April 1854
MINUTES Of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, commencing April 6th., 1854, at 10 a.m.
President Brigham Young presiding.
In the Stand:--Presidents B. Young, H. C. Kimball.
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.
Seventies: Joseph Young, H. Harriman, Z. Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, J. M. Grant, L. Hancock, B. L. Clapp.
High Priests Quorum: David Pettigrew, R. Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter.
Presidency of the Stake: D. Fullmer, Thos. Rhoads, P. H. Young.
Clerk of the Conference: Thomas Bullock.
Reporter: George D. Watt.
Conference was called to order by President Brigham Young, and after the choir had sung,
President Brigham Young presiding.
In the Stand:--Presidents B. Young, H. C. Kimball.
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.
Seventies: Joseph Young, H. Harriman, Z. Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, J. M. Grant, L. Hancock, B. L. Clapp.
High Priests Quorum: David Pettigrew, R. Cahoon.
Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter.
Presidency of the Stake: D. Fullmer, Thos. Rhoads, P. H. Young.
Clerk of the Conference: Thomas Bullock.
Reporter: George D. Watt.
Conference was called to order by President Brigham Young, and after the choir had sung,
President Heber C. Kimball prayed as follows:
O God, the Eternal Father, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, we come before thee this morning, and ask thee to look upon each one of us assembled together this day for the purpose of worshipping thee, and to transact such business as shall be for the furtherance of thy cause and kingdom, and the establishing of righteousness upon the face of thine earth, according to the counsel of thy will.
We ask thee to dictate all matters pertaining to this conference, and pertaining to the assembling together of thy people from the different settlements of these valleys; O Lord, inspire every heart with the Holy Ghost. We pray thee this morning to forgive all our sins, follies, weaknesses, improprieties, and everything we have done to grieve thee in the days of our lives; remit our sins, purify our hearts, and sanctify our affections unto thee, that our hearts may not be attached to the things of this world, nor our affections placed upon them, but upon things that are eternal, upon things that endure forever, and that will make us happy and comfortable, whether we are in a state of poverty or in a state of exaltation in regard to the things of this life.
Help us, O Lord, to be satisfied and contented in whatever circumstances we may be placed, that we may be like clay in the hands of the potter, and become moulded and fashioned in the likeness of the Son of God; that we may be influenced by his spirit, dictated by his counsel, and that the revelations of Jesus Christ may be poured out upon us: that we may be filled with all wisdom and understanding necessary to forward thy cause on the earth, to purify our hearts, that we may be sanctified to enter into the glory thou has prepared for the righteous.
We pray thee to look upon thy servant Brigham, and inspire his heart with the revelations of Jesus Christ; may the Holy Ghost descend upon him in greater fulness, to show him things to come, and bring all things to his remembrance that is necessary for the well-being and salvation of thy people, that he may know what measures to adopt for the good of all people, and for the preaching of thy gospel, and for the spreading of salvation to the remotest parts of the earth. Bless him with life and health; renew his age, and invigorate his body, and cause fresh life to enter every pore, sinew, muscle, and bone of his mortal tabernacle, penetrating every part from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet; strengthening his lungs, his vitals, limbs, and joints. May the power of God rest upon him, and upon his associates, and upon all thy faithful elders. Hear us, O Lord, in this thing.
We pray thee to bless thy faithful people, thy servants and handmaidens in the land of America, and those who are scattered abroad throughout the nations of Europe, and the islands of the sea. May the spirit of the Lord God rest upon them in mighty power, and be withdrawn from those who do not assist in building up thy kingdom on the earth, and in establishing righteousness. May the sap and nourishment of the withered branches be given to those that are alive in thy cause.
We pray thee to take us into thy care, for we dedicate and consecrate ourselves and this conference unto thee, with this habitation, this land, and everything pertaining to thy saints. Let thy blessings be upon our wives, and upon our children; upon our flocks and upon our herds, upon our fields, and upon our barns; and may the blessings of the Lord God be upon the righteous from this time henceforth and forever.
We place ourselves into thy hands, praying that all things pertaining to thy people this conference, and at all other times, may be dictated by thy wisdom, and all the praise, honor, glory, and power, shall be given to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, worlds without end: amen.
O God, the Eternal Father, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, we come before thee this morning, and ask thee to look upon each one of us assembled together this day for the purpose of worshipping thee, and to transact such business as shall be for the furtherance of thy cause and kingdom, and the establishing of righteousness upon the face of thine earth, according to the counsel of thy will.
We ask thee to dictate all matters pertaining to this conference, and pertaining to the assembling together of thy people from the different settlements of these valleys; O Lord, inspire every heart with the Holy Ghost. We pray thee this morning to forgive all our sins, follies, weaknesses, improprieties, and everything we have done to grieve thee in the days of our lives; remit our sins, purify our hearts, and sanctify our affections unto thee, that our hearts may not be attached to the things of this world, nor our affections placed upon them, but upon things that are eternal, upon things that endure forever, and that will make us happy and comfortable, whether we are in a state of poverty or in a state of exaltation in regard to the things of this life.
Help us, O Lord, to be satisfied and contented in whatever circumstances we may be placed, that we may be like clay in the hands of the potter, and become moulded and fashioned in the likeness of the Son of God; that we may be influenced by his spirit, dictated by his counsel, and that the revelations of Jesus Christ may be poured out upon us: that we may be filled with all wisdom and understanding necessary to forward thy cause on the earth, to purify our hearts, that we may be sanctified to enter into the glory thou has prepared for the righteous.
We pray thee to look upon thy servant Brigham, and inspire his heart with the revelations of Jesus Christ; may the Holy Ghost descend upon him in greater fulness, to show him things to come, and bring all things to his remembrance that is necessary for the well-being and salvation of thy people, that he may know what measures to adopt for the good of all people, and for the preaching of thy gospel, and for the spreading of salvation to the remotest parts of the earth. Bless him with life and health; renew his age, and invigorate his body, and cause fresh life to enter every pore, sinew, muscle, and bone of his mortal tabernacle, penetrating every part from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet; strengthening his lungs, his vitals, limbs, and joints. May the power of God rest upon him, and upon his associates, and upon all thy faithful elders. Hear us, O Lord, in this thing.
We pray thee to bless thy faithful people, thy servants and handmaidens in the land of America, and those who are scattered abroad throughout the nations of Europe, and the islands of the sea. May the spirit of the Lord God rest upon them in mighty power, and be withdrawn from those who do not assist in building up thy kingdom on the earth, and in establishing righteousness. May the sap and nourishment of the withered branches be given to those that are alive in thy cause.
We pray thee to take us into thy care, for we dedicate and consecrate ourselves and this conference unto thee, with this habitation, this land, and everything pertaining to thy saints. Let thy blessings be upon our wives, and upon our children; upon our flocks and upon our herds, upon our fields, and upon our barns; and may the blessings of the Lord God be upon the righteous from this time henceforth and forever.
We place ourselves into thy hands, praying that all things pertaining to thy people this conference, and at all other times, may be dictated by thy wisdom, and all the praise, honor, glory, and power, shall be given to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, worlds without end: amen.
After President Kimball had opened the meeting by prayer,
President Brigham Young
presented the business of the Conference in the following words.
I will lay before the Congregation a few items of business that may probably be presented before this Conference, if the state of my lungs will permit me to speak.
In the first place, I ask the privilege of wearing my hat. You may think I am beginning to feel the infirmities of age; I am older than many would suppose me to be; in a short time I shall be fifty-three years of age. More than half a century is a long time to live, and endure as much as I have each year of my life.
The business of the Conference, as it regards the organization and regulations pertaining to the leading officers of the Church, etc., will be the same as heretofore. We have other things which we shall lay before the assembly; but the business parts will probably be omitted today, and perhaps tomorrow.
If it should continue weather to oblige us to occupy the Tabernacle, we shall not be able to accommodate as many of the people as we should like; but if the weather should be warm and pleasant, the people will continue to gather in from the country settlements, and many will come to Conference from the city that otherwise would not; in this case, we are prepared to accommodate the whole congregation on the north side of the Tabernacle. We did not prepare the seats you see outside, expecting the congregation to sit out of doors when it is possible to accommodate them inside. When the assembly swells so large that not one half of them can get into this hall, we will then retire to the outside, if the weather will permit, that whatever business is transacted, may be done before all the people. You will recollect that we have had meetings both outside and inside of this house, on Conference occasions, which caused more or less confusion.
It may be expected by a portion of the congregation, that during this Conference, there will be a discourse delivered on the occasion of the death of Bro. Willard Richards. Whether there will or not I am unable at present to say. I can give you my thoughts upon that matter in a few words, and they will apply to all matters of a similar nature. Were I to preach a discourse to please Bro. Willards' surviving friends, and the Church at large, all that I might say can be summed up in in these few words:
Bro. Willard Richards I have known from before he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived at my house many years,--boarded with me. From our first acquaintance to his death, in the gospel and out of it, as far as I knew him, in his integrity and friendship, he was as true and unwavering in his course as the sun is to the earth, or as the earth is in revolving upon its axes. There was not a shade of deviation upon his mind, or wavering in his actions, in his feelings, or in his faith from the principles of righteousness. He was true to his God, to his religion, and to his brethren, and in administering blessings to all, to whom he had power to administer. He was careful not to injure any person, and lived and died a Latter-day Saint. He is gone to rest, and is prepared to receive his body again in the resurrection, and then he will be prepared to take his seat in the Celestial kingdom of our God. All that can be said of Bro. Willard's whole life is summed up in these few remarks.
Many that are personally acquainted with him, will no doubt have something to say touching the manner of his private life; but I can say to every person who was intimately acquainted with his private character, and to those who were not, but only knew him in a public capacity, that he was just as faithful, true, good, and lived as well as any man can do who is subject to mortality,--who is of the earth, earthy. No man can do any better than he has done in similar circumstances.
There may be some things pertaining to his private character that an ignorant, selfish sectarian would find fault with, and raise objections to; but it is through ignorance they would do it. But if they knew him—knew his constitution—the weakness of his body; if they knew his mind, his faith, his feelings, and his desires to live, they would know at once, that he has actually fought with death, and overcome it for many years. And the very course he had to pursue to keep life in him, he knew himself, would eventually sink him into the grave; but he would have been there years ago, had he not taken the course he did.
Now, if I do not say anything more concerning him, it will all be well. Let not any of the Church, or his family, think that Bro. Willard is neglected, or is not honored and reverenced sufficiently because I have not preached a long funeral sermon, which is the fashion of the world. I will do as much, think, speak, and pray as much for him, as I wish my brethren and friends, to speak, think, and pray over me when I drop into the grave. When I die, bury me decently, and let me wait till the morning of the resurrection to receive my glorified body, is all I ask my brethren to do for me when I am dead.
Custom becomes a strong law; it is almost one of the most powerful laws there is among the nations of the earth. It is customary with them to extol the dead. Let the most miserable and corrupt wretch on the earth die, if he has friends enough to speak in his favor, he is made to appear one of the most angelic beings that ever lived. A man may live and die like a brute, and in his life behave like a demon; but if he has plenty of money, and a circle of influential friends, they will extol him to the skies when he is dead, and adorn his moral character with the virtues of a heavenly being, and commit his body to the grave, saying, "we commit this our brother to the grave; dust to dust, ashes to ashes with a sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection."—They have no doubt in their minds, apparently, but that he is gone to Abraham's bosom. That is what custom does. That is a specimen of the habits, customs, and traditions of the world. These things I wish to leave behind, and attend to things that will promote life, salvation, peace, and the best interests of the kingdom of God on the earth. Let us attend to that which will redeem Israel, place life and salvation before the inhabitants of the earth, that will do good to the living, and tend to save those who are in the broad road to destruction, both in a national and individual capacity; let us snatch them as brands from the burning. If I weep for anybody, let it be for those who live, and do not live their religion, but set at naught the counsels of God, and will have none of his reproof. Never let me weep for a man or a woman who has been prepared in life for a glorious resurrection after death, and are gone in peace.—When their bodies sleep in the grave under those circumstances they are all right; I have no mourning, no tears, or grieving for them; if I mourn for any it is for the living; and there is much more cause for weeping over many of this people, because of their guiltiness of heart, and corruptness of affections towards God, and our holy religion, than there is for those who have died in the faith and gone to rest.
I hope the brethren and sisters will be satisfied with these remarks. If there are any of the brethren who wish to take up the subject, and speak on the occasion of Bro. Willard's death, and on the death of sister Smith, Geo. A. Smith's mother, and preach a funeral sermon, I am perfectly willing they should. But if they do not feel to do it, I do not wish it required at my hands.
Now to the business that will probably be laid before the Conference.
First of all brethren and sisters, I wish to inquire distinctly of your feelings, to know if each individual who professes to be a Latter-day Saint, does know for a certainty this morning, that their peace is made with God—that their peace is like an ever-flowing river—that the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is in them like a fountain of living water. If the Spirit of God is in you like this, springing up to everlasting life, it is known to you. This is the most important part of our Conference business. Business of more essential import could not be presented before our Conference, if it were to continue in session for years. It is 24 years today since this Church was organized. Suppose millions of people belonged to it; or suppose there were only a few, and they had forsaken the spirit of the holy gospel—had back-slidden in their affections, faith, and in the spirit of revelation; had forsaken the Lord their God, ceased to have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministering of angels, and the gift and blessings of the Holy Ghost, and they assemble merely out of form, in compliance to an established custom, and they exercise themselves in the ordinances of the kingdom of God, follow the rules and regulations in the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is nothing more than a dead form to them; they could not derive one particle of real benefit by meeting together in a capacity like the present one. Then, first of all, I ask the brethren who have been in the kingdom for twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three years, (as there are those here who have been in the Church from the beginning) how they feel this morning. What is the state of your minds? How is your faith? Do you feel as well as you did when you first embraced the gospel? Is the spirit of revelation in you as much now as then? What shall I receive for an answer, were I answered truly? I can give you my opinion; I believe there are many that can truly say, that the Spirit of the Lord has taken up his abode with them, and dwells continually with them from day to day, from week to week, from month to month, and from year to year. They are never without it, for it is in them and round about them continually; they are full of it from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet; it has become their constant companion. With every man and woman who will be faithful to their God, and to their religion, and who has been fully tried and proved, the Lord will actually take up his abode, and dwell with them, and they will not be left to themselves, or to the power of the enemy any more. They may be tempted and tried, but they always have their weapons of defence ready, their shield is buckled on; they are always armed with the armor of Christ, and they are always capable of beating hack, of throwing off and destroying every power of the enemy that attacks them.
This is the first item of the Conference. I also ask those brethren and sisters who have lately come into the Church and within a few years crossed the plains to this place, how they feel; is the Spirit of the Lord now resting upon you? Is the vision of your minds opened to see and understand the things that pertain to life and salvation? Do you love the scriptures, the word of life, also the Lord and his people, and his righteousness, as you did the day you first embraced this gospel? If you have not realized an increase of heavenly good in yourselves, and made progress, you are dull scholars. How many can say they have realized an increase of that spirit, and say, "I love the Lord, I love his people, and his cause better and better every day I live; my understanding expands, for I see and understand many things I did not know when I first embraced the gospel. Whereas I loved but little; whereas I knew but little, I now know considerably more; and according to the increase of my knowledge, so is my love and confidence in my brethren." Can you say this in truth? If you can it is all right.
Again, let me appeal to those who have done wrong, (if any there are,) and follow it. Did you come to this Conference from your homes before you first repented of your sins, and obtained forgiveness? If you did I want you to leave in the intermission, and go home again, and there I want you to stay, until your sins are remitted; or get an elder to immerse you in City Creek, and wash away your sins, so that you may not hinder those who are pure, that every individual's heart in this Conference may be pure before God, and have a mite to contribute to the faith of the whole body, that every heart may be lighted up by the power of God, and receive the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and increase from this time in all righteousness, and not come and go like a door upon its hinges, without any variation for the better. When the people complain of each other—when they complain of the Church, of their hardships, of hard times, and of this and of that, because the Lord does not speak with his own voice from heaven, because the revelations of God are not forthcoming, as they did in the days of Joseph Smith, all I have to say to them, is prepare your hearts, for there is all for you that you can receive, and a great deal more than you know what to do with. That is all that I need to say to you on that point.
Let every man and woman humble themselves before the Lord, and exercise mighty faith. Did you come here for the First Presidency and the Twelve to bless you?—It is out of our power to bless you unless you are prepared to receive a blessing from your Father in heaven. We can stand before you here, and talk to you; but we cannot give you the Spirit of the Lord, unless you are prepared to receive it through our administration, but it must come from the Lord. Let every heart therefore, be prayerful, watchful, and exercise faith, and seek diligently for blessings for themselves, and then we shall all be blessed together.
I contemplate this people with great anxiety, and with feelings of deep interest. I look upon their conduct, and am sorry to see many of them wandering in their feelings from the ways of truth and righteousness. It is frequently asked me if it is right for men who have come to the valley, and been blessed and re-blessed, and finally receive their endowments, and then want to go to California; and if they ought not to be cut off from the Church. They should be cut off were it not for one thing. The Lord wishes to give them ample opportunity to take a course to save themselves. It is not the mind of the Lord they should be cut off the Church as a general thing, consequently I think we had better not do it. If it was the mind of the Lord I would consent to it; but as it is not, we should do wrong to do it. If every man, woman, and child in this kingdom were living in the light, and blessings of the revelations of Jesus, would any one of them wish to go to California? you will all give a negative reply to this question; they would rather cry out, "spare me the pain and suffering I would have to pass through by going there, and let me escape that misery, distress, and anguish by staying with the people of God." Yes, my brethren, you who want to go, go; but I have a little more to say regarding it, which is, pay your just debts before you go, and do not steal other men's property. There are some already on the way, and are gone that I think ought to be cut off from the Church; but I am directing my conversation to those who are going in the future; pay your debts when you go, and be sure and steal nothing from your neighbors. I am perfectly willing you should go, for if you cannot be flogged, persecuted, and pass through the ordeals of suffering sufficiently to prepare you to enter into the kingdom of God without first going to hell, the quicker you go through it the better.
I am often asked if they will be saved who go to California in search of worldly riches. I answer, yes, some of them, so as by fire. They have not wisdom, discretion, and natural ability enough, and I suppose their spirits, before they came into this world, were not endowed with the same amount of rationality and reflection as others, so that they cannot be saved without passing through the fire. Let them go to California who wish; and if any of the Saints owe them anything, pay them honorably, and if they owe you anything, I will give you liberty to make them pay you. I have as a general thing made such brethren pay me that they owe. I calculate on their paying their debts, and also that they shall not steal anything from this people; but they may go down into their sufferings as quick as they please; for the quicker they go there, the quicker they will get through them. Will they be saved? Yes. What and be prepared to go into the celestial kingdom of God? Yes, if they repent of their sins and turn unto the Lord. And what will they do there? They have been told years ago, not to do anything that would aid and build up the gentiles; but they will do it, and they must needs to through the suffering that awaits them, to prepare them to go into the celestial kingdom. Will they be crowned with crowns of glory, immortality and eternal lives? No, but they will be prepared to enter there to serve others that are prepared to receive kingdoms, thrones, principalities and powers. That may perhaps appear a strange idea to some of you. If you want to know it, I will tell you the truth, and you may call it revelation or anything else you please.—When you go into the celestial kingdom, you will have your resurrected bodies, and you will gather around you your families, and friends, and be associated with them there, as here. We are now mortal; there we shall be immortal; this difference will exist, and it is all the difference. Mortality is a perfect similitude, pattern, or emblem of the celestial kingdom, only the one is mortal life, and the other is life in immortality. Can you who own extensive farms work them with your own hands? No; but you have to hire help. Ask the woman who has thirty or forty of a family under her care, if she with her own hands, can do the work necessary to be done in such a family. She cannot do it without procuring help; she obtains servants to assist her. The extensive farmer has around him his associates who are not capable of themselves of gathering around them property so as to be independent, so they are dependent on the man who knows how to direct, and increase from the elements the riches of this life, and he hires them and pays them wages to help him, to do the work necessary to improve every foot of his farm or inheritance. You will find the same thing in the celestial world, among the kingdoms of our Father in heaven.
You will find millions of the inhabitants of the earth there who are not capable of being crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives. Those who are faithful in putting out their talents to usury, will receive and increase according to their diligence. But shall we say that all are capable of becoming lords, and kings, and of being crowned with crowns of glory, and receive kingdoms, and powers, and exaltations, and thrones? No, we do not; for they will be no more capable of it, than they are of enjoying the riches of eternity here, and of properly applying them in this mortality, were they put in their possession, which would be the sure means of their destruction. They would not know what to do with such extensive riches. You may put that down as revelation, and have Bro. George write it.
Let the brethren go to California that wish to go, and I request them to be honest. I have another request to make of them, viz: that they take with them all the thieves; for we cannot get rid of them. However, it is an acknowledged fact, that the wheat and the tares must grow together until harvest; and the sheep and the goats will be in the same fold until the time of separation. Is there any sheep going to California as well as goats? Yes. And will any goats stay here? Yes; and some of the poorest, miserable devils in the whole possy of them. What can we do with it? Why we must do the best we can. All I ask of those who are going, and of those who are staying, is to be honest if they can.
This leads me to what I am now going to lay before the Conference: and it will be an excellent text for the brethren to preach upon. I will lay a proposition before this Conference for them to decide upon. That is for us to select a man, and send him to upper California, say for instance to Bro. Horner's ranch, to lay out a place for the gathering of the Saints in that vicinity of the world. Bro. Amasa and Bro. Rich have got a standard reared in southern California already. We will also send men to Oregon, from those places to preach the gospel, for many of those who have been chasing the gilded butterfly, until they have run into the fire, and got pretty well scorched, will be glad of the chance, to forsake their follies and gather again unto the Saints.—We will also establish a place of gathering there. We also wish to send men to the United States to establish two or three locations there, for the gathering of the Saints. Then the English, Scotch, Welsh, and German Saints, as well as Saints from other nations of the old world, whose greatest difficulty is to get wagons, teams, and provisions to cross the plains, when they have saved a few shillings, can cross over the waters to one of these gathering places, where they will be placed under the protection of a good elder sent to take care of them. We have just as good a right to go back to the United States to live, as any man has that lives there. This is what I have to lay before the Conference, to be a text for a few short discourses. We contemplate establishing a post in Ohio, and another in Missouri, as gathering points, to gather the brethren to, who are scattered abroad in those districts, and who may in the future come into them.
First and foremost, I wish to tell you that the brethren who may locate there for a season may get well whipped and thrashed, so that when they come to this place, they will not want to run to California, and leave unpaid that which they owe to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, for bringing them here. We wish to put them in a smut machine, and have all the wheat cleansed from the smut; and then put them in a fanning mill, and then through a screen before they are prepared to come here, and be put in the hopper ready for grinding.
"Why Bro. Brigham, do you really think we shall get scourged there?" There is no danger of it whatever; for Christ and Belial have not yet become friends. Never mind that, we will gather the people there, and leave the result to the Lord God of Israel, and trust in him, to dictate the whole affair.
Will you vote for such a thing—to establish three places of gathering in the United States? We have one in California, and may establish another in Oregon. It is an excellent idea, though it may appear a novel one. I proposed the subject to Bro. Franklin D. Richards before he went away, and he said he could send over ten times more saints than formerly under this plan. When the New Orleans route is closed, the emigration can continue by the way of New York, and after they have landed there, for a few shillings they can secure a place on the train, and be landed at once in the vicinity of the gathering points in the States, when they can be instructed etc., to prepare them for the further prosecution of their journey. In that way he can send ten as easy as one to this place. If they should apostatize we want them to apostatize there, and not come all the way here to apostatize. We want them to have trials enough, to satisfy them, and us, whether they wish to be Saints or not, before they pass through the fatigue, labor, and expense of coming to this distant valley, and then to apostatize here.—We want them to be where they can apostatize without it costing them so much.
This portion of the business will be new to you, I have no doubt. When the time come to present before you the quorums, we shall probably supply the vacancy made by the death of Bro. Willard Richards.—Who will supply his place in the First Presidency, is a question that has not yet been answered, though many have talked to me about it. I have asked the Twelve to dictate this part of the business, but they have thrown it back, well, I will say where it ought to be; they said it was not their place to dictate the affair, but to confirm the conclusions of the President. If the Conference will show the best method of knowing who is the best man to be my second Counselor, I will readily listen to their wisdom. The Twelve would have nothing to do with it, but said it was the privilege of the President to choose his own Councilor, and for them to run the risk of its being right or wrong. However, if the Conference wishes to dictate this matter, I will give them an opportunity. That is my method of doing business: as long as we are of one heart and of one mind, there is no ground for discord, or dissention.
In my office and calling it is always time enough for the Lion to roar when the enemy approaches to invade our borders. There is no need of the Lion roaring when everybody is doing right. When they are doing the best they can, I am then like a child with the rest of you; but let the dogs and wolves come prowling round, then you may expect the Lion to roar as usual.
I believe I have answered the desire of my mind for the present, with regard to laying out the business of this Conference. I will now resign the stand to Bro. Kimball.
President Brigham Young
presented the business of the Conference in the following words.
I will lay before the Congregation a few items of business that may probably be presented before this Conference, if the state of my lungs will permit me to speak.
In the first place, I ask the privilege of wearing my hat. You may think I am beginning to feel the infirmities of age; I am older than many would suppose me to be; in a short time I shall be fifty-three years of age. More than half a century is a long time to live, and endure as much as I have each year of my life.
The business of the Conference, as it regards the organization and regulations pertaining to the leading officers of the Church, etc., will be the same as heretofore. We have other things which we shall lay before the assembly; but the business parts will probably be omitted today, and perhaps tomorrow.
If it should continue weather to oblige us to occupy the Tabernacle, we shall not be able to accommodate as many of the people as we should like; but if the weather should be warm and pleasant, the people will continue to gather in from the country settlements, and many will come to Conference from the city that otherwise would not; in this case, we are prepared to accommodate the whole congregation on the north side of the Tabernacle. We did not prepare the seats you see outside, expecting the congregation to sit out of doors when it is possible to accommodate them inside. When the assembly swells so large that not one half of them can get into this hall, we will then retire to the outside, if the weather will permit, that whatever business is transacted, may be done before all the people. You will recollect that we have had meetings both outside and inside of this house, on Conference occasions, which caused more or less confusion.
It may be expected by a portion of the congregation, that during this Conference, there will be a discourse delivered on the occasion of the death of Bro. Willard Richards. Whether there will or not I am unable at present to say. I can give you my thoughts upon that matter in a few words, and they will apply to all matters of a similar nature. Were I to preach a discourse to please Bro. Willards' surviving friends, and the Church at large, all that I might say can be summed up in in these few words:
Bro. Willard Richards I have known from before he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived at my house many years,--boarded with me. From our first acquaintance to his death, in the gospel and out of it, as far as I knew him, in his integrity and friendship, he was as true and unwavering in his course as the sun is to the earth, or as the earth is in revolving upon its axes. There was not a shade of deviation upon his mind, or wavering in his actions, in his feelings, or in his faith from the principles of righteousness. He was true to his God, to his religion, and to his brethren, and in administering blessings to all, to whom he had power to administer. He was careful not to injure any person, and lived and died a Latter-day Saint. He is gone to rest, and is prepared to receive his body again in the resurrection, and then he will be prepared to take his seat in the Celestial kingdom of our God. All that can be said of Bro. Willard's whole life is summed up in these few remarks.
Many that are personally acquainted with him, will no doubt have something to say touching the manner of his private life; but I can say to every person who was intimately acquainted with his private character, and to those who were not, but only knew him in a public capacity, that he was just as faithful, true, good, and lived as well as any man can do who is subject to mortality,--who is of the earth, earthy. No man can do any better than he has done in similar circumstances.
There may be some things pertaining to his private character that an ignorant, selfish sectarian would find fault with, and raise objections to; but it is through ignorance they would do it. But if they knew him—knew his constitution—the weakness of his body; if they knew his mind, his faith, his feelings, and his desires to live, they would know at once, that he has actually fought with death, and overcome it for many years. And the very course he had to pursue to keep life in him, he knew himself, would eventually sink him into the grave; but he would have been there years ago, had he not taken the course he did.
Now, if I do not say anything more concerning him, it will all be well. Let not any of the Church, or his family, think that Bro. Willard is neglected, or is not honored and reverenced sufficiently because I have not preached a long funeral sermon, which is the fashion of the world. I will do as much, think, speak, and pray as much for him, as I wish my brethren and friends, to speak, think, and pray over me when I drop into the grave. When I die, bury me decently, and let me wait till the morning of the resurrection to receive my glorified body, is all I ask my brethren to do for me when I am dead.
Custom becomes a strong law; it is almost one of the most powerful laws there is among the nations of the earth. It is customary with them to extol the dead. Let the most miserable and corrupt wretch on the earth die, if he has friends enough to speak in his favor, he is made to appear one of the most angelic beings that ever lived. A man may live and die like a brute, and in his life behave like a demon; but if he has plenty of money, and a circle of influential friends, they will extol him to the skies when he is dead, and adorn his moral character with the virtues of a heavenly being, and commit his body to the grave, saying, "we commit this our brother to the grave; dust to dust, ashes to ashes with a sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection."—They have no doubt in their minds, apparently, but that he is gone to Abraham's bosom. That is what custom does. That is a specimen of the habits, customs, and traditions of the world. These things I wish to leave behind, and attend to things that will promote life, salvation, peace, and the best interests of the kingdom of God on the earth. Let us attend to that which will redeem Israel, place life and salvation before the inhabitants of the earth, that will do good to the living, and tend to save those who are in the broad road to destruction, both in a national and individual capacity; let us snatch them as brands from the burning. If I weep for anybody, let it be for those who live, and do not live their religion, but set at naught the counsels of God, and will have none of his reproof. Never let me weep for a man or a woman who has been prepared in life for a glorious resurrection after death, and are gone in peace.—When their bodies sleep in the grave under those circumstances they are all right; I have no mourning, no tears, or grieving for them; if I mourn for any it is for the living; and there is much more cause for weeping over many of this people, because of their guiltiness of heart, and corruptness of affections towards God, and our holy religion, than there is for those who have died in the faith and gone to rest.
I hope the brethren and sisters will be satisfied with these remarks. If there are any of the brethren who wish to take up the subject, and speak on the occasion of Bro. Willard's death, and on the death of sister Smith, Geo. A. Smith's mother, and preach a funeral sermon, I am perfectly willing they should. But if they do not feel to do it, I do not wish it required at my hands.
Now to the business that will probably be laid before the Conference.
First of all brethren and sisters, I wish to inquire distinctly of your feelings, to know if each individual who professes to be a Latter-day Saint, does know for a certainty this morning, that their peace is made with God—that their peace is like an ever-flowing river—that the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is in them like a fountain of living water. If the Spirit of God is in you like this, springing up to everlasting life, it is known to you. This is the most important part of our Conference business. Business of more essential import could not be presented before our Conference, if it were to continue in session for years. It is 24 years today since this Church was organized. Suppose millions of people belonged to it; or suppose there were only a few, and they had forsaken the spirit of the holy gospel—had back-slidden in their affections, faith, and in the spirit of revelation; had forsaken the Lord their God, ceased to have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministering of angels, and the gift and blessings of the Holy Ghost, and they assemble merely out of form, in compliance to an established custom, and they exercise themselves in the ordinances of the kingdom of God, follow the rules and regulations in the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is nothing more than a dead form to them; they could not derive one particle of real benefit by meeting together in a capacity like the present one. Then, first of all, I ask the brethren who have been in the kingdom for twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three years, (as there are those here who have been in the Church from the beginning) how they feel this morning. What is the state of your minds? How is your faith? Do you feel as well as you did when you first embraced the gospel? Is the spirit of revelation in you as much now as then? What shall I receive for an answer, were I answered truly? I can give you my opinion; I believe there are many that can truly say, that the Spirit of the Lord has taken up his abode with them, and dwells continually with them from day to day, from week to week, from month to month, and from year to year. They are never without it, for it is in them and round about them continually; they are full of it from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet; it has become their constant companion. With every man and woman who will be faithful to their God, and to their religion, and who has been fully tried and proved, the Lord will actually take up his abode, and dwell with them, and they will not be left to themselves, or to the power of the enemy any more. They may be tempted and tried, but they always have their weapons of defence ready, their shield is buckled on; they are always armed with the armor of Christ, and they are always capable of beating hack, of throwing off and destroying every power of the enemy that attacks them.
This is the first item of the Conference. I also ask those brethren and sisters who have lately come into the Church and within a few years crossed the plains to this place, how they feel; is the Spirit of the Lord now resting upon you? Is the vision of your minds opened to see and understand the things that pertain to life and salvation? Do you love the scriptures, the word of life, also the Lord and his people, and his righteousness, as you did the day you first embraced this gospel? If you have not realized an increase of heavenly good in yourselves, and made progress, you are dull scholars. How many can say they have realized an increase of that spirit, and say, "I love the Lord, I love his people, and his cause better and better every day I live; my understanding expands, for I see and understand many things I did not know when I first embraced the gospel. Whereas I loved but little; whereas I knew but little, I now know considerably more; and according to the increase of my knowledge, so is my love and confidence in my brethren." Can you say this in truth? If you can it is all right.
Again, let me appeal to those who have done wrong, (if any there are,) and follow it. Did you come to this Conference from your homes before you first repented of your sins, and obtained forgiveness? If you did I want you to leave in the intermission, and go home again, and there I want you to stay, until your sins are remitted; or get an elder to immerse you in City Creek, and wash away your sins, so that you may not hinder those who are pure, that every individual's heart in this Conference may be pure before God, and have a mite to contribute to the faith of the whole body, that every heart may be lighted up by the power of God, and receive the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and increase from this time in all righteousness, and not come and go like a door upon its hinges, without any variation for the better. When the people complain of each other—when they complain of the Church, of their hardships, of hard times, and of this and of that, because the Lord does not speak with his own voice from heaven, because the revelations of God are not forthcoming, as they did in the days of Joseph Smith, all I have to say to them, is prepare your hearts, for there is all for you that you can receive, and a great deal more than you know what to do with. That is all that I need to say to you on that point.
Let every man and woman humble themselves before the Lord, and exercise mighty faith. Did you come here for the First Presidency and the Twelve to bless you?—It is out of our power to bless you unless you are prepared to receive a blessing from your Father in heaven. We can stand before you here, and talk to you; but we cannot give you the Spirit of the Lord, unless you are prepared to receive it through our administration, but it must come from the Lord. Let every heart therefore, be prayerful, watchful, and exercise faith, and seek diligently for blessings for themselves, and then we shall all be blessed together.
I contemplate this people with great anxiety, and with feelings of deep interest. I look upon their conduct, and am sorry to see many of them wandering in their feelings from the ways of truth and righteousness. It is frequently asked me if it is right for men who have come to the valley, and been blessed and re-blessed, and finally receive their endowments, and then want to go to California; and if they ought not to be cut off from the Church. They should be cut off were it not for one thing. The Lord wishes to give them ample opportunity to take a course to save themselves. It is not the mind of the Lord they should be cut off the Church as a general thing, consequently I think we had better not do it. If it was the mind of the Lord I would consent to it; but as it is not, we should do wrong to do it. If every man, woman, and child in this kingdom were living in the light, and blessings of the revelations of Jesus, would any one of them wish to go to California? you will all give a negative reply to this question; they would rather cry out, "spare me the pain and suffering I would have to pass through by going there, and let me escape that misery, distress, and anguish by staying with the people of God." Yes, my brethren, you who want to go, go; but I have a little more to say regarding it, which is, pay your just debts before you go, and do not steal other men's property. There are some already on the way, and are gone that I think ought to be cut off from the Church; but I am directing my conversation to those who are going in the future; pay your debts when you go, and be sure and steal nothing from your neighbors. I am perfectly willing you should go, for if you cannot be flogged, persecuted, and pass through the ordeals of suffering sufficiently to prepare you to enter into the kingdom of God without first going to hell, the quicker you go through it the better.
I am often asked if they will be saved who go to California in search of worldly riches. I answer, yes, some of them, so as by fire. They have not wisdom, discretion, and natural ability enough, and I suppose their spirits, before they came into this world, were not endowed with the same amount of rationality and reflection as others, so that they cannot be saved without passing through the fire. Let them go to California who wish; and if any of the Saints owe them anything, pay them honorably, and if they owe you anything, I will give you liberty to make them pay you. I have as a general thing made such brethren pay me that they owe. I calculate on their paying their debts, and also that they shall not steal anything from this people; but they may go down into their sufferings as quick as they please; for the quicker they go there, the quicker they will get through them. Will they be saved? Yes. What and be prepared to go into the celestial kingdom of God? Yes, if they repent of their sins and turn unto the Lord. And what will they do there? They have been told years ago, not to do anything that would aid and build up the gentiles; but they will do it, and they must needs to through the suffering that awaits them, to prepare them to go into the celestial kingdom. Will they be crowned with crowns of glory, immortality and eternal lives? No, but they will be prepared to enter there to serve others that are prepared to receive kingdoms, thrones, principalities and powers. That may perhaps appear a strange idea to some of you. If you want to know it, I will tell you the truth, and you may call it revelation or anything else you please.—When you go into the celestial kingdom, you will have your resurrected bodies, and you will gather around you your families, and friends, and be associated with them there, as here. We are now mortal; there we shall be immortal; this difference will exist, and it is all the difference. Mortality is a perfect similitude, pattern, or emblem of the celestial kingdom, only the one is mortal life, and the other is life in immortality. Can you who own extensive farms work them with your own hands? No; but you have to hire help. Ask the woman who has thirty or forty of a family under her care, if she with her own hands, can do the work necessary to be done in such a family. She cannot do it without procuring help; she obtains servants to assist her. The extensive farmer has around him his associates who are not capable of themselves of gathering around them property so as to be independent, so they are dependent on the man who knows how to direct, and increase from the elements the riches of this life, and he hires them and pays them wages to help him, to do the work necessary to improve every foot of his farm or inheritance. You will find the same thing in the celestial world, among the kingdoms of our Father in heaven.
You will find millions of the inhabitants of the earth there who are not capable of being crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives. Those who are faithful in putting out their talents to usury, will receive and increase according to their diligence. But shall we say that all are capable of becoming lords, and kings, and of being crowned with crowns of glory, and receive kingdoms, and powers, and exaltations, and thrones? No, we do not; for they will be no more capable of it, than they are of enjoying the riches of eternity here, and of properly applying them in this mortality, were they put in their possession, which would be the sure means of their destruction. They would not know what to do with such extensive riches. You may put that down as revelation, and have Bro. George write it.
Let the brethren go to California that wish to go, and I request them to be honest. I have another request to make of them, viz: that they take with them all the thieves; for we cannot get rid of them. However, it is an acknowledged fact, that the wheat and the tares must grow together until harvest; and the sheep and the goats will be in the same fold until the time of separation. Is there any sheep going to California as well as goats? Yes. And will any goats stay here? Yes; and some of the poorest, miserable devils in the whole possy of them. What can we do with it? Why we must do the best we can. All I ask of those who are going, and of those who are staying, is to be honest if they can.
This leads me to what I am now going to lay before the Conference: and it will be an excellent text for the brethren to preach upon. I will lay a proposition before this Conference for them to decide upon. That is for us to select a man, and send him to upper California, say for instance to Bro. Horner's ranch, to lay out a place for the gathering of the Saints in that vicinity of the world. Bro. Amasa and Bro. Rich have got a standard reared in southern California already. We will also send men to Oregon, from those places to preach the gospel, for many of those who have been chasing the gilded butterfly, until they have run into the fire, and got pretty well scorched, will be glad of the chance, to forsake their follies and gather again unto the Saints.—We will also establish a place of gathering there. We also wish to send men to the United States to establish two or three locations there, for the gathering of the Saints. Then the English, Scotch, Welsh, and German Saints, as well as Saints from other nations of the old world, whose greatest difficulty is to get wagons, teams, and provisions to cross the plains, when they have saved a few shillings, can cross over the waters to one of these gathering places, where they will be placed under the protection of a good elder sent to take care of them. We have just as good a right to go back to the United States to live, as any man has that lives there. This is what I have to lay before the Conference, to be a text for a few short discourses. We contemplate establishing a post in Ohio, and another in Missouri, as gathering points, to gather the brethren to, who are scattered abroad in those districts, and who may in the future come into them.
First and foremost, I wish to tell you that the brethren who may locate there for a season may get well whipped and thrashed, so that when they come to this place, they will not want to run to California, and leave unpaid that which they owe to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, for bringing them here. We wish to put them in a smut machine, and have all the wheat cleansed from the smut; and then put them in a fanning mill, and then through a screen before they are prepared to come here, and be put in the hopper ready for grinding.
"Why Bro. Brigham, do you really think we shall get scourged there?" There is no danger of it whatever; for Christ and Belial have not yet become friends. Never mind that, we will gather the people there, and leave the result to the Lord God of Israel, and trust in him, to dictate the whole affair.
Will you vote for such a thing—to establish three places of gathering in the United States? We have one in California, and may establish another in Oregon. It is an excellent idea, though it may appear a novel one. I proposed the subject to Bro. Franklin D. Richards before he went away, and he said he could send over ten times more saints than formerly under this plan. When the New Orleans route is closed, the emigration can continue by the way of New York, and after they have landed there, for a few shillings they can secure a place on the train, and be landed at once in the vicinity of the gathering points in the States, when they can be instructed etc., to prepare them for the further prosecution of their journey. In that way he can send ten as easy as one to this place. If they should apostatize we want them to apostatize there, and not come all the way here to apostatize. We want them to have trials enough, to satisfy them, and us, whether they wish to be Saints or not, before they pass through the fatigue, labor, and expense of coming to this distant valley, and then to apostatize here.—We want them to be where they can apostatize without it costing them so much.
This portion of the business will be new to you, I have no doubt. When the time come to present before you the quorums, we shall probably supply the vacancy made by the death of Bro. Willard Richards.—Who will supply his place in the First Presidency, is a question that has not yet been answered, though many have talked to me about it. I have asked the Twelve to dictate this part of the business, but they have thrown it back, well, I will say where it ought to be; they said it was not their place to dictate the affair, but to confirm the conclusions of the President. If the Conference will show the best method of knowing who is the best man to be my second Counselor, I will readily listen to their wisdom. The Twelve would have nothing to do with it, but said it was the privilege of the President to choose his own Councilor, and for them to run the risk of its being right or wrong. However, if the Conference wishes to dictate this matter, I will give them an opportunity. That is my method of doing business: as long as we are of one heart and of one mind, there is no ground for discord, or dissention.
In my office and calling it is always time enough for the Lion to roar when the enemy approaches to invade our borders. There is no need of the Lion roaring when everybody is doing right. When they are doing the best they can, I am then like a child with the rest of you; but let the dogs and wolves come prowling round, then you may expect the Lion to roar as usual.
I believe I have answered the desire of my mind for the present, with regard to laying out the business of this Conference. I will now resign the stand to Bro. Kimball.
Elder Heber C. Kimball
then delivered a discourse, which will appear hereafter.
Discernment—Importance and Necessity of Being Tested—Honesty of Conduct—Faithfulness—Discipline, Etc.
Address by President Heber C. Kimball, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
We have had laid before us many items by the President; and so far as I am concerned, one thing suits me just as well as another. I am very much in favor of all the remarks of Brother Brigham, and they are revelation to us, and that from God. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction when I hear a man tell the mind of the Lord, and I can have a testimony to myself that it is the mind of the Lord; and when I have a testimony that it is the mind and will of God, I then know that I have got a similar spirit to the one that revealed it.
It is the privilege of this people from this time henceforth and forever to understand the things that revolve through their minds from day to day and from year to year. The majority of this people imagine to themselves a great many things that are in reality the things of God—things that God is putting into their hearts; but they do not know how to organize them and arrange such ideas into sentences, to convey them to the minds of the people. It takes an Apostle to do it. It is not every man or woman that can do it.
There have been many things related here that you have, no doubt, thought of, but did not know whether they were right or wrong. It is a great consolation to me to have that degree of the Spirit of the Lord to discern all things and be able to tell what is true and what is untrue. Is it not worth more than all the gold of the world? It is; for gold cannot purchase it. It cannot be purchased with jewels, nor with clothing, nor with the souls of men; and it is just as free to you as it is to me.
I thank God for the things that are going to take place, to give every man a fair chance to prove himself to be a Saint or to be a Devil. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and they will follow me, and a stranger they will not follow.” This is Scripture. What will you do with it? Are those that are going to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, following the Shepherd's voice? Are those who are leaving the Saints to mingle with the world to search for riches following the Good Shepherd or his Spirit? No; but they are following a stranger, and they do not know the Good Shepherd's voice nor the Good Shepherd's Spirit.
Well, I am glad they are going. I went up to my mill yesterday, and as I was coming back, I met several brethren on their way to California as fast as they could drive. I thought they were afraid of getting a mission, if they stayed here to attend the Conference.
I have learned one thing to a demonstration since I became a member of this Church, that if a man is determined to be damned, nothing can hinder it. I have argued with men for hours, for weeks, for months, and for years, to prevail on them to serve the Lord; but my labors have generally been spent in vain on persons who needed so much persuasion to do good. The Spirit of the Lord does not inspire me to trouble myself any more about men who will do wrong.
It is enough for me to do the will of the Lord my God, even those things I am dictated to do by my President; and let every other man act as I do, and be perfectly independent whether to serve God or Mammon. I would not now step one step out of my way to head a man's course that is determined to go to the Devil; but I will say, Go into the fire, that you may be burned out. He will be saved when he comes to himself; but he never will come to himself, until he is burned out like an old pipe that has become impregnated with filthiness.
The idea of having places of location is good. The people will gather there as they did in Kirtland, and in Missouri, and in other places. I consider it to be a screen. You know, when you carry your grain to the mill, you must take great pains to get out all the smut and dirt, and run it through a screen, that the chaff and other useless matter may drop through, before it goes into the smut machine and hopper. It has also to go through a hurricane, that it may blow off all the dust and make it clean. Many of us have been through a hurricane and through earthquakes. A smut machine is a fit representation of an earthquake: it proves every kernel; and if it is a smut kernel, it bursts it to pieces. After it goes through the hopper and the grinders, it is separated by the bolt into flour of two or three kinds, and the bran passes out by itself. Where there is not a good screen to screen off the kernels of smut and chaff, and other obnoxious substances, they will have an effect upon the flour. But do they destroy the flour? No: they only blacken it a little; and it will not rise so good when you make a cake of it, because there is no life in that filthy substance that is mixed with it. The life is in the flour.
Upon the same principle, a great many Saints are emigrating, and also others that are not Saints, but thieves, and liars, and adulterers, and fornicators, and murderers; and they make the good flour, in the eyes of the world, to look a little black. But it does not affect the righteous Saint, the holy man, nor the holy woman, nor does it affect the servants of the living God, who bear the Priesthood of the Son of God. I am very much in favor of having in the Lord's mill a good screen, smut machine, and bolt. We have ground wheat long enough to know the value of a good screen and smutter; and it is high time these valuable appendages should be attached to the mill, which will be a decided improvement. Every portion of the good wheat is good for something, but the smut is good for nothing: we feed our horses with the bran and fatten our pigs, and the other part of it is good to feed ourselves and our children.
What are my feelings continually? They are—I would to God this people would all do right and walk humbly before their God, and do unto one another as they would wish others to do unto them, and when men labor for each other, labor for their brother as they would wish him to labor for them. But I see men who come to labor for the Lord, who are eye-servants. A man who will be an eye-servant to his God will be to his brother; and that man who will be an eye-servant to his brother will be to his God, and he never will work only as you stand and watch him. I see men work on the public works—one hundred, or perhaps one hundred and fifty in a gang, and I have watched them work, and not over twenty men out of the one hundred and fifty will be at work at the same time, while the rest are standing still. I supposed they had agreed to work by turns, so that they would not become wearied before night. Is this doing as you would be done by? I know, gentlemen and ladies, that it is not; and those who do such things will be brought to an account for them, and for all the works of your lives, whether they be good or whether they be evil, whether they be much or whether they be little. You will not receive a reward for anything more than you merit; and whatever you have done, for it you merit a reward, and that belongs to you; but no men or women in the celestial world will be rewarded for that which they have not done.
Do you suppose the Lord will divide his inheritance to the children of men, unless they have earned a right and title to it? (I speak with regard to this earth.) No, no more than I would leave my inheritance to all my children when half of them had turned away from me and never tried to build up me and my estate. Are such rebellious children heirs to it? If they are in truth, then you are all heirs to the estate of the Almighty, whether you have been true to him or against him—whether you have striven to build up and increase his kingdom or pull it down, and the blessings he has promised to the righteous belong to the wicked as well as to the righteous. I tell you, my family cannot claim any portion of my estate, unless they have assisted in gathering it, and when they have assisted in gathering it and in building it up, they are to be rewarded from that estate according to their merits in building it up and increasing it. That is the way God will deal with the families of the earth, and with this people more especially, and they cannot escape from it. If I seek to build up the kingdom of God, from the time I first came into this Church until I lay down my body in the grave, still my spirit is as capable in another state to continue that work as it is in this. I believe I was active before I came here, in laying the foundation to come here and continue the work in this world. I have come here and received my body to accomplish that which I could not accomplish in the spirit; and now I have got to leave this tabernacle to go again into the spirit world to perform a work I cannot do in the flesh, that I may be prepared to receive my body again and enter into the celestial world with the Gods; and if I am faithful, all things are mine, because I have been faithful in my Father's business. But that man who will sit down in idleness, and lounge away his precious moments, doing no good to himself, to his brethren, or to his God, will not be an heir to the inheritance; nor that woman who will sit in the corner and grunt, grunt, grunt, until she is all grunt together, and the bumps of grunt stick out in every direction, and she cannot move her little finger to do one good action to build up God's kingdom, or assist her husband in doing it. It is just so with a great many men and women in this Church, and I wish there were less of them.
No man or woman has taken a proper step—has pursued a course that is according to the mind and will of God, but what it is for his or her exaltation in his kingdom. Suppose they have pursued a right course, and suffered a little in doing so, and then complain about it, will they enter into their exaltation? I tell you, No. Joseph said they would not, and Brother Brigham has said they will not, and God has said they will not.
When men or women that have entered into the holy order, and are considered quite unholy by the world, and a little so by some of the good Saints, sit down and begin to find fault and murmur about it, they never will attain to that glory they otherwise would.
Take a righteous course, brethren, and build up the kingdom of God, and all will be well with you continually, and all things will work together for your good. I have not language to explain things any plainer than I do. They are plain enough to me; and if you understand them as I do, they will do you good, and build you up, and nourish you, and strengthen you, and give you grace and patience and humility.
As brother Brigham says, this people are my pride, and my eyes are continually awake to their welfare. This people are a good people, and they are the pride of my heart; and God knows I love to see you do right, and be faithful, and work, and exert yourselves, and do good, and work righteousness all the day long, and not impose upon the Church and upon your brethren, and want them to carry you on their shoulders, and expect them to pity you and coax you and flatter you. Do you expect that such a person will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God and be crowned? No; for if that spirit is in him or her in the flesh, it will be the same in the spiritual world. If any of my family will do wrong in the house, they will do it out of the house; that is, if their spirit will do it in the body, they will do it out of the body. If you do not curb your spirits and bring them into subjection while they are here in their house, you will have to curb them after they have left the house, or they will continue to be refractory. Now, gentlemen and ladies, that is as plain as I can make it to you; and if you do not come to it, it is your own fault and not mine. My prayer is, “O Lord, help me to be faithful, and to continue faithful, and be submissive like the clay in the hands of the potter, that my President can do with me as it seemeth him good.” When I hear of his going anywhere on business, I run over to him and say, “You expected me, did you not?” Why should I wait to be called upon, when I am chosen to nourish and cherish and strengthen him, and to go and come, run, walk, sit, stand, talk, or keep silent, when he tells me? What is a wife good for to me that will not do the same, and then much more, if it is required? What is the Priesthood good for to those who hold the keys of life and salvation to the world, if they are not submissive in the same manner, and more so? This is true, brethren and sisters; and you have got to do it, the whole of you, or else be burned out, and then become servants to the faithful, who have been perfectly passive in the hands of the Almighty, and are crowned in his kingdom.
He says, “The sheep hear my voice, and will follow me, and a stranger they will not follow.” You must learn submission, every soul of you, and then teach it to your children. If disobedient children were under the training of some good man and woman that would in their own example teach them and discipline them by good precept, they would become good Saints. I wish parents to take that course and train their children in the way they should go, and when they become old, they will not depart from it. Are you waiting for the First Presidency and the Twelve to train them for you? It is a hard case for us to manage our own; but we shall not come under condemnation, if we do our best towards them. You will come under condemnation, if you do not train your children to flee from all iniquity, and then there will be none for ours to cling to. You justify yourselves in many things, because you see others take that course. Because our children run into iniquity, you are not justified, if you do not train yours. I am speaking upon the principle of discipline.
The night the plates were given to Joseph Smith from their bed in the summit of the hill Cumorah, I saw, in the firmament above my head, hosts of men in platoons of twelve; and I saw them march until they reached the western horizon, as far as I could see them. After looking upon them for hours with my natural eyes, I never observed a variation of a hair's breadth in their step, or the least disorder or confusion in their ranks. I think of this sight, and then look at this people: they do not compare in this respect with things in heaven. We are praying continually that things may be on the earth as they are in heaven. When there was a rebellion in heaven, they cast out the rebellious. I may not remain in this earthly house to see the day when the rebellious will all be cast out on earth as they were in heaven; but I shall obtain an organized glorious body and see the day when, if there is an evil in Israel, it will be cast out, the same as it was cast out of heaven. I shall see that day, by the help of God; and my prayer is, by day and by night, “Father, help me to keep thy commandments and magnify my calling and my Priesthood, which will exalt me, and bring me into thy presence, O Lord.” That is what the Priesthood is committed to us for. If we magnify our calling and fill our office, God will magnify us and bring us into his presence. If you believe this, brethren, why do you not live for it? I suppose a great many do, and a great many do not; and those who do not are the persons we are preaching to.
Having made these few remarks, I pray God to bless you, that his peace may be with you, and help you to be faithful and train up your children to be righteous, and as soon as they are old enough, do as Brother Brigham and myself have done, send them to the nations of the earth. When my son William returns, I want to have another one ready to send; and when he returns, another; and when he returns, another; and when he returns, I want a dozen there. My children I raise to the Lord, and they shall be devoted to his service, or they cannot prosper. May God grant they may, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
Choir chanted, "We praise thee, O God"
Benediction by Elder P. P. Pratt.
then delivered a discourse, which will appear hereafter.
Discernment—Importance and Necessity of Being Tested—Honesty of Conduct—Faithfulness—Discipline, Etc.
Address by President Heber C. Kimball, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
We have had laid before us many items by the President; and so far as I am concerned, one thing suits me just as well as another. I am very much in favor of all the remarks of Brother Brigham, and they are revelation to us, and that from God. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction when I hear a man tell the mind of the Lord, and I can have a testimony to myself that it is the mind of the Lord; and when I have a testimony that it is the mind and will of God, I then know that I have got a similar spirit to the one that revealed it.
It is the privilege of this people from this time henceforth and forever to understand the things that revolve through their minds from day to day and from year to year. The majority of this people imagine to themselves a great many things that are in reality the things of God—things that God is putting into their hearts; but they do not know how to organize them and arrange such ideas into sentences, to convey them to the minds of the people. It takes an Apostle to do it. It is not every man or woman that can do it.
There have been many things related here that you have, no doubt, thought of, but did not know whether they were right or wrong. It is a great consolation to me to have that degree of the Spirit of the Lord to discern all things and be able to tell what is true and what is untrue. Is it not worth more than all the gold of the world? It is; for gold cannot purchase it. It cannot be purchased with jewels, nor with clothing, nor with the souls of men; and it is just as free to you as it is to me.
I thank God for the things that are going to take place, to give every man a fair chance to prove himself to be a Saint or to be a Devil. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and they will follow me, and a stranger they will not follow.” This is Scripture. What will you do with it? Are those that are going to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, following the Shepherd's voice? Are those who are leaving the Saints to mingle with the world to search for riches following the Good Shepherd or his Spirit? No; but they are following a stranger, and they do not know the Good Shepherd's voice nor the Good Shepherd's Spirit.
Well, I am glad they are going. I went up to my mill yesterday, and as I was coming back, I met several brethren on their way to California as fast as they could drive. I thought they were afraid of getting a mission, if they stayed here to attend the Conference.
I have learned one thing to a demonstration since I became a member of this Church, that if a man is determined to be damned, nothing can hinder it. I have argued with men for hours, for weeks, for months, and for years, to prevail on them to serve the Lord; but my labors have generally been spent in vain on persons who needed so much persuasion to do good. The Spirit of the Lord does not inspire me to trouble myself any more about men who will do wrong.
It is enough for me to do the will of the Lord my God, even those things I am dictated to do by my President; and let every other man act as I do, and be perfectly independent whether to serve God or Mammon. I would not now step one step out of my way to head a man's course that is determined to go to the Devil; but I will say, Go into the fire, that you may be burned out. He will be saved when he comes to himself; but he never will come to himself, until he is burned out like an old pipe that has become impregnated with filthiness.
The idea of having places of location is good. The people will gather there as they did in Kirtland, and in Missouri, and in other places. I consider it to be a screen. You know, when you carry your grain to the mill, you must take great pains to get out all the smut and dirt, and run it through a screen, that the chaff and other useless matter may drop through, before it goes into the smut machine and hopper. It has also to go through a hurricane, that it may blow off all the dust and make it clean. Many of us have been through a hurricane and through earthquakes. A smut machine is a fit representation of an earthquake: it proves every kernel; and if it is a smut kernel, it bursts it to pieces. After it goes through the hopper and the grinders, it is separated by the bolt into flour of two or three kinds, and the bran passes out by itself. Where there is not a good screen to screen off the kernels of smut and chaff, and other obnoxious substances, they will have an effect upon the flour. But do they destroy the flour? No: they only blacken it a little; and it will not rise so good when you make a cake of it, because there is no life in that filthy substance that is mixed with it. The life is in the flour.
Upon the same principle, a great many Saints are emigrating, and also others that are not Saints, but thieves, and liars, and adulterers, and fornicators, and murderers; and they make the good flour, in the eyes of the world, to look a little black. But it does not affect the righteous Saint, the holy man, nor the holy woman, nor does it affect the servants of the living God, who bear the Priesthood of the Son of God. I am very much in favor of having in the Lord's mill a good screen, smut machine, and bolt. We have ground wheat long enough to know the value of a good screen and smutter; and it is high time these valuable appendages should be attached to the mill, which will be a decided improvement. Every portion of the good wheat is good for something, but the smut is good for nothing: we feed our horses with the bran and fatten our pigs, and the other part of it is good to feed ourselves and our children.
What are my feelings continually? They are—I would to God this people would all do right and walk humbly before their God, and do unto one another as they would wish others to do unto them, and when men labor for each other, labor for their brother as they would wish him to labor for them. But I see men who come to labor for the Lord, who are eye-servants. A man who will be an eye-servant to his God will be to his brother; and that man who will be an eye-servant to his brother will be to his God, and he never will work only as you stand and watch him. I see men work on the public works—one hundred, or perhaps one hundred and fifty in a gang, and I have watched them work, and not over twenty men out of the one hundred and fifty will be at work at the same time, while the rest are standing still. I supposed they had agreed to work by turns, so that they would not become wearied before night. Is this doing as you would be done by? I know, gentlemen and ladies, that it is not; and those who do such things will be brought to an account for them, and for all the works of your lives, whether they be good or whether they be evil, whether they be much or whether they be little. You will not receive a reward for anything more than you merit; and whatever you have done, for it you merit a reward, and that belongs to you; but no men or women in the celestial world will be rewarded for that which they have not done.
Do you suppose the Lord will divide his inheritance to the children of men, unless they have earned a right and title to it? (I speak with regard to this earth.) No, no more than I would leave my inheritance to all my children when half of them had turned away from me and never tried to build up me and my estate. Are such rebellious children heirs to it? If they are in truth, then you are all heirs to the estate of the Almighty, whether you have been true to him or against him—whether you have striven to build up and increase his kingdom or pull it down, and the blessings he has promised to the righteous belong to the wicked as well as to the righteous. I tell you, my family cannot claim any portion of my estate, unless they have assisted in gathering it, and when they have assisted in gathering it and in building it up, they are to be rewarded from that estate according to their merits in building it up and increasing it. That is the way God will deal with the families of the earth, and with this people more especially, and they cannot escape from it. If I seek to build up the kingdom of God, from the time I first came into this Church until I lay down my body in the grave, still my spirit is as capable in another state to continue that work as it is in this. I believe I was active before I came here, in laying the foundation to come here and continue the work in this world. I have come here and received my body to accomplish that which I could not accomplish in the spirit; and now I have got to leave this tabernacle to go again into the spirit world to perform a work I cannot do in the flesh, that I may be prepared to receive my body again and enter into the celestial world with the Gods; and if I am faithful, all things are mine, because I have been faithful in my Father's business. But that man who will sit down in idleness, and lounge away his precious moments, doing no good to himself, to his brethren, or to his God, will not be an heir to the inheritance; nor that woman who will sit in the corner and grunt, grunt, grunt, until she is all grunt together, and the bumps of grunt stick out in every direction, and she cannot move her little finger to do one good action to build up God's kingdom, or assist her husband in doing it. It is just so with a great many men and women in this Church, and I wish there were less of them.
No man or woman has taken a proper step—has pursued a course that is according to the mind and will of God, but what it is for his or her exaltation in his kingdom. Suppose they have pursued a right course, and suffered a little in doing so, and then complain about it, will they enter into their exaltation? I tell you, No. Joseph said they would not, and Brother Brigham has said they will not, and God has said they will not.
When men or women that have entered into the holy order, and are considered quite unholy by the world, and a little so by some of the good Saints, sit down and begin to find fault and murmur about it, they never will attain to that glory they otherwise would.
Take a righteous course, brethren, and build up the kingdom of God, and all will be well with you continually, and all things will work together for your good. I have not language to explain things any plainer than I do. They are plain enough to me; and if you understand them as I do, they will do you good, and build you up, and nourish you, and strengthen you, and give you grace and patience and humility.
As brother Brigham says, this people are my pride, and my eyes are continually awake to their welfare. This people are a good people, and they are the pride of my heart; and God knows I love to see you do right, and be faithful, and work, and exert yourselves, and do good, and work righteousness all the day long, and not impose upon the Church and upon your brethren, and want them to carry you on their shoulders, and expect them to pity you and coax you and flatter you. Do you expect that such a person will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God and be crowned? No; for if that spirit is in him or her in the flesh, it will be the same in the spiritual world. If any of my family will do wrong in the house, they will do it out of the house; that is, if their spirit will do it in the body, they will do it out of the body. If you do not curb your spirits and bring them into subjection while they are here in their house, you will have to curb them after they have left the house, or they will continue to be refractory. Now, gentlemen and ladies, that is as plain as I can make it to you; and if you do not come to it, it is your own fault and not mine. My prayer is, “O Lord, help me to be faithful, and to continue faithful, and be submissive like the clay in the hands of the potter, that my President can do with me as it seemeth him good.” When I hear of his going anywhere on business, I run over to him and say, “You expected me, did you not?” Why should I wait to be called upon, when I am chosen to nourish and cherish and strengthen him, and to go and come, run, walk, sit, stand, talk, or keep silent, when he tells me? What is a wife good for to me that will not do the same, and then much more, if it is required? What is the Priesthood good for to those who hold the keys of life and salvation to the world, if they are not submissive in the same manner, and more so? This is true, brethren and sisters; and you have got to do it, the whole of you, or else be burned out, and then become servants to the faithful, who have been perfectly passive in the hands of the Almighty, and are crowned in his kingdom.
He says, “The sheep hear my voice, and will follow me, and a stranger they will not follow.” You must learn submission, every soul of you, and then teach it to your children. If disobedient children were under the training of some good man and woman that would in their own example teach them and discipline them by good precept, they would become good Saints. I wish parents to take that course and train their children in the way they should go, and when they become old, they will not depart from it. Are you waiting for the First Presidency and the Twelve to train them for you? It is a hard case for us to manage our own; but we shall not come under condemnation, if we do our best towards them. You will come under condemnation, if you do not train your children to flee from all iniquity, and then there will be none for ours to cling to. You justify yourselves in many things, because you see others take that course. Because our children run into iniquity, you are not justified, if you do not train yours. I am speaking upon the principle of discipline.
The night the plates were given to Joseph Smith from their bed in the summit of the hill Cumorah, I saw, in the firmament above my head, hosts of men in platoons of twelve; and I saw them march until they reached the western horizon, as far as I could see them. After looking upon them for hours with my natural eyes, I never observed a variation of a hair's breadth in their step, or the least disorder or confusion in their ranks. I think of this sight, and then look at this people: they do not compare in this respect with things in heaven. We are praying continually that things may be on the earth as they are in heaven. When there was a rebellion in heaven, they cast out the rebellious. I may not remain in this earthly house to see the day when the rebellious will all be cast out on earth as they were in heaven; but I shall obtain an organized glorious body and see the day when, if there is an evil in Israel, it will be cast out, the same as it was cast out of heaven. I shall see that day, by the help of God; and my prayer is, by day and by night, “Father, help me to keep thy commandments and magnify my calling and my Priesthood, which will exalt me, and bring me into thy presence, O Lord.” That is what the Priesthood is committed to us for. If we magnify our calling and fill our office, God will magnify us and bring us into his presence. If you believe this, brethren, why do you not live for it? I suppose a great many do, and a great many do not; and those who do not are the persons we are preaching to.
Having made these few remarks, I pray God to bless you, that his peace may be with you, and help you to be faithful and train up your children to be righteous, and as soon as they are old enough, do as Brother Brigham and myself have done, send them to the nations of the earth. When my son William returns, I want to have another one ready to send; and when he returns, another; and when he returns, another; and when he returns, I want a dozen there. My children I raise to the Lord, and they shall be devoted to his service, or they cannot prosper. May God grant they may, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
Choir chanted, "We praise thee, O God"
Benediction by Elder P. P. Pratt.
Two p. m.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder O. Hyde.
The conference was addressed during the afternoon by
Elders O. Hyde,
George A. Smith and
President Young.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder O. Hyde.
The conference was addressed during the afternoon by
Elders O. Hyde,
George A. Smith and
President Young.
Parable of the Sower, Etc.
A Discourse by President Orson Hyde, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
As it is now the season of the year for the sowing of seed, some of the parables of our Savior seemed to be particularly impressed upon my mind, and I thought of reading the 13th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
[Elder Hyde read the chapter.]
While listening to the remarks in the former part of the day, which cannot be bettered, this parable of the sower that went forth to sow, occurred to me; and as I have been requested to make some remarks this afternoon, that scripture had a particular bearing upon my mind in connection with what has been said.
So far as I know my own feelings and heart, it is to speak the truth clearly to the understandings of all my brethren, that I may do them good and speak according to the mind and will of our Father in heaven, that you may be edified and strengthened. That I may subserve this purpose, I desire an interest in your prayers, that I may speak, what little time I may occupy, according to the mind and will of God our heavenly Father.
As I have remarked in the outset, you know there is a time, which is now, for the farmers to be engaged in seeding their land, almost universally throughout this Territory; but they do not anticipate reaping at present. The time of reaping and gathering into barns is yet in advance. The seed has to be sown, after the soil has been prepared to receive it; and then it has to be tended and watered in all its various stages, according to its requirements; and by-and-by comes the harvest. First it is cut down, then gathered and bound into bundles, then put into small shocks; and then the wagon or cart comes along and takes the sheaves and carries them to the thrashingfloor, and there it is thrashed.
By this time the laborer begins to partake of the fruits of his labor; but before this, all his toil apparently has brought no return, only the satisfaction of seeing his crop coming to maturity and being prepared for the sickle. But now he begins to receive something in return for his toil.
There is a time, brethren and sisters, when the harvest of the world must be gathered; for you recollect, among the wonderful visions John saw on the Isle of Patmos, he says—“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” It appears there is not only to be a gathering of the wheat, but of the tares also, and that they are to be separated.
When was the time of sowing? I do not speak now in relation to the wheat we grow, but in relation to the word of life that was sown in the hearts of the children of men. It is said, the Son of Man is he that sowed the good seed. It appears, then, that in the days of our Savior was the time of seeding: it was the time of sowing the word of life and dispensing it among the children of men. Sometimes the Savior, in view of the immediate results of that word in a limited sense, says to his disciples, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” At the same time, the general harvest of the world was not then. The time he referred to was the time for gathering in the Saints, the fruits of their labors; but as the field was white already to harvest, it signified that the world was in a proper state to receive the word of life, and the laborers were few; and he says—“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
When we take a more extensive view of the subject, we find that the grand harvest is reserved until the last—until the winding up scene; for it is said, “the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels,” by whose agency this reaping dispensation was committed to the children of men.
Someone may say, “If this work of the last days be true, why did not the Savior come himself to communicate this intelligence to the world?” Because to the angels was committed the power of reaping the earth, and it was committed to none else. And after the mighty champions that hold the keys of this dispensation came and brought the intelligence that the time of harvest was now—that the time of the end was drawing nigh—when this proclamation was made, and the announcement saluted the ears of the children of men, what was to be done next? Behold, the gathering of the Saints begins. That very moment a man or woman embraces the Gospel in these latter times, and they begin to see and understand by the Spirit of truth, the first thing they think of is, “We must go and see the Prophet of God and learn the ways of the Lord from his lips.” What is it that causes this desire in the hearts of the people? It is the spirit of gathering together; for wherever we went, when first this Gospel was sent to the nations, and proclaimed the glad tidings, the first thing those who were awakened by our preaching would say was, “We want to go to headquarters, to run together.” These were the feelings of the people common in the circle of my acquaintance and experience.
In early times there was a spirit that was adapted to the work then. Now, if you were to set me to laboring, to building, and sowing seed upon a farm, and the spirit of preaching the Gospel was with me, I should not have the spirit of laboring upon the farm, for I should have the spirit of preaching the Gospel; and in doing so, I am in my element; my work and the spirit I possess correspond, and each serves to strengthen and advance me in the field of my labors. This is the Spirit of the Savior that was poured out upon the people; and if it had not been for the spirit of running together that came upon them, we might have gone and preached the Gospel and told the people to repent, and have baptized them for the remission of sins, and at the same time they would not have received with our proclamation the spirit of gathering. But they received it, and the Spirit bore witness with our words that the gathering dispensations had actually begun.
In the days of the Savior, there were some who, as soon as they heard the word, as soon as it was sown, received it, perhaps by the wayside; but they did not understand it. Now, I have preached to congregations, and I presume others have, where people under the sound of my voice have received the word the same way; and the spirit has borne such witness to them that their hearts have been actually melted under the influence and power of that preaching; yet say they, with tears in their eyes, “We do not understand: we acknowledge there is a power in it, but at the same time we do not understand it; we do not see why these things are so. Were not our fathers and mothers, who have gone before us, right? We acknowledge there is a power with you; but we do not understand why there should be such a variation from the old path.”
These receive seed by the wayside, and the Devil comes and tempts them and persuades them they do not understand or know anything about it. They feel its power, and he catches the word away and throws mists of darkness before their eyes. These are they that receive the seed by the wayside.
Then, again, the seed falls upon stony places, where there is not much earth. You know, where the ground is stony, it attracts the heat quicker than where there are no stones: it draws the warmth of the sun more; and what little soil there is dries up quicker than where there is soil to retain more moisture; and the seed that falls upon such ground germinates quicker and shows itself quicker. But there was no chance for the root to take deep hold; and when the sun arose and began to pour its strengthening rays upon it, it withered and died, because it had no root in good soil.
This class of hearers will correspond very well with another saying concerning certain characters that received the truth, and did not receive the love of it in order to have it take effect. We are not only to receive the truth, but also the love of it. And where the love of it is planted, it must flourish—it must succeed and produce a plentiful crop. These are they that receive the seed on stony places. They apparently receive the word as soon as it is proclaimed to them; and before the principles have a chance to take root in their hearts, it springs up and grows, and prospers for a time, but withers in the day of adversity.
The circumstances of some of the people of this Territory leaving for California brought this parable of the sower to my mind. For instance, one distinguished man in the south urges, for an excuse for going to California, the late trouble this people have had with the Indians, or rather in consequence of the rigid measures it was necessary to enter into for protection. He felt himself imposed upon and his rights infringed upon, and therefore he would not stay. He thought the brethren had done him wrong; consequently, he would go away.
Now, as near as I can learn, many have, under the regulations required for those times, felt their feelings to be pinched. Some of them have stood under it like good soldiers, and others have flown the track and will not endure it any longer. They think that better measures could have been instituted.
I am fully of the opinion that the wisest measures have been adopted to enforce upon the people, while the fact is, the operations that are being entered into for defense and protection have been our safeguard. The red men have seen it and marked the progress and design of our works, and they have said to themselves, “It is impossible for us to stand against such operations; therefore we will heave to, for it is of no use to offer further aggression.
Here we see the happy result of the measures entered into so far; and we trust, as there is now a prospect of peace, that the work of preparation will be carried on with tenfold more vigor, that all the works may be fully accomplished that are designed.
Be it remembered that the time of peace is the time to prepare for self-defense against a foe; and perhaps by performing the works now going on, they have been the very means in the hands of God by which our enemies have been disheartened, and their progress in wickedness has been checked.
Has not the measure of bringing together all kinds, both of wheat and tares, been best for the people? It has. The tares must be gathered as well as the wheat, for it is the time of the harvest and of separation. Perhaps the measures that have been introduced have served as a screen or a fanning-mill to cause the tares to fly away. There may be some wheat among them when they go; but it seems to me that they are shrunken kernels. Shrunken wheat may grow by putting it in good soil, and it may not: however, it is necessary that this work of division go on. Not only was the work of gathering to take place by the angels to whom it was committed, but the work of separating the tares from the wheat was committed to the angels also. What! To good angels? I did not say that; though it must be acceded that they hold out very powerful inducements for certain individuals to follow them and take their counsel, &c. I say, perhaps the very works that have been carried on here in the Territory—the rigid measures for the defense and protection of the people, may be one cause why these persons are dissatisfied. It is no doubt the principle, and God may have designed it for that very purpose—to draw the line of distinction, and let it be seen who it was that would abide this counsel and who would not. Those who would not would of course be subject to every evil influence—to be guided by any spirit not of God.
Allowing there are some shrunken kernels of wheat gone out from here, I tell you they are gone, in my opinion, where they will find a moist soil, and will get swelled out to a reasonable size, and perhaps in a way they do not look for. And as I said in a discourse not long ago, it is perhaps necessary that these persons should leave the Saints and go to the world, and try to build up the world and themselves. Why is it necessary? Because here they cannot receive that chastisement and scourging they merit, and they must go somewhere else to receive it, and let some other power have the honor of bringing the scourge upon them they actually merit, rather than the Saints of latter days.
Now, then, “the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that do offend, and those who do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Perhaps when they get under the scourge that awaits them abroad, they may begin to feel the chastening hand of God, and repent and humble themselves, and cry mightily to the God of Israel to have mercy upon them.
It is all working just right. Our enemies, whether white or red, can only go so far; none can get beyond the control of the Almighty. They may take the wings of the morning and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth, and he is there; or if they make their bed in hell, behold he is there. They cannot get from under his jurisdiction, unless they go beyond the bounds of time and space. All things are confined in space, and are under the jurisdiction and control of the Almighty; and if he cannot find them in one place, he will in another.
They are like children who have been under the teachings of a kind father all the day long, who taught them the principles of righteousness, integrity, and truth; but they would not listen, like his good children, to his teachings, but they are rebellious, and will not learn their lessons and be prompted to their duty by the voice of kindness, nor be moved to do right by the affection of a kind father and mother, but they must tear themselves away and thrust themselves beyond the teachings of their parents.
Follow such children through their lives, and what will they come to? You will perhaps find them in a dungeon—in the dark cell of a prison, loaded with chains, if not condemned to a greater penalty there. Perhaps they may then follow after their God, like the prodigal son, that could not be trained in his father's house. His wild ambition led him to grasp at things that were unlawful for him. “Give me,” said he, “my portion of the inheritance, and let me go.” After he left his father's house, he was reduced to a state of wretchedness and poverty, and would gladly have fed with the swine. He began to feel not only the lashes of an unsatisfied appetite, but also of a guilty conscience. Said he, “How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”
You remember it was said in the former part of the day that some persons would be servants. On the father seeing the returning prodigal afar off, all the feelings of a kind parent were awakened. “Come, my son, as you have returned, I will not subject you to be a servant like these are that serve in my house; but you are my son. Bring hither the best robe and put it upon him; put shoes upon his feet, and a ring on his hand.” And they began to be merry.
Do you not see that the prodigal son learned a good lesson in the school of adversity, which he could not learn in his father's house. The spirit of rebellion could not be made to bow to mild and affectionate means; but it yielded under the hammer of adversity. His spirit was made to bend to his father's will by that means; and, bending home, he came to his father's house.
These characters, then, receive the seed in stony ground, and have not root in themselves. They feel themselves troubled and oppressed and wronged in the time of danger and tribulation; and they say, “We will go: we are displeased; therefore we will go far away and try our fortune in the world once more. We tried it once before we embraced “Mormonism.” We thought we were satisfied to cast in our lot with the people of God; but we have become dissatisfied and offended, and we will go and try our fortune in the world again.”
They go and try it. They may get hold of the riches of this world, and they may not; but I will tell you one thing—they will not get hold of all the truth of God in their course; they will not get hold of that which satisfies the immortal mind; and while their pockets are lined with gold, their spirits will be troubled and in distress and misery. If ever once the spark of truth has lighted up the understanding and left an impression there, it is not to be erased in a moment, but it lives; and when it is dishonored, it is an arrow in the mind, which will torment them day and night. Go where they will, they cannot get out of the world—out of the jurisdiction of the Almighty, at least.
A great many are now afraid that the gold of California will all be gone before they get any of it. Suppose they get it all—suppose they actually rob the mines of every farthing's worth of value, what are they going to do with it? Can they place it beyond the jurisdiction of the Almighty, or put it somewhere where he cannot find it, and use it in a way that he cannot control it? I tell you they may dig and dig, and get all the gold they possibly can, and put it in this bank, or in that; but God will control it all by-and-by, and give it to whom he will; and I will tell you to whom he will give it. Says the Apostle to the Corinthians, “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.”
Now, it is not to him that willeth, or to him that runneth (they run to California), but it is God that showeth mercy. He is the character that holds all these things; and where his mercy leans, there is where he will bestow his treasure. Says he, “All things are mine, and I can give them to whom I will.” His rebellious children are like some other rebellious children who try to rob their father and take his money from his place of deposit. They say, “We are your children, and we have a right to this money;” and they break open their father's desk, because they are his sons, and think it no particular crime to get a little of the old man's cash to enjoy themselves with.
So it is with all those that are running to California to steal a little of the Lord's treasure; whereas, if they had remained loyal to their post, and continued to do their duty and build up the kingdom of God, by-and-by he would have given them all they could receive and properly apply. For to one he gave five talents, to another two, &c.; and so he will give to every man according to his ability by-and-by. It will be so even with regard to the riches of this world. The more quickly a man applies that which is committed to him, the more he will have, and the larger and greater and more extensive will be his riches. Let him abide in his calling and in the place where God has placed him to build up his kingdom, and in the final end how will it come out? The Lord gathered the people to where they are gathered by his word; and we may say, to all human appearance, the greatest difficulty is to supply ourselves with the necessary comforts of life; but the battle has been fought, and the victory gained. Fruitful fields are opening all around and extending in every direction.
Why not, then, remain here and wait till the Lord shall shower upon us blessings that will answer the furthest extent of our desires? If we quit the post of our duty, and run to get blessings before they are ours—before we have a right to them, it will have the same effect upon us as stolen apples have upon boys that steal them before they are half ripe—it will set our teeth on edge. If not now, it will be by-and-by.
What is the better way? To remember the counsels given to us in the former part of the day by President Young. Said he, “You who are going to California, pay your debts, and do not steal anything to take with you.” And I would say to those who stay behind, as it is represented the thieves will not all go away, Be very careful when you steal, for it is on interest from the time you steal it; for, remember, you do not get beyond the jurisdiction of the Almighty; and he will make you pay the uttermost farthing. There is no inducement here for anybody to do wrong, but every inducement to do right and keep the commandments of God.
Not only has the dispensation for the gathering of the Saints come, but the wicked also will be gathered. You know it is said, in the last days there shall be “wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places;” and again, “When these things begin to come to pass,” “lift up your heads” and rejoice, “for your redemption draweth nigh.” Again, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” How often we hear it said by many who profess to be Saints, “This thing and that thing are wrong.” Perhaps certain men have lost their property: it is mysteriously missing. “Really,” say they, “we feel offended because such things are practiced, and we will not stay among such a people where such things are.” This is the natural feeling of those who give way to this spirit of complaining, and they center all the blame at headquarters—on the men who are proclaiming against such practices night and day, both verbally and in their daily example.
It is as the Savior said—“The love of many shall wax cold,” and there shall be “wars and rumors of wars. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Now, if you want to see the gathering of the ungodly, look at the combined armies of the world assembling for bloody conflict. Look at the meteors in the heavens: they cannot be silent; they must speak the language they are designed to speak in the last days. The nations are perplexed, in distress, wretchedness, and misery. They are clothed in mourning, for the demon of war is let loose, blood is flowing, and the Saints are gathering to the valleys of the mountains to be taught and instructed in the ways of the Almighty.
Let those who go from this retreat of the Saints beware that the demon of war be not stirred up to make their abode more unpropitious in the place they are going to. Beware that a cloud does not burst with all its fury upon the western shores. Congress must anticipate something of this kind, or why did they send the highest order of military talents to the western borders? They see it and understand it. We are about in the center, and all around is commotion. I believe Joseph Smith once said, the next movement we made, we should be brought into the midst of the thrashingfloor; and while they are being thrashed all around, we need not be surprised if we get thrashed a little among the rest.
There will be a mighty thrashing; there will be a thrashing in the valleys, on the borders, and all around among the nations of the earth. It is the time of harvest. You know, as bread is generally scarce at the harvest time, the flails begin to beat upon the thrashingfloor. This is thrashing upon a small scale, before the mighty engines or machines begin to bear. When they begin to work, there will be a wonderful dust and smoke and noise and commotion all around. I tell you to remain here till you are sent away.
I want to say a word about people staying here and there as they please. True, it is a free country, and every man may go where he pleases, speaking after the manner of the world. The President of the Church does not control anybody contrary to their own will. Still, if a man is properly trained, and is in possession of the right spirit, he only wants to hear the voice of the good shepherd, and he will follow it; but a stranger he will not follow.
Brethren and sisters, we can go here or there as we please; yet in another sense we are not at liberty so to do, but to go where the voice of truth directs, if we abide in the kingdom of God. If a man come to me and say, “I want to go to Green River and settle there; shall I go?” my answer would be, “I cannot control you, if you are determined to go: it is a free country. But my feelings are, if you are not satisfied here, you will not be satisfied there; and if you want counsel upon the matter, go and get it from the proper source.” If a man goes there, I want him to go by proper counsel. I will not hinder him, if he is not counseled; but, at the same time, I would not look upon him as I would upon the man who is counseled to go there. And if there was any important trust to be placed upon any man, I should place it upon him that was in the line of his duty; and I could do it in confidence.
In the midst of counsel there is safety. If a man is counseled to go to Green River, Iron County, to San Pete, or to anywhere else, let him go. Let no man seek to free himself from the yoke, or indulge any uneasiness while it is upon him; for when he becomes accustomed to it, it will not gall his neck.
I will tell you, furthermore, what our views are in relation to the circumstances that surround us. I believe that if every person will faithfully abide the counsel given to him while passing through these circumstances, all the evil intended us will result in our greatest good, or it will be turned away, and we shall enjoy ourselves under the smiles of Heaven.
What turned away the wrath of our enemies? It was the Spirit of God that checked them, when they saw the preparations that were being made.
The servants of God were moved upon to do certain things, and they have done them. And although there has been some difference of feeling with regard to the preparations for defense through the Territory, yet, so far as I know, and I am proud to know it, all difference of opinion is done away; and when the brethren strike hands together in this union, I tell you the efforts of the enemy are palsied in a moment: they have no power against us, because our union prevails with God, and he fights our battles. Who can withstand Him? He has caused our enemies to be troubled by day and by night. Their dreams have tormented them, until they are dispirited and disarmed of their strength. Your union and fidelity have done it, through the blessings of God which have been upon you.
Now, there was some seed that fell upon good ground, and it brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundredfold. I will tell you what I am doing in my garden, in order to remove the stony ground: I go to work and pick out the cobble stones. So if we find stony places, pick out the stones, and clear the vineyard of them, that all the seed of the word that is sown from this stand and falls upon your ears may sink down, not in stony hearts, but in hearts of flesh—that it may fall upon good ground and bring forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundredfold.
With regard to the great field that is opened, for instance in Nebraska, Ohio, and California, it is so big, I fear I shall get lost in it, if I enter it on this occasion. I will therefore leave it for somebody else to explore at the present. It is glorious to me, and it is all right. Let the truth go to the ends of the earth, and let God overrule every movement of this Church for the good of his kingdom.
It is the desire of my heart—I say, let the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands roll and fill the whole earth, and let God be glorified, and his Saints exalted; which may he grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.
A Discourse by President Orson Hyde, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
As it is now the season of the year for the sowing of seed, some of the parables of our Savior seemed to be particularly impressed upon my mind, and I thought of reading the 13th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
[Elder Hyde read the chapter.]
While listening to the remarks in the former part of the day, which cannot be bettered, this parable of the sower that went forth to sow, occurred to me; and as I have been requested to make some remarks this afternoon, that scripture had a particular bearing upon my mind in connection with what has been said.
So far as I know my own feelings and heart, it is to speak the truth clearly to the understandings of all my brethren, that I may do them good and speak according to the mind and will of our Father in heaven, that you may be edified and strengthened. That I may subserve this purpose, I desire an interest in your prayers, that I may speak, what little time I may occupy, according to the mind and will of God our heavenly Father.
As I have remarked in the outset, you know there is a time, which is now, for the farmers to be engaged in seeding their land, almost universally throughout this Territory; but they do not anticipate reaping at present. The time of reaping and gathering into barns is yet in advance. The seed has to be sown, after the soil has been prepared to receive it; and then it has to be tended and watered in all its various stages, according to its requirements; and by-and-by comes the harvest. First it is cut down, then gathered and bound into bundles, then put into small shocks; and then the wagon or cart comes along and takes the sheaves and carries them to the thrashingfloor, and there it is thrashed.
By this time the laborer begins to partake of the fruits of his labor; but before this, all his toil apparently has brought no return, only the satisfaction of seeing his crop coming to maturity and being prepared for the sickle. But now he begins to receive something in return for his toil.
There is a time, brethren and sisters, when the harvest of the world must be gathered; for you recollect, among the wonderful visions John saw on the Isle of Patmos, he says—“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” It appears there is not only to be a gathering of the wheat, but of the tares also, and that they are to be separated.
When was the time of sowing? I do not speak now in relation to the wheat we grow, but in relation to the word of life that was sown in the hearts of the children of men. It is said, the Son of Man is he that sowed the good seed. It appears, then, that in the days of our Savior was the time of seeding: it was the time of sowing the word of life and dispensing it among the children of men. Sometimes the Savior, in view of the immediate results of that word in a limited sense, says to his disciples, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” At the same time, the general harvest of the world was not then. The time he referred to was the time for gathering in the Saints, the fruits of their labors; but as the field was white already to harvest, it signified that the world was in a proper state to receive the word of life, and the laborers were few; and he says—“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
When we take a more extensive view of the subject, we find that the grand harvest is reserved until the last—until the winding up scene; for it is said, “the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels,” by whose agency this reaping dispensation was committed to the children of men.
Someone may say, “If this work of the last days be true, why did not the Savior come himself to communicate this intelligence to the world?” Because to the angels was committed the power of reaping the earth, and it was committed to none else. And after the mighty champions that hold the keys of this dispensation came and brought the intelligence that the time of harvest was now—that the time of the end was drawing nigh—when this proclamation was made, and the announcement saluted the ears of the children of men, what was to be done next? Behold, the gathering of the Saints begins. That very moment a man or woman embraces the Gospel in these latter times, and they begin to see and understand by the Spirit of truth, the first thing they think of is, “We must go and see the Prophet of God and learn the ways of the Lord from his lips.” What is it that causes this desire in the hearts of the people? It is the spirit of gathering together; for wherever we went, when first this Gospel was sent to the nations, and proclaimed the glad tidings, the first thing those who were awakened by our preaching would say was, “We want to go to headquarters, to run together.” These were the feelings of the people common in the circle of my acquaintance and experience.
In early times there was a spirit that was adapted to the work then. Now, if you were to set me to laboring, to building, and sowing seed upon a farm, and the spirit of preaching the Gospel was with me, I should not have the spirit of laboring upon the farm, for I should have the spirit of preaching the Gospel; and in doing so, I am in my element; my work and the spirit I possess correspond, and each serves to strengthen and advance me in the field of my labors. This is the Spirit of the Savior that was poured out upon the people; and if it had not been for the spirit of running together that came upon them, we might have gone and preached the Gospel and told the people to repent, and have baptized them for the remission of sins, and at the same time they would not have received with our proclamation the spirit of gathering. But they received it, and the Spirit bore witness with our words that the gathering dispensations had actually begun.
In the days of the Savior, there were some who, as soon as they heard the word, as soon as it was sown, received it, perhaps by the wayside; but they did not understand it. Now, I have preached to congregations, and I presume others have, where people under the sound of my voice have received the word the same way; and the spirit has borne such witness to them that their hearts have been actually melted under the influence and power of that preaching; yet say they, with tears in their eyes, “We do not understand: we acknowledge there is a power in it, but at the same time we do not understand it; we do not see why these things are so. Were not our fathers and mothers, who have gone before us, right? We acknowledge there is a power with you; but we do not understand why there should be such a variation from the old path.”
These receive seed by the wayside, and the Devil comes and tempts them and persuades them they do not understand or know anything about it. They feel its power, and he catches the word away and throws mists of darkness before their eyes. These are they that receive the seed by the wayside.
Then, again, the seed falls upon stony places, where there is not much earth. You know, where the ground is stony, it attracts the heat quicker than where there are no stones: it draws the warmth of the sun more; and what little soil there is dries up quicker than where there is soil to retain more moisture; and the seed that falls upon such ground germinates quicker and shows itself quicker. But there was no chance for the root to take deep hold; and when the sun arose and began to pour its strengthening rays upon it, it withered and died, because it had no root in good soil.
This class of hearers will correspond very well with another saying concerning certain characters that received the truth, and did not receive the love of it in order to have it take effect. We are not only to receive the truth, but also the love of it. And where the love of it is planted, it must flourish—it must succeed and produce a plentiful crop. These are they that receive the seed on stony places. They apparently receive the word as soon as it is proclaimed to them; and before the principles have a chance to take root in their hearts, it springs up and grows, and prospers for a time, but withers in the day of adversity.
The circumstances of some of the people of this Territory leaving for California brought this parable of the sower to my mind. For instance, one distinguished man in the south urges, for an excuse for going to California, the late trouble this people have had with the Indians, or rather in consequence of the rigid measures it was necessary to enter into for protection. He felt himself imposed upon and his rights infringed upon, and therefore he would not stay. He thought the brethren had done him wrong; consequently, he would go away.
Now, as near as I can learn, many have, under the regulations required for those times, felt their feelings to be pinched. Some of them have stood under it like good soldiers, and others have flown the track and will not endure it any longer. They think that better measures could have been instituted.
I am fully of the opinion that the wisest measures have been adopted to enforce upon the people, while the fact is, the operations that are being entered into for defense and protection have been our safeguard. The red men have seen it and marked the progress and design of our works, and they have said to themselves, “It is impossible for us to stand against such operations; therefore we will heave to, for it is of no use to offer further aggression.
Here we see the happy result of the measures entered into so far; and we trust, as there is now a prospect of peace, that the work of preparation will be carried on with tenfold more vigor, that all the works may be fully accomplished that are designed.
Be it remembered that the time of peace is the time to prepare for self-defense against a foe; and perhaps by performing the works now going on, they have been the very means in the hands of God by which our enemies have been disheartened, and their progress in wickedness has been checked.
Has not the measure of bringing together all kinds, both of wheat and tares, been best for the people? It has. The tares must be gathered as well as the wheat, for it is the time of the harvest and of separation. Perhaps the measures that have been introduced have served as a screen or a fanning-mill to cause the tares to fly away. There may be some wheat among them when they go; but it seems to me that they are shrunken kernels. Shrunken wheat may grow by putting it in good soil, and it may not: however, it is necessary that this work of division go on. Not only was the work of gathering to take place by the angels to whom it was committed, but the work of separating the tares from the wheat was committed to the angels also. What! To good angels? I did not say that; though it must be acceded that they hold out very powerful inducements for certain individuals to follow them and take their counsel, &c. I say, perhaps the very works that have been carried on here in the Territory—the rigid measures for the defense and protection of the people, may be one cause why these persons are dissatisfied. It is no doubt the principle, and God may have designed it for that very purpose—to draw the line of distinction, and let it be seen who it was that would abide this counsel and who would not. Those who would not would of course be subject to every evil influence—to be guided by any spirit not of God.
Allowing there are some shrunken kernels of wheat gone out from here, I tell you they are gone, in my opinion, where they will find a moist soil, and will get swelled out to a reasonable size, and perhaps in a way they do not look for. And as I said in a discourse not long ago, it is perhaps necessary that these persons should leave the Saints and go to the world, and try to build up the world and themselves. Why is it necessary? Because here they cannot receive that chastisement and scourging they merit, and they must go somewhere else to receive it, and let some other power have the honor of bringing the scourge upon them they actually merit, rather than the Saints of latter days.
Now, then, “the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that do offend, and those who do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Perhaps when they get under the scourge that awaits them abroad, they may begin to feel the chastening hand of God, and repent and humble themselves, and cry mightily to the God of Israel to have mercy upon them.
It is all working just right. Our enemies, whether white or red, can only go so far; none can get beyond the control of the Almighty. They may take the wings of the morning and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth, and he is there; or if they make their bed in hell, behold he is there. They cannot get from under his jurisdiction, unless they go beyond the bounds of time and space. All things are confined in space, and are under the jurisdiction and control of the Almighty; and if he cannot find them in one place, he will in another.
They are like children who have been under the teachings of a kind father all the day long, who taught them the principles of righteousness, integrity, and truth; but they would not listen, like his good children, to his teachings, but they are rebellious, and will not learn their lessons and be prompted to their duty by the voice of kindness, nor be moved to do right by the affection of a kind father and mother, but they must tear themselves away and thrust themselves beyond the teachings of their parents.
Follow such children through their lives, and what will they come to? You will perhaps find them in a dungeon—in the dark cell of a prison, loaded with chains, if not condemned to a greater penalty there. Perhaps they may then follow after their God, like the prodigal son, that could not be trained in his father's house. His wild ambition led him to grasp at things that were unlawful for him. “Give me,” said he, “my portion of the inheritance, and let me go.” After he left his father's house, he was reduced to a state of wretchedness and poverty, and would gladly have fed with the swine. He began to feel not only the lashes of an unsatisfied appetite, but also of a guilty conscience. Said he, “How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”
You remember it was said in the former part of the day that some persons would be servants. On the father seeing the returning prodigal afar off, all the feelings of a kind parent were awakened. “Come, my son, as you have returned, I will not subject you to be a servant like these are that serve in my house; but you are my son. Bring hither the best robe and put it upon him; put shoes upon his feet, and a ring on his hand.” And they began to be merry.
Do you not see that the prodigal son learned a good lesson in the school of adversity, which he could not learn in his father's house. The spirit of rebellion could not be made to bow to mild and affectionate means; but it yielded under the hammer of adversity. His spirit was made to bend to his father's will by that means; and, bending home, he came to his father's house.
These characters, then, receive the seed in stony ground, and have not root in themselves. They feel themselves troubled and oppressed and wronged in the time of danger and tribulation; and they say, “We will go: we are displeased; therefore we will go far away and try our fortune in the world once more. We tried it once before we embraced “Mormonism.” We thought we were satisfied to cast in our lot with the people of God; but we have become dissatisfied and offended, and we will go and try our fortune in the world again.”
They go and try it. They may get hold of the riches of this world, and they may not; but I will tell you one thing—they will not get hold of all the truth of God in their course; they will not get hold of that which satisfies the immortal mind; and while their pockets are lined with gold, their spirits will be troubled and in distress and misery. If ever once the spark of truth has lighted up the understanding and left an impression there, it is not to be erased in a moment, but it lives; and when it is dishonored, it is an arrow in the mind, which will torment them day and night. Go where they will, they cannot get out of the world—out of the jurisdiction of the Almighty, at least.
A great many are now afraid that the gold of California will all be gone before they get any of it. Suppose they get it all—suppose they actually rob the mines of every farthing's worth of value, what are they going to do with it? Can they place it beyond the jurisdiction of the Almighty, or put it somewhere where he cannot find it, and use it in a way that he cannot control it? I tell you they may dig and dig, and get all the gold they possibly can, and put it in this bank, or in that; but God will control it all by-and-by, and give it to whom he will; and I will tell you to whom he will give it. Says the Apostle to the Corinthians, “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.”
Now, it is not to him that willeth, or to him that runneth (they run to California), but it is God that showeth mercy. He is the character that holds all these things; and where his mercy leans, there is where he will bestow his treasure. Says he, “All things are mine, and I can give them to whom I will.” His rebellious children are like some other rebellious children who try to rob their father and take his money from his place of deposit. They say, “We are your children, and we have a right to this money;” and they break open their father's desk, because they are his sons, and think it no particular crime to get a little of the old man's cash to enjoy themselves with.
So it is with all those that are running to California to steal a little of the Lord's treasure; whereas, if they had remained loyal to their post, and continued to do their duty and build up the kingdom of God, by-and-by he would have given them all they could receive and properly apply. For to one he gave five talents, to another two, &c.; and so he will give to every man according to his ability by-and-by. It will be so even with regard to the riches of this world. The more quickly a man applies that which is committed to him, the more he will have, and the larger and greater and more extensive will be his riches. Let him abide in his calling and in the place where God has placed him to build up his kingdom, and in the final end how will it come out? The Lord gathered the people to where they are gathered by his word; and we may say, to all human appearance, the greatest difficulty is to supply ourselves with the necessary comforts of life; but the battle has been fought, and the victory gained. Fruitful fields are opening all around and extending in every direction.
Why not, then, remain here and wait till the Lord shall shower upon us blessings that will answer the furthest extent of our desires? If we quit the post of our duty, and run to get blessings before they are ours—before we have a right to them, it will have the same effect upon us as stolen apples have upon boys that steal them before they are half ripe—it will set our teeth on edge. If not now, it will be by-and-by.
What is the better way? To remember the counsels given to us in the former part of the day by President Young. Said he, “You who are going to California, pay your debts, and do not steal anything to take with you.” And I would say to those who stay behind, as it is represented the thieves will not all go away, Be very careful when you steal, for it is on interest from the time you steal it; for, remember, you do not get beyond the jurisdiction of the Almighty; and he will make you pay the uttermost farthing. There is no inducement here for anybody to do wrong, but every inducement to do right and keep the commandments of God.
Not only has the dispensation for the gathering of the Saints come, but the wicked also will be gathered. You know it is said, in the last days there shall be “wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places;” and again, “When these things begin to come to pass,” “lift up your heads” and rejoice, “for your redemption draweth nigh.” Again, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” How often we hear it said by many who profess to be Saints, “This thing and that thing are wrong.” Perhaps certain men have lost their property: it is mysteriously missing. “Really,” say they, “we feel offended because such things are practiced, and we will not stay among such a people where such things are.” This is the natural feeling of those who give way to this spirit of complaining, and they center all the blame at headquarters—on the men who are proclaiming against such practices night and day, both verbally and in their daily example.
It is as the Savior said—“The love of many shall wax cold,” and there shall be “wars and rumors of wars. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Now, if you want to see the gathering of the ungodly, look at the combined armies of the world assembling for bloody conflict. Look at the meteors in the heavens: they cannot be silent; they must speak the language they are designed to speak in the last days. The nations are perplexed, in distress, wretchedness, and misery. They are clothed in mourning, for the demon of war is let loose, blood is flowing, and the Saints are gathering to the valleys of the mountains to be taught and instructed in the ways of the Almighty.
Let those who go from this retreat of the Saints beware that the demon of war be not stirred up to make their abode more unpropitious in the place they are going to. Beware that a cloud does not burst with all its fury upon the western shores. Congress must anticipate something of this kind, or why did they send the highest order of military talents to the western borders? They see it and understand it. We are about in the center, and all around is commotion. I believe Joseph Smith once said, the next movement we made, we should be brought into the midst of the thrashingfloor; and while they are being thrashed all around, we need not be surprised if we get thrashed a little among the rest.
There will be a mighty thrashing; there will be a thrashing in the valleys, on the borders, and all around among the nations of the earth. It is the time of harvest. You know, as bread is generally scarce at the harvest time, the flails begin to beat upon the thrashingfloor. This is thrashing upon a small scale, before the mighty engines or machines begin to bear. When they begin to work, there will be a wonderful dust and smoke and noise and commotion all around. I tell you to remain here till you are sent away.
I want to say a word about people staying here and there as they please. True, it is a free country, and every man may go where he pleases, speaking after the manner of the world. The President of the Church does not control anybody contrary to their own will. Still, if a man is properly trained, and is in possession of the right spirit, he only wants to hear the voice of the good shepherd, and he will follow it; but a stranger he will not follow.
Brethren and sisters, we can go here or there as we please; yet in another sense we are not at liberty so to do, but to go where the voice of truth directs, if we abide in the kingdom of God. If a man come to me and say, “I want to go to Green River and settle there; shall I go?” my answer would be, “I cannot control you, if you are determined to go: it is a free country. But my feelings are, if you are not satisfied here, you will not be satisfied there; and if you want counsel upon the matter, go and get it from the proper source.” If a man goes there, I want him to go by proper counsel. I will not hinder him, if he is not counseled; but, at the same time, I would not look upon him as I would upon the man who is counseled to go there. And if there was any important trust to be placed upon any man, I should place it upon him that was in the line of his duty; and I could do it in confidence.
In the midst of counsel there is safety. If a man is counseled to go to Green River, Iron County, to San Pete, or to anywhere else, let him go. Let no man seek to free himself from the yoke, or indulge any uneasiness while it is upon him; for when he becomes accustomed to it, it will not gall his neck.
I will tell you, furthermore, what our views are in relation to the circumstances that surround us. I believe that if every person will faithfully abide the counsel given to him while passing through these circumstances, all the evil intended us will result in our greatest good, or it will be turned away, and we shall enjoy ourselves under the smiles of Heaven.
What turned away the wrath of our enemies? It was the Spirit of God that checked them, when they saw the preparations that were being made.
The servants of God were moved upon to do certain things, and they have done them. And although there has been some difference of feeling with regard to the preparations for defense through the Territory, yet, so far as I know, and I am proud to know it, all difference of opinion is done away; and when the brethren strike hands together in this union, I tell you the efforts of the enemy are palsied in a moment: they have no power against us, because our union prevails with God, and he fights our battles. Who can withstand Him? He has caused our enemies to be troubled by day and by night. Their dreams have tormented them, until they are dispirited and disarmed of their strength. Your union and fidelity have done it, through the blessings of God which have been upon you.
Now, there was some seed that fell upon good ground, and it brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundredfold. I will tell you what I am doing in my garden, in order to remove the stony ground: I go to work and pick out the cobble stones. So if we find stony places, pick out the stones, and clear the vineyard of them, that all the seed of the word that is sown from this stand and falls upon your ears may sink down, not in stony hearts, but in hearts of flesh—that it may fall upon good ground and bring forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundredfold.
With regard to the great field that is opened, for instance in Nebraska, Ohio, and California, it is so big, I fear I shall get lost in it, if I enter it on this occasion. I will therefore leave it for somebody else to explore at the present. It is glorious to me, and it is all right. Let the truth go to the ends of the earth, and let God overrule every movement of this Church for the good of his kingdom.
It is the desire of my heart—I say, let the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands roll and fill the whole earth, and let God be glorified, and his Saints exalted; which may he grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.
DISCOURSE
By Elder George A. Smith.
It is a matter of great pleasure to me, brethren and sisters, to again rise to speak in your presence at a General Conference.
I am somewhat oppressed with a cold, which renders an attempt to speak, on my part, a matter of some difficulty.
I have been very much delighted at the remarks of Presidents Young, Kimball, and Hyde, who have already addressed you today. I felt disposed, however, to make a few remarks in relation to the oppression Br. Hyde spoke of, of some individuals who in consequence of stringent measures during the Indian war, had left, and gone to California; who complained of the measures being so strict and even oppressive, and felt themselves pinched, they had to leave.
I am not extensively acquainted with Indian history; but from the knowledge I have had of the Indian character, and the nature of the wars which have been carried on with them by the whites since the first settlement of America, and the difficulties that have had to be encountered wherever the Indians have been opposed to the settlement of the country, and attempted to destroy its inhabitants;--I say, from this knowledge I am not ashamed or afraid to say, that such a thing as oppression, or stringent measures, have never been adopted in this Territory. And we challenge any history, or any man acquainted with the place, to show one measure that has been adopted, that was in any way oppressive or stringent.
It is true the Indians commenced, and without any reason whatever, to destroy the inhabitants and plunder their property. Were they mean, degraded, helpless Indians? No, they were not; but they were the men that had kept the provinces of California, Chihuahua and New Mexico, in continual alarm for the last 20 years. For the last generation they have been led by Chiefs whose heads have been sought for in exchange for a thousand horses, in vain. Armed with the best arms the United States could furnish, procured from hundreds and thousands of emigrants passing through the country, who poured out their arms and ammunition to the Indians, and supplied them in abundance to destroy the whites.
Were the Indians few? No; the mountains were alive with them; and for hundreds of miles their number was unknown.
Look back if you please to the early settlements of America, when the most destructive weapon the Indians had, was the bow and arrow, and white men amply supplied with fire-arms. In the colony of Massachusetts, that contained forty thousand people, notwithstanding all the policy and skill of the whites, six hundred of them were killed by the Indians in one single season.
Has it been so here? It has not. Not a single white person save Kiel, has fallen during this entire Indian trouble, only when they were going directly contrary to, in direct opposition to, and in open defiance of the instructions, counsels, and directions, given for their preservation. Were these regulations, instructions and counsels stringent? No: but they were protective in their charter, and rendered all safe who adhered to them; on the other hand, by violating them, men have been cut to pieces, their heads peeled, and their hearts torn out.
But says one, I would like to hear of more recent disturbances: would it not have been better policy, instead of causing farmers to move into forts, and herd their cattle with armed guards, to raise armies and follow the Indians into the mountains and exterminate them?
As a specimen of that kind of policy, remember the Florida war, to say nothing of numerous others,--where a few hundred Indians were all there were to contend against; and instead of a mountain country where hundreds of Indians can hide themselves and be perfectly secure on a square mile; it was a level country, which offered great advantages to the whites against their red foes.--
The stringent measures adopted in that war, in attempting to exterminate the Indians, protracted the war for several years, cost twenty millions of dollars, also the lives of thousands of troops, besides ruining forever the health of thousands more.
After having had hundreds of families murdered, and property almost without end plundered and destroyed; and after hiring large tribes of Indians from the Missouri river to go and assist them in the war, they finally resorted to the very honorable expedient of buying a pack of blood hounds to hunt them out of the country. They were kept for years in this desperate situation, with rumors of families being murdered here and there, constantly saluting their ears.
Were those measures oppressive? Think for yourselves. How did the affair at last close? Congress voted money, and treaties were made with the Indians, and a great many were made with the Indians, and a great many were bought out, that they could not seek out with blood-hounds. Were the Indians conquered? Were they all killed off? Look at the Indian called General Bowlegs—he went to New York, and in passing through Peel's Museum of Portraits, he came to the portraits of military characters of the United States, says he, "there is General Scott, and there is General Taylor; I licked both of those Generals in the Florida war." That is the way the Indians felt after all; and there seemed to be more of them at the close of the war than at the beginning of it.
Now come home here. What has been done? The settlements have been requested to save all their property, and all their cattle; to gather in their grain, and move into enclosures, and render themselves safe by temporary fortifications; to keep their cattle and their grain out of the hands of the Indians, so that they could not steal it.—That is all the oppression there has been.
And what has been the result of this policy?—Not a single person has been injured that did not violate those instructions—not a man since the first one was killed. Has all this been oppressive? No. How has this policy affected the Indians?—They have come in perfectly hungry, saying, "for God's sake give us something to eat." Had an opposite policy been adopted, they would no doubt have continued their depredations. But our measures have so been carried out, that the Utah Indians are humbled in their feelings, and feel themselves worse whipped, than any that I have ever read of.
Had we followed the bloody schemes of some, to butcher them by wholesale, and the orders of our worthy President to gather into forts had been unnoticed—hundreds of men, women and children would have fallen victims to the red man's rage; and after we had slashed away for ten years, there might have been more Indian warriors to contend against than when we first commenced.
The men that have left for California, and complain of stringent measures, etc., went, because their hearts were corrupt, and they did not love the gospel of Jesus Christ. They went because they were not willing to listen to good and wholesome advice, and to the principles of exaltation and salvation.
In no history that I have ever read, have I found measures adopted in any Indian country, to preserve the inhabitants, and property, and reduce the red men, more mild, and less stringent.
In consequence of the State of my lungs, excuse me if I make no further remarks at this time, though this is a subject that is worth of investigation.
By Elder George A. Smith.
It is a matter of great pleasure to me, brethren and sisters, to again rise to speak in your presence at a General Conference.
I am somewhat oppressed with a cold, which renders an attempt to speak, on my part, a matter of some difficulty.
I have been very much delighted at the remarks of Presidents Young, Kimball, and Hyde, who have already addressed you today. I felt disposed, however, to make a few remarks in relation to the oppression Br. Hyde spoke of, of some individuals who in consequence of stringent measures during the Indian war, had left, and gone to California; who complained of the measures being so strict and even oppressive, and felt themselves pinched, they had to leave.
I am not extensively acquainted with Indian history; but from the knowledge I have had of the Indian character, and the nature of the wars which have been carried on with them by the whites since the first settlement of America, and the difficulties that have had to be encountered wherever the Indians have been opposed to the settlement of the country, and attempted to destroy its inhabitants;--I say, from this knowledge I am not ashamed or afraid to say, that such a thing as oppression, or stringent measures, have never been adopted in this Territory. And we challenge any history, or any man acquainted with the place, to show one measure that has been adopted, that was in any way oppressive or stringent.
It is true the Indians commenced, and without any reason whatever, to destroy the inhabitants and plunder their property. Were they mean, degraded, helpless Indians? No, they were not; but they were the men that had kept the provinces of California, Chihuahua and New Mexico, in continual alarm for the last 20 years. For the last generation they have been led by Chiefs whose heads have been sought for in exchange for a thousand horses, in vain. Armed with the best arms the United States could furnish, procured from hundreds and thousands of emigrants passing through the country, who poured out their arms and ammunition to the Indians, and supplied them in abundance to destroy the whites.
Were the Indians few? No; the mountains were alive with them; and for hundreds of miles their number was unknown.
Look back if you please to the early settlements of America, when the most destructive weapon the Indians had, was the bow and arrow, and white men amply supplied with fire-arms. In the colony of Massachusetts, that contained forty thousand people, notwithstanding all the policy and skill of the whites, six hundred of them were killed by the Indians in one single season.
Has it been so here? It has not. Not a single white person save Kiel, has fallen during this entire Indian trouble, only when they were going directly contrary to, in direct opposition to, and in open defiance of the instructions, counsels, and directions, given for their preservation. Were these regulations, instructions and counsels stringent? No: but they were protective in their charter, and rendered all safe who adhered to them; on the other hand, by violating them, men have been cut to pieces, their heads peeled, and their hearts torn out.
But says one, I would like to hear of more recent disturbances: would it not have been better policy, instead of causing farmers to move into forts, and herd their cattle with armed guards, to raise armies and follow the Indians into the mountains and exterminate them?
As a specimen of that kind of policy, remember the Florida war, to say nothing of numerous others,--where a few hundred Indians were all there were to contend against; and instead of a mountain country where hundreds of Indians can hide themselves and be perfectly secure on a square mile; it was a level country, which offered great advantages to the whites against their red foes.--
The stringent measures adopted in that war, in attempting to exterminate the Indians, protracted the war for several years, cost twenty millions of dollars, also the lives of thousands of troops, besides ruining forever the health of thousands more.
After having had hundreds of families murdered, and property almost without end plundered and destroyed; and after hiring large tribes of Indians from the Missouri river to go and assist them in the war, they finally resorted to the very honorable expedient of buying a pack of blood hounds to hunt them out of the country. They were kept for years in this desperate situation, with rumors of families being murdered here and there, constantly saluting their ears.
Were those measures oppressive? Think for yourselves. How did the affair at last close? Congress voted money, and treaties were made with the Indians, and a great many were made with the Indians, and a great many were bought out, that they could not seek out with blood-hounds. Were the Indians conquered? Were they all killed off? Look at the Indian called General Bowlegs—he went to New York, and in passing through Peel's Museum of Portraits, he came to the portraits of military characters of the United States, says he, "there is General Scott, and there is General Taylor; I licked both of those Generals in the Florida war." That is the way the Indians felt after all; and there seemed to be more of them at the close of the war than at the beginning of it.
Now come home here. What has been done? The settlements have been requested to save all their property, and all their cattle; to gather in their grain, and move into enclosures, and render themselves safe by temporary fortifications; to keep their cattle and their grain out of the hands of the Indians, so that they could not steal it.—That is all the oppression there has been.
And what has been the result of this policy?—Not a single person has been injured that did not violate those instructions—not a man since the first one was killed. Has all this been oppressive? No. How has this policy affected the Indians?—They have come in perfectly hungry, saying, "for God's sake give us something to eat." Had an opposite policy been adopted, they would no doubt have continued their depredations. But our measures have so been carried out, that the Utah Indians are humbled in their feelings, and feel themselves worse whipped, than any that I have ever read of.
Had we followed the bloody schemes of some, to butcher them by wholesale, and the orders of our worthy President to gather into forts had been unnoticed—hundreds of men, women and children would have fallen victims to the red man's rage; and after we had slashed away for ten years, there might have been more Indian warriors to contend against than when we first commenced.
The men that have left for California, and complain of stringent measures, etc., went, because their hearts were corrupt, and they did not love the gospel of Jesus Christ. They went because they were not willing to listen to good and wholesome advice, and to the principles of exaltation and salvation.
In no history that I have ever read, have I found measures adopted in any Indian country, to preserve the inhabitants, and property, and reduce the red men, more mild, and less stringent.
In consequence of the State of my lungs, excuse me if I make no further remarks at this time, though this is a subject that is worth of investigation.
Proper Treatment of the Indians, Etc.
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
As the subject has been broached concerning the Indians, I will take the liberty to make a few remarks, and with all due deference and respect to my brethren, and especially to brother George A., who has last spoken to you. I am under the necessity, to satisfy my own feelings, to deviate from his remarks a little. I will not say, however, that I shall deviate from his real feelings, though I may from what is conveyed in his remarks.
I wish to say to this congregation and to the inhabitants of the Territory of Utah, in connection with the travelers that are passing through, If the whites in their character and position with the intelligence and knowledge of the world and of mankind which they have, had been as kind to the Indians as they have been to the whites from the beginning, there never would have been a single difficulty to this day. I wanted to make that assertion, for it is verily true.
If the inhabitants of this Territory, my brethren, had never condescended to reduce themselves to the practices of the Indians (as few of them have), to their low, degraded condition, and in some cases even lower, there never would have been any trouble between us and our red neighbors.
This is the key to the whole of it. Young men, middle aged, and boys have been in the habit of mingling with the Indians—of going to their camp and trading with them a little; and they have tried to cheat them.
They have sat down in their wickeups and talked with them in the most ludicrous manner: they have gambled with them and run horses with them, and then have taken a game of fisticuff with them. If they had treated them as Indians and as their degraded conditions demanded, it would have manifested their superiority, and a foundation for difficulties would not have been laid.
Brother George says he knows what I have said is true. He did not explain his real feelings on this matter.
Allow me to say a word in behalf of Walker. I tell this congregation and the world that “Indian Walker,” as he is called, has not been at the foundation of the difficulties we have had. He has had nothing to do with them. I told you so last summer, and I tell it to you now. I know it from that which is within me. Has he done no wrong? I did not say he had done no wrong. He has been angry, and felt at times that he would like to destroy this people; but I do know that he has been held by a superior power. At the very commencement of the fuss, he was not in favor of killing the whites.
When Kiel was killed, the Indians were still in the canyon; and when the whites followed them, they could have killed every man; but Walker said, “No—they shall not be killed.” Arapeen took his San Pete squaw and his favorite horse, and killed them, and said, “If God is satisfied, I am.”
Who are the guilty Indians? A few bad men, who thirst for blood, who do not have the Spirit of the Lord, but love to steal Indian children and kill one another—who love to steal from each other and kill anybody or everybody. A few of them we know. But I tell you, Walker has not been the cause of the Indian war. But the Lord will work out the salvation of his people, if they do as they are told. I tell the brethren who live out from this city that the Indians are friendly and wish to make treaties.
Now is the time to build forts and pastures for cattle by ditching and walls. Let the community arise and build large pastures. I am far more afraid of white men stealing our cattle than I am that the Indians will. Go to, now; and do not scatter, but gather.
When men are oppressed, it is in their own hearts and feelings: it is not because oppression comes upon them from any other quarter, that they are dissatisfied. They are not satisfied with themselves—that is the trouble. They may go to the States, to California, or anywhere else, and they will not be satisfied; but they will always be dissatisfied, until they can leave themselves behind. But as long as they must take themselves with them, they will never be without the cause of their dissatisfaction.
They ought to have left self behind them when they started to come here, and have come with a view to build up the kingdom of God. All those who have come to these valleys with such feelings are satisfied. They have always been satisfied, and always will remain satisfied so long as they retain that good intention and do not again bring back self.
I want to say a few words on Indian character. When one tribe of Indians are at war with another, if a few sally out and kill a warrior of the opposite party, that tribe will watch their opportunity, and perhaps go and kill men, women, and children of the other tribe. They do not care whom they kill, if they can kill any of the tribe. This has been taught them from age to age. The inhabitants of the United States have treated the Indians in like manner. If but one person or only a few were guilty of committing a depredation upon a white settlement, they have chastised the whole tribe for the crime, and would perhaps kill those who would fight and die for them.
But no mercy can be shown the poor Indians. No. “We will kill the whole of you, if we can,” instead of hunting out those who have committed the depredation, and chastising them according to their desserts. We must shun this practice, and teach them that the man who has committed the depredation is the man that must pay the penalty, and not the whole tribe. It is our duty to teach them good morals and the principles of the Gospel of Christ. We are their saviors.
As I have done all the time, I tell you again today, I will not consent to your killing one Indian for the sin of another. If any of them commit a depredation, tell the tribe to which they belong that they may deliver up the man or men to be tried according to law, and you will make friends of the whole tribe. They have men among them they would be glad to have dispatched. For instance, there is a man at Utah called Squash-head: it is said he has made his boast of taking father Leman's child and killing it. We know the other Indians wish he was dead: they do not like to kill him, for fear of their own lives. They would like to have that man tried and hung up for the murder of that child.
We must pursue a different course with the Indians than we have pursued heretofore; and when we do the best we can and all we can, the Lord will do the rest of it, if the people will do as they are told. You have not been counseled to follow them into the mountains, for there are not soldiers enough here to contend with them there and kill one hundred of them. Though we could raise twelve thousand men, and should send them into the mountains, and let them undertake to follow the Indians on foot, where their horses could not find footing, the Indians would escape from them, in spite of their efforts, and steal all their horses into the bargain, and laugh them to scorn. If we wished to destroy them, the only way would be to set deadfalls and traps.
They came pretty nigh starving to death last winter; and they now see, if they are driven from these valleys in winter, they must perish; therefore they now want to make good peace. Treat them kindly, and treat them as Indians, and not as your equals.
I have fed fifty Indians almost day by day for months together. I always give them something, but I never forget to treat them like Indians; and they are always mannerly and kind, and look upon me as their superior. Never let them come into your houses, as the whites did in Utah [County]. There they would let them lounge upon their beds, until finally they would quarrel and become angry, if the women would not let them lounge upon their beds. Great, big, athletic fellows would want to go into the wickeups of the “Mormons,” and lounge upon their beds, and sit on their tables and on their chairs, and make as free as though they belonged to the family. When their familiarities became oppressive to the whites, and they desired them to leave their houses, it made them angry, and I knew it would. This is the true cause of the Indian difficulties in Utah.
I say to the brethren who live in the country, Treat the Indians kindly; and now is the time to finish your forts, and make them doubly strong; and then go to with all your might and prepare places to keep your cattle, that neither white nor red man can possibly steal them from you. If you want to know how strong to build your forts and your cattle yards, I will answer you as I did the brethren when we left Nauvoo. They wanted to know what kind of lariats they must provide, and how securely they must tie their animals. I said, “Tie them so that the Devil cannot get them.” Secure yourselves, then, so that you can lie down and sleep in peace and be comfortable. Now is the time for us to make efforts to build places of safety.
Our meeting has continued about as long as we wished it. The brethren will sing, and we will adjourn till tomorrow morning at ten o'clock.
Appointment was given out for the high priests to meet in the Tabernacle in the evening, and adjourned until to-morrow, at 10 a. m.
Choir chanted "Hosanna."
Benediction by Elder J. M. Grant.
A Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 6, 1854.
Reported by Unknown.
As the subject has been broached concerning the Indians, I will take the liberty to make a few remarks, and with all due deference and respect to my brethren, and especially to brother George A., who has last spoken to you. I am under the necessity, to satisfy my own feelings, to deviate from his remarks a little. I will not say, however, that I shall deviate from his real feelings, though I may from what is conveyed in his remarks.
I wish to say to this congregation and to the inhabitants of the Territory of Utah, in connection with the travelers that are passing through, If the whites in their character and position with the intelligence and knowledge of the world and of mankind which they have, had been as kind to the Indians as they have been to the whites from the beginning, there never would have been a single difficulty to this day. I wanted to make that assertion, for it is verily true.
If the inhabitants of this Territory, my brethren, had never condescended to reduce themselves to the practices of the Indians (as few of them have), to their low, degraded condition, and in some cases even lower, there never would have been any trouble between us and our red neighbors.
This is the key to the whole of it. Young men, middle aged, and boys have been in the habit of mingling with the Indians—of going to their camp and trading with them a little; and they have tried to cheat them.
They have sat down in their wickeups and talked with them in the most ludicrous manner: they have gambled with them and run horses with them, and then have taken a game of fisticuff with them. If they had treated them as Indians and as their degraded conditions demanded, it would have manifested their superiority, and a foundation for difficulties would not have been laid.
Brother George says he knows what I have said is true. He did not explain his real feelings on this matter.
Allow me to say a word in behalf of Walker. I tell this congregation and the world that “Indian Walker,” as he is called, has not been at the foundation of the difficulties we have had. He has had nothing to do with them. I told you so last summer, and I tell it to you now. I know it from that which is within me. Has he done no wrong? I did not say he had done no wrong. He has been angry, and felt at times that he would like to destroy this people; but I do know that he has been held by a superior power. At the very commencement of the fuss, he was not in favor of killing the whites.
When Kiel was killed, the Indians were still in the canyon; and when the whites followed them, they could have killed every man; but Walker said, “No—they shall not be killed.” Arapeen took his San Pete squaw and his favorite horse, and killed them, and said, “If God is satisfied, I am.”
Who are the guilty Indians? A few bad men, who thirst for blood, who do not have the Spirit of the Lord, but love to steal Indian children and kill one another—who love to steal from each other and kill anybody or everybody. A few of them we know. But I tell you, Walker has not been the cause of the Indian war. But the Lord will work out the salvation of his people, if they do as they are told. I tell the brethren who live out from this city that the Indians are friendly and wish to make treaties.
Now is the time to build forts and pastures for cattle by ditching and walls. Let the community arise and build large pastures. I am far more afraid of white men stealing our cattle than I am that the Indians will. Go to, now; and do not scatter, but gather.
When men are oppressed, it is in their own hearts and feelings: it is not because oppression comes upon them from any other quarter, that they are dissatisfied. They are not satisfied with themselves—that is the trouble. They may go to the States, to California, or anywhere else, and they will not be satisfied; but they will always be dissatisfied, until they can leave themselves behind. But as long as they must take themselves with them, they will never be without the cause of their dissatisfaction.
They ought to have left self behind them when they started to come here, and have come with a view to build up the kingdom of God. All those who have come to these valleys with such feelings are satisfied. They have always been satisfied, and always will remain satisfied so long as they retain that good intention and do not again bring back self.
I want to say a few words on Indian character. When one tribe of Indians are at war with another, if a few sally out and kill a warrior of the opposite party, that tribe will watch their opportunity, and perhaps go and kill men, women, and children of the other tribe. They do not care whom they kill, if they can kill any of the tribe. This has been taught them from age to age. The inhabitants of the United States have treated the Indians in like manner. If but one person or only a few were guilty of committing a depredation upon a white settlement, they have chastised the whole tribe for the crime, and would perhaps kill those who would fight and die for them.
But no mercy can be shown the poor Indians. No. “We will kill the whole of you, if we can,” instead of hunting out those who have committed the depredation, and chastising them according to their desserts. We must shun this practice, and teach them that the man who has committed the depredation is the man that must pay the penalty, and not the whole tribe. It is our duty to teach them good morals and the principles of the Gospel of Christ. We are their saviors.
As I have done all the time, I tell you again today, I will not consent to your killing one Indian for the sin of another. If any of them commit a depredation, tell the tribe to which they belong that they may deliver up the man or men to be tried according to law, and you will make friends of the whole tribe. They have men among them they would be glad to have dispatched. For instance, there is a man at Utah called Squash-head: it is said he has made his boast of taking father Leman's child and killing it. We know the other Indians wish he was dead: they do not like to kill him, for fear of their own lives. They would like to have that man tried and hung up for the murder of that child.
We must pursue a different course with the Indians than we have pursued heretofore; and when we do the best we can and all we can, the Lord will do the rest of it, if the people will do as they are told. You have not been counseled to follow them into the mountains, for there are not soldiers enough here to contend with them there and kill one hundred of them. Though we could raise twelve thousand men, and should send them into the mountains, and let them undertake to follow the Indians on foot, where their horses could not find footing, the Indians would escape from them, in spite of their efforts, and steal all their horses into the bargain, and laugh them to scorn. If we wished to destroy them, the only way would be to set deadfalls and traps.
They came pretty nigh starving to death last winter; and they now see, if they are driven from these valleys in winter, they must perish; therefore they now want to make good peace. Treat them kindly, and treat them as Indians, and not as your equals.
I have fed fifty Indians almost day by day for months together. I always give them something, but I never forget to treat them like Indians; and they are always mannerly and kind, and look upon me as their superior. Never let them come into your houses, as the whites did in Utah [County]. There they would let them lounge upon their beds, until finally they would quarrel and become angry, if the women would not let them lounge upon their beds. Great, big, athletic fellows would want to go into the wickeups of the “Mormons,” and lounge upon their beds, and sit on their tables and on their chairs, and make as free as though they belonged to the family. When their familiarities became oppressive to the whites, and they desired them to leave their houses, it made them angry, and I knew it would. This is the true cause of the Indian difficulties in Utah.
I say to the brethren who live in the country, Treat the Indians kindly; and now is the time to finish your forts, and make them doubly strong; and then go to with all your might and prepare places to keep your cattle, that neither white nor red man can possibly steal them from you. If you want to know how strong to build your forts and your cattle yards, I will answer you as I did the brethren when we left Nauvoo. They wanted to know what kind of lariats they must provide, and how securely they must tie their animals. I said, “Tie them so that the Devil cannot get them.” Secure yourselves, then, so that you can lie down and sleep in peace and be comfortable. Now is the time for us to make efforts to build places of safety.
Our meeting has continued about as long as we wished it. The brethren will sing, and we will adjourn till tomorrow morning at ten o'clock.
Appointment was given out for the high priests to meet in the Tabernacle in the evening, and adjourned until to-morrow, at 10 a. m.
Choir chanted "Hosanna."
Benediction by Elder J. M. Grant.
Six p. m.
Meeting opened by singing, "Come all ye sons of Zion."
Prayer by Elder Thomas Kington, followed by the congregation singing, "Come let us anew."
The congregation was addressed during the evening by
Elders J. M. Grant,
Thomas Kington,
Wilford Woodruff,
B. L. Clapp, and
Reynolds Cahoon.
"Redeemer of Israel," was sung.
Benediction by Elder A. P. Rockwood.
Meeting opened by singing, "Come all ye sons of Zion."
Prayer by Elder Thomas Kington, followed by the congregation singing, "Come let us anew."
The congregation was addressed during the evening by
Elders J. M. Grant,
Thomas Kington,
Wilford Woodruff,
B. L. Clapp, and
Reynolds Cahoon.
"Redeemer of Israel," was sung.
Benediction by Elder A. P. Rockwood.
Second Day, April 7.
Conference was called to order by President Kimball
Prayer by Elder Benson.
Choir sang, "Oh, sift, sift away," composed by Elder W. W. Phelps.
Conference was called to order by President Kimball
Prayer by Elder Benson.
Choir sang, "Oh, sift, sift away," composed by Elder W. W. Phelps.
The conference then proceeded to take up the business before them.
President Brigham Young was presented as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world, and as prophet, priest, and revelator, and was unanimously sustained.
President Young then nominated Heber C. Kimball to continue as his first councilor. Carried unanimously—He also nominated Jedediah M. Grant for his second councilor, in the place of Bro. Willard Richards deceased, which was also unanimously carried.
Father John Smith was sustained as presiding patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Orson Hyde was presented and 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 sustained as members of that quorum.
David Pettigrew was sustained as the President of the High Priests' Quorum, and Reynolds Cahoon, and George B. Wallace, as his counselors.
Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, and Benjamin L. Clapp, were sustained as Presidents of the Seventies.
John Nebeker was sustained as President of the Elder's Quorum; also James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Lewis Wight was sustained as President of the Priest's Quorum; also George Dockstander and William Whiting his counsellors.
McGee Harris was sustained as President of the Teachers' Quorum, also Adam Spiers and Reuben Perkins his counsellors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Edward Hunter as 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. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, F. D. Richards, and Daniel McIntosh, were sustained as his assistants and agents for said fund.
David Fulmer was sustained as the President of this Stake of Zion; also Thomas Rhoades and P. H. Young his counsellors.
Heman Hyde, Eleazer Miller, Phineas Richards, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, William Snow, Nathaniel H. Felt, and Seth M. Blair, were sustained as Members of the High Council.
President Young then nominated George A. Smith to be the Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and was unanimously sustained.
President Brigham Young was presented as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world, and as prophet, priest, and revelator, and was unanimously sustained.
President Young then nominated Heber C. Kimball to continue as his first councilor. Carried unanimously—He also nominated Jedediah M. Grant for his second councilor, in the place of Bro. Willard Richards deceased, which was also unanimously carried.
Father John Smith was sustained as presiding patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Orson Hyde was presented and 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 sustained as members of that quorum.
David Pettigrew was sustained as the President of the High Priests' Quorum, and Reynolds Cahoon, and George B. Wallace, as his counselors.
Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, and Benjamin L. Clapp, were sustained as Presidents of the Seventies.
John Nebeker was sustained as President of the Elder's Quorum; also James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Edward Hunter was sustained as the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
Lewis Wight was sustained as President of the Priest's Quorum; also George Dockstander and William Whiting his counsellors.
McGee Harris was sustained as President of the Teachers' Quorum, also Adam Spiers and Reuben Perkins his counsellors.
Brigham Young was sustained as the Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Edward Hunter as 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. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, Edward Hunter, Daniel Spencer, Thomas Bullock, John Brown, William Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo D. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, F. D. Richards, and Daniel McIntosh, were sustained as his assistants and agents for said fund.
David Fulmer was sustained as the President of this Stake of Zion; also Thomas Rhoades and P. H. Young his counsellors.
Heman Hyde, Eleazer Miller, Phineas Richards, Levi Jackman, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, John Parry, Winslow Farr, William Snow, Nathaniel H. Felt, and Seth M. Blair, were sustained as Members of the High Council.
President Young then nominated George A. Smith to be the Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and was unanimously sustained.
The following persons were then appointed and unanimously voted to go on missions, viz.:
To England: Franklin D. Richards (to preside), James A. Little, George D. Grant, Jos. A. Young, Wm. Kimball, William Young (son of Lorenzo), Edmund Ellsworth, Joseph C. Kingsbury, Henry Lunt, William G. Walker, Robert W. Wolcott, Benjamin Waldron, Cyrus H. Wheelock.
To the United States: Benjamin L. Clapp, S. M. Blair, Oscar Tyler, and John Banks. Milo Andrus to stay in St. Louis to preside there, under the direction of Erastus Snow, one of the Twelve.
To the Pacific Isles: Orson Whitney, John Young (son of Lorenzo), Washington B. Rodgers, Simpson M. Molen, George Spiers, Joseph Smith (son of Hyrum), Silas S. Smith (son of Silas), Silas Smith (son of Asahel), Sextus Johnson, John T. Caine.
To Ireland: James Ferguson.
To British North America: George P. Wough.
To England: Franklin D. Richards (to preside), James A. Little, George D. Grant, Jos. A. Young, Wm. Kimball, William Young (son of Lorenzo), Edmund Ellsworth, Joseph C. Kingsbury, Henry Lunt, William G. Walker, Robert W. Wolcott, Benjamin Waldron, Cyrus H. Wheelock.
To the United States: Benjamin L. Clapp, S. M. Blair, Oscar Tyler, and John Banks. Milo Andrus to stay in St. Louis to preside there, under the direction of Erastus Snow, one of the Twelve.
To the Pacific Isles: Orson Whitney, John Young (son of Lorenzo), Washington B. Rodgers, Simpson M. Molen, George Spiers, Joseph Smith (son of Hyrum), Silas S. Smith (son of Silas), Silas Smith (son of Asahel), Sextus Johnson, John T. Caine.
To Ireland: James Ferguson.
To British North America: George P. Wough.
President Young
presented a ream of strong brown paper, also a sample of pasteboard, made in Great Salt Lake City; and called upon the bishops to gather up all the rags in their wards for the manufactory.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
presented a ream of strong brown paper, also a sample of pasteboard, made in Great Salt Lake City; and called upon the bishops to gather up all the rags in their wards for the manufactory.
Choir sung a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
Two p. m.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder P. P. Pratt.
Singing.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder P. P. Pratt.
Singing.
Elder Thomas Bullock
read the report of the Treasurer of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, also the report of the Tithing Office.
read the report of the Treasurer of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, also the report of the Tithing Office.
The following persons were voted to go on missions:--
To the Pacific Isles: Henry P. Richards, Smith Thurston, Edward Partridge, Ward Pack.
To the United States: George W. Hickerson, Wm. W. Rust.
To Canada: James C. Sly, Amos Gustin.
To England: Samuel Powell, Richard E. Waddington, Wm. Benjamin Hodgetts.
President Young gave out an appointment for the Seventies to meet in general conference tomorrow evening, in the Tabernacle.
Choir sang a hymn.
Benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
To the Pacific Isles: Henry P. Richards, Smith Thurston, Edward Partridge, Ward Pack.
To the United States: George W. Hickerson, Wm. W. Rust.
To Canada: James C. Sly, Amos Gustin.
To England: Samuel Powell, Richard E. Waddington, Wm. Benjamin Hodgetts.
President Young gave out an appointment for the Seventies to meet in general conference tomorrow evening, in the Tabernacle.
Choir sang a hymn.
Benediction by Patriarch Isaac Morley.
April 8, Ten a. m.
Called to order by President Kimball.
Singing.
Prayer by Lorenzo Snow.
Singing.
Called to order by President Kimball.
Singing.
Prayer by Lorenzo Snow.
Singing.
President Young
spoke on the subject of consecration and tithing, and his remarks will be published hereafter.
Choir sang, "The Hallelujah Chorus."
Benediction.
spoke on the subject of consecration and tithing, and his remarks will be published hereafter.
Choir sang, "The Hallelujah Chorus."
Benediction.
Two p. m.
Called to order by O. Hyde.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder Woodruff.
Singing.
The Tabernacle not being large enough to accommodate those present, President Young invited all to the north side of the building, where seats had been prepared for about 7,000: and the seats and alleys were soon filled.
The choir sang a piece called "Truth."
Called to order by O. Hyde.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder Woodruff.
Singing.
The Tabernacle not being large enough to accommodate those present, President Young invited all to the north side of the building, where seats had been prepared for about 7,000: and the seats and alleys were soon filled.
The choir sang a piece called "Truth."
Elder P. P. Pratt
addressed the congregation.
addressed the congregation.
The following persons were appointed and voted to go on missions:--
Parley P. Pratt, to San Jose, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Orson Pratt, Orson Spencer, to Cincinnati, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Erastus Snow, to St. Louis, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Eli Belt, Wm. Clough, M. Devalsen Merick, Joseph A. Peck, John West, William King, to the Pacific Islands.
James M. Balow, James McGaw, Franklin Woolley, Haden W. Church, William Trost, Charles Bassett, Wm. Martindale, Amos Neff, Albert Crandell, to the United States.
Choir sang, "Redeemer of Israel."
Benediction.
Parley P. Pratt, to San Jose, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Orson Pratt, Orson Spencer, to Cincinnati, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Erastus Snow, to St. Louis, to establish a gathering place for the saints.
Eli Belt, Wm. Clough, M. Devalsen Merick, Joseph A. Peck, John West, William King, to the Pacific Islands.
James M. Balow, James McGaw, Franklin Woolley, Haden W. Church, William Trost, Charles Bassett, Wm. Martindale, Amos Neff, Albert Crandell, to the United States.
Choir sang, "Redeemer of Israel."
Benediction.
Six p. m.
The Seventies met in the Tabernacle.
Congregation sang, "How firm a foundation," &c.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Presidents B. L. Clapp,
Zera Pulsipher,
Joseph Young,
L. W. Hancock, and
Counsellor J. M. Grant,
followed each other with appropriate instructions and remarks.
Singing.
Benediction.
The Seventies met in the Tabernacle.
Congregation sang, "How firm a foundation," &c.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Presidents B. L. Clapp,
Zera Pulsipher,
Joseph Young,
L. W. Hancock, and
Counsellor J. M. Grant,
followed each other with appropriate instructions and remarks.
Singing.
Benediction.
April 9, Ten a. m.
Congregation met in the open air, north of the Tabernacle.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder Hyde.
Singing.
Congregation met in the open air, north of the Tabernacle.
Singing.
Prayer by Elder Hyde.
Singing.
Elder Lorenzo Snow
spoke on the subject of life and salvation.
spoke on the subject of life and salvation.
President Kimball presented the following names for missions.
John Tuue, Wm. C. Dunbar, Thomas Latey, to England.
John Murdock, a Patriarch, to go to Iron County.
John Tuue, Wm. C. Dunbar, Thomas Latey, to England.
John Murdock, a Patriarch, to go to Iron County.
Elder Hyde
spoke upon the instructions given, and the doctrine of consecration.
Choir sang the chorus, "Judge me, O Lord."
Benediction by John Taylor.
spoke upon the instructions given, and the doctrine of consecration.
Choir sang the chorus, "Judge me, O Lord."
Benediction by John Taylor.
Two p. m.
Singing.
Prayer by W. Woodruff.
Singing.
Sacrament.
George W. Rich was appointed on a mission to California.
On motion, Jesse Thompson Hartley was cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Singing.
Prayer by W. Woodruff.
Singing.
Sacrament.
George W. Rich was appointed on a mission to California.
On motion, Jesse Thompson Hartley was cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Counselor J. M. Grant
appointed all the bishops, elders, priests, and all the male members of the church, who live in Great Salt Lake City, to be policemen to preserve the inhabitants in peace, safety, and virtue.
appointed all the bishops, elders, priests, and all the male members of the church, who live in Great Salt Lake City, to be policemen to preserve the inhabitants in peace, safety, and virtue.
President Young
brought the conference to a close, and adjourned this conference to the 27th June next, at ten a. m. to meet at this place.
Choir sang a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
Further remarks of President Brigham Young, and others who spoke during the conference, will be found in future numbers of the News.
brought the conference to a close, and adjourned this conference to the 27th June next, at ten a. m. to meet at this place.
Choir sang a hymn.
Benediction by President Young.
Further remarks of President Brigham Young, and others who spoke during the conference, will be found in future numbers of the News.