October 1853
Deseret News. "Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." October 15, 1853: 178-179.
Hyde, Orson. "General Conferences." Deseret News, October 29, 1853: 182. Hyde, Orson. "The Man to Lead God's People—Overcoming—A Pillar in the Temple of God—Angels' Visits—the Earth". Journal of Discourses. Volume 1. October 6, 1853: pg. 121-130. Kimball, Heber C. "Tabernacle." Deseret News, November 12, 1853: 185-186. Richards, Franklin D. "General Conference." Deseret News, October 29, 1853: 181-182. Richards, Franklin D. "Advice to Immigrants." Journal of Discourses. Volume 1. October 6, 1853: pg. 316-322. Smith, George A. "Tabernacle." Deseret News, November 24, 1853: 189-190. Smith, George A. "Disobedience of Counsel—The Indian War The Result of the Same." Journal of Discourses. Volume 1. October 7, 1853: pg. 191-197. Young, Brigham. "Synopsis." Deseret News, November 14, 1853: 190. Young, Brigham. "Gathering the Poor—The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Ingratitude." Journal of Discourses. Volume 1. October 6, 1853: pg. 322-327. Minutes of the General Conference Elder Orson Hyde The Man to Lead God's People Half past one, p. m. Elder Franklin D. Richards Advice to Immigrants President Brigham Young Gathering the Poor Seven o’clock, p. m. President Joseph Young Elder Benjamin L. Clapp Elder Albert P. Rockwood President Joseph Young Oct. 7th, 1853, 10 a. m. President Heber C. Kimball Tabernacle Elder George A. Smith Disobedience of Counsel Oct. 7th, 2 p. m. Mission Calls President Brigham Young Oct. 8, 10 a. m. Sustaining of the General Authorities Elder Orson Hyde Mission Calls Motions President Brigham Young October 8th, Two p. m. Elder John Taylor President Heber C. Kimball Bishops Report Sunday, Oct. 9, 1853, 10 a. m. Elder Parley P. Pratt President Brigham Young 2 p. m. President Heber C. Kimball Cyrus Wheelock Elder Erastus Snow President Brigham Young 6 p. m. Missionary Meeting President Brigham Young Synopsis |
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Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, commencing October 6th, 1853, 10 A. M. President Brigham Young Presiding.
Present—Presidents, B. Young, H. C. Kimball, W. Richards,
Patriarch, Isaac Morley.
Of the Twelve Apostles, O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt, W. Woodruff, J. Taylor, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, L. Snow, E. Snow, F. D. Richards.
Seventies, Jos. Young, H. Herriman, Z. Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, J. M. Grant, B. L. Clapp.
High Priests Quorum, John Young, R. Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter.
Presidency of the Stake, D. Fullmer, Thomas Rhoades, P. H. Young.
Clerk of Conference, Thomas Bullock.
Reporter, George D. Watt.
Choir sung a hymn.
Prayer by Elder George A. Smith.
Singing.
Present—Presidents, B. Young, H. C. Kimball, W. Richards,
Patriarch, Isaac Morley.
Of the Twelve Apostles, O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt, W. Woodruff, J. Taylor, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, L. Snow, E. Snow, F. D. Richards.
Seventies, Jos. Young, H. Herriman, Z. Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, J. M. Grant, B. L. Clapp.
High Priests Quorum, John Young, R. Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter.
Presidency of the Stake, D. Fullmer, Thomas Rhoades, P. H. Young.
Clerk of Conference, Thomas Bullock.
Reporter, George D. Watt.
Choir sung a hymn.
Prayer by Elder George A. Smith.
Singing.
Elder Hyde
opened the Conference by reviewing the arrival of the Saints this season, the Indian disturbance, and exhorting the Saints to look to the beacon light, who guides us to be the heirs of all things both in heaven and on earth; and we should be thankful we have the privilege to follow such a leader.
When a person is appointed to be a leader, it proves that he has passed through tribulation and trials, and has been proven to be worthy to be a leader; and that he has earned it, by his upright conduct, and is sustained by the good will of the Saints.
If God himself was to descend from his throne and declare the truths of the gospel to fallen man, many would want some angel to come and bear testimony that he was of a truth, the God. Our Heavenly Father has ascended to his throne through trials and sufferings, similar to many of the Saints, and therefore he can sympathize with our weaknesses, and can send forth assistance to our aid; therefore He sent his beloved Son, that who would hear and obey him, heard and obeyed the Father; and when that Son was distressed in the garden of Gethsemane, He sent an angel to comfort him in his trial. Those who will not obey the Son, will not obey the Father that sent him.
A person who goes out into the world, goes to bear the buffetings of mankind, and with a feeling to earn a crown of reward. The angels are like us, they are unwilling to come here, unless they are sent; they, like us, are too willing to stay at home. When Brother Kimball and I were in England, Brother K. felt to take off his hat and bless the people and bless the land, for there was a peaceful spirit, and many souls willing to receive the truth; but the time will come when peace will be taken from the earth. It is the Saints who are going to judge the earth under the supervision of the Almighty. It is the duty of Saints to increase and multiply; and will be their duty to pass sentence on the fallen spirits, for they will be the witnesses of their own persecution, and that will cause the sinners to cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God. When the curse is taken from the earth, it will be given to the Saints and there will be no night, but all will be light, and the glory of God will surround it. There will be a place for everybody, and those who love darkness better than light, will have a world rolling eternally in darkness.
The Man to Lead God's People—Overcoming—A Pillar in the Temple of God—Angels' Visits—the Earth
A Discourse by President Orson Hyde, Delivered at the General Conference Held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
At the commencement of our Conference, it has fallen to my lot to make a few remarks.
If you will indulge me with your prayerful attention, I will try to communicate to you a few words, which I hope and trust may prove, not only edifying to you now, but a source of comfort and consolation in time to come.
Be it as the Lord will, I shall use my best endeavors for this; and if I fail in it, it will be for want of ability, and not for want of a disposition.
I discover before me many strange faces; I presume they are our friends from the different settlements, South, North, East, and West, who have no doubt assembled here for the purpose of obtaining instructions and information respecting the prosperity of the Church, the duty of its officers, and what is to be done in the important period in which we now live.
It is a peculiar and interesting time with us. In the first place, our brethren from abroad, who are unaccustomed to a mountain life, or a life in this Valley, are emigrating to this place; and when they arrive here, they do not find everything, perhaps, as they anticipated, or they find things different from what they have been accustomed to in the places from which they came. Everything seems new and strange, and it takes a little time, as we say in a familiar phrase, “to get broken into the harness.”
Not only so, but we have had some little disturbance with the red men this season, and this is a cause of some digression from the common path of duty we are accustomed to move in.
Under all these circumstances, as we have business of importance to transact during this Conference, it becomes necessary that our minds should become united in one, as far as possible, that we may act in accordance with the mind and will of our Father which is in heaven. Let me here observe, that the people of God can be united only upon that principle that vibrates from the very bosom of heaven. If we are united, if we can touch one point or principle upon which all can strike hands, by that union we may know that our will is the mind and will of God; and what we, in that state, bind on earth, is bound in heaven, for the action is reciprocal, it is the same.
Hence, after so long a separation, we have come together again, under circumstances somewhat peculiar. It is necessary that we seek to be united. How shall we be united? Around what standard shall we rally? Where is the beacon light to which our eyes shall be directed, in order that our actions may tend to the accomplishment of the same purpose and design?
The beacon light is he whom our heavenly Father has ordained and appointed to lead His people, and give them counsel, and guide their destiny. That is the light to which the eye should be directed. And when that voice is heard, let every bosom respond, yea and amen.
But, says one, “If this be correct, it is giving to one man almighty power. It is giving to one man supreme power to rule.” Admit it. What are we all aiming for? Are we not aiming for supreme power? Are we not aiming to obtain the promise that has been made to all believers? What is it? “He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Are we not all seeking for this, that we may overcome, that we may inherit all things? For says Paul, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” Well, then, if all things are ours, we should be very insensible to our best interests if we did not seek diligently for that which Heaven promises as a legacy to the faithful. It is our right, then. Do we not all expect to be armed with almighty power? Is there a Latter-day Saint under the sound of my voice, whose heart is fired with celestial light, but that seeks to be in possession of supreme power (I had like to have said) both in heaven and on earth? It is said, we are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” Does Jesus Christ possess all power in heaven and on earth? He said, when he rose from the dead, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Are we heirs of God, and joint heirs with that illustrious character? He has so declared! If we are, do we not, in common with him, possess the power that is in heaven and on earth!
If one individual, then, is a little ahead of us in obtaining this power, let us not be envious, for it will be our time by and by. We ought to be the more thankful, and glorify God that He has armed one individual with this power, and opened a way that we may follow him, and obtain the same power. Instead of it being a cause of envy, it ought to be, on the contrary, a matter to call forth our warmest thanksgivings and praise to God, that He has brought back that power again to the earth in our day, by which we may be led step by step to the point we hope to attain.
After reflecting a little this morning, a passage of Scripture occurred to my mind—the words of John the Revelator, or the promise made to him. It says, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem; which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.”
In the course of my travels in preaching the Gospel to different nations, I have often heard it remarked by the people, in days gone by, “We have heard your testimony; we have heard your preaching; but really, why does not Joseph Smith, your Prophet, come to us and bear testimony? Why does he not come to us and show us the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated? If we could see the Prophet and the plates, then we should be satisfied that the work is genuine, that it is of God; but if we cannot see him and the ancient records, we are still in doubt with regard to the genuineness of the work.”
My reply to them was something like the followings—“Joseph Smith cannot be everywhere, and the plates cannot be presented to every eye. The voice of Joseph Smith cannot be heard by every ear.” And I have said to them, “You that have seen me have seen Joseph Smith, for the same spirit and the same sentiments that are in him are in me, and I bear testimony to you that these things are verily true.”
It is generally the case, and I think I may say it is invariably the case, that when an individual is ordained and appointed to lead the people, he has passed through tribulations and trials, and has proven himself before God, and before His people, that he is worthy of the situation which he holds. And let this be the motto and safeguard in all future time, that when a person that has not been tried, that has not proved himself before God, and before His people, and before the councils of the Most High, to be worthy, he is not going to step in to lead the Church and people of God. It never has been so, but from the beginning someone that understands the Spirit and counsel of the Almighty, that knows the Church, and is known of her, is the character that will lead the Church.
How does he become thus acquainted? How does he gain this influence, this confidence in the estimation of the people? He earns it by his upright course and conduct, by the justness of his counsels, and the correctness of his prophecies, and the straightforward spirit he manifests to the people. And he has to do this step by step; he gains influence, and his spirit, like an anchor, is fastened in the hearts of the people; and he is sustained and supported by the love, confidence, and goodwill of the Saints, and of Him that dwelt in the bush. This is the kind of character that ought to lead God's people, after he has obtained this goodwill and this confidence.
What then is he to do? Is he to go abroad to the nations of the earth and preach the Gospel; to leave his home and the people of his charge?
May we not count him as first and foremost in the ranks of them that overcome? I think so! Well then, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.” All those who approach the nearest to that standard, we expect will remain in the temple of God at home, and not go abroad to the nations of the earth.
Says one, “If an angel from heaven would descend and bear testimony that this work was of God, I would believe it. Why may I not receive the testimony of angels, as well as Joseph Smith or any other person? For God is no respecter of persons! If I could receive it, I would be satisfied then that the work is true.” But let me here remark again—suppose the Omnipotent Jehovah, that sits upon His throne of glory and power, was to descend and bear testimony, what further credence would you then want? You would want someone to tell you that it was really God Himself that had visited you, that you might be satisfied it was not an angel of darkness in the similitude of a heavenly personage.
Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point where He now is. “Is this really possible?” Why, my dear friends, how would you like to be governed by a ruler who had not been through all the vicissitudes of life that are common to mortals? If he had not suffered, how could he sympathize with the distress of others? If he himself had not endured the same, how could he sympathize and be touched with the feelings of our infirmities? He could not, unless he himself had passed through the same ordeal, and overcome step by step. If this is the case, it accounts for the reason why we do not see Him—He is too pure a being to show himself to the eyes of mortals; He has overcome, and goes no more out, but He is the temple of my God, and is a pillar there.
What is a pillar? It is that power which supports the superstructure which bears up the edifice; and if that should be removed from its place, the edifice is in danger of falling. Hence, our heavenly Father ascended to a throne of power; He has passed through scenes of tribulation, as the Saints in all ages have, and are still passing through; and having overcome, and ascended His throne, He can look down upon those who are following in the same track, and can realize the nature of their infirmities, troubles, and difficulties, like the aged father who looks upon his race, upon the smallest child; and when he sees them grappling with difficulties, his heart is touched with compassion. Why? Because he has felt the same, been in the same situation, and he knows how to administer just chastisement, mingled with the kindest feelings of a father's heart. So with our heavenly Father; when He sees we are going astray, He stretches forth His chastening hand, at the same time He realizes the difficulties with which we have to contend, because he has felt the same; but having overcome, He goes no more out.
When the world was lost in wretchedness and woe, what did He do? Did He come here Himself? No. But, says he, I will send my son to be my agent, the one who is the nearest to my person, that is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; I will send my son, and I will say, he that heareth him, heareth me. Go then, my son. He came, and how did he look? He looked just like his Father, and just as they treated him they treated his Father in heaven. For inasmuch as they did it unto him, they did it unto his Father. He was the agent, the representative, chosen and sent of God for the purpose. When it was necessary that the Savior of the world should have help and strength, should be sustained in the darkest hour, did God Himself in person come to his aid? No, but He sent His angel to succor him. When the Savior was born, the spirits around the throne of God were ready to fly to his protection, when the kings and rulers of this lower world sought his destruction. What did they say to the wise men of Israel on that eventful occasion? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
When he fasted forty days and forty nights, the angels appeared and strengthened him. His heavenly Father did not come Himself, but, says the Savior, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also; I am just like him, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. The same spirit that is in the bosom of the Father is in me. I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me. Then the character that looked upon the Savior, looked upon the Father, for he was a facsimile of Him; and if they would not believe the Son, they would not believe the Father.
The Savior, in the performance of his mission, laid down his life for the world, rose from the dead, and ascended up on high. And few and blessed are the eyes that have seen him since! It is sometimes the case that the veil of mortality has been rent, and the eye of the spirit has gazed upon the Savior, like as did Stephen of old, when he was stoned to death. In his expiring moments, in the agonies of death, what did he say? He said, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Stephen saw him in that trying hour.
True it is, that in the most trying hour, the servants of God may then be permitted to see their Father, and elder brother. “But,” says one, “I wish to see the Father, and the Savior, and an angel now.” Before you can see the Father, the Savior, or an angel, you have to be brought into close places in order to enjoy this manifestation. The fact is, your very life must be suspended on a thread, as it were. If you want to see your Savior, be willing to come to that point where no mortal arm can rescue, no earthly power save! When all other things fail, when everything else proves futile and fruitless, then perhaps your Savior and your Redeemer may appear; his arm is not shortened that he cannot save, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear; and when help on all sides appears to fail, my arm shall save, my power shall rescue, and you shall hear my voice, saith the Lord.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” &c. The Father has overcome, the Savior has overcome, and the angels are overcoming like we are. But let me here observe, it is a good deal with the angels, in my opinion, as it is with us.
We who have been in the Valley some length of time, feel that we are at home, and in a goodly place, chosen of God, a secret habitation surrounded by mountains, walled in by natural barriers, where we are secluded from the world, and inhabiting a little world by ourselves. We know the world is opposed to our doctrine. Now if one of us were required to go abroad among the nations, a spirit of patriotic devotion to the interests of God's kingdom, would stimulate us to forego all the pleasures of domestic life, to earn a crown of glory, and shine as stars in the firmament forever and ever; when, if we consulted our own individual feelings and interest only, we would say, “O that we might remain at home, and not go out and be buffeted by a cold and heartless world!” We would rather remain with our friends, and bask in the sunshine of their goodwill and favor, and enjoy life as we pass along; but to go out into the world, and meet its scoffing sneers, it is alone for the cause and kingdom of God's sake; and for the sake of this, we not only long to go abroad to the nations of the earth, but to do everything that is laid upon us to do.
Look at the angels of heaven. If there are so many millions of them, and they manifest such an interest for the welfare of mortals, why do they not come, and visit us more? They may have the same feeling in relation to coming to this earth, that we would have in going to the nations of the world. If they are sent, they will go; but if not sent, it is very likely they will stay at home, as we will. If we are sent, we will go; if we are not sent, we are glad to stay at home. This, then, I presume, is their feeling; hence it has become proverbial in the world, that angels' visits are few and far between. And let me here observe, that when a servant of God, clothed with the spirit of his calling, enters a house, a town, or a country, he feels the spirit in a moment that prevails in that house, country, or people among whom he comes. For instance, if he lands upon the shores of a foreign country, the moment his feet press their soil, their spirit presses his heart! He senses it; and if the spirit that reigns in the country is diverse to the Spirit of God; he feels it painful to his heart; and it is upon this principle that the Savior said to the disciples, “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.” Then when a servant of God enters a strange place, and he feels the son of peace there, let his peace come upon that people, house, and city. If he feels there is an adverse power that holds the sway there, his peace must return to him, and he must go his way after he has faithfully discharged his duty.
I recollect once in a certain place in England, when traveling along with brother Kimball, it was in a country town called Chatburn, where the people were humble, simple, and honest; they loved the truth, and were seeking for it—when we went there, their hearts and doors were opened to receive us, and our message. What were our feelings? We felt that the ground upon which we stood was most sacred, and brother Kimball took off his hat, and walked the streets, and blessed the country and the people, and let his peace come upon it. These were our feelings. Why? Because the people were ready to receive the word of our testimony, and us for Christ's sake.
We had been to other places, where the very moment our names were sounded, and it was known we were in a house, there was a similar spirit manifested as there was in the days of Lot, when the Angel came to his house to warn him to flee from Sodom; for a mob was raised at once, and demanded the strangers to be given up to them. We have been in places where the mob demanded us to be given up to them; but we were shielded by friends, and God always opened a way of escape for us. Wherever there is a spirit congenial with the Spirit of God, and a loyalty to the kingdom of the Most High, you will find a hearty welcome, and you are glad to go there.
If we, whose sensibilities are benumbed by this veil of flesh which is around us, have discernment to discriminate where the son of peace is, the angels, who are not clogged as we are, whose sensibilities are keener than ours, do you not think when they approach the world, they know where the son of peace is? In the last days, I will take peace from the earth, saith the Lord by one of the ancient writers, and they shall kill one another. And there was given a great sword unto him that sat on the red horse. And the nations will be armed against each other. The angels are not fond to descend to this world, because of the coldness of the spirit that reigns in it; they would rather remain in heaven around the throne of God, among the higher order of intelligences, where they can enjoy life, and peace, and the communion of the Holy One. When they are sent, they will come; but they are tolerably well advanced among them that overcome.
These are some of the reasons why they do not mingle with us, why we cannot see them. But, let me tell you, brethren and sisters, if we will be united as the heart of one man, and that general union of spirit, of mind, be fastened upon the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall draw down celestial intelligence by the Spirit of God, or by angels who surround the throne of the Most High. It is an electric wire through which and by which intelligence comes from heaven to mortals; it is only necessary for the word to be spoken, and the power of it is at once felt in every heart.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” &c. Do we ever wish to see the time when we can retire from the scenes of everyday life, to the temple of God, and go no more out? Are we looking for a period of this kind? Yes, when we shall be made pillars in the temple of our God. We know when a pillar is placed in a building, it is placed there to remain, pillars are not often removed. All pillars are considered permanent; they are not to be taken away, because the removing of them endangers the safety of the building. In order to be made pillars in the temple of our God, what are we to do? We must overcome.
Let it be remarked, that the disposition so prevalent in the hearts of many, not to abide the counsel of their superiors, has to be overcome; it must be slain, and laid prostrate at our feet; and we must say we came not to do our own will, but the will of him that sent us. We came to do the will of him to whom we have plighted our faith, to uphold him as our leader, lawgiver, and Seer. We have got to overcome the inclination to revolt at the idea, and be brought into complete submission, and union of spirit.
“O,” says one, “how does this look, to be slaves, to have no mind or will of our own, but be swallowed up in the will of another, and thus become tools, machines, slaves, and not free men, and independent like other people!” Well, my dear friends, I will tell you how it was in heaven. There was a disposition once in heaven that preferred to be independent enough to chalk out its own course. The rebellious angels undertook it, and what became of them? They fought against the throne of God, and were cast down, to be reserved in chains of darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Yes, they are reserved there, and that is their glory, and the honor that is attached to them for being independent, and declaring in the presence of God their independence—instead of deriving any advantage from this course, down they went to their reward.
I will advance a sentiment by Paul the Apostle, showing that we were there at the time that notable controversy was going on, and no doubt we took an active part with them who sustained the throne of God, and we were therefore permitted to come to this world and take upon us bodies. The devils that fell were not permitted to enjoy this privilege; they cannot increase their generation; glory to God, they cannot do it, but we have the power of multiplying lives; this is what they are angry about. Says Paul, “Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” Is it possible that these Elders and servants of the Most High, who are going abroad among the nations, will have power to judge the nations of the earth? Says one, “God will do it, and not man.” Now, for instance, I am building a house, and it is said Solomon built a temple, but do you suppose Solomon quarried the rock, laid it up, &c.? No, but he gave directions to others, and it is said Solomon built a temple; so God will judge the world. The Almighty Ruler will instruct His servants to do it, and the Saints will give the grand decision, and the nations that have slain them will have to bow to their word.
What says the good Book again? “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father.” Do we not expect to overcome and have power over the nations? Yes. Says Paul, the Saints shall judge the world; not only this, but they shall judge angels. “Why,” says one, “I thought that angels were greater in might and power than we, and is it possible that we, the servants of God, are going to judge angels? You are surely exalting yourselves above all that is called God; for God shall judge the world.” How is it that we do not recollect anything now that took place before we took upon us these bodies? When we lay them off we shall remember everything, the scenes of those early times will be as fresh in our view as the sun was this morning when he rose over the mountains. The Saints will say to their fallen brethren, You were arrayed under the command of Lucifer, and fought against us; we prevailed, and it now becomes our duty to pass sentence against you, fallen spirits. You have been reserved to this condemnation, and bound with a chain. With what chain? That you could not multiply your race. There were limits put to you that you could not increase. It was never said to you, Go forth into hell and multiply; but it was said to man, Go forth and increase on the earth. Here were stakes set they could not go beyond, and this is what they are angry about, this makes a hell to them, because they “can't do it.” They see the superiority of the Saints who have kept their first estate, and they are envious, and now it becomes the Saints' duty to pass sentence upon them. The Saints shall judge angels, even those spirits who kept not their first estate, and have been a long time in chains like criminals who are kept in bondage to await their sentence. It will be the prerogative of the servants of God to pass a decision upon them, and not only upon them, but upon the world among whom they have been associated, and having combined in them the judicial power, and power of witness, they will have power to judge and determine, for the Saints shall judge the world.
How will the wicked feel when they come up at the last day (or at some day, be it last or middle), how will they feel when they see, perhaps one whom they have persecuted, one whom they have killed as an impostor, or because they said he was an impostor, when they see that person exalted upon the judgment seat, and they themselves arraigned before him, and compelled to hear from his lips their sentence? Sadly will they be mistaken. Says the Savior, “If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you.” They knew him not, neither did they know his disciples. Well did the Savior say at one time, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” They did not understand the power that was lodged in the breast of their victim; but when the day of his wrath will come, they will say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” It will not only be the Lamb that will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, but his angels and Saints that have gone before him; these are they that will come with him; myriads of spirits will come, wafted as it were through the air to earth's cold regions to call the sons of men to an account for their doings.
Now, “him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” and “he that overcometh to him will I give power over the nations.” Do you want to overcome this worldly ambitious spirit that is ever burning to be independent, that is, self sufficient and proud? Overcome this, and bring every power and faculty of the soul into subjection to the power of the Most High, and you are safe. What have you to overcome next? You have to overcome that untiring disposition to do wrong, to overreach your neighbor, that thereby you may acquire for yourselves a paradise or heaven in this world, while in its fallen state. Remember this one thing, if you want to be free from the curse. You know it is said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Who then can be saved? Again, says the Savior, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Let me show you the philosophy of this, why it is impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. God said in the beginning, “Cursed be the ground for thy sake;” that is, earth and earthly things are cursed. Now the man who has the most of it has the greatest amount of the curse; therefore if a man acquire a great deal of earthly things, he acquires a great deal of this curse. For they that will be rich are made to pass through many sorrows, and they have to harden their hearts and their faces, and oppress the poor to acquire it; and when they have acquired it, what have they got? It is to them something like a red hot ball in the hands of a child, it burns; they have acquired it, and have got a great curse along with it. It is hard for such to enter into the Kingdom of God. The gate is narrow, and the curse is wide, so if they wish to go in at that gate, they must be stripped, and become destitute of the love of this world's goods. I recollect a beautiful illustration of this in the case of the rich man, and Lazarus that was poor, and full of sores, and who lay at the rich man's gate. There was the rich man clothed in fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. By and by he died, and went to hell, and saw Abraham afar off with the same poor Lazarus in his bosom. Says the rich man, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” He was so humbled as to accept one drop of water from Lazarus, who while he lay at the rich man's gate was ready to eat the crumbs that fell from his table. How reverse the scene. Abraham, with the kind feelings of a father, at the same time with that justness and dignity which is ever the characteristic of the upright, said, “Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” His arm was too short to reach that one drop of water to him, for there was “a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” The scene was changed. This is enough to admonish us, and to make us adopt the advice of the Savior, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When should we want to be rich? When the curse is taken from the earth. We do not want the earth while it is cursed, for “cursed be the ground for thy sake,” &c. Let the world that love darkness rather than light, be heirs of the curse if they will; but do not let us seek after it with too greedy hearts, until the curse is taken away; and when the curse is rebuked, and the earth undergoes such a change that it will shine forever and ever, and there is no night there, then we may have it, and it will do us good. It is like this—We say that wheat and barley are excellent when we use them in their native state; but when we extract the spirit from these grains, and drink it, it intoxicates; when they are used in their native state, they make bread which gives life to the body, while in the other state, they destroy. So the earth, when the curse is taken away, will sustain an endless life. Though the figure is not altogether correct, still it serves to illustrate the principle. The Savior did not say the Saints should inherit the earth while the curse was upon it, but he said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” He will not give them something to destroy them, but they have got to stay until the earth has fulfilled the measure of its creation; and then the angel will raise his hand to heaven, and swear that time shall be no longer. What becomes of the earth then? Why, says the prophet, it shall “reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.” If the earth falls, which way will it go, up or down? Tell me, ye wise men, ye philosophers. Will not the greatest and most powerful planet attract it whether it goes up or down? For the greater bodies attract the lesser. If the earth falls, and is not to rise again, it will be removed out of its present orbit. Where will it go to? God says He will gather all things into one; then He will gather the earth likewise, and all that is in it, in one. The gathering will be upon a larger scale in time to come; for by and by the stars of Heaven will fall. Which way will they go? They will rally to a grand center, and there will be one grand constellation of worlds. I pray that we may be there, and shine among those millions of worlds that will be stars in the Almighty's crown.
The earth will have to be removed from its place, and reel to and fro like a drunkard. The fact is, it has got to leave the old track in which it has roamed in time passed, and beat a new track; and saith the Lord, “come up here.” What is He going to do with it? Why, take it where the sun will shine upon it continually, and there shall be no more night there; and the hand of God will wipe away the tears from all faces. “Come up here, O earth! For I want the Saints who have passed through much tribulation to be glorified with you, and then I will give the earth to the meek. For I will take the curse from it, and rebuke the destroyer for your sakes, and bring all things in subjection to you, and you shall dwell in everlasting light.” Now it is half day and half night, but I tell you it is not going to be half and half, but there will be no night there. We have but one sun to shine upon us, but when the earth is taken out of this orbit, it will come in contact with the rays of other suns that illuminate other spheres; their rays will dazzle our earth, and make the glory of God rest upon it, so that there will be no more night there.
Is it possible, then, that there are worlds reserved in eternal night, in an eternal eclipse, rolling in the shade? What is their use? They are the homes of them that love darkness rather than light; and it shall be said unto them, Depart, ye cursed, into outer darkness. There are planets that revolve in eternal darkness, that you who love darkness rather than light may go and find your own home. There is a place prepared for everybody, no matter what their character. Says the Savior, “I go to prepare a place for you.” There is a place for every person. There is a place for everybody that comes into this Valley, if they can only find it. So there is a place in yonder world for every person; but to him that overcometh will I give power over the nations, and he shall be a pillar in the Temple of my God, and go no more out.
If there is anything in this world my soul desires the most, it is that I may overcome, and be made a pillar in the Temple of my God, and remain at home in the society that is continually warming my spirit, encouraging my feeling, with that which is congenial with every principle of my nature; let me bask in their goodly presence, live in their affections, dwell forever in the midst of their society, and go no more out. And may God in His mercy help us all to overcome every obstacle, and endure hardships like good soldiers of the Lamb, and dwell eternally in the mansions of light; which may God grant for Christ's sake. Amen.
Singing.
Benediction by J. M. Grant.
opened the Conference by reviewing the arrival of the Saints this season, the Indian disturbance, and exhorting the Saints to look to the beacon light, who guides us to be the heirs of all things both in heaven and on earth; and we should be thankful we have the privilege to follow such a leader.
When a person is appointed to be a leader, it proves that he has passed through tribulation and trials, and has been proven to be worthy to be a leader; and that he has earned it, by his upright conduct, and is sustained by the good will of the Saints.
If God himself was to descend from his throne and declare the truths of the gospel to fallen man, many would want some angel to come and bear testimony that he was of a truth, the God. Our Heavenly Father has ascended to his throne through trials and sufferings, similar to many of the Saints, and therefore he can sympathize with our weaknesses, and can send forth assistance to our aid; therefore He sent his beloved Son, that who would hear and obey him, heard and obeyed the Father; and when that Son was distressed in the garden of Gethsemane, He sent an angel to comfort him in his trial. Those who will not obey the Son, will not obey the Father that sent him.
A person who goes out into the world, goes to bear the buffetings of mankind, and with a feeling to earn a crown of reward. The angels are like us, they are unwilling to come here, unless they are sent; they, like us, are too willing to stay at home. When Brother Kimball and I were in England, Brother K. felt to take off his hat and bless the people and bless the land, for there was a peaceful spirit, and many souls willing to receive the truth; but the time will come when peace will be taken from the earth. It is the Saints who are going to judge the earth under the supervision of the Almighty. It is the duty of Saints to increase and multiply; and will be their duty to pass sentence on the fallen spirits, for they will be the witnesses of their own persecution, and that will cause the sinners to cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God. When the curse is taken from the earth, it will be given to the Saints and there will be no night, but all will be light, and the glory of God will surround it. There will be a place for everybody, and those who love darkness better than light, will have a world rolling eternally in darkness.
The Man to Lead God's People—Overcoming—A Pillar in the Temple of God—Angels' Visits—the Earth
A Discourse by President Orson Hyde, Delivered at the General Conference Held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
At the commencement of our Conference, it has fallen to my lot to make a few remarks.
If you will indulge me with your prayerful attention, I will try to communicate to you a few words, which I hope and trust may prove, not only edifying to you now, but a source of comfort and consolation in time to come.
Be it as the Lord will, I shall use my best endeavors for this; and if I fail in it, it will be for want of ability, and not for want of a disposition.
I discover before me many strange faces; I presume they are our friends from the different settlements, South, North, East, and West, who have no doubt assembled here for the purpose of obtaining instructions and information respecting the prosperity of the Church, the duty of its officers, and what is to be done in the important period in which we now live.
It is a peculiar and interesting time with us. In the first place, our brethren from abroad, who are unaccustomed to a mountain life, or a life in this Valley, are emigrating to this place; and when they arrive here, they do not find everything, perhaps, as they anticipated, or they find things different from what they have been accustomed to in the places from which they came. Everything seems new and strange, and it takes a little time, as we say in a familiar phrase, “to get broken into the harness.”
Not only so, but we have had some little disturbance with the red men this season, and this is a cause of some digression from the common path of duty we are accustomed to move in.
Under all these circumstances, as we have business of importance to transact during this Conference, it becomes necessary that our minds should become united in one, as far as possible, that we may act in accordance with the mind and will of our Father which is in heaven. Let me here observe, that the people of God can be united only upon that principle that vibrates from the very bosom of heaven. If we are united, if we can touch one point or principle upon which all can strike hands, by that union we may know that our will is the mind and will of God; and what we, in that state, bind on earth, is bound in heaven, for the action is reciprocal, it is the same.
Hence, after so long a separation, we have come together again, under circumstances somewhat peculiar. It is necessary that we seek to be united. How shall we be united? Around what standard shall we rally? Where is the beacon light to which our eyes shall be directed, in order that our actions may tend to the accomplishment of the same purpose and design?
The beacon light is he whom our heavenly Father has ordained and appointed to lead His people, and give them counsel, and guide their destiny. That is the light to which the eye should be directed. And when that voice is heard, let every bosom respond, yea and amen.
But, says one, “If this be correct, it is giving to one man almighty power. It is giving to one man supreme power to rule.” Admit it. What are we all aiming for? Are we not aiming for supreme power? Are we not aiming to obtain the promise that has been made to all believers? What is it? “He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Are we not all seeking for this, that we may overcome, that we may inherit all things? For says Paul, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” Well, then, if all things are ours, we should be very insensible to our best interests if we did not seek diligently for that which Heaven promises as a legacy to the faithful. It is our right, then. Do we not all expect to be armed with almighty power? Is there a Latter-day Saint under the sound of my voice, whose heart is fired with celestial light, but that seeks to be in possession of supreme power (I had like to have said) both in heaven and on earth? It is said, we are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” Does Jesus Christ possess all power in heaven and on earth? He said, when he rose from the dead, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Are we heirs of God, and joint heirs with that illustrious character? He has so declared! If we are, do we not, in common with him, possess the power that is in heaven and on earth!
If one individual, then, is a little ahead of us in obtaining this power, let us not be envious, for it will be our time by and by. We ought to be the more thankful, and glorify God that He has armed one individual with this power, and opened a way that we may follow him, and obtain the same power. Instead of it being a cause of envy, it ought to be, on the contrary, a matter to call forth our warmest thanksgivings and praise to God, that He has brought back that power again to the earth in our day, by which we may be led step by step to the point we hope to attain.
After reflecting a little this morning, a passage of Scripture occurred to my mind—the words of John the Revelator, or the promise made to him. It says, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem; which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.”
In the course of my travels in preaching the Gospel to different nations, I have often heard it remarked by the people, in days gone by, “We have heard your testimony; we have heard your preaching; but really, why does not Joseph Smith, your Prophet, come to us and bear testimony? Why does he not come to us and show us the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated? If we could see the Prophet and the plates, then we should be satisfied that the work is genuine, that it is of God; but if we cannot see him and the ancient records, we are still in doubt with regard to the genuineness of the work.”
My reply to them was something like the followings—“Joseph Smith cannot be everywhere, and the plates cannot be presented to every eye. The voice of Joseph Smith cannot be heard by every ear.” And I have said to them, “You that have seen me have seen Joseph Smith, for the same spirit and the same sentiments that are in him are in me, and I bear testimony to you that these things are verily true.”
It is generally the case, and I think I may say it is invariably the case, that when an individual is ordained and appointed to lead the people, he has passed through tribulations and trials, and has proven himself before God, and before His people, that he is worthy of the situation which he holds. And let this be the motto and safeguard in all future time, that when a person that has not been tried, that has not proved himself before God, and before His people, and before the councils of the Most High, to be worthy, he is not going to step in to lead the Church and people of God. It never has been so, but from the beginning someone that understands the Spirit and counsel of the Almighty, that knows the Church, and is known of her, is the character that will lead the Church.
How does he become thus acquainted? How does he gain this influence, this confidence in the estimation of the people? He earns it by his upright course and conduct, by the justness of his counsels, and the correctness of his prophecies, and the straightforward spirit he manifests to the people. And he has to do this step by step; he gains influence, and his spirit, like an anchor, is fastened in the hearts of the people; and he is sustained and supported by the love, confidence, and goodwill of the Saints, and of Him that dwelt in the bush. This is the kind of character that ought to lead God's people, after he has obtained this goodwill and this confidence.
What then is he to do? Is he to go abroad to the nations of the earth and preach the Gospel; to leave his home and the people of his charge?
May we not count him as first and foremost in the ranks of them that overcome? I think so! Well then, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.” All those who approach the nearest to that standard, we expect will remain in the temple of God at home, and not go abroad to the nations of the earth.
Says one, “If an angel from heaven would descend and bear testimony that this work was of God, I would believe it. Why may I not receive the testimony of angels, as well as Joseph Smith or any other person? For God is no respecter of persons! If I could receive it, I would be satisfied then that the work is true.” But let me here remark again—suppose the Omnipotent Jehovah, that sits upon His throne of glory and power, was to descend and bear testimony, what further credence would you then want? You would want someone to tell you that it was really God Himself that had visited you, that you might be satisfied it was not an angel of darkness in the similitude of a heavenly personage.
Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point where He now is. “Is this really possible?” Why, my dear friends, how would you like to be governed by a ruler who had not been through all the vicissitudes of life that are common to mortals? If he had not suffered, how could he sympathize with the distress of others? If he himself had not endured the same, how could he sympathize and be touched with the feelings of our infirmities? He could not, unless he himself had passed through the same ordeal, and overcome step by step. If this is the case, it accounts for the reason why we do not see Him—He is too pure a being to show himself to the eyes of mortals; He has overcome, and goes no more out, but He is the temple of my God, and is a pillar there.
What is a pillar? It is that power which supports the superstructure which bears up the edifice; and if that should be removed from its place, the edifice is in danger of falling. Hence, our heavenly Father ascended to a throne of power; He has passed through scenes of tribulation, as the Saints in all ages have, and are still passing through; and having overcome, and ascended His throne, He can look down upon those who are following in the same track, and can realize the nature of their infirmities, troubles, and difficulties, like the aged father who looks upon his race, upon the smallest child; and when he sees them grappling with difficulties, his heart is touched with compassion. Why? Because he has felt the same, been in the same situation, and he knows how to administer just chastisement, mingled with the kindest feelings of a father's heart. So with our heavenly Father; when He sees we are going astray, He stretches forth His chastening hand, at the same time He realizes the difficulties with which we have to contend, because he has felt the same; but having overcome, He goes no more out.
When the world was lost in wretchedness and woe, what did He do? Did He come here Himself? No. But, says he, I will send my son to be my agent, the one who is the nearest to my person, that is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; I will send my son, and I will say, he that heareth him, heareth me. Go then, my son. He came, and how did he look? He looked just like his Father, and just as they treated him they treated his Father in heaven. For inasmuch as they did it unto him, they did it unto his Father. He was the agent, the representative, chosen and sent of God for the purpose. When it was necessary that the Savior of the world should have help and strength, should be sustained in the darkest hour, did God Himself in person come to his aid? No, but He sent His angel to succor him. When the Savior was born, the spirits around the throne of God were ready to fly to his protection, when the kings and rulers of this lower world sought his destruction. What did they say to the wise men of Israel on that eventful occasion? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
When he fasted forty days and forty nights, the angels appeared and strengthened him. His heavenly Father did not come Himself, but, says the Savior, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also; I am just like him, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. The same spirit that is in the bosom of the Father is in me. I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me. Then the character that looked upon the Savior, looked upon the Father, for he was a facsimile of Him; and if they would not believe the Son, they would not believe the Father.
The Savior, in the performance of his mission, laid down his life for the world, rose from the dead, and ascended up on high. And few and blessed are the eyes that have seen him since! It is sometimes the case that the veil of mortality has been rent, and the eye of the spirit has gazed upon the Savior, like as did Stephen of old, when he was stoned to death. In his expiring moments, in the agonies of death, what did he say? He said, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Stephen saw him in that trying hour.
True it is, that in the most trying hour, the servants of God may then be permitted to see their Father, and elder brother. “But,” says one, “I wish to see the Father, and the Savior, and an angel now.” Before you can see the Father, the Savior, or an angel, you have to be brought into close places in order to enjoy this manifestation. The fact is, your very life must be suspended on a thread, as it were. If you want to see your Savior, be willing to come to that point where no mortal arm can rescue, no earthly power save! When all other things fail, when everything else proves futile and fruitless, then perhaps your Savior and your Redeemer may appear; his arm is not shortened that he cannot save, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear; and when help on all sides appears to fail, my arm shall save, my power shall rescue, and you shall hear my voice, saith the Lord.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” &c. The Father has overcome, the Savior has overcome, and the angels are overcoming like we are. But let me here observe, it is a good deal with the angels, in my opinion, as it is with us.
We who have been in the Valley some length of time, feel that we are at home, and in a goodly place, chosen of God, a secret habitation surrounded by mountains, walled in by natural barriers, where we are secluded from the world, and inhabiting a little world by ourselves. We know the world is opposed to our doctrine. Now if one of us were required to go abroad among the nations, a spirit of patriotic devotion to the interests of God's kingdom, would stimulate us to forego all the pleasures of domestic life, to earn a crown of glory, and shine as stars in the firmament forever and ever; when, if we consulted our own individual feelings and interest only, we would say, “O that we might remain at home, and not go out and be buffeted by a cold and heartless world!” We would rather remain with our friends, and bask in the sunshine of their goodwill and favor, and enjoy life as we pass along; but to go out into the world, and meet its scoffing sneers, it is alone for the cause and kingdom of God's sake; and for the sake of this, we not only long to go abroad to the nations of the earth, but to do everything that is laid upon us to do.
Look at the angels of heaven. If there are so many millions of them, and they manifest such an interest for the welfare of mortals, why do they not come, and visit us more? They may have the same feeling in relation to coming to this earth, that we would have in going to the nations of the world. If they are sent, they will go; but if not sent, it is very likely they will stay at home, as we will. If we are sent, we will go; if we are not sent, we are glad to stay at home. This, then, I presume, is their feeling; hence it has become proverbial in the world, that angels' visits are few and far between. And let me here observe, that when a servant of God, clothed with the spirit of his calling, enters a house, a town, or a country, he feels the spirit in a moment that prevails in that house, country, or people among whom he comes. For instance, if he lands upon the shores of a foreign country, the moment his feet press their soil, their spirit presses his heart! He senses it; and if the spirit that reigns in the country is diverse to the Spirit of God; he feels it painful to his heart; and it is upon this principle that the Savior said to the disciples, “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.” Then when a servant of God enters a strange place, and he feels the son of peace there, let his peace come upon that people, house, and city. If he feels there is an adverse power that holds the sway there, his peace must return to him, and he must go his way after he has faithfully discharged his duty.
I recollect once in a certain place in England, when traveling along with brother Kimball, it was in a country town called Chatburn, where the people were humble, simple, and honest; they loved the truth, and were seeking for it—when we went there, their hearts and doors were opened to receive us, and our message. What were our feelings? We felt that the ground upon which we stood was most sacred, and brother Kimball took off his hat, and walked the streets, and blessed the country and the people, and let his peace come upon it. These were our feelings. Why? Because the people were ready to receive the word of our testimony, and us for Christ's sake.
We had been to other places, where the very moment our names were sounded, and it was known we were in a house, there was a similar spirit manifested as there was in the days of Lot, when the Angel came to his house to warn him to flee from Sodom; for a mob was raised at once, and demanded the strangers to be given up to them. We have been in places where the mob demanded us to be given up to them; but we were shielded by friends, and God always opened a way of escape for us. Wherever there is a spirit congenial with the Spirit of God, and a loyalty to the kingdom of the Most High, you will find a hearty welcome, and you are glad to go there.
If we, whose sensibilities are benumbed by this veil of flesh which is around us, have discernment to discriminate where the son of peace is, the angels, who are not clogged as we are, whose sensibilities are keener than ours, do you not think when they approach the world, they know where the son of peace is? In the last days, I will take peace from the earth, saith the Lord by one of the ancient writers, and they shall kill one another. And there was given a great sword unto him that sat on the red horse. And the nations will be armed against each other. The angels are not fond to descend to this world, because of the coldness of the spirit that reigns in it; they would rather remain in heaven around the throne of God, among the higher order of intelligences, where they can enjoy life, and peace, and the communion of the Holy One. When they are sent, they will come; but they are tolerably well advanced among them that overcome.
These are some of the reasons why they do not mingle with us, why we cannot see them. But, let me tell you, brethren and sisters, if we will be united as the heart of one man, and that general union of spirit, of mind, be fastened upon the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall draw down celestial intelligence by the Spirit of God, or by angels who surround the throne of the Most High. It is an electric wire through which and by which intelligence comes from heaven to mortals; it is only necessary for the word to be spoken, and the power of it is at once felt in every heart.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” &c. Do we ever wish to see the time when we can retire from the scenes of everyday life, to the temple of God, and go no more out? Are we looking for a period of this kind? Yes, when we shall be made pillars in the temple of our God. We know when a pillar is placed in a building, it is placed there to remain, pillars are not often removed. All pillars are considered permanent; they are not to be taken away, because the removing of them endangers the safety of the building. In order to be made pillars in the temple of our God, what are we to do? We must overcome.
Let it be remarked, that the disposition so prevalent in the hearts of many, not to abide the counsel of their superiors, has to be overcome; it must be slain, and laid prostrate at our feet; and we must say we came not to do our own will, but the will of him that sent us. We came to do the will of him to whom we have plighted our faith, to uphold him as our leader, lawgiver, and Seer. We have got to overcome the inclination to revolt at the idea, and be brought into complete submission, and union of spirit.
“O,” says one, “how does this look, to be slaves, to have no mind or will of our own, but be swallowed up in the will of another, and thus become tools, machines, slaves, and not free men, and independent like other people!” Well, my dear friends, I will tell you how it was in heaven. There was a disposition once in heaven that preferred to be independent enough to chalk out its own course. The rebellious angels undertook it, and what became of them? They fought against the throne of God, and were cast down, to be reserved in chains of darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Yes, they are reserved there, and that is their glory, and the honor that is attached to them for being independent, and declaring in the presence of God their independence—instead of deriving any advantage from this course, down they went to their reward.
I will advance a sentiment by Paul the Apostle, showing that we were there at the time that notable controversy was going on, and no doubt we took an active part with them who sustained the throne of God, and we were therefore permitted to come to this world and take upon us bodies. The devils that fell were not permitted to enjoy this privilege; they cannot increase their generation; glory to God, they cannot do it, but we have the power of multiplying lives; this is what they are angry about. Says Paul, “Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” Is it possible that these Elders and servants of the Most High, who are going abroad among the nations, will have power to judge the nations of the earth? Says one, “God will do it, and not man.” Now, for instance, I am building a house, and it is said Solomon built a temple, but do you suppose Solomon quarried the rock, laid it up, &c.? No, but he gave directions to others, and it is said Solomon built a temple; so God will judge the world. The Almighty Ruler will instruct His servants to do it, and the Saints will give the grand decision, and the nations that have slain them will have to bow to their word.
What says the good Book again? “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father.” Do we not expect to overcome and have power over the nations? Yes. Says Paul, the Saints shall judge the world; not only this, but they shall judge angels. “Why,” says one, “I thought that angels were greater in might and power than we, and is it possible that we, the servants of God, are going to judge angels? You are surely exalting yourselves above all that is called God; for God shall judge the world.” How is it that we do not recollect anything now that took place before we took upon us these bodies? When we lay them off we shall remember everything, the scenes of those early times will be as fresh in our view as the sun was this morning when he rose over the mountains. The Saints will say to their fallen brethren, You were arrayed under the command of Lucifer, and fought against us; we prevailed, and it now becomes our duty to pass sentence against you, fallen spirits. You have been reserved to this condemnation, and bound with a chain. With what chain? That you could not multiply your race. There were limits put to you that you could not increase. It was never said to you, Go forth into hell and multiply; but it was said to man, Go forth and increase on the earth. Here were stakes set they could not go beyond, and this is what they are angry about, this makes a hell to them, because they “can't do it.” They see the superiority of the Saints who have kept their first estate, and they are envious, and now it becomes the Saints' duty to pass sentence upon them. The Saints shall judge angels, even those spirits who kept not their first estate, and have been a long time in chains like criminals who are kept in bondage to await their sentence. It will be the prerogative of the servants of God to pass a decision upon them, and not only upon them, but upon the world among whom they have been associated, and having combined in them the judicial power, and power of witness, they will have power to judge and determine, for the Saints shall judge the world.
How will the wicked feel when they come up at the last day (or at some day, be it last or middle), how will they feel when they see, perhaps one whom they have persecuted, one whom they have killed as an impostor, or because they said he was an impostor, when they see that person exalted upon the judgment seat, and they themselves arraigned before him, and compelled to hear from his lips their sentence? Sadly will they be mistaken. Says the Savior, “If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you.” They knew him not, neither did they know his disciples. Well did the Savior say at one time, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” They did not understand the power that was lodged in the breast of their victim; but when the day of his wrath will come, they will say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” It will not only be the Lamb that will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, but his angels and Saints that have gone before him; these are they that will come with him; myriads of spirits will come, wafted as it were through the air to earth's cold regions to call the sons of men to an account for their doings.
Now, “him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” and “he that overcometh to him will I give power over the nations.” Do you want to overcome this worldly ambitious spirit that is ever burning to be independent, that is, self sufficient and proud? Overcome this, and bring every power and faculty of the soul into subjection to the power of the Most High, and you are safe. What have you to overcome next? You have to overcome that untiring disposition to do wrong, to overreach your neighbor, that thereby you may acquire for yourselves a paradise or heaven in this world, while in its fallen state. Remember this one thing, if you want to be free from the curse. You know it is said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Who then can be saved? Again, says the Savior, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Let me show you the philosophy of this, why it is impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. God said in the beginning, “Cursed be the ground for thy sake;” that is, earth and earthly things are cursed. Now the man who has the most of it has the greatest amount of the curse; therefore if a man acquire a great deal of earthly things, he acquires a great deal of this curse. For they that will be rich are made to pass through many sorrows, and they have to harden their hearts and their faces, and oppress the poor to acquire it; and when they have acquired it, what have they got? It is to them something like a red hot ball in the hands of a child, it burns; they have acquired it, and have got a great curse along with it. It is hard for such to enter into the Kingdom of God. The gate is narrow, and the curse is wide, so if they wish to go in at that gate, they must be stripped, and become destitute of the love of this world's goods. I recollect a beautiful illustration of this in the case of the rich man, and Lazarus that was poor, and full of sores, and who lay at the rich man's gate. There was the rich man clothed in fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. By and by he died, and went to hell, and saw Abraham afar off with the same poor Lazarus in his bosom. Says the rich man, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” He was so humbled as to accept one drop of water from Lazarus, who while he lay at the rich man's gate was ready to eat the crumbs that fell from his table. How reverse the scene. Abraham, with the kind feelings of a father, at the same time with that justness and dignity which is ever the characteristic of the upright, said, “Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” His arm was too short to reach that one drop of water to him, for there was “a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” The scene was changed. This is enough to admonish us, and to make us adopt the advice of the Savior, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When should we want to be rich? When the curse is taken from the earth. We do not want the earth while it is cursed, for “cursed be the ground for thy sake,” &c. Let the world that love darkness rather than light, be heirs of the curse if they will; but do not let us seek after it with too greedy hearts, until the curse is taken away; and when the curse is rebuked, and the earth undergoes such a change that it will shine forever and ever, and there is no night there, then we may have it, and it will do us good. It is like this—We say that wheat and barley are excellent when we use them in their native state; but when we extract the spirit from these grains, and drink it, it intoxicates; when they are used in their native state, they make bread which gives life to the body, while in the other state, they destroy. So the earth, when the curse is taken away, will sustain an endless life. Though the figure is not altogether correct, still it serves to illustrate the principle. The Savior did not say the Saints should inherit the earth while the curse was upon it, but he said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” He will not give them something to destroy them, but they have got to stay until the earth has fulfilled the measure of its creation; and then the angel will raise his hand to heaven, and swear that time shall be no longer. What becomes of the earth then? Why, says the prophet, it shall “reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.” If the earth falls, which way will it go, up or down? Tell me, ye wise men, ye philosophers. Will not the greatest and most powerful planet attract it whether it goes up or down? For the greater bodies attract the lesser. If the earth falls, and is not to rise again, it will be removed out of its present orbit. Where will it go to? God says He will gather all things into one; then He will gather the earth likewise, and all that is in it, in one. The gathering will be upon a larger scale in time to come; for by and by the stars of Heaven will fall. Which way will they go? They will rally to a grand center, and there will be one grand constellation of worlds. I pray that we may be there, and shine among those millions of worlds that will be stars in the Almighty's crown.
The earth will have to be removed from its place, and reel to and fro like a drunkard. The fact is, it has got to leave the old track in which it has roamed in time passed, and beat a new track; and saith the Lord, “come up here.” What is He going to do with it? Why, take it where the sun will shine upon it continually, and there shall be no more night there; and the hand of God will wipe away the tears from all faces. “Come up here, O earth! For I want the Saints who have passed through much tribulation to be glorified with you, and then I will give the earth to the meek. For I will take the curse from it, and rebuke the destroyer for your sakes, and bring all things in subjection to you, and you shall dwell in everlasting light.” Now it is half day and half night, but I tell you it is not going to be half and half, but there will be no night there. We have but one sun to shine upon us, but when the earth is taken out of this orbit, it will come in contact with the rays of other suns that illuminate other spheres; their rays will dazzle our earth, and make the glory of God rest upon it, so that there will be no more night there.
Is it possible, then, that there are worlds reserved in eternal night, in an eternal eclipse, rolling in the shade? What is their use? They are the homes of them that love darkness rather than light; and it shall be said unto them, Depart, ye cursed, into outer darkness. There are planets that revolve in eternal darkness, that you who love darkness rather than light may go and find your own home. There is a place prepared for everybody, no matter what their character. Says the Savior, “I go to prepare a place for you.” There is a place for every person. There is a place for everybody that comes into this Valley, if they can only find it. So there is a place in yonder world for every person; but to him that overcometh will I give power over the nations, and he shall be a pillar in the Temple of my God, and go no more out.
If there is anything in this world my soul desires the most, it is that I may overcome, and be made a pillar in the Temple of my God, and remain at home in the society that is continually warming my spirit, encouraging my feeling, with that which is congenial with every principle of my nature; let me bask in their goodly presence, live in their affections, dwell forever in the midst of their society, and go no more out. And may God in His mercy help us all to overcome every obstacle, and endure hardships like good soldiers of the Lamb, and dwell eternally in the mansions of light; which may God grant for Christ's sake. Amen.
Singing.
Benediction by J. M. Grant.
Half past one, p. m.
Conference opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder E. T. Benson.
Singing.
Conference opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder E. T. Benson.
Singing.
Elder F. D. Richards
congratulated many of the Saints on their arrival this season, having accomplished their gathering. Exhorted them to live right, that they may have the favor of God continually, and not feel sad, because those who have come in previously have got the best locations in the city, but rather rejoice, that you have a name in this place. Be careful and retain the Spirit of God, lest you get the spirit of murmuring and complaining, and drop away from the church. As the sisters exercise a great influence upon the rising generation I exhort you not to keep the society of any person who speaks evil of the authorities, but rather associate with those who tend to perfection. You never lived in a country where persons spoke what they meant, before you came to this. Brethren you should be always ready, and then nothing will come amiss, even when you are called to bear glad tidings to nations who know not God; for the Lord God will pour out His spirit upon all Israel, that they may be saved; and you can bear witness that the spirit of God has been poured out in richer abundance within the past few years, or since the brethren received their blessings in the temple at Nauvoo, and in this place.
Advice to Immigrants
An Address by Elder Franklin D. Richards, Delivered at the General Conference, Great Salt Lake City, October 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
Brethren and Sisters—It seems to have fallen to my lot this afternoon to speak to you. Whether I may speak lengthily, or occupy but a short time, will be as I am led and dictated by the Holy Spirit.
I rejoice in the opportunity, for many reasons. The first and greatest is it is a blessing for a man who is called of God to teach the people, to exercise himself in his office and calling, and try to magnify it, for he is thereby made a blessing to the people, and is himself edified, often, yea, I may say generally, quite as much as they are.
I rejoice this afternoon in the privilege of meeting so many of my brethren who have just arrived from the old country. I behold faces in the congregation with whom I have within a few years past been wont to assemble in England, in Scotland, in Wales, and in other places. There we used to rejoice together. The Spirit and power of God rested upon us while we contemplated the things of God, that are calculated to prepare us for the life which is to come.
I feel to congratulate you, my brethren, who have newly come in, and who constitute so goodly a number of my hearers this afternoon, upon your safe arrival in these beautiful valleys; for you have now accomplished one of the greatest undertakings of your lives. Once, had you been told that you would forsake father, mother, brethren, sisters, kindred, and friends, and that you would do it under the stigmatized appellation of “Mormon”—to come so great a distance, to traverse one-third of the circumference of the globe, it would have been as incredible to you as to any of us. While you were near the close of this great task, doubtless some felt that had it been one hundred miles further, they scarcely could have endured to the end of the journey; yet, to some of us, this wonderful, great undertaking is but a small thing; we have done it several times, and expect to do it many times more. I congratulate you, however, on your having accomplished the task, and feel, as your brother in the Lord, to welcome you here in the midst of God's people, and to pray with sincerity that the spirit of Zion may rest upon you.
You have come to this place with feelings and views as varied as the degree of faith in, and knowledge you have of, the Gospel, and the measure of spirit in which you walk. There are some who, in their own estimation, are well qualified and fully prepared to judge of the propriety and impropriety of everything that exists here; and such, while they may find some few things answer pretty well, will find many things which, in their opinion, are not right, and really need reformation.
Brethren, you who have just arrived in the Valley, I wish to direct my words to you this afternoon, to sound a word in your ears that may not be lost upon you, and it is worth your while to hearken to it. You may dwell in this society, and never know what manner of spirit you are of, nor the power of God that dwells in the Priesthood in your midst; and, on the other hand, you may come here in a right frame of mind, and hearken to the Spirit of God through the man whom He has appointed to watch over us, and know that the words of all God's servants are the words of life to you; and their faces will shine with wisdom in your eyes. If you possess this frame of mind, you will be prepared to drink in intelligence from day to day, from their counsel and examples, that will lead you on in the bright and shining way that was discoursed upon this morning.
In the first place, I will offer a word to all, whether they are mechanics or common laborers. No matter what calling you may follow in life, you have need, at this juncture of your existence, to observe and treasure up one thing carefully and faithfully in your minds, namely, if you live a proper life before the Lord, you know that you have the fellowship of His Spirit, so that you know your prayers are heard and answered, because you receive the things you ask for. If you live so as to always have the witness of the good Spirit, you will be saved today and every day, and thus it will constantly be well with you. But if you are heedless of this day, and calculate on tomorrow, you have no assurance that you will realize your hopes tomorrow. The only certain stepping stone to the great good you may have tomorrow in the midst of this people is, that you be faithful to your covenants with God, and secure thereby the fellowship of the Spirit, and walk in the counsels of it today; if you do this, you will have the good that is for you tomorrow.
If you have come into this place nearly penniless, and, in many respects, comparatively destitute, and with no one to take you by the hand, or your friends are not here, or, if they are, and do not hail you as you think they ought, be of good cheer, and let not your hearts be sad, knowing you are doing right, and have gathered according to the word of the Lord.
If you look about you and see the Saints who have been here some years, and the choice locations taken up by them, and you are still at the foot of the hill apparently, do not fret your souls; remember that those brethren made the roads to this place, killed the snakes, or gently turned them out of their path, made the bridges, opened the canyons, made the fences, ploughed the ground, and worked in the wet and cold, in the midst of hunger and privation, to the best of their ability, more than any portion of this people have. Have they not worked to obtain what they have now got? If you look at it with a single eye, it is marvelous to see the kingdom of God at this day. After being here only six years; after being driven from Nauvoo, and suffering the toils of a wilderness life among savages and wolves, to see it at the present time is indeed comforting and cheering; the aspect is promising beyond all we could have anticipated, or almost what could have been wished. Does it not make your souls rejoice in the Lord, that He has established His people, and to realize that you are blessed above measure in having a name and a place in this city or territory? You are better off this afternoon in this place, in rags, and begging your bread, than in England, Scotland, or Wales, earning one hundred pounds per annum. You would there be dwelling among the cloudy mists of Babylon, where you dare not say your souls were your own. You could make but little advancement in your holy religion there; but here you can receive words of life from those whom God has appointed to lead His people into the way of salvation. Be careful now, that the good Spirit which has accompanied you in the old world, and dwelt with you in the ship across the sea, and has sustained you and your teams while crossing the plains—be careful that you retain it, and make it your counselor here.
I know how natural it is for the Saints who come from abroad to be very diligent in inspecting God's people, to see if they are as righteous as they ought to be; but they forget they have a duty to perform to themselves. As one of old said, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing,” but they forget to look at themselves; the spirit of murmuring and complaining takes possession of them, and you may see them wandering about in sorrow, affliction, and grief; and what is worse than all, they have brought it upon themselves, because they have not retained the fellowship of the Holy Spirit through faithfulness of conduct, and away they go to California. I felt to speak these things to you, that you might be admonished at the present time to faithfulness, and that you might rejoice in the assembly of God's people, that you had been brought over the mountains to this place in safety. I feel to magnify the name of the Lord to see so many of you, and pray that those who are still journeying on the plains may be safely brought in.
In coming here, you cannot, as individuals, know all things that are before you. You are now dwelling in a society that differs from any you ever dwelt in. The circumstances of life are all different, and the business arrangements different, to those you have been used to in the old country. It is necessary that you look about you for a season, find out whom you are among, and know the condition and nature of the elements and state of the society, that you may drop into business through the fellowship of your brethren and sisters, and take hold with them in the different branches of business that are carried on here for the comforts of life. You Elders, who have been in that country, preaching and building up Branches of the Church there; you that have taken up your cross, and gone from your homes, and warned the inhabitants of the earth where you have labored, the Lord went with you, when you went in the name of Jesus; His Spirit was upon you, and you were the means of building up Churches, and of doing much good in various ways; that same Spirit will be with you when you go to labor in the canyons, or do anything else, if you will nourish it, and not cast it from you. Peradventure in the canyons you may need its premonitions most when your life or limb may be in jeopardy. This, my brethren, is the rock upon which many Saints split—they leave the way of truth, they step aside from the rugged path of duty which they have been wont to walk in, and, feeling a degree of ease and safety, as they suppose, on arriving here, they forget their prayers, and that they have need to continue to increase their fellowship with the Holy Spirit; they leave off their duties, and, ere they are aware of it, they are left to themselves.
It is said that the females are the ones by whom the nations are ruled. It is certain that the females have necessarily great influence upon the whole community, and especially upon the rising generation. Allow me a word with the sisters. In your associations and visiting with those about you, when you find a sister or brother that can speak evil of dignities with impunity, and can find fault with what is being done by the Church, and cannot do any good themselves (for such folks cannot do anything themselves but bark and snarl like the dog in the manger), when you get into the society of such people, you will take notes, if you do as I do, and seek the company of those who will speak well of the brethren and sisters, and then you may expect they will speak well of you. When you associate with those who speak well of the truth, their counsels will edify you, and their words will be seasoned with grace to your edification and instruction, and the clouds of adversity that rest down upon you will vanish away.
You will find Saints living about you, that have the good Spirit, and can give you the word of comfort, and take you by the hand and pour the oil of consolation into your heart, and do you good in the name of the Lord. If you seek that kind of society, you will tend upwards towards the realms of light, in duty and intelligence. By taking this course, you will be cultivating the same good Spirit in your own hearts, that you see in the hearts, examples, and general conduct of your brethren and sisters around you, and which is most conspicuous in those who are called to lead and direct in the Priesthood. On the other hand, if you come in here, with the intention to be right down sharp, careful to watch and to criticize your brethren very closely, you will find all the evil you look for, and see imperfections which the cloak of charity and good will would have covered, had you possessed it yourself. You never were among a people where men talked as they meant, and meant what they said, so near as in this place. If you feel to take advantage of your brother or your sister, you may, but it will not be good for your soul; it will be money badly earned. But if you come here with a frank and honest heart, and prepared to speak and act without hypocrisy, and just as you feel, you will find yourselves among a community of brethren and sisters that are ready to aid, comfort, and bless you. If you look with your eyes, as I did with mine when I came home from England, you will find your brethren and sisters to be such kind of beings, whose good works you will wish to emulate.
Take the wisest course to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth; and the only way is by attending diligently to your prayers, and walking in the light of God's Spirit. You will find that condescension in the hearts of your brethren, that love and charity abounding in their bosoms that if you are in adversity and need they will extend a helping hand, and comfort you, and do you good, and will not charge you one hundred percent interest either. I have to say that if you have come to these valleys determined, as for you and yours, to serve the Lord, you will find it the easiest thing in the world to fellowship with those whose hearts run together like two drops of water, and you will be blessed, as also will those with whom you associate. You have arrived at a juncture of your life where two ways branch out; if you wish to travel downward, the great depot of that route is California; if upward, the great depot on that road is this city, these men that surround me in this stand. You do not know what you may be called upon to do. I do not know what I may be called upon to do before this Conference comes to a close, in addition to what is already laid upon me here at home. It is necessary to be always ready; and if you live as you ought, you will always be ready, and nothing will come wrong to you; and if you always live that way, you may always be as happy as you wish to be.
The work we are called unto in these last days, calls upon us not to narrow our minds down to the building of a piece of fence, to the enclosing of a piece of land, or to the putting up of a house, alone; but it is our duty while seeking to make an inheritance here, to reach out our prayers in faith and supplication for the general good, and with becoming liberality feel after those who are to enjoy the same blessings we enjoy. We have our duties to ourselves and families to perform, and our daily and hourly duties to our God; but there is a duty we owe, in common with all God's people, to those who are not yet gathered from the house of bondage. How many of the Israel of God are there sitting in darkness, in distant nations, that have not the light proclaimed to them? Have we come home here to sit down in ease, and let them go down to the grave in ignorance? If we have, we mistake the matter, and in the end will find we shall come short of that glory and reward we anticipate. You have come here to obtain inheritances for yourselves and families, and for your generations forever, in righteousness, as God shall give you power to do. You have, in connection with this, to build up the kingdom of God, to pay tithing, and be ready to fill every office and duty that is put upon you, making the kingdom of God the first and foremost in your affections and attention, and yourselves and families a secondary consideration; and this Gospel has to be borne off among the nations of the earth.
How good it is for us to hear, by the monthly mails, how many there are continually witnessing afar off to the forgiveness of sins through the Gospel. We ought to remember them, and be prepared for whatever may be expected at our hands in those far off regions. Let us not settle down, and become sordid in our affections to anything earthly. It is our duty to seek first the kingdom of God, and the promise is that other things shall be added unto us.
The Lord has manifested His readiness, and determination of purpose, to pour out knowledge and intelligence upon His people, as fast as they are prepared to receive it. Since I left you the last time in the old country, the revelations of the Lord have been sent forth, which had never before been made public, and we have all been led along by degrees in the knowledge of life and salvation. Yet a great amount of advancement has yet to be made while we are in the flesh, greater duties are rolling upon us as fast as we can perform those we are already engaged in. We look around us here upon the house of Israel, the Lamanites, and while our hearts are opened towards them for good, they are not backward to administer death to our brethren. Is this always going to be so? No. The Lord God will work upon them in His own way, until they become one with us in building up the kingdom of God.
The Priesthood in the last days has to be manifested in sufficient power to bear off the kingdom of God triumphant, that all Israel may be gathered and saved. If all Israel will not be sanctified by the law which their Moses first offers them, they will peradventure receive a law of ordinances administered to them, not according to the power of an endless life. Men will be saved in the last days as in former days, according to their faith and willingness to receive the word of God, and walk in it.
We may speak in terms of wonder and admiration of what has been done, and yet where shall these things grow to? They must grow until they spread over all the face of the earth, and control the powers that exist upon it. There must be other revelations fulfilled in our return to Jackson County, and building up the New Jerusalem there; the Lord prepare us for that day, that we may be able to stand the exhibition of glory that will there be made manifest. Before that comes to pass, something must be done here, there is a temple to be built in this city. You, brethren, who received your blessings and endowments in the temple that was built in Nauvoo, have been made witnesses of the wisdom and power that have gone forth to the nations of the earth from that place, and of the power that was realized in the quorums of the Priesthood; no tide of oppression could be raised powerful enough to bear down the authorities of God's kingdom; we see the wicked who came to rule us turned back to their own place, and the Priesthood appears greater than the powers of earth. The powers of the Priesthood must be made manifest before the eyes of all the world, and become transcendently above every other influence. You have sure grounds for confidence, for every step and every turn this Church makes, is calculated to increase confidence; and if we live so as to have our eyes washed with the eye water of the Gospel, we can ourselves realize the rapid growth of Christ's kingdom, and the growth of grace in ourselves and in others necessary to lead us on to perfection. You have come here to cultivate perfection in yourselves in the name of the Lord; and if you do that, and try to be useful, and willing to do anything here or anywhere else you are instructed to do, you will be made fit for the performance of any essential good in the kingdom of God.
Well then, brethren and sisters, while all is auspicious around us, and everything calculated to encourage us to do good, let us be up and doing, and try to keep the commandments of God with all our hearts, and we shall find it easier and easier to do it. Let us be prepared always for every duty that is laid upon us, and the grace of God will be sufficient for us under every circumstance.
When I was called to preside in England, I felt as though I never could magnify that calling, it appeared too great for me. But if we feel right, we shall feel like the Prophet of old, the Spirit of the Lord will be sufficient for us in the performance of every duty. I pray that the spirit of Zion may be given to you who have newly come in, that you may go on your way rejoicing, and be able to do the will of God here and abroad. May the blessings of God be and abide upon you by day and by night, and increase you on the earth, in blessings and riches forever, is the prayer of your brother Franklin.
congratulated many of the Saints on their arrival this season, having accomplished their gathering. Exhorted them to live right, that they may have the favor of God continually, and not feel sad, because those who have come in previously have got the best locations in the city, but rather rejoice, that you have a name in this place. Be careful and retain the Spirit of God, lest you get the spirit of murmuring and complaining, and drop away from the church. As the sisters exercise a great influence upon the rising generation I exhort you not to keep the society of any person who speaks evil of the authorities, but rather associate with those who tend to perfection. You never lived in a country where persons spoke what they meant, before you came to this. Brethren you should be always ready, and then nothing will come amiss, even when you are called to bear glad tidings to nations who know not God; for the Lord God will pour out His spirit upon all Israel, that they may be saved; and you can bear witness that the spirit of God has been poured out in richer abundance within the past few years, or since the brethren received their blessings in the temple at Nauvoo, and in this place.
Advice to Immigrants
An Address by Elder Franklin D. Richards, Delivered at the General Conference, Great Salt Lake City, October 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
Brethren and Sisters—It seems to have fallen to my lot this afternoon to speak to you. Whether I may speak lengthily, or occupy but a short time, will be as I am led and dictated by the Holy Spirit.
I rejoice in the opportunity, for many reasons. The first and greatest is it is a blessing for a man who is called of God to teach the people, to exercise himself in his office and calling, and try to magnify it, for he is thereby made a blessing to the people, and is himself edified, often, yea, I may say generally, quite as much as they are.
I rejoice this afternoon in the privilege of meeting so many of my brethren who have just arrived from the old country. I behold faces in the congregation with whom I have within a few years past been wont to assemble in England, in Scotland, in Wales, and in other places. There we used to rejoice together. The Spirit and power of God rested upon us while we contemplated the things of God, that are calculated to prepare us for the life which is to come.
I feel to congratulate you, my brethren, who have newly come in, and who constitute so goodly a number of my hearers this afternoon, upon your safe arrival in these beautiful valleys; for you have now accomplished one of the greatest undertakings of your lives. Once, had you been told that you would forsake father, mother, brethren, sisters, kindred, and friends, and that you would do it under the stigmatized appellation of “Mormon”—to come so great a distance, to traverse one-third of the circumference of the globe, it would have been as incredible to you as to any of us. While you were near the close of this great task, doubtless some felt that had it been one hundred miles further, they scarcely could have endured to the end of the journey; yet, to some of us, this wonderful, great undertaking is but a small thing; we have done it several times, and expect to do it many times more. I congratulate you, however, on your having accomplished the task, and feel, as your brother in the Lord, to welcome you here in the midst of God's people, and to pray with sincerity that the spirit of Zion may rest upon you.
You have come to this place with feelings and views as varied as the degree of faith in, and knowledge you have of, the Gospel, and the measure of spirit in which you walk. There are some who, in their own estimation, are well qualified and fully prepared to judge of the propriety and impropriety of everything that exists here; and such, while they may find some few things answer pretty well, will find many things which, in their opinion, are not right, and really need reformation.
Brethren, you who have just arrived in the Valley, I wish to direct my words to you this afternoon, to sound a word in your ears that may not be lost upon you, and it is worth your while to hearken to it. You may dwell in this society, and never know what manner of spirit you are of, nor the power of God that dwells in the Priesthood in your midst; and, on the other hand, you may come here in a right frame of mind, and hearken to the Spirit of God through the man whom He has appointed to watch over us, and know that the words of all God's servants are the words of life to you; and their faces will shine with wisdom in your eyes. If you possess this frame of mind, you will be prepared to drink in intelligence from day to day, from their counsel and examples, that will lead you on in the bright and shining way that was discoursed upon this morning.
In the first place, I will offer a word to all, whether they are mechanics or common laborers. No matter what calling you may follow in life, you have need, at this juncture of your existence, to observe and treasure up one thing carefully and faithfully in your minds, namely, if you live a proper life before the Lord, you know that you have the fellowship of His Spirit, so that you know your prayers are heard and answered, because you receive the things you ask for. If you live so as to always have the witness of the good Spirit, you will be saved today and every day, and thus it will constantly be well with you. But if you are heedless of this day, and calculate on tomorrow, you have no assurance that you will realize your hopes tomorrow. The only certain stepping stone to the great good you may have tomorrow in the midst of this people is, that you be faithful to your covenants with God, and secure thereby the fellowship of the Spirit, and walk in the counsels of it today; if you do this, you will have the good that is for you tomorrow.
If you have come into this place nearly penniless, and, in many respects, comparatively destitute, and with no one to take you by the hand, or your friends are not here, or, if they are, and do not hail you as you think they ought, be of good cheer, and let not your hearts be sad, knowing you are doing right, and have gathered according to the word of the Lord.
If you look about you and see the Saints who have been here some years, and the choice locations taken up by them, and you are still at the foot of the hill apparently, do not fret your souls; remember that those brethren made the roads to this place, killed the snakes, or gently turned them out of their path, made the bridges, opened the canyons, made the fences, ploughed the ground, and worked in the wet and cold, in the midst of hunger and privation, to the best of their ability, more than any portion of this people have. Have they not worked to obtain what they have now got? If you look at it with a single eye, it is marvelous to see the kingdom of God at this day. After being here only six years; after being driven from Nauvoo, and suffering the toils of a wilderness life among savages and wolves, to see it at the present time is indeed comforting and cheering; the aspect is promising beyond all we could have anticipated, or almost what could have been wished. Does it not make your souls rejoice in the Lord, that He has established His people, and to realize that you are blessed above measure in having a name and a place in this city or territory? You are better off this afternoon in this place, in rags, and begging your bread, than in England, Scotland, or Wales, earning one hundred pounds per annum. You would there be dwelling among the cloudy mists of Babylon, where you dare not say your souls were your own. You could make but little advancement in your holy religion there; but here you can receive words of life from those whom God has appointed to lead His people into the way of salvation. Be careful now, that the good Spirit which has accompanied you in the old world, and dwelt with you in the ship across the sea, and has sustained you and your teams while crossing the plains—be careful that you retain it, and make it your counselor here.
I know how natural it is for the Saints who come from abroad to be very diligent in inspecting God's people, to see if they are as righteous as they ought to be; but they forget they have a duty to perform to themselves. As one of old said, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing,” but they forget to look at themselves; the spirit of murmuring and complaining takes possession of them, and you may see them wandering about in sorrow, affliction, and grief; and what is worse than all, they have brought it upon themselves, because they have not retained the fellowship of the Holy Spirit through faithfulness of conduct, and away they go to California. I felt to speak these things to you, that you might be admonished at the present time to faithfulness, and that you might rejoice in the assembly of God's people, that you had been brought over the mountains to this place in safety. I feel to magnify the name of the Lord to see so many of you, and pray that those who are still journeying on the plains may be safely brought in.
In coming here, you cannot, as individuals, know all things that are before you. You are now dwelling in a society that differs from any you ever dwelt in. The circumstances of life are all different, and the business arrangements different, to those you have been used to in the old country. It is necessary that you look about you for a season, find out whom you are among, and know the condition and nature of the elements and state of the society, that you may drop into business through the fellowship of your brethren and sisters, and take hold with them in the different branches of business that are carried on here for the comforts of life. You Elders, who have been in that country, preaching and building up Branches of the Church there; you that have taken up your cross, and gone from your homes, and warned the inhabitants of the earth where you have labored, the Lord went with you, when you went in the name of Jesus; His Spirit was upon you, and you were the means of building up Churches, and of doing much good in various ways; that same Spirit will be with you when you go to labor in the canyons, or do anything else, if you will nourish it, and not cast it from you. Peradventure in the canyons you may need its premonitions most when your life or limb may be in jeopardy. This, my brethren, is the rock upon which many Saints split—they leave the way of truth, they step aside from the rugged path of duty which they have been wont to walk in, and, feeling a degree of ease and safety, as they suppose, on arriving here, they forget their prayers, and that they have need to continue to increase their fellowship with the Holy Spirit; they leave off their duties, and, ere they are aware of it, they are left to themselves.
It is said that the females are the ones by whom the nations are ruled. It is certain that the females have necessarily great influence upon the whole community, and especially upon the rising generation. Allow me a word with the sisters. In your associations and visiting with those about you, when you find a sister or brother that can speak evil of dignities with impunity, and can find fault with what is being done by the Church, and cannot do any good themselves (for such folks cannot do anything themselves but bark and snarl like the dog in the manger), when you get into the society of such people, you will take notes, if you do as I do, and seek the company of those who will speak well of the brethren and sisters, and then you may expect they will speak well of you. When you associate with those who speak well of the truth, their counsels will edify you, and their words will be seasoned with grace to your edification and instruction, and the clouds of adversity that rest down upon you will vanish away.
You will find Saints living about you, that have the good Spirit, and can give you the word of comfort, and take you by the hand and pour the oil of consolation into your heart, and do you good in the name of the Lord. If you seek that kind of society, you will tend upwards towards the realms of light, in duty and intelligence. By taking this course, you will be cultivating the same good Spirit in your own hearts, that you see in the hearts, examples, and general conduct of your brethren and sisters around you, and which is most conspicuous in those who are called to lead and direct in the Priesthood. On the other hand, if you come in here, with the intention to be right down sharp, careful to watch and to criticize your brethren very closely, you will find all the evil you look for, and see imperfections which the cloak of charity and good will would have covered, had you possessed it yourself. You never were among a people where men talked as they meant, and meant what they said, so near as in this place. If you feel to take advantage of your brother or your sister, you may, but it will not be good for your soul; it will be money badly earned. But if you come here with a frank and honest heart, and prepared to speak and act without hypocrisy, and just as you feel, you will find yourselves among a community of brethren and sisters that are ready to aid, comfort, and bless you. If you look with your eyes, as I did with mine when I came home from England, you will find your brethren and sisters to be such kind of beings, whose good works you will wish to emulate.
Take the wisest course to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth; and the only way is by attending diligently to your prayers, and walking in the light of God's Spirit. You will find that condescension in the hearts of your brethren, that love and charity abounding in their bosoms that if you are in adversity and need they will extend a helping hand, and comfort you, and do you good, and will not charge you one hundred percent interest either. I have to say that if you have come to these valleys determined, as for you and yours, to serve the Lord, you will find it the easiest thing in the world to fellowship with those whose hearts run together like two drops of water, and you will be blessed, as also will those with whom you associate. You have arrived at a juncture of your life where two ways branch out; if you wish to travel downward, the great depot of that route is California; if upward, the great depot on that road is this city, these men that surround me in this stand. You do not know what you may be called upon to do. I do not know what I may be called upon to do before this Conference comes to a close, in addition to what is already laid upon me here at home. It is necessary to be always ready; and if you live as you ought, you will always be ready, and nothing will come wrong to you; and if you always live that way, you may always be as happy as you wish to be.
The work we are called unto in these last days, calls upon us not to narrow our minds down to the building of a piece of fence, to the enclosing of a piece of land, or to the putting up of a house, alone; but it is our duty while seeking to make an inheritance here, to reach out our prayers in faith and supplication for the general good, and with becoming liberality feel after those who are to enjoy the same blessings we enjoy. We have our duties to ourselves and families to perform, and our daily and hourly duties to our God; but there is a duty we owe, in common with all God's people, to those who are not yet gathered from the house of bondage. How many of the Israel of God are there sitting in darkness, in distant nations, that have not the light proclaimed to them? Have we come home here to sit down in ease, and let them go down to the grave in ignorance? If we have, we mistake the matter, and in the end will find we shall come short of that glory and reward we anticipate. You have come here to obtain inheritances for yourselves and families, and for your generations forever, in righteousness, as God shall give you power to do. You have, in connection with this, to build up the kingdom of God, to pay tithing, and be ready to fill every office and duty that is put upon you, making the kingdom of God the first and foremost in your affections and attention, and yourselves and families a secondary consideration; and this Gospel has to be borne off among the nations of the earth.
How good it is for us to hear, by the monthly mails, how many there are continually witnessing afar off to the forgiveness of sins through the Gospel. We ought to remember them, and be prepared for whatever may be expected at our hands in those far off regions. Let us not settle down, and become sordid in our affections to anything earthly. It is our duty to seek first the kingdom of God, and the promise is that other things shall be added unto us.
The Lord has manifested His readiness, and determination of purpose, to pour out knowledge and intelligence upon His people, as fast as they are prepared to receive it. Since I left you the last time in the old country, the revelations of the Lord have been sent forth, which had never before been made public, and we have all been led along by degrees in the knowledge of life and salvation. Yet a great amount of advancement has yet to be made while we are in the flesh, greater duties are rolling upon us as fast as we can perform those we are already engaged in. We look around us here upon the house of Israel, the Lamanites, and while our hearts are opened towards them for good, they are not backward to administer death to our brethren. Is this always going to be so? No. The Lord God will work upon them in His own way, until they become one with us in building up the kingdom of God.
The Priesthood in the last days has to be manifested in sufficient power to bear off the kingdom of God triumphant, that all Israel may be gathered and saved. If all Israel will not be sanctified by the law which their Moses first offers them, they will peradventure receive a law of ordinances administered to them, not according to the power of an endless life. Men will be saved in the last days as in former days, according to their faith and willingness to receive the word of God, and walk in it.
We may speak in terms of wonder and admiration of what has been done, and yet where shall these things grow to? They must grow until they spread over all the face of the earth, and control the powers that exist upon it. There must be other revelations fulfilled in our return to Jackson County, and building up the New Jerusalem there; the Lord prepare us for that day, that we may be able to stand the exhibition of glory that will there be made manifest. Before that comes to pass, something must be done here, there is a temple to be built in this city. You, brethren, who received your blessings and endowments in the temple that was built in Nauvoo, have been made witnesses of the wisdom and power that have gone forth to the nations of the earth from that place, and of the power that was realized in the quorums of the Priesthood; no tide of oppression could be raised powerful enough to bear down the authorities of God's kingdom; we see the wicked who came to rule us turned back to their own place, and the Priesthood appears greater than the powers of earth. The powers of the Priesthood must be made manifest before the eyes of all the world, and become transcendently above every other influence. You have sure grounds for confidence, for every step and every turn this Church makes, is calculated to increase confidence; and if we live so as to have our eyes washed with the eye water of the Gospel, we can ourselves realize the rapid growth of Christ's kingdom, and the growth of grace in ourselves and in others necessary to lead us on to perfection. You have come here to cultivate perfection in yourselves in the name of the Lord; and if you do that, and try to be useful, and willing to do anything here or anywhere else you are instructed to do, you will be made fit for the performance of any essential good in the kingdom of God.
Well then, brethren and sisters, while all is auspicious around us, and everything calculated to encourage us to do good, let us be up and doing, and try to keep the commandments of God with all our hearts, and we shall find it easier and easier to do it. Let us be prepared always for every duty that is laid upon us, and the grace of God will be sufficient for us under every circumstance.
When I was called to preside in England, I felt as though I never could magnify that calling, it appeared too great for me. But if we feel right, we shall feel like the Prophet of old, the Spirit of the Lord will be sufficient for us in the performance of every duty. I pray that the spirit of Zion may be given to you who have newly come in, that you may go on your way rejoicing, and be able to do the will of God here and abroad. May the blessings of God be and abide upon you by day and by night, and increase you on the earth, in blessings and riches forever, is the prayer of your brother Franklin.
President Brigham Young
Gathering the Poor—The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Ingratitude
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Tabernacle, at the General Conference, October 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
I wish to call the attention of this Conference to an invitation I shall give them, and wish to extend it to the Saints in this valley and elsewhere. I allude to the gathering of the poor Saints.
Many of us are acquainted with the circumstances of the Saints when they came to this valley six years ago, also five and four years ago. Were we to go through this community and search out the men, women, and children who have come here on their own resources, and those who have been helped here by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and by private individuals, it would be seen that a large proportion of the community have been brought here through the assistance of others. I will not say a majority have come here under those circumstances, but there are thousands who have. Thousands of men, women, and children have been helped here by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund alone.
This is the subject to which I wish to call the attention of the Conference, and the community at large. I wish all to hearken to it, to reflect upon it, and contemplate it seriously.
I call upon those who have not yet put forth their hands to assist in gathering the poor, to give us their names and their means, during this Conference, that we may raise a few thousand dollars to be applied to this purpose. Suppose we should try to raise as much as we did four years ago, when we were in the midst of our greatest poverty and distress—we had just arrived here, and had scarcely sufficient to sustain life; notwithstanding these straightened circumstances, at the first Conference we held in the old Tabernacle, this subject was agitated, and $5,700 in gold was raised, and sent to gather in the poor. Dare I venture to flatter myself that we can raise $5,000 or $6,000 this Conference, to be applied to the same good purpose? The people are better able to raise $50,000 now, than they were to raise $5,000 then. Suppose we raise $15,000 or $20,000 to send for our poor brethren and sisters, who long to be here as much as any of you did, before your way was opened. This amount can be raised now, and not call forth an unusual effort.
We might ask you to reflect upon the days that you have spent in yonder distant land, where you could seldom walk the streets or enter a shop, like another citizen, without the finger of scorn being pointed at you, without suffering the malignant taunts and sneers of the ungodly, for the sake of your religion. Let me refer your minds to the time that the Gospel was first introduced to you, and the light and glory of it opened up to your understandings; when eternity and eternal things reflected upon your benighted minds, and your conceptions were aroused to see things as they were, as they are, and as they will be. What were your feelings and meditations, when Zion and its glory burst upon your vision? When the people of God appeared to you, assembled together, preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man? Again, what were your feelings, when in every direction that you turned your eyes, they were met with scenes of wickedness, and your ears saluted with deep dyed blasphemies of every description? Were there any that feared the Lord? No. The most pious could do nothing more than some did in the days of the Apostles; they could erect an image to the unknown God, and worship somebody, or something, but they knew not what. What were your feelings and reflections, under such circumstances, when you first heard of the latter-day work? Of the Gospel in its fulness? When you first learned that the Lord had a Prophet, and Apostles, who held the words of life for the people? What was there you would not have sacrificed in a moment for the privilege of assembling with the Saints? Of mingling your voices and conversation with theirs, day by day? Of visiting, journeying, doing business, laboring, and spending your lives with those who know and love the Lord, and will serve Him? Is there anything you would not have sacrificed? Verily, no!
If you can remember your own feeling then, you can know how others feel, you can realize how thousands and scores of thousands feel at this present moment. There is no hardship they would refuse to undergo, no danger they would not endeavor to surmount, if they could assemble with us here this day. No trial would be too keen for them; there is no sacrifice that they would not readily and willingly make for the privilege you enjoy this day. Brethren and sisters, can you realize this?
Let us now read a chapter on the other side of the page, and we find the hearts of men and women, by crossing the ocean, by traveling a few weeks or months by water and land, appear to become partially closed up, and they lose sight of the object of their pursuit. It seems as though the hardships they pass through, in coming to this land, banish nearly every particle of the light of Christ out of their minds.
If you started on your journey with the influence of the Holy Spirit warming your hearts, who prevented you from retaining it every day of your life? You may say it was the devil that robbed you of it. But what business had you with the devil? Was there any necessity that you should enter into fellowship with him, or into partnership with the works of darkness? “No,” you reply, “I had forsaken him and all my old associates and feelings, and had given myself to the Lord, had embraced His Gospel, and set out to build up His kingdom, and wished to gather with the Saints at the gathering place.”
Suppose the devil does tempt you, must you of necessity enter into partnership again with him, open your doors, and bid him welcome to your house, and tell him to reign there? Why do you not reflect, and tell master devil, with all his associates and imps, to begone, feeling you have served him long enough.
Says one, “I did not know that I could possibly come here with unruly cattle, without getting wrong in my feelings;” or, “this brother did wrong and marred my feelings; I was irritated, and the cares of the journey bewildered my mind, and hurt me so that I do not really know whether I have got to where I started for, or not; things are different here to what I expected to find them, &c.”
This is a representation of the feelings of some who have crossed the plains this season. My advice to you is, go and be baptized for the remission of sins, and start afresh, that temptation may not overcome you again; pause and reflect, that you be not overcome by the evil one unawares.
In the first place, if you are rebaptized for the remission of sins, peradventure you may receive again the spirit of the Gospel in its glory, light and beauty; but if your hearts are so engrossed in the things of this world, that you do not know whether you want to be rebaptized or not, you had better shut yourselves up in some canyon or closet, to repent of your sins, and call upon the name of the Lord, until you get His Spirit, and the light thereof, to reflect upon you, that you may know the nature of your offenses, and your true condition; that you may realize and appreciate the blessing you enjoy in being here with the Saints of the Most High.
Let me lead your minds a little further. I wish to tell you something which you may perhaps know as well as I do, but you may not have realized it. When the Lord Almighty opens the vision of a person's mind, He shows him the things of the Spirit—things that will be. If any of you had a vision of Zion, it was shown to you in its beauty and glory, after Satan was bound. If you reflected upon the gathering of the Saints; it was the spirit of gathering that enlightened you; and when your minds were opened in vision to behold the glory and excellency of the Gospel, you did not see a vision of driving cattle across the plains, and where you would be mired in this or that mud hole; you did not see the stampedes among the cattle, and those of a worse character among the people; but you saw the beauty and glory of Zion, that you might be encouraged, and prepared to meet the afflictions, sorrows and disappointments of this mortal life, and overcome them, and be made ready to enjoy the glory of the Lord as it was revealed to you. It was given to you for your encouragement. Recollect that.
You will recollect my exhortation to those who have means; we want them to give the Perpetual Emigrating Fund a lift. Bring in your tithes and offerings, and we will help a great many more to this place in the future than we have this year. We wish to double our diligence, and treble the crowd of immigrants by that Fund.
I wish to show you a little of the philosophy of human nature in its fallen and degraded state; you may consider it in the Gospel or out of it; in the light of the Holy Spirit, or without it; as you please. The philosophy of mankind, in their daily avocations, you may all know for yourselves, by your own observation and experience. I wish to mention a portion of it that has come under my notice. I could mention names, but I will content myself with naming circumstances.
We pick up, say 200 persons, in England and convey them across the water, and across the plains, and set them down in this valley. They commence to labor, and in a short time they make themselves comfortable. They can soon obtain plenty of the best kind of pay for their labor, such as bread—the staff of life, butter, cheese and vegetables. When a man gets these things, without the fancy nicknacks, he does well.
Suppose we pick up a company of these poor Saints in England, whose faces are pale, and who can scarcely tread their way through the streets for want of the staff of life; you may see them bowed down from very weakness, with their arms across their stomachs, going to and from their work; the greater part of them not enabled to get a bit of meat more than once a month; and upon an average only about one tablespoonful of meal per day, for each person in a family, without butter or cheese, by working 16 hours out of the 24; and when they go to their work and return from it, they need a staff in their hands to lean upon. We bring 200 of them here; instead of their being obliged to work for two or three pence per day, they can get a dollar and a dollar and a half per day. With one day's wages they can purchase flour and meat and vegetables enough to last a moderately sized family one week.
They have not been here long when they may be seen swelling in the streets with an air of perfect independence. Ask one of these men if he will pay you for bringing him here; and he will reply, “I don't know you, sir.” You ask another if he will work for you, for bringing him out to this place; and he will appear quite astonished, saying, “What have I had from you?” Another will say, “If I work for you, what will you give me? Can you give me some adobies? For I am going to build a fine house, or if you have any money to pay me, it will answer as well.”
How does such language and ingratitude make the benefactor of that person feel? Why, his heart sinks within him. I can find thousands of just such men and women in this territory. When they are brought to this place, they do not know their benefactors, who saved them from death, but they are a head and shoulders above them, when they meet them in the streets.
Do you know the conclusion that is natural to man, when he is treated in such a manner by his fellow man? It is, “I wish I had left you in your own country.” I wish so too. I say, let such persons starve to death, and die Christians, instead of being brought here to live and commit the sin of ingratitude, and die and go to hell; for while they remained in their poverty, they were used to the daily practice of praying for deliverance; and I say it is better for them to die praying, and go into eternity praying, and the Almighty to have bowels of compassion and mercy towards them, than for them to come here, and lose the Spirit of God through ingratitude, and go into eternity swearing.
I can pick up hundreds of men who have passed by their benefactors, and if they should speak to them, would turn round and say, “I really don't know you.” Or if they do, they will speak everything against them their tongues can utter, or can be allowed to; and they will swear falsely about them—about the very men who have saved them from starvation and death.
I frequently refer to facts that come under my own observation. When I came into this Valley, we had notes amounting to $30,000 against brethren we had assisted, which no person will pay one cent for. We have helped men, women, and children from England, to over the amount of $30,000. Except one individual, and that is a man by the name of Thomas Green, who lives in Utah, and one young woman, who came from England, there has never been a single person who has paid one dime towards canceling a debt amounting to over $30,000, besides other notes, accounts, and obligations which we hold.
Do I mean to be understood that no person pays their passage? By no means. My remarks will not hit those, neither are they directed to them who are thankful to their benefactors, and who do, and are willing to pay. But as far as I am concerned, before we came into this Valley, with the exception of one man and woman, no person has offered to pay us one dime, and eight-tenths of them have turned away from the Church, and a number of them joined the mob, and sought to dye their hands in our blood.
Now do you see the philosophy of human nature, and I will say of divine nature? Let me help a man who makes an evil use of the assistance I render him, and endeavors to injure himself and me, and his neighbor with it, what does the Spirit of the Lord teach me in such a circumstance? What would the Lord do, provided He was here himself? Do you not think He would withhold the thing from him? Do you think an angel would help a man who would turn round and destroy that angel and himself? I do not, neither do I think the Lord would, and no good man would if he knew it, unless it were done with a view to prove a person. I do not think a bad man would distribute his means to another individual, or to individuals, who would use them to his injury.
It is the evil actions and covetousness in the hearts of the poor that shut up the bowels of compassion in the rich, and they say they will not help the poor. We could have gathered hundreds of thousands more of the poor, were it not that the rich have been so biased, and still continue to be. Say they, “We do not wish our means to be applied to an evil use.”
If you wish to know what I mean by all this, it is that if any men or women refuse to pay their passage to this place when they are in circumstances to do it, let them be cut off from the Church, and then sue them at the law, and collect the debt. Sever those limbs from the tree, and then make them pay their honest debts. That is to the poor.
We now want the rich to turn in their means, that the poor, the honest poor, may be delivered. Some of you may inquire if we wish to send the means now to England? Yes; we want the means now, which you can pay into the Tithing Office, and have it recorded on the books, to answer the means we have there, which can be used for next season. We want to give a heavy lift to the emigration of the poor, next season. We have brought out a considerable number this season, but it is hardly a beginning to what we wish to be brought out next season.
The first duty of those who have been brought out by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund is to pay back what they have received from it, the first opportunity, that others may receive the same benefit they have received. We wish you in the first place to get something to eat, drink, and wear; but when you are in any way comfortable, we wish you to pay that debt the next thing you do, and replenish the Fund. It is built upon a principle, if carried out properly, and the debts punctually refunded, to increase in wealth. The $5,000 that was sent for the poor four years ago this fall, if every man had been prompt to pay in that which he received, would have increased to $20,000.
We are the greatest speculators in the world. We have the greatest speculation on hand that can be found in all the earth. I never denied being a speculator. I never denied being a miser, or of feeling eager for riches; but some men will chase a picayune five thousand miles when I would not turn round for it, and yet we are preachers of the same Gospel, and brethren in the same kingdom of God. You may consider this is a little strong; but the speculation I am after, is to exchange this world, which, in its present state, passes away, for a world that is eternal and unchangeable, for a glorified world filled with eternal riches, for the world that is made an inheritance for the Gods of eternity.
The plan is to make everything bend to the revelations of God; this is the object of our Priesthood—to bring into requisition every good thing, and make it bear for the accomplishment of the main point we have in view; and when we get through we shall reap the reward of the just, and get all our hearts can anticipate or desire. To lay plans for the attainment of this, is just as necessary as for a merchant to lay plans to get earthly riches by buying and selling merchandise. It is for us to lay plans to secure to ourselves eternal lives, which is just as necessary as it is for the miser to lay plans to amass a great amount of gold upon the earth; and it is for us to engage in it systematically.
I say to the poor, pay your debts to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund; and to the rich, help the poor; and this will bring wealth and strength, by each one, according to his ability, calling, and means, assisting in every point and place in this great speculation for kingdoms, thrones, principalities and powers. It is said union is strength; and that is enough; if we get that, we shall have power. This is the plan for us to work upon, and I wish the brethren to whisper this around among their neighbors, when they go out of this tabernacle, and say, “What can we give to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund? Can we give anything this season?” We will not refuse help from the sisters. Do you ask how small an amount we will take? We will take from a pin to a bed quilt; but be sure, when you bring a pin, that you have not many other things in your trunk that would be useful, more than you at present need; for if you bring a pin under such circumstances, you cannot receive a blessing, and the reward it is entitled to. If the clothing you wear each day is all you have, and you have need to borrow a shawl to go out in, and you have only a pin to bestow, bring that, and you shall receive a blessing.
We think it is not necessary to give you the report of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund this Conference. It is doing well, but we want it to do a great deal better. We want to swell the operation, and bring the poor from the nations by scores of thousands instead of by hundreds. This embraces what I wished to lay before the Conference upon this point.
Before the Conference is concluded we shall call for quite a number of Elders. It was anticipated that our missionaries would have been called at the August Conference of this year, but we will call a considerable number this Conference. You need not inquire where we want you to go, for it will be told you when you are ready. Prepare your mind and circumstances against that time, for we wish to send the Gospel to Israel.
May the Lord bless you. Amen.
Choir sung “Go ye messengers of Glory.” Benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
Gathering the Poor—The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Ingratitude
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Tabernacle, at the General Conference, October 6, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
I wish to call the attention of this Conference to an invitation I shall give them, and wish to extend it to the Saints in this valley and elsewhere. I allude to the gathering of the poor Saints.
Many of us are acquainted with the circumstances of the Saints when they came to this valley six years ago, also five and four years ago. Were we to go through this community and search out the men, women, and children who have come here on their own resources, and those who have been helped here by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and by private individuals, it would be seen that a large proportion of the community have been brought here through the assistance of others. I will not say a majority have come here under those circumstances, but there are thousands who have. Thousands of men, women, and children have been helped here by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund alone.
This is the subject to which I wish to call the attention of the Conference, and the community at large. I wish all to hearken to it, to reflect upon it, and contemplate it seriously.
I call upon those who have not yet put forth their hands to assist in gathering the poor, to give us their names and their means, during this Conference, that we may raise a few thousand dollars to be applied to this purpose. Suppose we should try to raise as much as we did four years ago, when we were in the midst of our greatest poverty and distress—we had just arrived here, and had scarcely sufficient to sustain life; notwithstanding these straightened circumstances, at the first Conference we held in the old Tabernacle, this subject was agitated, and $5,700 in gold was raised, and sent to gather in the poor. Dare I venture to flatter myself that we can raise $5,000 or $6,000 this Conference, to be applied to the same good purpose? The people are better able to raise $50,000 now, than they were to raise $5,000 then. Suppose we raise $15,000 or $20,000 to send for our poor brethren and sisters, who long to be here as much as any of you did, before your way was opened. This amount can be raised now, and not call forth an unusual effort.
We might ask you to reflect upon the days that you have spent in yonder distant land, where you could seldom walk the streets or enter a shop, like another citizen, without the finger of scorn being pointed at you, without suffering the malignant taunts and sneers of the ungodly, for the sake of your religion. Let me refer your minds to the time that the Gospel was first introduced to you, and the light and glory of it opened up to your understandings; when eternity and eternal things reflected upon your benighted minds, and your conceptions were aroused to see things as they were, as they are, and as they will be. What were your feelings and meditations, when Zion and its glory burst upon your vision? When the people of God appeared to you, assembled together, preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man? Again, what were your feelings, when in every direction that you turned your eyes, they were met with scenes of wickedness, and your ears saluted with deep dyed blasphemies of every description? Were there any that feared the Lord? No. The most pious could do nothing more than some did in the days of the Apostles; they could erect an image to the unknown God, and worship somebody, or something, but they knew not what. What were your feelings and reflections, under such circumstances, when you first heard of the latter-day work? Of the Gospel in its fulness? When you first learned that the Lord had a Prophet, and Apostles, who held the words of life for the people? What was there you would not have sacrificed in a moment for the privilege of assembling with the Saints? Of mingling your voices and conversation with theirs, day by day? Of visiting, journeying, doing business, laboring, and spending your lives with those who know and love the Lord, and will serve Him? Is there anything you would not have sacrificed? Verily, no!
If you can remember your own feeling then, you can know how others feel, you can realize how thousands and scores of thousands feel at this present moment. There is no hardship they would refuse to undergo, no danger they would not endeavor to surmount, if they could assemble with us here this day. No trial would be too keen for them; there is no sacrifice that they would not readily and willingly make for the privilege you enjoy this day. Brethren and sisters, can you realize this?
Let us now read a chapter on the other side of the page, and we find the hearts of men and women, by crossing the ocean, by traveling a few weeks or months by water and land, appear to become partially closed up, and they lose sight of the object of their pursuit. It seems as though the hardships they pass through, in coming to this land, banish nearly every particle of the light of Christ out of their minds.
If you started on your journey with the influence of the Holy Spirit warming your hearts, who prevented you from retaining it every day of your life? You may say it was the devil that robbed you of it. But what business had you with the devil? Was there any necessity that you should enter into fellowship with him, or into partnership with the works of darkness? “No,” you reply, “I had forsaken him and all my old associates and feelings, and had given myself to the Lord, had embraced His Gospel, and set out to build up His kingdom, and wished to gather with the Saints at the gathering place.”
Suppose the devil does tempt you, must you of necessity enter into partnership again with him, open your doors, and bid him welcome to your house, and tell him to reign there? Why do you not reflect, and tell master devil, with all his associates and imps, to begone, feeling you have served him long enough.
Says one, “I did not know that I could possibly come here with unruly cattle, without getting wrong in my feelings;” or, “this brother did wrong and marred my feelings; I was irritated, and the cares of the journey bewildered my mind, and hurt me so that I do not really know whether I have got to where I started for, or not; things are different here to what I expected to find them, &c.”
This is a representation of the feelings of some who have crossed the plains this season. My advice to you is, go and be baptized for the remission of sins, and start afresh, that temptation may not overcome you again; pause and reflect, that you be not overcome by the evil one unawares.
In the first place, if you are rebaptized for the remission of sins, peradventure you may receive again the spirit of the Gospel in its glory, light and beauty; but if your hearts are so engrossed in the things of this world, that you do not know whether you want to be rebaptized or not, you had better shut yourselves up in some canyon or closet, to repent of your sins, and call upon the name of the Lord, until you get His Spirit, and the light thereof, to reflect upon you, that you may know the nature of your offenses, and your true condition; that you may realize and appreciate the blessing you enjoy in being here with the Saints of the Most High.
Let me lead your minds a little further. I wish to tell you something which you may perhaps know as well as I do, but you may not have realized it. When the Lord Almighty opens the vision of a person's mind, He shows him the things of the Spirit—things that will be. If any of you had a vision of Zion, it was shown to you in its beauty and glory, after Satan was bound. If you reflected upon the gathering of the Saints; it was the spirit of gathering that enlightened you; and when your minds were opened in vision to behold the glory and excellency of the Gospel, you did not see a vision of driving cattle across the plains, and where you would be mired in this or that mud hole; you did not see the stampedes among the cattle, and those of a worse character among the people; but you saw the beauty and glory of Zion, that you might be encouraged, and prepared to meet the afflictions, sorrows and disappointments of this mortal life, and overcome them, and be made ready to enjoy the glory of the Lord as it was revealed to you. It was given to you for your encouragement. Recollect that.
You will recollect my exhortation to those who have means; we want them to give the Perpetual Emigrating Fund a lift. Bring in your tithes and offerings, and we will help a great many more to this place in the future than we have this year. We wish to double our diligence, and treble the crowd of immigrants by that Fund.
I wish to show you a little of the philosophy of human nature in its fallen and degraded state; you may consider it in the Gospel or out of it; in the light of the Holy Spirit, or without it; as you please. The philosophy of mankind, in their daily avocations, you may all know for yourselves, by your own observation and experience. I wish to mention a portion of it that has come under my notice. I could mention names, but I will content myself with naming circumstances.
We pick up, say 200 persons, in England and convey them across the water, and across the plains, and set them down in this valley. They commence to labor, and in a short time they make themselves comfortable. They can soon obtain plenty of the best kind of pay for their labor, such as bread—the staff of life, butter, cheese and vegetables. When a man gets these things, without the fancy nicknacks, he does well.
Suppose we pick up a company of these poor Saints in England, whose faces are pale, and who can scarcely tread their way through the streets for want of the staff of life; you may see them bowed down from very weakness, with their arms across their stomachs, going to and from their work; the greater part of them not enabled to get a bit of meat more than once a month; and upon an average only about one tablespoonful of meal per day, for each person in a family, without butter or cheese, by working 16 hours out of the 24; and when they go to their work and return from it, they need a staff in their hands to lean upon. We bring 200 of them here; instead of their being obliged to work for two or three pence per day, they can get a dollar and a dollar and a half per day. With one day's wages they can purchase flour and meat and vegetables enough to last a moderately sized family one week.
They have not been here long when they may be seen swelling in the streets with an air of perfect independence. Ask one of these men if he will pay you for bringing him here; and he will reply, “I don't know you, sir.” You ask another if he will work for you, for bringing him out to this place; and he will appear quite astonished, saying, “What have I had from you?” Another will say, “If I work for you, what will you give me? Can you give me some adobies? For I am going to build a fine house, or if you have any money to pay me, it will answer as well.”
How does such language and ingratitude make the benefactor of that person feel? Why, his heart sinks within him. I can find thousands of just such men and women in this territory. When they are brought to this place, they do not know their benefactors, who saved them from death, but they are a head and shoulders above them, when they meet them in the streets.
Do you know the conclusion that is natural to man, when he is treated in such a manner by his fellow man? It is, “I wish I had left you in your own country.” I wish so too. I say, let such persons starve to death, and die Christians, instead of being brought here to live and commit the sin of ingratitude, and die and go to hell; for while they remained in their poverty, they were used to the daily practice of praying for deliverance; and I say it is better for them to die praying, and go into eternity praying, and the Almighty to have bowels of compassion and mercy towards them, than for them to come here, and lose the Spirit of God through ingratitude, and go into eternity swearing.
I can pick up hundreds of men who have passed by their benefactors, and if they should speak to them, would turn round and say, “I really don't know you.” Or if they do, they will speak everything against them their tongues can utter, or can be allowed to; and they will swear falsely about them—about the very men who have saved them from starvation and death.
I frequently refer to facts that come under my own observation. When I came into this Valley, we had notes amounting to $30,000 against brethren we had assisted, which no person will pay one cent for. We have helped men, women, and children from England, to over the amount of $30,000. Except one individual, and that is a man by the name of Thomas Green, who lives in Utah, and one young woman, who came from England, there has never been a single person who has paid one dime towards canceling a debt amounting to over $30,000, besides other notes, accounts, and obligations which we hold.
Do I mean to be understood that no person pays their passage? By no means. My remarks will not hit those, neither are they directed to them who are thankful to their benefactors, and who do, and are willing to pay. But as far as I am concerned, before we came into this Valley, with the exception of one man and woman, no person has offered to pay us one dime, and eight-tenths of them have turned away from the Church, and a number of them joined the mob, and sought to dye their hands in our blood.
Now do you see the philosophy of human nature, and I will say of divine nature? Let me help a man who makes an evil use of the assistance I render him, and endeavors to injure himself and me, and his neighbor with it, what does the Spirit of the Lord teach me in such a circumstance? What would the Lord do, provided He was here himself? Do you not think He would withhold the thing from him? Do you think an angel would help a man who would turn round and destroy that angel and himself? I do not, neither do I think the Lord would, and no good man would if he knew it, unless it were done with a view to prove a person. I do not think a bad man would distribute his means to another individual, or to individuals, who would use them to his injury.
It is the evil actions and covetousness in the hearts of the poor that shut up the bowels of compassion in the rich, and they say they will not help the poor. We could have gathered hundreds of thousands more of the poor, were it not that the rich have been so biased, and still continue to be. Say they, “We do not wish our means to be applied to an evil use.”
If you wish to know what I mean by all this, it is that if any men or women refuse to pay their passage to this place when they are in circumstances to do it, let them be cut off from the Church, and then sue them at the law, and collect the debt. Sever those limbs from the tree, and then make them pay their honest debts. That is to the poor.
We now want the rich to turn in their means, that the poor, the honest poor, may be delivered. Some of you may inquire if we wish to send the means now to England? Yes; we want the means now, which you can pay into the Tithing Office, and have it recorded on the books, to answer the means we have there, which can be used for next season. We want to give a heavy lift to the emigration of the poor, next season. We have brought out a considerable number this season, but it is hardly a beginning to what we wish to be brought out next season.
The first duty of those who have been brought out by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund is to pay back what they have received from it, the first opportunity, that others may receive the same benefit they have received. We wish you in the first place to get something to eat, drink, and wear; but when you are in any way comfortable, we wish you to pay that debt the next thing you do, and replenish the Fund. It is built upon a principle, if carried out properly, and the debts punctually refunded, to increase in wealth. The $5,000 that was sent for the poor four years ago this fall, if every man had been prompt to pay in that which he received, would have increased to $20,000.
We are the greatest speculators in the world. We have the greatest speculation on hand that can be found in all the earth. I never denied being a speculator. I never denied being a miser, or of feeling eager for riches; but some men will chase a picayune five thousand miles when I would not turn round for it, and yet we are preachers of the same Gospel, and brethren in the same kingdom of God. You may consider this is a little strong; but the speculation I am after, is to exchange this world, which, in its present state, passes away, for a world that is eternal and unchangeable, for a glorified world filled with eternal riches, for the world that is made an inheritance for the Gods of eternity.
The plan is to make everything bend to the revelations of God; this is the object of our Priesthood—to bring into requisition every good thing, and make it bear for the accomplishment of the main point we have in view; and when we get through we shall reap the reward of the just, and get all our hearts can anticipate or desire. To lay plans for the attainment of this, is just as necessary as for a merchant to lay plans to get earthly riches by buying and selling merchandise. It is for us to lay plans to secure to ourselves eternal lives, which is just as necessary as it is for the miser to lay plans to amass a great amount of gold upon the earth; and it is for us to engage in it systematically.
I say to the poor, pay your debts to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund; and to the rich, help the poor; and this will bring wealth and strength, by each one, according to his ability, calling, and means, assisting in every point and place in this great speculation for kingdoms, thrones, principalities and powers. It is said union is strength; and that is enough; if we get that, we shall have power. This is the plan for us to work upon, and I wish the brethren to whisper this around among their neighbors, when they go out of this tabernacle, and say, “What can we give to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund? Can we give anything this season?” We will not refuse help from the sisters. Do you ask how small an amount we will take? We will take from a pin to a bed quilt; but be sure, when you bring a pin, that you have not many other things in your trunk that would be useful, more than you at present need; for if you bring a pin under such circumstances, you cannot receive a blessing, and the reward it is entitled to. If the clothing you wear each day is all you have, and you have need to borrow a shawl to go out in, and you have only a pin to bestow, bring that, and you shall receive a blessing.
We think it is not necessary to give you the report of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund this Conference. It is doing well, but we want it to do a great deal better. We want to swell the operation, and bring the poor from the nations by scores of thousands instead of by hundreds. This embraces what I wished to lay before the Conference upon this point.
Before the Conference is concluded we shall call for quite a number of Elders. It was anticipated that our missionaries would have been called at the August Conference of this year, but we will call a considerable number this Conference. You need not inquire where we want you to go, for it will be told you when you are ready. Prepare your mind and circumstances against that time, for we wish to send the Gospel to Israel.
May the Lord bless you. Amen.
Choir sung “Go ye messengers of Glory.” Benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
Seven o’clock, p. m.
Singing.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Singing.
Singing.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Singing.
President Joseph Young
appreciated the necessity of the Holy Spirit taking the lead of a speaker, to a congregation of the Saints. Many of this congregation have not a knowledge of the history of this church from its beginning, although it is very interesting. In June, 1832, I first saw the Book of Mormon, when it arrested my feelings with a conviction that God was to it. Joseph Smith moved forward in the spirit of his calling and angels conversed and ministered unto him, and no man could thwart him, for God was with him. I received the testimony by the Holy Ghost that the work was true, and when I first saw Joseph, and took him by the hand, I knew that he was a man of God. Since Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, Brigham, Heber and Willard, are the men that guide this kingdom, so that not a man or woman who seeks it, will lose the glory, wisdom, purity and joys of the eternal world. You need have no misgivings, for God is here, angels are round about us, and minister to the Saints, and I bless, and pray for this people.
appreciated the necessity of the Holy Spirit taking the lead of a speaker, to a congregation of the Saints. Many of this congregation have not a knowledge of the history of this church from its beginning, although it is very interesting. In June, 1832, I first saw the Book of Mormon, when it arrested my feelings with a conviction that God was to it. Joseph Smith moved forward in the spirit of his calling and angels conversed and ministered unto him, and no man could thwart him, for God was with him. I received the testimony by the Holy Ghost that the work was true, and when I first saw Joseph, and took him by the hand, I knew that he was a man of God. Since Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, Brigham, Heber and Willard, are the men that guide this kingdom, so that not a man or woman who seeks it, will lose the glory, wisdom, purity and joys of the eternal world. You need have no misgivings, for God is here, angels are round about us, and minister to the Saints, and I bless, and pray for this people.
Elder B. L. Clapp
said the time is at hand that we have got to be Latter-day Saints in very deed, or else the trials that we have to pass through will cause us to kick out. This people have got to amalgamate their feelings more than they have been, and we shall then receive more of the blessings of God, as we see the scriptures fulfilled.
said the time is at hand that we have got to be Latter-day Saints in very deed, or else the trials that we have to pass through will cause us to kick out. This people have got to amalgamate their feelings more than they have been, and we shall then receive more of the blessings of God, as we see the scriptures fulfilled.
Elder A. P. Rockwood
remarked, that it is our lot to be the messengers of salvation to all the nations of the earth, to gather out the honest in heart, to prepare for the second coming of the Son of Man, and we should be ready to go anywhere at a moment’s notice, and to fill any mission that may be appointed unto us.
remarked, that it is our lot to be the messengers of salvation to all the nations of the earth, to gather out the honest in heart, to prepare for the second coming of the Son of Man, and we should be ready to go anywhere at a moment’s notice, and to fill any mission that may be appointed unto us.
President Joseph Young
says he has watched the leaders of this people. There are no misgivings in my heart, and if you will keep Brigham’s counsel, he will lead you safely into celestial glory. Be pure and virtuous, and we shall take the kingdom and possess it forever.
“Come let us anew” was sung by the congregation.
Benediction by Elder P. P. Pratt.
says he has watched the leaders of this people. There are no misgivings in my heart, and if you will keep Brigham’s counsel, he will lead you safely into celestial glory. Be pure and virtuous, and we shall take the kingdom and possess it forever.
“Come let us anew” was sung by the congregation.
Benediction by Elder P. P. Pratt.
Oct. 7th, 1853, 10 a. m.
Singing by the choir.
Prayer by Elder W. W. Phelps.
Singing.
Singing by the choir.
Prayer by Elder W. W. Phelps.
Singing.
Prest. H. C. Kimball
remarked that he felt grateful that we live to see the day we now enjoy. We are blest above all the inhabitants of the earth; all that we need, is to cultivate the earth, and if we live our religion, and are subject to the government of God, the elements will be changed for our good. If all the saints would do as well as they know, the Holy Ghost would rest upon the elders of Israel in tenfold power; and it would take but a few years until “the end” should come. It is for me to serve God, and keep his commandments; and if a person will not fulfil his covenants in this world, God will make that person fulfil his covenant in the next. When the Pioneers arrived in this valley they did not murmur, neither did they murmur when half their horses were stolen by the Indians, near the South Pass. I am glad you have the privilege of an experience as well as we had. It is my wish to live here, until the Lord will allow us to go back to Jackson county; but you cannot go there, unless you become as one man, and do as you are told. I say it boldly, before God and Angels, that I have more love towards Bro. Brigham and many other good men, than I have for any woman on the earth. I have gone with him without purse or scrip, and gone hungry, barefoot, sick, and destitute of the comforts of life, to preach the gospel of salvation, to the nations of the earth. Gentlemen, you will have to pass through the same, or you cannot sit down and appreciate what we, and the ancient Saints have passed through.
Every one of you have got to help the Perpetual Emigrating Funds with your substance, which is one of the greatest blessings for the poor, that the Lord ever instituted.
TABERNACLE
Prest. Kimball addressed the Conference.
I feel grateful to my Father in heaven, that my life has been preserved, and the lives of my brethren to behold the day we now see, and enjoy the blessings we now enjoy. As Prest. Young has often observed, we are blessed above all the inhabitants of the earth. That is true to my certain knowledge.
I have been a member of this Church 22 years,--and have never seen the day to equal the one I now see, for prosperity, and for the comforts of life.—With a very few exceptions, I enjoy all the comforts of life I ever enjoyed at any period of my life; and I have lived in a fruitful country generally, until I became a Mormon, and part of that time I have lived where the luxuries of life have been abundant. As for this country being fruitful, and qualified to produce all things that we need for our comfort, it is not behind any, in any part of the earth that ever I was in; and I have visited many parts of it. All that the soil requires in these regions, is cultivation; and it will make us as comfortable, as to the necessaries of life, as any people ever was upon the earth.
I have often said, and say it again, if we live up to our profession,--be faithful to our religion, and take a course to be subject to the government of God, to those who are appointed to lead this people, you need never be troubled with frost, cold, and with changes that are common to this country, and every other country; because I know, the faith, the virtue, the integrity, and the course that this people will take, viz: to be true to their God, and true to him they have acknowledged to be their head, their governor, their president, their prophet, their priest, and their king:--if you take this course, the elements will change, and the nature of things not only in this valley, but among the nations of the earth; for the earth will be revolutionized through the faithfulness of the saints. This I know. Perhaps some of you do not believe this statement, but I do. For instance, you may refer to one place in the Book of Mormon, where the servants of God assembled together, and prayed for the nations in which they lived, and for those that were at war against them; and they prevailed, and their enemies became their friends and associates. The faithfulness and prayers of the saints of God changed the nature of things, not only religiously but politically; and the government was afterwards administered in peace.
Will it not have the same effect with us? It is verily true; to my certain knowledge it will have.—And if this people, taking them as a people, that profess to be L. D. Saints, would take the course some men take, and have taken from the beginning, there would be five thousand men and women added to this church where there is but one at this day; and it would bring to pass the works of God with more power, and the Holy Ghost would wait upon the elders, and upon the saints abroad with tenfold more power than it does now. This I know.
I see the work of God is prospering, and rolling forth from nation to nation in the old world. It has gone from the shores of Europe into almost every nation. The very moment the elders put the leaven, as it were, in the measure of meal, it at once begins to work, and it is quicker and lighter, and sooner elevated to the surface than it was in the beginning; it catches at once and begins to leaven, and go from that nation to another nation, until all the nations of the earth will soon hear the sound of the glorious gospel. It will take but a few years to accomplish this design; and then the Lord has said the end shall come. The end of something will come, I assure you; and there will be an overturn which will make things very different from now.
Well, you that have come here from England, from the United States, from Germany, from Italy, from Norway, from Sweden, from China, and from the Islands of the sea,--for what purpose have you come? You came to serve your God, by keeping his commandments, and to listen to the counsel of those you have acknowledged to be your head. I will tell you one thing, brethren: it is something very contrary to your fallen nature to become subject. In the world from whence you have come, and where you have been taught, men seek to become independent one of another. This is universally so, according to my own knowledge and experience. From the time that God called Joseph Smith to act in his position and calling, he gave him revelations for the guidance of his people, and the very first elders of this church, when they went forth to preach the gospel and baptize the people; the next thing was to gather together all those that were disposed to sacrifice, and covenant with me, saith the Lord. In my experience, since I have been a member in this church, I have seen a great deal of murmuring and complaining, and a great many tears, and much sorrow and lamentation, and thousands upon thousands turn away from the faith, even brethren and sisters that I loved as I love my own family, they have turned away, and perhaps because somebody took an advantage of them. Suppose you should all turn away from the faith, what has that to do with me? Suppose you should all act like devils, what is that to me? What has it to do with my religion? I am to serve God and keep his commandments, perfectly independent of the acts of any other person in God’s world; they have nothing to do with me, neither one way nor the other, so far as serving my God as an individual is concerned; but it is for me and you to serve God and keep his commandments, and fulfil his covenants. When we went into the waters of baptism, we made a covenant to forsake the world, and cleave unto the Lord God with all our hearts, all the rest of our days.—This is the covenant that I made, and it is the covenant that each of you made, or if you did not, you should have done.
Now will you falsify that covenant? There are a great many who will fulfil it; yea I will not make a single exception, for God is determined that every man shall fulfil it; for if they do not in this probation, they will have to do it in another; and if not in that, in another. When a man commences to hoe his row of corn, he has got to finish it; if he don’t hoe but five hills and then leaves it, he will have to go back and hoe that row out; and if you skip a single hill, you will have to go back and hoe that hill. I am speaking by the principle of comparison, and using a figure that all your farmers can understand.
I speak of these things by way of instruction, and to remind you of the duties and obligations you are under.
I say to the people who compose this congregation to-day, please go to England, or to Denmark, to Italy, or to anywhere else in the world, and can you find a congregation of people that look better than this; either in their looks, clothing, or other comforts of life. I have lived in the United States, in one of the best lands there is in the world; it is called the promised land; but I have never seen as comfortable times as I see now. I never saw them any better than I see them to-day. I never say the people as a general thing, as well of as this people are.
You think you have made a sacrifice, in leaving your homes, your fathers, your mothers, your brothers and sisters, your farms, and fine dwellings. I have left all these, such as I had. Is this any sacrifice? No. I have told you often, that I thanked God when I escaped from my kindred; and I have never seen the day since I left them, that I wanted to go back to them; though I did go back once to visit them; and when I went into their houses, I felt as though there was a legion of devils in every house I went into. They were opposed to me, to my religion, and to my brethren. I was thankful when I got away from them; and I suppose they are as good a people as your kindred are.
This is called a sacrifice by the most part of you; but it is none to me. You think you have sorrow, and trouble, many of you, because you have to live in wagons and tents. I speak of those who have just come in off the plains, who are still living in their wagons with not much to eat. Prest. Young, myself, and one hundred and forty others have been here, and we were in our wagons, and nothing to eat in our wagons, and nothing to eat in the country, except it was crickets. When we got to Green river, making our way to this land, we had to break the road, for there was not a track or trace for seven hundred miles through a wild country full of Indians, in which we were perfect strangers. When we were on the Platte river, one half of our men were out of food; they had no provisions at all, and no one in the valley to bring out flour, or teams, or wagons, or potatoes, and everything this valley now produces to us. We had no person to extend the hand of benevolence and kindness to us; and notwithstanding this, we did not murmur; I never saw a man cry once, or shed a tear in the whole camp. We had one man who was appointed “General Murmurer,”—and no man was allowed to murmur only that one person.
You would think you had awful trials if you could not a have a chance to murmur; but we placed it all upon one man; and if there were two that murmured, the greatest murmurer was appointed boss murmurer. That is recorded, and will come out in its place in the Church History by and by.
Supposing we should come to the same conclusion here, and appoint a General Murmurer in every ward, to do all the murmuring, and let that person be the one that complains the most; and then follow out the same order among the females, and that female who tells the most lies, and murmurs the most, we would have appointed as Queen Murmurer, or queen grumbler, which you please.
It is true you have come out of nations of different habits and customs; and many of you live in wagons; and I am glad of it; I lived in a wagon for more than three years after I came into this valley; I had not a house big enough to get into to sleep until the brethren started on their mission to Denmark. President Young was in the same situation.
As to your trials, your tribulations, your perplexities, your fatigue, and all this—I say I am glad of it; I thank God for it, because it is salvation for you.—It is as good for you to have an experience as it is for President Young, and myself, and other men. We did not murmur when we found this country, nor become discouraged in the least, but we were thankful that our lives were preserved; and if our wagons and teams had been taken from us, and our lives had been preserved, we would have been thankful; yes, more than this people are now for every blessing they enjoy. Why? Because a man will give all he has for his life when he is brought to that extremity, which proves he ought to be more thankful for that blessing than for all things in the world. To hear people who are in good houses, and have the comforts of life in abundance around them, and have so much clothing that they scarcely have a place to put it;--I say, to hear them murmur and complain, there is nothing in this world that makes me feel more indignant. I feel as God feels when he looks upon the human family, and sees their unthankfulness for all the blessings he bestows upon them. You know it is so; you are not thankful, you do not appreciate the blessings committed to you, and I know it. It is not in your family only, nor in mine alone, but it is found in every family more or less.
When I reflect, and see how kind the Lord has been to us, in preserving our lives and bringing us safely to this goodly land through the instrumentality of his servant Brigham, where we can have the privilege of possessing a piece of land without money and without price, and our wood in the same manner; and thousands of other things that cost us nothing but the trouble of getting it, my heart is filled with praise.
Everything here is free; the air, and the land is free; our food is free, and everything we have is free. I know you think you have hard times, and small wages; but let me refer you to one man here, which you will all know; he is our master singer. I have stayed in his house many days and nights in old England, when I first went there; and he would weave twenty five and thirty yards of sheeting in a day, the same kind that we buy here, and only get eighteen pence for his day’s labor; besides having to go seven miles for the web, and then carry the cloth seven miles back again. Is not that true, Br. James Smithies? [Yes.] And his wife had to work in the same way; they had to run their shuttles from morning until night, and from Monday morning until Saturday, and just have time to take the cloth home and get a little oat meal to live upon. I have sat down with them many times, and perhaps all I had at a meal was one or two spoonfuls of oat meal, and thought I was doing first rate. I speak of Br. James as one person to represent many, and he will take no exceptions because I refer to him: he knows I am telling the truth. There are thousands in the same situation; and yet the brethren, who have been delivered from that state of toil, and comparative starvation, and placed in a condition wherein they may soon take themselves wealthy as to this world’s goods, will murmur and complain of their sufferings, and against those who have paid their passage to this place, and delivered them from bondage. Br. James was not brought here; he came with his own means through the blessing of the Lord; for the Lord opened the way for him to come here. Did I ever hear him murmur in my life?—No, never; nor any other man ever heard him; and I wish to God, every other person would follow his example.
I have seen the time that I have lived weeks upon milk weed and nothing else, not even salt to put in it, and I have gone from house to house, and begged my bread, and nothing on my body but low pantaloons, and a low shirt, and no one chatched me murmuring. I am comfortable since the Lord made me life in this valley. This year and last year I have had the privilege of eating fruit off my own fruit trees, trees of my own planting. I have had the privilege, in part, of setting down under my own vine and fig tree. I never before in my life have had the privilege of setting out any kind of tree, and eating the fruit of it until I came to this valley. I have a specimen with me of the fruit I have raised. Here are two plums I have taken from my trees. (Exhibited two fine plums.) I have plucked plums from my trees three years in this valley; and some have got peaches enough to pay tithing on their fruit. I have eat grapes of a large size and excellent flavor, this year, that was plucked from a vine that grew in this valley. Have I not reason to rejoice? Brethren, I would like to live in this valley so long the Lord shall say to us, “Go back to headquarters” or to Jackson county. This is headquarters until we go there. I would like to live here. Can I do it? Yes, upon certain conditions, and that is to do right and listen to the counsel of Bro. Brigham, and his brethren that are associated with him, whom God has given to you to be your servants. He has given these men to you for this purpose, and if you do not believe it go and read it in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Can we tell you how to be saved and lead you into the Celestial world? Yes, every one of you, and you cannot go there unless you do as you are told; unless you learn to be one; and then is there any power that can affect us? No. The devil has nothing to do with us. I have turned away from him, and left his kingdom, and joined myself to the kingdom of God, and acknowledged him to be my father and my God, and his son Jesus Christ to be my Savior. He is my God, and my law giver, and I listen to the man he has appointed to lead us here in the flesh. We have got to learn from his instructions, and be guided by his counsels, and by the counsels of those appointed by him to transact the matters and business pertaining to this people; not only here in the valleys of the mountains, but throughout the whole world.
This people are the pride of my heart; Mormonism is the pride of my life; it is my love, my jewel, and my darling, is this people, and this gospel, and plan of salvation. My heart is on that, and on the Almighty and those who are delegated by him to roll on this work. As for your troubles, and trials, and crosses you have to carry about with you every day, I suppose you have to say, “well, I must take up my cross and travel on, though I have got a monstrous heavy one.” When the law is given, and the principles of salvation revealed to the people for their protection and salvation, there is nothing that grieves me more than to see them heedless to observe and slow to obey the commandment of the Lord.
In the different settlements the people have been instructed to build fortifications, and there is scarcely a man to lift a hand in the work, and when they do there is disagreement and confusion, and the spirit of murmuring and complaining. If we could take the course marked out to us, and I wish to God we could, and listen to the counsel, you would see but little trouble in the flesh, but little poverty or trials; but I am as well aware as I am that the sun ever rose and set, that there is not a man or woman in this church but will see sorrow; I can promise you that, you will see sorrow, and not one of you will escape. Brother Joseph Smith, and from him down through the ranks of faithful elders have passed through sorrow, mobbing, plundering, death, imprisonment, hunger, starvation, and some of them have been obliged to eat human flesh, and dead dogs, and cow hides.
You that have come in from different countries and nations, who have been helped here, have had plenty of bread, the staff of life, to exist upon on your journey, and when there was a scarcity in your camps, flour has been sent out to you; so that you have passed through comparatively comfortable, and brought into a land of plenty. Learn to be satisfied with your blessings, and then you will not have trials. The first elders of this church had to bear the heat and burden of the day; but you expect to pass along on flowery beds of ease, comparatively speaking. If you do not feel the rod, it is because it don’t come upon you, and if it does not come upon you it will be because you repent of your sings, and reform, and pursue the straight path that leads to life, and walk in the precepts given you day by day by President Young, or those he has delegated, it is all the same; and his voice is the voice of God to you, for God says “whether it is by my own voice or that of my servants it is all the same.”
O brethren, do realize it, reflect, and keep your covenants and walk in the paths of salvation.
There may be many who think I am severe in my conversation, or in my instructions, and remarks. I am not one-half so severe as the spirit of God in me, if I were to yield to it, neither is Pres. Young in his remarks. You have got to come to the light that your sins may be reproved, and that you may set in the way of life and salvation. I know you desire it, you have come here for that purpose, that your sins may be reproved, your minds enlightened, and that you may walk in the path God Almighty has marked out for your feet. I have no other desire myself. I wish only to do right, and keep the commandments of God, and be a comfort to my brethren, and a comfort to Bro. Brigham. What I have said a thousand times I say it now: the love I have for that man, and for many others of my brethren supersedes any love I ever had for a woman upon this earth. That is saying considerable, but I say it boldly before God and angels. My love for them is of a different nature, of a more tangible kind, and more lasting. It is not necessary for any person to be jealous of me because I love Brother Brigham better than anyone else—(Voice in the stand—He is in the same snap himself)—and Brother Brigham says he is in the same snap himself, and I will say, so are a great many more besides.
All these sayings are good in their time, and in their season. God says he has created everything in its time and season, to be used with thanksgiving. Everything that God has created in heaven and on earth, is made for the use of man, to be used with thanksgiving, and praise to God.
May God bless you, brethren, and comfort your hearts. My feelings are just as good toward you as yours can possibly be towards me. I have lived twenty years among this people, and traveled through the earth with bro. Brigham, and we have preached the gospel, and opened the door of salvation. Did we go as the elders now go? No. They go now upon flowery beds of ease, to the nations, to preach the gospel, and there is always somebody to nourish and cherish them; when we went without purse and scrip, we went hungry, and were turned out of doors, when we were so sick that we could not, with comfort sit up. The last time we went to England, when we started from our homes, I never saw a sick person in this valley that looked more feeble than either of us. We were feeble, and naked, and destitute of the common comforts of life. Here is bro. Taylor and several others of the old Twelve who traveled barefooted, with nothing to eat, and destitute; we used to travel forty miles a day with a valise on our backs, and our feet covered with blood or the blood squashing in our boots and shoes. In this way bro. Joseph traveled and bro. Brigham, and Heber, and Parley, and thousands of others. Now the brethren that go to the nations, are galanted from city to city in fine coaches, and railway cars. The only time I ever rode in a carriage was from Liverpool to Preston; we used to travel it on foot.
Many of the elders that go out now are in wonderful affliction, for fear their families would not be provided for in their absence. When was the time that our families were provided for in our absence? But on the other hand, if they had a cow, or a coat, it was taken from them. Bro. Brigham left his family sick, and not one of them could help themselves; when he was gone, a good brother took his last cow, and they took our clothing and never provided one dime for the support of our families when we were sick and afflicted. Did we take money from home? No. Neither did we take clothing, for we had none to cover us. When bro. Brigham and myself left our families to go to England, we were sick, and shaking with the fever and ague, so that it was as much as we could do to lift a small trunk in the wagon. Have you come under such circumstances? You that have not may see it yet, or I am much mistaken. You will never know how to sit down and meditate upon these things with us, and with the old apostles and prophets, except you pass through something of the same kind. Was it any sacrifice to us? No, not at all.—When bro. Brigham and I left, the brethren were sick and dying, so much so that there were but few able to bury the dead. His wife came with me to my house; he fainted on the way, and fell down by the side of a tree. His wife came up to take care of him till we got ready, and was placed in the wagon, and bid farewell to our families and friends. I felt so bad I did not know what to do; my heart almost melted within me; but I said, “tears, stay where you belong,” and said to bro. Brigham, “this is almost too hard.” The wagon started, and Vilate, my wife, was standing at the door, and instead of crying, we took off our hats and shouted with all our might, “hurrah, hurrah,” and so we left, sick, nigh unto death at the same time.
These are some of the joys and pleasures experienced by the first elders at the commencement of this work. I am only telling a small portion of our experience at this time, much more remains untold. And you expect to pass through on flowery beds of ease.
We have had to build cities from the commencement of Mormonism to this time. We have never stopped in any place a few weeks without commencing to build houses, and make a place for the reception of those that followed in our trail. We have built cities all along our track from Missouri to this place, and we shall build cities back again. We have not got through this world yet, by any means. You have got to be so subject to the master potter, as to be put upon the wheel and turned into a vessel without finding fault about it. “O well,” says you, “I am willing to be handled by the Lord, but not by you.” You can please yourself; I am a potter, and bro. Brigham is a potter, and we understand the business. He is the master potter on the earth, and I am one of his brethren, a servant potter, to mould vessels according to the patter he gives me. I will do my best with a lump of clay, but if it becomes snappish, and mars in my hands, all that is left for me to do then, is to cut it off the wheel, and throw it into the mill to be ground until it becomes passive. You have to be just as passive as clay in the hands of the potter if you wish to obtain eternal life. It is not trouble for the potter to take a thousand balls of clay, and make as many vessels of them, and make them to perfection, if the clay is only passive. Can bro. Brigham bring this people into shape according to the order of God, if they will not listen to his counsel? You know it is impossible as well as I do. Reflect upon it, and go to now, with your mights, and do all you can for the cause of God.
Bring in clothing, and stock, and this, that and the other, for the gathering of the poor from the nations of the earth. Do not wait until your hearts are closed up, but always bond to the first good impression. The sisters may feel in their hearts now to go home and give that coverlet, or anything else that is not in immediate use, and is not particularly wanted, which is a good impression; but if you do not feel so to-morrow, you will not do it. You must do the good you feel to do now; and let us lay hold and be of one heart and mind in these things.
This Perpetual Fund is one of the greatest things that was ever instituted for the gathering of Israel, and it will do it; but you have got to lend a helping hand every one of you, with your substance, your gold and silver, and those things the Lord has given to you, that you have not any immediate use for. As for getting rich, good heavens! the riches of this world are not riches but in name; they are not riches to me. The more you have got of it, the more you have to try you, riches are a perfect perplexity to man—I mean the things of this earth; for it must all turn back to its mother earth.
Now brethren, whether my remarks are good remarks or not, I make them with a good intention they are intended for good and if you receive them, and treasure them up in your hearts, they will do you good. As for trials, bro. Brigham says, you shall have all you want of them: and as for sacrifices, I know of none. You have not walked along side of the prophet Joseph, when we heard his voice telling us to go here or there, we never tarried for wives or children, for fathers or mothers, houses, lands, or anything else, but we left them where they were, and away we went. This is the way that bro. Brigham, myself, and many others have done; we never hesitated for a moment. If I should hesitate doing anything the Lord God wants me to do, I must change from the course I have pursued all my days. If there is a danger of me changing, there is also a danger that you will change; but my prayer is that I may be true to my brethren, and that my brethren may be true to the cause of truth, to the church and kingdom of God, true to his angels, and true to themselves, that they can be my associates by night and by day, that when I call upon his name, he may hear me, and answer my petitions before I rise from my knees.
Brethren, would you not like to enjoy those blessings? There is not one of you but can reform, and take a new start, reforming in all things that you are required to do; and may God bless you, and be with you, and prosper you in righteousness and in truth forever and ever: amen.
remarked that he felt grateful that we live to see the day we now enjoy. We are blest above all the inhabitants of the earth; all that we need, is to cultivate the earth, and if we live our religion, and are subject to the government of God, the elements will be changed for our good. If all the saints would do as well as they know, the Holy Ghost would rest upon the elders of Israel in tenfold power; and it would take but a few years until “the end” should come. It is for me to serve God, and keep his commandments; and if a person will not fulfil his covenants in this world, God will make that person fulfil his covenant in the next. When the Pioneers arrived in this valley they did not murmur, neither did they murmur when half their horses were stolen by the Indians, near the South Pass. I am glad you have the privilege of an experience as well as we had. It is my wish to live here, until the Lord will allow us to go back to Jackson county; but you cannot go there, unless you become as one man, and do as you are told. I say it boldly, before God and Angels, that I have more love towards Bro. Brigham and many other good men, than I have for any woman on the earth. I have gone with him without purse or scrip, and gone hungry, barefoot, sick, and destitute of the comforts of life, to preach the gospel of salvation, to the nations of the earth. Gentlemen, you will have to pass through the same, or you cannot sit down and appreciate what we, and the ancient Saints have passed through.
Every one of you have got to help the Perpetual Emigrating Funds with your substance, which is one of the greatest blessings for the poor, that the Lord ever instituted.
TABERNACLE
Prest. Kimball addressed the Conference.
I feel grateful to my Father in heaven, that my life has been preserved, and the lives of my brethren to behold the day we now see, and enjoy the blessings we now enjoy. As Prest. Young has often observed, we are blessed above all the inhabitants of the earth. That is true to my certain knowledge.
I have been a member of this Church 22 years,--and have never seen the day to equal the one I now see, for prosperity, and for the comforts of life.—With a very few exceptions, I enjoy all the comforts of life I ever enjoyed at any period of my life; and I have lived in a fruitful country generally, until I became a Mormon, and part of that time I have lived where the luxuries of life have been abundant. As for this country being fruitful, and qualified to produce all things that we need for our comfort, it is not behind any, in any part of the earth that ever I was in; and I have visited many parts of it. All that the soil requires in these regions, is cultivation; and it will make us as comfortable, as to the necessaries of life, as any people ever was upon the earth.
I have often said, and say it again, if we live up to our profession,--be faithful to our religion, and take a course to be subject to the government of God, to those who are appointed to lead this people, you need never be troubled with frost, cold, and with changes that are common to this country, and every other country; because I know, the faith, the virtue, the integrity, and the course that this people will take, viz: to be true to their God, and true to him they have acknowledged to be their head, their governor, their president, their prophet, their priest, and their king:--if you take this course, the elements will change, and the nature of things not only in this valley, but among the nations of the earth; for the earth will be revolutionized through the faithfulness of the saints. This I know. Perhaps some of you do not believe this statement, but I do. For instance, you may refer to one place in the Book of Mormon, where the servants of God assembled together, and prayed for the nations in which they lived, and for those that were at war against them; and they prevailed, and their enemies became their friends and associates. The faithfulness and prayers of the saints of God changed the nature of things, not only religiously but politically; and the government was afterwards administered in peace.
Will it not have the same effect with us? It is verily true; to my certain knowledge it will have.—And if this people, taking them as a people, that profess to be L. D. Saints, would take the course some men take, and have taken from the beginning, there would be five thousand men and women added to this church where there is but one at this day; and it would bring to pass the works of God with more power, and the Holy Ghost would wait upon the elders, and upon the saints abroad with tenfold more power than it does now. This I know.
I see the work of God is prospering, and rolling forth from nation to nation in the old world. It has gone from the shores of Europe into almost every nation. The very moment the elders put the leaven, as it were, in the measure of meal, it at once begins to work, and it is quicker and lighter, and sooner elevated to the surface than it was in the beginning; it catches at once and begins to leaven, and go from that nation to another nation, until all the nations of the earth will soon hear the sound of the glorious gospel. It will take but a few years to accomplish this design; and then the Lord has said the end shall come. The end of something will come, I assure you; and there will be an overturn which will make things very different from now.
Well, you that have come here from England, from the United States, from Germany, from Italy, from Norway, from Sweden, from China, and from the Islands of the sea,--for what purpose have you come? You came to serve your God, by keeping his commandments, and to listen to the counsel of those you have acknowledged to be your head. I will tell you one thing, brethren: it is something very contrary to your fallen nature to become subject. In the world from whence you have come, and where you have been taught, men seek to become independent one of another. This is universally so, according to my own knowledge and experience. From the time that God called Joseph Smith to act in his position and calling, he gave him revelations for the guidance of his people, and the very first elders of this church, when they went forth to preach the gospel and baptize the people; the next thing was to gather together all those that were disposed to sacrifice, and covenant with me, saith the Lord. In my experience, since I have been a member in this church, I have seen a great deal of murmuring and complaining, and a great many tears, and much sorrow and lamentation, and thousands upon thousands turn away from the faith, even brethren and sisters that I loved as I love my own family, they have turned away, and perhaps because somebody took an advantage of them. Suppose you should all turn away from the faith, what has that to do with me? Suppose you should all act like devils, what is that to me? What has it to do with my religion? I am to serve God and keep his commandments, perfectly independent of the acts of any other person in God’s world; they have nothing to do with me, neither one way nor the other, so far as serving my God as an individual is concerned; but it is for me and you to serve God and keep his commandments, and fulfil his covenants. When we went into the waters of baptism, we made a covenant to forsake the world, and cleave unto the Lord God with all our hearts, all the rest of our days.—This is the covenant that I made, and it is the covenant that each of you made, or if you did not, you should have done.
Now will you falsify that covenant? There are a great many who will fulfil it; yea I will not make a single exception, for God is determined that every man shall fulfil it; for if they do not in this probation, they will have to do it in another; and if not in that, in another. When a man commences to hoe his row of corn, he has got to finish it; if he don’t hoe but five hills and then leaves it, he will have to go back and hoe that row out; and if you skip a single hill, you will have to go back and hoe that hill. I am speaking by the principle of comparison, and using a figure that all your farmers can understand.
I speak of these things by way of instruction, and to remind you of the duties and obligations you are under.
I say to the people who compose this congregation to-day, please go to England, or to Denmark, to Italy, or to anywhere else in the world, and can you find a congregation of people that look better than this; either in their looks, clothing, or other comforts of life. I have lived in the United States, in one of the best lands there is in the world; it is called the promised land; but I have never seen as comfortable times as I see now. I never saw them any better than I see them to-day. I never say the people as a general thing, as well of as this people are.
You think you have made a sacrifice, in leaving your homes, your fathers, your mothers, your brothers and sisters, your farms, and fine dwellings. I have left all these, such as I had. Is this any sacrifice? No. I have told you often, that I thanked God when I escaped from my kindred; and I have never seen the day since I left them, that I wanted to go back to them; though I did go back once to visit them; and when I went into their houses, I felt as though there was a legion of devils in every house I went into. They were opposed to me, to my religion, and to my brethren. I was thankful when I got away from them; and I suppose they are as good a people as your kindred are.
This is called a sacrifice by the most part of you; but it is none to me. You think you have sorrow, and trouble, many of you, because you have to live in wagons and tents. I speak of those who have just come in off the plains, who are still living in their wagons with not much to eat. Prest. Young, myself, and one hundred and forty others have been here, and we were in our wagons, and nothing to eat in our wagons, and nothing to eat in the country, except it was crickets. When we got to Green river, making our way to this land, we had to break the road, for there was not a track or trace for seven hundred miles through a wild country full of Indians, in which we were perfect strangers. When we were on the Platte river, one half of our men were out of food; they had no provisions at all, and no one in the valley to bring out flour, or teams, or wagons, or potatoes, and everything this valley now produces to us. We had no person to extend the hand of benevolence and kindness to us; and notwithstanding this, we did not murmur; I never saw a man cry once, or shed a tear in the whole camp. We had one man who was appointed “General Murmurer,”—and no man was allowed to murmur only that one person.
You would think you had awful trials if you could not a have a chance to murmur; but we placed it all upon one man; and if there were two that murmured, the greatest murmurer was appointed boss murmurer. That is recorded, and will come out in its place in the Church History by and by.
Supposing we should come to the same conclusion here, and appoint a General Murmurer in every ward, to do all the murmuring, and let that person be the one that complains the most; and then follow out the same order among the females, and that female who tells the most lies, and murmurs the most, we would have appointed as Queen Murmurer, or queen grumbler, which you please.
It is true you have come out of nations of different habits and customs; and many of you live in wagons; and I am glad of it; I lived in a wagon for more than three years after I came into this valley; I had not a house big enough to get into to sleep until the brethren started on their mission to Denmark. President Young was in the same situation.
As to your trials, your tribulations, your perplexities, your fatigue, and all this—I say I am glad of it; I thank God for it, because it is salvation for you.—It is as good for you to have an experience as it is for President Young, and myself, and other men. We did not murmur when we found this country, nor become discouraged in the least, but we were thankful that our lives were preserved; and if our wagons and teams had been taken from us, and our lives had been preserved, we would have been thankful; yes, more than this people are now for every blessing they enjoy. Why? Because a man will give all he has for his life when he is brought to that extremity, which proves he ought to be more thankful for that blessing than for all things in the world. To hear people who are in good houses, and have the comforts of life in abundance around them, and have so much clothing that they scarcely have a place to put it;--I say, to hear them murmur and complain, there is nothing in this world that makes me feel more indignant. I feel as God feels when he looks upon the human family, and sees their unthankfulness for all the blessings he bestows upon them. You know it is so; you are not thankful, you do not appreciate the blessings committed to you, and I know it. It is not in your family only, nor in mine alone, but it is found in every family more or less.
When I reflect, and see how kind the Lord has been to us, in preserving our lives and bringing us safely to this goodly land through the instrumentality of his servant Brigham, where we can have the privilege of possessing a piece of land without money and without price, and our wood in the same manner; and thousands of other things that cost us nothing but the trouble of getting it, my heart is filled with praise.
Everything here is free; the air, and the land is free; our food is free, and everything we have is free. I know you think you have hard times, and small wages; but let me refer you to one man here, which you will all know; he is our master singer. I have stayed in his house many days and nights in old England, when I first went there; and he would weave twenty five and thirty yards of sheeting in a day, the same kind that we buy here, and only get eighteen pence for his day’s labor; besides having to go seven miles for the web, and then carry the cloth seven miles back again. Is not that true, Br. James Smithies? [Yes.] And his wife had to work in the same way; they had to run their shuttles from morning until night, and from Monday morning until Saturday, and just have time to take the cloth home and get a little oat meal to live upon. I have sat down with them many times, and perhaps all I had at a meal was one or two spoonfuls of oat meal, and thought I was doing first rate. I speak of Br. James as one person to represent many, and he will take no exceptions because I refer to him: he knows I am telling the truth. There are thousands in the same situation; and yet the brethren, who have been delivered from that state of toil, and comparative starvation, and placed in a condition wherein they may soon take themselves wealthy as to this world’s goods, will murmur and complain of their sufferings, and against those who have paid their passage to this place, and delivered them from bondage. Br. James was not brought here; he came with his own means through the blessing of the Lord; for the Lord opened the way for him to come here. Did I ever hear him murmur in my life?—No, never; nor any other man ever heard him; and I wish to God, every other person would follow his example.
I have seen the time that I have lived weeks upon milk weed and nothing else, not even salt to put in it, and I have gone from house to house, and begged my bread, and nothing on my body but low pantaloons, and a low shirt, and no one chatched me murmuring. I am comfortable since the Lord made me life in this valley. This year and last year I have had the privilege of eating fruit off my own fruit trees, trees of my own planting. I have had the privilege, in part, of setting down under my own vine and fig tree. I never before in my life have had the privilege of setting out any kind of tree, and eating the fruit of it until I came to this valley. I have a specimen with me of the fruit I have raised. Here are two plums I have taken from my trees. (Exhibited two fine plums.) I have plucked plums from my trees three years in this valley; and some have got peaches enough to pay tithing on their fruit. I have eat grapes of a large size and excellent flavor, this year, that was plucked from a vine that grew in this valley. Have I not reason to rejoice? Brethren, I would like to live in this valley so long the Lord shall say to us, “Go back to headquarters” or to Jackson county. This is headquarters until we go there. I would like to live here. Can I do it? Yes, upon certain conditions, and that is to do right and listen to the counsel of Bro. Brigham, and his brethren that are associated with him, whom God has given to you to be your servants. He has given these men to you for this purpose, and if you do not believe it go and read it in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Can we tell you how to be saved and lead you into the Celestial world? Yes, every one of you, and you cannot go there unless you do as you are told; unless you learn to be one; and then is there any power that can affect us? No. The devil has nothing to do with us. I have turned away from him, and left his kingdom, and joined myself to the kingdom of God, and acknowledged him to be my father and my God, and his son Jesus Christ to be my Savior. He is my God, and my law giver, and I listen to the man he has appointed to lead us here in the flesh. We have got to learn from his instructions, and be guided by his counsels, and by the counsels of those appointed by him to transact the matters and business pertaining to this people; not only here in the valleys of the mountains, but throughout the whole world.
This people are the pride of my heart; Mormonism is the pride of my life; it is my love, my jewel, and my darling, is this people, and this gospel, and plan of salvation. My heart is on that, and on the Almighty and those who are delegated by him to roll on this work. As for your troubles, and trials, and crosses you have to carry about with you every day, I suppose you have to say, “well, I must take up my cross and travel on, though I have got a monstrous heavy one.” When the law is given, and the principles of salvation revealed to the people for their protection and salvation, there is nothing that grieves me more than to see them heedless to observe and slow to obey the commandment of the Lord.
In the different settlements the people have been instructed to build fortifications, and there is scarcely a man to lift a hand in the work, and when they do there is disagreement and confusion, and the spirit of murmuring and complaining. If we could take the course marked out to us, and I wish to God we could, and listen to the counsel, you would see but little trouble in the flesh, but little poverty or trials; but I am as well aware as I am that the sun ever rose and set, that there is not a man or woman in this church but will see sorrow; I can promise you that, you will see sorrow, and not one of you will escape. Brother Joseph Smith, and from him down through the ranks of faithful elders have passed through sorrow, mobbing, plundering, death, imprisonment, hunger, starvation, and some of them have been obliged to eat human flesh, and dead dogs, and cow hides.
You that have come in from different countries and nations, who have been helped here, have had plenty of bread, the staff of life, to exist upon on your journey, and when there was a scarcity in your camps, flour has been sent out to you; so that you have passed through comparatively comfortable, and brought into a land of plenty. Learn to be satisfied with your blessings, and then you will not have trials. The first elders of this church had to bear the heat and burden of the day; but you expect to pass along on flowery beds of ease, comparatively speaking. If you do not feel the rod, it is because it don’t come upon you, and if it does not come upon you it will be because you repent of your sings, and reform, and pursue the straight path that leads to life, and walk in the precepts given you day by day by President Young, or those he has delegated, it is all the same; and his voice is the voice of God to you, for God says “whether it is by my own voice or that of my servants it is all the same.”
O brethren, do realize it, reflect, and keep your covenants and walk in the paths of salvation.
There may be many who think I am severe in my conversation, or in my instructions, and remarks. I am not one-half so severe as the spirit of God in me, if I were to yield to it, neither is Pres. Young in his remarks. You have got to come to the light that your sins may be reproved, and that you may set in the way of life and salvation. I know you desire it, you have come here for that purpose, that your sins may be reproved, your minds enlightened, and that you may walk in the path God Almighty has marked out for your feet. I have no other desire myself. I wish only to do right, and keep the commandments of God, and be a comfort to my brethren, and a comfort to Bro. Brigham. What I have said a thousand times I say it now: the love I have for that man, and for many others of my brethren supersedes any love I ever had for a woman upon this earth. That is saying considerable, but I say it boldly before God and angels. My love for them is of a different nature, of a more tangible kind, and more lasting. It is not necessary for any person to be jealous of me because I love Brother Brigham better than anyone else—(Voice in the stand—He is in the same snap himself)—and Brother Brigham says he is in the same snap himself, and I will say, so are a great many more besides.
All these sayings are good in their time, and in their season. God says he has created everything in its time and season, to be used with thanksgiving. Everything that God has created in heaven and on earth, is made for the use of man, to be used with thanksgiving, and praise to God.
May God bless you, brethren, and comfort your hearts. My feelings are just as good toward you as yours can possibly be towards me. I have lived twenty years among this people, and traveled through the earth with bro. Brigham, and we have preached the gospel, and opened the door of salvation. Did we go as the elders now go? No. They go now upon flowery beds of ease, to the nations, to preach the gospel, and there is always somebody to nourish and cherish them; when we went without purse and scrip, we went hungry, and were turned out of doors, when we were so sick that we could not, with comfort sit up. The last time we went to England, when we started from our homes, I never saw a sick person in this valley that looked more feeble than either of us. We were feeble, and naked, and destitute of the common comforts of life. Here is bro. Taylor and several others of the old Twelve who traveled barefooted, with nothing to eat, and destitute; we used to travel forty miles a day with a valise on our backs, and our feet covered with blood or the blood squashing in our boots and shoes. In this way bro. Joseph traveled and bro. Brigham, and Heber, and Parley, and thousands of others. Now the brethren that go to the nations, are galanted from city to city in fine coaches, and railway cars. The only time I ever rode in a carriage was from Liverpool to Preston; we used to travel it on foot.
Many of the elders that go out now are in wonderful affliction, for fear their families would not be provided for in their absence. When was the time that our families were provided for in our absence? But on the other hand, if they had a cow, or a coat, it was taken from them. Bro. Brigham left his family sick, and not one of them could help themselves; when he was gone, a good brother took his last cow, and they took our clothing and never provided one dime for the support of our families when we were sick and afflicted. Did we take money from home? No. Neither did we take clothing, for we had none to cover us. When bro. Brigham and myself left our families to go to England, we were sick, and shaking with the fever and ague, so that it was as much as we could do to lift a small trunk in the wagon. Have you come under such circumstances? You that have not may see it yet, or I am much mistaken. You will never know how to sit down and meditate upon these things with us, and with the old apostles and prophets, except you pass through something of the same kind. Was it any sacrifice to us? No, not at all.—When bro. Brigham and I left, the brethren were sick and dying, so much so that there were but few able to bury the dead. His wife came with me to my house; he fainted on the way, and fell down by the side of a tree. His wife came up to take care of him till we got ready, and was placed in the wagon, and bid farewell to our families and friends. I felt so bad I did not know what to do; my heart almost melted within me; but I said, “tears, stay where you belong,” and said to bro. Brigham, “this is almost too hard.” The wagon started, and Vilate, my wife, was standing at the door, and instead of crying, we took off our hats and shouted with all our might, “hurrah, hurrah,” and so we left, sick, nigh unto death at the same time.
These are some of the joys and pleasures experienced by the first elders at the commencement of this work. I am only telling a small portion of our experience at this time, much more remains untold. And you expect to pass through on flowery beds of ease.
We have had to build cities from the commencement of Mormonism to this time. We have never stopped in any place a few weeks without commencing to build houses, and make a place for the reception of those that followed in our trail. We have built cities all along our track from Missouri to this place, and we shall build cities back again. We have not got through this world yet, by any means. You have got to be so subject to the master potter, as to be put upon the wheel and turned into a vessel without finding fault about it. “O well,” says you, “I am willing to be handled by the Lord, but not by you.” You can please yourself; I am a potter, and bro. Brigham is a potter, and we understand the business. He is the master potter on the earth, and I am one of his brethren, a servant potter, to mould vessels according to the patter he gives me. I will do my best with a lump of clay, but if it becomes snappish, and mars in my hands, all that is left for me to do then, is to cut it off the wheel, and throw it into the mill to be ground until it becomes passive. You have to be just as passive as clay in the hands of the potter if you wish to obtain eternal life. It is not trouble for the potter to take a thousand balls of clay, and make as many vessels of them, and make them to perfection, if the clay is only passive. Can bro. Brigham bring this people into shape according to the order of God, if they will not listen to his counsel? You know it is impossible as well as I do. Reflect upon it, and go to now, with your mights, and do all you can for the cause of God.
Bring in clothing, and stock, and this, that and the other, for the gathering of the poor from the nations of the earth. Do not wait until your hearts are closed up, but always bond to the first good impression. The sisters may feel in their hearts now to go home and give that coverlet, or anything else that is not in immediate use, and is not particularly wanted, which is a good impression; but if you do not feel so to-morrow, you will not do it. You must do the good you feel to do now; and let us lay hold and be of one heart and mind in these things.
This Perpetual Fund is one of the greatest things that was ever instituted for the gathering of Israel, and it will do it; but you have got to lend a helping hand every one of you, with your substance, your gold and silver, and those things the Lord has given to you, that you have not any immediate use for. As for getting rich, good heavens! the riches of this world are not riches but in name; they are not riches to me. The more you have got of it, the more you have to try you, riches are a perfect perplexity to man—I mean the things of this earth; for it must all turn back to its mother earth.
Now brethren, whether my remarks are good remarks or not, I make them with a good intention they are intended for good and if you receive them, and treasure them up in your hearts, they will do you good. As for trials, bro. Brigham says, you shall have all you want of them: and as for sacrifices, I know of none. You have not walked along side of the prophet Joseph, when we heard his voice telling us to go here or there, we never tarried for wives or children, for fathers or mothers, houses, lands, or anything else, but we left them where they were, and away we went. This is the way that bro. Brigham, myself, and many others have done; we never hesitated for a moment. If I should hesitate doing anything the Lord God wants me to do, I must change from the course I have pursued all my days. If there is a danger of me changing, there is also a danger that you will change; but my prayer is that I may be true to my brethren, and that my brethren may be true to the cause of truth, to the church and kingdom of God, true to his angels, and true to themselves, that they can be my associates by night and by day, that when I call upon his name, he may hear me, and answer my petitions before I rise from my knees.
Brethren, would you not like to enjoy those blessings? There is not one of you but can reform, and take a new start, reforming in all things that you are required to do; and may God bless you, and be with you, and prosper you in righteousness and in truth forever and ever: amen.
Elder George A. Smith
said, he had listened with pleasure to the remarks of Prest. Kimball, which are true; a great portion of the inhabitants of these valleys, can bear testimony to the instructions given to fort themselves secure. The people generally do not realize the importance of listening to the councils of His servant Brigham. Great numbers have been counseled to go to Iron county to make a strong settlement there; many started, but when they go to Utah, they scattered, built fine houses, and made large farms. I told them that order of things would not answer; they did not obey the councils of the President when a man by the name of Walker felt he would see if the people would obey him, and by his course of operations, in one week got over 300 houses removed; he actually had more influence than the Presidency had. I do know that if the council of Prest. Young had been observed, not one man would have lost his life by an Indian, and it would have saved many thousands of dollars of expense. The Indian war is the result of the people’s thinking they knew more than Prest. Young; and even now, if the people will do as they are told, there need not be any more bloodshed by the Indians. If the women and children are not more careful than they have been, some of the women will be carried off prisoners and some of your children may be killed.
Disobedience of Counsel—The Indian War The Result of the Same
An Address by Elder George A. Smith, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, at the General Conference, Oct. 7, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
It is with pleasure that I have listened to the remarks of President Kimball. The sentiments he has advanced are true and just, and I am certain no person can have listened to them without having felt edified and instructed.
There is no doubt that a great proportion of the people who have been here in these valleys for years past, can bear witness to the counsel and instructions that have been given, for the preservation of the settlements, and the establishment of the stakes of Zion within the limits of these mountains. Perhaps those persons, when they see me arise to occupy the stand, will at once say within themselves, “We are going to hear something in relation to enlarging the new settlements, making entirely new ones, establishing iron works, or some other thing of that nature, to draw our feelings out of the channel they have run in,” for it is so really certain, that I have scarcely attended a single Conference since I have been in the Valley, without having something of this kind to present during the term of Conference. I think, however, for the last year, it has not been my lot to address an assembly in this place, perhaps more than once or twice, and as I had been noted for short sermons and short prayers, my addresses have also been few. But although my voice has not been heard from this stand, I have not been silent, neither have I been idle.
I was appointed to preside over the affairs of the Church in the county of Utah. I have also made two trips annually through the southern portions of the territory, visiting all the Branches, taking considerable time and a great deal of interest in the affairs of Iron County, besides making as many missions to this place as were necessary, to obtain counsel, and acquire information to carry on the work entrusted to my charge.
Any man that knows the country, and is acquainted with the business that has been placed before me, will be aware, that, lazy as I might be, I have had plenty to occupy my thoughts, and to give me active exertion, at least for the past year, in the exercise of my ministry and calling.
I present myself before you, then, to offer a few reflections upon what I feel to be important for this Conference to consider for the safety, welfare, and protection of the Saints in the valleys of these mountains. I have been made familiar with the condition of our settlements south, and am aware somewhat of the condition of our settlements in other parts of the territory.
In the commencement of my remarks, I will say, that the people almost universally do not realize the importance of listening to the voice of God through His servant Brigham. My heart has been pained by the things that are past, when I have been traveling and laboring in different parts of the territory; it has been pained to see the carelessness and indifference with which the words of the Almighty, through His servant, have been received.
Numbers were counseled to go to Iron County, and make there a strong settlement, sufficiently so to enable the people to protect themselves, and establish iron works. Many started in that direction, and succeeded in making the distance of from thirty to seventy miles, and concluded they had traveled far enough on good land without settling upon it.
Last spring, when President Young made his visit through the settlements, the county of Utah was very flourishing in appearance. Many splendid farms had been opened, and men were living upon them with the same security and carelessness as heretofore the people have done in the State of New York, where they need not fear the attacks of hostile Indians. The President had previously counseled them to settle in forts, and not scatter asunder so as to render themselves in a state of helplessness in the case of attack by the red men. Forts had accordingly been surveyed, and cities had been surveyed, where the people could gather together and fortify themselves; yet the great mass, I may say, or, at any rate, all the wealthy portions of them, had selected good farms, and were building good buildings, and making improvements upon them, and were dwelling safely, scattered all over the valley; a great many of them had lately come from England, and different parts of the world, and were in a flourishing condition; cattle were increasing around them, corn was growing in abundance, and fruit and all things seemingly were beginning to flourish exceedingly.
On viewing this state of things, I said to myself, “Is this to be the order of things? Are the people going to prosper in this way, while in open violation of the counsels that have been given, namely, to gather into forts?” I knew that that state of affairs would not continue a great length of time, and can call the men and women in every settlement to bear witness that I have publicly testified that that order of things could not remain; for when God has a Prophet on the earth, and that Prophet tells the people what to do, and they neglect to do it, they must suffer for it. I bear witness before you, this day, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that no people can treat lightly the sayings of a Prophet of God, whom He places on the earth to direct His people, and prosper. I know it is impossible. I have borne this testimony to the settlements, in my preachings, when I have visited them. In reply, the folks would say, “There is no danger, brother Smith, if we do live in the country, upon our farms, for it is so unpleasant to live in town.”
When President Young was going south last season, in one of the large meetings he addressed at Palmyra, in Utah County, he bore testimony, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that if the people did not gather into cities and forts, and fortify themselves, they should be driven out of these mountains. If God had come down upon one of these mountains as He did upon Mount Sinai, and kicked up a tremendous thunderstorm, I could not have been impressed with the truth of those remarks one particle more than I was on that occasion. I knew Brigham to be a Prophet of the Lord, and esteemed his words as the voice of God to the people.
I straightway commenced to encourage the people, and preached to them, and proposed laying out a fort for them, when they would perhaps turn round and say, “Really, brother Smith, do you think there is any danger?” I would say within myself, “Here are hundreds and thousands of brethren that have never been proved; they have never borne the heat and burden of the day, but they are picking up the fat valleys of Ephraim, and selecting good farms, and securing to themselves beautiful situations, and making splendid improvements, and living in peace, and eating of the fat of the land, and forgetting their God. Can this state of things remain?”
I went to every settlement, and attempted to encourage them to fort, but failed to accomplish anything towards getting them to obey the word of the Lord on this matter. Some of them said they would move into forts in the fall of the year.
Sometime in the summer, however, a man, known in these mountains by the name of Walker, found that the people cared nothing about God, or the instructions of brother Brigham, and brother George A., so he said, “I wonder if you will mind me;” and in less than one solitary week, he had more than three hundred families on the move, houses were thrown down in every direction, and I presume one hundred thousand dollars worth of property was wasted.
Had the people listened to the counsel of President Young, in the first place, and put their property in a proper place, it would have been protected. In the counties of Utah, Juab, and San Pete, the houses were vacated, and the Indians got into them, and shot the brethren, so they had to be entirely demolished, which rendered it necessary for great numbers to move into forts. This has been affected by brother Walker. That bloodthirsty Indian, in this matter, had more influence to make the Saints obey counsel than the Presidency of this Church had, and could actually kick up a bigger fuss in a few days than they could by simply telling the people the will of the Lord.
When God places a man on the earth to be His mouth, he says this or that is the law, and this is the thing for the people to obey. “Well, but,” says one, “I cannot make as good a living in town as I can away out on a farm, where I can keep a great many cattle.” It appears probable to me, you might make more by going to parts of California, or Australia, than you can make even out on a farm in this country. If your object is to make as much earthly gain as possible, why not go where you can get the most of it? This business of having one hand in the golden honeypots of heaven, and the other in the dark regions of hell, undertaking to serve both God and Mammon at once, will not answer.
Aside from the settlements in San Pete, I believe I have, more or less, been with nearly all the settlements south, and I have also visited the San Pete settlements two or three times, and I do know, that if the counsel and instructions of President Young could have been observed, it would have saved the people at least one hundred thousand dollars. And I do further know, to my satisfaction, that if the counsel of President Young had been observed, not one of the Saints would have lost his life by an Indian. I am certain of these facts; and yet occasionally some man falls a prey to some cruel savage, and whole villages have to be removed, and farms vacated, and tens of thousands of dollars' worth of damage is done all the time, because men will not live according to the instructions given to them by the Prophet of God. If you ask men to build in a fort, they will say, “It is a free country, and we can build where we please.” I admit that a man is free to serve the devil if he thinks proper; but let me tell you, it is the cheapest in the end to do right.
There was no more necessity of having this Indian war than there is of our going out to kill the cattle on the plains of Jordan, and leave them for the wolves to devour. If we had taken the course that was marked out to us, and observed the advice given to us, all our past troubles would not have occurred. I know this language will hurt the feelings of a great many.
But I will talk about Iron County, as I am the “Iron Major;” I am advancing in the ranks. They used to say, in Utah, I was a pretty good sort of a fellow until I got to be a Colonel, and then I became more savage. Be this as it may, I do know, that if the people of Iron County had listened to the counsel given to them, they would have saved to themselves in that little settlement—not over eight hundred strong, not less than twenty-five thousand dollars, which they have actually lost, or I may more properly say, wasted, in consequence of the disposition to do as they pleased. When we first went to iron County, we went with the same instructions the people had in all the other settlements, and accordingly we laid out forts as well as we were capable of. We will admit that those efforts were not planned as well as they might have been, but they were planned as well as we knew how to plan them at the time. A considerable number of men went to work at building forts, and those who did so were subjected to very little loss. But almost every time I have visited any settlement in Iron County, from the time it first commenced, up to the present, and I have been through a great proportion of them, I have had from one to fifty applicants saying, “Brother Smith, may I not go further, this way or that way, to make me a farm? Or, to the other place, to make me a ranch?” And so it would be almost continually—asking for privileges to do things that they knew were contrary to counsel. My answer would be, “Yes, of course, just as soon as the settlements are strong enough to secure to you protection; but it will not do to venture out, and separate far from each other, for two or three years. Until the settlements get strong, we must stay together, lest some evil influence should stir up the Indians, and destroy our settlements entirely.”
With all the influence I could use in those parts of the country, some of the brethren broke through and established several posts for cattle ranches, and commenced to open farms, but it was afterwards found necessary to gather these distant posts in, and those who were living on large farms, and erecting fine buildings, which either had to be removed away or entirely abandoned. All this trouble and loss of property could have been prevented, only for that reckless disposition—“I want a little more liberty to go a little further off.”
As I had the honor to preside over Provo, I take the liberty to talk about my own place, and tell its history, and I want all the newcomers to profit by it. In the first place, there was a number of men wanted to go to Provo and make a settlement, and have a chance to fish in the waters, and trade with the Indians. They accordingly begged of the President to let them go in accordance with their wishes. He finally gave them the privilege of going there, if they would build a fort for their protection. They went, and made a beginning; they built something, but I never knew what it was. I have passed there, but not being very well acquainted with the science of fortification, nor with the science of topography, I never could find or frame a name for the thing which they built.
They then petitioned for the privilege of laying out a city with small lots, and living in the capacity of a town, as it is so much more convenient to live in a town than in a fort. The President gave them the privilege, because he was afraid, I presume, if he had not granted it to them, some of their own careless boys, or the Indians, would set their hay on fire and burn up the whole concern. They went to work and laid out a city. The President of that company is one of the most righteous men I ever was acquainted with; there is not a man living, I presume, would say any evil of him, and I am the last man to do it on any account; but he wanted to set an example, you know; for it is generally expected that Presidents and Bishops love to set an example to the flock of Christ; so he went off up the creek, and found a splendid piece of farming land. He took his cabin from the miserable huddle they meant for a fort, and put it on this piece of land, and said, “Now, you poor brethren (if he did not say it, I always thought he did), you stay in town, and I will remain here, and when I get rich I will remove into town, and build me a fine house, for these log cabins will not look well in town.” Every man that wanted to get rich went up the creek to what we technically call “the Bushes,” and pretty much all the property went into the bushes, and there it remained until Walker spoke, and it was not a week after before this good President, and all who followed his brave example, came bundling into town, after he had put up a thing up the creek among the bushes, that I call one of the mysteries of the kingdom.
Now if that man had taken the good and wholesome advice that was given him, he would now have been well off, it would have been over two thousand dollars in his pocket, and so it is with all the balance of the people who have acted as he has. They have had to sacrifice all this property by taking their own way.
The Indian war is the result of our thinking we know better than our President, the result of following our own counsel instead of the counsel of Brigham Young. It has been the cause of almost all the loss of life and property that has been sustained from the Indians; that is, in the southern departments. Understand me, I do not pretend to say anything about matters this side the Utah mountains, but I will tell you what I think: I think that all the forting I have seen in Great Salt Lake County—it is true I have not seen much of it, but the most of what I have seen amounts to nothing more than a humbug; and if ever an Indian war comes upon you, you will be no better off than the distant settlements, unless you make timely calculations for it beforehand, and make them right. Such a war will cost you nearly all you possess. I do not know that you will ever have one, but I should think, allowing me to judge, that you have one on your hands now. And if I had a family scattered out on any of these creeks, or living in any of these unfortified settlements, I should think it prudent for me to move them into the city, or into a fort, and do it the first thing I did. After the Indians have come and peeled your heads clean, murdered your wives, killed off your children, burnt your houses, and plundered your property, then you can move into forts, and it will be all right. That appears to me to be the kind of forting I can observe in the thinly settled parts of this county; in the cities the people are more wide awake.
I expect, brethren, I shall preach here again, if I live, and I shall probably preach about the Indian difficulties, about the Indian war, if they did say I was the biggest coward south of the Utah mountains, and that I dare not go out anywhere, not even for my cows, without my gun, and generally with somebody with me; and consequently, being so nervously afraid, I shall say to the newcomers, especially if they want to be preserved and to save their property, and labor to preserve the lives of their families, they have got to take the counsel of President Young, and that is, to SETTLE IN FORTS—and have fortified cities; and not only to settle in forts and cities, but to go armed, and not be overtaken and murdered by the way, in the manner that some have been.
You might suppose, because I am so cowardly, that I am very anxious to kill the Indians; but no man ever heard me undertake to advocate the business of killing Indians, unless it was in self-defense; and in no orders that I have issued (and I have issued a great many under different circumstances since the war commenced, being the “Iron Colonel”), have I ever given license of this kind, but to act in defense of ourselves and property. For I do believe, if the people can be made to listen to President Young's counsel, we can close the war without bloodshed. I have believed it all the time, and I have acted upon it. With the exception of a few bloodthirsty individuals that may have to be punished for their crimes, the great body of the Indians that have been affected, can be brought to peace and duty, if the people themselves will observe their instructions.
I know not what my friends may think of me for talking as I have today; but I have expressed freely my candid sentiments, and I can express nothing else; at the same time I do not consider that the Indians have had any provocation in any shape or manner, to cause them to commence this war upon their friends. I believe it was commenced through the influence of some corrupt individuals who were fired with a desire for plunder; and that it never would have been commenced at all, if the people had all been in forts, as they ought to have been, notwithstanding this influence. But when the Indians saw property scattered all over the plains, thousands of cattle and horses, with grain and everything spread before them, in an unprotected condition, those that were evil minded among them coveted our property, and thought we could not defend it. And sure enough we could not, for we have more property than we can defend, we have more cattle than we can take care of; Indians can steal from us all the time, and we cannot take care of that which God has given us, because we have so much of it; and for want of its being brought under a proper organization, it is badly scattered and exposed; and until we make proper provisions to take care of our stock, evil-minded persons will plunder us.
If we had built our forts, established our corrals, and taken care of everything we had, according to the instructions that all the new settlements received, this Indian war never would have commenced, because the Indians would have discovered there was no chance for plunder. They had no idea we would move into forts as we have done.
I advised one individual, before he built a house out on a farm, to build in the city. O no, he must have more room; and he built in one of the most dangerous positions in the mountains. By and by the Indians drove him in. I absolutely did know, if I let that man's house stand, his family would sooner or later be murdered, which might have occurred any day; so I issued an order for it to be removed. He durst not trust me to remove it, for fear I should break something; and don't you think the poor miserable fellow broke two joists in removing it himself, which did not appear so small a matter to him as it does to us. He lost considerable, because he would not build in a safe place. His house was situated in a position to completely command the mouth of a canyon, and at the same time a more dangerous place did not exist in the district; the safety of the settlement actually required its removal.
There were several men wounded through leaving their houses and not throwing them down, for they became a barricade for the Indians; so I took upon me the responsibility of removing such dangerous places as would give shelter to our enemies, while they pierced us with their bullets.
Some men would tell me such a course was not strictly according to law. I told them I should save the lives of the people. And if they had not been gathered up, scores of men, women, and children would have been butchered before now.
I presume I have talked to you long enough. It is a matter I feel considerable about. I know men are careless, women are careless; and if there is not greater care taken, women will be carried away prisoners; and their children will be murdered, if they wander off carelessly and unprotected. I tell you, in a country like this, where women are scarce and hard to get, we have great need to take care of them, and not let the Indians have them.
Walker himself has teased me for a white wife; and if any of the sisters will volunteer to marry him, I believe I can close the war forthwith. I am certain, unless men take better care of their women, Walker may supply himself on a liberal scale, and without closing the war either.
In conclusion I will say, if any lady wishes to be Mrs. Walker, if she will report herself to me, I will agree to negotiate the match.
Choir sung the Hallelujah Chorus. Benediction by Elder E. Snow.
said, he had listened with pleasure to the remarks of Prest. Kimball, which are true; a great portion of the inhabitants of these valleys, can bear testimony to the instructions given to fort themselves secure. The people generally do not realize the importance of listening to the councils of His servant Brigham. Great numbers have been counseled to go to Iron county to make a strong settlement there; many started, but when they go to Utah, they scattered, built fine houses, and made large farms. I told them that order of things would not answer; they did not obey the councils of the President when a man by the name of Walker felt he would see if the people would obey him, and by his course of operations, in one week got over 300 houses removed; he actually had more influence than the Presidency had. I do know that if the council of Prest. Young had been observed, not one man would have lost his life by an Indian, and it would have saved many thousands of dollars of expense. The Indian war is the result of the people’s thinking they knew more than Prest. Young; and even now, if the people will do as they are told, there need not be any more bloodshed by the Indians. If the women and children are not more careful than they have been, some of the women will be carried off prisoners and some of your children may be killed.
Disobedience of Counsel—The Indian War The Result of the Same
An Address by Elder George A. Smith, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, at the General Conference, Oct. 7, 1853.
Reported by G. D. Watt.
It is with pleasure that I have listened to the remarks of President Kimball. The sentiments he has advanced are true and just, and I am certain no person can have listened to them without having felt edified and instructed.
There is no doubt that a great proportion of the people who have been here in these valleys for years past, can bear witness to the counsel and instructions that have been given, for the preservation of the settlements, and the establishment of the stakes of Zion within the limits of these mountains. Perhaps those persons, when they see me arise to occupy the stand, will at once say within themselves, “We are going to hear something in relation to enlarging the new settlements, making entirely new ones, establishing iron works, or some other thing of that nature, to draw our feelings out of the channel they have run in,” for it is so really certain, that I have scarcely attended a single Conference since I have been in the Valley, without having something of this kind to present during the term of Conference. I think, however, for the last year, it has not been my lot to address an assembly in this place, perhaps more than once or twice, and as I had been noted for short sermons and short prayers, my addresses have also been few. But although my voice has not been heard from this stand, I have not been silent, neither have I been idle.
I was appointed to preside over the affairs of the Church in the county of Utah. I have also made two trips annually through the southern portions of the territory, visiting all the Branches, taking considerable time and a great deal of interest in the affairs of Iron County, besides making as many missions to this place as were necessary, to obtain counsel, and acquire information to carry on the work entrusted to my charge.
Any man that knows the country, and is acquainted with the business that has been placed before me, will be aware, that, lazy as I might be, I have had plenty to occupy my thoughts, and to give me active exertion, at least for the past year, in the exercise of my ministry and calling.
I present myself before you, then, to offer a few reflections upon what I feel to be important for this Conference to consider for the safety, welfare, and protection of the Saints in the valleys of these mountains. I have been made familiar with the condition of our settlements south, and am aware somewhat of the condition of our settlements in other parts of the territory.
In the commencement of my remarks, I will say, that the people almost universally do not realize the importance of listening to the voice of God through His servant Brigham. My heart has been pained by the things that are past, when I have been traveling and laboring in different parts of the territory; it has been pained to see the carelessness and indifference with which the words of the Almighty, through His servant, have been received.
Numbers were counseled to go to Iron County, and make there a strong settlement, sufficiently so to enable the people to protect themselves, and establish iron works. Many started in that direction, and succeeded in making the distance of from thirty to seventy miles, and concluded they had traveled far enough on good land without settling upon it.
Last spring, when President Young made his visit through the settlements, the county of Utah was very flourishing in appearance. Many splendid farms had been opened, and men were living upon them with the same security and carelessness as heretofore the people have done in the State of New York, where they need not fear the attacks of hostile Indians. The President had previously counseled them to settle in forts, and not scatter asunder so as to render themselves in a state of helplessness in the case of attack by the red men. Forts had accordingly been surveyed, and cities had been surveyed, where the people could gather together and fortify themselves; yet the great mass, I may say, or, at any rate, all the wealthy portions of them, had selected good farms, and were building good buildings, and making improvements upon them, and were dwelling safely, scattered all over the valley; a great many of them had lately come from England, and different parts of the world, and were in a flourishing condition; cattle were increasing around them, corn was growing in abundance, and fruit and all things seemingly were beginning to flourish exceedingly.
On viewing this state of things, I said to myself, “Is this to be the order of things? Are the people going to prosper in this way, while in open violation of the counsels that have been given, namely, to gather into forts?” I knew that that state of affairs would not continue a great length of time, and can call the men and women in every settlement to bear witness that I have publicly testified that that order of things could not remain; for when God has a Prophet on the earth, and that Prophet tells the people what to do, and they neglect to do it, they must suffer for it. I bear witness before you, this day, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that no people can treat lightly the sayings of a Prophet of God, whom He places on the earth to direct His people, and prosper. I know it is impossible. I have borne this testimony to the settlements, in my preachings, when I have visited them. In reply, the folks would say, “There is no danger, brother Smith, if we do live in the country, upon our farms, for it is so unpleasant to live in town.”
When President Young was going south last season, in one of the large meetings he addressed at Palmyra, in Utah County, he bore testimony, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that if the people did not gather into cities and forts, and fortify themselves, they should be driven out of these mountains. If God had come down upon one of these mountains as He did upon Mount Sinai, and kicked up a tremendous thunderstorm, I could not have been impressed with the truth of those remarks one particle more than I was on that occasion. I knew Brigham to be a Prophet of the Lord, and esteemed his words as the voice of God to the people.
I straightway commenced to encourage the people, and preached to them, and proposed laying out a fort for them, when they would perhaps turn round and say, “Really, brother Smith, do you think there is any danger?” I would say within myself, “Here are hundreds and thousands of brethren that have never been proved; they have never borne the heat and burden of the day, but they are picking up the fat valleys of Ephraim, and selecting good farms, and securing to themselves beautiful situations, and making splendid improvements, and living in peace, and eating of the fat of the land, and forgetting their God. Can this state of things remain?”
I went to every settlement, and attempted to encourage them to fort, but failed to accomplish anything towards getting them to obey the word of the Lord on this matter. Some of them said they would move into forts in the fall of the year.
Sometime in the summer, however, a man, known in these mountains by the name of Walker, found that the people cared nothing about God, or the instructions of brother Brigham, and brother George A., so he said, “I wonder if you will mind me;” and in less than one solitary week, he had more than three hundred families on the move, houses were thrown down in every direction, and I presume one hundred thousand dollars worth of property was wasted.
Had the people listened to the counsel of President Young, in the first place, and put their property in a proper place, it would have been protected. In the counties of Utah, Juab, and San Pete, the houses were vacated, and the Indians got into them, and shot the brethren, so they had to be entirely demolished, which rendered it necessary for great numbers to move into forts. This has been affected by brother Walker. That bloodthirsty Indian, in this matter, had more influence to make the Saints obey counsel than the Presidency of this Church had, and could actually kick up a bigger fuss in a few days than they could by simply telling the people the will of the Lord.
When God places a man on the earth to be His mouth, he says this or that is the law, and this is the thing for the people to obey. “Well, but,” says one, “I cannot make as good a living in town as I can away out on a farm, where I can keep a great many cattle.” It appears probable to me, you might make more by going to parts of California, or Australia, than you can make even out on a farm in this country. If your object is to make as much earthly gain as possible, why not go where you can get the most of it? This business of having one hand in the golden honeypots of heaven, and the other in the dark regions of hell, undertaking to serve both God and Mammon at once, will not answer.
Aside from the settlements in San Pete, I believe I have, more or less, been with nearly all the settlements south, and I have also visited the San Pete settlements two or three times, and I do know, that if the counsel and instructions of President Young could have been observed, it would have saved the people at least one hundred thousand dollars. And I do further know, to my satisfaction, that if the counsel of President Young had been observed, not one of the Saints would have lost his life by an Indian. I am certain of these facts; and yet occasionally some man falls a prey to some cruel savage, and whole villages have to be removed, and farms vacated, and tens of thousands of dollars' worth of damage is done all the time, because men will not live according to the instructions given to them by the Prophet of God. If you ask men to build in a fort, they will say, “It is a free country, and we can build where we please.” I admit that a man is free to serve the devil if he thinks proper; but let me tell you, it is the cheapest in the end to do right.
There was no more necessity of having this Indian war than there is of our going out to kill the cattle on the plains of Jordan, and leave them for the wolves to devour. If we had taken the course that was marked out to us, and observed the advice given to us, all our past troubles would not have occurred. I know this language will hurt the feelings of a great many.
But I will talk about Iron County, as I am the “Iron Major;” I am advancing in the ranks. They used to say, in Utah, I was a pretty good sort of a fellow until I got to be a Colonel, and then I became more savage. Be this as it may, I do know, that if the people of Iron County had listened to the counsel given to them, they would have saved to themselves in that little settlement—not over eight hundred strong, not less than twenty-five thousand dollars, which they have actually lost, or I may more properly say, wasted, in consequence of the disposition to do as they pleased. When we first went to iron County, we went with the same instructions the people had in all the other settlements, and accordingly we laid out forts as well as we were capable of. We will admit that those efforts were not planned as well as they might have been, but they were planned as well as we knew how to plan them at the time. A considerable number of men went to work at building forts, and those who did so were subjected to very little loss. But almost every time I have visited any settlement in Iron County, from the time it first commenced, up to the present, and I have been through a great proportion of them, I have had from one to fifty applicants saying, “Brother Smith, may I not go further, this way or that way, to make me a farm? Or, to the other place, to make me a ranch?” And so it would be almost continually—asking for privileges to do things that they knew were contrary to counsel. My answer would be, “Yes, of course, just as soon as the settlements are strong enough to secure to you protection; but it will not do to venture out, and separate far from each other, for two or three years. Until the settlements get strong, we must stay together, lest some evil influence should stir up the Indians, and destroy our settlements entirely.”
With all the influence I could use in those parts of the country, some of the brethren broke through and established several posts for cattle ranches, and commenced to open farms, but it was afterwards found necessary to gather these distant posts in, and those who were living on large farms, and erecting fine buildings, which either had to be removed away or entirely abandoned. All this trouble and loss of property could have been prevented, only for that reckless disposition—“I want a little more liberty to go a little further off.”
As I had the honor to preside over Provo, I take the liberty to talk about my own place, and tell its history, and I want all the newcomers to profit by it. In the first place, there was a number of men wanted to go to Provo and make a settlement, and have a chance to fish in the waters, and trade with the Indians. They accordingly begged of the President to let them go in accordance with their wishes. He finally gave them the privilege of going there, if they would build a fort for their protection. They went, and made a beginning; they built something, but I never knew what it was. I have passed there, but not being very well acquainted with the science of fortification, nor with the science of topography, I never could find or frame a name for the thing which they built.
They then petitioned for the privilege of laying out a city with small lots, and living in the capacity of a town, as it is so much more convenient to live in a town than in a fort. The President gave them the privilege, because he was afraid, I presume, if he had not granted it to them, some of their own careless boys, or the Indians, would set their hay on fire and burn up the whole concern. They went to work and laid out a city. The President of that company is one of the most righteous men I ever was acquainted with; there is not a man living, I presume, would say any evil of him, and I am the last man to do it on any account; but he wanted to set an example, you know; for it is generally expected that Presidents and Bishops love to set an example to the flock of Christ; so he went off up the creek, and found a splendid piece of farming land. He took his cabin from the miserable huddle they meant for a fort, and put it on this piece of land, and said, “Now, you poor brethren (if he did not say it, I always thought he did), you stay in town, and I will remain here, and when I get rich I will remove into town, and build me a fine house, for these log cabins will not look well in town.” Every man that wanted to get rich went up the creek to what we technically call “the Bushes,” and pretty much all the property went into the bushes, and there it remained until Walker spoke, and it was not a week after before this good President, and all who followed his brave example, came bundling into town, after he had put up a thing up the creek among the bushes, that I call one of the mysteries of the kingdom.
Now if that man had taken the good and wholesome advice that was given him, he would now have been well off, it would have been over two thousand dollars in his pocket, and so it is with all the balance of the people who have acted as he has. They have had to sacrifice all this property by taking their own way.
The Indian war is the result of our thinking we know better than our President, the result of following our own counsel instead of the counsel of Brigham Young. It has been the cause of almost all the loss of life and property that has been sustained from the Indians; that is, in the southern departments. Understand me, I do not pretend to say anything about matters this side the Utah mountains, but I will tell you what I think: I think that all the forting I have seen in Great Salt Lake County—it is true I have not seen much of it, but the most of what I have seen amounts to nothing more than a humbug; and if ever an Indian war comes upon you, you will be no better off than the distant settlements, unless you make timely calculations for it beforehand, and make them right. Such a war will cost you nearly all you possess. I do not know that you will ever have one, but I should think, allowing me to judge, that you have one on your hands now. And if I had a family scattered out on any of these creeks, or living in any of these unfortified settlements, I should think it prudent for me to move them into the city, or into a fort, and do it the first thing I did. After the Indians have come and peeled your heads clean, murdered your wives, killed off your children, burnt your houses, and plundered your property, then you can move into forts, and it will be all right. That appears to me to be the kind of forting I can observe in the thinly settled parts of this county; in the cities the people are more wide awake.
I expect, brethren, I shall preach here again, if I live, and I shall probably preach about the Indian difficulties, about the Indian war, if they did say I was the biggest coward south of the Utah mountains, and that I dare not go out anywhere, not even for my cows, without my gun, and generally with somebody with me; and consequently, being so nervously afraid, I shall say to the newcomers, especially if they want to be preserved and to save their property, and labor to preserve the lives of their families, they have got to take the counsel of President Young, and that is, to SETTLE IN FORTS—and have fortified cities; and not only to settle in forts and cities, but to go armed, and not be overtaken and murdered by the way, in the manner that some have been.
You might suppose, because I am so cowardly, that I am very anxious to kill the Indians; but no man ever heard me undertake to advocate the business of killing Indians, unless it was in self-defense; and in no orders that I have issued (and I have issued a great many under different circumstances since the war commenced, being the “Iron Colonel”), have I ever given license of this kind, but to act in defense of ourselves and property. For I do believe, if the people can be made to listen to President Young's counsel, we can close the war without bloodshed. I have believed it all the time, and I have acted upon it. With the exception of a few bloodthirsty individuals that may have to be punished for their crimes, the great body of the Indians that have been affected, can be brought to peace and duty, if the people themselves will observe their instructions.
I know not what my friends may think of me for talking as I have today; but I have expressed freely my candid sentiments, and I can express nothing else; at the same time I do not consider that the Indians have had any provocation in any shape or manner, to cause them to commence this war upon their friends. I believe it was commenced through the influence of some corrupt individuals who were fired with a desire for plunder; and that it never would have been commenced at all, if the people had all been in forts, as they ought to have been, notwithstanding this influence. But when the Indians saw property scattered all over the plains, thousands of cattle and horses, with grain and everything spread before them, in an unprotected condition, those that were evil minded among them coveted our property, and thought we could not defend it. And sure enough we could not, for we have more property than we can defend, we have more cattle than we can take care of; Indians can steal from us all the time, and we cannot take care of that which God has given us, because we have so much of it; and for want of its being brought under a proper organization, it is badly scattered and exposed; and until we make proper provisions to take care of our stock, evil-minded persons will plunder us.
If we had built our forts, established our corrals, and taken care of everything we had, according to the instructions that all the new settlements received, this Indian war never would have commenced, because the Indians would have discovered there was no chance for plunder. They had no idea we would move into forts as we have done.
I advised one individual, before he built a house out on a farm, to build in the city. O no, he must have more room; and he built in one of the most dangerous positions in the mountains. By and by the Indians drove him in. I absolutely did know, if I let that man's house stand, his family would sooner or later be murdered, which might have occurred any day; so I issued an order for it to be removed. He durst not trust me to remove it, for fear I should break something; and don't you think the poor miserable fellow broke two joists in removing it himself, which did not appear so small a matter to him as it does to us. He lost considerable, because he would not build in a safe place. His house was situated in a position to completely command the mouth of a canyon, and at the same time a more dangerous place did not exist in the district; the safety of the settlement actually required its removal.
There were several men wounded through leaving their houses and not throwing them down, for they became a barricade for the Indians; so I took upon me the responsibility of removing such dangerous places as would give shelter to our enemies, while they pierced us with their bullets.
Some men would tell me such a course was not strictly according to law. I told them I should save the lives of the people. And if they had not been gathered up, scores of men, women, and children would have been butchered before now.
I presume I have talked to you long enough. It is a matter I feel considerable about. I know men are careless, women are careless; and if there is not greater care taken, women will be carried away prisoners; and their children will be murdered, if they wander off carelessly and unprotected. I tell you, in a country like this, where women are scarce and hard to get, we have great need to take care of them, and not let the Indians have them.
Walker himself has teased me for a white wife; and if any of the sisters will volunteer to marry him, I believe I can close the war forthwith. I am certain, unless men take better care of their women, Walker may supply himself on a liberal scale, and without closing the war either.
In conclusion I will say, if any lady wishes to be Mrs. Walker, if she will report herself to me, I will agree to negotiate the match.
Choir sung the Hallelujah Chorus. Benediction by Elder E. Snow.
Oct. 7th, 2 p. m.
Singing by the choir.
Prayer by Elder Woodruff.
Singing.
Singing by the choir.
Prayer by Elder Woodruff.
Singing.
Prest. Young
rose to present a few missionaries for the approval of the Conference, viz:
Elders George A. Smith, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards, to gather up 50 families to strengthen the settlements in Iron Co.; also 50 families to increase the settlement at Filmore.
Elders Wilford Woodruff and Ezra T. Benson, to gather up 50 families to strengthen the settlements in Tooele.
Brothers Lyman Stevens and Reuben W. Allred, to gather up 50 families for each of the settlements in San Pete.
Elder Lorenzo Snow, to select 50 families to go to Box Elder.
Elder Joseph L. Heywood, to take 50 families to Nephi, in Juab Co.
All of which were unanimously sustained by the voice of the Conference.
Elder Orson Hyde was appointed to raise a company, to make a permanent settlement at Green river, which was also sanctioned by the Conference.
rose to present a few missionaries for the approval of the Conference, viz:
Elders George A. Smith, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards, to gather up 50 families to strengthen the settlements in Iron Co.; also 50 families to increase the settlement at Filmore.
Elders Wilford Woodruff and Ezra T. Benson, to gather up 50 families to strengthen the settlements in Tooele.
Brothers Lyman Stevens and Reuben W. Allred, to gather up 50 families for each of the settlements in San Pete.
Elder Lorenzo Snow, to select 50 families to go to Box Elder.
Elder Joseph L. Heywood, to take 50 families to Nephi, in Juab Co.
All of which were unanimously sustained by the voice of the Conference.
Elder Orson Hyde was appointed to raise a company, to make a permanent settlement at Green river, which was also sanctioned by the Conference.
Prest. Young
then delivered an address from 6th chap 3d verse 1st Cor., know ye not that saints will judge angels?
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Prest. Kimball.
Adjourned until to-morrow at 10 a. m.
then delivered an address from 6th chap 3d verse 1st Cor., know ye not that saints will judge angels?
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Prest. Kimball.
Adjourned until to-morrow at 10 a. m.
Oct. 8, 10 a. m.
Conference opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder B. L. Clapp.
Singing.
Conference opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder B. L. Clapp.
Singing.
Pres. H. C. Kimball
remarked: I am now about to present unto you the authorities of the Church, to see whether you will sustain them in their offices or not; and we do not wish you to vote unless you feel to sustain them. Here is President Brigham Young; I shall present him before you as our President, Seer and Revelator, who stands at the head of this dispensation, and to whom it is our duty to give heed; to abide his counsel in all things as the voice of God unto us; and not to play with his words and feelings as a cat would with a mouse.—We have all of us been accustomed to have our own way, whether that was right or wrong; but now it is for us to be governed by the counsel of God, and forsake our own way; and this is the most perfect freedom: for freedom can only be obtained by obedience to the laws of God. Do not vote for him then, or for any of those men, unless you can sustain him and them, by abiding counsel.
Upon calling the vote, President Brigham Young was unanimously sustained; and Heber C. Kimball as his first Counselor, and Willard Richards as his second Counselor, Church Historian, and General Church Recorder.
John Smith was sustained as presiding Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Orson Hyde was sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Parley 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 were severally sustained as members of said Quorum.
David Pettegrew was voted to be the President of the High Priests’ Quorum; and Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace were sustained as his counselors.
Joseph Young was sustained as President of the Presidency of Seventies, and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Jedediah M. Grant, and Benjamin L. Clapp, as his associates.
John Nebeker was sustained as President of the Elders’ Quorum: also James H. Smith, and Aaron Sceva, his Counselors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Lewis Wight was sustained as President of the Priests’ Quorum; also George Dockstader and Wm. Whiting, his Counselors.
McGee Harris was sustained as President of the Teachers’ quorum; also Reuben Perkins and Adam Speirs, his Counselors.
Return R. Hill was sustained as President of the Deacon’s Quorum; also Oswald Barlow and Alexander Hill, his Counselors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Edward Hunter his Assistant Trustee.
Daniel H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of Public Works; and Truman O. Angel, as the Architect for the Church.
Brigham Young was sustained as the President of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, to gather the poor; and H. C. Kimball, W. Richards, W. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, Willard Snow, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and F. D. Richards, were severally sustained as his Assistants and Agents for said Fund.
David Fullmer was sustained as the President of this stake of Zion; also Thomas Rhoades and Phineas H. Young, his Counselors.
Heman Hyde, Eleazer Miller, Phinehas Richards, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, William Snow, and Nathaniel H. Felt, were severally sustained as members of the High Council; and Seth M. Blair was voted to be a member of said Council, in the room of Wm. W. Major, sent on a mission to England.
John Young, of G. S. L. City, was voted to be a Patriarch; also Enos Curtis, of Hobble Creek; Samuel Alger, of G. S. L. City; James Lake, of Ogden; William Cazier, of Nephi; Elisha H. Groves, of Cedar, and Emer Harris, of Provo, were severally voted to be Patriarchs in the Church of Jesus Christ.
remarked: I am now about to present unto you the authorities of the Church, to see whether you will sustain them in their offices or not; and we do not wish you to vote unless you feel to sustain them. Here is President Brigham Young; I shall present him before you as our President, Seer and Revelator, who stands at the head of this dispensation, and to whom it is our duty to give heed; to abide his counsel in all things as the voice of God unto us; and not to play with his words and feelings as a cat would with a mouse.—We have all of us been accustomed to have our own way, whether that was right or wrong; but now it is for us to be governed by the counsel of God, and forsake our own way; and this is the most perfect freedom: for freedom can only be obtained by obedience to the laws of God. Do not vote for him then, or for any of those men, unless you can sustain him and them, by abiding counsel.
Upon calling the vote, President Brigham Young was unanimously sustained; and Heber C. Kimball as his first Counselor, and Willard Richards as his second Counselor, Church Historian, and General Church Recorder.
John Smith was sustained as presiding Patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Orson Hyde was sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Parley 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 were severally sustained as members of said Quorum.
David Pettegrew was voted to be the President of the High Priests’ Quorum; and Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace were sustained as his counselors.
Joseph Young was sustained as President of the Presidency of Seventies, and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Jedediah M. Grant, and Benjamin L. Clapp, as his associates.
John Nebeker was sustained as President of the Elders’ Quorum: also James H. Smith, and Aaron Sceva, his Counselors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Lewis Wight was sustained as President of the Priests’ Quorum; also George Dockstader and Wm. Whiting, his Counselors.
McGee Harris was sustained as President of the Teachers’ quorum; also Reuben Perkins and Adam Speirs, his Counselors.
Return R. Hill was sustained as President of the Deacon’s Quorum; also Oswald Barlow and Alexander Hill, his Counselors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Edward Hunter his Assistant Trustee.
Daniel H. Wells was sustained as the Superintendent of Public Works; and Truman O. Angel, as the Architect for the Church.
Brigham Young was sustained as the President of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, to gather the poor; and H. C. Kimball, W. Richards, W. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, Willard Snow, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and F. D. Richards, were severally sustained as his Assistants and Agents for said Fund.
David Fullmer was sustained as the President of this stake of Zion; also Thomas Rhoades and Phineas H. Young, his Counselors.
Heman Hyde, Eleazer Miller, Phinehas Richards, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, William Snow, and Nathaniel H. Felt, were severally sustained as members of the High Council; and Seth M. Blair was voted to be a member of said Council, in the room of Wm. W. Major, sent on a mission to England.
John Young, of G. S. L. City, was voted to be a Patriarch; also Enos Curtis, of Hobble Creek; Samuel Alger, of G. S. L. City; James Lake, of Ogden; William Cazier, of Nephi; Elisha H. Groves, of Cedar, and Emer Harris, of Provo, were severally voted to be Patriarchs in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Elder O. Hyde
then read the names of thirty-nine persons selected to accompany him to form a settlement on the banks of Green river, and it was voted they should fulfill that mission.
then read the names of thirty-nine persons selected to accompany him to form a settlement on the banks of Green river, and it was voted they should fulfill that mission.
Elder T. Bullock
then read over eighty eight names, who had been selected to go on various missions, under the direction of Elder Parley P. Pratt.
then read over eighty eight names, who had been selected to go on various missions, under the direction of Elder Parley P. Pratt.
Prest. Young
moved, that Joseph A. Thompson be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and be turned over into the hands of his master the devil; and all person who want to walk in the same steps, as he has done, we will serve in the same manner; and let all Israel say amen. The congregation responded, amen.
moved, that Joseph A. Thompson be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and be turned over into the hands of his master the devil; and all person who want to walk in the same steps, as he has done, we will serve in the same manner; and let all Israel say amen. The congregation responded, amen.
Elder G. A. Smith
moved, that the Twelve Apostles be authorized by this Conference, to select such names as they need, and present the same to the Presidency, for approval, without presenting them in detail to this Conference; which if this Conference approve of, they will signify it by the uplifted hand. Carried.
moved, that the Twelve Apostles be authorized by this Conference, to select such names as they need, and present the same to the Presidency, for approval, without presenting them in detail to this Conference; which if this Conference approve of, they will signify it by the uplifted hand. Carried.
Prest. Young
then addressed the persons who were appointed to go on missions, which will be published hereafter.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
then addressed the persons who were appointed to go on missions, which will be published hereafter.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
October 8th, Two p. m.
Opened by singing.
Prayer by P. P. Pratt.
Singing.
Opened by singing.
Prayer by P. P. Pratt.
Singing.
Elder John Taylor
explained that Mormonism contains every good thing, both in this world and the world to come. We begin to find out that we are earthly, we came from the earth, our feelings cling to it, when we die we return to the earth, and when we come forth in the resurrection, it will be as immortal beings to dwell on a celestial earth; it will be renovated, and so will the people that dwell on it. It is a natural desire for us to possess the earth, and for this thousands of person have been laid low, in order to gain possession of it, but the Savior has promised that the meek shall inherit it.
If God does not confer blessings upon men, vain are their expectations; vain is the honor that men gather to themselves. Is there any person that can point me out where they ever met a class of persons who could declare the first principles of the gospel, although they read it in the Bible? No one, until the elders communicated it to them.
Brother T. then reviewed the rise of the church and its progress to the present time. The priesthood is the only legitimate rule upon the earth, and all the nations will yet have to submit to it, for the kingdom of God will have to be extended over the whole of it, not by sword, or bloodshed, but with wisdom, knowledge, the principles of truth, the revelations from the eternal worlds, and the power of the priesthood.
Here is the fountain head of intelligence, and the persons who know how to dictate a nation, or a kingdom for their own good. Now the door is opened that some of the nations can be benefited and instructed, and when we have got through bestowing benefits upon the inhabitants of the earth, we shall go to sleep to enter upon far more extensive duties, and have a greater dominion, when the earth is renovated.
Many persons are not satisfied with the situation that they are in, and desire to be something higher: let me tell you, a priest or a teacher that magnifies his calling, is far better than an apostle that does not magnify his calling, &c., &c.
explained that Mormonism contains every good thing, both in this world and the world to come. We begin to find out that we are earthly, we came from the earth, our feelings cling to it, when we die we return to the earth, and when we come forth in the resurrection, it will be as immortal beings to dwell on a celestial earth; it will be renovated, and so will the people that dwell on it. It is a natural desire for us to possess the earth, and for this thousands of person have been laid low, in order to gain possession of it, but the Savior has promised that the meek shall inherit it.
If God does not confer blessings upon men, vain are their expectations; vain is the honor that men gather to themselves. Is there any person that can point me out where they ever met a class of persons who could declare the first principles of the gospel, although they read it in the Bible? No one, until the elders communicated it to them.
Brother T. then reviewed the rise of the church and its progress to the present time. The priesthood is the only legitimate rule upon the earth, and all the nations will yet have to submit to it, for the kingdom of God will have to be extended over the whole of it, not by sword, or bloodshed, but with wisdom, knowledge, the principles of truth, the revelations from the eternal worlds, and the power of the priesthood.
Here is the fountain head of intelligence, and the persons who know how to dictate a nation, or a kingdom for their own good. Now the door is opened that some of the nations can be benefited and instructed, and when we have got through bestowing benefits upon the inhabitants of the earth, we shall go to sleep to enter upon far more extensive duties, and have a greater dominion, when the earth is renovated.
Many persons are not satisfied with the situation that they are in, and desire to be something higher: let me tell you, a priest or a teacher that magnifies his calling, is far better than an apostle that does not magnify his calling, &c., &c.
President Kimball
called for the persons who have been elected to be patriarchs, to meet in the vestry, to receive their ordinations.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Patriarch Morley.
Adjourned until 10 to-morrow morning.
called for the persons who have been elected to be patriarchs, to meet in the vestry, to receive their ordinations.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Patriarch Morley.
Adjourned until 10 to-morrow morning.
The Bishops of the several wards have made the following reports, namely.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 1853, 10 a. m.
Opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder Lorenzo Snow.
Singing.
Opened with singing.
Prayer by Elder Lorenzo Snow.
Singing.
Elder P. P. Pratt
remarked, that during this conference we have heard many things for our edification and instruction, and we shall receive more continually. Read from the Second Book of Nephi, … some of the words of Jesus, after he came to … Nephites in America.
I have been glad of the word of the Lord and have been sorry that many treat lightly the words of the prophets, in not having built forts and made themselves secure from the Indians.
There are three classes of mankind in Christendom; one acknowledges a God of revelation, with power to speak to the people; another, that God can … speak, and must not speak; and the third class are infidels, and believe there is no God. If a prophet were to go to Congress and tell them in the name of the Lord what is going to take place, they would say that their rights were infringed upon, they do not believe God has a right to interfere with them in the independence, which they feel very convenient; but … feel he has a right to teach, instruct, reprove, or chasten them, by his prophets, apostles, or by the visitation of angels. He has a right to choose and …ain whom he will, and commission and send them forth whithersoever he will. The Lord has in a great measure brought the word of God from among the Gentiles; for there is almost a famine for the word of God already, which is the signal for the restoration of the House of Israel.
We have had just as much as we could do, to support ourselves and gather our brethren here, but now … are able to feed and clothe the Indians, or at least, … women and children. They are discouraged at their situation, which is the cause of their stealing; … now the time has come to improve them, and …g about their restoration and redemption, no matter what labor or expense is incurred thereby; for every word of that book (Book of Mormon) will be fulfilled, for it is the word of God unto you, and if we … redeem the children of Nephi and Laman, we shall be made rich in the promised blessings.
remarked, that during this conference we have heard many things for our edification and instruction, and we shall receive more continually. Read from the Second Book of Nephi, … some of the words of Jesus, after he came to … Nephites in America.
I have been glad of the word of the Lord and have been sorry that many treat lightly the words of the prophets, in not having built forts and made themselves secure from the Indians.
There are three classes of mankind in Christendom; one acknowledges a God of revelation, with power to speak to the people; another, that God can … speak, and must not speak; and the third class are infidels, and believe there is no God. If a prophet were to go to Congress and tell them in the name of the Lord what is going to take place, they would say that their rights were infringed upon, they do not believe God has a right to interfere with them in the independence, which they feel very convenient; but … feel he has a right to teach, instruct, reprove, or chasten them, by his prophets, apostles, or by the visitation of angels. He has a right to choose and …ain whom he will, and commission and send them forth whithersoever he will. The Lord has in a great measure brought the word of God from among the Gentiles; for there is almost a famine for the word of God already, which is the signal for the restoration of the House of Israel.
We have had just as much as we could do, to support ourselves and gather our brethren here, but now … are able to feed and clothe the Indians, or at least, … women and children. They are discouraged at their situation, which is the cause of their stealing; … now the time has come to improve them, and …g about their restoration and redemption, no matter what labor or expense is incurred thereby; for every word of that book (Book of Mormon) will be fulfilled, for it is the word of God unto you, and if we … redeem the children of Nephi and Laman, we shall be made rich in the promised blessings.
President Young
gave a notification for the missionaries to meet this evening, at 6 o’clock in the Tabernacle.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Elder F. D. Richards.
gave a notification for the missionaries to meet this evening, at 6 o’clock in the Tabernacle.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by Elder F. D. Richards.
2 p. m.
Opened with singing.
Prayer.
Singing.
Opened with singing.
Prayer.
Singing.
H. C. Kimball
said he is a witness that the Kingdom of God is set up: and any person in the Church of Jesus Christ need not doubt that he is in the Kingdom of God. The Church is protected by that shield, and the Priesthood governs the whole Church. My love and affections are concentrated on President Young; he holds the keys of my salvation in time and hereafter; and should not I love that being who holds the keys of power, and glory, and exaltation? I should. When Br. Joseph was alive, Bro. Brigham and I, stuck to him till death: and when that love is in us, should not the same feelings be in the whole Priesthood? Every person has got to prove himself worthy, and every person has to be as obedient, or they will never get where those are, who have been obedient.
Asked a blessing on the bread.
My wish is, that when we leave this place, a reformation may take place in us, and go from us to all the settlements in the valleys; and that you will all do as you are told; then, there are no blessings in heaven or on earth but what will be given to us. God the Eternal Father has placed me as a Physician in my family. This people should have faith and confidence in those who have authority over them. The time has come, that this Church has to be pruned of the dead and rotten branches.—The men that are the most passive, and willing, we use the most, because we can do far more with them, than with those who are rebellious. I hope that mother will attend to their children, that they may rear them up properly.
said he is a witness that the Kingdom of God is set up: and any person in the Church of Jesus Christ need not doubt that he is in the Kingdom of God. The Church is protected by that shield, and the Priesthood governs the whole Church. My love and affections are concentrated on President Young; he holds the keys of my salvation in time and hereafter; and should not I love that being who holds the keys of power, and glory, and exaltation? I should. When Br. Joseph was alive, Bro. Brigham and I, stuck to him till death: and when that love is in us, should not the same feelings be in the whole Priesthood? Every person has got to prove himself worthy, and every person has to be as obedient, or they will never get where those are, who have been obedient.
Asked a blessing on the bread.
My wish is, that when we leave this place, a reformation may take place in us, and go from us to all the settlements in the valleys; and that you will all do as you are told; then, there are no blessings in heaven or on earth but what will be given to us. God the Eternal Father has placed me as a Physician in my family. This people should have faith and confidence in those who have authority over them. The time has come, that this Church has to be pruned of the dead and rotten branches.—The men that are the most passive, and willing, we use the most, because we can do far more with them, than with those who are rebellious. I hope that mother will attend to their children, that they may rear them up properly.
Cyrus Wheelock
asked a blessing on the cup.
Stated that he left Nauvoo on a mission to England. I do not know whether it was for my sins that I had to stop there till this time, but was thankful to receive the blessing of the President, yesterday. When I was in England, I did the best I knew how, and now I feel, that I have been paid for all my labors.
asked a blessing on the cup.
Stated that he left Nauvoo on a mission to England. I do not know whether it was for my sins that I had to stop there till this time, but was thankful to receive the blessing of the President, yesterday. When I was in England, I did the best I knew how, and now I feel, that I have been paid for all my labors.
Elder Erastus Snow
prophesied, that inasmuch as the people retain the Spirit they have in this house, blessings will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the valleys, and upon all Israel, in rich abundance, and it will work a reformation among the Saints.
prophesied, that inasmuch as the people retain the Spirit they have in this house, blessings will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the valleys, and upon all Israel, in rich abundance, and it will work a reformation among the Saints.
Prest. Young
wished the Latter Day Saints to hearken to this counsel, viz:
We will now bring our Conference to a close. I wish the Latter Day Saints to hearken to the counsel they receive from time to time, and especially to the counsel I will now give to all the L. D. Saints in this house, in the valleys of the mountains, and all who are scattered among the nations of the earth. I ask one thing at your hands, and that is, to live your religion day by day.
The religion we profess is the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ; a religion of revelation, ministering of angels, and the power of God on the people, through the ordinances of God. My counsel to all Saints is, to live their religion. If they do, they will live watchfully, prayerfully, and humbly; and their hearts will be filled with compassion one towards another, and they will seek to do good all the days of their lives; and when an evil is presented to them, they will shun that evil, and will cleave to that which is right before the Lord; otherwise they will bring a disgrace upon themselves, and dishonor their religion. This is my counsel to all Saints; and I wish you to carry it from this Conference to your neighbors, and spread it abroad throughout all the churches of the Saints, upon the face of the whole earth.—LIVE THE RELIGION YOU PROFESS.
You may say, "Br. Brigham, will you fellowship men who do wrong?" Well, suppose Br. Brigham does fellowship evil doers for a reason, exercising long suffering and mercy towards them, he does not fellowship their evil actions. God has mercy upon us, and we should have mercy on each other. Let us honor our God, our religion, our profession, and our being on the earth, and we may be proud of our religion for it is the only thing on earth that is worthy of the pride of the heart of man it is the only thing we have any knowledge of, that is worthy the attention of intelligence.
I have felt very thankful for this interview we have had and if we are blessed of the Lord, when our next conference convenes, we will have a place … to accommodate all the people, where all can be seated, and see, and hear.—Thus we watch if the Lord will.
You may inquire what we are going to do, simply to earn a portion of this … which is being encircled by the … it nicely, … timbers properly prepared, and make a canopy over our heads with our wagon covers, etc., and put up our benches, and then all would … comfortably. This will put an end to the little conferences that are held by numerous individuals around the home, who cannot be accommodated with seats. We held a general conference here, but outside there are numerous conferences, and caucus meetings. We will endeavor to have a place where we can have our councils and caucus meetings together.
I wish to say one word in behalf of Br. Cyrus Wheelock. While he was telling you his dream, and his feelings on arriving at this place, etc., I wanted to testify in his behalf, and say, he has come home with his heart pure; he is clean and pure; as he saw in his dream, his shirt was clean.
I wish all the elders who go abroad would come home in the same manner. Now and then one does. Some few come home with clean shirts, and others return with their garments spotted.
Do you ask if I mean you? If your own conscience condemns you, I shall, and so will the Lord. Those who have white shirts know it for themselves; and those who have got spotted shirts, will come to me and say, "Is my shirt clean?" Every man who comes to me, saying, "Br. Brigham, do you think I have come home clean and pure?" my answer is you have not, but your eye has been like the fool's eye at the ends of the earth. You have committed some wickedness your mind has become darkened, and you have been soft to yourself until you have done things which are a disgrace to you.
Let men come home with the Holy Ghost on them; with the Spirit of revelation in them; do they want to know of me, or any other person, if they are pure? They know they are pure, as well as the angels know. But it is a sure sign that a man is impure, when he doubts in his own mind. I shall not single out any person but Br. Wheelock. Be sure that a man who does not know he is pure, is not pure.
I could tell you a great many foibles the elders of Israel are guilty of. For instance, suppose a man goes abroad preaching the gospel, and tries to fill his mission as well as he can; but as quick as he is out of the meetings of the saints, or has done bearing testimony of the truth to the world, and is alone, his mind is in the valley, and with a heavy sigh he exclaims, "I wish I was at home with my dear wife and children;" the Lord would not give a straw for such a man; his whole soul should be engaged in the work at which he is laboring while in the vineyard.
Let no man ever go out into the world to labor as a minister of Christ, and leave his spirit at home. When the power of God is on a man, he knows the earth as he goes, and gathers his sheaves continually; gathering around him kindred spirits. He cannot speak, or pray, without gathering spirits of his own kind.
When I find my kindred spirit, a man or woman, who possesses the Spirit of the Lord, I am acquainted with that person, and feel as though we had been acquainted a long time ago. These are the men who will do good, and will never lack friends, for they will find them here and there already made, and they will prove friends indeed. My mission is to go and make more friends besides the ones I have at home; and gather up the wheat from among the tares, and search out … wherever they are.
I wish to say a word now with regard to Israel and the Gentiles, treated upon in an able and eloquent discourse by Elder P. P. Pratt, touching the privilege of the gentiles, numbering with Israel. Nine tenths of those who come into this church are the pure blood of Israel, the greater portion being purely of the blood of Ephraim. He was the first born, and the first blessing of old Jacob was upon Ephraim. Joseph was a savior to the house of his father, and will be to the whole house of Israel in the last days. We are Israel; we are already a portion of that venerable house. Those who are gentiles in our midst, have numbered themselves with Israel through the ordinances of the gospel; and all the gentiles who will come in the future, can be adopted, and become Israel; for Israel has been scattered among the people, and nationally speaking, all are gentiles.
You will never see a man called to preside in the priesthood of God on the earth, who is not purely of the blood of Abraham. You may set every man down to be a pure descendant of Abraham, who holds a position in this Kingdom, and holds the keys of, and officiates in the ordinances of the Holy Priesthood. Either God has not called him, or he is a pure offspring of faithful Abraham. When strangers and aliens are talked of, we talk of gentiles.
I can see no necessity for going through any particular form, or ceremony, in drawing this Conference to a close; and I will say, the Conference is now adjourned to the 6th of April, 1854, at 10 a. m., to meet on this block, if the Lord will.
Benediction by Prest. Young.
THOS. BULLOCK
Clerk of Conference.
wished the Latter Day Saints to hearken to this counsel, viz:
We will now bring our Conference to a close. I wish the Latter Day Saints to hearken to the counsel they receive from time to time, and especially to the counsel I will now give to all the L. D. Saints in this house, in the valleys of the mountains, and all who are scattered among the nations of the earth. I ask one thing at your hands, and that is, to live your religion day by day.
The religion we profess is the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ; a religion of revelation, ministering of angels, and the power of God on the people, through the ordinances of God. My counsel to all Saints is, to live their religion. If they do, they will live watchfully, prayerfully, and humbly; and their hearts will be filled with compassion one towards another, and they will seek to do good all the days of their lives; and when an evil is presented to them, they will shun that evil, and will cleave to that which is right before the Lord; otherwise they will bring a disgrace upon themselves, and dishonor their religion. This is my counsel to all Saints; and I wish you to carry it from this Conference to your neighbors, and spread it abroad throughout all the churches of the Saints, upon the face of the whole earth.—LIVE THE RELIGION YOU PROFESS.
You may say, "Br. Brigham, will you fellowship men who do wrong?" Well, suppose Br. Brigham does fellowship evil doers for a reason, exercising long suffering and mercy towards them, he does not fellowship their evil actions. God has mercy upon us, and we should have mercy on each other. Let us honor our God, our religion, our profession, and our being on the earth, and we may be proud of our religion for it is the only thing on earth that is worthy of the pride of the heart of man it is the only thing we have any knowledge of, that is worthy the attention of intelligence.
I have felt very thankful for this interview we have had and if we are blessed of the Lord, when our next conference convenes, we will have a place … to accommodate all the people, where all can be seated, and see, and hear.—Thus we watch if the Lord will.
You may inquire what we are going to do, simply to earn a portion of this … which is being encircled by the … it nicely, … timbers properly prepared, and make a canopy over our heads with our wagon covers, etc., and put up our benches, and then all would … comfortably. This will put an end to the little conferences that are held by numerous individuals around the home, who cannot be accommodated with seats. We held a general conference here, but outside there are numerous conferences, and caucus meetings. We will endeavor to have a place where we can have our councils and caucus meetings together.
I wish to say one word in behalf of Br. Cyrus Wheelock. While he was telling you his dream, and his feelings on arriving at this place, etc., I wanted to testify in his behalf, and say, he has come home with his heart pure; he is clean and pure; as he saw in his dream, his shirt was clean.
I wish all the elders who go abroad would come home in the same manner. Now and then one does. Some few come home with clean shirts, and others return with their garments spotted.
Do you ask if I mean you? If your own conscience condemns you, I shall, and so will the Lord. Those who have white shirts know it for themselves; and those who have got spotted shirts, will come to me and say, "Is my shirt clean?" Every man who comes to me, saying, "Br. Brigham, do you think I have come home clean and pure?" my answer is you have not, but your eye has been like the fool's eye at the ends of the earth. You have committed some wickedness your mind has become darkened, and you have been soft to yourself until you have done things which are a disgrace to you.
Let men come home with the Holy Ghost on them; with the Spirit of revelation in them; do they want to know of me, or any other person, if they are pure? They know they are pure, as well as the angels know. But it is a sure sign that a man is impure, when he doubts in his own mind. I shall not single out any person but Br. Wheelock. Be sure that a man who does not know he is pure, is not pure.
I could tell you a great many foibles the elders of Israel are guilty of. For instance, suppose a man goes abroad preaching the gospel, and tries to fill his mission as well as he can; but as quick as he is out of the meetings of the saints, or has done bearing testimony of the truth to the world, and is alone, his mind is in the valley, and with a heavy sigh he exclaims, "I wish I was at home with my dear wife and children;" the Lord would not give a straw for such a man; his whole soul should be engaged in the work at which he is laboring while in the vineyard.
Let no man ever go out into the world to labor as a minister of Christ, and leave his spirit at home. When the power of God is on a man, he knows the earth as he goes, and gathers his sheaves continually; gathering around him kindred spirits. He cannot speak, or pray, without gathering spirits of his own kind.
When I find my kindred spirit, a man or woman, who possesses the Spirit of the Lord, I am acquainted with that person, and feel as though we had been acquainted a long time ago. These are the men who will do good, and will never lack friends, for they will find them here and there already made, and they will prove friends indeed. My mission is to go and make more friends besides the ones I have at home; and gather up the wheat from among the tares, and search out … wherever they are.
I wish to say a word now with regard to Israel and the Gentiles, treated upon in an able and eloquent discourse by Elder P. P. Pratt, touching the privilege of the gentiles, numbering with Israel. Nine tenths of those who come into this church are the pure blood of Israel, the greater portion being purely of the blood of Ephraim. He was the first born, and the first blessing of old Jacob was upon Ephraim. Joseph was a savior to the house of his father, and will be to the whole house of Israel in the last days. We are Israel; we are already a portion of that venerable house. Those who are gentiles in our midst, have numbered themselves with Israel through the ordinances of the gospel; and all the gentiles who will come in the future, can be adopted, and become Israel; for Israel has been scattered among the people, and nationally speaking, all are gentiles.
You will never see a man called to preside in the priesthood of God on the earth, who is not purely of the blood of Abraham. You may set every man down to be a pure descendant of Abraham, who holds a position in this Kingdom, and holds the keys of, and officiates in the ordinances of the Holy Priesthood. Either God has not called him, or he is a pure offspring of faithful Abraham. When strangers and aliens are talked of, we talk of gentiles.
I can see no necessity for going through any particular form, or ceremony, in drawing this Conference to a close; and I will say, the Conference is now adjourned to the 6th of April, 1854, at 10 a. m., to meet on this block, if the Lord will.
Benediction by Prest. Young.
THOS. BULLOCK
Clerk of Conference.
6 p. m.
Synopsis
Of President Brigham Young’s address to the Brethren selected to go on a mission; delivered in the Tabernacle, Sunday evening. Oct., 9th, 1853, and reported by Bro. W. Woodruff, from memory.
I have a few remarks to make to the missionaries. I consider all the elders of this Church, missionaries, and I will here say that every man who is clothed with the Priesthood can magnify it while cultivating the earth, or following any other useful occupation, as well as in preaching the gospel to the nations; for while an elder is diligent, and by his labor produces wheat, corn, and other articles for the sustenance of man, and beast, he is administering life and salvation. An elder who magnifies his calling, has a right to bless his land, his fields, his crops, his flocks and herds, his wives and children; he has a right to heal the sick, and cast evil spirits out of man or beast. If any of his family or animals are sick, he has a right to lay hands upon them, and heal them, and to do all things which are right and lawful; but a man without the Priesthood has not the legal right to do these things.
Now how is it with you, ye elders of Israel? Do you magnify your calling in all these things, or do you take the name of God in vain, and curse, lie, and steal a little? And when the devil gets into your animals, do you partake of the same spirit, and go to fighting them, or do you cast the devil out of them? I leave you to judge.
When you first received the gospel, and the light of eternal truth beamed upon your understandings, would you then have cursed, swore, stolen, lied, or done any evil? No, these acts would have caused you to shudder; but when your light begins to fade, and you walk a long time in the twilight, you begin to stumble a little, and after a time you can commit much evil, and sleep easily over it. It is time for such to cry unto God to have mercy upon them.
Were you going on a mission to the opposite portions of the globe, and about to leave all, with no one to lean upon but God, you would seek unto Him all the time; and when your missions are given to you near home, if you cease to trust in God, and to call upon His name with the same diligence as you would in a foreign mission, you will do but little, if any good, and your missions will be in vain; and I warn you, that if you do not fulfill this mission with an eye single to the glory of God, and with a view to save Israel and the souls of men, that if your minds are upon your farms, houses, lands, and families, you will find your garments soiled, they will not be spotless. If you do not feel disposed to devote your time and attention to your missions, you had better say, “brethren please excuse me,” for you had better stay at home, unless your whole soul is in the work.
I wish to say a few words concerning the gathering of Israel, for my mind reaches forward, when I contemplate the promises of God unto them; and the nations of the earth will accomplish the will of the Lord without observing His hand in their operations, I will ask, who in Nauvoo would have left that city, provided they could have stayed there? No one; but we were driven to this place to fulfill the will of God. Joseph tried to get access to the remnants of Jacob, and the people greatly feared, lest we should preach the gospel to them. Could we have preached to the Lamanites, if we had stayed in Nauvoo? No, we could not; but the people have driven us to a place where we can do much more good, than we could have accomplished by remaining in Nauvoo; they have driven us into the midst of the Lamanites, where we can preach the gospel unto them.
It has been remarked that I have said there would be a rail road built from the States to this Territory by the year 1861; now all the union are in favor of a Pacific rail road, and when it is built our brethren from abroad can come here without walking, as many are now compelled to do.
I wish the elders to be faithful upon this mission, and much good will be accomplished; and if any elder is not faithful in the mission assigned to him, let him be chastened, and if he does not repent let him be cut off from this Church.
The elders have esteemed it a great privilege to be sent to foreign nations to preach the gospel, and have, in a measure, seemed to forget the poor, ignorant Lamanites who surround us, and are in our midst, at our own doors. They are a remnant of the House of Israel, they are of the seed of Abraham, and the Book of Mormon, and all the prophecies concerning that people declare that the gospel shall be preached unto them, and we have it to do, and it is time for us to begin. This work is upon you; you are sent unto the Lamanites; and to accomplish this mission, you cannot live in your fine houses as you now do, but you must live with them, teach them, and counsel them in all things, and be on hand to do them all the good that lies in your power. If you cannot bring your feelings to a willingness to do this, and cheerfully leave all for the purpose of saving this branch of the House of Israel, you had better say, “let me be excused, and stay at home.”
Your first business will be to civilize them, teach them to work, and improve their condition by your utmost faith and diligence. Every elder, who is now called unto this work, should immediately commence to learn the Lamanite languages. Go to Bro. D. B. Huntington and take lessons; and I hope soon to see a hundred good interpreters where we now have but one.
When you go among the Lamanites deal with them honestly and righteously in all things. Any man who cheats a Lamanite should be dealt with more severely, than for cheating a white man. An Indian thinks it no sin to steal, or to kill his enemy, because he has been taught from his childhood that there is no harm in it, but on the contrary, that it is a brave act. Not so with the white man, he has been taught from his infancy that it is wicked either to steal, or kill, except in self defence. Walker will not kill a white man, nor go on a stealing expedition to California until he offers sacrifices to his God, then he thinks he is doing right: and the reason he has not done more in his war on the southern settlements is because he could get no answer from his God. Had it not been for this, and the faith of this people, he would have destroyed those settlements before this time. I am sorry that some of our brethren have been killed by the Indians, but am far more sorry that some of the Indians have been slain by the brethren. I have often said, and I say again if any person is to be killed for stealing let that one be a white man, and not an Indian, for white men know better, while Indians do not, and you must lay aside your angry feelings towards them, and cease wishing to kill them.
Now go to work, you elders of Israel, fulfill your callings, magnify your office, get the Spirit of the Lord and of your mission, begin to save the Lamanites, and not destroy them, for they are of the House of Israel, and the blessings of God will rest upon you; and I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Synopsis
Of President Brigham Young’s address to the Brethren selected to go on a mission; delivered in the Tabernacle, Sunday evening. Oct., 9th, 1853, and reported by Bro. W. Woodruff, from memory.
I have a few remarks to make to the missionaries. I consider all the elders of this Church, missionaries, and I will here say that every man who is clothed with the Priesthood can magnify it while cultivating the earth, or following any other useful occupation, as well as in preaching the gospel to the nations; for while an elder is diligent, and by his labor produces wheat, corn, and other articles for the sustenance of man, and beast, he is administering life and salvation. An elder who magnifies his calling, has a right to bless his land, his fields, his crops, his flocks and herds, his wives and children; he has a right to heal the sick, and cast evil spirits out of man or beast. If any of his family or animals are sick, he has a right to lay hands upon them, and heal them, and to do all things which are right and lawful; but a man without the Priesthood has not the legal right to do these things.
Now how is it with you, ye elders of Israel? Do you magnify your calling in all these things, or do you take the name of God in vain, and curse, lie, and steal a little? And when the devil gets into your animals, do you partake of the same spirit, and go to fighting them, or do you cast the devil out of them? I leave you to judge.
When you first received the gospel, and the light of eternal truth beamed upon your understandings, would you then have cursed, swore, stolen, lied, or done any evil? No, these acts would have caused you to shudder; but when your light begins to fade, and you walk a long time in the twilight, you begin to stumble a little, and after a time you can commit much evil, and sleep easily over it. It is time for such to cry unto God to have mercy upon them.
Were you going on a mission to the opposite portions of the globe, and about to leave all, with no one to lean upon but God, you would seek unto Him all the time; and when your missions are given to you near home, if you cease to trust in God, and to call upon His name with the same diligence as you would in a foreign mission, you will do but little, if any good, and your missions will be in vain; and I warn you, that if you do not fulfill this mission with an eye single to the glory of God, and with a view to save Israel and the souls of men, that if your minds are upon your farms, houses, lands, and families, you will find your garments soiled, they will not be spotless. If you do not feel disposed to devote your time and attention to your missions, you had better say, “brethren please excuse me,” for you had better stay at home, unless your whole soul is in the work.
I wish to say a few words concerning the gathering of Israel, for my mind reaches forward, when I contemplate the promises of God unto them; and the nations of the earth will accomplish the will of the Lord without observing His hand in their operations, I will ask, who in Nauvoo would have left that city, provided they could have stayed there? No one; but we were driven to this place to fulfill the will of God. Joseph tried to get access to the remnants of Jacob, and the people greatly feared, lest we should preach the gospel to them. Could we have preached to the Lamanites, if we had stayed in Nauvoo? No, we could not; but the people have driven us to a place where we can do much more good, than we could have accomplished by remaining in Nauvoo; they have driven us into the midst of the Lamanites, where we can preach the gospel unto them.
It has been remarked that I have said there would be a rail road built from the States to this Territory by the year 1861; now all the union are in favor of a Pacific rail road, and when it is built our brethren from abroad can come here without walking, as many are now compelled to do.
I wish the elders to be faithful upon this mission, and much good will be accomplished; and if any elder is not faithful in the mission assigned to him, let him be chastened, and if he does not repent let him be cut off from this Church.
The elders have esteemed it a great privilege to be sent to foreign nations to preach the gospel, and have, in a measure, seemed to forget the poor, ignorant Lamanites who surround us, and are in our midst, at our own doors. They are a remnant of the House of Israel, they are of the seed of Abraham, and the Book of Mormon, and all the prophecies concerning that people declare that the gospel shall be preached unto them, and we have it to do, and it is time for us to begin. This work is upon you; you are sent unto the Lamanites; and to accomplish this mission, you cannot live in your fine houses as you now do, but you must live with them, teach them, and counsel them in all things, and be on hand to do them all the good that lies in your power. If you cannot bring your feelings to a willingness to do this, and cheerfully leave all for the purpose of saving this branch of the House of Israel, you had better say, “let me be excused, and stay at home.”
Your first business will be to civilize them, teach them to work, and improve their condition by your utmost faith and diligence. Every elder, who is now called unto this work, should immediately commence to learn the Lamanite languages. Go to Bro. D. B. Huntington and take lessons; and I hope soon to see a hundred good interpreters where we now have but one.
When you go among the Lamanites deal with them honestly and righteously in all things. Any man who cheats a Lamanite should be dealt with more severely, than for cheating a white man. An Indian thinks it no sin to steal, or to kill his enemy, because he has been taught from his childhood that there is no harm in it, but on the contrary, that it is a brave act. Not so with the white man, he has been taught from his infancy that it is wicked either to steal, or kill, except in self defence. Walker will not kill a white man, nor go on a stealing expedition to California until he offers sacrifices to his God, then he thinks he is doing right: and the reason he has not done more in his war on the southern settlements is because he could get no answer from his God. Had it not been for this, and the faith of this people, he would have destroyed those settlements before this time. I am sorry that some of our brethren have been killed by the Indians, but am far more sorry that some of the Indians have been slain by the brethren. I have often said, and I say again if any person is to be killed for stealing let that one be a white man, and not an Indian, for white men know better, while Indians do not, and you must lay aside your angry feelings towards them, and cease wishing to kill them.
Now go to work, you elders of Israel, fulfill your callings, magnify your office, get the Spirit of the Lord and of your mission, begin to save the Lamanites, and not destroy them, for they are of the House of Israel, and the blessings of God will rest upon you; and I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.