is a principle of life associated with the Gospel—life temporal,
life spiritual and life eternal. Hence men are called to be fathers of
lives and women are called to be mothers of lives. We are fathers and
mothers of lives. And there is something different associated with the
order of God from any order of men that exists upon the earth.

Vol. 21, p.112
When God created the earth and placed man upon it, and the fishes of
the sea and the fowls of the air, and the grasses and plants and
trees, etc., he placed in them the principle of life, or, in other
words, the power of propagating their own species. And if it were not
for that, what would you farmers do? Men can accomplish a great many
things. They can build houses, railroads and steamboats, and can do a
great many clever things whereby they can command, to a certain
extent, the forces of nature; but they cannot give vitality to any of
them. They cannot even furnish material to make a grain of sand, the
wisest of them. But God has ordained that this principle of vitality
exists within themselves. You take a single grain of wheat, for
instance, and put it into the earth and you will see the principle of
life begin to manifest itself, it is very small apparently, but
contains within itself the power of increase. The same is also true
with regard to the grasses, shrubs, plants and flowers, and the
various things that exist in creation. They spread, they extend, and
they have spread  [p.113] over the face of the earth as man has
spread, and the rain descends and the sun shines and nature, as we
term it, operates; but I would call it the power of God which operates
according to eternal laws and principles that he has ordained. He
gives vitality to all creation and sets life into motion and controls
it, in the heavens as well as in the earth; not only among men, but
among the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the fishes of the
sea, and all the grasses, plants and flowers and herbs etc.,
everything possessing the principle of life within itself. You farmers
know that, and hence you store up your different seeds and in the
proper season take them and plant them and they grow and increase and
spread; these things look very small. It is very little to look at a
grain of wheat, but then if you don't have it you never could raise
wheat. Can you farmers make one solitary grain of wheat without the
seed? It is apparently a small thing but you can't do it. You can try
it if you please, but you will not succeed. You cannot make a
peppergrass seed; but if you take one of those seeds or a grain of
wheat and sow it and water it you may by its increase spread it over
all the face of the earth; but if you did not have the seed you could
not accomplish anything. I do not care how smart you are or what rules
of philosophy or science you may have come across, all I ask of you is
to make a grain of oats or wheat. But then, we will stop at the wheat.
If we cannot do that we are not so very important, are we? There needs
a superior power to give this vitality. You look at it. You see to-day
the trees are leafless, there are no flowers in bloom, everything is
seared and withered and apparently gone to decay. By and by according
to the principles of nature, or the laws of God, spring comes along,
and the birds begin to sing and feel happy, the grass begins to shoot
forth, the flowers begin to bud, the trees begin to blossom. And who
gives this vitality and maintains it? God. Could you do much without
him? No. Why, you cannot even make your grain to grow after it is
provided for you without water. You try it sometimes but you make a
poor out of it, and withal we need the revivifying heat of the sun.
The grass begins to shoot up and by and by we have the wheat and corn,
first the blade and ear and then full corn in the ear. We have apple
trees, plum trees, and the various fruit trees budding, blossoming and
bearing fruit, all these things are provided by whom? By the
omnipotent, omniscient hand of the Almighty according to certain
eternal laws that he has provided for man and for every creature that
exists upon the face of the earth.

Vol. 21, p.113
But we will come back to the things spoken of by Joseph F. Smith. This
principle of life is the origin of our world, not only of this world,
but of others; and this propagating and multiplying is ordained of the
Almighty for the peopling of these worlds. And this production of life
that I have briefly alluded to is another principle that exists to
supply the want of another kind of life that exists here upon the
earth. And without this there could be no world; all would be chaos,
all would be darkness, all would be death, and the works of God would
amount to nothing if it were not for this life and vitality.

Vol. 21, p.113
Now, I want to speak further on a principle associated with this
subject, that is, that in the providence of God, or according to the
eternal laws of God and the eternal fitness  [p.114] of things as they
exist with him in the eternal worlds and as they exist here upon the
earth, all of us are or should be as much under the guidance and
direction of God, and are as much obligated to listen to his law and
be governed by his counsels and advice—and I should think a little
more so—than we would be in making that grain of wheat to grow or tea
thousand million of them to grow, for we could not do it without being
governed by those laws requisite to produce the increase. Furthermore,
we all are the offspring of God, are we not? I think the Scriptures
read that "We are all his offspring; that he is the God and Father of
the spirits of all flesh;" and being the God and Father of the spirits
of all flesh, and having made a world for all flesh to inhabit, and
having made provision for the sustenance of that flesh, for their
food, clothing, comfort, convenience and happiness, and given them
intelligence and told them to go forth and manipulate the abundance of
nature to their use, has he not a right to lead and direct us, to ask
obedience to his law? Would not that be a legitimate right, when we
reflect upon it? The world says, No, he has no right; I am my own
master, etc. Some of the Latter-day Saints almost say the same thing;
not quite, but they would like to get near it. "I area free man; I
will be damned if I don't do as I please," etc., Well, I will tell you
another part of that story. You will be damned if you do act as you
please unless you please to do and to keep the laws of God. We cannot
violate his laws with impunity nor trample under foot these eternal
principles which exist in all nature. If all nature is compelled to be
governed by law or suffer loss, why not man?

Vol. 21, p.114
Now, then, he has revealed unto us the Gospel. He has gathered us
together from among the nations of the earth for the accomplishment of
his purposes. For this he has used higher measures and more exalted
principles than are associated with some of the lower orders of
nature, some of these things that exist in nature. But who can
comprehend them? The world with all its wisdom knows very little about
them. The world with all its wisdom knows nothing about God. What is
the acme of the perfection of knowledge that exists anywhere today?
What is the highest step of the ladder they can reach? To discover
some principles or laws of nature and become acquainted with them and
then they make terrible blunders at that. But this is the acme of
perfection that any philosopher or scientist or intelligent man
professes to reach—to understand some of the laws of nature. But how
much of these do they know. Why, in my time, in order to show how much
they know and how little, I will mention some things that have not
existed in my day. They did not know of the oil we burn in this room.
I can remember that in some of the large cities of the earth all they
had to light then was tallow or wax candles or whale oil, which was
just about enough to make darkness visible. And after all the
thousands of years that men have existed upon the earth they cannot
even make the oil you barn to-day, and they did not have it when I was
young. But did that principle that exists in the oil always exist?
Yes. Why didn't they find it out? Because they only understood a few
of the principles of nature notwithstanding all their philosophy and
intelligence. Again, who knew  anything about gas in those days? I can
remember [p.115] the time when the streets and shops were first
lighted up with gas. What did they have before? Tallow candles; those
in common use we used to call dips. You old people know about this and
whale oil, but you did not know anything about gas; but did not gas
always exist? Yes. Why did they not know it? Because they were like
us, didn't know much. Again, what did they know about the power of
steam? I can remember the time when there was no such thing as
steamboats, when we who lived in England had to come to America in
sailing vessels. They had, it is true, some small vessels that were
used on the rivers propelled by steam, which they could not trust in
the ocean, and a little time before that they had no steamers of any
kind. And then what about our railroads? Did they know how to apply
steam to locomotives? No. I remember riding on the first railroad that
was built, and here is Brother Robinson, who was one of the conductors
of that same railroad that ran between Liverpool and Manchester. I
think he is now nearly the first railroad conductor, and the oldest
living. Why didn't men find out these things? We have had intelligent
men and philosophers in all ages to the present time, but none could
understand these things. Yet the principles are eternal in their
nature and always existed, and all it needed was to bring them out.
And when men discovered them they thought they were some great beings.
And what did they discover? Simply something that God had already made
long ago, only they didn't know it. In talking about these things I am
reminded of a little baby. You sisters have your babies, and you are
aware how little they know at first, and we ourselves do not know very
much; we are only babies of a bigger growth. One of the first things
they find out is that they have a foot, and they try to put it in
their mouth. They look at it in astonishment. Why, they always had
that foot since their birth. Why did'nt they know it before? Another
thing they find out they have a hand and they think what a curious
thing it is, and they look at it and the motion of their fingers with
astonishment, and they think they have made a great discovery. But
there is not much difference between the world of mankind and the
babies when we come to look at it. The child had nothing to do with
the making of its hands, neither have we had anything to do with
originating any of these principles. God made them, and we have simply
discovered some of the powers of what is termed nature, and when we
have found out a little of these things we take the glory to
ourselves; we feel very much like the king of Babylon when he said,
"Is not this Great Babylon that I 'have built?" The Lord, however,
started him off to eat grass like an ox. He had to live on it until
seven years had passed over him, when the Lord restored him to his
natural state, and he then knew that there was a God who lived and
ruled in the heavens and on the earth. It is for us to learn this
lesson and to find out that there is a God who rules in heaven, and
that he manages, directs and controls the affairs of the human family.
We are not our own rulers; we are all the children of God; he is our
Father and has a right to direct us, not only us, but has a perfect
right to direct and control the affairs of all the human family that
exists upon the face of the earth, for they are all his offspring.
Now, he feels kindly towards them and knows what kind [p.116] of
people they are, and also what we are, and he would do everything he
could for them even if in his almighty wisdom he has to kill them off
in order to save them. He destroyed the antediluvian world on that
account, because they were not filling the measure of their creation.
They had corrupted themselves to such an extent that it would have
been an injustice to the spirits in the eternal worlds if they had to
come through such a corrupt lineage to be subject to all the trouble,
incident thereunto, and therefore God destroyed them. He cut off the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in consequence of their corruptions, and
by and by he will shake all the inhabitants of the earth, he will
shake thrones and will overturn empires and desolate the land and lay
millions of the human family in the dust. Plagues and pestilence will
stalk through the earth because of the iniquities of men, because of
some of these corruptions that Brother Joseph F. Smith has briefly
hinted at, namely, the perversion of the laws of nature between the
sexes, and the damnable murders that exist among men.

Vol. 21, p.116
Not long ago, I was called upon by some intelligent, or those who
profess to be intelligent men, who asked me something about polygamy.
"How is it with you," said I; "do you know that in this land of yours
you are murdering hundreds of thousands of infants every year? Do you
know that you have among you people who are considered the most
fashionable and honorable that are murderers, who destroy the life
that God has given before and after birth, and interfere with the laws
of the Almighty. Do you know that they are doing that? "Yes, we
believe they are doing it." "Do you know that you are wallowing in
corruption and degradation, and that your social evils and other
damnable corruptions that exist are spreading and permeating through
all your society?" "Yes." "Well, you please go and attend to your own
affairs. it certainly does not look well for you who hail from these
sinks of infamy and degradation to preach morality to us. Please
attend to your own affairs first and get them straightened out before
you come to correct us." Yet these very people, these lascivious men
sitting upon the bench and pleading in the courts will arraign
honorable men for obeying a law of God. Will we obey it? In the name
of Israel's God we will. (The congregation said "Amen.") We will carry
out his purposes, we will obey his behests, we will, with his help,
abide his law, and our persecutors cannot help themselves, for God
will put a hook into their jaws and he will lead them whithersoever he
will and put a stop to their career by and bye. But he will look in
kindness upon Zion and honor those who honor and obey his law.

Vol. 21, p.116
Now these are my feelings in relation to these things. We ought to
observe the laws of God. The Lord has taken a great deal of pains to
bring us where we are and to give us the information we have. He came
himself, accompanied by his Son Jesus, to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He
didn't send anybody but came himself, and introducing his Son, said:
"This is my beloved Son, hear him." And he permitted the ancient
prophets, apostles and men of God that existed in different ages to
come and confer the keys of their several dispensations upon the
prophet of the Lord, in order that he should be endowed and imbued
with the power and Spirit of God, with the light of revelation and the
[p.117] eternal principles of the everlasting Gospel, and that the
keys committed to him, might, through him, be conferred upon others,
and that the principles of eternal truth as they exist in the heavens,
might extend to the nations of the earth, that these degrading,
loathsome, damning principles might cease that his people might be
gathered to Zion from the four corners of the earth, and learn his
laws. Says Jesus in his parable of the good shepherd, "and the sheep
hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them
out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them and
the sheep fellow him; for they know his voice." Now, he has brought us
together here. Whose sheep are we? Says Jesus, "I pray for them: I
pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for
they are thine.	*	*	* Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also
may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
He has gathered us together here for what? To teach us his law through
the medium of the Holy Priesthood. Jesus, in sending forth his
disciples in former times said unto them, "He that receiveth you
receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."

Vol. 21, p.117
Now, God has ordained his Holy Priesthood upon the earth with
presidents, apostles, bishops, high councils, seventies, high priests,
and the order and organization of the Church and kingdom of God in its
fulness and completeness, more complete perhaps, than it ever was
since the world was framed. Why? Because it is the dispensation of the
fulness of times, embracing all other times that have ever existed
since the world was, and he has gathered us together for that purpose.
Is it to sow and plant and try to make ourselves comfortable and to
follow the customs of the world in their corruptions and to wallow in
infamy and rob and plunder one another, acting deceitfully and
impurely without any regard to virtue or any of the laws that govern
the Church and kingdom of God? No. But that we might be a peculiar
people full of the light of truth and intelligence and revelations of
God; that we might be a people having no longer need of the oral law
or the written law, but a people upon whose hearts the law of God
shall be written and engraven as in characters of living fire, being
under the inspiration and guidance of the Almighty, walking according
to the principles of eternal truth, and being led in the paths of
life; being united with God and his Son Jesus Christ and with the
ancient patriarchs and apostles and men of God, operating with them in
the building up of Zion, in establishing the kingdom of God upon the
earth, and in spreading salvation to the cuds of the earth. This is
what he has brought us here for. And also that we might build temples
to officiate in them for the living and the dead, and that we might go
forth to the nations of the earth, carrying the glad tidings of peace;
and that we might be as a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid; and
that being in unison with God and the patriarchs and apostles, we
might draw down the light and intelligence of heaven upon the earth to
enable us to operate with them according to the principles of justice
and equity and the laws of life and every principle connected with the
salvation of [p.118] the human family, and that we might go on from
strength to strength from intelligence to intelligence, until we shall
be capable of enjoying a celestial glory a shall be prepared to enter
therein; and until all that shall be prepared to have a celestial
glory shall enjoy that, and those who are prepared for the terrestrial
glory to have that, and also the telestial to enjoy what belongs to
them, and that we may co-operate with God in the eternal worlds and
the intelligences of heaven for the accomplishment of this object. And
that while they operate in the heavens, we may operate for them upon
the earth. This is what we are here for as I understand it.

Vol. 21, p.118
What else? Make settlements; break loose. Some of you are crying "give
us room." There is plenty of room, and in making these settlements we
want to carry with us the principles of the Gospel and plant them in
different places. We are sending out persons into the north-east of
this Territory, and we want them to go filled with the Holy Ghost and
the spirit of the living God. And we are sending! some to Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho and other places, and we will stretch out further and
further. Zion's cords shall be lengthened and her stakes shall be
strengthened until her armies shall become mighty and numerous and
until God shall say to the Gentiles, it is enough, and then God will
give the government into our hands.

Vol. 21, p.118
We have come to see you and to talk with you. We want to see you at
your own homes. These railroads whisk us by at such a rapid rate that
many times we have not time to stop and visit with you. But we thought
this time we would come with our own carriages and visit the people in
their own homes and talk with them and see how they feel and that they
may judge of our feelings with regard to the building up of the
kingdom of God upon the earth. You elders of Israel—and there are many
in this congregation —let me ask you—Do you have prayers in your
family? (Turning round and addressing Bishop Harrington, the speaker
said): May I act as teacher for a little while?

Vol. 21, p.118
The Bishop—Yes, we will be glad to have you.

Vol. 21, p.118
The speaker—Well, then, I will repeat the question—Do you have prayers
in your family? (A voice in the congregation. Yes.) And when you do,
do you go through the operation like the guiding of a piece of
machinery, or do you bow in meekness and with a sincere desire to seek
the blessing of God upon you and your household? That is the way that
we ought to do, and cultivate a spirit of devotion and trust in God,
dedicating ourselves to him, and seeking his blessings.

Vol. 21, p.118
Here is one brother says he does. But how is it with the balance of
us? I am talking to all of you. Husbands, do you love your wives and
treat them right, or do you think that you yourselves are some great
Moguls who have a right to crowd upon them? They are given to you as a
part of yourself, and you ought to treat them with all kindness, with
mercy and long suffering, and not be harsh and bitter, or in any way
desirous to display your authority. Then, you wives, treat your
husbands right, and try to make them happy and comfortable. Endeavor
to make your homes a little heaven, and try to cherish the good Spirit
of God. Then let us as parents train up  our children in the fear of
God and teach them the laws of life. If you do, we will have peace in
our [p.119] bosoms, peace in our families and peace in our
surroundings. Have we any difficulty with our neighbors? Why, Gentiles
strive to avoid that. Cannot we pass by some of these hard words, as
the old man used to say when a child would come to a big word, "Pass
it by, my dear, and call it a hard word." When you come across a hard
word, pass it by; don't utter it.

Nay, speak no ill;
A kindly word can never leave a sting behind.

Let us treat one another with kindness and one another's reputation
with respect, and feel after one another's welfare, treating everybody
as we would like God to treat us. And then, when we come to the Lord,
we can say, "Father, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them
that trespass against us;" for if we do not forgive our brother, how
can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us? If we have had any
difficulty with our neighbor, let us endeavor to make it right. Say,
"Brother or sister so and so, my conscience rather troubles me about.
Something I said about you or did to you, or some deal I had in which
I got the advantage of you, and I have come to make it right, for I am
determined to do right, no matter what other people do." And let us
all seek after one another's welfare. If we can help one another, let
us do it—financially or socially—and don't betray one another. Some
people, some poor, miserable—I don't care to say a hard word—I will
call them sneaks, they will try, because a man was married a wife
according to the laws of God, to bring an accusation against him. Such
men will be damned and such women will be damned. Do you know that,
when thee miserable sneaks come into your house on every kind of
pretence, perhaps to sell wagons or machinery of some kind, in the
midst of their conversation they are known to ask such questions as
"how many wives has your husband got?" Poor, low miserable sneaks.
Kick them out of your house, have nothing to do with such low,
infernal trash. While we treat good men aright, kick such villains out
of your house, they have no business among decent people. We do not
want them. Tell them to attend to their own affairs and let our
business alone. Tell them to go back where they came from, we do not
want them among decent people. These are my feelings. That's saying a
pretty hard word. It is such a word, though, as suits such people, for
there is no decent word that's appropriate for such contemptible
beings.

Vol. 21, p.119
Be true to one another, respect another's reputation. And then, you
elders, treat one another as gentlemen with courtesy and kindness. And
you ladies treat one another as ladies, and, old gentlemen, treat
ladies as ladies, and you, old ladies, treat the gentlemen as
gentlemen.

Vol. 21, p.119
I feel to tell a little story about Bishop Hunter. Most of you know
Dr. Sprague. He was sent by President Young to see brother Hunter,
when on the frontier many years ago. The doctor had a squeaky kind of
a voice. He says (imitating the doctor), "Does Brother Hunter live
here? Bishop Hunter replied (the speaker imitating the Bishop's
voice), "My name is Hunter." Doctor Sprague: "President Young has sent
me to see if you were sick, and if so he wanted me to administer to
you." Bishop Hunter: "Physician heal thyself:" Doctor Sprague: "Well,
sir, I feel just like two clap boards stuck together." Then he says,
"Is this your old woman, Brother [p.120] Hunter." Bishop Hunter: "This
is Mrs. Hunter. Mrs. Hunter is a lady, she is not an old woman, sir."
When you meet with women, treat them as ladies, and have everybody
else do the same. We can afford to treat everybody right, that is,
every decent body, but these sneaks we do not want anything to do
with—poor miserable beings who go around pretending to do business,
but whose real purpose is to obtain information that they may inform
upon you, to whom? To men who are as wicked, treacherous, lascivious
and degraded as the devil in hell. What for To destroy you. Will you
receive such miserable sneaks in your midst? Tell them to go about
their business.

Vol. 21, p.120
Let us live our religion, keep the commandments of God, pursue a right
course, and God will bless us. I ask God the eternal Father to bless
you and lead you in the paths of life. I say to you, respect the
counsels of those ever you; Brother Smoot as your president; listen to
him, listen to the counsels of the bishop and pray for him. And then
your president and bishops should pray for the people. Treat one
another with kindness and courtesy, and let us all feel we are the
sons and daughters of God, living our religion and obeying his
commandments, following the counsels of the holy priesthood, and seek
for the blessings of God upon us and upon our posterity. Never mind
what other people do. We will go on and take a course in everything
calculated to promote the happiness of the human family, and Zion will
grow and spread until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms
of our Lord and his Christ, and the laws that God has introduced will
prevail and his will be done upon the earth as it is done in heaven,
and every creature be heard to say, "Blessing and honor and glory and
power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for
ever and ever," and we will join in the universal chorus. God help us
to be faithful in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. [p.121]

Wilford Woodruff, June 6, 1880

No Man Can Build Up the Church of Christ Without the Priesthood
 Responsibility of the Priesthood—Christ Coming in this Generation
—Great Changes and Judgments Approaching—Exhortation to Righteousness

Delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City,
Sunday Afternoon, June 6th, 1880.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.121
I have a desire to be heard in what I say to this assembly. I know the
difficulties there are in speaking here. It requires not only
attention, but quietude among the people.

Vol. 21, p.121
I feel disposed to read a few verses from the good old book the
Bible—some of the sayings of Isaiah and Ezekiel. [The speaker then
read from the 12th chapter of Ezekiel, from the 21st to the end of the
chapter.] I have (the speaker continued) a few reflections upon my
mind that I would like to lay before the Latter-day Saints, especially
those who bear the holy priesthood. Among the lessons which we are
learning in our day and time is this one truth: that we all of us need
the spirit of revelation in order that we may teach mankind of the
things of God. I do not believe myself there ever was a man lived in
the flesh on the earth, in any day or age of the world, no matter what
his position, calling, name, or age might be—I do not believe any man
ever had the power to do the work of God, to build up his kingdom or
to edify the souls of men, without inspiration and revelation; for the
Lord has never called any man in any age of the world to do any of
this kind of work, whether to preach the Gospel, to prophesy, or to
declare the word of the Lord to the inhabitants of the earth, or to
administer in any ordinance in any temple or in any tabernacle,
without the holy priesthood. There are no ordinances acceptable in the
sight of God of any force after death or in the eternal worlds except
those ordinances that are performed by men hearing the holy
priesthood. Our heavenly Father himself has officiated by this
principle in the creation of all worlds, in the redemption of all
worlds, and in all the the word which he has performed; it has all
been done by the power of the Godhead and the holy priesthood, which
is without beginning of days or end of years. This priesthood has
power with the heavens. It has association with the heavens. The
heavens are connected with this priesthood, let it rest upon the
shoulders or head of any man, whether it be Jesus Christ, or those
fishermen, or the ancient patriarchs or prophets or Joseph Smith, or
any other man who is called of God as was Aaron, by revelation, and
prophecy to bear record of the name of [p.122] God in any age of the
world. Therefore, I occupy the same position myself. I know I need the
Spirit of God. I know you do. I know any man does who rises on this
stand, and attempts to teach the people. You give a man the
inspiration of Almighty God and the eternal truths of heaven and he
can instruct and edify the children of men upon the principles of life
and salvation; without this he cannot do it. And in order to present
to my brethren and sisters and friends the subject that I have on my
mind, I will just refer a little further to some words of the Lord to
the Prophet Ezekiel [The speaker again referred to the Book of
Ezekiel, and quoted from the 9th, 14th and 33rd chapters, all of parts
quoted having reference to the dealings of God with the wicked.]
Continuing, Elder Woodruff said Now, having quoted all these passages
of Scripture, I want to say to my brethren the apostles, the high
priests, the seventies, the elders of Israel, who bear the holy
priesthood, upon whose shoulders the God of heaven, in this day and
generation has placed the responsibility of the Melchesidec and
Aaronic priesthood; has placed the responsibility of this great and
last dispensation, the fulness of times, and the building up of the
great kingdom of God which Daniel saw by revelation, vision and
inspiration in his day and generation as proclaimed by all the
prophets and apostles who have written in this book, in the stick of
Judah as well as in the stick of Joseph and other revelations given to
us through the mouth of the prophets and apostles in our day and
generation—I want to ask in the face of all this—and I take it home to
myself—what position are we in before high heaven, before God the
Father, before his Son Jesus Christ, before the heavenly hosts, before
all justified spirits made perfect from the creation of the world to
this day? What condition are we in as the servants of the living God,
men holding the holy priesthood into whose hands the God of Israel has
given this kingdom. Are we disseminating the mighty flood of
revelation and prophecy in these records and these books which are now
to rest upon the generation as in the days of Noah and Lot. In this
respect are we justified in the sight of God, in the sight of heaven,
in the sight of angels, and in the sight of men? Can we fold our arms
in peace and cry "all is peace in Zion," when, so far as we have the
power of the priesthood resting upon us, we can see the condition of
the world? Can we imagine that our garments will be clean without
lifting our voice before our fellow-men and warning them of the things
that are at their doors? No, we cannot. There never was a set of men
since God made the world under a stronger responsibility to warn this
generation, to lift up our voices long and loud, day and night so far
as we have the opportunity and declare the words of God unto this
generation. We are required to do this. This is our calling. It is our
duty. It is our business. We have had to perform this work for the
last 50 years of our lives. When the Lord called Joseph Smith to lay
the foundation of the Church he called him in fulfilment of many
revelations given in other dispensations to men. He was preserved by
the hand of God to come forth in the last days, even in the
dispensation of the fulness of times. He was a prophet of the  living
God. He was a prophet, seer and revelator. The Lord called upon him to
do the work for which he was [p.123] ordained before the foundation of
this world. He did all that was required of him, and he was surrounded
with thousands of men who were acquainted with his life, and with the
Spirit and power of God which rested upon him, and who sustained him
in life and in death We know he was a prophet of God, and we know he
brought forth the stick of Joseph, the Book of Mormon, which was given
unto him by the angel of God. This Church and kingdom has been
organized by the command of God and by the revelations of heaven. It
has continued to grow and increase, and has been upheld by the Lord
Almighty, from its organization until the present hour. And when I
look at this Tabernacle and think of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the
tops of the mountains;" when I look at these everlasting hills and the
land given by promise to Father Jacob and his posterity; when I see
this barren desert peopled by 150,000 Saints of the living God who
have been gathered from nearly every nation under heaven through the
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ —what can I say about it?
Can I say it is a dream? Can I say that it is all a vision? Can I say
that this work is of man and not of God? Can I say these are
revelations and prophecies which belong to some other generation? I
tell you no. This is the kingdom of God. Here are the Saints of God.
These mountains are being filled with the Latter-day Saints from every
nation under heaven, and with these things before me I know that it is
my duty to preach the Gospel, to warn Saints and sinners wherever I
have the opportunity. The Lord told Joseph Smith that he would prove
us in all things, whether we would abide in his covenant even unto
death, that we might be found worthy. The prophet sealed his testimony
with his blood. That testimony is in force upon all the world and has
been from the day of his death. Not one word of the Lord shall pass
away unfulfilled. The unbelief in this generation will make no
difference with regard to the building up of the kingdom of God. As it
was in the days of Noah so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
Therefore, I desire to ask my brethren, the elders of Israel—and I ask
myself at the same time—do we understand our position before the Lord?
Ezekiel has passed away. He is in the spirit world. He has received
his resurrected body and stands at the right hand of' God with other
prophets and apostles who lived in days gone by. They had their day
and generation. All these patriarchs and prophets and apostles had a
time to prophesy, to preach, to labor, and to administer in the
ordinances of life and salvation. Now, in this last dispensation, ye
elders of Israel, this work has been put into your hands. Therefore
what shall we say, and what shall we do? Are we acting as watchmen
upon the walls of Zion If we are, are we justified in closing our
mouths, in closing our ears, or in setting our hearts upon anything
else excepting the building up of the kingdom of God? I do not think
we are. In my view our responsibility is very great. We should live
our religion. We should practise ourselves what we preach. We should
treasure up the words of life. We should search the records of divine
truth. We should seek to comprehend the day and age in which we live.
This is the way I look upon our situation to-day. I [p.124] do not
look upon the revelations recorded in these books, touching the
dispensation of the fulness of times, as something that will pass away
unfulfilled. We live in a generation when great changes are about to
take place. We live in a time when darkness covers the whole earth and
gross darkness the people. The world are a great way from the truth.
Infidelity overwhelms the earth, in fact it is a hard matter to-day to
get either priest or people, sect or party, of any name or
denomination under heaven to believe in the literal fulfillment of the
Bible, as translated in the days of King James, which contains the
revelations given from the days of Father Adam down to our own time,
and which point out to us the signs of heaven and earth indicating the
coming of the Son of Man. We live in the generation itself when Jesus
Christ will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
We live in the generation when the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been
revealed in its fulness to the Gentiles, and when the Gospel of Christ
will go to the House of Israel, to the descendants of Lehi, in
fulfilment of that which is recorded in their records in the 9th, 10th
and 11th chapters of the last book of Nephi. These prophets spake by
the power of God and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and as the
apostle says, "No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
I feel therefore to say to my brethren who bear the holy priesthood,
and I say it to myself and to all—I do not think we have much time to
lie down and slumber. We have no time to speculate in trying to get
rich in trying to accumulate gold and silver. What we have got to do
is to build up the kingdom of God. As apostles, high priests, elders,
seventies and the lesser priesthood, we are bound together by this new
and everlasting Gospel and covenant; we are called to perform the
great and a mighty work of building up Zion, of building temples
wherein we may labor for the living and the dead, and we should live
in that way and manner that we may be governed and controlled at all
times by the Holy Spirit.

Vol. 21, p.124
I know very well how the world look at these things. As I said before,
the world is far from the Lord. We ourselves are too far from the Lord
as a people. We ought to draw near to the Lord, and labor to obtain
the Holy Spirit, so that when we read the revelations of God we may
read them by the same Spirit by which they were given. Then we can
understand their purport when given to the children of men.

Vol. 21, p.124
The Lord has said by the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, that he would
proceed to do a marvelous Work and a wonder; and when I look at the
rise and progress of this Church, when I behold the great work the
Lord has performed, it was a marvelous work and a wonder indeed. There
never has been, in my view, any generation in which the same amount of
prophecies and important events have to be fulfilled as in the
generation in which we live. Joseph Smith, an illiterate boy, was
raised up by the power of God. His teachers were the angels of heaven.
He was administered unto by the Son of God. He received the Aaronic
priesthood of John the Baptist, who was beheaded for the testimony of
Jesus Christ. He received the apostleship and Melchizedek Priesthood
under the hands of [p.125] Peter, James and John, who were also put to
death for the word and testimony of Jesus Christ. He made use of these
ordinances by the commandment of God. He organized the Church and
kingdom of God; he did that which all the wisdom of the sectarian
world could never have comprehended. He established the only church on
the face of the earth according to the ancient order of the Church of
Jesus Christ, with apostles, prophets, teachers, gifts, helps,
governments, baptism for the remission of sins, the laying of hands
for the reception of the Holy Ghost—an organization which has not
existed on the earth from the day the ancient apostles were put to
death, and the holy priesthood taken from the earth, until the
present. This Church has continued to rise. It is the only true church
upon the face of the whole earth. Its history is before the world. It
has continued to grow and increase from the day it was organized until
the present time. This is the Zion of God. We see an embryo of it in
these valleys of the mountains, and it is designed by the Most High
God to stand on the earth in power and glory and dominion, as the
prophets of God saw it in their day and generation. This is the
kingdom that Daniel saw, and it will continue to roll forth until it
fills the whole earth. These are eternal truths, whether the world
believe or disbelieve them, it matters not, the truths cannot be made
of non-effect. This is certainly a strange work and a wonder. There
has been every exertion made to stay it. Armies have been sent forth
to destroy this people, but we have been upheld and sustained by the
hand of the Lord until to-day.

Vol. 21, p.125
And now I desire to bear my testimony. I have no fears, my brethren
and sisters—and I say the same to our nation, to all kings, queens,
emperors, presidents and governments of this world—I have no fears
with regard to "Mormonism," and and the ultimate triumph of the
kingdom of God; because the Lord Almighty has said that the nation and
kingdom that will not serve him shall perish and be utterly wasted
away. If this had not been the Zion of God it would not have stood so
long as it has done. This kingdom, however, has not been organized by
the power of man but by the power of God, and whatever God undertakes
to do he will carry out. I have therefore no fear of this kingdom. It
was ordained to come forth before the world was made; and the Lord
never undertook a dispensation of this kind without due preparation
before he commenced. He had material in the spirit world who would in
time be raised up to carry on this kingdom. I have no fears about this
work being accomplished, but I have fears about many of the Latter-day
Saints; because if we have the holy priesthood upon our heads and do
not live our religion, of all men we are under the greatest
condemnation. We have baptized a great many into this Church and
kingdom—not many, certainly, when compared to the twelve hundred
million inhabitants of the earth —but a great many have apostatized.
What! Latter-day Saints apostatize? Yes. I tell you people will
apostatize who have received the holy priesthood and Gospel of Jesus
Christ, if they do not honor God, if they do not keep his
commandments, obey his laws and humble themselves before the Lord;
they are in danger every day of their lives. Look at the number of
devils we have, round about us! We have I should say, one hundred to
every [p.126] man, woman and child. One third part of the heavenly
host was cast down to the earth with Lucifer, son of the morning, to
war against us—which I suppose will number one hundred million
devils—and they labor to overthrow all the Saints and the kingdom of
God. They even tried to overthrow Jesus Christ; they overthrew Judas,
and they have succeeded in overthrowing a good many Latter-day Saints,
who had a name and standing among us, who undertook to build
themselves up instead of the Kingdom of God. and when men having this
priesthood —I do not care whether it was in the days of Adam, in the
days of Moses, in the days of Joseph Smith, or in the days of Brigham
Young, I care not in what day they lived—if they bore this priesthood
and undertook to use it for any other purpose than the building up of
the kingdom of God, then amen to the power and priesthood of such men.

Vol. 21, p.126
The Lord will have a people to carry on his purposes who will obey and
serve him. He has a good many people in this day and age of the world,
who will be faithful unto death, whether called to seal their
testimony with their blood or not. He has a people who will maintain
his work while they are here. But here is the danger, ye Latter-day
Saints, and the Savior saw it very plainly, and has left it on record
in the earth: He compared the kingdom of God unto ten virgins, which
took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. "And five of
them were wise and five were foolish. They that were foolish took
their lamps and took no oil with them; But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the
bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose
and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us
of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered saying,
Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to
them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy,
the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage; and the door was shut. Afterwards came also the other
virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said,
Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Now, those who have got oil in
their lamps, are men who live their religion, pay their tithing, pay
their debts, keep the commandments of God, and do not blaspheme his
name; men and women who will not sell their birthright for a mess a
pottage or for a little gold or silver; these are those that will be
valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Vol. 21, p.126
This is the way I feel to-day. I feel to warn my brethren and sisters,
the Latter-day Saints, to live their religion, to trim their lamps,
because as the Lord lives, his word will be fulfilled. The coming of
Jesus is nigh at the door. These judgments that I have read will come
to pass, and though Brigham, Joseph, Noah, Daniel and Job, or anybody
else were in the land, they could not do more than deliver their own
souls by their righteousness. The man that is righteous cannot save
the wicked. We have got to live our own righteousness, that is keep
the commandments of God.

Vol. 21, p.126
We are approaching changes. There are judgments at our door. There are
judgments at the door of this nation, and at the door of Great
Babylon. How do the world feel to-day? How does our nation feel?
[p.127] Something similar to Belshazzar, the king. On the night that
he drank out of the golden and silver vessels with his princes and his
wives, he thought, "Well, I made this country. I made this city. I am
the god of this country;" but when the Lord Almighty manifested his
displeasure by the writing on the wall, the scene was changed. His
kingdom was broken up and given to the Medes and Persians. His
greatness, his gold and silver did not save him In the same way the
Lord in ancient days swept away great cities when they were ripened in
iniquity. Jerusalem was overthrown in fulfilment of the words of the
Lord. Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied what would come to pass, and it
was fulfilled to the very letter. So I say to the Gentiles, so I say
to the Latter-day Saints. What the Lord has spoken concerning our
nation, and concerning the nations of the earth, notwithstanding that
the unbelief of the world may be great, notwithstanding that they may
reject the word of God and seek to put the servants of God to
death—will all be fulfilled. War, pestilence, famine, earthquakes and
storms await this generation. These calamities will overtake the world
as God lives, and no power can prevent them. Therefore I say to the
elders of Israel, be faithful. We have had the priesthood given to us,
and if we fail to use it right, we shall be brought under
condemnation. Therefore, let us round up our shoulders and bear off
the kingdom. Let us labor to obtain the Holy Spirit—and power of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ—which has been put into our hands, and inasmuch
as we do this, the blessing of God will attend our efforts.

Vol. 21, p.127
We have been here a number of years. We have preached the Gospel and
labored to build up this kingdom. Many have been associated with this
Church almost from the beginning. Many have been taken away. Joseph
and Hyrum sealed their testimony with their blood. Many have passed to
the other side of the vail, and many others of us will soon follow
them; but I do not want when I get there to have it said, "When you
were in the flesh you had the priesthood, you had the power to rebuke
sin, but you were not man enough to chastise the ungodly." Neither do
I want my relatives to rise up and say "You had the power to do a work
for the redemption of the dead, but you have neglected these things."
I do not want these things to rise up against me. As for gold and
silver, they are of very little account compared with eternal life.
When we die we must leave the riches of this world behind. We were
born naked and we will go out of the world in the same condition. We
cannot take with us houses, gold, silver, or any of this world's
goods. We will even leave our tabernacles for somebody to bury. Our
spirits must appear in the presence of God, and there receive our
reward for the deeds done in the body.

Vol. 21, p.127
Therefore, I pray God my heavenly Father to enable us to live our
religion, to labor for light and truth that we may not work in the
dark; to live nearer and nearer the Lord and be prepared for that
which is to come, and eventually gain eternal life, is my prayer in
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. [p.128]

Orson Pratt, September 7, 1879

On the Book of Mormon—
Destiny of the Kingdom of God and the Saints

Delivered in the Tabernacle,
 Salt Lake City, September 7th, 1879.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.128
It is with feelings of thanksgiving to my Father who is in heaven,
that I stand before you this afternoon, after having been absent from
this place for some nine months that are past.

Vol. 21, p.128
I suppose that the Latter-day Saints who are congregated here,
understand the object of the mission which was given to me, to go to
Great Britain, and there get the pages of the Book of Mormon, and the
Book of Doctrine and Covenants, electrotyped, with double sets of
plates, for the purpose of spreading forth copies of these works,
among the inhabitants of the earth by hundreds of thousands. I
therefore, feel very much pleased to have the privilege of bearing
testimony to you, that I have, through the blessing of the Lord, been
enabled to finish or complete the work that was given me to do, in
relation to these two standard works of our Church.

Vol. 21, p.128
Had it not been for the Book of Mormon this territory would not be
occupied by a people called the Latter-day Saints. That lies at the
foundation of the work of the last days, in which we are engaged. All
of you are acquainted, if you have endeavored to exercise your
judgment and your capacities as intelligent beings, with the nature of
that book. If you are not acquainted with it you certainly ought to
be. We all ought to inform ourselves concerning every principle that
is contained in that record. We ought to make ourselves very familiar
also, with the Book that is called the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
given by divine revelation in the generation in which we are permitted
to live. These two books, we as a people, esteem to be as sacred as
any other revelations which were ever given to the human family. We
look upon the Book of Mormon as a very precious record,—a precious
blessing to the people who live in this dispensation, a divine work,—a
divine revelation. It has now been before the world almost 50 years,
being publislied over 49 years; and the whole world, if they had seen
proper to inform themselves, concerning the nature of the work, could
have been blessed with the privilege. It is a work which the Lord our
God has commenced by his own power. The book was not written by the
wisdom of man, by the inspiration of man, but it was written by the
commandment of the Most High God. It was written as revealed to a
young man, the founder of this Church, under the divine influence of
the Holy Spirit. [p.129] This young man being inspired of God, and
having revelations granted to him from heaven, had the privilege of
bringing forth this sacred record to this generation. The record was
translated, as the Latter-day Saints understand, and as the world
generally have been informed, by revelation, by the inspiration of the
Holy Ghost, through the aid of an instrument that was used anciently
and called the Urim and Thummim. The Lord did not, in revealing this
work to us, require us to receive it blindly and enthusiastically, but
to receive it on good, substantial, sound evidence, such as we cannot
controvert, such as we cannot contradict—evidence that no reasonable
person, having the common reasoning faculties of man, can consistently
reject. The Lord did not raise up this Church—did not commence its
foundation, until he revealed this Book; and in the revelation of this
Book, he fulfilled many predictions, made in ancient days, by the
mouth of the Jewish prophets, and also the apostles that succeeded the
Jewish prophets. They spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost;
and they predicted that such a work would come forth in the latter
times; and if this is not the work, as the world say it is not, then
we are to look forward to the day when a similar work will be brought
forth by the power of Almighty God; for the events predicted by the
mouth of the prophets, recorded in the Jewish Bible, never can be
fulfilled, never can be brought to pass, unless a work of a similar
description, to the one that has been presented to the people of the
nineteenth century shall come forth.

Vol. 21, p.129
The Book of Mormon, we say, is just as sacred as the Bible—the Old and
New Testaments. We cannot see any reason why we should exclude all
other books from the compiled books of the Jewish Bible. We have
nothing in the compiled works of the Bible (King James' translation),
we have no declarations in this Book, that the canon of Scripture
should be full at the close of the fourth century of the Christian
era. We have no declarations in this Book, that about 400 years after
Christ there should be a church or people on the earth that should
collect together manuscript books and call them the Bible, and that
that should be a complete revelation of God's will; or that there were
no other sacred books in existence, only what the Catholic church, at
the close of the fourth century, happened to collect together.

Vol. 21, p.129
We believe that God is the God of all nations, as well as the God of
the Jews. We believe that he did not confine his divine power and the
inspiration of his Spirit to one little spot of our globe; although he
did work wonderfully, and in a marvelous manner, in the land of
Palestine among the Jews, and did shew forth his power by raising up
prophets, and revelators, and apostles. Yet we cannot, in our views,
limit the Almighty, as the Christian nations do, and say that he has
never spoken to any other people. We cannot, with the intelligence and
light that God has given to us, say that the Bible is the only
revelation of God to man. We believe that he made all nations, and all
the inhabitants of the earth. We believe that he had as much regard
for the ten tribes, after they revolted from the house of Judah and
separated themselves into a distinct nation—wheat they wrought
righteousness, as he had for the Jews who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in
the vicinity of that great capital city. Indeed the Lord [p.130] has
shown to us that he was no respecter of persons. So far as the ten
tribes were concerned, he had revealed himself to them. Some of the
greatest prophets that were raised up in days of old, before the
coming of the Messiah, were prophets that lived among the ten tribes,
who were not Jews: not included in the house of Judah, or the two
years and a half. For instance, Elijah, who had such great power given
him from God, that he could call upon His name and the heavens would
be shut up so that there would be no rain fall upon the earth,
according to his prayer, for three and a half years. A man with such
faith, that after three and a half years of great famine, he prayed
for the Lord to send rain, and rain was given immediately. A man with
such power that when a captain of fifty with his fifty came to take
him—who mockingly called him a man of God—he said to the captain, "If
I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume thee and
thy fifty," and it was done, according to his word. He was not a
Jewish prophet; he was a prophet of the ten tribes. A man also that
had such great faith in God, that he was taken away from the earth, in
a chariot of fire, and wafted to the abodes of immortality, among the
immortal beings. Here then was a prophet raised up among another
branch of the house of Israel. Here was also Elisha, another prophet,
not of the Jews but of the ten tribes. Were not their revelations just
as sacred as the revelations of the prophets of Judah? They certainly
were; and were incorporated in the Jewish Bible. Were there any other
branches of Israel besides those ten tribes, who dwelt in the northern
parts of the Land of Palestine, and the Jew? Yes, we read in various
parts of this Bible, that many of the house of Israel were taken away
from the main body who dwelt in Palestine, and scattered to the four
quarters of the earth. Did God forget them and their generations after
them, after they were thus scattered? I think not. He did not forget
them; and in the days of their righteousness, he revealed himself to
them and to his prophets. And this great and choice American continent
was once peopled by the seed of Israel, not the ten tribes or Jewish
nation especially, but a small remnant of one tribe, namely the
descendants of Joseph who was carried into Egypt. These American
Indians scattered over this great continent of ours, are the literal
descendants of the chosen seed. Now, do you suppose that the Almighty,
who desires the salvation of the children of men, would take a
company, however great or small it might be, and locate them upon such
a great and vast continent as ours, and leave them without any
guidance by revelation from him?—leave them from generation to
generation without prophets and without revelators? Such an event is
inconsistent to my mind. God, who is no respecter of persons, who
loves all people of all nations, of all kindreds and tongues, surely
would not thus lead away the chosen seed, and plant them upon such a
vast continent as ours and obscure or withdraw himself, leaving them
in total ignorance, without any revelation from heaven. What is the
Book of Mormon? It is their record, their Bible, their revelations,
their predictions, their doctrines, their manifestations and visions,
and their history, the same as the Bible is the record and history of
the Jews. Why then should it be thought inconsistent with the
character God  that he should bring forth [p.131] records, so sacred,
so great, so important to join with the testimony of the Jewish record
that the nations of the last days might have the testimony of two
hemispheres that God is the same God, that his doctrines are
everlasting, the same unchangeable Gospel and plan of salvation, and
that his people Israel were as precious to him on the western
hemisphere as they were on the eastern, and that the great atonement
which we are now celebrating in this house, should not be shut out
from the minds of the people in the western hemisphere? Is it
consistent that this should be the case? There is not a man living,
who will free himself from the traditions of false doctrines that have
prevailed for many generations, but what will say it is godlike, it is
consistent with the character of the Almighty to reveal himself to the
western hemisphere as well as to the great eastern hemisphere, and if
he did this would there be anything inconsistent that these records
should be brought to light in the last days? Is God limited in his
power? I appeal to the whole of Christendom, do we as Christians
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father, as being limited
in their power, and that people should be left without divine
knowledge, without information from heaven, when it is so easy for
them to reveal? Is not the knowledge of God to cover the earth,
according to the prediction of Isaiah the prophet, as the waters cover
the great deep, before the end shall come? Are not many, in the last
days, to run to and fro, and knowledge be increased, and when I speak
of knowledge I mean that knowledge which is of God, the knowledge
revealed from heaven, concerning the great plan of salvation. It is
reasonable, it is consistent, it is in accordance with the Jewish
Bible, that God should reveal himself and the plan of salvation to the
people of the latter days, that the knowledge of God may truly cover
the earth as the waters cover the great deep. In revealing this
additional knowledge, will it do any harm? Is there any church on the
face of the whole earth that is in the least degree harmed by the
additional revelations sent from heaven? I think not. What harm is
there in the Lord's making manifest to the people in this western
hemisphere, that the same Gospel was preached to the inhabitants of
this land as was preached to the Jews and the people of the eastern
continent in ancient days? Who is harmed among all the religious
denominations of Christendom, the four hundred millions of Christians,
so called, by the addition of further revelation Did it harm any of
the branches of the church that were anciently Christian, after they
had the Book of Matthew revealed to them, to be permitted to have a
testimony from another inspired man, called the Book of Mark? I think
there was no harm in Mark's writing his Gospel, after Matthew had
written his. It did no harm to the ancient Christians that Luke should
write his testimony of the Gospel; that John should write his, that
John should be permitted to receive great prophecy and revelation on
the isle of Patmos. Did that close revelation from God? No, because we
find that the Lord inspired John to write his testimony of the Gospel,
showing that the canon of Scripture was not closed up when John left
Patmos. What harm is there for another nation to know about the
Prophet Moses, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the atonement that he made
by his own suffering and death? Would it not [p.132] be a privilege
and blessing for the ancient inhabitants of America to be informed
concerning the only way by which they could be saved in the kingdom of
God? The Book of Mormon records the fact that Jesus did appear on this
American continent, after his resurrection from the dead; that he did
administer in person, in his immortal body, after his resurrection,
for several days, in the midst of this remnant of Israel, the
forefathers of these American Indians. What Gospel did he teach? Did
he teach one Gospel in Asia and another in ancient America? No. If the
same Gospel then is taught, who is harmed among the four hundred
millions of Christians, by having the information concerning it? It
seems to me as if I could imagine the feeling of the strangers that
may be present this afternoon. I can imagine some one saying, "Oh, it
would be a very beautiful theory, if we could only believe it; if we
only had testimony sufficient to believe what you Latter-day Saints
declare, that the Book of Mormon is actually a divine revelation of
the Gospel as it was preached in ancient America; if we knew this fact
we could not denounce it as something that was calculated in its
nature to destroy the peace and happiness of Christendom, but we
should consider it a great blessing to the human family if we only had
the evidence and testimony that the facts are as you state them." Now
I expect these thoughts are running through the minds of some
individuals here. Well, now, what must be the evidence? What would you
naturally suppose would be the kind of evidence that the Lord Almighty
would give to substantiate the divinity of a book that is almost
two-thirds as voluminous as the Jewish Bible? Can you imagine any
testimony that ought to be given to convince the children of men?
"Well," says one, "if we could only have it confirmed by the
ministration of angels, that would be an evidence, a great evidence or
testimony." The inhabitants of this generation, for nearly fifty
years, have had the testimony of three men, besides the boy that
translated the Book of Mormon—the testimony of three witnesses. The
Lord would not suffer his Church to be organized, would not suffer his
servants to build up this kingdom on the earth—this ecclesiastical
kingdom, until he gave sufficient evidence unto three chosen
witnesses, as well as the boy that translated the work. Their
testimony is given, in connection with the book, and there is no man
living that can contradict their testimony or can prove it to be
untrue. The witnesses themselves have never denied their testimony;
and not only three other witnesses who saw the angel, heard the words
of his mouth, saw the glory of his countenance, and saw the plates—the
original plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, but also
eight other witnesses who saw the plates, but did not see the angel;
they saw the plates at another time; saw the engravings upon the
plates, handled them with their hands, and have recorded their
testimony. Hence we have the testimony of the young man that was
called by the angel to translate and bring forth the book, and then
the testimony of eleven other witnesses besides. In the mouth of two
or three witnesses, we are told in the Jewish record, every word shall
be established. But God saw fit to give twelve witnesses before the
Church of the Latter-day Saints ever had an existence on this earth.
That certainly [p.133] ought to be sufficient to begin the work with,
to begin to enlighten the minds of the children of men, concerning
what God was about to do upon the face of the earth. But are we
confined to these twelve men and their testimony? Are there no other
means by which we may for ourselves come to a knowledge that this work
is divine? I will tell you how the Lord has provided in a godlike
manner, just as we would naturally expect he would do—that the
children of men, however weak, frail, and imperfect in their judgment,
if they have the common sense and common attainments that the children
of men generally have, may not only have a faith concerning the truth
of this work, founded on the evidence of others, but also a knowledge
for themselves. And how is this? How can people get a real knowledge
that this Book is divine? Says one: "I should like to embrace it, but
then you are so unpopular. Still if I knew it to be true," perhaps
some stranger may say in his heart, "if I knew that God was the author
of it, I would not mind anything about the contumely, or anything
about the unpopularity of the people called Latter-day Saints." There
is a way to know whether this work be true, if you will follow the
conditions. And what are the conditions that God has pointed out, by
which we may receive a knowledge now as well as they received a
knowledge in ancient times, concerning similar doctrines and
principles? It is by obedience to the Gospel of the Son of God. The
Lord, before he suffered this Church to be organized gave authority to
his servants to preach the Gospel and to organize his kingdom on the
earth in fulfilment of the ancient prophecies. In connection with this
authority, he gave them authority to administer the ordinances of the
Gospel to those that would repent of their sins and believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ. He gave them not only power and authority to
baptize—that is divine authority to baptize—for the remission of sins,
but also to lay their hands upon the heads of baptized believers and
pronounce upon them the blessings of the Holy Ghost as they did in
ancient days. This was placing the people of this generation in a
condition to prove whether this work was divine or not. The elders
were sent forth in the early rise of this Church, saying unto the
people, "If you will repent of your sins—if you will turn from
everything that is evil, if you will with all your hearts enter into a
covenant with the Almighty to obey the Lord of righteousness, to keep
his commandments, to do right all your future days, and will be
baptized by the authority that God has given from heaven, and also be
confirmed by the laying on of hands, God will give you the Holy Ghost,
and by this gift of the Holy Ghost you shall know that the Book of
Mormon is a divine revelation, and that this is the Church and the
kingdom of the living God." Very many honest hearted people in the
American Union, in the nation of Great Britain, in the various nations
of Europe, and upon the islands of the Sea, have tested the truth of
this commandment of God given unto his servant in the first rise and
beginning of this Church. Did they receive the Holy Ghost? They
testify that they did. They say, that by obeying that message which
you brought to us, which you testified that God had sent you to
preach, the promises you made to us are fulfilled. You stated that we
should receive the Holy Ghost, [p.134] We have received it because we
have humbled ourselves before God. We have been baptized by you. You
stated you held authority. We believed it from testimony that you gave
us, that such was the case, but we did not know it. We went forth and
acted upon our faith, and now we can testify we know you are the
servants of God; for God has fulfilled the promise which he has given
to us through your word." Thus scores of thousands have proved the
divinity of this work. You marvel that this people are so well united.
You marvel that we come out from the nations of the earth and assemble
ourselves in one. You marvel what it is that prompts this people
called Latter-day Saints to come from the lands of their forefathers,
from the islands of the Sea, from distant nations, and assemble
themselves here in this great basin of North America. It is not man
that has accomplished this work. It is because you have received the
Holy Ghost that you are here in these valleys. It is because God
witnessed unto you in your own lands, before you started upon your
journey that he had again spoken to the inhabitants of the earth as in
ancient days. You there learned that this was his true Church, his
true kingdom established upon the earth as he predicted by the mouth
of his servants, and you felt anxious to be gathered with the rest of
the Saints that had the same testimony with you. Hence you gather not
only from choice, but by actual commandment. We do not gather here
merely for the sake of being together, but it is because the same God
who revealed the Book of Mormon by his servant Joseph, the youth of
whom I have spoken—that same boy received another revelations which is
published in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which I now hold in
my hand, commanding the Latter-day Saints to gather out of all nations
of the earth, to this American continent. Hence you came here because
you had received the Holy Ghost. You have come here because you knew
this work was true. You have come here that you might fulfil the
commandment which God gave near the time of the rise of this Church in
relation to the gathering of his Saints from among all the nations and
kingdoms of the earth. Has God fulfilled that which he spoke when we
were but a little handful of people, not numbering one hundred souls?
He told us that his people should be gathered from all quarters of the
earth into one place upon the face of this great continent. Has he
fulfilled it? The testimony is before the eyes not only of the
Latter-day Saints, but the eyes of all people, nations and tongues,
and among the most distant nations of the earth concerning the
gathering of the people called Latter-day Saints. God has fulfilled
his word—this word, which was given nearly fifty years ago, as to the
gathering of his people from the four quarters of the earth. Now this
great work of the last days never could be accomplished without this
gathering together of the Saints. There are no other people fulfilling
it. For instance, take the Roman Catholics; they were not gathering
from all parts of the earth. Take the Greek Church; they do not come
out from the nations from which they receive their doctrine. Take all
the Protestant denominations, and who among them all are assembling
themselves together in one? If they should issue a proclamation by
human wisdom and by human commandment, requiring their members to
gather  together, [p.135] they could not accomplish it. Why? Because
there is not enough unity amongst them; the Holy Ghost has not been
given to them in its fulness, as given to the ancient Saints; hence
they could not gather the people together. But the Lord has done it
through this people. And what will he yet do? Permit me to prophecy,
not in my own name nor by my own wisdom, but on the strength of that
which God has revealed to this Church since the year 1830, and that
also which is given in the Book of Mormon—I prophesy that this is only
just the beginning, as it were of the great work of the gathering of
the Latter-day Saints.

Vol. 21, p.135
[I would say that some of our friends that have called in this
afternoon are obliged, in consequence of the cars leaving, to retire.
May the Lord bless them, pour out his Spirit upon them, may he
manifest the truth unto them that they may be be blessed in common
with all those who keep the commandments of God.]

Vol. 21, p.135
The Lord our God has therefore fulfilled that which he spoke; and as I
said this work, instead of being nearly accomplished, nearly
fulfilled, and all things brought about according to the purposes of
the Almighty, only the foundation, as it were, is now laid, and
instead of being gathered in a little company of 150,000, by and bye
we shall be gathered in hundred of thousands and even millions. Now,
do you believe it? I not only believe it but know it will come to pass
just as much as a great many other things which have already been
fulfilled since the promises were uttered and published in this book.
I knew they would come to pass, for God has revealed these things to
me, and given me a knowledge of them, and I also know concerning the
future of this people, as also do a great many of our brethren that
have received testimonies concerning these matters. Is God limited to
this little narrow spot, called the great basin of North America? Why,
no. It is only for the present, for the time being that we dwell here.
Where will we dwell in the future? What is our future destiny? It is
not on the Sandwich islands, it is not in New Zealand, it is not in
Australia, it is not in any of the islands of the sea, but I will tell
you the future destiny of this people in a very few words. Not many
years hence—I do not say the number of years—you will look forth to
the western counties of the State of Missouri, and to the eastern
counties of the State of Kansas, and in all that region round about
you will see a thickly populated country, inhabited by a peaceful
people, having their orchards, their fruit trees, their fields of
grain, their beautiful houses and shade trees, their cities and towns
and villages. And you may ask—Who are all these people? And the answer
will be—Latter-day Saints! Where have they came from? They have come
from the nations of the earth! They have come from the mountains of
Utah, from Arizona, from Idaho, and from the mountainous territories
of the North American Continent, they have come down here, and are
quietly cultivating the lands of these States! Now, this will all come
to pass, just as sure to come to pass as there is a God that reigns in
yonder heavens, and not many years hence either. Thus you see that for
some time to come, our future destiny is not to build up this kingdom
upon any of the islands of the sea, but to be located where God has
decreed, by his own power that his people [p.136] shall dwell. "Oh,
but," says one, "you have to get the land first." But I would ask is
there any breaking of the Constitution,—is there anything calculated
to take away the rights of American citizenship by emigrants going
from one part of this nation to another, peacefully and quietly,
purchasing the land and locating upon it? I think not. "But," says
one, "perhaps they will not allow you to purchase the land." The Lord
will take care of that; that is in the hands of the Lord. That same
being who will assist in the building of a great city on the western
boundaries of the State of Missouri, has all power; and when we
purchase the land, and go and take possession of it, I do not think we
will be driven from our own lands, if we mind our own business and do
not meddle with our neighbors' business, and do not undertake to
injure them in their rights and privileges, guaranteed to them by the
Constitution of our country. If we conduct ourselves in a peaceable
manner, I do not see why we may not dwell there as well as other
citizens. We have the strongest assurance that such will be the case.
These were promises made to us, before there were a hundred persons in
this Church. It was promised that we should have a land as an
inheritage; but we were commanded of God, to purchase the land. Now,
when the time comes for purchasing this land, we will have means. How
this means will be brought about it is not for me to say. Perhaps the
Lord will open up mines containing gold and silver, or in some other
way as seemeth to him best, wealth will be poured into the laps of the
Latter-day Saints till they will scarcely know what to do with it. I
will here again prophesy on the strength of former revelation that
there are no people on the face of the whole globe, not even excepting
London, Paris, New York, or any of the great mercantile cities of the
globe—there are no people now upon the face of the earth, so rich as
the Latter-day Saints will be in a few years to come. Having their
millions; therefore they will purchase the land, build up cities,
towns and villages, build a great capital city, at headquarters, in
Jackson County, Missouri. Will we have a temple there? Yes; will we
have a beautiful city? Yes, one of the most beautiful cities that will
ever be erected on the continent of America will be built up by the
Latter-day Saints in Jackson County, Missouri. Consequently, when
congressmen and statesmen, and the great men of our nation, want to
know what the future destiny of the Latter-day Saints will he, let
them remember the words of your humble servant, who has addressed you
this afternoon; for they will come to pass—they will be fulfilled. We
have seen too many revelations fulfilled, already, to be mistaken in
regard to these matters. Amen. [p.137]

Charles W. Penrose, April 11, 1880

Difference Between the Latter-Day
 Saints and All Other Professing Christians

Delivered in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall,
 Sunday Afternoon, April 11th, 1880.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.137
I am thankful to-day for this opportunity of meeting with my brethren
and sisters in this fine hall to worship God and spend a little time
in reflecting upon the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I
am thankful also for this opportunity of bearing my testimony to the
truth of the work in which we are engaged. I trust that during the
short time I shall stand before you I may be lead by the Holy Spirit
to say something which will edify and instruct the people.

Vol. 21, p.137
It was remarked by Brother N. H. Felt, who has just addressed us, that
it would be a difficult matter to answer the question—wherein do the
Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons," differ in their views from the rest
of the people who profess the Christian religion. True this would be a
difficult question to answer in a few minutes satisfactorily. There
are a great many points of difference between our doctrines and the
doctrines of the so-called Christian world, but if I were to attempt
to answer the question in brief I would say the chief difference
consists in this:—That the religion which we have received has come
down from God out of heaven direct, by revelation, in the day and age
in which we live, while the religions which are believed in by the
various Christian denominations who meet to-day in different parts of
the world to worship God, most of which have been in existence for a
long time have been in every case arranged by men. The people who
belong to the various Christian sects all profess to believe in one
Book—the Bible, and in one God; but their ideas in regard to religion
and in regard to the manner in which God shall be worshipped and
served are very different, and when we trace up the origin of their
religion we find that in every case, with perhaps one exception, they
have been started by men; by individuals who, no doubt, in the first
place, believed they were enlightened of God and had come to the
conclusion that such and such doctrines were the doctrines of Christ,
and that it was their duty to preach these doctrines. They convinced
others of the truth of the ideas which they had adopted, and together
they formed a religious society. Now, we shall find that this is the
case with all those different sects and parties, that compose modern
Christendom with the exception perhaps of the Church which is called
the Church of Rome, the [p.138] Roman Catholic church. That church
professes to be a continuation of the Church which Jesus Christ
established. It professes to have the same authority, handed down from
generation to generation, which was exercised by the ancient apostles.
It professes to have the keys that Peter held. The Pope of Rome
professes to be the successor of St. Peter, and the priesthood of the
church of Rome profess to have the same authority, or similar
authority, or a succession of the authority, which was held in the
primitive Christian Church. They say there has been no interruption of
this line of priesthood in the church which Jesus Christ established,
to build up which the ancient apostles lost their lives—that this
priesthood has been continued down through the stream of time to our
own period. All the rest of the denominations called Christian have
sprung from that body directly or indirectly, and their organization
was started in the way that I have briefly described.

Vol. 21, p.138
You see then there is a great difference between our professions and
the professions of all the rest of the Christian world in this
particular. We testify that in the day and age in which we live, God,
who spoke in ancient times to the prophets, and in the meridian of
time by his Only Begotten Son, has uttered his voice again out of
heaven; that Jesus wire died on Calvary, that we might live, has
manifested himself in this day and age of the world; that the angels
of God, who were men that ministered in the name of the Lord, in the
flesh, in times of old, who died in the truth and live in God, have
come to the earth in this age of the world and revealed the things of
God; and that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has
been organized, not by the wisdom of man, not by persons who have
reflected and studied and come to certain conclusions in their own
minds and then founded a church, but that it has been organized and
established and carried on and directed under the immediate
revelations of the Must High God. You see this is quite a difference.
There is quite a distinction between us and all the rest of the people
called Christians. I do not know, however, whether the great body of
people called Christians will allow us to adopt that name. They
dispute our right to the title of Christians. They call us
"Mormons"—rather a foolish title to give us. Mormon is the name of a
man, a servant of God, a prophet of the Most High, who lived anciently
on this continent and wrote some of the things revealed to him in a
book called the Book of Mormon; and because we believe in that book,
our "Christian" friends call us "Mormons." We might just as well call
them Peters, because they believe in Peter; we might just as well call
them Pauls, Jeremiahs, Isaiahs, or Lukes, because they believe in the
sayings of these men written in the book called the Bible.

Vol. 21, p.138
But the stranger might say, "It is very well for you to make such a
statement as you have made, that your Church has been organized by the
commandment of God and by divine revelation from him in the present
day, but how can you prove that to the world?" There is a very simple
way by which this can be found out, by which the truth or falsity of
what I have said can be established. The people who live here in Utah,
who have been gathered here from a great many  different parts of the
earth, are here because they know that what I have spoken of this
afternoon is true. This is [p.139] what brought them here. They have
not come up to the heights of these mountains to dig for gold or
silver, to make themselves rich with the fruits and products of the
earth, or to unite together to establish some socialistic system for
the mere bettering of their temporal circumstances. They have come
here from the east, from the west, from the north and from the south,
from the different continents and from the islands of the sea, because
in their own souls they have received a testimony similar to that
which I have borne this afternoon. They have investigated the subject;
they took the course pointed out to them by which they could find out
the truth or falsity of this work for themselves, and having received
a testimony that it is true they have come up here to these mountains;
they have left their homes in various lands, they have turned their
backs on their former homes and relationships, broken up their
business affairs, many of them having left friends and family and have
come up here to these mountains that they may learn more of this
important work, having first of all received a testimony from God that
it is true. Well, some one may say, "How did they find it out? Did
they find it out because somebody told them? Did they receive their
testimony from some other man or woman? No; they received it direct
from the Lord, direct from the heavens, for "God is no respecter of
persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh
righteousness is accepted of him; "he is just as willing to manifest
himself to an Englishman, an American, a Scotchman, an Irishman, a
Dutchman, a Scandinavian, a South Sea Islander or anybody else, as to
a Jew. How did they obtain this testimony? The Apostle James, some of
whose writings we have in this book called the New Testament, told the
people in his day, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that
giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall he given
him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not
that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Now when
the elders of this Church went out with this testimony that God had
again spoken from the heavens, that communication between the heavens
and the earth, which was once enjoyed by men of old had again been
opened up, they told the people who heard their words that if they
would believe in the true and living God, if they would believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ, if they would repent of their sins and be baptized
in water for the remission of sins, they should receive the Holy
Ghost, and by this Spirit they should obtain a testimony direct from
the Almighty to their own souls, that God had in very deed commenced
the great work of the latter days, spoken of by all the holy prophets
since the world began. What was the result of this teaching? Why, in
every place, in every part of the world, among any people, no matter
what their former customs or religion might have been, no matter what
condition they might Lehi, no matter how they had been educated, no
matter of what race they might be, wherever they heard the sound of
this Gospel and obeyed it, they received a testimony of the truth of
this work and therefore have gathered up to these mountains.

Vol. 21, p.139
This is my testimony to this congregation this afternoon: that, having
received this Gospel and obeyed it in the way that I have pointed out.
[p.140] I received a testimony to my own soul, from the Almighty, by
which I have no longer any doubt as to its truth; no longer to depend
upon the testimony of man. I can say for myself, before God, before
the heavenly hosts, before all nations where ever I may be sent, that
I know this work is true. I know that God lives. I know that God hears
and answers prayers I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that
angels have come down from the heavens in these the last times and
restored the ancient Gospel. I know that the holy priesthood, the
power of God, the authority to administer in the name of the Lord,
held by men, in ancient times, has been restored to men in these the
latter days, and that it is here upon the earth, never to be taken
away again until the work has been accomplished for which it was sent;
until every nation shall hear the sound of the Gospel; until every
nation, kindred, tongue and people, shall hear of the purposes of the
Great Jehovah; until all people shall be warned, and the honest and
upright, and the truth-loving in every clime shall be gathered unto
the fold of Christ; until the way shall be prepared for the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ —to reign in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, and
before his ancients gloriously; until the earth is redeemed from the
curse; until Satan and his hosts are bound; until the great work of
God is accomplished and all his children brought up from death and
hell and the grave, and placed in a position where they can glorify
God throughout the countless ages of eternity.

Vol. 21, p.140
It is popularly supposed that when our elders go out as missionaries
to the different countries of the earth, they go for the purpose of
inducing people to gather here to these peaceful valleys, that they
might be made subservient to our leaders. That is the popular idea.
There cannot, however, be anything more false and ridiculous than
this. What object could men have in taking the trouble to go, as our
elders do, to face the frowns of the world, to be scoffed at and
despised, to travel "without purse or scrip," as did the ancient
servants of God, suffering contumely, persecution, privation, and even
hunger and thirst, traveling foot-sore and weary, among a people who,
generally speaking, do not desire to hear their testimony? Their
object is to preach the Gospel of Christ, and to bear witness of this
great work. It is not merely to gather people to these mountains. When
people do come here they come just as I have said,—because they have
received the Gospel, and know it to he true. They come up here that
they may learn more of the ways of the Lord. And this is the testimony
that our elders bear wherever they may be sent: That God has restored
the ancient Gospel and that he is building up his Church on the earth
again for the last time; that the hour of God's judgment is nigh; that
the angel, to whom Brother Felt referred, and about whom he quoted
from the revelations of St. John, has come to the earth with "the
everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people, saying, with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him
for the hour of his judgment is come." This is our testimony, this is
why we go forth, and when the people hear our testimony and believe
it, and call upon the Lord for a witness, they receive it, and then
they are willing to forego everything for the sake of the Gospel.

Vol. 21, p.141
There is another great difference between our religion and the [p.141]
religions of the world, and that consists in the power and authority
of the priesthood to which I have briefly referred. Now, it is true
that the church called the Church of Rome, professes to have the
priesthood. That church professes to have the same authority which was
in the ancient church, and that it has been handed down from
generation to generation to our own times. The Church of England—or
the Episcopal Church as it is called here—professes to have a portion
of that, same authority. The Greek Church also professes to have a
portion of that authority. They are branches or offshoots from this
Roman Catholic Church; but the rest of the Christian denominations
repudiate any idea of a priesthood. They think there is no need for
any priesthood. They say that Jesus was the Great High Priest, and
that there is no need for any more priests; that is the prevalent idea
among the rest of the Christian sects. But we do believe in the
necessity of this priesthood, and say that it has been restored from
heaven in this our own times. In what way? In the first place John the
Baptist, who went before Jesus to prepare the way for him as the
prophets predicted, who held the priesthood of Aaron, or the Levitical
priesthood—that same person who baptized Jesus in the river Jordan,
and who was beheaded for preaching the word of the Lord, has come to
the earth in this day and age of the world, and ordained man to the
same authority and priesthood that he held while he was in the flesh.
Now, I do not know that there is another people on the face of the
earth that possess any such thing as that, so that in that respect
there is a great difference between our religion and the religions of
the world. Further, we testify that not only this lesser priesthood
which was held by John the Baptist has been restored, but that Peter,
James and John, who held the Apostleship, the same priesthood which
Christ held, have come in this our own time and restored the authority
which they held. "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you," said
Jesus to his disciples. They were ordained to the sane authority that
He held. What authority was that? We are told that Christ was called
to be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek, an unchangeable
priesthood, everlasting, without beginning of days or end of years. He
conferred the same priesthood upon His apostles, and Peter, James and
John were left to take charge of the Church when He departed; they had
the keys of the kingdom; whatsoever they should bind on earth was to
be bound in heaven, and whatever they should loose on earth was to be
loosed in heaven. Now, we testify that these three individuals holding
the keys of that apostleship, the higher priesthood, have come down to
the earth as ministering beings in our own times, and ordained the
Prophet Joseph Smith to the same apostleship and priesthood and
authority which they held, and through him it has been conferred upon
others, so that the ancient authority and priesthood held by men of
God in times of old, is here on the earth in this Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Vol. 21, p.141
Then there is another difference between us and the rest of the people
called Christian, who profess to believe in the Christian religion.
This lesser priesthood holds the power to baptize for the remission of
sins among other things, but it does not hold the power to confer
[p.142] the Holy Ghost upon the people. When John the Baptist baptized
for the remission of sins he said, "There cometh after me one mightier
than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. I
indeed have baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the
Holy Ghost." And we read in the New Testament, in the Acts of the
Apostles, that on a certain occasion when the apostles were passing
through the upper coasts of Ephesus, they found certain disciples who
had simply been baptized with the baptism of John, who did nothing but
baptize for the remission of sins, he having no authority to lay his
hands upon the people; they had not received the Holy Ghost. But the
apostles had received that power and authority from Jesus Christ which
He himself held, and they laid their hands upon these people, and they
received the Holy Ghost. Here is the difference, or one point of
difference, between those two priesthoods. Now this priesthood has not
remained upon the earth, hence the necessity of restoring it. The only
person in Christendom who professes to have the keys of the apostolic
priesthood is the Pope of Rome. What is the Pope of Rome? Is he an
apostle? No; he does not profess to be an apostle. Then how came he to
be the successor of Peter? Peter was an apostle. He held the keys that
Christ gave to him. Christ ordained him. Does the Pope of Rome profess
to have the keys of revelation? No, he does not profess to receive any
new revelation. He, with others, sometimes meet in holy Convocation,
as it is called; they meet in council, they enunciate certain dogmas,
but he does not profess to receive any revelation from God. What was
the great power of the ancient apostleship? The power to commune with
the Highest. The form of the apostleship was nothing; the power was
everything. That power departed from the earth. The people in ancient
times were unworthy of it. They put out the lights of God which He had
placed in the world, and left themselves in darkness. They cut short
the apostles' lives, and the world was left in the gloom. They would
not have the power and authority of that apostleship in their midst,
and instead of the ancient Church of Christ with the power of God,
with the ministration of angels, with the gifts and blessings we read
about in the New Testament, we find arising a church of a different
form, a church that has persecuted the Saints, a church that is
stained with the blood of the innocent, a church that put people to
death for their religious belief (which the Church of Christ never
did), and yet that church, including all the various contending
denominations and sects extant upon the earth, is called "Christian!"

Vol. 21, p.142
Now, our testimony to the world is that God has restored these two
ancient priesthoods—that is, the power to administer in the name of
the Lord by authority, and that the power of God accompanies that
authority. Here are men who profess to have the right to administer
the ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins, who profess to
have the authority to lay hands upon the people for the gift of the
Holy Ghost. Now, an impostor might profess to have this power. Having
read about it in the New Testament, and seeing that the ancient
servants of God possessed such power, a man might profess to  have
authority to lay hands upon people for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost.
But an [p.143] impostor cannot really confer the Holy Ghost. That
comes from God. No man can bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon any
one; that is the gift of God. We read about a man who thought he could
purchase this power. He offered the apostles money for it. But Peter
said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

Vol. 21, p.143
Now, here we have in Utah about 150,000 people. A great many of them
came to these mountains under very adverse circumstances. They left
their various homes in different parts of the world to gather out here
with the Saints. Why? Because they knew that this was the work of God
by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. How did they receive it? They
received it by the laying on of hands of men who professed to have the
authority to do so. Now, the fact that they received the gift of the
Holy Ghost is a proof that the power of God accompanies the
administration. The same fruits that were made manifest in days of old
are made manifest to-day. We read in the New Testament that certain
gifts existed in the ancient Church. The sick were healed and the lame
made to walk. Some had the gift of tongues, others the interpretation
of tongues, others the gift of prophecy, etc. What was the effect of
the existence of these gifts? Union, concord, brotherly love, all
seeing eye to eye. Now, inasmuch as we find the same gifts among the
Latter-day Saints—although of different nationalities, formerly of
different religions, brought up in different ways—it is evidence clear
and plain that the power of God is in the midst of this people; that
the Holy Ghost has been conferred upon them, and this is their united
testimony. This is clear to me, but it may not be l clear to everybody
else. I do not believe it possible for others to see things as I do,
unless they take the same course as I have done, and test the matter
for themselves.

Vol. 21, p.143
If a man believes in God, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the
Scriptures, he will manifest his faith by receiving the doctrines laid
down and the commandments given; and if he will ask of God he will
receive a testimony. I can make bold to promise this blessing to every
man and woman in this house—and I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ—if they will obey this Gospel which God has sent from heaven
for the salvation of mankind. My friends, if you will turn away from
your evil deeds, if you will turn unto the Lord God, obey the
ordinances and ask for a testimony of the truth of this work; if you
will do this in sincerity, I promise you in the name of the Lord you
shall receive the testimony you seek. Is there any minister upon the
face of the whole earth, amongst the so-called Christian sects, who
can make you a similar promise? No. Why? Because they have not been
called to this work. This is another point of difference between our
religion and that of the world. Our elders go forth with boldness,
because they are not sent by men. They are not called to preach for
hire. They are called of God to bear the holy priesthood and carry
forth this message of glad tidings wherever they may be sent. It is
their duty to proclaim this Gospel to the uttermost bounds of the
earth, and their testimony is similar to that I have borne here
to-day, and our witnesses are the Latter-day Saints—gathered from the
nations—who dwell in the valleys of the mountains.

Vol. 21, p.144
There are a great many other [p.144] points of difference between us
and the so called Christian world, that I have not time to refer to.
For instance, we believe in the doctrine of gathering to this land
from all parts of the world. When we go out to preach this Gospel, we
do not advise the people to stay and erect great churches in the
countries where they receive the Gospel. We bear testimony to them
that this is the time of God's judgments. We say, "Come out of her, my
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not
of her plagues." We testify that the time is near at hand when great
Babylon shall fall; when God shall smite terribly all the nations of
the earth; when he will turn and overturn; when nation shall rise
against nation and kingdom against kingdom; people against people and
family against family; when there shall be wars and rumors of wars;
plagues, famines and pestilence; such a time as has never been known
upon the earth from the beginning even unto the present day. Therefore
we call upon the elect of God to come out from the nations of the
earth, and they come from the east and from the west, from the north
and from the south, to this chosen land, to serve the Lord, to learn
of his ways and to walk in his paths, and prepare themselves for the
great events that are about to transpire on the earth.

Vol. 21, p.144
Another great point of difference is the building of Temples. The
different Christian denominations build houses and call them St.
Paul's church, St. Peters church, St. Mark's church, etc. They build
churches to these various saints, but they know nothing about building
a house to the name of the Most High God,—a temple in which the Lord
may come and place his feet; for this is the day spoken of by the
prophets, when "the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in; behold,
he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. But who may abide the day of
his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth, for he is like a
refiners's fire," etc. We call upon the people to come but and help
build temples in which ordinances can be administered for the benefit
of the living and the redemption of the dead. The redemption of the
dead! Can the living do anything for the dead? When people pass away
from the earth, is not their condition settler? When the tree falls,
does it not lie there? Yes, it does, till it is moved. In connection
with the Gospel we have received glad tiding of salvation which is
preached to the living and to the dead. The Lord has revealed to us
the glorious doctrine of redemption for the dead—a plan by which the
living may aid the dead Not by saying mass over the soul of the
departed, but by attending to certain ordinances for them which belong
to the Gospel. Are all the thousands and millions of people who have
passed away without a knowledge of the Gospel to perish? No. There is
no name under heaven but, the name of Jesus whereby man shall be
saved. Ask our Christian friends if the millions of heathens who have
passed away from this world have ever heard the name of Jesus. If not,
what is to become of them? Millions of people who dwell upon the earth
even in so-called Christian countries know nothing about the true
Gospel. The so-called Christian churches lack this knowledge and
light. By the confession of the Episcopal Church, in its homily of
the perils of idolatry, the whole of Christendom, "clergy [p.145] and
laity, men, women and children of all ages, sexes and degrees, have
been at the time the homily was written, buried in the most abominable
idolatry for the space of 800 years or more. According to the
testimony of the Apostle in the Apocalypse, the whole world, Christian
as well as heathen, has gone astray, all nations have become drunk
with the wine of the wrath of the fornication of Babylon the great,
the mother of harlots; and there has been no voice from heaven, no
revelation from God, no communication with the eternal world for many
centuries. Although a great many people have tried to do the best they
could—and so far being accepted of God—yet they have not received the
Gospel by which they can enter into the presence of the eternal
Father; they have not entered in at the straight and narrow gate which
leadeth to lives eternal.

Vol. 21, p.145
By this Gospel which has been revealed to us, the servants of God who
depart from this mortal sphere, take with them the authority and
priesthood they hold, as Christ did, when he went to preach to the
spirits in prison. So the servants of God, bearing the same
priesthood, go and minister to the spirits behind the vail whether
Christian, heathen or pagan. No matter what clime or race they belong
to, all must hear the same Gospel and be judged by it on the great day
of judgment. They have therefore an opportunity of repenting in the
spirit, if they did not hear the Gospel in the flesh. The Spirit can
believe, can be informed and instructed in the ways of God, but the
Spirit beyond the vail cannot attend to ordinances pertaining to the
flesh. To this end, therefore, we are building temples so that, when
they are sanctified and accepted of God, the holy priesthood may
administer both for the living and the dead. For this is the great
dispensation of the fulness of times in which Christ will gather
together in one, all things that are in him, both which are in heaven
and which are on earth. This is the last dispensation of God's mercy
to man. The work has been commenced and it will roll on until the
Gospel has been preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people,
and the honest in heart have been gathered out from among the
Gentiles. Then the Lord will send his servants unto the Jews and the
House of Israel, and thus fully accomplish all he has spoken by the
holy prophets. We will therefore work while we dwell in the flesh, and
when we have finished the work we will pass behind the vail to sweet
rest. Rest from our trials and sufferings, from our sorrows and
tribulations, from our persecutions and misrepresentations, but not to
cease from our labors of love, but to minister in the power, in the
strength, in the might and majesty of the eternal priesthood among the
hosts behind the vail, and those that dwell upon the earth will
continue to build temples and minister therein, that the dead may be
redeemed.

Vol. 21, p.145
I have not time to continue further on this subject. I have briefly
pointed out some of the differences between us and the "Christian"
world. And now I will hear my testimony to this congregation in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ that this is not the work of man; that
"Mormonism" is the work of the Great God, and no power can overturn
it. And I testify further, that every nation and kingdom that shall
rise against this work shall perish and be utterly wasted away. The
Lord will have a reckoning with that nation, no matter where it is,
[p.146] for all the nations of the earth are in the hands of God, and
every human government that will not serve him shall be brought low,
until his kingdom spreads forth and is established upon the whole
earth with Christ the Redeemer, as King, whose right it is to rule.

Vol. 21, p.146
May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, rest in the
hearts of the Saints, and also guide, all people who desire the truth,
in the way of life eternal, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Orson Pratt, November 1, 1879

Progress of the Saints to Union in Faith and Practice—the United Order

Delivered in the Tabernacle, Logan City,
Saturday Afternoon, November 1st, 1879.

(Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.)

Vol. 21, p.146
I will read a few passages from the Book of Jacob, one of the sacred
compilations of the Book of Mormon.

Vol. 21, p.146
"And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their
mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them and they
did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, in all things.
And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the
natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and are wild
branches began to be plucked off, and to be cast away; and they did
keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength
thereof. And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the load had been
cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord preserved unto himself,
that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became
like unto one body; and the fruit were equal; and the Lord of the
vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit; which was most
precious unto him from the beginning."

Vol. 21, p.146
These words occurred to me this forenoon, while Brother Snow was
speaking upon the subject of the Order laid down in  the Doctrine and
[p.147] Covenants. We have here a clear and plain prediction, in the
form of a parable, that was recorded upon plates of gold, almost 600
years before Christ, in relation to the great work in which we, as the
servants of the Lord, and the Latter-day Saints, are engaged. Perhaps
there may be some persons, numbered among this community, who may have
a feeling something like this; "that we are not living according to
the law that is given in the Doctrine and Covenants, in all respects."
And they have drawn the conclusion, that perhaps the Lord would
forsake us in consequence of our not carrying out the laws so clearly
defined and explained in that record. These things were clearly set
forth before the people, this forenoon, in regard to wherein we have
not entered into all the fulness and perfection of that order of
things. But the question is, can we do much better, under the present
circumstances? This is a great question to be considered. And in the
consideration of it, we have to enquire into a number of other things,
such as can we lay aside the present order of things that is not
consistent with the Doctrine and Covenants; and can we begin anew here
in these valleys, and carry out the law of the Lord in all its
perfection? I do not know but what there may be a bare possibility of
our doing it; but whether the Lord requires this at our hands under
the present circumstances is another thing. We are very imperfect, and
yet we try to do right. We want to keep the commandments of the Lord;
we desire to be members of his Church; we desire to have his Holy
Spirit resting upon us, and we desire to be guided by it. We wish to
know what the counsel of the servants of God is concerning us; and
yet, hardly know which way to turn. We see a united order established
in one place, according to one principle; we go to another part of the
land, and we find an order established on a little different
principle; and we hear of another, all differing somewhat. And so on
until we visit nearly all the settlements of these mountains. And as
was stated this forenoon, they differ as do the elders themselves in
their views.

Vol. 21, p.147
Now what has the Lord said in this parable of the vineyard? "And they
did keep the root and the top thereof equal." In what respect were
they made equal? The next part of that same sentence declares that
they were made equal "according to the strength thereof." Now there is
a great deal expressed in those few words. They were not made equal
all at once, as the inhabitants of a celestial world are, without any
improvements being introduced; but they were to keep the root and the
top of the great tree equal, according to the strength thereof; that
is according to the condition and circumstances in which the people
are placed. Now I consider, that notwithstanding all our deviations
from the perfect law that God has given, notwithstanding the condition
of things pointed out so dearly in the Doctrine and Covenants in
regard to holding stewardships and inheritances, and giving an account
of those stewardships and inheritances, according to the perfect
order, —I consider we are doing pretty well, in a great many respects.
We have progressed; we have made improvements; we are in a mere united
condition than we were 45 years ago. Hence there has been an
improvement among the Latter-day Saints; and this improvement has been
for the better; it has been pointing all the time towards [p.148]
equality, though we have not succeeded, according to the perfect law.
But we have succeeded according to the strength of the
people,—according to the circumstances with which they are surrounded.
We have succeeded in a great measure to instil into their minds the
great principle of unity rand oneness, not only in spiritual things,
but in temporal things also. The day will conic when this will be
fulfilled to the very letter, in accordance with words which say,
"they became like unto one body; and the fruit were equal." That is
the destination of the Latter-day Saints in the future. The fruit is
to be equal; the roots and the branches are all to be kept in their
perfect order, and the whole tree kept in a thriving' condition. Then
we shall have learned the great principle of the celestial order, that
must be carried out among the children of men. During that long period
called the Millennium, this people will see the importance of
attending to that perfect order when our strength shall warrant. At
present we have no perfect example before us. Where has there been
either in this Territory or in Arizona an instance where the perfect
law of God has been carried out, as laid down in the Doctrine and
Covenants? I know of no such instance. I know of a great many
improvements upon the old condition of things which has existed among
our fathers—the Gentile notion and idea of each one holding separate
and individual interests, without being accountable to anyone. That is
the old system. We have made many improvements, but we have not
carried out in any one solitary instance in any settlement I am
acquainted with, the order of things laid down in the revelations,
contained in the Book of Covenants.

Vol. 21, p.148
There has been a great deal said, at different times upon the subject
of families being united as one,—eating at the same table, for
instance, and having one large field, where their farming operations
might be carried on, all who are farmers going forth into the same
field to labor; and the same principle carried out in regard to other
branches, all taking hold unitedly, having the common interest at
heart. Is there anything in the revelations given in these Latter-days
requiring this order of things, or is it something we ourselves have
considered as being a little ahead of what our fathers have been
practising? I do not know anything laid down in the revelations,
requiring us to take this particular method. Yet, is it right? Yes.
Why it is right according to the circumstances with which they are
surrounded; it points forward to unity and tends to instruct us in the
preliminary ideas of being united together. And hence, those that can
enter into this order, who are willing to unite in this way, are doing
well and will be blessed for it. But let no person set any stakes, in
regard to this matter, that because he may have entered into a special
order, introduced in one settlement, that all others are wrong,
because they do not do likewise; they should not find fault with their
brethren, neither be discouraged in well-doing.

Vol. 21, p.148
There are a great many different ideas among the Latter-day Saints, in
relation to these matters. But then, we have a standard given in the
Book of Covenants, by which we should be governed. By and bye, I
expect we will be in different circumstances, in which stewardships or
inheritances can be issued, for all families of the Saints, some in
one kind or  branch of business, and some in another; and the full law
of [p.149] consecration will take place.

Vol. 21, p.149
I am, and I presume a great many others who are acquainted with the
revelations of God, as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, are
looking for the period of time to come, in the history of the
Latter-day Saints, when we as a people shall possess a very different
country from the one we are now inhabiting. We do not expect to go to
the Sandwich Islands, neither to the Society Islands, neither to any
of the islands of the oceans, nor into South America, nor Central
America, to carry out the order of things which we expect to enter
into in all its fulness. But we expect, just as much as we expect the
sun will shine, when it arises on a clear morning, that the Lord will
by and bye, take us back to the land referred to by Brother Snow, this
forenoon. We do not expect that when that time shall come, that all
Latter-day Saints, who now occupy the mountain Valleys, will go in one
consolidated body, leaving this land totally without inhabitants. We
do not expect any such thing. But we do expect, that there will be a
period in the future history of the Church when many hundreds of this
people—our youth, for instance, who will grow up in those days, when
they will be consolidated as a body, and will go to the eastern
portions of the state of Kansas, and also to the western portions of
the state of Missouri to settle. And when that tires shall come, if it
be needful to carry out the commandments which Brother Snow read this
morning, referring to the purchase of lands, we will have property and
means sufficient to accomplish this work. It was necessary some 47
years ago to purchase lands, and also for several years afterwards.
But we did not do it then. It may be necessary for us in times to
come, and probably will be necessary for us to purchase that whole
region of country. Why so? Because if there be prior occupants to it,
should we not be willing to give them an equivalent, such as will
satisfy them, for its possession, including the improvements attached
thereto? Certainly. Consequently it may be necessary for us to carry
out the fulness of all these revelations, notwithstanding all the
abuses and persecutions that have been heaped upon the Latter-day
Saints. But whether this be the case or not there is one thing
certain—something that you and I may depend upon, with as much
certainty as we expect to get our daily food, and that is, that the
Lord our God will take this people back, and will select from among
this people, a sufficient number, to make the army of Israel very
great. And when that day comes, he will guide the forces of those who
emigrate to their possessions in those two states, that I have
mentioned. And the land thus purchased will be no doubt, as for as
possible, located in one district of country, which will be settled
very differently from the way we now settle up these mountain regions.
You may ask, in what respect we shall differ in settling up those
countries when we go there to fulfil the commandments of the Lord? I
will tell you. No man in those localities will be permitted to receive
a stewardship on those lands, unless he is willing to consecrate all
his properties to the Lord. That will be among the first teachings
given. When this shall be done, the people will be, as the parable
says, like unto one body—all equally poor, or all equally rich; in
other words, they will be persons that can claim no property as their
own, everything being consecrated. And the land [p.150] being
purchased, will be held on a different principle, from what it is now.
To-day fifty thousand dollars worth of real estate property is the
most that can be held by a religious organization; but in that day the
whole of our properties, amounting a very much larger sum, will be
held in trust. For whom? For the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Saints, and for all this great company that will be gathered
together. And there will be such a change in governmental affairs,
that the trustee, whoever he may be, will only act as such as long as
he is faithful; and if he becomes unfaithful it will be transferred to
another. Neither in case of death will the heirs of such trustee have
any claim whatever on the property; the power regulating such matters
will then be vested in the proper authority who will mete out even
justice to all parties.

Vol. 21, p.150
These persons, therefore, will be in the same condition that all the
rest of the people are in. The properties they hold will not be their
own, although it may be called so, as far as that is concerned. And
when it shall be ascertained that an individual has consecrated
everything he has, inquiries will be made as to the size of his
family, and land will be apportioned to him accordingly—not to deed
him the property, according to the Gentile practice; but rather that
the extent of his stewardship may be determined. When this is done, he
takes his stewardship, each man having his own table, without being
necessitated at all to eat at his neighbor's. People will build their
own houses, etc., when needful, provided they are able to do so, if
not, what assistance they require will be rendered them. And then they
and all the others will be required to keep an account of their
proceedings and present the same to the bishops at the end of the
year, or as often as may be required. These bishops, if they do their
duty, will scan these things: "Brother, you have been unwise in such
and such things, but in other particulars you have done well." In this
way each man will give an account of his stewardship, as the
revelation says, both in time and eternity. And he that proves himself
a faithful and wise steward in time, will be counted worthy to receive
not only a stewardship but an inheritance in eternity. What is the
object of the stewardship? Is it not to prepare us for that still
higher order of things that shall exist when we shall receive an
inheritance? And when that time comes, and we shall still be found
faithful to our trust, the Lord will be pleased to say, "I can trust
that man, he has proved himself in the days of his probation: be is a
wise man; he has done right in all things with which he has been
entrusted. Now let him have riot merely a stewardship, but let it be
given to him as an everlasting possession, for him and his seed after
him for ever and ever, both for time and eternity."

Vol. 21, p.150
You may perhaps ask when this time will come? for the Saints to
receive bona fide inheritances. The time will come for the Saints to
receive their stewardships, when they shall return to the lands from
whence they have been driven; but the inheritances will not be given,
until the Lord shall first appoint to the righteous dead their
inheritances, and afterwards the righteous living will receive theirs.
This you will find recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants; and in the
same Book it is predicted that there is to be one "mighty and strong,"
as well as to be an immortal personage,—one that is clothed  upon with
light [p.151] as with a garment:—one whose bowels are a fountain of
truth. His mission will be to divide, by lot, to the Saints their
inheritances, according to their faithfulness in their stewardships.
This too agrees with another revelation, given on the 27th Dec. 1832,
which says, in great plainness, that when the Saints are resurrected
and caught up into heaven, and the living Saints are also caught up,
and that when the seventh angel shall have sounded his trump, then the
Saints shall receive their inheritances. The time then is there
specified, concerning the period that the Lord has in his own mind,
when inheritances shall be given. Finally after the Saints have been
resurrected and caught up, in connection with all the then living
Saints, into heaven; and after the seventh angel sounds his trump, the
earth will be given to the Saints of the Most High for an inheritance
to be divided out to them. This land, about which I have been
speaking, is called in some places in the revelations of God to the
Prophet Joseph, the land of our inheritance; and in other places it is
referred to in the form of stewardships. In one sense it may be
considered our inheritance, because the Lord designs, in his own
wisdom, that the Latter-day Saints shall possess that land as such,
and their dead with them. And having decreed this, even before we ever
saw it, he will fulfil it. I will refer you to a part of the
revelation given on the 2nd Jan., 1831, at the house of Father
Whitmer: "And I hold forth and deign to give unto you greater riches,
even a land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, upon which
there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh: And I will give it unto
you for the land of your inheritance,"—not only stewardship, but
inheritance; "And this shall be my covenant with you," says the Lord
further, "ye shall have it for the land of your inheritance, and for
the inheritance of your children, forever, while the earth shall
stand, and ye shall possess it again in eternity, no more to pass
away." In this sense it is called the land of our inheritance. But
when we come to speak definitely, we will have to be proven as
stewards first. If we shall be unwise in the disposition of this
trust, then it will be very doubtful, whether we get an inheritance in
this world or in the world to come.

Vol. 21, p.151
What is it then we look for? We expect—I was about to quote from the
prediction of Isaiah regard less of consequences; I trust, however,
there is no one present who will look upon that great and good man of
God as a traitor against the government of the United States —that, "A
little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation."
I expect that this people, if they do not become a "strong nation" in
one sense of the word, they will be a great and strong and powerful
people upon the face of this land. This is one of the things your
humble servant is looking for. And I expect that when we go from these
mountains, by hundreds of thousands, down to that land to purchase it
and to occupy it, that we will take with us a great deal of gold and
silver—for the Lord will in those days make his people very rich, in
fulfilment of another promise made in the same revelation, in which he
says, that we shall become the richest of all people. If this is to be
the case, the Lord will probably fulfil that prediction by Isaiah,
contained in the 60th chapter of his book—"for brass I will bring
gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and [p.152] for wood brass,
and for stone iron;" and he will bestow upon his people riches that
they will not know what to do with them, unless directed by the
counsels of the servants of the living God. With this we will purchase
the land, and go down and inherit it, as a strong and powerful people,
receiving our stewardships. And we will not spread forth in that land
three or four miles apart, and think we are crowded when people come
and settle within a mile of us; but we will settle in such a manner as
to make a very dense population. It is a country that is susceptible,
almost every foot of it, to agricultural purposes; and we can settle
with a very large population upon every square mile of country. And we
will extend our borders around about the great central city, not
stake, of Zion. You have heard of the centre-stake of Zion, but did
you ever read in the revelations of God that the place where the New
Jerusalem is to be built is called a stake? There are other places,
called Stakes of Zion, but they will be round about the city. And we
will be multiplied by hundreds and thousands; and we will build,
throughout the region of country, our meeting houses, our school
houses, our academies and universities; and we will see to it, that
all of our children have equal advantages, as far as possible, of
becoming acquainted with all necessary and useful learning. Not as it
is now: some obtain great learning; while others are obliged from
their childhood, from the time they are six or eight years of age, to
work to that extent that they cannot devote any time to acquire an
education. This order of things will be remedied; and the youth of
God's people will have equal opportunities, to develop themselves; not
that they will all gain the same ideas exactly; not that they will all
advance in the same direction in education, and to the same extent.
One perhaps may follow a certain branch, calculated to prepare him to
act in a certain position in his future life; while another may adopt
an entirely different course of study, by which he could be of benefit
to Zion. But there will be equal privileges and blessings bestowed
upon the Latter-day Saints.

Vol. 21, p.152
Now about these stewards. They have to be accountable; and if they
gain anything in their stewardships over and above that which may be
necessary to conduct the business of stewardships, and also to support
themselves, if there be a surplus of means, what will be said? Will it
be said by bishops, "Here, brother you must give up all this surplus
to the storehouse of the Lord?" It might be said to one to unite him
to the stewardship, without having any greater means to extend his
operations, for the time being; and again, it might be deemed wisdom
to assist another to the amount of five, ten, twenty thousand dollars
or so, by way of extending his branch of business, because in doing so
it would be the means of not only benefitting himself and family but
the people of Zion generally.

Vol. 21, p.152
The revelation says: "They shall give into the store-house all that is
not needed for the support of the needy families." In this way the
Lord's storehouse will be full and in great abundance; and these means
will be used for public purposes, and also by way of providing farming
implements, books, etc., for the remnants of Joseph who will come into
the covenant in those days, that they may also have their stewardships
in the midst of the people of God. There will be a  [p.153] portion of
the avails of these stewardships, that will be consecrated to the
Lord's storehouse, and which will be used for the building of Temples,
and for beautifying public places in the city of the New Jerusalem,
and making that a city of perfection as near as we possibly can.

Vol. 21, p.153
Now, there will be this difference between that city and the cities
and Temples which are being built. The cities and temples which we are
now engaged in building, we expect to decay; we expect the rock and
the various building materials will in time waste away, according to
natural laws. But when we build that great central city, the New
Jerusalem, there will he no such thing as the word decay associated
with it; it will not decay ally more than the pot of manna which was
gathered by the children of Israel and put into a sacred place in the
ark of the covenant. It was preserved from year to year by the power
of God; so will he preserve the city of the New Jerusalem, the
dwelling houses, the tabernacles, the Temples, etc., from the effects
of storms and time. It is intended that it will be taken up to heaven,
when the earth passes away. It is intended to be one of those choice
and holy places, where the Lord will dwell, when he shall visit from
time to time, in the midst of the great latter-day Zion, after it
shall be connected with the city of Enoch. That then is the
difference.

Vol. 21, p.153
The Lord our God will command his servants to build that Temple, in
the most perfect order, differing very much from the Temples that are
now being built. You are engaged in building Temples after a certain
order, approximating only to a celestial order; you are doing this in
Salt Lake City. One already has been erected in St. George, after a
pattern in part, of a celestial order. But by and bye, when we build a
Temple that is never to be destroyed, it will be constructed, after
the most perfect order of the celestial worlds. And when God shall
take it up into heaven it will be found to be just as perfect as the
cities of more ancient, celestial worlds which have been made pure and
holy and immortal. So it will be with other Temples. And we, in order
to build a Temple, after a celestial order in the fulness of
perfection, will need revelators and prophets in our midst, who will
receive the word of the Lord; who will have the whole pattern thereof
given by revelation, just as much as everything was given by
revelation pertaining to the tabernacle erected in the wilderness by
Moses. Indeed, before we can go back to inherit this land in all its
fulness of perfection, God has promised that he would raise up a man
like unto Moses. Who this man will be I do not know; it may be a
person with whom we are entirely unacquainted; it may be one of our
infant children; it may he some person not yet born; it may be some
one of middle age. But suffice it to say, that God will raise up such
a man, and he will show forth his power through him, and through the
people that he will lead forth to inherit that country, as he did
through our fathers in the wilderness. Did herhen display his power by
dividing the waters? Yes. Did the mountains and land shake under his
power? Yes. Did he speak to the people by his own voice? Yes. Did he
converse with Moses face to face? Yes. Did he show him his glory? Yes.
Did he unfold to him in one moment more than all our schools and
academies, and universities could give us in ten [p.154] thousand
years? Yes. God will assuredly raise up a man like unto Moses, and
redeem his people, with an outstretched arm, as their fathers were
redeemed, at the first, going before them with his own presence, and
will also surround them by his angels. I expect, when that time comes,
that man will understand all the particulars in regard to the Temple
to be built in Jackson County. Indeed, we have already a part of the
plan revealed, and also the plat explaining how the city of Zion is to
be laid off, which may be found commencing on page 438, Volume 14 of
the MILLENNIAL STAR. From what has been revealed of this Temple to be
erected we can readily perceive that it will differ from anything that
we have had. It will differ in regard to the number of rooms; it will
differ very much in its outward and also its inward form; and it will
differ in regard to the duties to be performed in each of its rooms to
be occupied by the respective departments of priesthood. This house
will be reared, then according to a certain plan, which God is to make
known to his servant whom he will, in his own due time, raise up. And
he will have to give more revelation on other things equally as
important, for we shall need instructions how to build up Zion; how to
establish the centre city; how to lay off the streets; the kind of
ornamental trees to adorn the sidewalks, as well as everything else by
way of beautifying it, and making it a city of perfection, as David
prophetically calls it.

Vol. 21, p.154
And then God will come and visit it; it will be a place where he will
have his throne, where he will sit occasionally as King of Kings and
Lord of Lords, and reign over his people who will occupy this great
western continent; the same as he will have his throne at Jerusalem.
"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on
the sides of the north, the city of the great King."

Vol. 21, p.154
And again he says:

Vol. 21, p.154
"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined."

Vol. 21, p.154
Does the Psalmist mean that God will shine literally out of Zion? Yes,
shine with light that will be seen by the righteous and the wicked
also.

Vol. 21, p.154
For fear of taking up too much of the time, I will bring my remarks to
a close. I will say, however, I desire greatly that the Lord will
bless the Latter-day Saints, and bless his servants that some, at
least, may have the pleasure of entering into all the perfection of
this glory, here in this temporal life; while the more aged, the
grayhairded and gray bearded like myself, will perhaps pass away, if
the Lord requires it. And that our sons may rise up after us, being
filled with the power and Spirit of God, to carry out his great and
righteous purposes, even to completion.

Vol. 21, p.154
I pray God to bless the inhabitants of Logan and those of the towns
round about in this valley, and throughout all our mountain regions;
and that his peculiar blessings and favor may continue to attend us
while we sojourn in these mountains, and go with us when Zion shall be
redeemed in all its fulness. Amen. [p.155]

John Taylor, December 7, 1879

How a Knowledge of God is Obtained—The Gospel to the Dead
—Various Dispensations of the Most High to Mankind—Power
 of the Priesthood—Restoration of the Gospel Through
 Joseph Smith—Failings of the Saints—Corruptions of the Wicked

Delivered in the 14th Ward Meeting House
 Sunday Evening, December 7th, 1879.

(Reported by John Irvine.)

Vol. 21, p.155
We meet together from time to time to speak, to hear, to reflect, to
converse, and to exchange views in regard to the worship of Almighty
God. There is something associated with these matters that has
generally attracted the attention of the human family in all ages,
among all peoples, and under almost all circumstances. There is and
always has been a feeling of reverence existing among the human family
for a Divine Being of some kind and of some form, even amongst the
most low and debased people of the earth. The position that we occupy
in the world, our ideas of the mutability of affairs of time and
sense, the continuous departure of one after another from this stage
of existence to another, leads us, as well as other portions of the
human family generally, more or less to reflect upon those things
pertaining to the future. Various ideas and theories have existed
amongst different peoples. Some have worshipped a great variety of
Gods of their own making, while others have followed the notions and
theories of men in regard to certain doctrines formulas theories and
ideas that have been promulgated among what would be termed the wise,
the prudent, and the intelligent of the earth. But in relation to
religious matters there is no one can have any true or correct
conception of a hereafter unless it has been revealed by the Almighty,
who alone is able to comprehend the end from the beginning and is
acquainted with the position and destinies of men and of the world.

Vol. 21, p.155
We have had revealed to us from time to time, as manifested in the
Scriptures, developed therein, many ideas pertaining to God and to
futurity; but any intelligence in regard to these matters was
generally obtained directly from the Lord, or through the ministering
of angels, or by the Spirit of prophecy and revelation given to them
by the Almighty. And it is emphatically stated in the Scriptures that
"the things of God knoweth no man but by the Spirit of God," and hence
when men assume to comprehend principles pertaining to futurity,
predicated upon the learning, the wisdom, the intelligence or the
science of the world, they are always very much at fault. Who can
comprehend the Almighty or [p.156] understand his designs? As one of
old said, "It is high as heaven." What can'st thou know? "Deeper than
hell." Who can penetrate its mysteries? What really do we know? To
commence with, who can understand the designs of God in relation to
the organization of this world, or in relation to the position of man
and his destiny? His past operations, his present dealings with the
nations and his designs in the future, to the uninspired, are all a
profound enigma. Who knows anything about it? We find all kinds of
theories, notions and opinions in existence at the present day, but
what do they amount to? What would my unsupported opinion be worth, or
what would anybody's opinion be in relation to these matters? It would
amount to nothing. In regard to other principles, of a more material
nature that we are intimately associated with there are certain facts
that scientists and men of intelligence always wish to be
demonstrated, and unless they are, they pay very little attention to
any unsupported hypothesis. If this be true in regard to the known
sciences, how much more particular should we be in regard to more
important matters. Theories, hypotheses, notions, dogmas and opinions
amount to very little when associated with the great and eternal
principles connected with the welfare of mankind, and the salvation of
a world. And hence we need something higher, something of more
intelligence than anything that man possesses to give unto us
information pertaining to these matters.

Vol. 21, p.156
When God created the world and placed man upon it he had certain ideas
and designs that were fixed, immutable, and eternal, they were based
or predicated, in the most consummate wisdom; the most profound
intelligence; the wisdom and intelligence, if you please, that dwells
with the Gods. The organization of the heavens and the earth, the
creation of the world as we understand it, and also the creation of
man and beast, fowl, fish and insect, and everything that exists upon
the face of this earth. There was an object and design in relation to
all these matters. We could know nothing about that, however, unless
it had been revealed unto us, unless it had been communicated by the
being who knows the end from the beginning, and who comprehends all
things pertaining to the present condition as well as the past and the
future destiny of the human family and of the world.

Vol. 21, p.156
Certain men in different ages have told us, so it is recorded here in
the Bible, about certain communications which they had from the
Almighty. They seemed to have a mode and manner of approaching him,
and he in the various dispensations made choice of and selected
individuals through whom and to whom he communicated his will to the
human family. There is something very remarkable in regard to these
things. There are many remarkable things in the old antediluvian
history of the world, that we have only very imperfectly related to us
in the Bible. We read, for instance, of a man by the name of Enoch—we
are told in the Bible that "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for
God took him." That is about all that is said about him except that he
was a man that feared God. But Enoch, when we come to know more of his
history from the revelations that have been given, we find, was a man
that had communication with  God from time to time. The Bible says he
walked with God and was not, for God took [p.157] him, but in other
revelations which we have received, we have an account of the kind of
ministry that he had, the labors that he performed the preaching that
he did, the manifestation of the power of God on his behalf, and
finally of his gathering together a large number of people. That he
built a city; that in that city they were under the guidance,
direction and control of the Almighty; and that he and his city and
people, or many of them, were translated, and hence as the Bible says,
"he was not for God took him," and he also took the people that were
with him, those that feared him and worked righteousness.

Vol. 21, p.157
There are other events associated with these matters which are very
interesting when we come to examine them. The people had corrupted
themselves very much, departed from the law of God, violated his
ordinances, and committed all kinds of iniquity, so that, as the Bible
tells us, all the thoughts of their hearts were only evil and that
continually, and it repented the Lord that he had made man because of
the wickedness and corruption that then existed. We have a very short
account of this in the Scriptures, but through other means that have
been communicated to us we have received a further knowledge of these
matters; for other men that embraced the Gospel in former ages became
preachers of righteousness as well as Enoch. They had the Spirit of
the Gospel as Moses had it, as Jesus had it, and as we have it. They
held communion with God and were under the inspiration of the
Almighty, in their administration, and when they came together—those
that feared God and worked righteousness—they had visions and
revelations and prophesied of events that should transpire. There were
many prophets in those days and they prophesied of a prison house that
God had prepared, told the people of the destruction that was coming
upon the earth: that they should be swept off the face of the earth by
the waters of the flood and that none should be spared except a few to
perpetuate the name and fame of the Almighty and again propagate their
species. This is a thing that has seemed very singular to some men who
do not comprehend the designs of God, and they suppose that there was
a degree of cruelty attached to the Almighty in sweeping off the whole
people of the land, with the exception of a very few. They assume to
say there was a degree of injustice, cruelty and tyranny associated
with it. However, that is for want of an understanding of correct
principle, and the designs of the Almighty, and many conclusions that
people arrive at, predicated upon the same ground—arise from a lack of
understanding the principle that they talk about.

Vol. 21, p.157
There are some principles connected with these things which put
matters in a very different light. When we understand the nature of
man, when we consider that he is a dual being, that he is possessed of
a body and spirit, that he is associated with time and with eternity,
that according to the Scriptures the spirits of all men were created
before this world was made, and that God is the God and Father of the
spirits of all flesh; and being God and Father of the spirits of all
flesh, it was his right and his prerogative to dictate what should be
done for the benefit of those spirits and his children that he had
created here upon the earth. It was not a matter of theory, according
to the opinions of men, but an immutable [p.158] plan, according to
the eternal wisdom of God as it existed in his bosom before the world
was, or "before the morning stars sang together and all the sons of
God shouted for joy." These spirits, that he was the father of, had
their rights and privileges and immuities; and as he had created man
upon the earth or prepared a tabernacle, or a body, if you please, for
these spirits to inhabit, it became his interest, as the Father of the
human family, to look after their welfare. They had been led aside by
the influence of Satan and had corrupted themselves and departed from
correct principles, and violated the law of God, and became degraded
and sunken in iniquity and infamy. Now, suppose we take ourselves back
into the presence of our Father, and looking down upon these degraded
wretches that inhabited the earth at that time, would we not turn to
our Father as a just God and say, "Father, do you see the corruption,
the degradation, the infamy and the evil that exists and permeates the
world of mankind?" "Yes, yes, of course I see it." "Is it just that
our spirits should be condemned to go and inhabit the bodies of these
men, or of their seed, that are so fallen, so degraded and so corrupt,
and whose actions and operations are so at variance with thee and thy
laws? Is it just and equitable that we should go and be mixed up with
these infamies and be led astray like them into the paths of vice and
suffer for things that we have not done and could not help ourselves
in: is it just?" "Why, no it is not, and I will cut them off; and as
they possess the power of propagating their species upon the earth, I
will stop that power by a flood and raise up another people, that
justice may be done you, my sons and daughters, and that the judge of
all the earth may do right." When we look at things in that point of
view, it places them in another position from what they would appear
otherwise, and justifies the ways of God with man.

Vol. 21, p.158
Now, when this event took place, people were cast into the pit, into
the prisons, as it had before been said that they should be. Well,
what about that? Trace things forward to the time that Jesus appears
upon the earth, and we see something then pertaining to these very
individuals, in the acts of the Almighty, as they transpired at that
time. When Jesus accomplished his work, when he had fulfilled the
mission that he had to do here upon the earth, and when he was put to
death in the flesh and quickened by the Spirit, he went and preached
to the spirits in prison "that some time were disobedient when once
the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah;" and although
they had suffered the wrath of Almighty God, he who had come to
proclaim deliverance to the captive, to open the prison doors to those
that were bound, to release them and to proclaim the acceptable time
of the Lord, he went to them as their Savior, in common with others,
and preached the Gospel unto them. Hence we find the acts of God
justified in relation to these matters, and while he had power to
destroy, while he had power to send them to prison, he also had power
to conceive a plan for their deliverance therefrom, when the time
should come that they should be delivered after they had suffered
sufficiently for the crimes, evils and iniquities that they had
committed upon the earth. There are many singular things associated
with these matters that men do not really comprehend.

Vol. 21, p.159
[p.159] We come again to another prominent character, that is Abraham,
a very remarkable man in his day and age; although at the present time
men look upon him as a kind of an old shepherd, a man that attended
flocks and herds and sheep, a sort of herdsman and a shepherd; and
there was very little of him anyhow except that he lived in his day
almost as a barbarian. That is the opinion that many men have formed
of him—that he was something like our backwoodsmen, some of our
farmers who have not mixed up with the elite of society, or made
themselves familiar with the intelligence that pervades the world. I
look upon him as another character entirely, and from information that
we can gather from revelations that have been referred to, we find
that there was something very peculiar about him. We read his history
and we find that he was a man that sought after righteousness, that he
desired to obtain more righteousness, that he examined the records of
his rattlers, that he found in examining the records, tracing them
back through the flood, clear away back unto Adam's day, he found many
circumstances that were connected with mankind, not only to Adam's
day, but before the world was. In doing this, among other things, he
found he had a right to the priesthood. I need not stop to tell you
what that is, you Latter-day Saints. You understand it is the rule and
government of God, whether in the heavens or on the earth, and when we
talk of the kingdom of God we talk of something that pertains to rule,
government, authority and dominion; and that priesthood is the ruling
principle that exists in the heavens or on the earth, associated with
the affairs of God. Hence, we are told in the Scriptures that Christ
was a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Then of what
order was Melchisedec? A priest for ever after the order of the Son of
God, for if Christ was after the order of Melchisedec, Melchisedec
must have been after the order of Christ, as a necessary consequence.
Very well. Now, then, in relation to that priesthood it was something
that ministered in time and through eternity; it was a principle that
held the keys of the mysteries of the revelations of God, and was
intimately associated with the Gospel, and the Gospel, wherever it
existed, was in possession of this priesthood; and it could not exist
without it. It always "brought life and immortality to light." The
notions and opinions and religions of man generally are altogether
devoid of a principle of that kind, they know nothing about it.
Whenever men are placed in communication with God and are in
possession of the Gospel of the Son of God, it brings life and
immortality to light, and places them in relationship with God that
other men know nothing about.

Vol. 21, p.159
They were spoken of in former times as the "sons of God." "Now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall
see him as he is." It was this priesthood that would be the means of
introducing him into the presence of God that Abraham found that he
was a rightful inheritor of, according to his lineage and descent, and
he applied for an ordination, which he received, according to the
revelation given unto us, and with that ordination the powers, the
blessings, the light, intelligence and revelation associated with the
Gospel of the Son of God. And what then? The next that we read of is
that he had the [p.160] Urim and Thummim, and thus he sought unto God
for himself, and while searching unto him, God revealed himself. unto
Abraham and said: "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them
that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be
blessed." There is something very remarkable about this when we
reflect upon it, and when we examine the position that he occupied,
and that his seed occupied, we can see the fulfillment of these
things. Afterwards, the Lord revealed himself to him from time to
time, communicated his will to him, and he was made acquainted with
the designs of the Almighty. The Lord showed' unto him the order of
the creation of this earth on which we stand, and revealed unto him
some of the greatest and most sublime truths that ever were made known
to man. He got these through revelation from God and through the
medium of the Gospel of the Son of God.

Vol. 21, p.160
Well, let us look a little at the fulfillment of some of these things.
"I will bless them that bless thee; and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed." We read sometime afterwards of Isaac and Jacob.
Jacob had communication with God. The Lord appeared unto him from time
to time, and revealed his purposes and designs unto him. Abraham
prophesied that the children of Israel should be in bondage in Egypt
for 400 years, that after that time they should be delivered; and
Moses was raised up as a deliverer and he conversed with God. He saw a
bush that burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. He
afterwards conversed with the Lord upon mount Sinai, and received
tables of stone written upon by the finger of God, which were the
commandments of the Lord to the children of Israel. And who was Moses?
A descendant of Abraham.

Vol. 21, p.160
We also read of prophets who, by the spirit of inspiration, could draw
aside the dark vail of futurity and penetrate into the invisible
world, and contemplate the purposes of God as they should roll forth
in after ages in all their majesty and power and glory, And who were
they? They wore th