April 1852
MINUTES of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at the New Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City,
April 6, 1852, 10 a. m.,
Prest. Brigham Young, presiding.
Present of the Presidency—Brigham Young, H. C. Kimball, and W. Richards.
Patriarchs—John Smith and Isaac Morley.
Twelve Apostles—O. Pratt, W. Woodruff, G. A. Smith.
Seventies—Joseph Young, Zera Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, Henry Herriman.
Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer.
High Priests’ Quorum—John Young, Reynolds Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop—Edward Hunter.
Clerk of Conference—Thomas Bullock; George D. Watt, Reporter.
Conference was called to order by the President, who stated that, at the last Conference, we adjourned to meet in a new tabernacle on the Temple Block, and we will now proceed to dedicate this hall and take up the business of the Conference, as the Spirit shall manifest itself to us.
He then read the 201 hymn, “Lord in the morning thou hear,” which was sung by the choir, under the direction of James Smithies, Chorister.
April 6, 1852, 10 a. m.,
Prest. Brigham Young, presiding.
Present of the Presidency—Brigham Young, H. C. Kimball, and W. Richards.
Patriarchs—John Smith and Isaac Morley.
Twelve Apostles—O. Pratt, W. Woodruff, G. A. Smith.
Seventies—Joseph Young, Zera Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, Henry Herriman.
Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer.
High Priests’ Quorum—John Young, Reynolds Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop—Edward Hunter.
Clerk of Conference—Thomas Bullock; George D. Watt, Reporter.
Conference was called to order by the President, who stated that, at the last Conference, we adjourned to meet in a new tabernacle on the Temple Block, and we will now proceed to dedicate this hall and take up the business of the Conference, as the Spirit shall manifest itself to us.
He then read the 201 hymn, “Lord in the morning thou hear,” which was sung by the choir, under the direction of James Smithies, Chorister.
President Richards
offered the following
DEDICATION PRAYER
Great and all wise God, our Heavenly Father, who dwelleth amid the cherubims, and art clothed in light as with a garment, in the name of Jesus thy Son, and by virtue of the Holy and Eternal Priesthood with which thou hast endowed us, we come before thee upon this occasion, invoking thy rich gifts and blessings to rest down upon us; pour out, we pray thee, of thy spirit upon each and every soul now waiting before thee, that our hearts may be united as one, and that we may approach thee in a manner acceptable in thy sight. May every emotion of our souls arise in unison unto thee in humble praise and adoration for all thy mercies, unto the creatures of thy creation.
We remember, our Father and our God, that we are indebted unto thee for our existence, for having been sent upon this stage of action in this day and generation, in which the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, thy Son, has been made manifest, in which the celestial messenger from thy presence, has again proclaimed the way of life and salvation to the children of men upon the earth, saying “fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come,”—shadowing forth the restoration of all things that have been spoken by the mouths of all thine holy prophets since the world began—establishing the pure principles of the Eternal Heavens, which constitute the laws of the kingdom of our God upon the earth; opening up anew the great principles of revelation and communication with the Gods of Eternity.—principles which have been hid in the heavens for many centuries, while many generations have lived and died, looking for the blessings and promises of this day, desiring that they might have a part in the great preparatory work of the coming of the Son of Man, in power and great glory, to reign upon the earth.
We remember before thee, O our Father, that we, thy servants, now in thy presence, having heard the heavenly message and yielded obedience to its holy mandates, have become the happy recipients and partakers of this holy ministry; and that we have oft times been delivered from the power of Satan and the devices and machinations of wicked and designing men, who have sought our overthrow, and conspired against our lives, seeking to destroy us from the face of the earth; but thou, O our Father, hast ever been mindful of us, overruling all seeming evil for our greater good, until by thy mighty power thou hast brought us to a glorious inheritance in this goodly land, choice above all other lands; far from the retreats of mobbers, and murderers, who have slain thy prophets, and from the land where their blood yet cries from the ground for vengeance to be poured out from the Heavens.
Mercifully hast thou dealt with us, our Father, for through all the scenes which thy people have been called to pass—all the perils and watchings, and sufferings they have had to encounter, thine angels have watched over and protected us, and the gentle and refreshing influences of thy spirit have comforted us; and we have been spared as monuments of thy mercy, while multitudes of our brethren and friends have fallen by mobocracy, violence, disease and death, and their bones have been left to molder upon the prairie and in the wilderness, while we are again permitted to gather ourselves together in this goodly place and bring into requisition all the powers of body and mind with which thou hast clothed us, for the advancement and building up of thy kingdom upon the earth. When thy people have called upon thee, in their extremities, thou hast not been slow to hear, but hast exerted thine Almighty power, and encircled them in the arms of love, and of mercy, until thy people have been permitted and enabled to build and inhabit, to labor and enjoy the fruits thereof; and to come forth from our comfortable habitations, this morning, to worship the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jesus and Joseph—in this commodious edifice, erected for the assembling and worship of thy people.
Oft times have our hearts rejoiced together in councils, in meetings, and in conference, yet never have we met when the manifold mercies and blessings of our Heavenly Father called for more ardent praise and thanksgiving to His holy name, than at the present, in this spacious and commodious room, which thy Saints of latter days are now permitted to occupy; and here, in this place appointed for the assembly of thy Saints on this the anniversary of the birthday of thy church and kingdom upon the earth, in this last dispensation from the heavens, and in the midst of the congregation of the Most High God, we thy servants, O our Father in Heaven, in the name of they Son Jesus, dedicate and consecrate this house unto thee, and unto thy cause for the assembling of thy Saints to worship before thee, and to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; and to associate thy people therein for prayer, for praise, and thanksgiving for fasting and mourning, for transacting business relating to thy church and kingdom, or for whatever purpose thy people shall assemble themselves together in thy name.
We set apart and dedicate this house as a holy sanctuary for thy people unto the Lord forever; and we consecrate the ground upon which it stands, and dedicate it unto the Lord our God. May the floor upon which we walk be holy under our feet; and the covering which protects us from the snow, the rain and the sun be holy over our heads; may the walls which protect us from the chilling blasts of winter be holy round about us; and may the doors, and the windows, and the slips, and the fastenings, and the trimmings of this house, together with all the various materials of which they are composed, be holy unto the Lord, for the meetings, the sacraments, and the transaction of the business of thy people. And we dedicate and consecrate that portion of this house, where thy prophet and thy servants now are, to be a holy and sacred place, wherein thy servants may stand and declare thy word, and minister unto thy people in the name of thy Son, and before thee, O our Heavenly Father; and may every part and portion thereof, be holy unto the Lord our God, and may no unclean thing be permitted to enter into any part of this Tabernacle, but may it be preserved with the vestry thereof, be holy unto the Lord our God, and may no unclean thing be permitted to enter into any part of this Tabernacle, but may it be preserved with the vestry thereof, and the doorkeepers thereof, and with everything pertaining thereunto or round about, a holy and sacred sanctuary wherein the pure in heart may rejoice forever, and no foul spirit ever be permitted to disturb their worship.
May the angels from thy presence be within and round about this habitation; and when thy servants shall stand in this sacred place to minister unto the people, may they feel the blessed influence of thy heavenly messengers; may they be filled with the Holy Ghost, as with manna from heaven, and be clothed in robes of righteousness; and may the visions and revelations of the eternal worlds be open before them continually; and may thy Saints ever have the listening ear and the understanding heart, to receive and improve upon the instructions of thy servants, that they may grow into the stature of perfection that is in Christ Jesus, that they may be one with Him forever.
If thy people shall sin, and repent of their sins, and call upon thee in the name of Jesus, from within these walls, then hear thou in heaven, thy holy dwelling place. Forgive thou their sins, and give them answers of peace; and may thy fear and thy dread be upon the heathen, that may enter into this sacred place, and may thy spirit rest upon the honest in heart, who shall hear thy word from this stand, that they may believe, obey, and be saved with thy people.
And now, our Father, be pleased to accept the dedication of this house which we now present unto thee, in the name of Son, as a tribute of from thy people, and listen to the voice of our supplications, that it may be preserved from the rage of the elements, and the pollution of unGodly men, and that thy glory be upon it and abide therein forever; so that when thy Saints shall call from hence upon thy holy name, in righteousness, then thou wilt hear in thy holy habitation, and grant an answer of peace.
Bless all those who have assisted in the erection of this edifice. May they ever rejoice in the labor of their hands, and have the glory they desire in the presence of their God. Bless those also who have contributed of their substance for its erection; with all those who have desired to contribute, and have not had the means or opportunity; may they also partake of the rich inheritance of a celestial glory, and habitations of comfort and delight among the children of men. Bless all those, also, who profess thy name, and have had the means to contribute for the upbuilding of this house, and have neglected their privilege, and their duty; may thy spirit rest upon all such, that they may humble themselves, repent of their short comings before thee and in the sight of their brethren, and arise and do their duty from this time henceforth and forever, that they lose no more blessings through in thy service.
Bless thy servant Brigham with health and strength of body and of mind, with long life and peaceful days; may he be endowed with thy spirit, and the revelations of eternity continually; and may thine angels visit and sustain him, and ministering spirits from thy presence attend him in all his ways; guard him O Lord from the malicious designs of wicked men; and turn aside every shaft that is aimed for his injury; fit and prepare him with every necessary qualification to lead and guide this thy people; and may his strength and ability be according to his duties and the burden he is required to bear; may the rich blessings of heaven and earth be poured out upon him, and upon his household; may they, individually and collectively, enjoy the communion of God and his Saints, and have bestowed upon them every desirable gift that shall promote their peace, comfort, health and happiness. Bless his habitation and all therein, his flocks and his herds, the ground that he cultivates, his fields, his gardens, and his vineyards; bless him in basket, and in store, and in all that pertains unto him.
Bless his Counsellors, thy servants Heber and Willard, with the same blessings. May they always live in the unity of the faith, and preserve those bonds of love and union which dwell in thy presence; continue to strengthen their faith, their power and their influence, until their voices shall reverberate thy word in tones of thunder throughout earth’s remotest bounds, resounding in every ear, “make ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb,” his kingdom has come; prepare to receive the Lord.
Bless the aged Patriarch, O our Father; may his days continue to be multiplied and his faculties be strengthened, and may he be filled with the Holy Ghost to bless thy children as he approaches the dawning of a brighter day; that amid the exhalations of a celestial glory, he may seal blessings upon the heads of the faithful, until thou receive him unto thyself, to rest with his brethren, in thy presence; and may the like blessings rest upon all the brethren of his quorum of the Patriarchs.
Remember the quorum of the Twelve Apostles with their president Orson Hyde. Grant, O Lord, that thine angels may go before them and preserve them from all evil; wilt thou give them power to overcome all the designs and purposes of wicked men, and all the devices of Satan, and may they be enabled to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people upon the face of the whole earth; and may they have, in connection with, and under the direction of the first Presidency of thy church, power to roll forth thy work upon the earth, like a mighty torrent, that no barriers can resist. Wilt thou bless them, Father, in the good things of this world, that their families may be provided for during their absence, and while on missions of thy will to the nations, and among all people; wilt thou encircle them in thine arms of mercy, and preserve them one and all, to the accomplishment of several missions, and safe return to the bosom of thy church, and to their families in the valleys of the mountains.
Bless with the same blessings all of thine elders of every quorum who are absent upon foreign missions to the nations and islands of the sea afar off. May the quickening power of thy spirit rest upon them, and their words be like fire, sinking deep into the minds of their hearers, and their testimony be as the sea that is broken up, roaring and rolling with no rest, until the voice that spake as never man spake, shall say peace, be still; and when all the honest in heart shall have listened to the whisperings of the spirit of our God, and learned the way of life and salvation. Bless all the families of thine absent servants.
O Lord, bless the High Priests quorum, and the quorums of the Seventies of thy people; yea, the Presidents thereof, with their councilors, and all the members that are striving in their warfare to overcome the world and its evils, and are endeavoring to roll back the curtain which has so long enshrouded the earth in darkness, and the minds of the people in bigotry, superstition, ignorance, and sin, and until wickedness covered the face of the whole earth and there was none found thereon to walk in righteousness before thee, but all were walking in the precept of men, and in the vain imagination of their own hearts. O Lord, God Almighty, we pray thee in the name of Jesus to inspire thy servants, the High Priests, and Seventies, with the influence of thy Holy Spirit; pour it out upon them in great effusions, and may they gird up their loins, and renewing their strength from the fountain of light and intelligence, which thou art spreading forth, come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and wax strong in the cause of our God, to the utter overthrow of all his enemies, even to the downfall of Satan’s dominion; that the kingdom of our God and his Christ, may be established upon an everlasting foundation, never more to be taken from the earth.
Bless, O Father, the Elders quorum, and awaken them to a sense of their great responsibilities. May they all, officers and members, partake of like blessings with their brethren, arise in power, and walk forth in the strength of Israel’s God to the faithful performance of their duties, qualifying themselves for the work of God, and putting on the armor of righteousness, be prepared to fight the good fight of faith, and wield the sword of the spirit to the convincing of multitudes, who shall become partakers in this holy ministry and be ready to go forth in their time and season, and labor in the vineyard.
Bless the Presiding Bishop with his counsellors, assistants, and all the members of the Bishops quorum. O Father, thou knowest their labors, and the faithfulness which they have manifested in thy cause, and in the discharge of their duties; the overflowings of thy storehouse speak in their behalf, as well as the liberality of thy saints; and as they have manifested by their labors a willingness and desire to observe the counsel of thy servants, and to build up and roll forth thy kingdom, we pray thee to acknowledge their ministration, and bless them with every blessing pertaining to thy faithful servants; and may they have every enjoyment emanating from a faithful performance of their several duties to thine acceptance and the acceptance of thy servants, that they and their households may never lack for any good thing.
Regard in tender mercy, O our Father, thy servants of the Priests’ Quorum, with their president and his counsellors; and thy servants of the Teachers’ Quorum, with their president and his counsellors; also the president and counsellors and members of the Deacons’ Quorum; that they all, in their several callings, may lift up their heads like men of God, and work righteousness, instructing thy Saints continually in their several duties, and ministering in those things pertaining to their high and holy calling; and may they be filled with the Holy Ghost, and perform a great and glorious work in the midst of thy people Israel.
Grant that thy blessings may be propitious toward this stake of Zion, its president and his counsel, and the High Council thereof. May they be men after thine own heart, quick to discern between good and evil; filled with the spirit of the presidency, and of counsel, of justice and judgment, that the hearts of the people may be made glad, and that they may rejoice in all the administrations of thy servants; and may all the Presidents, Counsellors, High Councils and stakes of Zion, in all the vallies of the mountains be partakers of like blessings.
Have mercy upon thy servants who labor upon the public works, and are striving continually to build up thy kingdom, whether in the various offices and shops, or by the way side. Bless them with the refreshing effusions of thy Spirit, that they may have joy of heart continually; bless them in their bodies, that they may have health and strength; bless their tools and their shops and everything that they put their hands unto, and that is round about them, even all that pertains to the general welfare of thy people; and may the ground of this block be preserved holy unto Lord, and the time be hastened when its walls and gates shall preserve it from all unhallowed intrusions when fountains shall come forth thereon, for the cleansing and purifying and healing of thy people; and when a house shall be reared unto thy name from which the ordinances of eternal life shall flow forth to the living and the dead, and the whole shall become a paradise in Zion, even as the garden of the Lord.
Bless all of thy people in these valleys of the mountains; may thy Spirit dwell richly within them; and may they serve thee in spirit and in truth; may they cleave unto thee with full purpose of heart, never failing to acknowledge thee in all things, and give thanks and praise unto thy holy name; and wilt thou multiply their posterity, that they may become a great people; and increase their flocks, and their herds, and their farms, and their gardens, and their orchards and vineyards, and houses, and shops, and factories, and everything they shall stretch forth their hands to do; and may the earth yield its increase without measure unto thy people, that there may be abundance in store for all who shall come hither, to learn more fully the way of life and salvation, and for the sustaining of the public works; and wilt thou grant this rich blessing unto thy people, even that they may never be slothful or grudgingly tithe their increase, for the upbuilding of the kingdom, and the spread of thy gospel on the earth. Bless and preserve thy people from all evil influences, from all untimely and false judging, from all evil thinking and speaking, from all enemies within and without; and may their enemies have no power over them, to prevail against them, or to injure them in their persons, families, or property.
Bless thy servants who have gone to gather up thy people in Pottawatomie and lead them to this place, and give them wisdom and power to accomplish their mission to thy divine acceptance; and in an especial manner would we remember before thee, O our Father, thy children who may attempt to walk across the prairie this season, with handcarts and wheelbarrows, pitching their tents by the way, or having naught but the heavens for a covering; be very merciful unto all such, and increase their faith; may thy strength be their strength, and may they be invigorated continually by thine almighty power, that every bone, and sinew, and muscle, and nerve, and every part of their bodies may be renewed, day by day, that their strength fail not; and may they have such power given unto them, that nothing but thine angels can go before them; and may no enemy have any dominion over them, or any accident befall them; provide food for them by the way, even if it needs be manna from heaven, as thou didst unto our fathers in the wilderness; and may disease and death have no power over them, but may every soul arrive safely in our midst, to unite with us in songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God for his great and merciful kindness unto them.
Have compassion upon thy people, O Lord, who are scattered among the nations, and desire to gather according to thy word, but have not the means.—Open the hearts of those who have, to impart unto those who have not, that the rich and the poor may journey together, according to thy will. And may all who are now on their way, or may be coming this season, whether by land or water, with horses, or mules, or oxen, or wagons, or chariots, or by any means whatever, experience thy rich blessings, that they may be delivered from every evil, and arrive in safety, that the rich valleys of the mountains may be filled with the Saints of the Most High.
Bless the Governor of this Territory, with the Legislators, Judges, and Marshals, and Sheriffs, and all in authority among the people; and may the spirit of love, obedience, union and peace prevail. And may not the lawyers have power to stir up strife and contention, and lawsuits in our midst; and may the spirit of peace and conciliation be cultivated by all in authority.
May the Delegate from Utah, now in the Congress of the nation, be clothed upon with the spirit and power of Elijah’s God, that he may put to silence the tongues of evil men; may all the enemies of our God be confounded before him; may the wisdom of heaven be his, to lead and guide him in every emergency; and may he never be confounded, or put to silence, or fear, but may he feel that God is with him, and that he will bring him off conqueror over every foe, and stand forth triumphant in the midst of the nation, clothed with the principles of eternal truth and rectitude; and may his daily walk be an example to the world, and all with whom he associates; proving himself a friend of God, and a man after his own heart, seeking diligently to know thy mind and will, and yielding humble obedience thereunto.
We pray for the President of the United States, for the heads of departments, for the members of Congress and all those in authority over us; may they have wisdom to discern the signs of the times, and administer in righteousness in their respective callings, in their high and responsible stations; and may they love mercy, deal justly, and seek knowledge, wisdom and judgment from him whose right it is to rule, and become subservient to his holy teachings. Holy Father, may no evil spirit be suffered to prejudice their minds against us thy servants, or thy people, or cause them to seek our injury; but may the good influences of thy Spirit control them in all their acts towards thy people, and towards all the people over whom they preside, or for they legislate, that the pure principles of our national institutions may be perpetuated forever.
Bless all the governments and rulers of the earth, who bless thy people and protect thy servants; and overthrow all thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, and governments, that fight against thy cause and thy servants; that the way may be opened for the spread of eternal truth, even the gospel of salvation, to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that dwell upon the face of the whole earth; and that thy servants may have access to the honest in heart everywhere.
Vouchsafe unto thine ancient covenant people, O Lord, the renovating spirit of thy grace, that they may be prepared to receive their promised inheritance and be gathered from among all nations, whither thou hast scattered them, and may they become polished even after the similitude of a palace, and become fit temples for the reception and indwelling of thy Holy Spirit.
Remember, O Lord, in mercy, thine ancient covenant people who inhabit this land, even the seed of Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and give unto thy Saints the spirit of patience and forbearance, that they may act wisely, and justly, in all their intercourse with them. Be merciful unto them, O our Father, in their ignorant, degraded, and miserable condition, inflicted on them as a living witness of thy righteous judgments; yet remember, we beseech of thee our Heavenly Father, that they are of thine ancient covenant people, and to them pertain the promises made unto their fathers, and we pray thee, that the past may suffice, that they should drink of the cup of thy displeasure, and that thou wouldst stretch forth thine arm for their deliverance from the darkness, superstition and ignorance, that reign in their souls. Give unto them dreams, and visions, and revelations by thy Spirit, that they may see their degraded condition, and the blessings which are in store for them through the obedience of their fathers, that they may search after thy servants and receive their teaching, and the teachings of thy Spirit; that they may be enlightened in principle, in doctrine, in duty, and learn the way of life and salvation, which their fathers knew and loved, but lost through transgression; that they may again become a white and delightsome people in the midst of the nations, and find salvation at last in thy presence
Bless all men, everywhere, who love and obey thy laws, and bless and do good unto thy people; let their days be lengthened and multiplied upon the earth; multiply their joy, and increase their posterity, that peace may prevail and righteousness spread abroad among the nations.
We present before thee, our Heavenly Father, all men who have had the privilege of thy gospel, who have heard the teachings of thy servants, and felt, and beheld the manifestation of thy Spirit, and have turned away from the testimony of Jesus, and persecuted, and mobbed thy Saints, and slain thy prophets, even thine anointed ones, and done despite unto thy mercy, and thy love, and have waxed old in iniquity, and changed thine ordinances, have rejected the testimony of thy servants, and sought to destroy them from the face of the earth, whose days of repentance, and salvation are past, and who are unmindful of thee, and will fight against thy cause and kingdom; and have shed innocent blood; and we pray thee, our Father in the heavens, that thou wilt divest them of all power to injure thy people, that they may fall in the pits, and be taken in the snares which they have spread for their neighbors; that they may go backward and not forward, and fall and rise not again; and may the plagues which thou hast instituted come upon them, that they may perish from the face of the earth, and their generations after them, that their names be blotted out from henceforth, that the posterity the righteous may fill the earth.
And now, our Heavenly Father, we beseech of thee to listen to the voice of our supplication, and give us an answer of peace; we pray thee, of this our dedication of this house, of ourselves, our wives, our children, our houses, our flocks, and our herds, and all that we possess, unto thee, and to thy cause forever.
Praying that thy good Spirit may be poured out upon us, thy people, while we remain together at this Conference; that thou wilt dictate all things pertaining thereunto, that we may be enabled to accomplish thy righteous will in all things, and grow up in perfection, through the gift of thy Spirit, that at last we may rest in thy presence with all thy sanctified ones; and we will ascribe all praise, glory, and honor, unto God, and the Lamb, forever and ever. Amen.
Prest. Young read the hymn, “The morning breaks the shadows flee,” which was sung by the choir, concluding with, “Hosanna in the highest,” like a choir of heavenly angels.
A hymn composed for the occasion, by W. W. Phelps was sung by John Kay, accompanied by instruments:
IN DESERET WE’RE FREE.
BY W. W. PHELPS
An earthquake seems to shake the globe,
And distant thunder jars the sea;
And every nation wonders what
Such mighty things can be:
And the lightning glares on the billowy main,
And the clouds roll up for a hurricane:--
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
There’s “Mene Tekel” on the wall,
An awful, fearful mystery;
The mobs go forth, like kings to war,
In bloody majesty;
And the strongest thrones are a crumbling down,
And the Cholera, and old Death’s in town:--
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
All hands are weak; all hearts are faint;
There’s shaking of the pow’rs that be;
The great to great exclaim, alas!
“Are you as weak as we?”
And the answer comes on the nimble blast,
“Yes our glory’s gone, and our days are pass’d,”
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
‘Tis joy to have a Mormon’s faith,
Which comprehends eternity;
‘Tis joy to live in such a day,
And witness what we see;
As the nations rave, how they fly as chaff;
While the Gods in heaven do sit and laugh;--
And the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
offered the following
DEDICATION PRAYER
Great and all wise God, our Heavenly Father, who dwelleth amid the cherubims, and art clothed in light as with a garment, in the name of Jesus thy Son, and by virtue of the Holy and Eternal Priesthood with which thou hast endowed us, we come before thee upon this occasion, invoking thy rich gifts and blessings to rest down upon us; pour out, we pray thee, of thy spirit upon each and every soul now waiting before thee, that our hearts may be united as one, and that we may approach thee in a manner acceptable in thy sight. May every emotion of our souls arise in unison unto thee in humble praise and adoration for all thy mercies, unto the creatures of thy creation.
We remember, our Father and our God, that we are indebted unto thee for our existence, for having been sent upon this stage of action in this day and generation, in which the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, thy Son, has been made manifest, in which the celestial messenger from thy presence, has again proclaimed the way of life and salvation to the children of men upon the earth, saying “fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come,”—shadowing forth the restoration of all things that have been spoken by the mouths of all thine holy prophets since the world began—establishing the pure principles of the Eternal Heavens, which constitute the laws of the kingdom of our God upon the earth; opening up anew the great principles of revelation and communication with the Gods of Eternity.—principles which have been hid in the heavens for many centuries, while many generations have lived and died, looking for the blessings and promises of this day, desiring that they might have a part in the great preparatory work of the coming of the Son of Man, in power and great glory, to reign upon the earth.
We remember before thee, O our Father, that we, thy servants, now in thy presence, having heard the heavenly message and yielded obedience to its holy mandates, have become the happy recipients and partakers of this holy ministry; and that we have oft times been delivered from the power of Satan and the devices and machinations of wicked and designing men, who have sought our overthrow, and conspired against our lives, seeking to destroy us from the face of the earth; but thou, O our Father, hast ever been mindful of us, overruling all seeming evil for our greater good, until by thy mighty power thou hast brought us to a glorious inheritance in this goodly land, choice above all other lands; far from the retreats of mobbers, and murderers, who have slain thy prophets, and from the land where their blood yet cries from the ground for vengeance to be poured out from the Heavens.
Mercifully hast thou dealt with us, our Father, for through all the scenes which thy people have been called to pass—all the perils and watchings, and sufferings they have had to encounter, thine angels have watched over and protected us, and the gentle and refreshing influences of thy spirit have comforted us; and we have been spared as monuments of thy mercy, while multitudes of our brethren and friends have fallen by mobocracy, violence, disease and death, and their bones have been left to molder upon the prairie and in the wilderness, while we are again permitted to gather ourselves together in this goodly place and bring into requisition all the powers of body and mind with which thou hast clothed us, for the advancement and building up of thy kingdom upon the earth. When thy people have called upon thee, in their extremities, thou hast not been slow to hear, but hast exerted thine Almighty power, and encircled them in the arms of love, and of mercy, until thy people have been permitted and enabled to build and inhabit, to labor and enjoy the fruits thereof; and to come forth from our comfortable habitations, this morning, to worship the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jesus and Joseph—in this commodious edifice, erected for the assembling and worship of thy people.
Oft times have our hearts rejoiced together in councils, in meetings, and in conference, yet never have we met when the manifold mercies and blessings of our Heavenly Father called for more ardent praise and thanksgiving to His holy name, than at the present, in this spacious and commodious room, which thy Saints of latter days are now permitted to occupy; and here, in this place appointed for the assembly of thy Saints on this the anniversary of the birthday of thy church and kingdom upon the earth, in this last dispensation from the heavens, and in the midst of the congregation of the Most High God, we thy servants, O our Father in Heaven, in the name of they Son Jesus, dedicate and consecrate this house unto thee, and unto thy cause for the assembling of thy Saints to worship before thee, and to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; and to associate thy people therein for prayer, for praise, and thanksgiving for fasting and mourning, for transacting business relating to thy church and kingdom, or for whatever purpose thy people shall assemble themselves together in thy name.
We set apart and dedicate this house as a holy sanctuary for thy people unto the Lord forever; and we consecrate the ground upon which it stands, and dedicate it unto the Lord our God. May the floor upon which we walk be holy under our feet; and the covering which protects us from the snow, the rain and the sun be holy over our heads; may the walls which protect us from the chilling blasts of winter be holy round about us; and may the doors, and the windows, and the slips, and the fastenings, and the trimmings of this house, together with all the various materials of which they are composed, be holy unto the Lord, for the meetings, the sacraments, and the transaction of the business of thy people. And we dedicate and consecrate that portion of this house, where thy prophet and thy servants now are, to be a holy and sacred place, wherein thy servants may stand and declare thy word, and minister unto thy people in the name of thy Son, and before thee, O our Heavenly Father; and may every part and portion thereof, be holy unto the Lord our God, and may no unclean thing be permitted to enter into any part of this Tabernacle, but may it be preserved with the vestry thereof, be holy unto the Lord our God, and may no unclean thing be permitted to enter into any part of this Tabernacle, but may it be preserved with the vestry thereof, and the doorkeepers thereof, and with everything pertaining thereunto or round about, a holy and sacred sanctuary wherein the pure in heart may rejoice forever, and no foul spirit ever be permitted to disturb their worship.
May the angels from thy presence be within and round about this habitation; and when thy servants shall stand in this sacred place to minister unto the people, may they feel the blessed influence of thy heavenly messengers; may they be filled with the Holy Ghost, as with manna from heaven, and be clothed in robes of righteousness; and may the visions and revelations of the eternal worlds be open before them continually; and may thy Saints ever have the listening ear and the understanding heart, to receive and improve upon the instructions of thy servants, that they may grow into the stature of perfection that is in Christ Jesus, that they may be one with Him forever.
If thy people shall sin, and repent of their sins, and call upon thee in the name of Jesus, from within these walls, then hear thou in heaven, thy holy dwelling place. Forgive thou their sins, and give them answers of peace; and may thy fear and thy dread be upon the heathen, that may enter into this sacred place, and may thy spirit rest upon the honest in heart, who shall hear thy word from this stand, that they may believe, obey, and be saved with thy people.
And now, our Father, be pleased to accept the dedication of this house which we now present unto thee, in the name of Son, as a tribute of from thy people, and listen to the voice of our supplications, that it may be preserved from the rage of the elements, and the pollution of unGodly men, and that thy glory be upon it and abide therein forever; so that when thy Saints shall call from hence upon thy holy name, in righteousness, then thou wilt hear in thy holy habitation, and grant an answer of peace.
Bless all those who have assisted in the erection of this edifice. May they ever rejoice in the labor of their hands, and have the glory they desire in the presence of their God. Bless those also who have contributed of their substance for its erection; with all those who have desired to contribute, and have not had the means or opportunity; may they also partake of the rich inheritance of a celestial glory, and habitations of comfort and delight among the children of men. Bless all those, also, who profess thy name, and have had the means to contribute for the upbuilding of this house, and have neglected their privilege, and their duty; may thy spirit rest upon all such, that they may humble themselves, repent of their short comings before thee and in the sight of their brethren, and arise and do their duty from this time henceforth and forever, that they lose no more blessings through in thy service.
Bless thy servant Brigham with health and strength of body and of mind, with long life and peaceful days; may he be endowed with thy spirit, and the revelations of eternity continually; and may thine angels visit and sustain him, and ministering spirits from thy presence attend him in all his ways; guard him O Lord from the malicious designs of wicked men; and turn aside every shaft that is aimed for his injury; fit and prepare him with every necessary qualification to lead and guide this thy people; and may his strength and ability be according to his duties and the burden he is required to bear; may the rich blessings of heaven and earth be poured out upon him, and upon his household; may they, individually and collectively, enjoy the communion of God and his Saints, and have bestowed upon them every desirable gift that shall promote their peace, comfort, health and happiness. Bless his habitation and all therein, his flocks and his herds, the ground that he cultivates, his fields, his gardens, and his vineyards; bless him in basket, and in store, and in all that pertains unto him.
Bless his Counsellors, thy servants Heber and Willard, with the same blessings. May they always live in the unity of the faith, and preserve those bonds of love and union which dwell in thy presence; continue to strengthen their faith, their power and their influence, until their voices shall reverberate thy word in tones of thunder throughout earth’s remotest bounds, resounding in every ear, “make ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb,” his kingdom has come; prepare to receive the Lord.
Bless the aged Patriarch, O our Father; may his days continue to be multiplied and his faculties be strengthened, and may he be filled with the Holy Ghost to bless thy children as he approaches the dawning of a brighter day; that amid the exhalations of a celestial glory, he may seal blessings upon the heads of the faithful, until thou receive him unto thyself, to rest with his brethren, in thy presence; and may the like blessings rest upon all the brethren of his quorum of the Patriarchs.
Remember the quorum of the Twelve Apostles with their president Orson Hyde. Grant, O Lord, that thine angels may go before them and preserve them from all evil; wilt thou give them power to overcome all the designs and purposes of wicked men, and all the devices of Satan, and may they be enabled to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people upon the face of the whole earth; and may they have, in connection with, and under the direction of the first Presidency of thy church, power to roll forth thy work upon the earth, like a mighty torrent, that no barriers can resist. Wilt thou bless them, Father, in the good things of this world, that their families may be provided for during their absence, and while on missions of thy will to the nations, and among all people; wilt thou encircle them in thine arms of mercy, and preserve them one and all, to the accomplishment of several missions, and safe return to the bosom of thy church, and to their families in the valleys of the mountains.
Bless with the same blessings all of thine elders of every quorum who are absent upon foreign missions to the nations and islands of the sea afar off. May the quickening power of thy spirit rest upon them, and their words be like fire, sinking deep into the minds of their hearers, and their testimony be as the sea that is broken up, roaring and rolling with no rest, until the voice that spake as never man spake, shall say peace, be still; and when all the honest in heart shall have listened to the whisperings of the spirit of our God, and learned the way of life and salvation. Bless all the families of thine absent servants.
O Lord, bless the High Priests quorum, and the quorums of the Seventies of thy people; yea, the Presidents thereof, with their councilors, and all the members that are striving in their warfare to overcome the world and its evils, and are endeavoring to roll back the curtain which has so long enshrouded the earth in darkness, and the minds of the people in bigotry, superstition, ignorance, and sin, and until wickedness covered the face of the whole earth and there was none found thereon to walk in righteousness before thee, but all were walking in the precept of men, and in the vain imagination of their own hearts. O Lord, God Almighty, we pray thee in the name of Jesus to inspire thy servants, the High Priests, and Seventies, with the influence of thy Holy Spirit; pour it out upon them in great effusions, and may they gird up their loins, and renewing their strength from the fountain of light and intelligence, which thou art spreading forth, come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and wax strong in the cause of our God, to the utter overthrow of all his enemies, even to the downfall of Satan’s dominion; that the kingdom of our God and his Christ, may be established upon an everlasting foundation, never more to be taken from the earth.
Bless, O Father, the Elders quorum, and awaken them to a sense of their great responsibilities. May they all, officers and members, partake of like blessings with their brethren, arise in power, and walk forth in the strength of Israel’s God to the faithful performance of their duties, qualifying themselves for the work of God, and putting on the armor of righteousness, be prepared to fight the good fight of faith, and wield the sword of the spirit to the convincing of multitudes, who shall become partakers in this holy ministry and be ready to go forth in their time and season, and labor in the vineyard.
Bless the Presiding Bishop with his counsellors, assistants, and all the members of the Bishops quorum. O Father, thou knowest their labors, and the faithfulness which they have manifested in thy cause, and in the discharge of their duties; the overflowings of thy storehouse speak in their behalf, as well as the liberality of thy saints; and as they have manifested by their labors a willingness and desire to observe the counsel of thy servants, and to build up and roll forth thy kingdom, we pray thee to acknowledge their ministration, and bless them with every blessing pertaining to thy faithful servants; and may they have every enjoyment emanating from a faithful performance of their several duties to thine acceptance and the acceptance of thy servants, that they and their households may never lack for any good thing.
Regard in tender mercy, O our Father, thy servants of the Priests’ Quorum, with their president and his counsellors; and thy servants of the Teachers’ Quorum, with their president and his counsellors; also the president and counsellors and members of the Deacons’ Quorum; that they all, in their several callings, may lift up their heads like men of God, and work righteousness, instructing thy Saints continually in their several duties, and ministering in those things pertaining to their high and holy calling; and may they be filled with the Holy Ghost, and perform a great and glorious work in the midst of thy people Israel.
Grant that thy blessings may be propitious toward this stake of Zion, its president and his counsel, and the High Council thereof. May they be men after thine own heart, quick to discern between good and evil; filled with the spirit of the presidency, and of counsel, of justice and judgment, that the hearts of the people may be made glad, and that they may rejoice in all the administrations of thy servants; and may all the Presidents, Counsellors, High Councils and stakes of Zion, in all the vallies of the mountains be partakers of like blessings.
Have mercy upon thy servants who labor upon the public works, and are striving continually to build up thy kingdom, whether in the various offices and shops, or by the way side. Bless them with the refreshing effusions of thy Spirit, that they may have joy of heart continually; bless them in their bodies, that they may have health and strength; bless their tools and their shops and everything that they put their hands unto, and that is round about them, even all that pertains to the general welfare of thy people; and may the ground of this block be preserved holy unto Lord, and the time be hastened when its walls and gates shall preserve it from all unhallowed intrusions when fountains shall come forth thereon, for the cleansing and purifying and healing of thy people; and when a house shall be reared unto thy name from which the ordinances of eternal life shall flow forth to the living and the dead, and the whole shall become a paradise in Zion, even as the garden of the Lord.
Bless all of thy people in these valleys of the mountains; may thy Spirit dwell richly within them; and may they serve thee in spirit and in truth; may they cleave unto thee with full purpose of heart, never failing to acknowledge thee in all things, and give thanks and praise unto thy holy name; and wilt thou multiply their posterity, that they may become a great people; and increase their flocks, and their herds, and their farms, and their gardens, and their orchards and vineyards, and houses, and shops, and factories, and everything they shall stretch forth their hands to do; and may the earth yield its increase without measure unto thy people, that there may be abundance in store for all who shall come hither, to learn more fully the way of life and salvation, and for the sustaining of the public works; and wilt thou grant this rich blessing unto thy people, even that they may never be slothful or grudgingly tithe their increase, for the upbuilding of the kingdom, and the spread of thy gospel on the earth. Bless and preserve thy people from all evil influences, from all untimely and false judging, from all evil thinking and speaking, from all enemies within and without; and may their enemies have no power over them, to prevail against them, or to injure them in their persons, families, or property.
Bless thy servants who have gone to gather up thy people in Pottawatomie and lead them to this place, and give them wisdom and power to accomplish their mission to thy divine acceptance; and in an especial manner would we remember before thee, O our Father, thy children who may attempt to walk across the prairie this season, with handcarts and wheelbarrows, pitching their tents by the way, or having naught but the heavens for a covering; be very merciful unto all such, and increase their faith; may thy strength be their strength, and may they be invigorated continually by thine almighty power, that every bone, and sinew, and muscle, and nerve, and every part of their bodies may be renewed, day by day, that their strength fail not; and may they have such power given unto them, that nothing but thine angels can go before them; and may no enemy have any dominion over them, or any accident befall them; provide food for them by the way, even if it needs be manna from heaven, as thou didst unto our fathers in the wilderness; and may disease and death have no power over them, but may every soul arrive safely in our midst, to unite with us in songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God for his great and merciful kindness unto them.
Have compassion upon thy people, O Lord, who are scattered among the nations, and desire to gather according to thy word, but have not the means.—Open the hearts of those who have, to impart unto those who have not, that the rich and the poor may journey together, according to thy will. And may all who are now on their way, or may be coming this season, whether by land or water, with horses, or mules, or oxen, or wagons, or chariots, or by any means whatever, experience thy rich blessings, that they may be delivered from every evil, and arrive in safety, that the rich valleys of the mountains may be filled with the Saints of the Most High.
Bless the Governor of this Territory, with the Legislators, Judges, and Marshals, and Sheriffs, and all in authority among the people; and may the spirit of love, obedience, union and peace prevail. And may not the lawyers have power to stir up strife and contention, and lawsuits in our midst; and may the spirit of peace and conciliation be cultivated by all in authority.
May the Delegate from Utah, now in the Congress of the nation, be clothed upon with the spirit and power of Elijah’s God, that he may put to silence the tongues of evil men; may all the enemies of our God be confounded before him; may the wisdom of heaven be his, to lead and guide him in every emergency; and may he never be confounded, or put to silence, or fear, but may he feel that God is with him, and that he will bring him off conqueror over every foe, and stand forth triumphant in the midst of the nation, clothed with the principles of eternal truth and rectitude; and may his daily walk be an example to the world, and all with whom he associates; proving himself a friend of God, and a man after his own heart, seeking diligently to know thy mind and will, and yielding humble obedience thereunto.
We pray for the President of the United States, for the heads of departments, for the members of Congress and all those in authority over us; may they have wisdom to discern the signs of the times, and administer in righteousness in their respective callings, in their high and responsible stations; and may they love mercy, deal justly, and seek knowledge, wisdom and judgment from him whose right it is to rule, and become subservient to his holy teachings. Holy Father, may no evil spirit be suffered to prejudice their minds against us thy servants, or thy people, or cause them to seek our injury; but may the good influences of thy Spirit control them in all their acts towards thy people, and towards all the people over whom they preside, or for they legislate, that the pure principles of our national institutions may be perpetuated forever.
Bless all the governments and rulers of the earth, who bless thy people and protect thy servants; and overthrow all thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, and governments, that fight against thy cause and thy servants; that the way may be opened for the spread of eternal truth, even the gospel of salvation, to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that dwell upon the face of the whole earth; and that thy servants may have access to the honest in heart everywhere.
Vouchsafe unto thine ancient covenant people, O Lord, the renovating spirit of thy grace, that they may be prepared to receive their promised inheritance and be gathered from among all nations, whither thou hast scattered them, and may they become polished even after the similitude of a palace, and become fit temples for the reception and indwelling of thy Holy Spirit.
Remember, O Lord, in mercy, thine ancient covenant people who inhabit this land, even the seed of Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and give unto thy Saints the spirit of patience and forbearance, that they may act wisely, and justly, in all their intercourse with them. Be merciful unto them, O our Father, in their ignorant, degraded, and miserable condition, inflicted on them as a living witness of thy righteous judgments; yet remember, we beseech of thee our Heavenly Father, that they are of thine ancient covenant people, and to them pertain the promises made unto their fathers, and we pray thee, that the past may suffice, that they should drink of the cup of thy displeasure, and that thou wouldst stretch forth thine arm for their deliverance from the darkness, superstition and ignorance, that reign in their souls. Give unto them dreams, and visions, and revelations by thy Spirit, that they may see their degraded condition, and the blessings which are in store for them through the obedience of their fathers, that they may search after thy servants and receive their teaching, and the teachings of thy Spirit; that they may be enlightened in principle, in doctrine, in duty, and learn the way of life and salvation, which their fathers knew and loved, but lost through transgression; that they may again become a white and delightsome people in the midst of the nations, and find salvation at last in thy presence
Bless all men, everywhere, who love and obey thy laws, and bless and do good unto thy people; let their days be lengthened and multiplied upon the earth; multiply their joy, and increase their posterity, that peace may prevail and righteousness spread abroad among the nations.
We present before thee, our Heavenly Father, all men who have had the privilege of thy gospel, who have heard the teachings of thy servants, and felt, and beheld the manifestation of thy Spirit, and have turned away from the testimony of Jesus, and persecuted, and mobbed thy Saints, and slain thy prophets, even thine anointed ones, and done despite unto thy mercy, and thy love, and have waxed old in iniquity, and changed thine ordinances, have rejected the testimony of thy servants, and sought to destroy them from the face of the earth, whose days of repentance, and salvation are past, and who are unmindful of thee, and will fight against thy cause and kingdom; and have shed innocent blood; and we pray thee, our Father in the heavens, that thou wilt divest them of all power to injure thy people, that they may fall in the pits, and be taken in the snares which they have spread for their neighbors; that they may go backward and not forward, and fall and rise not again; and may the plagues which thou hast instituted come upon them, that they may perish from the face of the earth, and their generations after them, that their names be blotted out from henceforth, that the posterity the righteous may fill the earth.
And now, our Heavenly Father, we beseech of thee to listen to the voice of our supplication, and give us an answer of peace; we pray thee, of this our dedication of this house, of ourselves, our wives, our children, our houses, our flocks, and our herds, and all that we possess, unto thee, and to thy cause forever.
Praying that thy good Spirit may be poured out upon us, thy people, while we remain together at this Conference; that thou wilt dictate all things pertaining thereunto, that we may be enabled to accomplish thy righteous will in all things, and grow up in perfection, through the gift of thy Spirit, that at last we may rest in thy presence with all thy sanctified ones; and we will ascribe all praise, glory, and honor, unto God, and the Lamb, forever and ever. Amen.
Prest. Young read the hymn, “The morning breaks the shadows flee,” which was sung by the choir, concluding with, “Hosanna in the highest,” like a choir of heavenly angels.
A hymn composed for the occasion, by W. W. Phelps was sung by John Kay, accompanied by instruments:
IN DESERET WE’RE FREE.
BY W. W. PHELPS
An earthquake seems to shake the globe,
And distant thunder jars the sea;
And every nation wonders what
Such mighty things can be:
And the lightning glares on the billowy main,
And the clouds roll up for a hurricane:--
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
There’s “Mene Tekel” on the wall,
An awful, fearful mystery;
The mobs go forth, like kings to war,
In bloody majesty;
And the strongest thrones are a crumbling down,
And the Cholera, and old Death’s in town:--
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
All hands are weak; all hearts are faint;
There’s shaking of the pow’rs that be;
The great to great exclaim, alas!
“Are you as weak as we?”
And the answer comes on the nimble blast,
“Yes our glory’s gone, and our days are pass’d,”
Yet the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
‘Tis joy to have a Mormon’s faith,
Which comprehends eternity;
‘Tis joy to live in such a day,
And witness what we see;
As the nations rave, how they fly as chaff;
While the Gods in heaven do sit and laugh;--
And the Mormons shout “Hosanna!
“In Deseret we’re free.”
President Young
addressed the congregation in a most animating speech,
after which the choir sung, ‘Ere long the mount of God in latter days shall rise.’
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
addressed the congregation in a most animating speech,
after which the choir sung, ‘Ere long the mount of God in latter days shall rise.’
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
2 P. M.
Conference opened in the usual manner, by singing amid prayer.
Conference opened in the usual manner, by singing amid prayer.
Elder Orson Pratt
addressed the elders on the responsibility that is resting upon them to prepare for the morning of the resurrection, and for celestial glory, referring to the work of God in England, Denmark, &c.; followed by
addressed the elders on the responsibility that is resting upon them to prepare for the morning of the resurrection, and for celestial glory, referring to the work of God in England, Denmark, &c.; followed by
Elder Orson Spencer,
who felt to rejoice in the thrilling accounts that had been presented this afternoon, and realized that they were true. The people of the earth may as well attempt to stop the progress of the rays of light as to stop the power of truth.
Choir sung, “Before Jehovah’s awful throne.”
Benediction by Prest. H. C. Kimball.
Adjourned to April 7, at 10, a. m.
who felt to rejoice in the thrilling accounts that had been presented this afternoon, and realized that they were true. The people of the earth may as well attempt to stop the progress of the rays of light as to stop the power of truth.
Choir sung, “Before Jehovah’s awful throne.”
Benediction by Prest. H. C. Kimball.
Adjourned to April 7, at 10, a. m.
6 P. M.
The Seventies assembled to hear instructions from Pres. Joseph Young, and to take into consideration the continuation of the building the Seventies’ Hall of Science.
The Seventies assembled to hear instructions from Pres. Joseph Young, and to take into consideration the continuation of the building the Seventies’ Hall of Science.
Wednesday, April 7.
When the doors of the Tabernacle were thrown open at 9 a.m., the people rushed in, as if the floodgates of a mighty reservoir had given way, and in a very few minutes all the seats were occupied, so great was the desire of the Saints to hear the teachings of the servants of the Lord. The 8 doorkeepers used every exertion to seat the dense throng of anxious souls, so as to give room for all, but it was impossible; all the alleys were crowded by men standing, and many could not even be admitted at all. Several pieces of music enlivened the capacious building with their sweet strains of heavenly harmony until the Presidency arrived, when the congregation was called to order by Prest. Kimball.
Choir sung “Once more my soul, the rising day,” &c.
Prayer by elder H. G. Sherwood, when the choir sung “Lift up your heads ye scattered saints.”
When the doors of the Tabernacle were thrown open at 9 a.m., the people rushed in, as if the floodgates of a mighty reservoir had given way, and in a very few minutes all the seats were occupied, so great was the desire of the Saints to hear the teachings of the servants of the Lord. The 8 doorkeepers used every exertion to seat the dense throng of anxious souls, so as to give room for all, but it was impossible; all the alleys were crowded by men standing, and many could not even be admitted at all. Several pieces of music enlivened the capacious building with their sweet strains of heavenly harmony until the Presidency arrived, when the congregation was called to order by Prest. Kimball.
Choir sung “Once more my soul, the rising day,” &c.
Prayer by elder H. G. Sherwood, when the choir sung “Lift up your heads ye scattered saints.”
Prest. Young
then stated that the first business would be the presentation of all the authorities of the church.
Brigham Young was then presented as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; also as our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and our Leader in Israel, who was unanimously sustained; as also Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, as Apostles of Jesus Christ, and his counsellors.
John Smith was sustained as the Presiding Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Orson Hyde was sustained as the President, and P. P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to all the world.
John Young was sustained as the President of the High Priests’ Quorum; also Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace his counsellors.
Joseph Young was sustained as the First President of all the Quorums of the Seventies; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood and Jedediah M. Grant as his Associate Presidents. Benjamin L. Clapp having expressed many feelings which are opposed to the truth, and having been in the background for some time, his standing was laid over for the present, until he makes a humble confession of his folly before the Conference, and a letter was sent to him to appear accordingly.
John Nebeker was sustained as the President of the Elders’ Quorum, also James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop to the church; also Nathaniel H. Felt, John Banks, and Alfred Cordon as Assistant Presiding, and Traveling Bishops among the people.
Lewis Wight was sustained as the Prest. of the Priests’ Quorum, also John Groves and George Deckstader his counsellors.
Return R. Hill was sustained as President of the Deacons’ Quorum; also Andrew Bart and Oswell Barlow his counsellors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Edward Hunter as Assistant Trustee.
Willard Richards was sustained as the Historian and General Church Recorder.
Daniel H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of the Public Works.
Brigham Young was sustained as the President of the Perpetual Emigrating Company to gather the poor; also Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, Geo. A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Jedediah M. Grant, Daniel H. Wells, Willard Snow, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and Franklin D. Richards, were severally sustained as assistants to President Young.
Daniel Spencer was sustained as President of this stake of Zion; also David Fullmer and Willard Snow his counsellors.
Henry G. Sherwood was sustained as President and Eleazer Miller, John Kempton, Heman Hyde, Wm. W. Major, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, and William Snow as members of the High Council.
then stated that the first business would be the presentation of all the authorities of the church.
Brigham Young was then presented as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; also as our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and our Leader in Israel, who was unanimously sustained; as also Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, as Apostles of Jesus Christ, and his counsellors.
John Smith was sustained as the Presiding Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Orson Hyde was sustained as the President, and P. P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to all the world.
John Young was sustained as the President of the High Priests’ Quorum; also Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace his counsellors.
Joseph Young was sustained as the First President of all the Quorums of the Seventies; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood and Jedediah M. Grant as his Associate Presidents. Benjamin L. Clapp having expressed many feelings which are opposed to the truth, and having been in the background for some time, his standing was laid over for the present, until he makes a humble confession of his folly before the Conference, and a letter was sent to him to appear accordingly.
John Nebeker was sustained as the President of the Elders’ Quorum, also James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop to the church; also Nathaniel H. Felt, John Banks, and Alfred Cordon as Assistant Presiding, and Traveling Bishops among the people.
Lewis Wight was sustained as the Prest. of the Priests’ Quorum, also John Groves and George Deckstader his counsellors.
Return R. Hill was sustained as President of the Deacons’ Quorum; also Andrew Bart and Oswell Barlow his counsellors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Edward Hunter as Assistant Trustee.
Willard Richards was sustained as the Historian and General Church Recorder.
Daniel H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of the Public Works.
Brigham Young was sustained as the President of the Perpetual Emigrating Company to gather the poor; also Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Hyde, Geo. A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Jedediah M. Grant, Daniel H. Wells, Willard Snow, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and Franklin D. Richards, were severally sustained as assistants to President Young.
Daniel Spencer was sustained as President of this stake of Zion; also David Fullmer and Willard Snow his counsellors.
Henry G. Sherwood was sustained as President and Eleazer Miller, John Kempton, Heman Hyde, Wm. W. Major, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, and William Snow as members of the High Council.
Prest. Young
remarked that this is the best hall on one floor he had ever seen in his life, as there are 2500 persons present this morning, and every one can see the face of the speaker. Prest. Young continued to address the assembly,
Weakness and Impotence of Men—Condition of the Saints—Dedication to the Lord—The Millennium
I rise to occupy a few moments of time this morning, as we have opened our Conference by the dedication prayer, for we will spend the remainder of the forenoon in speaking. I desire to offer my own reflections upon this interesting occasion, but whether they may be strictly appropriate or not, will, of course, be left for you to judge.
We have assembled together in this comfortable and commodious building in peace, and are we not led to exclaim who could have fathomed, who could have understood the ways of the Lord, which are higher than man's ways, as heaven is higher than the earth? We can now calmly reflect upon the experience of our past lives, and those minds that are opened to receive light and truth, that can behold the manifestations of the Lord, can at once see that He has done that which we could not have accomplished by our own power, and that directly behind (to all human appearance) a frowning Providence oftentimes are concealed the greatest blessings that mankind can desire. It teaches us to trust in the Lord, to have confidence in our God. It teaches us absolutely that we need never undertake to guide the ship of Zion, or dictate, by our own wisdom, to the kingdom of God on the earth. It teaches us definitely and emphatically that the Lord Almighty can do His own work, and no power of man can stay the potency of His wonder-working hand. Men may presume to dictate to the Lord; they come to naught, but His work moves steadily forward. Many who have left this Church have tried the experiment of building up the kingdom of God by their learning, saying, "When we have established our Church it will then be the kingdom of the Lord." They have laid their subtle plans, have marked out their ground, pointed out their own path, have firmly (as they supposed) set their stakes, commanding their proselytes not to turn to the right hand nor to the left, from the course marked out by them, but in every case has the Lord overthrown their plans, and thwarted all their designs. When the Lord works, no man can hinder, while those who feel willing to hearken to His words work with Him; and when He says, "Be still," they are subject; when He dictates, they cease to direct; when He directs, they are willing to do His commandments, He bestows blessings on their labors, His work prospers in their hands, His kingdom moves onward with a steady and unwavering progress, the honest in heart are blessed, and the whole is in a state of continual and rapid increase. Then let the world and the enemies of Christ and His kingdom that are upon earth and in hell, do their worst, it matters not, the work of the Lord is still onward and prosperous in His hands.
It is a great privilege which we enjoy this morning of assembling ourselves together in this comfortable edifice, which has been erected in the short space of about four months, in the most inclement season of the year. We have now a commodious place in which we can worship the Lord, without the fear of being driven from our seats by wet and cold, or of standing exposed to the weather. I now say to my brethren, that I feel to dedicate myself and all I possess to the Lord, and constantly feel, with all I have, on the altar of sacrifice to the cause of my God.
A year ago this day, when the brethren were assembled to offer up their prayers, and to present business before the Conference, for the consideration of the people, and for the furtherance of the cause we have espoused, I recollect I was not able to sit up, being sick, but not discouraged. I had not fainted by the way, but my heart was as brave as it ever was in any moment of my life, yet I was not able to be in the assembly. I contemplated the situation of this people, and looked over our past history, considered our then present prospects and privileges in these peaceful valleys. My eyes were upon those who were faltering by the way or wandering after the things of this world, and I could not refrain from tracing their steps, as they were passing to the right and to the left after the perishing things of this life. I saw the afflictions of the people, and contemplated their past sufferings and present situation. As I mused, I said in my heart, "As soon as I am able to speak to the people, I will unfold to them my thoughts and feelings, and tell them that in the midst of all the afflictions and checkered scenes through which the Saints have passed—their joys and their toils, their sufferings and their comforts, their fears and their faith, I have never seen them as comfortable as they are now. I shall say to the brethren, Come, let us build a house that we may enter within its walls, and there offer our prayers and thanksgivings before the Lord, and worship Him as long as we please, without the fear of being driven home with storms of wind, rain, and snow." I said, "If the Lord blesses me with life and health, I shall put forth my hand to rear an edifice, in which the people can comfortably assemble, as large as we can build at present, and dedicate it to the Lord, that the people may say in their heart, Let us go up to the house of the Lord to worship." I saw that when we should obtain this commodious building, some would wish to be excused from engaging in the pleasing duty of worshiping here, and say, "My cattle, my farm, or my business will be forsaken, I must take care of my family, for the Lord gave them to me to take care of;" or, "I must attend to my affairs here and there, and I cannot therefore stay to worship the Lord." I say to such, Go! but as for me, though all the world should sink into oblivion, I will go up to worship the Lord.
These were my feelings a year ago, and they are the same today. I dedicate myself, my family, and my substance anew unto the Lord, they are not mine, I am not my own creator, nor the producer of anything I possess; I did not originate one atom of it. Let the world and its cares go! The Lord Almighty, who made it, is able to take care of it, and He may do with it what He pleases; but He has commanded me to worship Him, which is one of the greatest privileges that could be conferred upon man.
How long shall we stay here? I answer, as long as I please. Brethren and sisters, cast from you the love of the world, and let it have no dominion over you. There are a many who delight in the good things of this earth—in gold and silver, in carriages and horses, in houses and splendid furniture, in costly clothing, in orchards and gardens, in vineyards and fields, and extended possessions. These things, compared with eternal riches, are nothing, though in their place they are good. You may say, "If we live, we must eat, drink, and wear clothing;" and, "He that provideth not for his own household, has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel;" numberless arguments of this kind will present themselves to the minds of the people, to call them away from the line of their duty, when they know it is their privilege to dedicate themselves, their families, and all they possess to the Lord. How quick is the enemy, how ready to present something of an opposite nature to what is right before them! You know the mental and physical weakness of man, so common to mortality, and which the enemy is so ready to turn against you, to his own advantage. You think that your business needs your continual and undivided attention, that you must attend to this, or to that, before you can dedicate yourselves and families to the Lord. There may perhaps be some few here this morning who feel they ought to be plowing, fencing, building, or attending to some minor affair, and cannot possibly spend time to remain at the Conference. If you will hearken to the counsel of your humble servant, you will say to the fields, the flocks, and the herds, to the gold and the silver, to the goods and chattels, to the tenements and the possessions, and to all the world—Stand aside, get away from my thoughts, for I am going up to worship the Lord. Let it all go by the board, brethren, and who cares? I do not. Your oxen and horses will not live forever, they will die occasionally; and sometimes we are deprived by death of our children, and other members of our families. I say, let the dead bury the dead, let the corn and the wheat, and all other things, take care of themselves, but let us dedicate ourselves, our families, our substance, our time, our talents, and everything we have upon the face of this world, with all that will hereafter be entrusted to us, to the Lord our God; let the whole be devoted to the building up of His kingdom upon the earth, and whether you are called here or there, it makes no matter; but this morning let every heart be humble, watchful, and prayerful, dedicating themselves unto the Lord.
This people have passed through scenes of deep sorrow and affliction, but they are now in comfortable circumstances. They have been miserably poor, but they are now, I may say, in comparative wealth. We have been sick, now we are well. We have been tormented, now we are comforted. We have been afflicted by our enemies, but we are now far from them. You pause, and ask, how long will it be so? I answer, so long as you and I serve the Lord with all our hearts, just so long shall we be free from our enemies.
We have now a comfortable habitation to meet in, and we enjoy the privilege of assembling here in peace. How has it been in bygone years? Look back six, seven, eight, ten, or twelve years ago, or to the year 1830, when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized with six members—which is twenty-two years ago this day, and can you tell me of a year, of six months, or of three months that Joseph was not hunted like the deer upon the mountains, by sheriffs with writs in their hands to drag him from us to prison; when he and his brethren were not menaced with bloodthirsty mobs, until this people assembled in the peaceful valleys of the mountains? Who troubles them now? No person who fears God, who serves the King, the Lord of Hosts; and none who are willing to love our Father in heaven supremely—above all things else upon the face of this earth, or in eternity, will be found persecuting even an idolater, to say nothing of the Saints of the Most High.
Let us now seek with greater diligence to build up the kingdom of heaven, and establish righteousness; seek to magnify the Lord God, and sanctify our own hearts; establish peace on earth, destroy every root of bitterness from among the people, and cease from this moment to find fault with any brother or sister, even though they do wrong, for the Lord will apply the chastening rod to them if they need it. We serve our children so; if we consider they need chastening, we chastise them, but we do not thereby hate them. If it is necessary, we will correct their faults. But should we contend with them? By no means.
Are those who have assembled here this morning prepared to make a covenant with themselves that they will cease from all evil practices, from all evil speaking, and from all evil thinking, and say from this very morning, I will never do another evil as long as I live, the Lord being my helper? I will do all the good I can, and prepare for the coming of the son of man? To this end I wish we should dedicate our hearts, our affections, and our whole life to the cause of God on the earth.
I do not feel like preaching a discourse upon any particular subject; but of urging the necessity of the brethren and sisters absolutely coming to this determination this morning, and dedicating themselves and all they have to the Lord from this time henceforth. Can we come to this conclusion, to firmly, faithfully, and unitedly enter into a covenant with ourselves, saying, I am for the Lord and none else; from this time henceforth, I will do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, who has called me to minister the fulness of the Gospel, and to share the glory that is prepared for the righteous: I will be like clay in the hands of the potter, that He may mold and fashion me as seemeth Him good; and if He will make known to me His will, mine shall bow to it, my affections shall be placed upon eternal things, and shall not rest upon the fading, transitory objects of time and sense. Can we make this covenant with ourselves this morning? Not only to say we dedicate this house and ourselves, our flocks, herds, families, and possessions, to the Lord, but actually perform the work, dedicating our affections to His service. If our affections are won and wholly dedicated to His cause, we have then obtained the victory.
Perhaps we may find one here and there who will say, "I cannot do this, I may say it with my lips, but to feel it in my heart, the case is hard; I am poor and needy, and desire to go to the gold mines to obtain something to help myself, by speculating upon the Gentiles, and thus get me a good farm and team, with which to get out of this thralldom and difficulty; my mind is so perplexed, I cannot say my affections are fully dedicated to the Lord my God." What is to be done in such a case? I know what I would do, for I have experience in these matters—I would call upon the Bishop, and make known to him my distress. There are many who in these words complain, and say they are so poor they cannot pay their tithing; say they, "I have only got three horses and two yoke of cattle and about fifty sheep; I want one horse to ride, and the others to haul wood, I therefore do not know how I can possibly pay my tithing." While on the other hand, others who have only got half a dozen chickens can willingly pay their tithing. You may say, "It is easier for them to pay tithing than for those who possess so much, for they are so very poor, it does not infringe upon other matters." Now if I had but one cow, and felt thus, I would give her away forthwith. If you have only six horses and ten yoke of cattle, or only one cow, and you are too poor to pay your tithing, give the whole into the public works. I speak thus to those who are inclined to love the substance of this world better than the Lord. If you have gold and silver, let it not come between you and your duty. I will tell you what to do in order to gain your exaltation, the which you cannot obtain except you take this course. If your affections are placed upon anything so as to hinder you in the least from dedicating them to the Lord, make a dedication of that thing in the first place, that the dedication of the whole may be complete.
What hinders this people from being as holy as the Church of Enoch? I can tell you the reason in a few words. It is because you will not cultivate the disposition to be so—this comprehends the whole. If my heart is not fully given up to this work, I will give my time, my talents, my hands, and my possessions to it, until my heart consents to be subject; I will make my hands labor in the cause of God until my heart bows in submission to it.
I might here use a just and true comparison which will apply to the Church. The rulers of Great Britain have tried to make every capitalist identify his interest with the Government—that has sustained the kingdom, and is like a powerful network around the whole. Apply this comparison to the kingdom of God on earth.
Brethren, do you wish this heavenly government to stand? There is no government more beautiful, no confederacy more powerful! What shall we do to accomplish this? Imitate the policy of that earthly kingdom, identify our interest with the kingdom of God, so that if our hearts should ever become weaned from loyalty to the sovereign, all our earthly interest is bound up there, and cannot be taken away. We must therefore sustain the kingdom in order to sustain our lives and interests; by so doing we shall receive the Spirit of the Lord, and ultimately work with all our hearts.
This is a policy which I have not reflected upon until this morning, but before we get through with the Conference, I shall, perhaps, see it entered into, not as the result of any premeditation in the least, but when the condition of our temporal affairs is read from the stand, you will find the Church in considerable indebtedness. If any man is in darkness through the deceitfulness of riches, it is good policy for him to bind up his wealth in this Church, so that he cannot command it again, and he will be apt to cleave to the kingdom. If a man has the purse in his pocket, and he apostatizes, he takes it with him; but if his worldly interest is firmly united to the Kingdom of God, when he arises to go away, he finds the calf is bound, and, like the cow, he is unwilling to forsake it. If his calf is bound up here, he will be inclined to stay; all his interest is here, and very likely the Lord will open his eyes, so that he will properly understand his true situation, and his heart will chime in with the will of his God in a very short time. Were we to dedicate our moral and intellectual influence, and our earthly wealth to the Lord, our hearts would be very likely to applaud our acts. This reasoning is for those who do not feel exactly to subscribe to all that has been said this morning, with regard to dedicating ourselves to the cause of truth. This is what you must do to obtain an exaltation. The Lord must be first and foremost in our affections, the building up of His kingdom demands our first consideration.
The Lord God Almighty has set up a kingdom that will sway the scepter of power and authority over all the kingdoms of the world, and will never be destroyed, it is the kingdom that Daniel saw and wrote of. It may be considered treason to say that the kingdom which that Prophet foretold is actually set up; that we cannot help, but we know it is so, and call upon the nations to believe our testimony. The kingdom will continue to increase, to grow, to spread and prosper more and more. Every time its enemies undertake to overthrow it, it will become more extensive and powerful; instead of its decreasing, it will continue to increase, it will spread the more, become more wonderful and conspicuous to the nations, until it fills the whole earth. If such is your wish, identify your own individual interest in it, and tie yourselves thereto by every means in your power. Let every man and every woman do this, and then be willing to make every sacrifice the Lord may require; and when they have bound up their affections, time, and talents, with all they have, to the interest of the kingdom, then have they gained the victory, and their work is complete, so far as they understand.
If this people would take that course, what hinders their being in the Millennium? If I were to ask what the Millennium—the Latter-day glory so often spoken of, is, I should find numerous opinions among this people, and many in and out of this congregation. I have learned long ago that the thoughts and expressions of men are very diversified; if, indeed, their thoughts or ideas are similar, I know their words differ widely; so should I find a great many different opinions among this people, with regard to the real essence and effect of the Millennium. The Millennium consists in this—every heart in the Church and Kingdom of God being united in one; the Kingdom increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of heaven, and Satan being bound, and having a seal set upon him. All things else will be as they are now, we shall eat, drink, and wear clothing. Let the people be holy, and the earth under their feet will be holy. Let the people be holy, and filled with the Spirit of God, and every animal and creeping thing will be filled with peace; the soil of the earth will bring forth in its strength, and the fruits thereof will be meat for man. The more purity that exists, the less is the strife; the more kind we are to our animals, the more will peace increase, and the savage nature of the brute creation vanish away. If the people will not serve the devil another moment whilst they live, if this congregation is possessed of that spirit and resolution, here in this house is the Millennium. Let the inhabitants of this city be possessed of that spirit, let the people of the territory be possessed of that spirit, and here is the Millennium. Let the whole people of the United States be possessed of that spirit, and here is the Millennium, and so will it spread over all the world.
Let us cease from all evil, and do all the good we can to the nations abroad, and by and by the veil of the covering will be taken from the earth, and the inhabitants see as they are seen.
May the Almighty Father of heaven and earth bless you, and I bless you in His name, and pray that we may be diligent in every good word and work before the Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
remarked that this is the best hall on one floor he had ever seen in his life, as there are 2500 persons present this morning, and every one can see the face of the speaker. Prest. Young continued to address the assembly,
Weakness and Impotence of Men—Condition of the Saints—Dedication to the Lord—The Millennium
I rise to occupy a few moments of time this morning, as we have opened our Conference by the dedication prayer, for we will spend the remainder of the forenoon in speaking. I desire to offer my own reflections upon this interesting occasion, but whether they may be strictly appropriate or not, will, of course, be left for you to judge.
We have assembled together in this comfortable and commodious building in peace, and are we not led to exclaim who could have fathomed, who could have understood the ways of the Lord, which are higher than man's ways, as heaven is higher than the earth? We can now calmly reflect upon the experience of our past lives, and those minds that are opened to receive light and truth, that can behold the manifestations of the Lord, can at once see that He has done that which we could not have accomplished by our own power, and that directly behind (to all human appearance) a frowning Providence oftentimes are concealed the greatest blessings that mankind can desire. It teaches us to trust in the Lord, to have confidence in our God. It teaches us absolutely that we need never undertake to guide the ship of Zion, or dictate, by our own wisdom, to the kingdom of God on the earth. It teaches us definitely and emphatically that the Lord Almighty can do His own work, and no power of man can stay the potency of His wonder-working hand. Men may presume to dictate to the Lord; they come to naught, but His work moves steadily forward. Many who have left this Church have tried the experiment of building up the kingdom of God by their learning, saying, "When we have established our Church it will then be the kingdom of the Lord." They have laid their subtle plans, have marked out their ground, pointed out their own path, have firmly (as they supposed) set their stakes, commanding their proselytes not to turn to the right hand nor to the left, from the course marked out by them, but in every case has the Lord overthrown their plans, and thwarted all their designs. When the Lord works, no man can hinder, while those who feel willing to hearken to His words work with Him; and when He says, "Be still," they are subject; when He dictates, they cease to direct; when He directs, they are willing to do His commandments, He bestows blessings on their labors, His work prospers in their hands, His kingdom moves onward with a steady and unwavering progress, the honest in heart are blessed, and the whole is in a state of continual and rapid increase. Then let the world and the enemies of Christ and His kingdom that are upon earth and in hell, do their worst, it matters not, the work of the Lord is still onward and prosperous in His hands.
It is a great privilege which we enjoy this morning of assembling ourselves together in this comfortable edifice, which has been erected in the short space of about four months, in the most inclement season of the year. We have now a commodious place in which we can worship the Lord, without the fear of being driven from our seats by wet and cold, or of standing exposed to the weather. I now say to my brethren, that I feel to dedicate myself and all I possess to the Lord, and constantly feel, with all I have, on the altar of sacrifice to the cause of my God.
A year ago this day, when the brethren were assembled to offer up their prayers, and to present business before the Conference, for the consideration of the people, and for the furtherance of the cause we have espoused, I recollect I was not able to sit up, being sick, but not discouraged. I had not fainted by the way, but my heart was as brave as it ever was in any moment of my life, yet I was not able to be in the assembly. I contemplated the situation of this people, and looked over our past history, considered our then present prospects and privileges in these peaceful valleys. My eyes were upon those who were faltering by the way or wandering after the things of this world, and I could not refrain from tracing their steps, as they were passing to the right and to the left after the perishing things of this life. I saw the afflictions of the people, and contemplated their past sufferings and present situation. As I mused, I said in my heart, "As soon as I am able to speak to the people, I will unfold to them my thoughts and feelings, and tell them that in the midst of all the afflictions and checkered scenes through which the Saints have passed—their joys and their toils, their sufferings and their comforts, their fears and their faith, I have never seen them as comfortable as they are now. I shall say to the brethren, Come, let us build a house that we may enter within its walls, and there offer our prayers and thanksgivings before the Lord, and worship Him as long as we please, without the fear of being driven home with storms of wind, rain, and snow." I said, "If the Lord blesses me with life and health, I shall put forth my hand to rear an edifice, in which the people can comfortably assemble, as large as we can build at present, and dedicate it to the Lord, that the people may say in their heart, Let us go up to the house of the Lord to worship." I saw that when we should obtain this commodious building, some would wish to be excused from engaging in the pleasing duty of worshiping here, and say, "My cattle, my farm, or my business will be forsaken, I must take care of my family, for the Lord gave them to me to take care of;" or, "I must attend to my affairs here and there, and I cannot therefore stay to worship the Lord." I say to such, Go! but as for me, though all the world should sink into oblivion, I will go up to worship the Lord.
These were my feelings a year ago, and they are the same today. I dedicate myself, my family, and my substance anew unto the Lord, they are not mine, I am not my own creator, nor the producer of anything I possess; I did not originate one atom of it. Let the world and its cares go! The Lord Almighty, who made it, is able to take care of it, and He may do with it what He pleases; but He has commanded me to worship Him, which is one of the greatest privileges that could be conferred upon man.
How long shall we stay here? I answer, as long as I please. Brethren and sisters, cast from you the love of the world, and let it have no dominion over you. There are a many who delight in the good things of this earth—in gold and silver, in carriages and horses, in houses and splendid furniture, in costly clothing, in orchards and gardens, in vineyards and fields, and extended possessions. These things, compared with eternal riches, are nothing, though in their place they are good. You may say, "If we live, we must eat, drink, and wear clothing;" and, "He that provideth not for his own household, has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel;" numberless arguments of this kind will present themselves to the minds of the people, to call them away from the line of their duty, when they know it is their privilege to dedicate themselves, their families, and all they possess to the Lord. How quick is the enemy, how ready to present something of an opposite nature to what is right before them! You know the mental and physical weakness of man, so common to mortality, and which the enemy is so ready to turn against you, to his own advantage. You think that your business needs your continual and undivided attention, that you must attend to this, or to that, before you can dedicate yourselves and families to the Lord. There may perhaps be some few here this morning who feel they ought to be plowing, fencing, building, or attending to some minor affair, and cannot possibly spend time to remain at the Conference. If you will hearken to the counsel of your humble servant, you will say to the fields, the flocks, and the herds, to the gold and the silver, to the goods and chattels, to the tenements and the possessions, and to all the world—Stand aside, get away from my thoughts, for I am going up to worship the Lord. Let it all go by the board, brethren, and who cares? I do not. Your oxen and horses will not live forever, they will die occasionally; and sometimes we are deprived by death of our children, and other members of our families. I say, let the dead bury the dead, let the corn and the wheat, and all other things, take care of themselves, but let us dedicate ourselves, our families, our substance, our time, our talents, and everything we have upon the face of this world, with all that will hereafter be entrusted to us, to the Lord our God; let the whole be devoted to the building up of His kingdom upon the earth, and whether you are called here or there, it makes no matter; but this morning let every heart be humble, watchful, and prayerful, dedicating themselves unto the Lord.
This people have passed through scenes of deep sorrow and affliction, but they are now in comfortable circumstances. They have been miserably poor, but they are now, I may say, in comparative wealth. We have been sick, now we are well. We have been tormented, now we are comforted. We have been afflicted by our enemies, but we are now far from them. You pause, and ask, how long will it be so? I answer, so long as you and I serve the Lord with all our hearts, just so long shall we be free from our enemies.
We have now a comfortable habitation to meet in, and we enjoy the privilege of assembling here in peace. How has it been in bygone years? Look back six, seven, eight, ten, or twelve years ago, or to the year 1830, when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized with six members—which is twenty-two years ago this day, and can you tell me of a year, of six months, or of three months that Joseph was not hunted like the deer upon the mountains, by sheriffs with writs in their hands to drag him from us to prison; when he and his brethren were not menaced with bloodthirsty mobs, until this people assembled in the peaceful valleys of the mountains? Who troubles them now? No person who fears God, who serves the King, the Lord of Hosts; and none who are willing to love our Father in heaven supremely—above all things else upon the face of this earth, or in eternity, will be found persecuting even an idolater, to say nothing of the Saints of the Most High.
Let us now seek with greater diligence to build up the kingdom of heaven, and establish righteousness; seek to magnify the Lord God, and sanctify our own hearts; establish peace on earth, destroy every root of bitterness from among the people, and cease from this moment to find fault with any brother or sister, even though they do wrong, for the Lord will apply the chastening rod to them if they need it. We serve our children so; if we consider they need chastening, we chastise them, but we do not thereby hate them. If it is necessary, we will correct their faults. But should we contend with them? By no means.
Are those who have assembled here this morning prepared to make a covenant with themselves that they will cease from all evil practices, from all evil speaking, and from all evil thinking, and say from this very morning, I will never do another evil as long as I live, the Lord being my helper? I will do all the good I can, and prepare for the coming of the son of man? To this end I wish we should dedicate our hearts, our affections, and our whole life to the cause of God on the earth.
I do not feel like preaching a discourse upon any particular subject; but of urging the necessity of the brethren and sisters absolutely coming to this determination this morning, and dedicating themselves and all they have to the Lord from this time henceforth. Can we come to this conclusion, to firmly, faithfully, and unitedly enter into a covenant with ourselves, saying, I am for the Lord and none else; from this time henceforth, I will do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, who has called me to minister the fulness of the Gospel, and to share the glory that is prepared for the righteous: I will be like clay in the hands of the potter, that He may mold and fashion me as seemeth Him good; and if He will make known to me His will, mine shall bow to it, my affections shall be placed upon eternal things, and shall not rest upon the fading, transitory objects of time and sense. Can we make this covenant with ourselves this morning? Not only to say we dedicate this house and ourselves, our flocks, herds, families, and possessions, to the Lord, but actually perform the work, dedicating our affections to His service. If our affections are won and wholly dedicated to His cause, we have then obtained the victory.
Perhaps we may find one here and there who will say, "I cannot do this, I may say it with my lips, but to feel it in my heart, the case is hard; I am poor and needy, and desire to go to the gold mines to obtain something to help myself, by speculating upon the Gentiles, and thus get me a good farm and team, with which to get out of this thralldom and difficulty; my mind is so perplexed, I cannot say my affections are fully dedicated to the Lord my God." What is to be done in such a case? I know what I would do, for I have experience in these matters—I would call upon the Bishop, and make known to him my distress. There are many who in these words complain, and say they are so poor they cannot pay their tithing; say they, "I have only got three horses and two yoke of cattle and about fifty sheep; I want one horse to ride, and the others to haul wood, I therefore do not know how I can possibly pay my tithing." While on the other hand, others who have only got half a dozen chickens can willingly pay their tithing. You may say, "It is easier for them to pay tithing than for those who possess so much, for they are so very poor, it does not infringe upon other matters." Now if I had but one cow, and felt thus, I would give her away forthwith. If you have only six horses and ten yoke of cattle, or only one cow, and you are too poor to pay your tithing, give the whole into the public works. I speak thus to those who are inclined to love the substance of this world better than the Lord. If you have gold and silver, let it not come between you and your duty. I will tell you what to do in order to gain your exaltation, the which you cannot obtain except you take this course. If your affections are placed upon anything so as to hinder you in the least from dedicating them to the Lord, make a dedication of that thing in the first place, that the dedication of the whole may be complete.
What hinders this people from being as holy as the Church of Enoch? I can tell you the reason in a few words. It is because you will not cultivate the disposition to be so—this comprehends the whole. If my heart is not fully given up to this work, I will give my time, my talents, my hands, and my possessions to it, until my heart consents to be subject; I will make my hands labor in the cause of God until my heart bows in submission to it.
I might here use a just and true comparison which will apply to the Church. The rulers of Great Britain have tried to make every capitalist identify his interest with the Government—that has sustained the kingdom, and is like a powerful network around the whole. Apply this comparison to the kingdom of God on earth.
Brethren, do you wish this heavenly government to stand? There is no government more beautiful, no confederacy more powerful! What shall we do to accomplish this? Imitate the policy of that earthly kingdom, identify our interest with the kingdom of God, so that if our hearts should ever become weaned from loyalty to the sovereign, all our earthly interest is bound up there, and cannot be taken away. We must therefore sustain the kingdom in order to sustain our lives and interests; by so doing we shall receive the Spirit of the Lord, and ultimately work with all our hearts.
This is a policy which I have not reflected upon until this morning, but before we get through with the Conference, I shall, perhaps, see it entered into, not as the result of any premeditation in the least, but when the condition of our temporal affairs is read from the stand, you will find the Church in considerable indebtedness. If any man is in darkness through the deceitfulness of riches, it is good policy for him to bind up his wealth in this Church, so that he cannot command it again, and he will be apt to cleave to the kingdom. If a man has the purse in his pocket, and he apostatizes, he takes it with him; but if his worldly interest is firmly united to the Kingdom of God, when he arises to go away, he finds the calf is bound, and, like the cow, he is unwilling to forsake it. If his calf is bound up here, he will be inclined to stay; all his interest is here, and very likely the Lord will open his eyes, so that he will properly understand his true situation, and his heart will chime in with the will of his God in a very short time. Were we to dedicate our moral and intellectual influence, and our earthly wealth to the Lord, our hearts would be very likely to applaud our acts. This reasoning is for those who do not feel exactly to subscribe to all that has been said this morning, with regard to dedicating ourselves to the cause of truth. This is what you must do to obtain an exaltation. The Lord must be first and foremost in our affections, the building up of His kingdom demands our first consideration.
The Lord God Almighty has set up a kingdom that will sway the scepter of power and authority over all the kingdoms of the world, and will never be destroyed, it is the kingdom that Daniel saw and wrote of. It may be considered treason to say that the kingdom which that Prophet foretold is actually set up; that we cannot help, but we know it is so, and call upon the nations to believe our testimony. The kingdom will continue to increase, to grow, to spread and prosper more and more. Every time its enemies undertake to overthrow it, it will become more extensive and powerful; instead of its decreasing, it will continue to increase, it will spread the more, become more wonderful and conspicuous to the nations, until it fills the whole earth. If such is your wish, identify your own individual interest in it, and tie yourselves thereto by every means in your power. Let every man and every woman do this, and then be willing to make every sacrifice the Lord may require; and when they have bound up their affections, time, and talents, with all they have, to the interest of the kingdom, then have they gained the victory, and their work is complete, so far as they understand.
If this people would take that course, what hinders their being in the Millennium? If I were to ask what the Millennium—the Latter-day glory so often spoken of, is, I should find numerous opinions among this people, and many in and out of this congregation. I have learned long ago that the thoughts and expressions of men are very diversified; if, indeed, their thoughts or ideas are similar, I know their words differ widely; so should I find a great many different opinions among this people, with regard to the real essence and effect of the Millennium. The Millennium consists in this—every heart in the Church and Kingdom of God being united in one; the Kingdom increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of heaven, and Satan being bound, and having a seal set upon him. All things else will be as they are now, we shall eat, drink, and wear clothing. Let the people be holy, and the earth under their feet will be holy. Let the people be holy, and filled with the Spirit of God, and every animal and creeping thing will be filled with peace; the soil of the earth will bring forth in its strength, and the fruits thereof will be meat for man. The more purity that exists, the less is the strife; the more kind we are to our animals, the more will peace increase, and the savage nature of the brute creation vanish away. If the people will not serve the devil another moment whilst they live, if this congregation is possessed of that spirit and resolution, here in this house is the Millennium. Let the inhabitants of this city be possessed of that spirit, let the people of the territory be possessed of that spirit, and here is the Millennium. Let the whole people of the United States be possessed of that spirit, and here is the Millennium, and so will it spread over all the world.
Let us cease from all evil, and do all the good we can to the nations abroad, and by and by the veil of the covering will be taken from the earth, and the inhabitants see as they are seen.
May the Almighty Father of heaven and earth bless you, and I bless you in His name, and pray that we may be diligent in every good word and work before the Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
followed by, G. A. Smith and W. W. Phelps.
Singing, and benediction by Prest. Young.
Singing, and benediction by Prest. Young.
2 P. M.
Opened as usual;
Opened as usual;
Prest. Young
laid before the conference the amount of Tithing received, and expenditures, which was then read by Wm. Clayton.
Prest. Young occupied the remainder of the afternoon in preaching.
The Lord at the Head of His Kingdom—Self-Discipline—Necessity of Cultivating a Knowledge of Science, and Particularly of Theology, Etc.
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered at the Spring Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 7, 1852.
Reported by Unknown.
It may be considered that we are a mixed congregation, consisting of Bishops, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, the Twelve, and the First Presidency; but I consider we are, strictly speaking, a meeting of the Elders of Israel; for if we were to be instructed in the duties of any one of these Quorums, that instruction would be equally good for all.
This vast concourse of persons are all Elders in Israel, with but a very few exceptions; for there are some Priests, Teachers, and Deacons present, but not a great many. The greater portion of the male members of this community are Elders in the Church; and, as Elders, we are to be instructed so as to obtain an understanding of all things pertaining to our duty.
We have heard and felt sufficient to know that the wisdom which is to be obtained in this kingdom is more satisfactory to us than the boasted wisdom of the world. This is appreciated by the majority of this assembly, if not by all. The knowledge possessed by this people is of more value than all the knowledge of the world put together, and infinitely greater. In this kingdom you will find the root of all science, and that, too, in men who have not been taught the sciences after the manner of the world. They understand the origin of science, and can trace it through the life of man, much to their satisfaction. Let any man who possesses the Holy Ghost, though never taught the sciences but a very little, hear a learned man exhibit the principles of any science, he understands the origin and proper bearings of the subject treated upon by the speaker, through the increased rays of that light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. This is to us a matter of no little satisfaction.
I have many cogitations with regard to this work of the last days and the prosperity of this kingdom; yet I have learned years ago that the Lord stands at the helm that guides Zion's ship. He is its Dictator; and unless we work exactly to the line that is marked out by him, our works will be in vain. This has been my experience from the beginning. In every branch and avenue of our lives we must learn to work to the line of truth. It is for us to know what ought to be done, and then do it. Though there should be no earthly prospect of accomplishing it, we can certainly try; and if we try with all our might, that act will prove at least a resolute and determined mind, adorned with patience and perseverance. And if, with all our resolute endeavors, we are still unable to accomplish our purpose, the Lord will be very likely to stretch forth his hand and give the victory.
Perhaps, before we get through with this Conference, we shall ask such a favor of the Bishops as we asked of them last Conference, which was granted to the letter, and that most rigorously. The brethren are rigorous with themselves, for they have paid their Tithing willingly, and I do not know that the Bishops have had to urge them any to the fulfillment of this duty. However, some on the first reflection thought it seemed impossible for them to comply with it, and some thought that our request was inconsistent; but with a little more mature reflection, with a little faith and prayer, they brought themselves directly to obedience. I think this has been almost universally the case. If we should now call upon the Bishops for a favor, it would be to grant us a little assistance with regard to our purchasing and laying in lumber, nails, glass, and other merchandise to supply our future wants. I wish each Ward to bear their share in this matter. I mention it that the Bishops may be alert in their feelings.
Now, brethren, can we fight against and subdue ourselves? That is the greatest difficulty we ever encountered, and the most arduous warfare we ever engaged in. This will apply most perfectly to the brethren who have gathered with the Saints. When we are out in the world we preach faith and repentance, so that the Saints bring the knowledge of first principles with them to the gathering place. Your next step is to enter into the study of this. A man may learn letters and study all the various branches of scholastic education to the day of his death; but if he does not attain to strict self-discipline, his learning will not amount to much. The catalogue of man's discipline he must compile himself: he cannot be guided by any rule that others may lay down, but is placed under the necessity of tracing it himself through every avenue of his life. He is obliged to catechise and train himself, for he knows his own disposition the best—its fortified and unfortified parts. He is therefore the most fit to school himself, until every particle of the man is brought into subjection to the law of Christ.
When you had obeyed the first ordinances of the Gospel, then you discovered that the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel, that Zion might be built up and Israel gathered from the four winds. These doctrines have been taught and re-taught again and again. I think there is not a man here who did not fully understand them while in his native country. There may be a few exceptions among those who have by chance fallen into the society of the Saints at the gathering place where their first acquaintance was formed, and consequently have not had the same opportunity of hearing the first principles as others have had in the world. Now, we enter this school to be planed, squared, and polished.
Suppose we admit of malice, anger, and wrath in our hearts—steep ourselves in wickedness, by taking the name of God in vain, by entering into every kind of outbreak and transgression, by defiance to every wholesome law, by neglecting our families, physically, mentally, and morally, and by neglecting our brethren and ourselves, our former repentance and baptism for the remission of our sins will not profit us, through indulging in sin afterwards; but all our former sins will again be upon us, and we must atone for the whole. Then let us cleave unto righteousness, learn to do well, and continue to do so all the days of our lives, that our former sins may not stand against us. This is our duty.
If every person in the community would correct his own errors each day he lives, the errors of the whole would continually be effectually corrected. For where is there a man who, by preaching on a text from the Bible or the Book of Mormon, can correct the faults of the people? That may be done until they go into their graves, and little or no good result from it. I mean to correct my own faults, and it is for you to do the same. It is an individual business, over which each man must preside, until every fault in our whole lives is corrected and we are sanctified before the Lord.
If your neighbor suffers his cattle or his children to trespass upon your property, never retaliate or speak an angry reply, for this will engender a spirit of anger in him. Consider well before you suffer your minds to be irritated in the least. Suffer them not to be agitated until your blood is boiling with rage before you are aware; but stop and reflect, coolly consider, and quietly reason with the person or persons who have trespassed upon you, and show them the nature of their transgression against you. If they continue in the same course of conduct, reason the stronger with them, without quarreling. Thus bring your passions down into subjection to your will, and cultivate an even unruffled temper, until you can perfectly control yourselves at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. Then our affections and feelings would become congenial to those of the angels of God, and we should continue to increase in that Holy Spirit which would prepare us for the society of holy beings. This is our school, and a profitable one it is to the Elders of Israel.
Why I mention these things is that you may understand, as quick as you have believed and have been baptized for the remission of your sins, that you have then further duties to perform. To be continually repenting is not required of us. If the Elders of Israel could do all that is required of them; they would not need to repent, but they would seek continually to walk in the paths of truth, virtue, and holiness. It is not in keeping with their calling to be fighting and quarreling with their brethren, or treading upon the sacred rights of others; but it is their duty to walk in the paths of righteousness all the day long. And they will be chastened again and again until they do it.
This is my teaching to the people continually. We do not care about hearing an overgrown Gospel sermon preached here; for the people understand it perfectly already. But do they understand the principle of self-control, and of properly ordering their lives and course before the Lord? Do the Elders of Israel understand all that the Lord requires of them? They do not. This belongs to other branches of the same celestial science. This perfect science requires men and women to be in the school all the days of their lives; and they will not see a single day in which they will not learn some truth with which they were not before acquainted. They can learn from themselves—from the world—from the government of heaven—from the management, government, control, doctrines, and laws of eternity, which will yet be exhibited before us. The Lord has established the world, with its varied productions, for the education of his children, that they may improve upon little things first, and so continue to increase, grow, and strengthen, until they become perfect men in Christ Jesus. These are the duties and this is the situation of the Elders at home.
We have not had much privilege hitherto of meeting together in the Valley. Four years ago, when the brethren came into this valley, brother George A. Smith delivered his first lecture upon the cannon, for there were no houses wherein the people could assemble. Since then they have been greatly blessed, yet they have had little opportunity of holding meeting. The first large place we had to meet in was the Bowery. We felt comfortable in it, and I felt as thankful for it as I ever did for anything in my life; but as quick as the falling weather came, it drove the Saints away, and rendered it necessary to discontinue the meetings in that place and to hold them in the different Wards, so that it became impossible to get all the people together. Now we have a convenient room—the best hall I ever saw in my life, wherein the people could be convened on one floor. I trust we shall renew our strength, meet here to pray, and to praise the Lord, and partake of the sacrament, until our feelings are perfectly pure; for we are where we can sit and enjoy the society of each other as long as we please, and there is none to make us afraid. Let us be industrious in this great school, nor ever slacken our pace.
There are a great many branches of education: some go to college to learn languages, some to study law, some to study physic, and some to study astronomy, and various other branches of science. We want every branch of science taught in this place that is taught in the world. But our favorite study is that branch which particularly belongs to the Elders of Israel—namely, theology. Every Elder should become a profound theologian—should understand this branch better than all the world. There is no Elder who has the power of God upon him but understands more of the principles of theology than all the world put together.
This reminds me of a little circumstance that transpired here a year ago last summer. You, no doubt, well recollect Elder Day (a Baptist minister on his way to California), who used to preach to us so nicely. I preached one day when he was present. In the course of my remarks, I brought up the subject of the Deity—at the point touching the character of our Father in heaven, upon which he desired the most to be instructed. I dropped the subject and turned to something else. He went to dinner with me, and while we sat at the dinner table, he said, “Brother Young, I was waiting with all my anxious heart, with mouth, eyes, and ears open to receive something great and glorious.” “What about, brother Day?” “Why, as you were describing the Deity, and just came to the point I was the most anxious to have expounded, behold you waived it and turned to something else.” I smiled and said, “After I had taught them how, I wanted the people to add the rest of the sermon themselves.” He said, “I declare, brother Young, I would have given anything I possessed in the world, if you had continued your remarks until I had obtained the knowledge I desired.” I inquired the nature of it. “To know the character of God.” I smiled and said, “Are you a preacher of the Gospel?” “Yes.” “How long have you been a preacher?” “Twenty-seven years I have been a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.” “And you have been a minister so long, and have never learned anything about the character of the Being about whom you have been preaching! I am astonished! Now you want to find out the character of God. I can make you answer the question yourself in a few minutes.” “Well, I do not know, brother Young: it is a very mysterious subject to mortal man.” “Now, let me ask you a single question. Will you tell me what God our Father in heaven appears like?” He sat a considerable time, while the color on his cheeks ebbed and flowed alternately, till at last he replied, “Brother Young, I will not presume to describe the character of the Deity.” I smiled, and he thought I was treating the subject lightly. “I am not making light of the subject, but I am smiling at your folly, that you—a teacher in Israel—a man who should stand between the living and the dead—yet know nothing about your Father and God. Were I in your place, I would never preach another sermon while I lived, until I learned more about God. Do you believe the Bible?” “I do.” “What resemblance did our father Adam bear to his God, when he placed him in the Garden of Eden?” Before he had time to reply, I asked him what resemblance Jesus bore to man in his incarnation? and “Do you believe Moses, who said the Lord made Adam in his own image and after his own likeness? This may appear to you a curiosity; but do you not see, bona fide, that the Lord made Adam like himself; and the Savior we read of was made to look so like him, that he was the express image of his person?” He laughed at his folly himself. “Why,” said he, “Brother Young, I never once thought of it before in all my life, and I have been a preacher twenty-seven years.” He never had known anything about the character of the God he worshiped; but, like the Athenians, had raised an altar with the inscription, “To the unknown God.”
There is not one of the faithful Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but is more or less acquainted with the physical and moral character of the God he serves; which is more than all the world knows, or can know, independent of the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The greatest, the best, the most educated, and the most profound theologians on the earth, who have obtained their learning by reading and study, had no correct knowledge of what is in the Bible about God, angels, sin, righteousness, and many other important subjects, until Joseph Smith made it known.
We are now in the school of theology and making rapid progress in the study of this celestial science. I admit there are some few dunces in the school: some advance at a very slow pace, and some not at all. It would be difficult to tell whether they enjoy anything or not, or whether they are in the faith or not. But, as a general thing, our boys, who are from the age of ten to fifteen years, know more of the principles of theology than the most educated clergymen in Christendom. In comparison to what is plainly revealed, the world of mankind are almost entirely ignorant of those principles which to them are of the greatest importance.
You certainly are learning; and, brethren, I tell you again, what I have told you repeatedly, if you ever wish to have my good feelings, it will be owing to your conduct in the strict observance of righteousness and ceasing from all contentions—from speaking lightly of our great Father in heaven, of our elder brother Jesus Christ, of the angels of God, and of any good being upon the earth, from this time henceforth and forever. If you want my fellowship, cease from doing these things. I may love you and seek your welfare with all my might; but I do not love the profane speeches and wicked conduct of some of the Elders in Israel. I have no fellowship for men who are guilty of breaking the Sabbath, of drinking spirituous liquors to excess, of contending with each other, and going to law before Gentile or Bishops' courts to settle their difficulties. There is a better way of settling difficulties than either of these.
I gave the Elders a little key lately, to know when they were in the right path. I will now give you another. When a difference of judgment exists between two parties, let them come together and lay their difficulties at each other's feet, laying themselves down in the cradle of humility, and say, “Brother (or sister), I want to do right; yea, I will even wrong myself, to make you right.” Do you not think that a man or woman, acting in that manner towards his or her neighbor, would be justified by the law of righteousness? Their judgments come together, and they are agreed: there would, consequently, be no need of calling in a third person to settle the difference. After taking this course, if you cannot come together, then call in a third person and settle it. But for those who bear the name of Saints to go into a Gentile court to settle their differences is a stink in the nostrils of the Almighty. To me it is disgusting, filthy, and loathsome, in every sense of the word. I abhor it. Do, for Heaven's sake and for your own sakes, take my counsel and show mercy to your brethren, even as the Lord has been merciful to us.
It has been observed that the people want revelation. This is revelation; and were it written, it would then be written revelation, as truly as the revelations which are contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. I could give you revelation about going to California, for I know the mind of the Lord upon that matter. I could give you revelation upon the subject of paying your Tithing and building a temple to the name of the Lord; for the light is in me. I could put these revelations as straight to the line of truth in writing as any revelation you ever read. I could write the mind of the Lord, and you could put it in your pockets. But before we desire more written revelation, let us fulfil the revelations that are already written, and which we have scarcely begun to fulfil.
A person was mentioned today who did not believe that Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. I wish to ask every member of this whole community, if they ever heard him profess to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, as Joseph Smith was? He professed to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, called and sent of God to save Israel. If you know what the calling of an Apostle is, and if there were ten thousand of them on the earth at the same time, you must know that the words of an Apostle who magnifies his calling are the words of the Almighty to the people all the time. He never need be called in question whether he revealed the mind of the Lord or not. Although brothers Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, and myself are out of the Quorum of the Twelve, our Apostleship has not been taken from us. Who ordained me to be First President of this Church on earth? I answer, It is the choice of this people, and that is sufficient. If the Lord designates a plan how his cause and kingdom can be best advanced, whose business is it, if it is the mind of the people to follow it? It is ours and the Lord's; but it is certainly not the business of those who are enemies to his cause. I preached considerably upon this point in Nauvoo, to give the people the understanding of the different callings of men. Joseph Smith was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator before he had power to build up the kingdom of God, or take the first step towards it. When did he obtain that power? Not until the angel had ordained him to be an Apostle. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer were the first Apostles of this dispensation, though in the early days of the Church David Whitmer lost his standing, and another took his place. I have taught the brethren this principle years ago. When a man is an Apostle, and stands at the head of the kingdom of God on the earth, and magnifies his calling, he has the keys of all the power that ever was bestowed upon mortal man for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth.
I will now leave these items and take up another. I hinted today at the wisdom of the Lord in opening the gold mines, and said he had one object in view, among many others—namely, to try the faith of the Saints. By this his wisdom has been exhibited, and much accomplished by it among those also who are not Saints. Take a view of this community. A portion will not be Saints. This has always been the case when God had a Church on the earth. They are not all sheep that are in the fold, neither are they all Saints who bear the name. I wish you to understand that when the sheep are separated from the goats, they will never again bear the like afflictions they bore while they mingled with the goats, as long as the world stands; no, neither in this world nor any other. Let the sheep and goats be once separated, and the master of that flock of sheep will never afflict them. When there are no goats to annoy the sheep, the latter will mingle with each other and go hand in hand in full fellowship. But when goats are among the sheep, they besmear them with their stink, and they frisk about, and behave so as to actually turn the sheep almost into goats. They will grow short in the hair, look like goats, and stink like them. The master of the flock must therefore do something to preserve the blood of the sheep pure, lest they completely degenerate and altogether become goats. They must be chastened by persecution, to drive out the stinking goats from their midst. The Lord opened the California gold mines to lead them off; and I say to the goats, Go! I am glad of it. “But do you not think the sheep will go too?” Never mind, if they do: they will get well besmeared with the flavor of the goats, run off and wash themselves, and come back again. Though I speak thus, I do not despise the goats; no, not in the least.
You will perhaps recollect a dream I had in the spring of 1848, when so many were going to California. It seemed as though the whole community would be carried away with the spirit of gold, which caused much anxiety in my mind and enlightened my understanding. I dreamed I was a little north of the hot springs, with many of my brethren, among some scattered timber. I thought of sending to Captain Brown's, on the Weber River, to get some goats, which I had previously bought of him; but while I was conversing with the brethren, I thought the Prophet Joseph Smith came up to us, and I spoke to him. I thought I would send for my goats which I had purchased from Captain Brown, and brother Joseph started off to the north, and I thought very likely he would purchase the whole of brother Brown's stock; but I felt quite reconciled, if he did. I thought I stood there some time talking with the brethren, when I looked up towards the road on my right, and behold I saw brother Joseph returning, riding on a wagon without any box to it; but it had a bottom of boards, and on these boards there was a tent and other camping implements, &c., as though he had been on a journey of some length. He alighted from the wagon, and came to where we were standing. I looked, and saw, following the wagon, an almost innumerable flock of sheep of all kinds, sizes, colors, and descriptions, from the largest, finest sheep I ever saw, down to the ugly decrepit dwarf. The wool on the large ones, I thought, was as white as snow; then the next smaller ones had also nice fine wool on them, and some were black and white; others had coarse long wool upon them, approximating to hair; and so on, until they became a mixture of goats and sheep. I looked on the strange flock and wondered. While I was looking, I asked Joseph what in the world he was going to do with such a flock of sheep, and said to him, “Why, brother Joseph, you have got the most singular flock of sheep I ever saw: what are you going to do with them?” He looked up and smiled, as he did when he was living, and as though he was in reality with me, and said, “They are all good in their place.” This is the dream.
So it is with this people. If you can only find the place for the goats, they answer the end for which they were made. I have always realized that a half-hearted “Mormon” is one of the meanest of human beings, for such are always ready to say, “How do you do, brother Devil?” and, “How do you do, brother Jesus?” or, “Brother Jesus, I want to make you acquainted with brother Devil.” It is no trouble for them to turn unto Baal or unto Jesus; yet, at the same time, the Lord has a use for them. I have often heard men say they were convinced that “Mormonism” was true, and that they would cleave to it; but as for their hearts being converted, it is altogether another thing. Mobs never have done one thing against this people, but they could trace them, and have known all about it; for you will always find that the goats will run and lick salt with the sheep; and the Lord who made them has placed them in the world to serve his own purpose. When by these characters afflictions are brought upon the Saints, and they are bereft of all they possess, it is to make them more attached to the cause of truth, while their persecutors are hurled into oblivion, which is the last of them.
If gold is a sufficient inducement to lead men off to live in the midst of that society in California, after they know and understand the condition of it, it certainly proves that they love the things of this world better than they love Christ. You may say you are poor, and wish to accumulate something to help yourself and your family. “Are you starving to death for want of food?” “No.” All of you have plenty to subsist upon. If those who go to California for gold were full of the Holy Ghost, they would clothe their wives and children with buckskin, and wear it themselves to the day of their death, rather than mingle with the wicked and be induced to leave the society of the Saints. The true cause of their taking such a course is, they do not love the Lord.
There is a class of persons that persecution will not drive from the Church of Christ, but prosperity will; and again, there is another class that prosperity will not drive, but persecution will. The Lord must and will have a company of Saints who will follow him to the cross, if it be necessary; and these he will crown. They are the ones who will wear a celestial crown and have dominion, rule, and government. These are they who will receive honor of the Father, with glory, exaltation, and eternal lives. They shall reign over kingdoms, and have power to be Gods, even the sons of God.
Those other classes will take different stations and possess inferior glories, according to their works in the flesh. That class who will altogether serve the world and disregard the cause of truth will become servants to the sons of God and be in servitude throughout eternity.
What shall we do? I say, Cleave to “Mormonism,” work with all our might for the Lord, and love him better than any other earthly or heavenly object. And if he requires us to sacrifice our houses, our horses, our cattle, our wives, and our children, let them remain upon the altar; but let us follow him to salvation and eternal life. Amen.
Singing, and benediction by Elder H. Herriman.
laid before the conference the amount of Tithing received, and expenditures, which was then read by Wm. Clayton.
Prest. Young occupied the remainder of the afternoon in preaching.
The Lord at the Head of His Kingdom—Self-Discipline—Necessity of Cultivating a Knowledge of Science, and Particularly of Theology, Etc.
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered at the Spring Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 7, 1852.
Reported by Unknown.
It may be considered that we are a mixed congregation, consisting of Bishops, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, the Twelve, and the First Presidency; but I consider we are, strictly speaking, a meeting of the Elders of Israel; for if we were to be instructed in the duties of any one of these Quorums, that instruction would be equally good for all.
This vast concourse of persons are all Elders in Israel, with but a very few exceptions; for there are some Priests, Teachers, and Deacons present, but not a great many. The greater portion of the male members of this community are Elders in the Church; and, as Elders, we are to be instructed so as to obtain an understanding of all things pertaining to our duty.
We have heard and felt sufficient to know that the wisdom which is to be obtained in this kingdom is more satisfactory to us than the boasted wisdom of the world. This is appreciated by the majority of this assembly, if not by all. The knowledge possessed by this people is of more value than all the knowledge of the world put together, and infinitely greater. In this kingdom you will find the root of all science, and that, too, in men who have not been taught the sciences after the manner of the world. They understand the origin of science, and can trace it through the life of man, much to their satisfaction. Let any man who possesses the Holy Ghost, though never taught the sciences but a very little, hear a learned man exhibit the principles of any science, he understands the origin and proper bearings of the subject treated upon by the speaker, through the increased rays of that light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. This is to us a matter of no little satisfaction.
I have many cogitations with regard to this work of the last days and the prosperity of this kingdom; yet I have learned years ago that the Lord stands at the helm that guides Zion's ship. He is its Dictator; and unless we work exactly to the line that is marked out by him, our works will be in vain. This has been my experience from the beginning. In every branch and avenue of our lives we must learn to work to the line of truth. It is for us to know what ought to be done, and then do it. Though there should be no earthly prospect of accomplishing it, we can certainly try; and if we try with all our might, that act will prove at least a resolute and determined mind, adorned with patience and perseverance. And if, with all our resolute endeavors, we are still unable to accomplish our purpose, the Lord will be very likely to stretch forth his hand and give the victory.
Perhaps, before we get through with this Conference, we shall ask such a favor of the Bishops as we asked of them last Conference, which was granted to the letter, and that most rigorously. The brethren are rigorous with themselves, for they have paid their Tithing willingly, and I do not know that the Bishops have had to urge them any to the fulfillment of this duty. However, some on the first reflection thought it seemed impossible for them to comply with it, and some thought that our request was inconsistent; but with a little more mature reflection, with a little faith and prayer, they brought themselves directly to obedience. I think this has been almost universally the case. If we should now call upon the Bishops for a favor, it would be to grant us a little assistance with regard to our purchasing and laying in lumber, nails, glass, and other merchandise to supply our future wants. I wish each Ward to bear their share in this matter. I mention it that the Bishops may be alert in their feelings.
Now, brethren, can we fight against and subdue ourselves? That is the greatest difficulty we ever encountered, and the most arduous warfare we ever engaged in. This will apply most perfectly to the brethren who have gathered with the Saints. When we are out in the world we preach faith and repentance, so that the Saints bring the knowledge of first principles with them to the gathering place. Your next step is to enter into the study of this. A man may learn letters and study all the various branches of scholastic education to the day of his death; but if he does not attain to strict self-discipline, his learning will not amount to much. The catalogue of man's discipline he must compile himself: he cannot be guided by any rule that others may lay down, but is placed under the necessity of tracing it himself through every avenue of his life. He is obliged to catechise and train himself, for he knows his own disposition the best—its fortified and unfortified parts. He is therefore the most fit to school himself, until every particle of the man is brought into subjection to the law of Christ.
When you had obeyed the first ordinances of the Gospel, then you discovered that the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel, that Zion might be built up and Israel gathered from the four winds. These doctrines have been taught and re-taught again and again. I think there is not a man here who did not fully understand them while in his native country. There may be a few exceptions among those who have by chance fallen into the society of the Saints at the gathering place where their first acquaintance was formed, and consequently have not had the same opportunity of hearing the first principles as others have had in the world. Now, we enter this school to be planed, squared, and polished.
Suppose we admit of malice, anger, and wrath in our hearts—steep ourselves in wickedness, by taking the name of God in vain, by entering into every kind of outbreak and transgression, by defiance to every wholesome law, by neglecting our families, physically, mentally, and morally, and by neglecting our brethren and ourselves, our former repentance and baptism for the remission of our sins will not profit us, through indulging in sin afterwards; but all our former sins will again be upon us, and we must atone for the whole. Then let us cleave unto righteousness, learn to do well, and continue to do so all the days of our lives, that our former sins may not stand against us. This is our duty.
If every person in the community would correct his own errors each day he lives, the errors of the whole would continually be effectually corrected. For where is there a man who, by preaching on a text from the Bible or the Book of Mormon, can correct the faults of the people? That may be done until they go into their graves, and little or no good result from it. I mean to correct my own faults, and it is for you to do the same. It is an individual business, over which each man must preside, until every fault in our whole lives is corrected and we are sanctified before the Lord.
If your neighbor suffers his cattle or his children to trespass upon your property, never retaliate or speak an angry reply, for this will engender a spirit of anger in him. Consider well before you suffer your minds to be irritated in the least. Suffer them not to be agitated until your blood is boiling with rage before you are aware; but stop and reflect, coolly consider, and quietly reason with the person or persons who have trespassed upon you, and show them the nature of their transgression against you. If they continue in the same course of conduct, reason the stronger with them, without quarreling. Thus bring your passions down into subjection to your will, and cultivate an even unruffled temper, until you can perfectly control yourselves at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. Then our affections and feelings would become congenial to those of the angels of God, and we should continue to increase in that Holy Spirit which would prepare us for the society of holy beings. This is our school, and a profitable one it is to the Elders of Israel.
Why I mention these things is that you may understand, as quick as you have believed and have been baptized for the remission of your sins, that you have then further duties to perform. To be continually repenting is not required of us. If the Elders of Israel could do all that is required of them; they would not need to repent, but they would seek continually to walk in the paths of truth, virtue, and holiness. It is not in keeping with their calling to be fighting and quarreling with their brethren, or treading upon the sacred rights of others; but it is their duty to walk in the paths of righteousness all the day long. And they will be chastened again and again until they do it.
This is my teaching to the people continually. We do not care about hearing an overgrown Gospel sermon preached here; for the people understand it perfectly already. But do they understand the principle of self-control, and of properly ordering their lives and course before the Lord? Do the Elders of Israel understand all that the Lord requires of them? They do not. This belongs to other branches of the same celestial science. This perfect science requires men and women to be in the school all the days of their lives; and they will not see a single day in which they will not learn some truth with which they were not before acquainted. They can learn from themselves—from the world—from the government of heaven—from the management, government, control, doctrines, and laws of eternity, which will yet be exhibited before us. The Lord has established the world, with its varied productions, for the education of his children, that they may improve upon little things first, and so continue to increase, grow, and strengthen, until they become perfect men in Christ Jesus. These are the duties and this is the situation of the Elders at home.
We have not had much privilege hitherto of meeting together in the Valley. Four years ago, when the brethren came into this valley, brother George A. Smith delivered his first lecture upon the cannon, for there were no houses wherein the people could assemble. Since then they have been greatly blessed, yet they have had little opportunity of holding meeting. The first large place we had to meet in was the Bowery. We felt comfortable in it, and I felt as thankful for it as I ever did for anything in my life; but as quick as the falling weather came, it drove the Saints away, and rendered it necessary to discontinue the meetings in that place and to hold them in the different Wards, so that it became impossible to get all the people together. Now we have a convenient room—the best hall I ever saw in my life, wherein the people could be convened on one floor. I trust we shall renew our strength, meet here to pray, and to praise the Lord, and partake of the sacrament, until our feelings are perfectly pure; for we are where we can sit and enjoy the society of each other as long as we please, and there is none to make us afraid. Let us be industrious in this great school, nor ever slacken our pace.
There are a great many branches of education: some go to college to learn languages, some to study law, some to study physic, and some to study astronomy, and various other branches of science. We want every branch of science taught in this place that is taught in the world. But our favorite study is that branch which particularly belongs to the Elders of Israel—namely, theology. Every Elder should become a profound theologian—should understand this branch better than all the world. There is no Elder who has the power of God upon him but understands more of the principles of theology than all the world put together.
This reminds me of a little circumstance that transpired here a year ago last summer. You, no doubt, well recollect Elder Day (a Baptist minister on his way to California), who used to preach to us so nicely. I preached one day when he was present. In the course of my remarks, I brought up the subject of the Deity—at the point touching the character of our Father in heaven, upon which he desired the most to be instructed. I dropped the subject and turned to something else. He went to dinner with me, and while we sat at the dinner table, he said, “Brother Young, I was waiting with all my anxious heart, with mouth, eyes, and ears open to receive something great and glorious.” “What about, brother Day?” “Why, as you were describing the Deity, and just came to the point I was the most anxious to have expounded, behold you waived it and turned to something else.” I smiled and said, “After I had taught them how, I wanted the people to add the rest of the sermon themselves.” He said, “I declare, brother Young, I would have given anything I possessed in the world, if you had continued your remarks until I had obtained the knowledge I desired.” I inquired the nature of it. “To know the character of God.” I smiled and said, “Are you a preacher of the Gospel?” “Yes.” “How long have you been a preacher?” “Twenty-seven years I have been a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.” “And you have been a minister so long, and have never learned anything about the character of the Being about whom you have been preaching! I am astonished! Now you want to find out the character of God. I can make you answer the question yourself in a few minutes.” “Well, I do not know, brother Young: it is a very mysterious subject to mortal man.” “Now, let me ask you a single question. Will you tell me what God our Father in heaven appears like?” He sat a considerable time, while the color on his cheeks ebbed and flowed alternately, till at last he replied, “Brother Young, I will not presume to describe the character of the Deity.” I smiled, and he thought I was treating the subject lightly. “I am not making light of the subject, but I am smiling at your folly, that you—a teacher in Israel—a man who should stand between the living and the dead—yet know nothing about your Father and God. Were I in your place, I would never preach another sermon while I lived, until I learned more about God. Do you believe the Bible?” “I do.” “What resemblance did our father Adam bear to his God, when he placed him in the Garden of Eden?” Before he had time to reply, I asked him what resemblance Jesus bore to man in his incarnation? and “Do you believe Moses, who said the Lord made Adam in his own image and after his own likeness? This may appear to you a curiosity; but do you not see, bona fide, that the Lord made Adam like himself; and the Savior we read of was made to look so like him, that he was the express image of his person?” He laughed at his folly himself. “Why,” said he, “Brother Young, I never once thought of it before in all my life, and I have been a preacher twenty-seven years.” He never had known anything about the character of the God he worshiped; but, like the Athenians, had raised an altar with the inscription, “To the unknown God.”
There is not one of the faithful Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but is more or less acquainted with the physical and moral character of the God he serves; which is more than all the world knows, or can know, independent of the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The greatest, the best, the most educated, and the most profound theologians on the earth, who have obtained their learning by reading and study, had no correct knowledge of what is in the Bible about God, angels, sin, righteousness, and many other important subjects, until Joseph Smith made it known.
We are now in the school of theology and making rapid progress in the study of this celestial science. I admit there are some few dunces in the school: some advance at a very slow pace, and some not at all. It would be difficult to tell whether they enjoy anything or not, or whether they are in the faith or not. But, as a general thing, our boys, who are from the age of ten to fifteen years, know more of the principles of theology than the most educated clergymen in Christendom. In comparison to what is plainly revealed, the world of mankind are almost entirely ignorant of those principles which to them are of the greatest importance.
You certainly are learning; and, brethren, I tell you again, what I have told you repeatedly, if you ever wish to have my good feelings, it will be owing to your conduct in the strict observance of righteousness and ceasing from all contentions—from speaking lightly of our great Father in heaven, of our elder brother Jesus Christ, of the angels of God, and of any good being upon the earth, from this time henceforth and forever. If you want my fellowship, cease from doing these things. I may love you and seek your welfare with all my might; but I do not love the profane speeches and wicked conduct of some of the Elders in Israel. I have no fellowship for men who are guilty of breaking the Sabbath, of drinking spirituous liquors to excess, of contending with each other, and going to law before Gentile or Bishops' courts to settle their difficulties. There is a better way of settling difficulties than either of these.
I gave the Elders a little key lately, to know when they were in the right path. I will now give you another. When a difference of judgment exists between two parties, let them come together and lay their difficulties at each other's feet, laying themselves down in the cradle of humility, and say, “Brother (or sister), I want to do right; yea, I will even wrong myself, to make you right.” Do you not think that a man or woman, acting in that manner towards his or her neighbor, would be justified by the law of righteousness? Their judgments come together, and they are agreed: there would, consequently, be no need of calling in a third person to settle the difference. After taking this course, if you cannot come together, then call in a third person and settle it. But for those who bear the name of Saints to go into a Gentile court to settle their differences is a stink in the nostrils of the Almighty. To me it is disgusting, filthy, and loathsome, in every sense of the word. I abhor it. Do, for Heaven's sake and for your own sakes, take my counsel and show mercy to your brethren, even as the Lord has been merciful to us.
It has been observed that the people want revelation. This is revelation; and were it written, it would then be written revelation, as truly as the revelations which are contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. I could give you revelation about going to California, for I know the mind of the Lord upon that matter. I could give you revelation upon the subject of paying your Tithing and building a temple to the name of the Lord; for the light is in me. I could put these revelations as straight to the line of truth in writing as any revelation you ever read. I could write the mind of the Lord, and you could put it in your pockets. But before we desire more written revelation, let us fulfil the revelations that are already written, and which we have scarcely begun to fulfil.
A person was mentioned today who did not believe that Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. I wish to ask every member of this whole community, if they ever heard him profess to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, as Joseph Smith was? He professed to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, called and sent of God to save Israel. If you know what the calling of an Apostle is, and if there were ten thousand of them on the earth at the same time, you must know that the words of an Apostle who magnifies his calling are the words of the Almighty to the people all the time. He never need be called in question whether he revealed the mind of the Lord or not. Although brothers Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, and myself are out of the Quorum of the Twelve, our Apostleship has not been taken from us. Who ordained me to be First President of this Church on earth? I answer, It is the choice of this people, and that is sufficient. If the Lord designates a plan how his cause and kingdom can be best advanced, whose business is it, if it is the mind of the people to follow it? It is ours and the Lord's; but it is certainly not the business of those who are enemies to his cause. I preached considerably upon this point in Nauvoo, to give the people the understanding of the different callings of men. Joseph Smith was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator before he had power to build up the kingdom of God, or take the first step towards it. When did he obtain that power? Not until the angel had ordained him to be an Apostle. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer were the first Apostles of this dispensation, though in the early days of the Church David Whitmer lost his standing, and another took his place. I have taught the brethren this principle years ago. When a man is an Apostle, and stands at the head of the kingdom of God on the earth, and magnifies his calling, he has the keys of all the power that ever was bestowed upon mortal man for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth.
I will now leave these items and take up another. I hinted today at the wisdom of the Lord in opening the gold mines, and said he had one object in view, among many others—namely, to try the faith of the Saints. By this his wisdom has been exhibited, and much accomplished by it among those also who are not Saints. Take a view of this community. A portion will not be Saints. This has always been the case when God had a Church on the earth. They are not all sheep that are in the fold, neither are they all Saints who bear the name. I wish you to understand that when the sheep are separated from the goats, they will never again bear the like afflictions they bore while they mingled with the goats, as long as the world stands; no, neither in this world nor any other. Let the sheep and goats be once separated, and the master of that flock of sheep will never afflict them. When there are no goats to annoy the sheep, the latter will mingle with each other and go hand in hand in full fellowship. But when goats are among the sheep, they besmear them with their stink, and they frisk about, and behave so as to actually turn the sheep almost into goats. They will grow short in the hair, look like goats, and stink like them. The master of the flock must therefore do something to preserve the blood of the sheep pure, lest they completely degenerate and altogether become goats. They must be chastened by persecution, to drive out the stinking goats from their midst. The Lord opened the California gold mines to lead them off; and I say to the goats, Go! I am glad of it. “But do you not think the sheep will go too?” Never mind, if they do: they will get well besmeared with the flavor of the goats, run off and wash themselves, and come back again. Though I speak thus, I do not despise the goats; no, not in the least.
You will perhaps recollect a dream I had in the spring of 1848, when so many were going to California. It seemed as though the whole community would be carried away with the spirit of gold, which caused much anxiety in my mind and enlightened my understanding. I dreamed I was a little north of the hot springs, with many of my brethren, among some scattered timber. I thought of sending to Captain Brown's, on the Weber River, to get some goats, which I had previously bought of him; but while I was conversing with the brethren, I thought the Prophet Joseph Smith came up to us, and I spoke to him. I thought I would send for my goats which I had purchased from Captain Brown, and brother Joseph started off to the north, and I thought very likely he would purchase the whole of brother Brown's stock; but I felt quite reconciled, if he did. I thought I stood there some time talking with the brethren, when I looked up towards the road on my right, and behold I saw brother Joseph returning, riding on a wagon without any box to it; but it had a bottom of boards, and on these boards there was a tent and other camping implements, &c., as though he had been on a journey of some length. He alighted from the wagon, and came to where we were standing. I looked, and saw, following the wagon, an almost innumerable flock of sheep of all kinds, sizes, colors, and descriptions, from the largest, finest sheep I ever saw, down to the ugly decrepit dwarf. The wool on the large ones, I thought, was as white as snow; then the next smaller ones had also nice fine wool on them, and some were black and white; others had coarse long wool upon them, approximating to hair; and so on, until they became a mixture of goats and sheep. I looked on the strange flock and wondered. While I was looking, I asked Joseph what in the world he was going to do with such a flock of sheep, and said to him, “Why, brother Joseph, you have got the most singular flock of sheep I ever saw: what are you going to do with them?” He looked up and smiled, as he did when he was living, and as though he was in reality with me, and said, “They are all good in their place.” This is the dream.
So it is with this people. If you can only find the place for the goats, they answer the end for which they were made. I have always realized that a half-hearted “Mormon” is one of the meanest of human beings, for such are always ready to say, “How do you do, brother Devil?” and, “How do you do, brother Jesus?” or, “Brother Jesus, I want to make you acquainted with brother Devil.” It is no trouble for them to turn unto Baal or unto Jesus; yet, at the same time, the Lord has a use for them. I have often heard men say they were convinced that “Mormonism” was true, and that they would cleave to it; but as for their hearts being converted, it is altogether another thing. Mobs never have done one thing against this people, but they could trace them, and have known all about it; for you will always find that the goats will run and lick salt with the sheep; and the Lord who made them has placed them in the world to serve his own purpose. When by these characters afflictions are brought upon the Saints, and they are bereft of all they possess, it is to make them more attached to the cause of truth, while their persecutors are hurled into oblivion, which is the last of them.
If gold is a sufficient inducement to lead men off to live in the midst of that society in California, after they know and understand the condition of it, it certainly proves that they love the things of this world better than they love Christ. You may say you are poor, and wish to accumulate something to help yourself and your family. “Are you starving to death for want of food?” “No.” All of you have plenty to subsist upon. If those who go to California for gold were full of the Holy Ghost, they would clothe their wives and children with buckskin, and wear it themselves to the day of their death, rather than mingle with the wicked and be induced to leave the society of the Saints. The true cause of their taking such a course is, they do not love the Lord.
There is a class of persons that persecution will not drive from the Church of Christ, but prosperity will; and again, there is another class that prosperity will not drive, but persecution will. The Lord must and will have a company of Saints who will follow him to the cross, if it be necessary; and these he will crown. They are the ones who will wear a celestial crown and have dominion, rule, and government. These are they who will receive honor of the Father, with glory, exaltation, and eternal lives. They shall reign over kingdoms, and have power to be Gods, even the sons of God.
Those other classes will take different stations and possess inferior glories, according to their works in the flesh. That class who will altogether serve the world and disregard the cause of truth will become servants to the sons of God and be in servitude throughout eternity.
What shall we do? I say, Cleave to “Mormonism,” work with all our might for the Lord, and love him better than any other earthly or heavenly object. And if he requires us to sacrifice our houses, our horses, our cattle, our wives, and our children, let them remain upon the altar; but let us follow him to salvation and eternal life. Amen.
Singing, and benediction by Elder H. Herriman.
6 P. M.
The house was crowded by the officers of the church, when Elder G. A. Smith, Z. Pulsipher, and Prest. Young addressed the elders.
The house was crowded by the officers of the church, when Elder G. A. Smith, Z. Pulsipher, and Prest. Young addressed the elders.
Thursday, April 8.
Conference opened in the usual manner at 9 a.m., when the saints were edified with a lecture on Education, by
Conference opened in the usual manner at 9 a.m., when the saints were edified with a lecture on Education, by
Orson Spencer, Chancellor of the University of Deseret, followed by L. Snow and W. W. Phelps.
Prest. Young
spoke during the remainder of the morning service, which will be hereafter published in full.
Education
It does not exactly please me at this time to make the remarks I wish upon the subject of education, as the greater part of the morning has been devoted to laying before the congregation, the necessity of improving ourselves in the knowledge of the sciences. The subject which has been aimed at by the speakers this morning, bearing particularly upon the necessity of instructing the human family, has been laid before us in the light in which it is generally held by the world. When we speak upon education, it is not to be understood that it alone consists in a man's learning the letters of the alphabet, in being trained in every branch of scholastic lore, in becoming a proficient in the knowledge of the sciences, and a classical scholar, but also in learning to classify himself and others. It has been hinted that education commences with the first dawn of knowledge upon the mental faculties of the child, and continues with it till death. But I will trace it a little further back still, and say that education commences with the mother, and the child in connection. I will state the facts in the case, as you will find them to be hereafter, in the education of your children. It depends in a great degree upon the mother, as to what children receive, in early age, of principle of every description, pertaining to all that can be learned by the human family. When will mothers understand this? Knowing that this is the case, I am perplexed with grief when I see such a wanton diversion from the real design of life, it causes me to mourn for my poor, ignorant, fellow mortals, and sometimes almost goads me to anger. I can see mothers pay attention to everything under heaven, but the training up of their children in the way they should go, and they will even make it appear obligatory on the father to take care of the child at a year old. How often is it the case that mothers will say—"Why, Pa, this child is growing up in ignorance, he is going to ruin. Really, dear husband, what shall we do with him?" I will tell you the truth as you will find it in eternity. If your children do not receive impressions of true piety, virtue, tenderness and every principle of the holy Gospel, you may be assured that their sins will not be required at the hands of the father, but of the mother. Lay it to heart, ye mothers, for it will unavoidably be so. The duty of the mother is to watch over her children, and give them their early education, for impressions received in infancy are lasting. You know, yourselves, by experience, that the impressions you have received in the dawn of your mortal existence, bear, to this day, with the greatest weight upon your mind. It is the experience of people generally, that what they imbibe from their mothers in infancy, is the most lasting upon the mind through life. This is natural, it is reasonable, it is right. I do not suppose you can find one person among five hundred, who does not think his mother to be the best woman that ever lived. This is right, it is planted in the human heart. The child reposes implicit confidence in the mother, you behold in him a natural attachment no matter what her appearance may be, that makes him think his mother is the best and handsomest mother in the world. I speak for myself. Children have all confidence in their mothers; and if mothers would take proper pains, they can instill into the hearts of their children what they please. You will, no doubt, recollect reading, in the Book of Mormon, of two thousand young men, who were brought up to believe that if they put their whole trust in God and served Him, no power would overcome them. You also recollect reading of them going out to fight, and so bold were they, and so mighty their faith, that it was impossible for their enemies to slay them. This power and faith they obtained through the teachings of their mothers.
The character of a person is formed through life, to a greater or less degree, by the teachings of the mother. The traits of early impressions that she gives the child, will be characteristic points in his character through every avenue of his mortal existence.
This is the education I wish you to establish in this Church, that mothers may not suppose they are not required to watch over the early education and impressions of their children, but over their husbands to know where they are every moment of their lives, taking special care to order them thus and so, so as to keep them advised and properly instructed all the time, instead of doing that which they ought in their houses with their children. I am not quite so strenuous as some of the ancients were, who taught that if the women wanted to learn anything, to learn it at home from their husbands. I am willing they should come to the meetings and learn, but some of the ancients proscribed them in this privilege, and would confine them at home to learn through their husbands. I am a little more liberal than they were, but this is not liberal enough for many of the women, they must also be watching their husbands, while at the same time their children are running abroad in the streets, naked and barefooted, cursing and swearing. What time have I got to watch my children today? Does not my duty demand my presence here? Where are my children? Some are here. Where are the rest of them? Perhaps in the streets, with other children, playing, or doing that which is wrong, entirely unnoticed by their mothers. This applies to the community. And then their mother will say—"Husband, our children will certainly be ruined." Mothers, what do you want? Do you wish your husband to sit all the time in the parlor with you? Yes, and I should suppose, by the conduct of some, you want to be seated over the head of God Almighty, to rule over Him, and all His kingdoms. If I mention my own family, and use them as an example, I do it that other people cannot complain. Do you suppose that I cannot see faults in my own family, as well as in my neighbors? I am not so prejudiced in their favor, as not to discover faults in them, neither can I close my eyes upon the faults of my neighbors.
What faults do I discover in my neighbors' families? I can see their women go off visiting, riding on horseback, attending parties, while their little ones are neglected, and left to run at large in the streets, exposed to the pernicious examples of vile company. Hear it again! The blood of these wicked children will be required at the hands of their mothers! Should your husbands be called out to fight the Indians, or go to the islands of the sea to gather the poor, it is none of your business, when it is their calling to be away from home.
I want education to commence here. I wish you strictly to follow out this principle, and when children are old enough to labor in the field, then the father will take them in charge. If children are not taught by their mothers, in the days of their youth, to revere and follow the counsels of their fathers, it will be hard indeed for the father ever to control them. I know it is so, for it is too true. Mothers will let their children go to the Devil in their childhood and when they are old enough to come under the immediate guidance of their fathers, to be sent out to preach the Gospel in the world, or to learn some kind of mechanism, they are as uncontrollable as the winds that now revel in the mountains.
It is not for the mother to rise up and encourage her children to fight against their father. You know my feelings on this point—they are pointed, resolute, and strong. And when I undertake to conquer a child who wants to conquer me, it shall be death to him before I yield. I would rather see every child I have, go into the grave this day, than suffer them to rise up and have control over me.
Mothers, if you suffer your children to grow up wild, and uncorrected, when they come into the hands of their fathers, and will not follow their counsels, let them be disowned, and have no portion in the inheritance; let them be disfranchised, be banished from Israel, and not be numbered in the books of the offspring of Abraham. This shall be the fate of my disobedient children, if I have any; and if there are any of my children here today, let them hear it! For if they will not keep my commandments, they shall have no part or lot in the household of faith.
Let education commence at this point, you mothers! And then with brother Spencer and the Board of Regents. Let mothers commence to teach their children while in their laps, there do you learn them to love the Lord, and keep His commandments. Teach them to keep your commandments, and you will learn them to keep the commandments of your husbands. It is not the prerogative of a child to dictate to his mother, or his father; and it is not the prerogative of the father to rise up and dictate to his God whom he serves. Is it right that my wife should dictate to me? It is just as reasonable, and as right, as it is for your children to rise up and dictate to their mother. It is not their business to dictate to you, their duty is to obey, and not to dictate.
The Lecture which you have heard from Chancellor Spencer, is so far in advance of us, that it does not touch the case of this people, at present, with regard to education, until they have learned the rudiments, that is, according to my view of the subject.
It is true the Lord has revealed great and precious revelations to us through our language, and I believe it is as good a language as any now in use; but when we scan it narrowly, we find it to be fraught with imperfections and ridiculous vagaries. I am as far from believing that it is meet for us to adopt it in preference to any other tongue, as I am that it is to adopt Presbyterianism, or the Baptist's religion, in preference to any other of the same order of anti-christian churches, for they are all imperfect. The Lord can reveal Himself to these Indians, He can talk to any nation, it makes no difference to Him, as He can connect the ideas He wishes to convey by means of their language, as imperfect as it is.
I wish to impress my lecture more particularly upon the minds of mothers. Am I not continually exhorting the brethren to be kind to their families, and never to ill use a human being on the earth? I exhort you, masters, fathers, and husbands, to be affectionate and kind to those you preside over. And let them be obedient, let the wife be subject to her husband, and the children to their parents. Mothers, let your minds be sanctified before the Lord, for this is the commencement, the true foundation of a proper education in your children, the beginning point to form a disposition in your offspring, that will bring honor, glory, comfort, and satisfaction to you all your life time. To the mothers who may be here today, who have not the experience they will have, and young women who are perhaps just entering upon the stage of life, let me say (and I wish you always to keep it in remembrance, even you younger females who have newly entered into the sacred state of matrimony), fulfil the commandments of Eloheim, fill up the measure of your creation, that the joy of your hearts may be full in the day of the resurrection, in that you have done all you could to fulfil His law, and bring to pass the purposes of the Lord. Always keep your minds pure before the Lord. You may say it is impossible, because of your temptations, but let me inquire, Do you pray? Did you pray this morning, before you left your houses? Did you pray last evening, before you laid your bodies down to rest? Did you pray that the Holy Spirit might rest upon you, so that your sleep might be sweet and refreshing? Some of you may reply, that you have children, and have not time to pay attention to this duty in the morning. Some of you may have sick families, and others of you may be afflicted in other ways, and you will offer these facts as reasons for similar neglect. In these circumstances the mind must be centered upon the Lord, and upon His work, continually. When you embark to fill up the end of your creation, never cease to seek to have the Spirit of the Lord rest upon you, that your minds may be peaceable, and as smooth as the summer breezes of heaven. Never cease a day of your life to have the Holy Ghost resting upon you. Fathers, never cease to pray that your wives may enjoy this blessing, that their infants may be endowed with the Holy Ghost, from their mother's womb. If you want to see a nation rise up full of the Holy Ghost, and of power, this is the way to bring it about. Every other duty that is obligatory upon man, woman, or child, will come in its place, and in its time and season. Remember it, brethren. Let your hearts be pure before the Lord, and never cease to do anything you can for the satisfaction and comfort of your family, that all may enjoy the comforts of the Spirit of the Lord continually. If you do not come to this, your literary attainments will not exceed those of the world.
We have but few collegians among us, but I know that a thoroughly educated man knows no more than you do, when his literature is displayed, though he spreads himself like the green bay tree. Brother Spencer has given us a display of the learning of the day, he has erected a beautiful building, but where is the foundation? In his discourse, he referred to Joseph. Joseph built on the sure foundation, and, when I build up my superstructure, it shall be upon the same foundation. Brother Spencer has used language quite beyond your reach. Well, I have the foundation, and he can make the building. When he commences the building, I have asked the Board of Regents to cast out from their system of education, the present orthography and written form of our language, that when my children are taught the graphic sign for A, it may always represent that individual sound only. But as it now is, the child is perplexed that the sign A should have one sound in mate, a second sound in father, a third sound in fall, a fourth sound in man, and a fifth sound in many, and, in other combinations, soundings different from these, while, in others, A is not sounded at all. I say, let it have one sound all the time. And when P is introduced into a word, let it not be silent as in Phthisic, or sound like F in Physic, and let two not be placed instead of one in apple.
I ask, have the great and learned men completed their education? No, they are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Let the Board of Regents commence on the proper foundation, that when we have learned a great while, we may find to our satisfaction, we have at last come to the knowledge of the truth.
The English language, in its written and printed form, is one of the most prominent now in use for absurdity, yet as a vehicle in which to convey our ideas verbally, it is one of the best, for extent and variety it goes before, and far beyond, any other. Its variety is what I dislike. The schools in the Southern, New England, and Eastern States, all teach the English language, yet the same ideas are conveyed with entirely different classes of words, by these separate communities. If there were one set of words to convey one set of ideas, it would put an end to the ambiguity which often mystifies the ideas given in the languages now spoken. Then when a great man delivered a learned lecture upon any subject, we could understand his words, for there would be only one word with the same meaning, instead of a multiplicity of words all meaning the same thing, as is the case now. For instance, there are men in this house so technical in their feelings with regard to their choice of words, that when their ideas are formed, and they commence to convey them, they will stop in the middle of a sentence, and introduce another set of words to convey the same idea. If I can speak so that you can get my meaning, I care not so much what words I use to convey that meaning.
I long for the time that a point of the finger, or motion of the hand, will express every idea without utterance. When a man is full of the light of eternity, then the eye is not the only medium through which he sees, his ear is not the only medium by which he hears, nor the brain the only means by which he understands. When the whole body is full of the Holy Ghost, he can see behind him with as much ease, without turning his head, as he can see before him. If you have not that experience, you ought to have. It is not the optic nerve alone that gives the knowledge of surrounding objects to the mind, but it is that which God has placed in man—a system of intelligence that attracts knowledge, as light cleaves to light, intelligence to intelligence, and truth to truth. It is this which lays in man a proper foundation for all education. I shall yet see the time that I can converse with this people, and not speak to them, but the expression of my countenance will tell the congregation what I wish to convey, without opening my mouth. We are at present low, weak, and groveling in the dark, but we are planted here in weakness for the purpose of exaltation. It is at the time of the formation of the tabernacle of flesh, that the education of human life commences. Now, mothers, train up your children in the way they should go. Fathers and husbands, instruct your wives and children in the ways of the Lord, and love, joy, and prosperity will attend you from this time, henceforth and forever, which may God grant for Jesus sake. Amen.
Adjourned for one hour;
spoke during the remainder of the morning service, which will be hereafter published in full.
Education
It does not exactly please me at this time to make the remarks I wish upon the subject of education, as the greater part of the morning has been devoted to laying before the congregation, the necessity of improving ourselves in the knowledge of the sciences. The subject which has been aimed at by the speakers this morning, bearing particularly upon the necessity of instructing the human family, has been laid before us in the light in which it is generally held by the world. When we speak upon education, it is not to be understood that it alone consists in a man's learning the letters of the alphabet, in being trained in every branch of scholastic lore, in becoming a proficient in the knowledge of the sciences, and a classical scholar, but also in learning to classify himself and others. It has been hinted that education commences with the first dawn of knowledge upon the mental faculties of the child, and continues with it till death. But I will trace it a little further back still, and say that education commences with the mother, and the child in connection. I will state the facts in the case, as you will find them to be hereafter, in the education of your children. It depends in a great degree upon the mother, as to what children receive, in early age, of principle of every description, pertaining to all that can be learned by the human family. When will mothers understand this? Knowing that this is the case, I am perplexed with grief when I see such a wanton diversion from the real design of life, it causes me to mourn for my poor, ignorant, fellow mortals, and sometimes almost goads me to anger. I can see mothers pay attention to everything under heaven, but the training up of their children in the way they should go, and they will even make it appear obligatory on the father to take care of the child at a year old. How often is it the case that mothers will say—"Why, Pa, this child is growing up in ignorance, he is going to ruin. Really, dear husband, what shall we do with him?" I will tell you the truth as you will find it in eternity. If your children do not receive impressions of true piety, virtue, tenderness and every principle of the holy Gospel, you may be assured that their sins will not be required at the hands of the father, but of the mother. Lay it to heart, ye mothers, for it will unavoidably be so. The duty of the mother is to watch over her children, and give them their early education, for impressions received in infancy are lasting. You know, yourselves, by experience, that the impressions you have received in the dawn of your mortal existence, bear, to this day, with the greatest weight upon your mind. It is the experience of people generally, that what they imbibe from their mothers in infancy, is the most lasting upon the mind through life. This is natural, it is reasonable, it is right. I do not suppose you can find one person among five hundred, who does not think his mother to be the best woman that ever lived. This is right, it is planted in the human heart. The child reposes implicit confidence in the mother, you behold in him a natural attachment no matter what her appearance may be, that makes him think his mother is the best and handsomest mother in the world. I speak for myself. Children have all confidence in their mothers; and if mothers would take proper pains, they can instill into the hearts of their children what they please. You will, no doubt, recollect reading, in the Book of Mormon, of two thousand young men, who were brought up to believe that if they put their whole trust in God and served Him, no power would overcome them. You also recollect reading of them going out to fight, and so bold were they, and so mighty their faith, that it was impossible for their enemies to slay them. This power and faith they obtained through the teachings of their mothers.
The character of a person is formed through life, to a greater or less degree, by the teachings of the mother. The traits of early impressions that she gives the child, will be characteristic points in his character through every avenue of his mortal existence.
This is the education I wish you to establish in this Church, that mothers may not suppose they are not required to watch over the early education and impressions of their children, but over their husbands to know where they are every moment of their lives, taking special care to order them thus and so, so as to keep them advised and properly instructed all the time, instead of doing that which they ought in their houses with their children. I am not quite so strenuous as some of the ancients were, who taught that if the women wanted to learn anything, to learn it at home from their husbands. I am willing they should come to the meetings and learn, but some of the ancients proscribed them in this privilege, and would confine them at home to learn through their husbands. I am a little more liberal than they were, but this is not liberal enough for many of the women, they must also be watching their husbands, while at the same time their children are running abroad in the streets, naked and barefooted, cursing and swearing. What time have I got to watch my children today? Does not my duty demand my presence here? Where are my children? Some are here. Where are the rest of them? Perhaps in the streets, with other children, playing, or doing that which is wrong, entirely unnoticed by their mothers. This applies to the community. And then their mother will say—"Husband, our children will certainly be ruined." Mothers, what do you want? Do you wish your husband to sit all the time in the parlor with you? Yes, and I should suppose, by the conduct of some, you want to be seated over the head of God Almighty, to rule over Him, and all His kingdoms. If I mention my own family, and use them as an example, I do it that other people cannot complain. Do you suppose that I cannot see faults in my own family, as well as in my neighbors? I am not so prejudiced in their favor, as not to discover faults in them, neither can I close my eyes upon the faults of my neighbors.
What faults do I discover in my neighbors' families? I can see their women go off visiting, riding on horseback, attending parties, while their little ones are neglected, and left to run at large in the streets, exposed to the pernicious examples of vile company. Hear it again! The blood of these wicked children will be required at the hands of their mothers! Should your husbands be called out to fight the Indians, or go to the islands of the sea to gather the poor, it is none of your business, when it is their calling to be away from home.
I want education to commence here. I wish you strictly to follow out this principle, and when children are old enough to labor in the field, then the father will take them in charge. If children are not taught by their mothers, in the days of their youth, to revere and follow the counsels of their fathers, it will be hard indeed for the father ever to control them. I know it is so, for it is too true. Mothers will let their children go to the Devil in their childhood and when they are old enough to come under the immediate guidance of their fathers, to be sent out to preach the Gospel in the world, or to learn some kind of mechanism, they are as uncontrollable as the winds that now revel in the mountains.
It is not for the mother to rise up and encourage her children to fight against their father. You know my feelings on this point—they are pointed, resolute, and strong. And when I undertake to conquer a child who wants to conquer me, it shall be death to him before I yield. I would rather see every child I have, go into the grave this day, than suffer them to rise up and have control over me.
Mothers, if you suffer your children to grow up wild, and uncorrected, when they come into the hands of their fathers, and will not follow their counsels, let them be disowned, and have no portion in the inheritance; let them be disfranchised, be banished from Israel, and not be numbered in the books of the offspring of Abraham. This shall be the fate of my disobedient children, if I have any; and if there are any of my children here today, let them hear it! For if they will not keep my commandments, they shall have no part or lot in the household of faith.
Let education commence at this point, you mothers! And then with brother Spencer and the Board of Regents. Let mothers commence to teach their children while in their laps, there do you learn them to love the Lord, and keep His commandments. Teach them to keep your commandments, and you will learn them to keep the commandments of your husbands. It is not the prerogative of a child to dictate to his mother, or his father; and it is not the prerogative of the father to rise up and dictate to his God whom he serves. Is it right that my wife should dictate to me? It is just as reasonable, and as right, as it is for your children to rise up and dictate to their mother. It is not their business to dictate to you, their duty is to obey, and not to dictate.
The Lecture which you have heard from Chancellor Spencer, is so far in advance of us, that it does not touch the case of this people, at present, with regard to education, until they have learned the rudiments, that is, according to my view of the subject.
It is true the Lord has revealed great and precious revelations to us through our language, and I believe it is as good a language as any now in use; but when we scan it narrowly, we find it to be fraught with imperfections and ridiculous vagaries. I am as far from believing that it is meet for us to adopt it in preference to any other tongue, as I am that it is to adopt Presbyterianism, or the Baptist's religion, in preference to any other of the same order of anti-christian churches, for they are all imperfect. The Lord can reveal Himself to these Indians, He can talk to any nation, it makes no difference to Him, as He can connect the ideas He wishes to convey by means of their language, as imperfect as it is.
I wish to impress my lecture more particularly upon the minds of mothers. Am I not continually exhorting the brethren to be kind to their families, and never to ill use a human being on the earth? I exhort you, masters, fathers, and husbands, to be affectionate and kind to those you preside over. And let them be obedient, let the wife be subject to her husband, and the children to their parents. Mothers, let your minds be sanctified before the Lord, for this is the commencement, the true foundation of a proper education in your children, the beginning point to form a disposition in your offspring, that will bring honor, glory, comfort, and satisfaction to you all your life time. To the mothers who may be here today, who have not the experience they will have, and young women who are perhaps just entering upon the stage of life, let me say (and I wish you always to keep it in remembrance, even you younger females who have newly entered into the sacred state of matrimony), fulfil the commandments of Eloheim, fill up the measure of your creation, that the joy of your hearts may be full in the day of the resurrection, in that you have done all you could to fulfil His law, and bring to pass the purposes of the Lord. Always keep your minds pure before the Lord. You may say it is impossible, because of your temptations, but let me inquire, Do you pray? Did you pray this morning, before you left your houses? Did you pray last evening, before you laid your bodies down to rest? Did you pray that the Holy Spirit might rest upon you, so that your sleep might be sweet and refreshing? Some of you may reply, that you have children, and have not time to pay attention to this duty in the morning. Some of you may have sick families, and others of you may be afflicted in other ways, and you will offer these facts as reasons for similar neglect. In these circumstances the mind must be centered upon the Lord, and upon His work, continually. When you embark to fill up the end of your creation, never cease to seek to have the Spirit of the Lord rest upon you, that your minds may be peaceable, and as smooth as the summer breezes of heaven. Never cease a day of your life to have the Holy Ghost resting upon you. Fathers, never cease to pray that your wives may enjoy this blessing, that their infants may be endowed with the Holy Ghost, from their mother's womb. If you want to see a nation rise up full of the Holy Ghost, and of power, this is the way to bring it about. Every other duty that is obligatory upon man, woman, or child, will come in its place, and in its time and season. Remember it, brethren. Let your hearts be pure before the Lord, and never cease to do anything you can for the satisfaction and comfort of your family, that all may enjoy the comforts of the Spirit of the Lord continually. If you do not come to this, your literary attainments will not exceed those of the world.
We have but few collegians among us, but I know that a thoroughly educated man knows no more than you do, when his literature is displayed, though he spreads himself like the green bay tree. Brother Spencer has given us a display of the learning of the day, he has erected a beautiful building, but where is the foundation? In his discourse, he referred to Joseph. Joseph built on the sure foundation, and, when I build up my superstructure, it shall be upon the same foundation. Brother Spencer has used language quite beyond your reach. Well, I have the foundation, and he can make the building. When he commences the building, I have asked the Board of Regents to cast out from their system of education, the present orthography and written form of our language, that when my children are taught the graphic sign for A, it may always represent that individual sound only. But as it now is, the child is perplexed that the sign A should have one sound in mate, a second sound in father, a third sound in fall, a fourth sound in man, and a fifth sound in many, and, in other combinations, soundings different from these, while, in others, A is not sounded at all. I say, let it have one sound all the time. And when P is introduced into a word, let it not be silent as in Phthisic, or sound like F in Physic, and let two not be placed instead of one in apple.
I ask, have the great and learned men completed their education? No, they are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Let the Board of Regents commence on the proper foundation, that when we have learned a great while, we may find to our satisfaction, we have at last come to the knowledge of the truth.
The English language, in its written and printed form, is one of the most prominent now in use for absurdity, yet as a vehicle in which to convey our ideas verbally, it is one of the best, for extent and variety it goes before, and far beyond, any other. Its variety is what I dislike. The schools in the Southern, New England, and Eastern States, all teach the English language, yet the same ideas are conveyed with entirely different classes of words, by these separate communities. If there were one set of words to convey one set of ideas, it would put an end to the ambiguity which often mystifies the ideas given in the languages now spoken. Then when a great man delivered a learned lecture upon any subject, we could understand his words, for there would be only one word with the same meaning, instead of a multiplicity of words all meaning the same thing, as is the case now. For instance, there are men in this house so technical in their feelings with regard to their choice of words, that when their ideas are formed, and they commence to convey them, they will stop in the middle of a sentence, and introduce another set of words to convey the same idea. If I can speak so that you can get my meaning, I care not so much what words I use to convey that meaning.
I long for the time that a point of the finger, or motion of the hand, will express every idea without utterance. When a man is full of the light of eternity, then the eye is not the only medium through which he sees, his ear is not the only medium by which he hears, nor the brain the only means by which he understands. When the whole body is full of the Holy Ghost, he can see behind him with as much ease, without turning his head, as he can see before him. If you have not that experience, you ought to have. It is not the optic nerve alone that gives the knowledge of surrounding objects to the mind, but it is that which God has placed in man—a system of intelligence that attracts knowledge, as light cleaves to light, intelligence to intelligence, and truth to truth. It is this which lays in man a proper foundation for all education. I shall yet see the time that I can converse with this people, and not speak to them, but the expression of my countenance will tell the congregation what I wish to convey, without opening my mouth. We are at present low, weak, and groveling in the dark, but we are planted here in weakness for the purpose of exaltation. It is at the time of the formation of the tabernacle of flesh, that the education of human life commences. Now, mothers, train up your children in the way they should go. Fathers and husbands, instruct your wives and children in the ways of the Lord, and love, joy, and prosperity will attend you from this time, henceforth and forever, which may God grant for Jesus sake. Amen.
Adjourned for one hour;
When conference was again opened;
after which the following song, composed by Miss Eliza R. Snow, was sung by John Kay.
THE SON OF GOD WILL COME
BY E. R. S.
An Angel from the upper heav’n
The “everlasting gospel” brought--
The Priesthood unto man is giv’n
Which God to Enoch taught;
And the renovation of earth is near--
The Messiah’s kingdom will soon be here--
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
Change, cloth’d with majesty and might,
Will wield his wonder-working rod;
Till Satan yields, and truth and light
And peace are spread abroad:
Till “the pow’rs that be” shall submit at one,
And the will of God on the earth is done:
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
Lo! from the Rocky Mountains’ height
The little stone is rolling on--
The pure in heart behold the light
Of the Millennial dawn;
And the vail of heav’n yet will open wide,
And the Groom descend to receive his bride;
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
The mighty in the heav’n of heav’ns,
Who in celestial councils meet,
Await the glorious signal giv’n
When Zion is complete;
And the Gods will shout thro’ the worlds on high,
When they see him crown’d who came down to die;
Then the saints will shout in triumph,
The Son of God has come.
after which the following song, composed by Miss Eliza R. Snow, was sung by John Kay.
THE SON OF GOD WILL COME
BY E. R. S.
An Angel from the upper heav’n
The “everlasting gospel” brought--
The Priesthood unto man is giv’n
Which God to Enoch taught;
And the renovation of earth is near--
The Messiah’s kingdom will soon be here--
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
Change, cloth’d with majesty and might,
Will wield his wonder-working rod;
Till Satan yields, and truth and light
And peace are spread abroad:
Till “the pow’rs that be” shall submit at one,
And the will of God on the earth is done:
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
Lo! from the Rocky Mountains’ height
The little stone is rolling on--
The pure in heart behold the light
Of the Millennial dawn;
And the vail of heav’n yet will open wide,
And the Groom descend to receive his bride;
Let the saints prepare to meet him--
The Son of God will come.
The mighty in the heav’n of heav’ns,
Who in celestial councils meet,
Await the glorious signal giv’n
When Zion is complete;
And the Gods will shout thro’ the worlds on high,
When they see him crown’d who came down to die;
Then the saints will shout in triumph,
The Son of God has come.
Prest. H. C. Kimball
plead in behalf of the Saints who were coming over the plains with wheelbarrows and handcarts, when 93 persons volunteered to go out with their teams to carry provisions and assist them on the road.
plead in behalf of the Saints who were coming over the plains with wheelbarrows and handcarts, when 93 persons volunteered to go out with their teams to carry provisions and assist them on the road.
Prest. Young
followed on the same subject; then the persons who had volunteered to go, voted to donate their services.
Thomas Margetts and Alfred Smith were voted to take a mission to Italy; Wm. Fotheringham to Calcutta and John C. Armstrong, Edward Bunker, David B. Dille, Samuel Glasgow, T. B. Broderick, John Dulling, and George Fenn, to go on foreign missions.
Choir sung “The prodigal son,” and adjourned to April 9, at 9 a.m.
followed on the same subject; then the persons who had volunteered to go, voted to donate their services.
Thomas Margetts and Alfred Smith were voted to take a mission to Italy; Wm. Fotheringham to Calcutta and John C. Armstrong, Edward Bunker, David B. Dille, Samuel Glasgow, T. B. Broderick, John Dulling, and George Fenn, to go on foreign missions.
Choir sung “The prodigal son,” and adjourned to April 9, at 9 a.m.
4 P. M.
The Seventies were convened and were seated by Quorums. Several persons were disfellowshipped, and 67 persons requested ordinations, who were sustained in their applications.
Preaching by Joseph Young, Wilford Woodruff, G. A. Smith, and others, until 9 1/2 p.m.
The Seventies were convened and were seated by Quorums. Several persons were disfellowshipped, and 67 persons requested ordinations, who were sustained in their applications.
Preaching by Joseph Young, Wilford Woodruff, G. A. Smith, and others, until 9 1/2 p.m.
Friday, April 9.
Conference opened in the usual form, when
Conference opened in the usual form, when
Phineas H. Young spoke of the different siftings in this church.
Prest. B. Young
addressed the saints on the subject of their endowments and poured forth revelation after revelation on the subject. A most heavenly influence prevailed. He closed by shouting Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord.
addressed the saints on the subject of their endowments and poured forth revelation after revelation on the subject. A most heavenly influence prevailed. He closed by shouting Hallelujah. Praise ye the Lord.
Elders John Banks and John Young also addressed the saints.
Choir sung, “The Spirit of God like a fire is burning.”
Sister Bybee spoke in tongues, when
Pres. Young
declared it to be a proper tongue, and inquired, what the nations would do if they were here; and said, if he was to give way to the brethren and sisters, the day of Pentecost would be in the shade in comparison to it.
Adjourned for one hour.
Sister Bybee spoke in tongues, when
Pres. Young
declared it to be a proper tongue, and inquired, what the nations would do if they were here; and said, if he was to give way to the brethren and sisters, the day of Pentecost would be in the shade in comparison to it.
Adjourned for one hour.
Half past 1 P. M.
Conference opened as usual, when Patriarch Isaac Morley, Elders H. G. Sherwood, Wm. Hyde, and Prest. Kimball severally addressed the assembly.
Choir sung a hymn;
benediction by Prest. W. Richards.
Adjourned till to-morrow, 9 o’clock a.m.
Conference opened as usual, when Patriarch Isaac Morley, Elders H. G. Sherwood, Wm. Hyde, and Prest. Kimball severally addressed the assembly.
Choir sung a hymn;
benediction by Prest. W. Richards.
Adjourned till to-morrow, 9 o’clock a.m.
6 P. M.
The elders and brethren assembled in the Tabernacle which was completely crowded. After the usual introductory exercises,
The elders and brethren assembled in the Tabernacle which was completely crowded. After the usual introductory exercises,
Pres. Young
preached several sermons on various subjects, (the Holy Ghost resting upon him in great power, while he revealed some of the precious things of the kingdom.)
Self-Government—Mysteries—Recreation and Amusements, Not in Themselves Sinful—Tithing—Adam, Our Father and Our God
It is my intention to preach several discourses this evening, but how many I do not know.
I will in the first place bear testimony to the truth of many remarks made by brother Hunter, and especially his exhortation to the Seventies and Elders, and those men who wish to go on missions. I wish also to urge the necessity of your proceeding on your missions immediately, and of going to the place of your destination full of the Holy Ghost, preaching righteousness to the people; and while you do this, live up to the principles you preach, that you may teach also by your example, as well as by precept. Go, ye Elders, and now consider yourselves from this time forth missionaries. If the Gospel is in you like a flaming fire, to be poured upon the people, gather your neighbors together, and give your brethren an invitation to your house, and set before them the duties of man; and preach, if you can speak but for five minutes, occupying that time to the best advantage. Continue to preach, study, and learn, by faith and prayer, until your minds and mouths are opened, and you understand most perfectly the love of Christ.
It is not uncommon for Elders to say, "If I could have a mission, and be sent among strangers, I could speak to them, because they have not been instructed in the way of life and salvation; I could lay before them the principles of the Gospel, which have been taught to me, without that diffidence of feeling, and fear, which I experience while speaking to my brethren." It is very true that the first principles of the Gospel taught by the Elders of this Church are easy to be understood, compared with what it is to preach them to our families, or to our neighborhood, and to govern and control ourselves by the principles of righteousness which the Gospel inculcates. Again, to gather the Saints, to preach the Gospel to the world, and convince them of the truth, are much easier tasks than to convince men that you can master yourself, and practice the moral principles inculcated by your religion. That is a small portion of the duty required of you in order to obtain crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives. I will here remark, that it is natural for the people to desire to know a great deal of the mysteries; this, however, is not universally the case, though it is so with a great many of the Elders of Israel. I do not suppose it will apply to those who compose this congregation; your object in being here this evening is not to hear some great mystery of the Kingdom, which you never understood before. The greatest mystery a man ever learned, is to know how to control the human mind, and bring every faculty and power of the same in subjection to Jesus Christ; this is the greatest mystery we have to learn while in these tabernacles of clay. It is more necessary for the Elders to learn and practice upon this lesson in the midst of the Saints at headquarters than in the world; for their facilities for learning are much greater, and I will tell you wherein. Let a Bishop, a High Priest, a President of any Stake or Quorum, any who are Elders in Israel, or any individual Saint from the first to the last of them, fall into error, and it is at once made manifest; he cannot pursue that course any further, for he is where he can learn his duties, and know how to walk straight in the paths of righteousness. Here is the place for you to teach great mysteries to your brethren, because here are those who can correct you. This fault the Elders of Israel do not fall into in this Tabernacle, although they may in private houses and neighborhoods. When a man is capable of correcting you, and of giving you light, and true doctrine, do not get up an altercation, but submit to be taught like little children, and strive with all your might to understand. The privileges of those who dwell here are greater than the privileges of those who are abroad. When your duties call you into foreign lands, and you there exhaust your stock of knowledge and wisdom, and you are not in possession of the keys to obtain that instruction which you desire, it is because you are far from the right fountain—far from the body, where all the members are in lively operation—where the eye can see, the ear hear, the nose smell, and the mouth speak, and so forth. When your face is turned from the body, let mysteries alone, for this is the only place for you to be corrected if wrong. Preach the simple, unadorned truth; work out your salvation with diligence, and do that which will guarantee you a warranted deed, an undeniable title to eternal lives.
If you feel prayer in you, pray; and if you feel the spirit of preaching in you, preach; call in your brethren, and read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Covenants, and the other revelations of God to them; and talk over the things contained in those books, and deal them out to your brethren and neighbors; pray with them, and teach them how to control themselves; and let your teachings be sustained by your own example. Teach your families how to control themselves; teach them good and wholesome doctrine, and practice the same in your own lives. This is the place for you to become polished shafts in the quiver of the Almighty. This will answer for one sermon.
I feel much inclined to talk to the brethren: I have not had the privilege of preaching much for some time, because of the inconvenience of our former meeting place. Now, as we have a good, convenient place to meet in, and my health will serve me, I expect to improve the time. I love to preach at home with the Saints. I love to meet with them, and look upon their happy countenances, lit up with the joys of eternity. In short, I love the society of all good men, and to preach salvation to them.
You may consider what I shall now lay before you a small matter; but I think it of some importance. When the Elders of Israel leave this place and go forth among the wicked, it is not their privilege to mingle with them in any of their worldly exercises; for if they do, the devil will obtain an advantage over them, and succeed in drawing them away from the path of their duty. For instance—suppose you and I, with many more of the brethren, meet together in a convenient place in the Valley, and dance to the sweet strains of the violin; we could do so with a perfect good will; but if we should be called to England, and there have an invitation to join with the wicked in their pastimes and recreations, and we in our feelings bow down to this, and suffer our spirits to be subject to their commandments, we suffer ourselves to be ruled over by them, and at once become their servants. While I am here, I am in the midst of the Priesthood of heaven, and in the center of the kingdom of God. We are before the Lord, where every hand I shake is the hand of a Saint, and every face I see, when I look upon the assembled thousands, is the countenance of a Saint. I am the controller and master of affairs here, under Heaven's direction; though there are those who do not believe this. I invite those who are not subject to me as their President, not to contaminate my friends; for were I and my friends to become subject to those who object to us, we are then on the ground of the devil, and subject ourselves to him they serve.
Never suffer yourselves to mingle in any of those recreations that tend to sin and iniquity, while you are away from the body of the Church, where you cannot so fully control yourselves. Let the Elders who are going out from this place carry this instruction with them into the other portions of the earth. Whatever a man does, let him do it in the name of the Lord—let him work in the name of the Lord, let all his acts through life be in the name of the Lord; and if he wants light and knowledge, let him ask in that name.
You are well aware that the wickedness of the world, or the apostasy of the Church, is so great, that those who now profess religion cannot enjoy their own natural privileges in the world. In many places their folly and superstition are so great that they would consider they had committed the sin of blasphemy if they happened to hear a violin. The whole world could not hire a good, honest, sound Presbyterian, of the old fashion and cut, to look into a room where a company of young men and women were dancing, lest they should sin against the Holy Ghost. This over-righteous notion is imbibed by the generality of professors of religion, but it is because they themselves have made it a sin. Let us look at the root of the matter. In the first place, some wise being organized my system, and gave me my capacity, put into my heart and brain something that delights, charms, and fills me with rapture at the sound of sweet music. I did not put it there; it was some other being. As one of the modern writers has said, "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." It has been proved that sweet music will actually tame the most malicious and venomous beasts, even when they have been stirred up to violent wrath, and make them docile and harmless as lambs. Who gave the lower animals a love for those sweet sounds, which with magic power fill the air with harmony, and cheer and comfort the hearts of men, and so wonderfully affect the brute creation? It was the Lord, our heavenly Father, who gave the capacity to enjoy these sounds, and which we ought to do in His name, and to His glory. But the greater portion of the sectarian world consider it sacrilege to give way to any such pleasure as even to listen to sweet music, much more to dance to its delightful strains. This is another short sermon.
I wish now to say a few words to the brethren upon the subject of tithing. It is well known to the majority of this Conference what transpired, last Conference, upon the stand in the old Bowery. At that Conference I had good cause to find fault with the Bishops, and I took the liberty to brush them down a little. From that day to this there has been more accomplished by our Bishops in the short space of seven months, than was accomplished by them for the space of years previously. This gives me great satisfaction. The Bishops have done as well as men could do: their conduct in fulfilling the duties of their calling has truly been praiseworthy, and I feel to bless them, and pray the Lord to bless them all the day long, for they have done first rate. When we consider the ignorance of the world, their unbelief in God, and realize that the veil of the covering is over the face of all nations, and remember the ignorance we were once in ourselves, having to commence like babes at the rudiments of learning, knowing also how faltering men are in their faith, and then look at what this people have accomplished, we are led to exclaim, "It is marvelous in our eyes!" Were I to say, "Elders of Israel, you that feel to put your all upon the altar, rise upon your feet," who would be left? [All present rose up simultaneously.] Where is there another people upon the earth who would have done this? I have no tithing, but all—all I have is the Lord's. You know the word sacrifice: as brother Banks said today, it is a mere burlesque—a nonsensical term. No man ever heard me say I had made a sacrifice. I possess nothing but what my heavenly Father has been pleased to give me, or, in other words, He has loaned it to me while I remain here in this mortal flesh.
Is it not marvelous, considering the weakness of man, to see the willingness of this whole people to die if necessary for the truth? How do you suppose it makes me feel? Though I may sometimes chastise my brethren, and speak to them in the language of reproof, there is not a father who feels more tenderly towards his offspring, and loves them better than I love this people; and my Father in heaven loves them; my heart yearns over them with all the emotions of tenderness, so that I could weep like a child; but I am careful to keep my tears to myself. If you do wrong, it grieves my heart, and it also grieves the heart of my heavenly Father. I feel continually to urge my brethren to cease from all evil, and learn to do well.
The fullness of the heavens and the earth is the Lord's—the gold and the silver, the wheat, the fine flour, and the cattle upon a thousand hills; and when we fully understand His works, we shall know that He is in all the earth, and fulfills His will among the children of men, exalting and debasing them according to His pleasure; for the systems, creeds, thrones, and kingdoms of the world are all under His control. "Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it" —or that He doth not control? The Lord controls the whole; and in the end, you will find He has regulated all things right, for all will be consummated to His glory.
The children of men are made as independent in their sphere as the Lord is in His, to prove themselves, pursue which path they please, and choose the evil or the good. For those who love the Lord, and do His will, all is right, and they shall be crowned, but those who hate His ways shall be damned, for they choose to be damned.
As I was meditating on the philosophy of the day, it occurred to my mind how visible it must appear to all eyes that the Lord does indeed work, that it is He who blesses this people; and yet it seems as though they cannot see His hand. The Lord fills the immensity of space. What saith the Psalmist? "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me." I was trying to think of the place where God is not, but it is impossible, unless you can find empty space; and there I believe He is not. If you can find such a place, it will become useful for a hiding place to those who wish to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord, in the great day of accounts. I will close this sermon, as I intend to preach another before I present the subject I more particularly wish to speak upon.
My next sermon will be to both Saint and sinner. One thing has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day. It is in regard to the character of the well-beloved Son of God, upon which subject the Elders of Israel have conflicting views. Our God and Father in heaven, is a being of tabernacle, or, in other words, He has a body, with parts the same as you and I have; and is capable of showing forth His works to organized beings, as, for instance, in the world in which we live, it is the result of the knowledge and infinite wisdom that dwell in His organized body. His son Jesus Christ has become a personage of tabernacle, and has a body like his father. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord, and issues forth from Himself, and may properly be called God's minister to execute His will in immensity; being called to govern by His influence and power; but He is not a person of tabernacle as we are, and as our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are. The question has been, and is often, asked, who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary. The infidel world have concluded that if what the Apostles wrote about his father and mother be true, and the present marriage discipline acknowledged by Christendom be correct, then Christians must believe that God is the father of an illegitimate son, in the person of Jesus Christ! The infidel fraternity teach that to their disciples. I will tell you how it is. Our Father in Heaven begat all the spirits that ever were, or ever will be, upon this earth; and they were born spirits in the eternal world. Then the Lord by His power and wisdom organized the mortal tabernacle of man. We were made first spiritual, and afterwards temporal.
Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken—He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later. They came here, organized the raw material, and arranged in their order the herbs of the field, the trees, the apple, the peach, the plum, the pear, and every other fruit that is desirable and good for man; the seed was brought from another sphere, and planted in this earth. The thistle, the thorn, the brier, and the obnoxious weed did not appear until after the earth was cursed. When Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, their bodies became mortal from its effects, and therefore their offspring were mortal. When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father, and so on in succession. I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and over-righteous of mankind. However, I have told you the truth as far as I have gone. I have heard men preach upon the divinity of Christ, and exhaust all the wisdom they possessed. All Scripturalists, and approved theologians who were considered exemplary for piety and education, have undertaken to expound on this subject, in every age of the Christian era; and after they have done all, they are obliged to conclude by exclaiming "great is the mystery of godliness," and tell nothing.
It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, "it is an immaterial substance!" What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.
I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea—"if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties."
Treasure up these things in your hearts. In the Bible, you have read the things I have told you tonight; but you have not known what you did read. I have told you no more than you are conversant with; but what do the people in Christendom, with the Bible in their hands, know about this subject? Comparatively nothing.
I will now again take up the subject of tithing. The brethren have done well. They have been willing and obedient, no people could have been more so; for this I thank my Father in Heaven. I could not wish a people to work more kindly in the yoke of Jesus than this people do; the yoke grows more and more easy to them. It seems that every man will not only pay his tithing, but give all he has, if the Lord requires it: still I see wherein they may do better. I asked the people today to assist to pay our Church liabilities. The offer of three or four yoke of oxen only, we do not want; but I will lay before you what we wish you to do. By the manifesto which has been read, you have learned the precise situation of the property of the Church. What has incurred this debt? Why does it exist in the shape in which it now appears? And wherein could we have obviated the difficulty, and done better? A fourth part of the money already paid out, did not come in upon tithing. This money we have had to borrow in order to keep the public works in progress. You may say, wherein could we have done better, for we have paid our tithing punctually? But has that brother, who sent $100 back to the East for merchandise, paid $10 of it into the tithing office? Or did the brother who has sent $500 back, let us have $50? No; these have used it themselves, and thereby involved those who bear the responsibilities of the Trust. Again, those who have not possessed sufficient money to send back for merchandise, have been necessitated to pay out what they had. Thousands of dollars have been paid here for merchandise. Has one-tenth of all that money been paid into the tithing office? It has not. And where is the tithing that should have come in from England and California. Instead of tithing their money, they have used it for other purposes, and paid it in property, with which we could not pay our debts. This is wherein we have failed to liquidate our debts. The people go to these Gentile stores, on the Saturday, in crowds, to purchase goods. I think we shall not overrate the amount, if we say that $500,000 has been paid, in these valleys, to the merchants. But suppose they have received no more than $50,000 from this community, $5,000 of that money ought to have been first paid into the tithing office; and we could have sent it to the States, and purchased goods ourselves, for one-third or one-half less than we have to pay the merchants here. And $25,000 more should have come into the tithing office from the Church in the United States. The brethren in California have made no less than $100,000; the tenth of which is due this tithing office. For want of this money, we are brought into bondage and we must now apply our faith and works to raise means to liquidate our indebtedness, which has accumulated by purchasing goods at high and extortionate prices. I find no fault with the merchants, for they came here to gather gold by the hundred weight.
Now, brethren, and Bishops, look over this matter, and try to think what your feelings would be if you were laid under the same responsibility that I and my brethren have upon our shoulders. We are required to see the Gospel preached to the nations afar off, to build council houses and temples, to cope with the united wisdom and craft of legislative assemblies, and with the powers of darkness in high places; and then place yourselves in the circumstances we are now placed in! Besides all this, see the hundreds who come to us everyday to be administered to in various ways: some want fruit, some sugar, others tea, and all want clothing, &c. Then step into our private rooms, where we commune with the people, and you will see and hear all this, and a great deal more. Instead of every man bringing his picayune, or his sixpence, or his $5, &c., as tithing on the money in his possession, it is all used for something else, and the storehouse of the Lord is left empty. Suppose nothing had been put in there but what the people have put in, the workmen would have been naked. Walk into the storehouse, and examine for yourselves. To be sure there has been a little clothing put in lately; for instance, there was an old silk dress put in for $40, that had been lying for years rotting in the chest: this is a specimen of the rest. What are such things worth to our workmen? Why, nothing at all. We wish you to put in strong and substantial clothing. Good, strong, homemade stuffs make the most suitable clothing for those who are building up the public works.
Will you help us out of this thralldom, and have it credited to your future tithing? There is already a great deal more due than would liquidate all our debts, but we cannot command it now. Do you feel willing to put your shoulder to the wheel, and continue to roll it forward, and still continue, you that have faith to continue, to increase in faith? For the business of this kingdom will increase, and the responsibility also; the labor will and must grow, and continue to increase, until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and His Christ. So much on tithing; you see where the failure is; it is in that point, and nowhere else.
It is not for any man to think he is a cipher—that what he can do will not tell in this matter, and say, "They will get along well enough without me;" but it is every man's duty to lay it to heart, and help what he can with his earthly substance; though I wish you to understand distinctly that it is no commandment—you are left to act freely.
Let all the sheep stay in the Valley; also the cows; for they will give milk and butter, and replenish the stock. But when we speak of the horses, mules, and oxen, let every man look up his spare stock of this description, and with them help to liquidate these debts. Stock will now pay debts. I will use my stock for this purpose, and my brethren will do the same, until we have enough. I do not enjoin this upon you, as you have already paid the tithing which is required of you; except in some instances in the money tithing. Had we received the money due to us, we should have had no debts; but this failure has been, and is now, in existence. I will take every kind of spare stock I have, except my cows and sheep, and wipe off these debts until they are cancelled; and now every man who will do the same, let him rise upon his feet. [The whole congregation of two thousand men rose up to a man.] Do you suppose we want to deprive you of your teams? It is not so, but we wished to know the state of your faith, so that when we are ready to call upon you, we can be sure our call will be responded to. I would not cripple any man, I would rather give him five yoke of oxen, than destroy his team, and you know it. [Some of the brethren in the stand, not believing their own eyes, that the whole congregation rose, it was tried over again, to satisfy them, when the congregation all rose again to a man.] Brother Hunter now knows what to do. Many of the brethren are killing their calves; don't do this; if you cannot raise them, it will be better to give them away to those who can.
I bless you, and may the Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Choir sung a hymn, Benediction by Elder Sherwood.
preached several sermons on various subjects, (the Holy Ghost resting upon him in great power, while he revealed some of the precious things of the kingdom.)
Self-Government—Mysteries—Recreation and Amusements, Not in Themselves Sinful—Tithing—Adam, Our Father and Our God
It is my intention to preach several discourses this evening, but how many I do not know.
I will in the first place bear testimony to the truth of many remarks made by brother Hunter, and especially his exhortation to the Seventies and Elders, and those men who wish to go on missions. I wish also to urge the necessity of your proceeding on your missions immediately, and of going to the place of your destination full of the Holy Ghost, preaching righteousness to the people; and while you do this, live up to the principles you preach, that you may teach also by your example, as well as by precept. Go, ye Elders, and now consider yourselves from this time forth missionaries. If the Gospel is in you like a flaming fire, to be poured upon the people, gather your neighbors together, and give your brethren an invitation to your house, and set before them the duties of man; and preach, if you can speak but for five minutes, occupying that time to the best advantage. Continue to preach, study, and learn, by faith and prayer, until your minds and mouths are opened, and you understand most perfectly the love of Christ.
It is not uncommon for Elders to say, "If I could have a mission, and be sent among strangers, I could speak to them, because they have not been instructed in the way of life and salvation; I could lay before them the principles of the Gospel, which have been taught to me, without that diffidence of feeling, and fear, which I experience while speaking to my brethren." It is very true that the first principles of the Gospel taught by the Elders of this Church are easy to be understood, compared with what it is to preach them to our families, or to our neighborhood, and to govern and control ourselves by the principles of righteousness which the Gospel inculcates. Again, to gather the Saints, to preach the Gospel to the world, and convince them of the truth, are much easier tasks than to convince men that you can master yourself, and practice the moral principles inculcated by your religion. That is a small portion of the duty required of you in order to obtain crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives. I will here remark, that it is natural for the people to desire to know a great deal of the mysteries; this, however, is not universally the case, though it is so with a great many of the Elders of Israel. I do not suppose it will apply to those who compose this congregation; your object in being here this evening is not to hear some great mystery of the Kingdom, which you never understood before. The greatest mystery a man ever learned, is to know how to control the human mind, and bring every faculty and power of the same in subjection to Jesus Christ; this is the greatest mystery we have to learn while in these tabernacles of clay. It is more necessary for the Elders to learn and practice upon this lesson in the midst of the Saints at headquarters than in the world; for their facilities for learning are much greater, and I will tell you wherein. Let a Bishop, a High Priest, a President of any Stake or Quorum, any who are Elders in Israel, or any individual Saint from the first to the last of them, fall into error, and it is at once made manifest; he cannot pursue that course any further, for he is where he can learn his duties, and know how to walk straight in the paths of righteousness. Here is the place for you to teach great mysteries to your brethren, because here are those who can correct you. This fault the Elders of Israel do not fall into in this Tabernacle, although they may in private houses and neighborhoods. When a man is capable of correcting you, and of giving you light, and true doctrine, do not get up an altercation, but submit to be taught like little children, and strive with all your might to understand. The privileges of those who dwell here are greater than the privileges of those who are abroad. When your duties call you into foreign lands, and you there exhaust your stock of knowledge and wisdom, and you are not in possession of the keys to obtain that instruction which you desire, it is because you are far from the right fountain—far from the body, where all the members are in lively operation—where the eye can see, the ear hear, the nose smell, and the mouth speak, and so forth. When your face is turned from the body, let mysteries alone, for this is the only place for you to be corrected if wrong. Preach the simple, unadorned truth; work out your salvation with diligence, and do that which will guarantee you a warranted deed, an undeniable title to eternal lives.
If you feel prayer in you, pray; and if you feel the spirit of preaching in you, preach; call in your brethren, and read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Covenants, and the other revelations of God to them; and talk over the things contained in those books, and deal them out to your brethren and neighbors; pray with them, and teach them how to control themselves; and let your teachings be sustained by your own example. Teach your families how to control themselves; teach them good and wholesome doctrine, and practice the same in your own lives. This is the place for you to become polished shafts in the quiver of the Almighty. This will answer for one sermon.
I feel much inclined to talk to the brethren: I have not had the privilege of preaching much for some time, because of the inconvenience of our former meeting place. Now, as we have a good, convenient place to meet in, and my health will serve me, I expect to improve the time. I love to preach at home with the Saints. I love to meet with them, and look upon their happy countenances, lit up with the joys of eternity. In short, I love the society of all good men, and to preach salvation to them.
You may consider what I shall now lay before you a small matter; but I think it of some importance. When the Elders of Israel leave this place and go forth among the wicked, it is not their privilege to mingle with them in any of their worldly exercises; for if they do, the devil will obtain an advantage over them, and succeed in drawing them away from the path of their duty. For instance—suppose you and I, with many more of the brethren, meet together in a convenient place in the Valley, and dance to the sweet strains of the violin; we could do so with a perfect good will; but if we should be called to England, and there have an invitation to join with the wicked in their pastimes and recreations, and we in our feelings bow down to this, and suffer our spirits to be subject to their commandments, we suffer ourselves to be ruled over by them, and at once become their servants. While I am here, I am in the midst of the Priesthood of heaven, and in the center of the kingdom of God. We are before the Lord, where every hand I shake is the hand of a Saint, and every face I see, when I look upon the assembled thousands, is the countenance of a Saint. I am the controller and master of affairs here, under Heaven's direction; though there are those who do not believe this. I invite those who are not subject to me as their President, not to contaminate my friends; for were I and my friends to become subject to those who object to us, we are then on the ground of the devil, and subject ourselves to him they serve.
Never suffer yourselves to mingle in any of those recreations that tend to sin and iniquity, while you are away from the body of the Church, where you cannot so fully control yourselves. Let the Elders who are going out from this place carry this instruction with them into the other portions of the earth. Whatever a man does, let him do it in the name of the Lord—let him work in the name of the Lord, let all his acts through life be in the name of the Lord; and if he wants light and knowledge, let him ask in that name.
You are well aware that the wickedness of the world, or the apostasy of the Church, is so great, that those who now profess religion cannot enjoy their own natural privileges in the world. In many places their folly and superstition are so great that they would consider they had committed the sin of blasphemy if they happened to hear a violin. The whole world could not hire a good, honest, sound Presbyterian, of the old fashion and cut, to look into a room where a company of young men and women were dancing, lest they should sin against the Holy Ghost. This over-righteous notion is imbibed by the generality of professors of religion, but it is because they themselves have made it a sin. Let us look at the root of the matter. In the first place, some wise being organized my system, and gave me my capacity, put into my heart and brain something that delights, charms, and fills me with rapture at the sound of sweet music. I did not put it there; it was some other being. As one of the modern writers has said, "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." It has been proved that sweet music will actually tame the most malicious and venomous beasts, even when they have been stirred up to violent wrath, and make them docile and harmless as lambs. Who gave the lower animals a love for those sweet sounds, which with magic power fill the air with harmony, and cheer and comfort the hearts of men, and so wonderfully affect the brute creation? It was the Lord, our heavenly Father, who gave the capacity to enjoy these sounds, and which we ought to do in His name, and to His glory. But the greater portion of the sectarian world consider it sacrilege to give way to any such pleasure as even to listen to sweet music, much more to dance to its delightful strains. This is another short sermon.
I wish now to say a few words to the brethren upon the subject of tithing. It is well known to the majority of this Conference what transpired, last Conference, upon the stand in the old Bowery. At that Conference I had good cause to find fault with the Bishops, and I took the liberty to brush them down a little. From that day to this there has been more accomplished by our Bishops in the short space of seven months, than was accomplished by them for the space of years previously. This gives me great satisfaction. The Bishops have done as well as men could do: their conduct in fulfilling the duties of their calling has truly been praiseworthy, and I feel to bless them, and pray the Lord to bless them all the day long, for they have done first rate. When we consider the ignorance of the world, their unbelief in God, and realize that the veil of the covering is over the face of all nations, and remember the ignorance we were once in ourselves, having to commence like babes at the rudiments of learning, knowing also how faltering men are in their faith, and then look at what this people have accomplished, we are led to exclaim, "It is marvelous in our eyes!" Were I to say, "Elders of Israel, you that feel to put your all upon the altar, rise upon your feet," who would be left? [All present rose up simultaneously.] Where is there another people upon the earth who would have done this? I have no tithing, but all—all I have is the Lord's. You know the word sacrifice: as brother Banks said today, it is a mere burlesque—a nonsensical term. No man ever heard me say I had made a sacrifice. I possess nothing but what my heavenly Father has been pleased to give me, or, in other words, He has loaned it to me while I remain here in this mortal flesh.
Is it not marvelous, considering the weakness of man, to see the willingness of this whole people to die if necessary for the truth? How do you suppose it makes me feel? Though I may sometimes chastise my brethren, and speak to them in the language of reproof, there is not a father who feels more tenderly towards his offspring, and loves them better than I love this people; and my Father in heaven loves them; my heart yearns over them with all the emotions of tenderness, so that I could weep like a child; but I am careful to keep my tears to myself. If you do wrong, it grieves my heart, and it also grieves the heart of my heavenly Father. I feel continually to urge my brethren to cease from all evil, and learn to do well.
The fullness of the heavens and the earth is the Lord's—the gold and the silver, the wheat, the fine flour, and the cattle upon a thousand hills; and when we fully understand His works, we shall know that He is in all the earth, and fulfills His will among the children of men, exalting and debasing them according to His pleasure; for the systems, creeds, thrones, and kingdoms of the world are all under His control. "Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it" —or that He doth not control? The Lord controls the whole; and in the end, you will find He has regulated all things right, for all will be consummated to His glory.
The children of men are made as independent in their sphere as the Lord is in His, to prove themselves, pursue which path they please, and choose the evil or the good. For those who love the Lord, and do His will, all is right, and they shall be crowned, but those who hate His ways shall be damned, for they choose to be damned.
As I was meditating on the philosophy of the day, it occurred to my mind how visible it must appear to all eyes that the Lord does indeed work, that it is He who blesses this people; and yet it seems as though they cannot see His hand. The Lord fills the immensity of space. What saith the Psalmist? "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me." I was trying to think of the place where God is not, but it is impossible, unless you can find empty space; and there I believe He is not. If you can find such a place, it will become useful for a hiding place to those who wish to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord, in the great day of accounts. I will close this sermon, as I intend to preach another before I present the subject I more particularly wish to speak upon.
My next sermon will be to both Saint and sinner. One thing has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day. It is in regard to the character of the well-beloved Son of God, upon which subject the Elders of Israel have conflicting views. Our God and Father in heaven, is a being of tabernacle, or, in other words, He has a body, with parts the same as you and I have; and is capable of showing forth His works to organized beings, as, for instance, in the world in which we live, it is the result of the knowledge and infinite wisdom that dwell in His organized body. His son Jesus Christ has become a personage of tabernacle, and has a body like his father. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord, and issues forth from Himself, and may properly be called God's minister to execute His will in immensity; being called to govern by His influence and power; but He is not a person of tabernacle as we are, and as our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are. The question has been, and is often, asked, who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary. The infidel world have concluded that if what the Apostles wrote about his father and mother be true, and the present marriage discipline acknowledged by Christendom be correct, then Christians must believe that God is the father of an illegitimate son, in the person of Jesus Christ! The infidel fraternity teach that to their disciples. I will tell you how it is. Our Father in Heaven begat all the spirits that ever were, or ever will be, upon this earth; and they were born spirits in the eternal world. Then the Lord by His power and wisdom organized the mortal tabernacle of man. We were made first spiritual, and afterwards temporal.
Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken—He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later. They came here, organized the raw material, and arranged in their order the herbs of the field, the trees, the apple, the peach, the plum, the pear, and every other fruit that is desirable and good for man; the seed was brought from another sphere, and planted in this earth. The thistle, the thorn, the brier, and the obnoxious weed did not appear until after the earth was cursed. When Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, their bodies became mortal from its effects, and therefore their offspring were mortal. When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father, and so on in succession. I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and over-righteous of mankind. However, I have told you the truth as far as I have gone. I have heard men preach upon the divinity of Christ, and exhaust all the wisdom they possessed. All Scripturalists, and approved theologians who were considered exemplary for piety and education, have undertaken to expound on this subject, in every age of the Christian era; and after they have done all, they are obliged to conclude by exclaiming "great is the mystery of godliness," and tell nothing.
It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, "it is an immaterial substance!" What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.
I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea—"if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties."
Treasure up these things in your hearts. In the Bible, you have read the things I have told you tonight; but you have not known what you did read. I have told you no more than you are conversant with; but what do the people in Christendom, with the Bible in their hands, know about this subject? Comparatively nothing.
I will now again take up the subject of tithing. The brethren have done well. They have been willing and obedient, no people could have been more so; for this I thank my Father in Heaven. I could not wish a people to work more kindly in the yoke of Jesus than this people do; the yoke grows more and more easy to them. It seems that every man will not only pay his tithing, but give all he has, if the Lord requires it: still I see wherein they may do better. I asked the people today to assist to pay our Church liabilities. The offer of three or four yoke of oxen only, we do not want; but I will lay before you what we wish you to do. By the manifesto which has been read, you have learned the precise situation of the property of the Church. What has incurred this debt? Why does it exist in the shape in which it now appears? And wherein could we have obviated the difficulty, and done better? A fourth part of the money already paid out, did not come in upon tithing. This money we have had to borrow in order to keep the public works in progress. You may say, wherein could we have done better, for we have paid our tithing punctually? But has that brother, who sent $100 back to the East for merchandise, paid $10 of it into the tithing office? Or did the brother who has sent $500 back, let us have $50? No; these have used it themselves, and thereby involved those who bear the responsibilities of the Trust. Again, those who have not possessed sufficient money to send back for merchandise, have been necessitated to pay out what they had. Thousands of dollars have been paid here for merchandise. Has one-tenth of all that money been paid into the tithing office? It has not. And where is the tithing that should have come in from England and California. Instead of tithing their money, they have used it for other purposes, and paid it in property, with which we could not pay our debts. This is wherein we have failed to liquidate our debts. The people go to these Gentile stores, on the Saturday, in crowds, to purchase goods. I think we shall not overrate the amount, if we say that $500,000 has been paid, in these valleys, to the merchants. But suppose they have received no more than $50,000 from this community, $5,000 of that money ought to have been first paid into the tithing office; and we could have sent it to the States, and purchased goods ourselves, for one-third or one-half less than we have to pay the merchants here. And $25,000 more should have come into the tithing office from the Church in the United States. The brethren in California have made no less than $100,000; the tenth of which is due this tithing office. For want of this money, we are brought into bondage and we must now apply our faith and works to raise means to liquidate our indebtedness, which has accumulated by purchasing goods at high and extortionate prices. I find no fault with the merchants, for they came here to gather gold by the hundred weight.
Now, brethren, and Bishops, look over this matter, and try to think what your feelings would be if you were laid under the same responsibility that I and my brethren have upon our shoulders. We are required to see the Gospel preached to the nations afar off, to build council houses and temples, to cope with the united wisdom and craft of legislative assemblies, and with the powers of darkness in high places; and then place yourselves in the circumstances we are now placed in! Besides all this, see the hundreds who come to us everyday to be administered to in various ways: some want fruit, some sugar, others tea, and all want clothing, &c. Then step into our private rooms, where we commune with the people, and you will see and hear all this, and a great deal more. Instead of every man bringing his picayune, or his sixpence, or his $5, &c., as tithing on the money in his possession, it is all used for something else, and the storehouse of the Lord is left empty. Suppose nothing had been put in there but what the people have put in, the workmen would have been naked. Walk into the storehouse, and examine for yourselves. To be sure there has been a little clothing put in lately; for instance, there was an old silk dress put in for $40, that had been lying for years rotting in the chest: this is a specimen of the rest. What are such things worth to our workmen? Why, nothing at all. We wish you to put in strong and substantial clothing. Good, strong, homemade stuffs make the most suitable clothing for those who are building up the public works.
Will you help us out of this thralldom, and have it credited to your future tithing? There is already a great deal more due than would liquidate all our debts, but we cannot command it now. Do you feel willing to put your shoulder to the wheel, and continue to roll it forward, and still continue, you that have faith to continue, to increase in faith? For the business of this kingdom will increase, and the responsibility also; the labor will and must grow, and continue to increase, until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and His Christ. So much on tithing; you see where the failure is; it is in that point, and nowhere else.
It is not for any man to think he is a cipher—that what he can do will not tell in this matter, and say, "They will get along well enough without me;" but it is every man's duty to lay it to heart, and help what he can with his earthly substance; though I wish you to understand distinctly that it is no commandment—you are left to act freely.
Let all the sheep stay in the Valley; also the cows; for they will give milk and butter, and replenish the stock. But when we speak of the horses, mules, and oxen, let every man look up his spare stock of this description, and with them help to liquidate these debts. Stock will now pay debts. I will use my stock for this purpose, and my brethren will do the same, until we have enough. I do not enjoin this upon you, as you have already paid the tithing which is required of you; except in some instances in the money tithing. Had we received the money due to us, we should have had no debts; but this failure has been, and is now, in existence. I will take every kind of spare stock I have, except my cows and sheep, and wipe off these debts until they are cancelled; and now every man who will do the same, let him rise upon his feet. [The whole congregation of two thousand men rose up to a man.] Do you suppose we want to deprive you of your teams? It is not so, but we wished to know the state of your faith, so that when we are ready to call upon you, we can be sure our call will be responded to. I would not cripple any man, I would rather give him five yoke of oxen, than destroy his team, and you know it. [Some of the brethren in the stand, not believing their own eyes, that the whole congregation rose, it was tried over again, to satisfy them, when the congregation all rose again to a man.] Brother Hunter now knows what to do. Many of the brethren are killing their calves; don't do this; if you cannot raise them, it will be better to give them away to those who can.
I bless you, and may the Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Choir sung a hymn, Benediction by Elder Sherwood.
April 10.
The brethren commenced assembling outside the Tabernacle by 7 o’clock in the morning, so great was the desire to hear the teachings of the Lord.—When the doors were opened at 9, the house was crowded in a few minutes.
The brethren commenced assembling outside the Tabernacle by 7 o’clock in the morning, so great was the desire to hear the teachings of the Lord.—When the doors were opened at 9, the house was crowded in a few minutes.
Conference opened as usual, when
Pres. Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Young
instructed the saints, in many great and precious principles, followed by a most admirable lecture by Professor Albert Carrington, on the subject of medicine, and the different medical societies and theories, and their contradictory opinions on the physiology of disease and medicine.
Pres. Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Young
instructed the saints, in many great and precious principles, followed by a most admirable lecture by Professor Albert Carrington, on the subject of medicine, and the different medical societies and theories, and their contradictory opinions on the physiology of disease and medicine.
Pres. Young
bore testimony to the truth of the remarks and returned thanks on behalf of the congregation.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith, and adjourned to two o’clock.
bore testimony to the truth of the remarks and returned thanks on behalf of the congregation.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith, and adjourned to two o’clock.
Half past 1, P. M.
The house was filled to overflowing and conference opened, when Elders D. H. Wells, Wm. I. Appleby, G. D. Watt, Wm. Clayton, and Pres. Kimball occupied the afternoon, by introducing many interesting topics of discourse.
John Kay sung “the Seer,” Doxology by the Choir,
benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
The house was filled to overflowing and conference opened, when Elders D. H. Wells, Wm. I. Appleby, G. D. Watt, Wm. Clayton, and Pres. Kimball occupied the afternoon, by introducing many interesting topics of discourse.
John Kay sung “the Seer,” Doxology by the Choir,
benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
6 P. M.
The elders in Israel were again assembled in the Tabernacle and heard addresses by G. A. Smith, S. M. Blair, Richard Cook, Edward Hunter and David Fullmer, when the saints covenanted they would not have another law suit with each other.
The elders in Israel were again assembled in the Tabernacle and heard addresses by G. A. Smith, S. M. Blair, Richard Cook, Edward Hunter and David Fullmer, when the saints covenanted they would not have another law suit with each other.
Elder John Banks
then related an anecdote, saying that when lawyers died in his country it was the custom to take the body into an upper room, leaving the window open and in the morning the body was invariably gone—leaving a strong smell of sulphur in the room.
Benediction by David Fullmer.
Congregation was dismissed at 9 p. m.
then related an anecdote, saying that when lawyers died in his country it was the custom to take the body into an upper room, leaving the window open and in the morning the body was invariably gone—leaving a strong smell of sulphur in the room.
Benediction by David Fullmer.
Congregation was dismissed at 9 p. m.
Sunday, April 11, 9 A. M.
Conference again called to order by G. A. Smith and opened by singing and prayer by Elder W. Woodruff.
Conference again called to order by G. A. Smith and opened by singing and prayer by Elder W. Woodruff.
Pres. Kimball
preached to the saints on dealing with each other as they would be dealt by; exhorting the saints not to rob the dead. He then presented the case of Bishop Hunter, who had not been ordained to his calling as presiding bishop; and he was accordingly ordained under the hands of Presidents Kimball and Richards. Bishop Hunter then presented Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball as his counselors, who were unanimously sustained by the Conference in that office.
Pres. Kimball then presented Truman O. Angel, to be continued as the Architect of the Public Works for the Church, and he was accordingly sustained.—He gave notice that we should postpone giving any more endowments to the saints, until the return of Pres. Young from his intended exploring expedition to the south.
Seth Taft, David Pettegrew, Abraham Hoagland, David Fullmer, and Daniel Spencer, were then voted to fill the office of assistant presiding traveling bishops in the vallies of the mountains.
preached to the saints on dealing with each other as they would be dealt by; exhorting the saints not to rob the dead. He then presented the case of Bishop Hunter, who had not been ordained to his calling as presiding bishop; and he was accordingly ordained under the hands of Presidents Kimball and Richards. Bishop Hunter then presented Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball as his counselors, who were unanimously sustained by the Conference in that office.
Pres. Kimball then presented Truman O. Angel, to be continued as the Architect of the Public Works for the Church, and he was accordingly sustained.—He gave notice that we should postpone giving any more endowments to the saints, until the return of Pres. Young from his intended exploring expedition to the south.
Seth Taft, David Pettegrew, Abraham Hoagland, David Fullmer, and Daniel Spencer, were then voted to fill the office of assistant presiding traveling bishops in the vallies of the mountains.
Pres. W. Richards
gave notice to the congregation that after partaking of the Sacrament in the afternoon, it was the intention to call for a contribution of silver to make the plate for Sacramental service for the Tabernacle, and urged on the brethren to bring in their cattle so that the debts of the Church might be liquidated the coming week.
Singing by the choir, and benediction by Pres. Joseph Young.
gave notice to the congregation that after partaking of the Sacrament in the afternoon, it was the intention to call for a contribution of silver to make the plate for Sacramental service for the Tabernacle, and urged on the brethren to bring in their cattle so that the debts of the Church might be liquidated the coming week.
Singing by the choir, and benediction by Pres. Joseph Young.
Half past 1, P. M.
Conference called to order by Pres. Young, and opened as usual, when Pres’ts. Young, Kimball, and Richards, and Bishop Hunter, proceeded to administer the Sacrament, assisted by the various bishops, during which many persons bore testimony to the truth—speaking in tongues, and prophecying; after which the collection was taken up when $149 was collected in silver coin, besides several pounds of Watch cases, Spoons, Rings and other silver ornaments.
Conference called to order by Pres. Young, and opened as usual, when Pres’ts. Young, Kimball, and Richards, and Bishop Hunter, proceeded to administer the Sacrament, assisted by the various bishops, during which many persons bore testimony to the truth—speaking in tongues, and prophecying; after which the collection was taken up when $149 was collected in silver coin, besides several pounds of Watch cases, Spoons, Rings and other silver ornaments.
Pres. Young
then gave notice that from henceforth we should hold meetings regularly each Sabbath at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., and in the evening, the several quorums of the priesthood would assemble to receive instructions. On Thursdays the brethren and sisters would come together at 2, p.m., for prayer and supplication; and on the first Thursday in each month, at 10, a.m., for the purpose of fasting and prayer, calling on the saints to observe that day. He then notified the saints that the raised seats on the right and left of the stand, are set apart for those bishops who attend to the ministration of the Sacrament, for the day on which they officiated. They had this day seen an example of the administration of the Sacrament; the bishops will hereafter take turns, having the lesser priesthood to assist them.
This stand and the vestry is designed for those persons who speak to the congregation and attend to the governmental affairs of the church, and it is expected that no person will come into the stand without being first invited. After this conference is dismissed, it is expected that the alleys and the vestry will not be crowded as they have been at this conference.
The bishops will be advertised of their respective days of working, through the medium of the Deseret News.
Elder John Barker was voted to go on a mission to England, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was motioned and seconded that when conference was adjourned, it should be to sixth day of October, at 10 o’clock, a.m. Pres. Young then gave notice that on the last Saturday in August, at 10 a.m., there would be special conference held in the Tabernacle, for the express purpose of transacting business, so that the brethren who are sent on foreign missions can travel across the plains in September, instead of going in the inclement season of the year.
On the first Saturday in July will be the quarterly conference of the Seventies, in this place at 10 o’clock a.m.
The High Priests quorum will meet here next Tuesday, at 6 in the evening.
Professor Orson Pratt will deliver his last lecture on Astronomy, in this place next Wednesday evening, at 6 o’clock.
Choir sung a hymn, and benediction by O. Pratt.
The saints then shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb, amen and amen, three times.
then gave notice that from henceforth we should hold meetings regularly each Sabbath at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., and in the evening, the several quorums of the priesthood would assemble to receive instructions. On Thursdays the brethren and sisters would come together at 2, p.m., for prayer and supplication; and on the first Thursday in each month, at 10, a.m., for the purpose of fasting and prayer, calling on the saints to observe that day. He then notified the saints that the raised seats on the right and left of the stand, are set apart for those bishops who attend to the ministration of the Sacrament, for the day on which they officiated. They had this day seen an example of the administration of the Sacrament; the bishops will hereafter take turns, having the lesser priesthood to assist them.
This stand and the vestry is designed for those persons who speak to the congregation and attend to the governmental affairs of the church, and it is expected that no person will come into the stand without being first invited. After this conference is dismissed, it is expected that the alleys and the vestry will not be crowded as they have been at this conference.
The bishops will be advertised of their respective days of working, through the medium of the Deseret News.
Elder John Barker was voted to go on a mission to England, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was motioned and seconded that when conference was adjourned, it should be to sixth day of October, at 10 o’clock, a.m. Pres. Young then gave notice that on the last Saturday in August, at 10 a.m., there would be special conference held in the Tabernacle, for the express purpose of transacting business, so that the brethren who are sent on foreign missions can travel across the plains in September, instead of going in the inclement season of the year.
On the first Saturday in July will be the quarterly conference of the Seventies, in this place at 10 o’clock a.m.
The High Priests quorum will meet here next Tuesday, at 6 in the evening.
Professor Orson Pratt will deliver his last lecture on Astronomy, in this place next Wednesday evening, at 6 o’clock.
Choir sung a hymn, and benediction by O. Pratt.
The saints then shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb, amen and amen, three times.
Pres. Young
then blessed the saints in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in him, he said, be you blessed from this time henceforth and forever; blessed be the saints in their health, and in their families; their flocks, their herds, their houses, their farms and all that pertain unto them, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen, and amen.
Thus ended the most glorious conference of the saints of the Most High in these the latter days.—Revelation upon revelation has been poured out from time to time; the spirit of God has rested down upon the saints in every meeting during this conference,--peace, good will, joy and harmony have been in the breast of every person; not a jarring sound—not a discordant voice, nor even a thought, has been manifested in all the transactions of the past happy and glorious week. The heavens have smiled propitiously upon us, and the saints have had such a season of rejoicing as can never be obliterated from the memory of those who have been the happy partakers, and they enjoy a foretaste of what is in store for them, and all are steadily preparing themselves for the day of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
THOMAS BULLOCK,
Clerk of Conference
The foregoing minutes are very brief, only presenting a general view of the plan and order of exercises during the conference. Sermons, addresses, reports, &c., may be anticipated hereafter, as we have space to insert them.
then blessed the saints in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in him, he said, be you blessed from this time henceforth and forever; blessed be the saints in their health, and in their families; their flocks, their herds, their houses, their farms and all that pertain unto them, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen, and amen.
Thus ended the most glorious conference of the saints of the Most High in these the latter days.—Revelation upon revelation has been poured out from time to time; the spirit of God has rested down upon the saints in every meeting during this conference,--peace, good will, joy and harmony have been in the breast of every person; not a jarring sound—not a discordant voice, nor even a thought, has been manifested in all the transactions of the past happy and glorious week. The heavens have smiled propitiously upon us, and the saints have had such a season of rejoicing as can never be obliterated from the memory of those who have been the happy partakers, and they enjoy a foretaste of what is in store for them, and all are steadily preparing themselves for the day of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
THOMAS BULLOCK,
Clerk of Conference
The foregoing minutes are very brief, only presenting a general view of the plan and order of exercises during the conference. Sermons, addresses, reports, &c., may be anticipated hereafter, as we have space to insert them.