October 1880
FIFTIETH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Fiftieth Semi annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened in the Large Tabernacle at 10 a.m. the 6th day of October, 1880.
Present on the stand were President John Taylor, and Elders Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, F. D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Albert Carrington and Moses Thatcher, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Elders Erastus Snow and Brigham Young [Jr.] were absent having not yet returned from a mission through Arizona, New Mexico, etc.
Counselor to the Twelve—D. H. Wells.
Patriarch—John Smith.
Of the Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Joseph Young, Horace S. Eldredge, John Van Cott and W. W. Taylor.
Of the Presiding Bishops—Edward Hunter, and Leonard W. Hardy.
The Presidency of Salt Lake and other Stakes, besides leading Elders from all parts of the Territory.
Conference was called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Mortals awake, with angels join, And chant the solemn lay.
Prayer by Counselor D. H. Wells.
The choir sang: Sweet is the work, my God my King, To praise thy name, give thanks and sing.
The Fiftieth Semi annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened in the Large Tabernacle at 10 a.m. the 6th day of October, 1880.
Present on the stand were President John Taylor, and Elders Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, C. C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, F. D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Albert Carrington and Moses Thatcher, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Elders Erastus Snow and Brigham Young [Jr.] were absent having not yet returned from a mission through Arizona, New Mexico, etc.
Counselor to the Twelve—D. H. Wells.
Patriarch—John Smith.
Of the Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Joseph Young, Horace S. Eldredge, John Van Cott and W. W. Taylor.
Of the Presiding Bishops—Edward Hunter, and Leonard W. Hardy.
The Presidency of Salt Lake and other Stakes, besides leading Elders from all parts of the Territory.
Conference was called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Mortals awake, with angels join, And chant the solemn lay.
Prayer by Counselor D. H. Wells.
The choir sang: Sweet is the work, my God my King, To praise thy name, give thanks and sing.
Elder Charles C. Rich
expressed thankfulness for the opportunity afforded us of meeting together at this conference. It afforded an opportunity of reflecting on the great and glorious principles of eternal life. We should not permit ourselves to become careless and indifferent to the things of the kingdom of God, by being absorbed with the vain and trifling things of this world. We should lay ourselves out for the performance of those duties and responsibilities that rest upon us as Elders in Israel, and to accomplish these things we must enjoy the spirit of God, which alone can qualify us to perform them. We should attend to present duties, such as the building of Temples, and seek to become united in our temporal as well as our spiritual labors. We are far from being perfect, but our efforts should not be slackened on that account; God requires much labor at our hands, and by the aid and assistance of his Holy Spirit, we should ever be willing to continue to live before him in a way and manner that will be acceptable unto him. For there is no blessing that we can possibly enjoy, either temporal or spiritual, but what comes from his bountiful hand. That we may show our gratitude to him by our increased devotion to his cause, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.
expressed thankfulness for the opportunity afforded us of meeting together at this conference. It afforded an opportunity of reflecting on the great and glorious principles of eternal life. We should not permit ourselves to become careless and indifferent to the things of the kingdom of God, by being absorbed with the vain and trifling things of this world. We should lay ourselves out for the performance of those duties and responsibilities that rest upon us as Elders in Israel, and to accomplish these things we must enjoy the spirit of God, which alone can qualify us to perform them. We should attend to present duties, such as the building of Temples, and seek to become united in our temporal as well as our spiritual labors. We are far from being perfect, but our efforts should not be slackened on that account; God requires much labor at our hands, and by the aid and assistance of his Holy Spirit, we should ever be willing to continue to live before him in a way and manner that will be acceptable unto him. For there is no blessing that we can possibly enjoy, either temporal or spiritual, but what comes from his bountiful hand. That we may show our gratitude to him by our increased devotion to his cause, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.
Elder Lorenzo Snow
spoke of the relationship we sustain to our God, and the obligations that rest upon us in obtaining the light of the everlasting gospel to guide us through the journey of life. There is no necessity for us to become darkened in our minds, for we have the holy priesthood, and should ever be guided by the Spirit of God, which would fit and qualify us for serving him in an acceptable manner, and show us just what to do and how to act through all the relationships of life, in things pertaining to temporal as well as spiritual duties. He referred to the experience of Moses and the children of Israel, showing the power and authority of the holy priesthood, in guiding and directing the people in every duty that pertained to their happiness in this life, and preparing them for the glory and enjoyments of the world to come. For this very purpose the Holy Priesthood has been bestowed in this our day, to guide and perfect the saints of God here and just in proportion as we attain to intelligence in this world and to integrity and faithfulness in that, so will be the exalted condition in which we shall appear behind the vail. The Holy Priesthood given in our day, is precisely the same with which holy men of God in all ages have been endowed, to guide the people in all matters pertaining to their safety, whether individually or nationally, and just in proportion as the people are willing to act in accordance with the counsels and instructions of those inspired to instruct them, they will become perfected in those laws that we have received, and be prepared to hereafter enjoy the fulness of the glory of God. Elder Snow dwelt upon the necessity of practical holiness, being imbued with the love of God to-day, and walking in the light of the Lord in this world, not leaving these things for the world to come.
spoke of the relationship we sustain to our God, and the obligations that rest upon us in obtaining the light of the everlasting gospel to guide us through the journey of life. There is no necessity for us to become darkened in our minds, for we have the holy priesthood, and should ever be guided by the Spirit of God, which would fit and qualify us for serving him in an acceptable manner, and show us just what to do and how to act through all the relationships of life, in things pertaining to temporal as well as spiritual duties. He referred to the experience of Moses and the children of Israel, showing the power and authority of the holy priesthood, in guiding and directing the people in every duty that pertained to their happiness in this life, and preparing them for the glory and enjoyments of the world to come. For this very purpose the Holy Priesthood has been bestowed in this our day, to guide and perfect the saints of God here and just in proportion as we attain to intelligence in this world and to integrity and faithfulness in that, so will be the exalted condition in which we shall appear behind the vail. The Holy Priesthood given in our day, is precisely the same with which holy men of God in all ages have been endowed, to guide the people in all matters pertaining to their safety, whether individually or nationally, and just in proportion as the people are willing to act in accordance with the counsels and instructions of those inspired to instruct them, they will become perfected in those laws that we have received, and be prepared to hereafter enjoy the fulness of the glory of God. Elder Snow dwelt upon the necessity of practical holiness, being imbued with the love of God to-day, and walking in the light of the Lord in this world, not leaving these things for the world to come.
President John Taylor
said we had met here in Conference, to talk over and reflect upon those principles and doctrines that are interesting not only to us as a people, but to the people of the whole world. These meetings, in which are congregated together the leading men from all parts of the Territory, are convened for no private or covetous motives, but to correct whatever in doctrine or in practice is not in strict conformity with the mind and will of God, and that we may endeavor to instruct and strengthen each other in every principle and practice of virtues and integrity that will be approved before high heaven. They are pure and exalted principles that God has intrusted to us, even those that pertain to eternal life. We are responsible to God for the dissemination of those principles throughout the nations of the earth. How necessary it is then that we should be under the direction of the Almighty in all our ways and that we practise in our lives the truths which we are commanded to impart to others.
At this point, President Taylor feeling somewhat indisposed, took his seat.
said we had met here in Conference, to talk over and reflect upon those principles and doctrines that are interesting not only to us as a people, but to the people of the whole world. These meetings, in which are congregated together the leading men from all parts of the Territory, are convened for no private or covetous motives, but to correct whatever in doctrine or in practice is not in strict conformity with the mind and will of God, and that we may endeavor to instruct and strengthen each other in every principle and practice of virtues and integrity that will be approved before high heaven. They are pure and exalted principles that God has intrusted to us, even those that pertain to eternal life. We are responsible to God for the dissemination of those principles throughout the nations of the earth. How necessary it is then that we should be under the direction of the Almighty in all our ways and that we practise in our lives the truths which we are commanded to impart to others.
At this point, President Taylor feeling somewhat indisposed, took his seat.
Elder Geo. Q. Cannon
said we profess to have revelations from God and should be guided always by his holy spirit to enable us to perform those duties that are placed upon us, so that our labors may be acceptable before God. He spoke of the delightful experience of those who had yielded obedience to the ordinances and requirements of the gospel, and lived continually under the influence of that divine spirit, which they received at confirmation, which constantly pointed out to them the way they should go and which was pleasing to their heavenly father. Thus the humble seekers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, after being perplexed by the conflicting theories and churches of men, realized to their unutterable joy that they at length had found out a truth that was free from all uncertainty. This was the experience that gladdens the hearts of the Latter-day Saints in these valleys, and where ever they may be found on the face of the earth. He was glad that so many had met together this morning to receive the word of God, and those instructions that are calculated to benefit and unite the Saints.
He said in no place that he had visited could he find a people so united and happy, and opposed to strife, litigation and quarreling, and so obedient to good laws and wholesome principles, as those who dwelt in these valleys. He knew this to be the Church and Kingdom of God. He also knew that God had raised up the men who now lead us, and that God would increase this people in power and numbers until their influence would be felt throughout the nations of the earth, not for themselves, but for the good of all. This is a phenomenal people. Where is there anything like them? Here we have a people, drawn together by one common impulse from all nations and creeds, speaking almost every language known on the earth and having various national peculiarities and customs, now dwelling together in comparative peace and union, and influenced by one spirit. What a spectacle to behold! There is nothing like it on the face of the earth. Only a few years ago God revealed his mind and will to an unlettered youth and organized a Church with only six members, and now look at its proportions! No human being alive could accomplish such grand and glorious results. God is the author of it, and he will consummate his plans and purpose, in connection with the Saints of latter days. Everything we now behold was predicted fifty years ago by the leaders of this Church. What they had declared which was not yet fulfilled would surely be fulfilled. God will attract by the power of truth men from every nation, who will come trooping by thousands to Zion. In spite of all the opposition that may be brought to bear against this work by men and governments, it will prevail. Prophets may be slain and an humble people persecuted, but the work is imperishable and indestructible. Rejoice then, ye Latter-day Saints, for great and glorious things await you. There are many in our midst who have grown grey in the service of God, but when they pass away others will come up in their places, and everything predicted concerning the latter-day glory will be accomplished to the very letter.
said we profess to have revelations from God and should be guided always by his holy spirit to enable us to perform those duties that are placed upon us, so that our labors may be acceptable before God. He spoke of the delightful experience of those who had yielded obedience to the ordinances and requirements of the gospel, and lived continually under the influence of that divine spirit, which they received at confirmation, which constantly pointed out to them the way they should go and which was pleasing to their heavenly father. Thus the humble seekers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, after being perplexed by the conflicting theories and churches of men, realized to their unutterable joy that they at length had found out a truth that was free from all uncertainty. This was the experience that gladdens the hearts of the Latter-day Saints in these valleys, and where ever they may be found on the face of the earth. He was glad that so many had met together this morning to receive the word of God, and those instructions that are calculated to benefit and unite the Saints.
He said in no place that he had visited could he find a people so united and happy, and opposed to strife, litigation and quarreling, and so obedient to good laws and wholesome principles, as those who dwelt in these valleys. He knew this to be the Church and Kingdom of God. He also knew that God had raised up the men who now lead us, and that God would increase this people in power and numbers until their influence would be felt throughout the nations of the earth, not for themselves, but for the good of all. This is a phenomenal people. Where is there anything like them? Here we have a people, drawn together by one common impulse from all nations and creeds, speaking almost every language known on the earth and having various national peculiarities and customs, now dwelling together in comparative peace and union, and influenced by one spirit. What a spectacle to behold! There is nothing like it on the face of the earth. Only a few years ago God revealed his mind and will to an unlettered youth and organized a Church with only six members, and now look at its proportions! No human being alive could accomplish such grand and glorious results. God is the author of it, and he will consummate his plans and purpose, in connection with the Saints of latter days. Everything we now behold was predicted fifty years ago by the leaders of this Church. What they had declared which was not yet fulfilled would surely be fulfilled. God will attract by the power of truth men from every nation, who will come trooping by thousands to Zion. In spite of all the opposition that may be brought to bear against this work by men and governments, it will prevail. Prophets may be slain and an humble people persecuted, but the work is imperishable and indestructible. Rejoice then, ye Latter-day Saints, for great and glorious things await you. There are many in our midst who have grown grey in the service of God, but when they pass away others will come up in their places, and everything predicted concerning the latter-day glory will be accomplished to the very letter.
President John Taylor
said, as the Conference would be likely to continue till next Sunday, the Conference would be adjourned till tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., and this afternoon would give an opportunity for the brethren to attend to their business matters. He desired the seats on the south side of the stand to be reserved for the presidents of stakes, with their counselors and the members of High Councils, and the north for bishops and their counselors. President Taylor said that he had been attending closely to business and had exerted himself considerably and as a consequence felt a little faint while he was speaking this morning. Otherwise there was nothing the matter with him.
said, as the Conference would be likely to continue till next Sunday, the Conference would be adjourned till tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., and this afternoon would give an opportunity for the brethren to attend to their business matters. He desired the seats on the south side of the stand to be reserved for the presidents of stakes, with their counselors and the members of High Councils, and the north for bishops and their counselors. President Taylor said that he had been attending closely to business and had exerted himself considerably and as a consequence felt a little faint while he was speaking this morning. Otherwise there was nothing the matter with him.
Elder W. Woodruff
gave notice that a meeting of the Young Men’s and Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations would be held this evening in the Assembly Hall at 7 o’clock p.m.
The Choir sang the anthem, I will extol thee.
Conference adjourned till 10 o’clock a. m. to-morrow, (Thursday).
Benediction by Elder L. John Nuttall.
gave notice that a meeting of the Young Men’s and Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations would be held this evening in the Assembly Hall at 7 o’clock p.m.
The Choir sang the anthem, I will extol thee.
Conference adjourned till 10 o’clock a. m. to-morrow, (Thursday).
Benediction by Elder L. John Nuttall.
SECOND DAY
Thursday, Oct. 7, 1880, 10 o’clock a. m.
Choir sang Come we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known.
Prayer by Elder F. D. Richards.
Choir sang, Behold the mountain of the Lord In latter days shall rise.
Thursday, Oct. 7, 1880, 10 o’clock a. m.
Choir sang Come we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known.
Prayer by Elder F. D. Richards.
Choir sang, Behold the mountain of the Lord In latter days shall rise.
Elder A. Carrington
felt grateful for the privilege of enjoying the inestimable blessings of our heavenly Father, which he continues to grant unto us from time to time. He requires of us the keeping of his commandments, and inasmuch as we observe them there is no blessing, either of a temporal or spiritual nature, which will be denied us. Such were the condition made to those who first came to inhabit this choice land. So long as they kept and observed his requirements they were blessed and prospered in the land, but when they became wayward and disobedient, they were chastened and afflicted, until they were finally swept from the face of the earth. The pure principles of the Gospel have been revealed for our government in this our day, and the preaching of the Gospel throughout the nations of the earth has been the means of gathering a great and numerous people from almost every quarter of the globe, and no one need suppose that they have been gathered here to gratify their own whims or to gain any supposed popularity it might bring them, but in the midst of the suffering and strife that their acceptance of the principles of the Gospel had brought upon them, to serve the Lord with all their hearts, seeking first of all to know his will and then to carry it into practical effect in their every day lives. We have been led by revelation from the time that Joseph first received a knowledge of God’s will in his early youth. And from the earliest period of man’s existence on the earth, and through all the intermediate periods spoken of by all the prophets since the world began, the grand principle of revelation stands out as a bold and conspicuous principle. The Lord gives line upon line and precept upon precept, to his children, and the speaker knew of no other way that God could expect submission to his will by his children, except by revealing that will to his servants, and they to make known to the people that which he reveals. God does not look upon the world as we do. We would naturally choose the wise and worldly might to usher in such a work as God has commenced, but he chose as his servants, the meek, humble and unlearned, and with them he has said he will thresh the nations by the power of his spirit. Those who do not understand the principles we have embraced will readily concede that the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph in the beginning, that God would employ the weak and unlearned ones to carry out his purposes, is correct, for they do not fail to charge us with being a weak and ignorant people, thus admitting the truth of that which God himself made known, but such being our character in the estimation of the world, it should not prevent us from seeking after a knowledge of the great work that God our Father has commenced, and be preparing ourselves for the blessings that await us in the redemption of Zion. We must labor to eradicate from ourselves all that is degrading and live according to the decrees of our kind, wise Father in the heavens. But there are some who seem to prefer their own secret will and their own wayward way marking their own course according to their own skill in very great blindness and foolishness. But it is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to be guided by the revelations of God that they may overcome and inherit the glory of the righteous.
felt grateful for the privilege of enjoying the inestimable blessings of our heavenly Father, which he continues to grant unto us from time to time. He requires of us the keeping of his commandments, and inasmuch as we observe them there is no blessing, either of a temporal or spiritual nature, which will be denied us. Such were the condition made to those who first came to inhabit this choice land. So long as they kept and observed his requirements they were blessed and prospered in the land, but when they became wayward and disobedient, they were chastened and afflicted, until they were finally swept from the face of the earth. The pure principles of the Gospel have been revealed for our government in this our day, and the preaching of the Gospel throughout the nations of the earth has been the means of gathering a great and numerous people from almost every quarter of the globe, and no one need suppose that they have been gathered here to gratify their own whims or to gain any supposed popularity it might bring them, but in the midst of the suffering and strife that their acceptance of the principles of the Gospel had brought upon them, to serve the Lord with all their hearts, seeking first of all to know his will and then to carry it into practical effect in their every day lives. We have been led by revelation from the time that Joseph first received a knowledge of God’s will in his early youth. And from the earliest period of man’s existence on the earth, and through all the intermediate periods spoken of by all the prophets since the world began, the grand principle of revelation stands out as a bold and conspicuous principle. The Lord gives line upon line and precept upon precept, to his children, and the speaker knew of no other way that God could expect submission to his will by his children, except by revealing that will to his servants, and they to make known to the people that which he reveals. God does not look upon the world as we do. We would naturally choose the wise and worldly might to usher in such a work as God has commenced, but he chose as his servants, the meek, humble and unlearned, and with them he has said he will thresh the nations by the power of his spirit. Those who do not understand the principles we have embraced will readily concede that the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph in the beginning, that God would employ the weak and unlearned ones to carry out his purposes, is correct, for they do not fail to charge us with being a weak and ignorant people, thus admitting the truth of that which God himself made known, but such being our character in the estimation of the world, it should not prevent us from seeking after a knowledge of the great work that God our Father has commenced, and be preparing ourselves for the blessings that await us in the redemption of Zion. We must labor to eradicate from ourselves all that is degrading and live according to the decrees of our kind, wise Father in the heavens. But there are some who seem to prefer their own secret will and their own wayward way marking their own course according to their own skill in very great blindness and foolishness. But it is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to be guided by the revelations of God that they may overcome and inherit the glory of the righteous.
Elder W. Woodruff
said every one who attempts to preach to and instruct the Saints of God must have the spirit of God in order to be successful as a teacher. Ever since the servants of God have been sustained by the Almighty in fulfilling the words which they uttered, no matter what the day or age of the world in which they lived, they were responsible to God in delivering the message they were sent to make known, and although in many instances it cost them their lives, yet having received the priesthood they were under the strongest obligation to God and the people, and had to perform their duty and leave the result in the hands of God. He then spoke of Joseph Smith the Prophet, whom God had raised up, called, and ordained to lay the foundation of this great latter-day work, and who ordained apostles, and organized every branch of the holy priesthood. He then addressed himself to those present as being a generation of apostles and elders, no other generation ever enjoyed such privileges or were under such obligations. We will be held responsible for our exercise of all the authority and power conferred upon us, and if we could only see ourselves as God sees us, if the vail could only be lifted to show us our true position, how different many of us would act to what we do in reference to the things of God. Their hearts would not be set upon the things of this life, but upon the things of the kingdom. He spoke of the fifty thousand millions of the human family behind the vail who have so many years been shut up in prison, and Joseph Smith, who holds the keys of this dispensation, was the first one to open the doors of that prison house for ages, and to preach the gospel of salvation to them. We must build our temples and attend to the ordinances of the gospel in behalf of our dead who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel. This is one of the most important of our responsibilities. Let us go to, and build temples, pay our tithing, attend to our prayers and not give so much heed in accumulating the wealth of the world. “How hardly shall a rich man enter the kingdom of God.” The poor can work for their bread and live their religion, while the rich become engrossed with the cares of the world. He did not wish to reflect on those who are wealthy, either in the Church or out of it, for the Lord intended us to become a wealthy people, but we must make a wise and good use of what he places in our hands. We shall be held responsible not only for the use we put our wealth to, but every other gift God has blessed us with. No other people in our day can go forth to the nations and call upon them to believe, repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, and promise them the gift of the Holy Ghost for so doing, but by this means the 150,000 of this people have been gathered to these mountains. God has inspired his servants and sent them forth with this message, and has backed them up by the power of his spirit, and by this kingdom, which he prayed we might be able to do, in name of Jesus.
said every one who attempts to preach to and instruct the Saints of God must have the spirit of God in order to be successful as a teacher. Ever since the servants of God have been sustained by the Almighty in fulfilling the words which they uttered, no matter what the day or age of the world in which they lived, they were responsible to God in delivering the message they were sent to make known, and although in many instances it cost them their lives, yet having received the priesthood they were under the strongest obligation to God and the people, and had to perform their duty and leave the result in the hands of God. He then spoke of Joseph Smith the Prophet, whom God had raised up, called, and ordained to lay the foundation of this great latter-day work, and who ordained apostles, and organized every branch of the holy priesthood. He then addressed himself to those present as being a generation of apostles and elders, no other generation ever enjoyed such privileges or were under such obligations. We will be held responsible for our exercise of all the authority and power conferred upon us, and if we could only see ourselves as God sees us, if the vail could only be lifted to show us our true position, how different many of us would act to what we do in reference to the things of God. Their hearts would not be set upon the things of this life, but upon the things of the kingdom. He spoke of the fifty thousand millions of the human family behind the vail who have so many years been shut up in prison, and Joseph Smith, who holds the keys of this dispensation, was the first one to open the doors of that prison house for ages, and to preach the gospel of salvation to them. We must build our temples and attend to the ordinances of the gospel in behalf of our dead who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel. This is one of the most important of our responsibilities. Let us go to, and build temples, pay our tithing, attend to our prayers and not give so much heed in accumulating the wealth of the world. “How hardly shall a rich man enter the kingdom of God.” The poor can work for their bread and live their religion, while the rich become engrossed with the cares of the world. He did not wish to reflect on those who are wealthy, either in the Church or out of it, for the Lord intended us to become a wealthy people, but we must make a wise and good use of what he places in our hands. We shall be held responsible not only for the use we put our wealth to, but every other gift God has blessed us with. No other people in our day can go forth to the nations and call upon them to believe, repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, and promise them the gift of the Holy Ghost for so doing, but by this means the 150,000 of this people have been gathered to these mountains. God has inspired his servants and sent them forth with this message, and has backed them up by the power of his spirit, and by this kingdom, which he prayed we might be able to do, in name of Jesus.
Discourse
Delivered By Elder Wilford Woodruff,
At the General Conference, Thursday Morning, Oct. 7th, 1880.
Reported By John Irvine.
I am pleased to have the opportunity of again meeting with my brethren and sisters in General Conference. There is one thing that is very clear to my mind with regard to myself and everybody else who attempts to teach the Latter-day Saints, and that is we all need the spirit of the Lord, and without it we cannot edify anybody, neither can we build up Zion or do the work of God without the Holy Spirit. The prophets, the apostles, and all men who have been called in every age of the world to labor for the kingdom of God have had to be actuated by this principle, and that is one reason, as Brother Carrington has said, why the weak things of this world, whom the Lord has chosen, have confidence in God to go forth to lift up their voices and preach the gospel of Christ and do the work which is required at their hands.
It is certainly interesting to any reflecting mind to contemplate the dealings of God with the inhabitants of the earth in the various ages and dispensations almost from the creation of the world as far as we have any knowledge. I have often been struck, in reading ancient history, with the dealings of God with some of the ancient cities of which we have some account in the Bible and other histories aside from that book. For instance there is Tyre and Sodom, Nineveh and Babylon the great—these mighty cities that were built as it were to defy all time and all power but God himself. Just as quick as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, or any other prophet whom God raised up to lift up his voice and declare the word of the Lord concerning the destiny of any of these cities, all the power of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, or any other king or priest who dwelt in these cities, ruled them, governed and controlled them, had no power to stay the fulfilment of the words of the servants of the Lord; these cities have been overturned, have been laid in the dust in fulfillment of the word of God whenever they were ripened in iniquity. The Lord sent a poor weak man named Jonah to Nineveh, a great and mighty city, to go and warn the inhabitants thereof to repent, or in forty days Nineveh should be overthrown. Jonah thought it was a little too much for him, an obscure man, to go unto a great city like Nineveh and tell the inhabitants that in a few days the city would be overturned, hence he fled into Tarshish. For this he had a peculiar kind of experience for three days and three nights; you are all acquainted with the history that I allude to. When Jonah, however, got on dry land again he went and fulfilled his mission to the inhabitants of Nineveh. And I have many times thought that if this generation was like unto the Ninevites the world would be different to what it is to-day. When the people heard the word of God they believed it. They went to work and repented and called upon the Lord, and we are told “that God withheld the evil that he had said he would do unto them; and he did it.” But I want to say that in all these things, when the Lord has called upon men to labor in the building up of his kingdom, he has chosen the weak things of the world. And so it has been throughout the whole generations of men. In the days of Jesus Christ, the apostles chosen were illiterate men, fishermen a good many of them; but the Lord gave them the apostleship, he gave them the priesthood, and they were commanded to go forth and preach the gospel. But they had to suffer death for their testimony.
I desire now to refer to ourselves. In reflecting upon ancient days, let us look at our own position. The Lord raised up Joseph Smith. His history—his life, his works, his death—is before the world to-day. Joseph Smith was an illiterate man, as far as worldly learning was concerned, but he was an instrument raised up by the Lord to lay the foundation of this great and last dispensation. The Lord held Joseph Smith responsible for the keys of the kingdom of God, for the revelations of heaven, for every principle which the Lord had revealed to him. Joseph Smith was a great man—that is before the Lord, before the heavens, and before this generation. He was ordained of God to lay the foundation of this Church and Kingdom; he was true and faithful unto death, and when we look at what has followed the laying of the foundation of this Church fifty years ago, with six members, it is a marvel, it is a mystery in the eyes of the world, and it is even to us as Latter-day Saints, to note the progress of this church and kingdom from that day until the present. The revelations which have been given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, have all had their fulfilment as far as time would admit. Joseph Smith lived until he laid the foundation of this church and kingdom; he lived until he received every key and principle and priesthood which belongs to this dispensation, and he lived until he sealed the same upon the heads of other men. Every man that ever knew him, every elder or every saint of God that ever traveled with him, or have heard him converse, can form some little idea of the spirit that filled his bosom. I have seen him from time to time, in my early acquaintance with him in Kirtland, smite his breast and say, “I would to God I could unbosom my feelings to my friends.” But he could not do it. It seems it was impossible for him to reveal to the elders what God had revealed to him. Nevertheless he accomplished the work to which he had been ordained and set apart by the power of God. He lived, as I have already said, until he organized the church in all its various organizations. He chose the apostles, seventies, high council, high priests, and all the various officers in the church and kingdom of God by revelation, and when he had finished this work, the Lord called him home. He sealed his testimony with his blood, and went to the other side of the vail. He holds the keys of the kingdom of God on both sides of the vail, and will hold them to the endless ages of eternity. Apostles were called and set apart to carry on the work which he commenced. Many of them who were associated with him have passed away, others remain here in the flesh.
If I could tell you the feelings of my own heart I would say to the apostles, seventies, high priests, and all the officers of this Church and kingdom, the God of heaven has raised you up, according to my faith and my view, and placed you here on the earth and watched over you until you have received the ordinances of the gospel. You are raised up as a kingdom of priests. You hold the power of the priesthood in your hands, and I say you are held responsible before high heaven, before the rods of eternity, before the heavenly hosts, and will be held accountable to the judgment day for the manner you make use of this priesthood and power which is put into your hands. This is the condition of all of us from the apostleship down through every department of this church and kingdom. There never was a generation since God made the world that have had greater power, greater responsibilities, greater blessings, or that have ever had the kingdom of God placed upon their shoulders to remain on the earth until the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore, how great the responsibility resting upon us as apostles, as elders, and in every capacity in which we are called to act. This is the way I view our position, and when I have enjoyed a portion of the spirit of God, when the vision of my mind has been open to comprehend in any measure our relationship to God and the heavenly hosts, and the responsibility we are under here to the Lord and to this generation, I have felt that I would to God that the vail might be lifted to the vision of the Latter-day Saints, that we might see ourselves as God sees us, and as the heavenly hosts see us. If we could only comprehend this we would feel in many respects different to what we do at present. We would be diligent. We would not have our hearts set on the things of this life as they many times are. Our labors are very great, very extensive. The Lord requires of us that which he has hardly ever required of any other generation. We have the kingdom. We have got to establish it and maintain it by faith and good works with the help of God while we dwell here in the flesh. We have these temples to build here in these valleys of the mountains. This is one of the most important branches of the responsibility resting upon Latter-day Saints—the redemption of our dead. I have often referred to this subject, because my mind has been opened to it, my desires have been exercised upon this principle. Nearly 1800 years have passed away and over 50 generations of men who have never seen a Prophet or an Apostle, who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, have gone into the spirit world. They have gone there without the gospel, they are under no responsibility to that law because they never came under it. There are therefore some fifty thousand million people to-day in the spirit world that have to be preached to by the Elders of Israel. There was nobody to preach to them until Joseph Smith went into the spirit world with the keys of the kingdom of God and unlocked the prison door. The Prophet Joseph had this subject of the redemption of the dead in his heart until the day of his death. He labored most diligently to this end. These millions will be preached to, and many will receive the truth, while those who dwell in the flesh have this duty to perform as their descendants on the earth to go and build these temples that we may attend to ordinances for the dead which the dead cannot attend to themselves. God requires this at our hands. It is our duty to enter into these temples and redeem our dead as far as we can, that we may be justified when we go into the spirit world. We have all the branches, temporal and spiritual, of this Church and kingdom to carry out. We have got to build these cities, towns and villages. We have got to cultivate the earth, educate our children, train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and it is our duty as a people to unite ourselves together according to the law of God. We should not set our hearts too much upon the things of this world. The earth and the riches thereof is the Lord’s. He will give them to the Latter-day Saints as fast as they are prepared to receive them. But I tell you I have thought many times that it is a calamity for a man to become rich in the midst of this people. It is a hard matter for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Men when they are poor can labor for their bread and feel thankful to the God who gives it; but when we become millionaires our hearts begin to set upon the things of this world. Not but what such men may keep the commandments of God, do what is right and be justified. I do not make these remarks because I wish to speak against the wealthy of the Latter-day Saints, or anybody else, but I speak of this that we should not permit our hearts to be set upon riches to deprive us of magnifying our calling before the Lord. We have got to become rich, some time or other; the Saints of God will yet possess the earth. But the Lord holds us responsible as a people for the building up of his kingdom. We have got to build these temples and redeem our dead. We have got to pay our tithing. This is a law which has been given unto us. We should obey the law of tithing as a people, so that we may be qualified to inherit eternal life.
When I come to realize that my destiny on the other side of the vail depends upon the little time I have to spend here, I feel that I have no time to throw away. We should seek for the Holy Spirit. We should magnify our calling. This kingdom given unto you Latter-day Saints, is the kingdom of God. It is the kingdom that Daniel saw, it is the everlasting kingdom which has been spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world was made. The little stone cut out of the mountains without hands, will roll until it fills the whole earth. The heavenly hosts are looking to nobody else upon the footstool of God but the Latter-day Saints to accomplish this work. No other people have got the kingdom. No other people have received the priesthood but the Latter-day Saints, and we will be held responsible for the use we make of it. Therefore, I think we should be diligent, we should be faithful to our duties, we should look to the position which we occupy before the Lord. Our blessings are great. The relations of heaven have been given unto us. We possess the Holy Ghost, it has been given to this people. We have been gathered by it from among the nations of the earth through the instrumentality of weak and humble men who have been called upon to preach the gospel. We regard this as being one of the strongest evidences of this being the work of God. The world, however, hate us. This we regard as another evidence of the divinity of this work. Said the Savior in his day, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” The world hate this people, the priests of the day especially, and if they had the power they would waste them away from off the face of the earth; but the Lord has said that he would break in pieces every weapon that is formed against Zion. When the wicked stretch out their hands to destroy this kingdom of God, will they prevail? I think not. We have got the kingdom of God. The Lord is looking to us, the heavenly hosts are looking to us, Joseph Smith and the whole of the spirit world, who are righteous, are watching this people with intense interest. They expect us to build Zion. They expect us to build temples and redeem our dead. They expect us to unite ourselves together and to keep the faith and overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. They expect these things at our hands, and I do hope that they may not be disappointed.
We have every encouragement, my brethren and sisters, to be faithful. I thank God I have heard this gospel. I thank God I have lived to see this people. I thank God that I have been associated with prophets and apostles. All the happiness, all the joy and all the consolation I have ever had has been since I embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a testimony for myself, as you have for yourselves, that this is the work of God. I know it is the work of God. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord. The Lord raised him up to lay the foundation of this Church and Kingdom. No man could do it of himself. The voice of God, the voice of the Holy Ghost, the voice of inspiration has declared these things from day to day and from year to year. It is by this power that we have been gathered together. Who could have gathered this people by any other principle only by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where is there a minister on the face of the earth—a minister of the gospel or one who professes to be such—who dare go to the nations of the earth and tell the people that if they receive his testimony and will go forth and be baptized, they shall receive the Holy Ghost? Is there any man on the earth dare do this? No one. No people ever has done it excepting the Latter-day Saints. Why dare they not do this? Because God would not back up their testimony, and if we had not been called of God, if this gospel had not been of God, we should have been found out a great many years ago. When we go and declare these things we promise the sons and daughters of Adam that if they will receive the gospel of Christ they shall receive the Holy Ghost. We offer this in the name of Israel’s God. We baptize men and women, we lay hands upon them, and they do receive the Holy Ghost, and it bears record to them and they rise up and bear testimony of the truth of these things. It is by this power we have been gathered. It is by this power we shall build up Zion. We shall continue to labor. We shall prosper. We shall have power to build these temples and dedicate them. We shall have power to build others and will continue to work until the Son of Man comes in the clouds of heaven to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Then let us as Elders of Israel round up your shoulders for the kingdom of God. Let us strive to retain the Holy Spirit that we may realize our responsibility and be ready to magnify our calling and do our duty before the Lord.
I pray God my Heavenly Father to let his blessing rest upon us during this conference—upon Brother Taylor, the Apostles, the Elders of Israel, and those who teach us and instruct us, for Christ’s sake, Amen.
The Choir sang an anthem: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness.
Conference was adjourned till 2 o’clock p. m.
Benediction by Elder Orson Pratt.
Delivered By Elder Wilford Woodruff,
At the General Conference, Thursday Morning, Oct. 7th, 1880.
Reported By John Irvine.
I am pleased to have the opportunity of again meeting with my brethren and sisters in General Conference. There is one thing that is very clear to my mind with regard to myself and everybody else who attempts to teach the Latter-day Saints, and that is we all need the spirit of the Lord, and without it we cannot edify anybody, neither can we build up Zion or do the work of God without the Holy Spirit. The prophets, the apostles, and all men who have been called in every age of the world to labor for the kingdom of God have had to be actuated by this principle, and that is one reason, as Brother Carrington has said, why the weak things of this world, whom the Lord has chosen, have confidence in God to go forth to lift up their voices and preach the gospel of Christ and do the work which is required at their hands.
It is certainly interesting to any reflecting mind to contemplate the dealings of God with the inhabitants of the earth in the various ages and dispensations almost from the creation of the world as far as we have any knowledge. I have often been struck, in reading ancient history, with the dealings of God with some of the ancient cities of which we have some account in the Bible and other histories aside from that book. For instance there is Tyre and Sodom, Nineveh and Babylon the great—these mighty cities that were built as it were to defy all time and all power but God himself. Just as quick as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, or any other prophet whom God raised up to lift up his voice and declare the word of the Lord concerning the destiny of any of these cities, all the power of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, or any other king or priest who dwelt in these cities, ruled them, governed and controlled them, had no power to stay the fulfilment of the words of the servants of the Lord; these cities have been overturned, have been laid in the dust in fulfillment of the word of God whenever they were ripened in iniquity. The Lord sent a poor weak man named Jonah to Nineveh, a great and mighty city, to go and warn the inhabitants thereof to repent, or in forty days Nineveh should be overthrown. Jonah thought it was a little too much for him, an obscure man, to go unto a great city like Nineveh and tell the inhabitants that in a few days the city would be overturned, hence he fled into Tarshish. For this he had a peculiar kind of experience for three days and three nights; you are all acquainted with the history that I allude to. When Jonah, however, got on dry land again he went and fulfilled his mission to the inhabitants of Nineveh. And I have many times thought that if this generation was like unto the Ninevites the world would be different to what it is to-day. When the people heard the word of God they believed it. They went to work and repented and called upon the Lord, and we are told “that God withheld the evil that he had said he would do unto them; and he did it.” But I want to say that in all these things, when the Lord has called upon men to labor in the building up of his kingdom, he has chosen the weak things of the world. And so it has been throughout the whole generations of men. In the days of Jesus Christ, the apostles chosen were illiterate men, fishermen a good many of them; but the Lord gave them the apostleship, he gave them the priesthood, and they were commanded to go forth and preach the gospel. But they had to suffer death for their testimony.
I desire now to refer to ourselves. In reflecting upon ancient days, let us look at our own position. The Lord raised up Joseph Smith. His history—his life, his works, his death—is before the world to-day. Joseph Smith was an illiterate man, as far as worldly learning was concerned, but he was an instrument raised up by the Lord to lay the foundation of this great and last dispensation. The Lord held Joseph Smith responsible for the keys of the kingdom of God, for the revelations of heaven, for every principle which the Lord had revealed to him. Joseph Smith was a great man—that is before the Lord, before the heavens, and before this generation. He was ordained of God to lay the foundation of this Church and Kingdom; he was true and faithful unto death, and when we look at what has followed the laying of the foundation of this Church fifty years ago, with six members, it is a marvel, it is a mystery in the eyes of the world, and it is even to us as Latter-day Saints, to note the progress of this church and kingdom from that day until the present. The revelations which have been given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, have all had their fulfilment as far as time would admit. Joseph Smith lived until he laid the foundation of this church and kingdom; he lived until he received every key and principle and priesthood which belongs to this dispensation, and he lived until he sealed the same upon the heads of other men. Every man that ever knew him, every elder or every saint of God that ever traveled with him, or have heard him converse, can form some little idea of the spirit that filled his bosom. I have seen him from time to time, in my early acquaintance with him in Kirtland, smite his breast and say, “I would to God I could unbosom my feelings to my friends.” But he could not do it. It seems it was impossible for him to reveal to the elders what God had revealed to him. Nevertheless he accomplished the work to which he had been ordained and set apart by the power of God. He lived, as I have already said, until he organized the church in all its various organizations. He chose the apostles, seventies, high council, high priests, and all the various officers in the church and kingdom of God by revelation, and when he had finished this work, the Lord called him home. He sealed his testimony with his blood, and went to the other side of the vail. He holds the keys of the kingdom of God on both sides of the vail, and will hold them to the endless ages of eternity. Apostles were called and set apart to carry on the work which he commenced. Many of them who were associated with him have passed away, others remain here in the flesh.
If I could tell you the feelings of my own heart I would say to the apostles, seventies, high priests, and all the officers of this Church and kingdom, the God of heaven has raised you up, according to my faith and my view, and placed you here on the earth and watched over you until you have received the ordinances of the gospel. You are raised up as a kingdom of priests. You hold the power of the priesthood in your hands, and I say you are held responsible before high heaven, before the rods of eternity, before the heavenly hosts, and will be held accountable to the judgment day for the manner you make use of this priesthood and power which is put into your hands. This is the condition of all of us from the apostleship down through every department of this church and kingdom. There never was a generation since God made the world that have had greater power, greater responsibilities, greater blessings, or that have ever had the kingdom of God placed upon their shoulders to remain on the earth until the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore, how great the responsibility resting upon us as apostles, as elders, and in every capacity in which we are called to act. This is the way I view our position, and when I have enjoyed a portion of the spirit of God, when the vision of my mind has been open to comprehend in any measure our relationship to God and the heavenly hosts, and the responsibility we are under here to the Lord and to this generation, I have felt that I would to God that the vail might be lifted to the vision of the Latter-day Saints, that we might see ourselves as God sees us, and as the heavenly hosts see us. If we could only comprehend this we would feel in many respects different to what we do at present. We would be diligent. We would not have our hearts set on the things of this life as they many times are. Our labors are very great, very extensive. The Lord requires of us that which he has hardly ever required of any other generation. We have the kingdom. We have got to establish it and maintain it by faith and good works with the help of God while we dwell here in the flesh. We have these temples to build here in these valleys of the mountains. This is one of the most important branches of the responsibility resting upon Latter-day Saints—the redemption of our dead. I have often referred to this subject, because my mind has been opened to it, my desires have been exercised upon this principle. Nearly 1800 years have passed away and over 50 generations of men who have never seen a Prophet or an Apostle, who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, have gone into the spirit world. They have gone there without the gospel, they are under no responsibility to that law because they never came under it. There are therefore some fifty thousand million people to-day in the spirit world that have to be preached to by the Elders of Israel. There was nobody to preach to them until Joseph Smith went into the spirit world with the keys of the kingdom of God and unlocked the prison door. The Prophet Joseph had this subject of the redemption of the dead in his heart until the day of his death. He labored most diligently to this end. These millions will be preached to, and many will receive the truth, while those who dwell in the flesh have this duty to perform as their descendants on the earth to go and build these temples that we may attend to ordinances for the dead which the dead cannot attend to themselves. God requires this at our hands. It is our duty to enter into these temples and redeem our dead as far as we can, that we may be justified when we go into the spirit world. We have all the branches, temporal and spiritual, of this Church and kingdom to carry out. We have got to build these cities, towns and villages. We have got to cultivate the earth, educate our children, train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and it is our duty as a people to unite ourselves together according to the law of God. We should not set our hearts too much upon the things of this world. The earth and the riches thereof is the Lord’s. He will give them to the Latter-day Saints as fast as they are prepared to receive them. But I tell you I have thought many times that it is a calamity for a man to become rich in the midst of this people. It is a hard matter for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Men when they are poor can labor for their bread and feel thankful to the God who gives it; but when we become millionaires our hearts begin to set upon the things of this world. Not but what such men may keep the commandments of God, do what is right and be justified. I do not make these remarks because I wish to speak against the wealthy of the Latter-day Saints, or anybody else, but I speak of this that we should not permit our hearts to be set upon riches to deprive us of magnifying our calling before the Lord. We have got to become rich, some time or other; the Saints of God will yet possess the earth. But the Lord holds us responsible as a people for the building up of his kingdom. We have got to build these temples and redeem our dead. We have got to pay our tithing. This is a law which has been given unto us. We should obey the law of tithing as a people, so that we may be qualified to inherit eternal life.
When I come to realize that my destiny on the other side of the vail depends upon the little time I have to spend here, I feel that I have no time to throw away. We should seek for the Holy Spirit. We should magnify our calling. This kingdom given unto you Latter-day Saints, is the kingdom of God. It is the kingdom that Daniel saw, it is the everlasting kingdom which has been spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world was made. The little stone cut out of the mountains without hands, will roll until it fills the whole earth. The heavenly hosts are looking to nobody else upon the footstool of God but the Latter-day Saints to accomplish this work. No other people have got the kingdom. No other people have received the priesthood but the Latter-day Saints, and we will be held responsible for the use we make of it. Therefore, I think we should be diligent, we should be faithful to our duties, we should look to the position which we occupy before the Lord. Our blessings are great. The relations of heaven have been given unto us. We possess the Holy Ghost, it has been given to this people. We have been gathered by it from among the nations of the earth through the instrumentality of weak and humble men who have been called upon to preach the gospel. We regard this as being one of the strongest evidences of this being the work of God. The world, however, hate us. This we regard as another evidence of the divinity of this work. Said the Savior in his day, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” The world hate this people, the priests of the day especially, and if they had the power they would waste them away from off the face of the earth; but the Lord has said that he would break in pieces every weapon that is formed against Zion. When the wicked stretch out their hands to destroy this kingdom of God, will they prevail? I think not. We have got the kingdom of God. The Lord is looking to us, the heavenly hosts are looking to us, Joseph Smith and the whole of the spirit world, who are righteous, are watching this people with intense interest. They expect us to build Zion. They expect us to build temples and redeem our dead. They expect us to unite ourselves together and to keep the faith and overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. They expect these things at our hands, and I do hope that they may not be disappointed.
We have every encouragement, my brethren and sisters, to be faithful. I thank God I have heard this gospel. I thank God I have lived to see this people. I thank God that I have been associated with prophets and apostles. All the happiness, all the joy and all the consolation I have ever had has been since I embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a testimony for myself, as you have for yourselves, that this is the work of God. I know it is the work of God. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord. The Lord raised him up to lay the foundation of this Church and Kingdom. No man could do it of himself. The voice of God, the voice of the Holy Ghost, the voice of inspiration has declared these things from day to day and from year to year. It is by this power that we have been gathered together. Who could have gathered this people by any other principle only by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where is there a minister on the face of the earth—a minister of the gospel or one who professes to be such—who dare go to the nations of the earth and tell the people that if they receive his testimony and will go forth and be baptized, they shall receive the Holy Ghost? Is there any man on the earth dare do this? No one. No people ever has done it excepting the Latter-day Saints. Why dare they not do this? Because God would not back up their testimony, and if we had not been called of God, if this gospel had not been of God, we should have been found out a great many years ago. When we go and declare these things we promise the sons and daughters of Adam that if they will receive the gospel of Christ they shall receive the Holy Ghost. We offer this in the name of Israel’s God. We baptize men and women, we lay hands upon them, and they do receive the Holy Ghost, and it bears record to them and they rise up and bear testimony of the truth of these things. It is by this power we have been gathered. It is by this power we shall build up Zion. We shall continue to labor. We shall prosper. We shall have power to build these temples and dedicate them. We shall have power to build others and will continue to work until the Son of Man comes in the clouds of heaven to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Then let us as Elders of Israel round up your shoulders for the kingdom of God. Let us strive to retain the Holy Spirit that we may realize our responsibility and be ready to magnify our calling and do our duty before the Lord.
I pray God my Heavenly Father to let his blessing rest upon us during this conference—upon Brother Taylor, the Apostles, the Elders of Israel, and those who teach us and instruct us, for Christ’s sake, Amen.
The Choir sang an anthem: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness.
Conference was adjourned till 2 o’clock p. m.
Benediction by Elder Orson Pratt.
Thursday, 2 p. m.
Choir sang Softly beams the sacred dawning, Of the great Millennial morn.
Prayer by Elder Joseph F. Smith.
Choir sang Hark, listen to the trumpeters, They sound for volunteers.
Choir sang Softly beams the sacred dawning, Of the great Millennial morn.
Prayer by Elder Joseph F. Smith.
Choir sang Hark, listen to the trumpeters, They sound for volunteers.
Elder George Q. Cannon
then read the statistical report from all the Stakes of Zion, for the half year ending Sept. 15th.
then read the statistical report from all the Stakes of Zion, for the half year ending Sept. 15th.
Elder J. D. T. McAllister
said it was two years since he had attended conference in this city. Most of the people present are Latter-day Saints and have made covenants with God and each other. We are apt to watch with a scrutinizing eye those men who are placed over us to lead us. We expect to see perfection in them. What should we think if the Apostles were to stop at our saloons and take a drink of beer or liquor, should we not be surprised? And yet how many are there in our midst who do so, and men too who hold the holy priesthood, and whose example should be worthy of imitation. Time was when the name of God was scarcely ever heard taken in vain in this city, and those who did blaspheme were soon in the hands of a peace officer. The Sabbath day should be kept holy, and we should teach our children to keep it holy. The amusement provided for our young people, especially dancing, should be controlled by the servants of God, according to instructions issued in circular by President John Taylor. Tithing should be observed by all Saints in the time and season thereof, and they should not leave it until the 31st of December; it is a daily, weekly or monthly affair as the case may be. Offerings for the poor and other worthy objects also should be attended to, this being another requirement of the gospel, and we cannot afford to trifle with or neglect it. It is our duty to pray for and sustain the servants of God, who have for so many years borne the heat and burden of the day. We should also read and study the Scriptures, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and other good books. We should strive to live a happy life, and if each member of a family would live as the children of God should live, what a beautiful home such a family would present! There is a great work before us, not only for ourselves but for our dead also, we can turn the key of their salvation by attending to the ordinances of the gospel in their behalf. We are making a record of our lives in the way of tithing, and other things connected with our duties and responsibilities. The books kept in heaven will agree with those kept on the earth. Our religion is one that happifies us in every relation of life; every child that we have and train aright is a star in that crown that we expect to wear by the bye. We should try to educate ourselves in keeping the commandments of God. We should observe the word of wisdom in the spirit and meaning thereof. It takes in a very wide scope connected with all the acts of our lives, and we should be guided thereby.
He spoke of the great work that has been done in the Temple at St. George. Many appreciated the blessings to be obtained there, while others appeared to think but little about them. Over 182,000 had been officiated for in that Temple since it was first opened. He also made a few encouraging remarks on the subject of baptism for the dead, and gave the following statistics of ordinance work in the Temple at St. George up to June 1880: Baptisms for the dead, 99,523; endowments for the dead, 41,791; ordinations for the dead, 15,889; sealings for the dead, 14,255; children dead sealed to parents, 1,314.
He said that quite a number of Saints in the south were living in the United Order, on the principle laid down in the Doctrine and Covenants, each one living in the Order as God would have them do, the principle of stewardship strictly adhered to, and everything kept clean and orderly. He eulogized the people living in Orderville and described their united and prosperous condition, and prayed the blessing of God upon all the Saints.
The choir sang an anthem—The Lord will comfort Zion.
Conference adjourned till to-morrow (Friday) at 10 o’clock a.m.
Benediction by Elder Moses Thatcher.
said it was two years since he had attended conference in this city. Most of the people present are Latter-day Saints and have made covenants with God and each other. We are apt to watch with a scrutinizing eye those men who are placed over us to lead us. We expect to see perfection in them. What should we think if the Apostles were to stop at our saloons and take a drink of beer or liquor, should we not be surprised? And yet how many are there in our midst who do so, and men too who hold the holy priesthood, and whose example should be worthy of imitation. Time was when the name of God was scarcely ever heard taken in vain in this city, and those who did blaspheme were soon in the hands of a peace officer. The Sabbath day should be kept holy, and we should teach our children to keep it holy. The amusement provided for our young people, especially dancing, should be controlled by the servants of God, according to instructions issued in circular by President John Taylor. Tithing should be observed by all Saints in the time and season thereof, and they should not leave it until the 31st of December; it is a daily, weekly or monthly affair as the case may be. Offerings for the poor and other worthy objects also should be attended to, this being another requirement of the gospel, and we cannot afford to trifle with or neglect it. It is our duty to pray for and sustain the servants of God, who have for so many years borne the heat and burden of the day. We should also read and study the Scriptures, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and other good books. We should strive to live a happy life, and if each member of a family would live as the children of God should live, what a beautiful home such a family would present! There is a great work before us, not only for ourselves but for our dead also, we can turn the key of their salvation by attending to the ordinances of the gospel in their behalf. We are making a record of our lives in the way of tithing, and other things connected with our duties and responsibilities. The books kept in heaven will agree with those kept on the earth. Our religion is one that happifies us in every relation of life; every child that we have and train aright is a star in that crown that we expect to wear by the bye. We should try to educate ourselves in keeping the commandments of God. We should observe the word of wisdom in the spirit and meaning thereof. It takes in a very wide scope connected with all the acts of our lives, and we should be guided thereby.
He spoke of the great work that has been done in the Temple at St. George. Many appreciated the blessings to be obtained there, while others appeared to think but little about them. Over 182,000 had been officiated for in that Temple since it was first opened. He also made a few encouraging remarks on the subject of baptism for the dead, and gave the following statistics of ordinance work in the Temple at St. George up to June 1880: Baptisms for the dead, 99,523; endowments for the dead, 41,791; ordinations for the dead, 15,889; sealings for the dead, 14,255; children dead sealed to parents, 1,314.
He said that quite a number of Saints in the south were living in the United Order, on the principle laid down in the Doctrine and Covenants, each one living in the Order as God would have them do, the principle of stewardship strictly adhered to, and everything kept clean and orderly. He eulogized the people living in Orderville and described their united and prosperous condition, and prayed the blessing of God upon all the Saints.
The choir sang an anthem—The Lord will comfort Zion.
Conference adjourned till to-morrow (Friday) at 10 o’clock a.m.
Benediction by Elder Moses Thatcher.
THIRD DAY.
Friday, October 8th.
Choir sang—Come, follow me, the Savior said, Then let us in his footsteps tread.
Prayer by Elder Wm. H. Folsom.
Choir sang—My God, the spring of all my joys, The life of my delights.”
Friday, October 8th.
Choir sang—Come, follow me, the Savior said, Then let us in his footsteps tread.
Prayer by Elder Wm. H. Folsom.
Choir sang—My God, the spring of all my joys, The life of my delights.”
Elder Franklin D. Richards
spoke of the general interest that is felt by the Latter-day Saints, not only by the old but the middle aged, and even the young, in what is going on among the nations abroad, and also in what is being transacted in our own Territory. He referred with pleasure to the increased interest being taken throughout the European mission, made manifest by the many calls for more help by the President of the mission. He also spoke of the difference in feeling that exists among the people of the Southern States since their affliction brought about the civil war, and their willingness to receive the testimonies of our young men and boys whom we have sent among them as missionaries. The Twelve, of late, had made many calls, not only from the Seventies’ Quorums, but also from the Elders’ quorums, to fill the urgent solicitations made upon them to carry the gospel to those who have never yet had it preached to them; he felt satisfied there are many thousands throughout the Southern States, who have never heard the testimony of any of our Elders. And we must continue our efforts until all the people have been faithfully warned. A great many names of our young brethren, who have never had any experience in preaching the gospel, have been handed in to the Twelve and as necessity requires they will be duly called upon, some of them during the Conference and others from time to time as occasion requires. The work of the ministry must go on, it is the leading work now on our hands to perform. It is no great thing to require from those who have been made partakers of the great blessings the gospel has imparted, to go forth and communicate the same good things and glad tidings to others, who have not yet tasted of them. We must keep the spirit and love of this work continually in our hearts, and ever be ready to go forth and disseminate to others what we ourselves have experienced. The nations of the earth are rushing on to discord and distraction, and we should constantly be preparing ourselves to offer them that aid and succor both temporal and spiritual, which will be needed.
Those of our youth who have not yet received a testimony of the truth of this work should be kindly labored with by those who have had experience in the ministry, who should endeavor to instruct and encourage them in feeling after the Lord until their feet are firmly set in the ways of God, and they are filled with a determination to serve him. He particularly urged this labor upon the leading Elders of the Church at home, for such a labor is equally important with any foreign missionary work to the nations.
He thought there was too much distance between the Bishops and the people of their wards, also between the Presidents of Stakes and their members. Whenever difficulties arise, the Bishops and leading men should endeavor to settle them by their kindly influence in helping the brethren to overcome their weaknesses. The various tribunals of the Church are intended to promote peace, and administer justice. The home missionary labor is great in our midst, and we should continue to exert our influence until the fellowship of the holy Spirit is more universally enjoyed by the Saints, and every feeling of bitterness is subdued.
spoke of the general interest that is felt by the Latter-day Saints, not only by the old but the middle aged, and even the young, in what is going on among the nations abroad, and also in what is being transacted in our own Territory. He referred with pleasure to the increased interest being taken throughout the European mission, made manifest by the many calls for more help by the President of the mission. He also spoke of the difference in feeling that exists among the people of the Southern States since their affliction brought about the civil war, and their willingness to receive the testimonies of our young men and boys whom we have sent among them as missionaries. The Twelve, of late, had made many calls, not only from the Seventies’ Quorums, but also from the Elders’ quorums, to fill the urgent solicitations made upon them to carry the gospel to those who have never yet had it preached to them; he felt satisfied there are many thousands throughout the Southern States, who have never heard the testimony of any of our Elders. And we must continue our efforts until all the people have been faithfully warned. A great many names of our young brethren, who have never had any experience in preaching the gospel, have been handed in to the Twelve and as necessity requires they will be duly called upon, some of them during the Conference and others from time to time as occasion requires. The work of the ministry must go on, it is the leading work now on our hands to perform. It is no great thing to require from those who have been made partakers of the great blessings the gospel has imparted, to go forth and communicate the same good things and glad tidings to others, who have not yet tasted of them. We must keep the spirit and love of this work continually in our hearts, and ever be ready to go forth and disseminate to others what we ourselves have experienced. The nations of the earth are rushing on to discord and distraction, and we should constantly be preparing ourselves to offer them that aid and succor both temporal and spiritual, which will be needed.
Those of our youth who have not yet received a testimony of the truth of this work should be kindly labored with by those who have had experience in the ministry, who should endeavor to instruct and encourage them in feeling after the Lord until their feet are firmly set in the ways of God, and they are filled with a determination to serve him. He particularly urged this labor upon the leading Elders of the Church at home, for such a labor is equally important with any foreign missionary work to the nations.
He thought there was too much distance between the Bishops and the people of their wards, also between the Presidents of Stakes and their members. Whenever difficulties arise, the Bishops and leading men should endeavor to settle them by their kindly influence in helping the brethren to overcome their weaknesses. The various tribunals of the Church are intended to promote peace, and administer justice. The home missionary labor is great in our midst, and we should continue to exert our influence until the fellowship of the holy Spirit is more universally enjoyed by the Saints, and every feeling of bitterness is subdued.
Elder Geo. Q. Cannon,
then read a report of the Manti Temple district up to Oct. 1st, of this year, also a report from the Cache Temple district. The total receipts of donations for the Manti Temple to Oct. 1, 1880, were $207,977.35; and for the Logan, Cache Valley Temple $252,147.78.
He read an exhibit from the Perpetual Emigration Company.
He then spoke of the vote taken at our last Conference, to remit a portion of back unpaid tithing, and for the Church to distribute cows and sheep to the worthy poor. He referred also to the vote that was taken, for each Stake of Zion to contribute what they could by private donation for the same purpose. The Council of the Apostles to whom was committed the labor of examining the reports from the various Stakes found them incomplete, while several reports had not yet been sent in. Under these circumstances it had been deemed wisdom by Apostles to make an apportionment of the cows and sheep promised by the Church among the several Stakes, leaving each Stake to make collection and disbursement of its own portion of the individual donations agreed upon. Following is the list of the Church apportionment based upon the population of the various Stakes with this exception, that those Stakes which have declared their ability to take care of their own poor have not been apportioned any cows or sheep, but their proportion has been divided among other Stakes.
Salt Lake Stake, 60 cows, 424 sheep; Bear Lake Stake, 10 cows, 66 sheep; Beaver Stake, 3 cows, 20 sheep; Box Elder Stake, 16 cows, 108 sheep; Cache Stake, 18 cows, 120 sheep; Davis Stake, 6 cows, 44 sheep; Juab Stake, 6 cows, 37 sheep; Kanab Stake, 8 cows, 50 sheep; Millard Stake, 7 cows, 44 sheep; Morgan Stake, 6 cows, 40 sheep; Panguitch Stake, 5 cows; 30 sheep; Parowan Stake, 8 cows, 50 sheep; Sevier Stake, 14 cows, 100 sheep; Summit Stake, 12 cows, 75 sheep; Sanpete Stake, 25 cows, 150 sheep; Tooele Stake, 9 cows, 60 sheep; Utah Stake, 40 cows, 264 sheep; Wasatch Stake, 6 cows, 46 sheep; Weber Stake, 23 cows, 147 sheep. Total number of cows 300; total number of sheep 2,000.
Those Presidents of Stakes who have not attended to their covenants made at the last Conference, should at once go to and gather up the donations for the poor, and forward with it a full report of all the back unpaid tithing on their books, that every item of that covenant taken at our last Conference may be fully complied with. The Council of the Twelve have decided that one-half of the unpaid back tithing shall be remitted in every Stake of Zion—and that the remission be left to the discretion of the authorities of each Stake, with the understanding that the worthy poor will be those who receive this consideration, not apostates nor those who had left for other places without letters of recommendation from their Bishops.
From a careful examination of the reports submitted to the Council the following conclusions were realized: That those Stakes which had paid the most tithing and Temple donations, and had contributed most towards the poor, required less aid from the Church than other Stakes, verifying the truth of Bishop Hunter’s oft repeated saying—“Pay your tithing and be blessed.” He particularly spoke in praise of St. George, Salt Lake and Cache Stakes.
He then submitted to the Conference the reports and decision of the Council in the remission of the back tithing and the distribution of the cows and the sheep, which was universally responded to by a unanimous show of uplifted hands. He then read a note from Superintendent John Sharp, that the time of the Union Pacific Railroad Conference tickets would be extended until Monday the 11th inst. He hoped, therefore, that the brethren and sisters who had come from a distance to attend Conference, would remain contented till it closed, for some very important matters had yet to be introduced, not only at these meetings, but at the priesthood meetings. Let every one be willing, therefore, to stay and be fed with the bread of life.
The Twelve, and especially President Taylor, had been heavily taxed in preparing for this Conference, and he sincerely hoped the people would remain until all the business and instructions were concluded.
The choir sang an anthem—Jerusalem, my glorious home.
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p.m. Benediction by President A. M. Cannon.
then read a report of the Manti Temple district up to Oct. 1st, of this year, also a report from the Cache Temple district. The total receipts of donations for the Manti Temple to Oct. 1, 1880, were $207,977.35; and for the Logan, Cache Valley Temple $252,147.78.
He read an exhibit from the Perpetual Emigration Company.
He then spoke of the vote taken at our last Conference, to remit a portion of back unpaid tithing, and for the Church to distribute cows and sheep to the worthy poor. He referred also to the vote that was taken, for each Stake of Zion to contribute what they could by private donation for the same purpose. The Council of the Apostles to whom was committed the labor of examining the reports from the various Stakes found them incomplete, while several reports had not yet been sent in. Under these circumstances it had been deemed wisdom by Apostles to make an apportionment of the cows and sheep promised by the Church among the several Stakes, leaving each Stake to make collection and disbursement of its own portion of the individual donations agreed upon. Following is the list of the Church apportionment based upon the population of the various Stakes with this exception, that those Stakes which have declared their ability to take care of their own poor have not been apportioned any cows or sheep, but their proportion has been divided among other Stakes.
Salt Lake Stake, 60 cows, 424 sheep; Bear Lake Stake, 10 cows, 66 sheep; Beaver Stake, 3 cows, 20 sheep; Box Elder Stake, 16 cows, 108 sheep; Cache Stake, 18 cows, 120 sheep; Davis Stake, 6 cows, 44 sheep; Juab Stake, 6 cows, 37 sheep; Kanab Stake, 8 cows, 50 sheep; Millard Stake, 7 cows, 44 sheep; Morgan Stake, 6 cows, 40 sheep; Panguitch Stake, 5 cows; 30 sheep; Parowan Stake, 8 cows, 50 sheep; Sevier Stake, 14 cows, 100 sheep; Summit Stake, 12 cows, 75 sheep; Sanpete Stake, 25 cows, 150 sheep; Tooele Stake, 9 cows, 60 sheep; Utah Stake, 40 cows, 264 sheep; Wasatch Stake, 6 cows, 46 sheep; Weber Stake, 23 cows, 147 sheep. Total number of cows 300; total number of sheep 2,000.
Those Presidents of Stakes who have not attended to their covenants made at the last Conference, should at once go to and gather up the donations for the poor, and forward with it a full report of all the back unpaid tithing on their books, that every item of that covenant taken at our last Conference may be fully complied with. The Council of the Twelve have decided that one-half of the unpaid back tithing shall be remitted in every Stake of Zion—and that the remission be left to the discretion of the authorities of each Stake, with the understanding that the worthy poor will be those who receive this consideration, not apostates nor those who had left for other places without letters of recommendation from their Bishops.
From a careful examination of the reports submitted to the Council the following conclusions were realized: That those Stakes which had paid the most tithing and Temple donations, and had contributed most towards the poor, required less aid from the Church than other Stakes, verifying the truth of Bishop Hunter’s oft repeated saying—“Pay your tithing and be blessed.” He particularly spoke in praise of St. George, Salt Lake and Cache Stakes.
He then submitted to the Conference the reports and decision of the Council in the remission of the back tithing and the distribution of the cows and the sheep, which was universally responded to by a unanimous show of uplifted hands. He then read a note from Superintendent John Sharp, that the time of the Union Pacific Railroad Conference tickets would be extended until Monday the 11th inst. He hoped, therefore, that the brethren and sisters who had come from a distance to attend Conference, would remain contented till it closed, for some very important matters had yet to be introduced, not only at these meetings, but at the priesthood meetings. Let every one be willing, therefore, to stay and be fed with the bread of life.
The Twelve, and especially President Taylor, had been heavily taxed in preparing for this Conference, and he sincerely hoped the people would remain until all the business and instructions were concluded.
The choir sang an anthem—Jerusalem, my glorious home.
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p.m. Benediction by President A. M. Cannon.
Friday, 2 p.m.
Choir sang: Awake ye Saints of God awake, Call on the Lord in mighty prayer.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Choir sang: Though nations rise and men conspire, Their efforts will be vain.
Choir sang: Awake ye Saints of God awake, Call on the Lord in mighty prayer.
Prayer by President Joseph Young.
Choir sang: Though nations rise and men conspire, Their efforts will be vain.
Elder Orson Pratt
read a promise that was given by our Lord in May, 1833, to every person in the Church both male and female, found in Doctrine and Covenants on page 300. This, he said, was one of the great promises to the Saints of the last days. It was given on certain conditions. Those who keep my commandments saith the Lord shall see my face and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world. Another revelation given in September 1832 (Doc. & Cov. 266) speaking of the priesthood shows that in the priesthood and the ordnances thereof the power of godliness is manifest to men in the flesh and without it no man can see the face of God and live.
Moses held the Mechisedek priesthood, but the children of Israel not abiding the law of that priesthood, it was taken away from them, and they were only permitted to have among them the priesthood of Aaron. In every dispensation where the Melchisedek priesthood was given the same blessings were enjoyed as contained in the revelation just now read. Adam was taught by the Spirit the plan of salvation, after the fall, and was shown that he and his children should be born of water and of the Spirit, and thus become adopted as citizens in the kingdom of God. Adam received the word of the Lord and was obedient, and the Spirit of God caught up Adam and took him where there was water, and baptized him, after which he received the high priesthood, after the order of him who is eternal. After he had received much instruction pertaining to the everlasting priesthood and patriarchal power and laws and ordinances where he taught to his posterity, books were written among them containing the genealogies of the ancient fathers. Abel received the priesthood and offered a sacrifice that was acceptable before the Lord, but Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, not being offered in faith, he would not repent, but indulged in all manner of wickedness, and built up a secret combination that practiced every species of evil, in which he was the chief or Master Mahan, and finally he murdered his brother Abel. In the course of time Seth was born, and he also received the priesthood. After this Enos was born, who took a course of righteousness, and was also ordained to the priesthood. Elder Pratt continued to dwell upon the early history of the priesthood in relation to the dealings of God with the children of men, and how that a portion of the human family became very wicked, and the righteous, including Seth and Enos, were commanded to go to a country called Canaan. He also introduced Enoch and other prominent servants of God living in those far off days, and showed that in all their wanderings, they were led by the spirit of revelation under the guidance of the holy priesthood. Enoch succeeded in building up many churches unto the Lord God, in various cities and countries, and finally gathered them all together to the land of Zion, the place of which has not been revealed, so as to be placed on record. He was engaged in preaching to and gathering the people to the place where the City of Zion was built. The speaker dilated upon the great work performed by Enoch and the length of time that he was engaged in it under the power of that same high and holy priesthood.
He then spoke of Father Adam meeting with and standing up in the midst of his righteous posterity, in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, which is in the State of Missouri, and predicting many important prophecies of events that should occur through future generations down to the latest period of time.
He then spoke of the glorious visions that were shown to Enoch, including the sufferings of the ungodly and the glories of the righteous, awaiting those behind the vail, and the ushering in of the gospel in the latter days as righteousness coming down out of heaven. After Enoch and his city had been translated, Methusaleh still held the priesthood, and it was bestowed upon succeeding ones until it reached Moses. He continued to trace the subject of the priesthood, which is without beginning of days or end of years, from one channel of lineage to another, throughout the generations of men, not only on the eastern but also on the western continent. He then dwelt on the inestimable blessings that were conferred upon the saints in our day, and the responsibilities consequently resting upon all those who have received the holy priesthood, and showed that the promise of God to unveil his face to the faithful extended to the sisters as well as the brethren.
read a promise that was given by our Lord in May, 1833, to every person in the Church both male and female, found in Doctrine and Covenants on page 300. This, he said, was one of the great promises to the Saints of the last days. It was given on certain conditions. Those who keep my commandments saith the Lord shall see my face and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world. Another revelation given in September 1832 (Doc. & Cov. 266) speaking of the priesthood shows that in the priesthood and the ordnances thereof the power of godliness is manifest to men in the flesh and without it no man can see the face of God and live.
Moses held the Mechisedek priesthood, but the children of Israel not abiding the law of that priesthood, it was taken away from them, and they were only permitted to have among them the priesthood of Aaron. In every dispensation where the Melchisedek priesthood was given the same blessings were enjoyed as contained in the revelation just now read. Adam was taught by the Spirit the plan of salvation, after the fall, and was shown that he and his children should be born of water and of the Spirit, and thus become adopted as citizens in the kingdom of God. Adam received the word of the Lord and was obedient, and the Spirit of God caught up Adam and took him where there was water, and baptized him, after which he received the high priesthood, after the order of him who is eternal. After he had received much instruction pertaining to the everlasting priesthood and patriarchal power and laws and ordinances where he taught to his posterity, books were written among them containing the genealogies of the ancient fathers. Abel received the priesthood and offered a sacrifice that was acceptable before the Lord, but Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, not being offered in faith, he would not repent, but indulged in all manner of wickedness, and built up a secret combination that practiced every species of evil, in which he was the chief or Master Mahan, and finally he murdered his brother Abel. In the course of time Seth was born, and he also received the priesthood. After this Enos was born, who took a course of righteousness, and was also ordained to the priesthood. Elder Pratt continued to dwell upon the early history of the priesthood in relation to the dealings of God with the children of men, and how that a portion of the human family became very wicked, and the righteous, including Seth and Enos, were commanded to go to a country called Canaan. He also introduced Enoch and other prominent servants of God living in those far off days, and showed that in all their wanderings, they were led by the spirit of revelation under the guidance of the holy priesthood. Enoch succeeded in building up many churches unto the Lord God, in various cities and countries, and finally gathered them all together to the land of Zion, the place of which has not been revealed, so as to be placed on record. He was engaged in preaching to and gathering the people to the place where the City of Zion was built. The speaker dilated upon the great work performed by Enoch and the length of time that he was engaged in it under the power of that same high and holy priesthood.
He then spoke of Father Adam meeting with and standing up in the midst of his righteous posterity, in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, which is in the State of Missouri, and predicting many important prophecies of events that should occur through future generations down to the latest period of time.
He then spoke of the glorious visions that were shown to Enoch, including the sufferings of the ungodly and the glories of the righteous, awaiting those behind the vail, and the ushering in of the gospel in the latter days as righteousness coming down out of heaven. After Enoch and his city had been translated, Methusaleh still held the priesthood, and it was bestowed upon succeeding ones until it reached Moses. He continued to trace the subject of the priesthood, which is without beginning of days or end of years, from one channel of lineage to another, throughout the generations of men, not only on the eastern but also on the western continent. He then dwelt on the inestimable blessings that were conferred upon the saints in our day, and the responsibilities consequently resting upon all those who have received the holy priesthood, and showed that the promise of God to unveil his face to the faithful extended to the sisters as well as the brethren.
Discourse.
Delivered by Orson Pratt, at the General Conference, Friday Afternoon, October 8, 1880.
Reported by John Irvine.
It is to be hoped that in this large assembly every one will studiously seek to be as still as possible, that there may be an opportunity of hearing. I do not suppose there will be much business presented before the Conference this afternoon, and I have been requested to speak, which I am willing to do, and desire to do in a manner that shall be acceptable to the Lord and also instructive and edifying to the Latter-day Saints.
I will commence by reading a promise that was given by our Lord in the month of May, 1833—a promise made to all of the Latter-day Saints, not to a few individuals, not to the members of the Church alone, but to every person in all the world. This promise will be found in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants (page 328 new edition) as follows:--“Verily, thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh their sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; and that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.” This is a great promise which the Lord has made to all of his people, male and female. I esteem it to be one of the great characteristics of the Latter-day dispensation, one of the great and important promises made to the children of mortality, one that deeply concerns us all. This promise, however, is made on certain conditions, some of which are here specified. One of the conditions in regard to this matter will be found in a revelation given on the 22nd day of September, 1832, which reads: “And this greater Priesthood”—speaking of the order of the Son of God—“administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of God; therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is made manifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.” This Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness and sought diligently to sanctify them, that they might behold the face of God. But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore the holy Priesthood was taken out of their midst and also Moses holding that Priesthood, and the lesser Priesthood continued, even the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys in regard to outward ordinances and the keys of the ministration of angels and the law of carnal commandments which the Lord in His wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John. I may not have repeated word for word in the language of the revelation, but I have given you at least the substance. Before that time—the time when the higher Priesthood was taken from amongst the children of Israel—they enjoyed all the privileges of the Gospel in various dispensations from the days of Adam down until the days of Moses, namely, the privilege I have just read in your hearing of seeing the face of God. In every dispensation? Yes. Standing in the presence of God in every dispensation in this temporal life? Yes. When was there ever a generation or a people from Adam to the days of Moses when this principle was not exhibited provided that a dispensation of God was among them? I do not know of any. Were there any dispensations in which the higher Priesthood did not exist? I do not know of any. It is true the Lord in calling His servants in these early ages of the world had a particular order, but He did not always confine Himself to that particular order in regard to lineage. The order that God ordained and established on the earth in the days of Adam was that the first born was entitled by right to the grand order of patriarchal government, including the High Priesthood after the order of the Son of God. Adam was the first man in mortality in this probation that had this great and glorious and high and heavenly calling conferred upon him. There is no dubiety in our minds in regard to this matter. It is revealed, it is declared in the revelations that are printed to which you all have access, that Adam himself as the first man in mortality received not only the Gospel, but the Priesthood. I do not know that I can repeat this revelation word for word, but I will state the substance of it. The Spirit of the Lord was upon our father Adam, and conversed with him, made known unto him in great plainness the plan of salvation, taught him concerning baptism in water, told him the reason why he should be baptized in water, that it was a similitude, or in other words, something that was similar to our natural birth into the world; and after having explained to him the Gospel, saying that he and his children must be baptized in water and should receive the Holy Ghost which should bear record of the Father and the Son and should make manifest unto him the things of the kingdom of God, and the things necessary for him to understand in his probationary state in order to get back again into the kingdom of his Father in the heavens. While the spirit of God was still upon him, Adam believing, he called upon the name of the Lord. What was the effect of this? The Spirit of the Lord took him—now I don’t want you to spiritualize this as the sectarians do—to a place where there was water, that Spirit placed him beneath the water, brought him forth out of the water, and thus Adam was baptized, the first baptism that pertains to mortal man here on the earth. What next? The everlasting Priesthood was given to him on that occasion, for the Spirit said unto him, “thou art after the order of Him that is without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to eternity.” What a great blessing to be permitted to enjoy that Priesthood that had no beginning, a Priesthood that was without father, without mother, a Priesthood that was from all eternity to all eternity. Adam received this, entered into the order of it, and became a High Priest forever after the order of Him who is eternal, namely the Son of God. Then after this, the Lord gave many revelations, and he gave a pattern, as you can read here in this book, after which the people should write, and they commenced writing the things of God, they commenced writing their genealogies, they commenced writing concerning the Gospel and concerning the Priesthood. They named their book which they wrote in those days the Book of Numbers—that is to number that which God had spoken, to number the genealogies, to number the Gospel as it was revealed, to number the prophecies as they were delivered, and this Book of Numbers was written by the inspiration of the Most High God. In this Book of Numbers kept by the forefathers it was recorded that the first born among the descendants of Adam should have conferred upon them the everlasting Priesthood, the patriarchal power to govern over their seed. Here, then, is what might be termed a temporal order, a political government combined with a spiritual order revealed from heaven. It was all one in those days. The management and government of the children of God were dictated by revelation, by the Priesthood, by the patriarchal power, by the laws that were communicated from the heavens unto the children of men.
The next one that received this Priesthood of which we have any account was Abel. Adam had a numerous family, how many this book does not tell us, but they were so numerous that they were scattered over the face of the land two and two. Adam and Eve begat sons and daughters, and they united in marriage, two and two, and scattered abroad on the face of the land. You all have the history in this book as to what took place in regard to two of these sons, Cain and Abel.
It seems that some of the others, according to the record given, were rebels. A great many of them did not hearken unto the Lord, did not keep His commandments, and became quite wicked before the heavens. The Lord, it would seem conferred the Priesthood upon Abel, and he offered a sacrifice that was acceptable before the Lord. Cain undertook to imitate it in some measure by offering the fruits of the ground; but his heart being corrupt, not having faith, it was not accepted of the Lord. Cain felt angry about it, and his countenance fell, yet the Lord condescended to talk with him on the subject. “Why art thou wroth,” said the Lord, “and why is they countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto My commandments I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire, and thou shalt rule over him,” etc., according to the new translation. Well, Cain did not repent, but hardened his heart and finally built up a secret combination—that is, he gathered the posterity of Adam who were rebellious, and organized quite a large combination. The object of the combination was to plunder, to steal, to obtain political power outside of the order that God had established, and Satan was the founder of it. He gave them all the various plans pertaining to it and built up a combination that was wicked in the extreme. Cain being one of the most wicked of all that combination, he was appointed the chief captain, the Grand Master. Do you want to know his name? Grand Master Mahan.
After Abel was murdered Adam still had the High Priesthood. It was the great governing power appointed by the Almighty. The Priesthood was not taken from the earth. It was still held by the first man of all, and when 130 years had passed away, a person by the name of Seth came on the stage of action; and he hearkened to the voice of the Lord, gave heed to the instructions of his father, Adam, and the Priesthood was conferred upon him. By and bye, a little over one hundred years after Seth obtained the Priesthood, Enos was born, and Enos hearkened to the word of God, and the Priesthood was conferred upon him, and after a few years he begat a son whom he called Cainan, the fourth generation from Adam. At that time the people of God had become quite numerous. They were scattered over the face of the land, and the wicked were among them, and so great was the wickedness that prevailed among the descendants of Adam, that it was counseled by Enos that he and all the residue of the righteous should flee out of the land. They fled out about 325 years after Adam was placed on the earth. The land which they had occupied prior to that time was called the land of Shulon. Where it was I do not know, it is not revealed. I suppose Adam went with them, although it does not say so, it only says that “Enos and the residue of the people of God came out from the land, which was called Shulon, and dwelt in a land of promise." I mention some of these circumstances to show you the early history of the Priesthood, the early history of the dealings of God with the children of men, as revealed to us in this generation. They seemed to maintain a foothold in this land to which they fled. It might have been north of Jackson County for aught I know. There seem to be some old ruins in Davis County in the State of Missouri, and no doubt there were altars built there. We know from verbal revelation, not written, that Adam built an altar in that country and offered sacrifices thereon. They maintained a foothold from 325 years after Adam came upon the stage of being down from generation to generation to the days of Enoch; for Cainan begat Mahalaleel; Mahalaleel begat Jared; and Jared begat Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam. Enoch being wrought upon by the Spirit of God, left the land of Cainan, where all the righteous were living, and went forth on a foreign mission, the same as many of our Elders now go forth. He traveled eastward from the land of Cainan till he came to the borders of the sea. What sea it was I do not know. The Atlantic ocean flows between the great eastern continent and the western, but whether that ocean was there in this days of Adam I do not know. There is one thing certain, however, that from the days of Adam down to the days of Peleg, the earth was not divided. At any rate Enoch traveled eastward and he came to the sea shore, and the Lord appeared to him. The Lord does not appear to people that do not have the Priesthood according to the revelation that I have already repeated. I mean—do not misunderstand me—he does not appear to those who have not been administered through the order of the Priesthood, male and female, Enoch having been in the land of Cainan was administered unto and taught in the ways of God. He had the privilege of seeing the face of God, and God revealed himself to him even after he started on his mission. What did the Lord say to him? “Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see.” Enoch did as he was commanded, and his spiritual eyes were opened so that he could see those things which were not visible to the natural eyes of men. One of the first visions given to him was to show him what God had created before the foundation of the world. He saw the spirits of men that God had made before the world was made. What a wonderful power was bestowed upon this man through that simple ordinance that he was commanded to attend to! He saw the spirits of men as they existed before this world was formed; and it says he saw things that could not be seen by the natural eye. And the Lord commanded him to lift up his voice in the east country near the sea shore to the nations who had forgotten God, and he did so. He was quite a marvel to the people, for he spake with great power and fear came upon them and they durst not lay hands on him to destroy him. “And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent keepers, Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the Seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us.” Enoch declared the things of God not in a temple or in a tabernacle, or in any public building, but in the “high places” and “upon the hills” wherever he could get the people congregated together. And they begged to ask him some questions. They asked him “Tell us plainly who thou art, and from whence thou comest?” And Enoch in answer to the questions put to him said, “I came out from the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day,” and commenced to deliver unto them a great discourse. Enoch succeeded by following the direction of the Almighty in building up unto the Lord many churches in the land of Shem, in the land of Heni, and in various parts of the land, the names of which are given, being commanded of the Lord to preach to all these nations that were shown to him in vision, excepting certain people that were under the curse. He was forbidden to preach to them. A skin of blackness had come upon them. They were cursed of the Lord. They were the descendants of the murderer Cain. Enoch was not permitted to preach to them, but he gathered out from the land of Heni, Shem, and various other parts, many who received the Gospel, unto a place where he built up a city that was called Zion. Now, where was that city? It is not revealed. Where was the garden of Eden? It is not revealed—that is, there is no written revelation. It may have been verbally revealed where the city of Zion stood and where the garden was, if so it has been handed down verbally without ever having been written. They were gathered together; a city was built. This was some 40 years after Enoch was called. He was called quite young, too, being only 25 years of age when he was commanded to go on this mission. After gathering together this people, it seems that the city was built, and it stood on the earth 365 years, making Enoch 430 years old when he and his city were taken from the earth. Now, I doubt about Adam’s dwelling in that city. I think Adam had a dwelling place to the north of the city. What makes you think so? I think so from what is revealed in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. In that book we read that three years before Adam died, he gathered together Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and the various heads of his posterity, and all the righteous unto a certain valley that will be found in Davis County, Missouri. There is a little hill on one side of that valley, quite a prominent place. They were gathered in that valley, perhaps they may have numbered many scores of thousands. It seems to have been a prominent conference in those days, and it must have been very encouraging indeed for Adam to see his descendants for some seven or eight generation gathered round about him. They did not hold this conference in the city of Zion, for Zion probably had already fled. We do not know whether it was on the earth at that time or not. At any rate this conference was not held in the city of Zion. The Lord appeared to the people assembled at this conference. What a great blessing! I think if they expected any kind of blessing as this, they would not be at all anxious to go home, they would be willing to stay until the conference was closed. Well, along toward the close of this gathering Adam predicted what should come to pass down until the end of the earth among all the generations of his people, and it was considered of such great importance that they wrote it in a book which was called the Book of Enoch. In that book they recorded this prophecy in the language of Adam, a pure language, according to the pattern shown them by the Lord. What has become of that book? I have not enquired, and I do not know that any of my brethren have. It is no doubt preserved. Whether it was hid up by Methuselah, Lamech, or Noah, I do not know. Noah lived on the earth some 600 years before the flood came, and he understood all about his forefathers. The records having come into his hands I presume that he would see that they were not destroyed in the flood. He would be very apt to secure them somewhere and as Noah lived upon this western hemisphere, I presume there is a place of deposit somewhere on this land where Enoch’s records are hidden and where the records of Seth, Adam and all those High Priests I have been speaking of who all wrote according to the spirit of inspiration. I presume these prophecies and records are all kept. Well, says one, have you any idea that they will ever come forth? Why, certainly. The Lord tells us—you can read it in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants—that the things that were written in the Book of Enoch concerning that great and last council are to come forth and be testified of in due time. The Lord while he was dwelling in the city of Enoch—for the Lord dwelt there, it was one of his holy places; I do not say he was there every moment, for he had many other mansions and kingdom besides that—revealed unto the people a great many things. Enoch saw what should become of his seed, and in his enquiries, he found out that his seed at some future period would be translated and taken up into heaven and he would be with them. He also found out that there was a long period of time to intervene between the translation of his city and the coming of the Messiah in the flesh and the redemption that was to be wrought out by the shedding of the blood of “the Righteous,” even the Son of God. He saw the spirits of men that were shut up some of them in prison. But, says one, I thought they were all shut up in prison. No; if you take this book and read it you will find that the Lord made a distinction; He did not send them all to prison. There were certain ones that were not worthy of going to that prison; they were too wicked, too corrupt, too abominable while in the flesh; they were reserved in chains of darkness. How long? For a long period after those in person should be redeemed. Enoch saw this, and he saw that when the Lamb of God was lifted up and the blood of the Righteous was shed, he saw the prison doors open and as many of the spirits as were in prison—not all the spirits—but as many of them as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. What became of the other spirits that were not in prison? The others were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day. This was shown to the Prophet Enoch. By and bye he saw this same personage that was crucified arising from the dead. He saw the heavens veiled in darkness at the time of the crucifixion and the earth quaked and trembled, and after the resurrection of Christ the Saints of the Most High God came forth from the dead. All the righteous from the days of Adam down until the time of the resurrection of Jesus had the privilege of coming forth in what was then termed the first resurrection. By and bye Enoch saw that Jesus being resurrected from the dead ascended up unto his Father and God, and he felt very anxious. Says he: “Wilt thou not come again upon the earth?” And he saw in vision that the earth itself was pained and groaned under the load of sin and corruption which was upon the face thereof, and made use of the words, “When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?” And when Enoch heard these things, he felt inexpressible sorrow for old mother earth. He looked upon the earth as a being of intelligence, a being that was capable of uttering forth words, a being that was capable of being afflicted because of the wickedness upon her face. It was more than he could endure without offering a supplication on behalf o the earth. He said: “O Lord, wilt thou not have compassion upon the earth,” etc. And the Lord, we are told, could not withhold, and he sent forth an unalterable decree that he would again stand on the earth in the latter days and the earth should rest. This he unfolded unto Enoch, that when that period of time should be about to be ushered in, that he would send down out of heaven righteousness, that he would send truth out of the earth, and righteousness and truth should again be sent forth among the children of men to sweep the earth as it were with a flood, to gather out the righteous from all the nations unto a place that should be called Zion, or the New Jerusalem. Then says the Lord to Enoch, “thou and all thy city shall meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest.”
Now, in regard to the Priesthood, let us not lose sight of this. In this book there is a promise made in the days of old Father Adam, that this Priesthood that he gave unto Adam and Seth and Enos, and all those holy men should be on the earth again in the latter-days; the same Priesthood, not another one. But after Enoch and his city were taken up into heaven, the Priesthood was not destroyed out of the earth. Who held it, says one? A man by the name of Methuselah, one of Enoch’s own children. Why did not he receive a translation with the city? How came Enoch’s son to be left behind? Because of the promise which God had made to Enoch. He told Enoch that through his son Methuselah his seed should be preserved on the earth, when all flesh should be swept away by the flood. It was for this reason that Methuselah was left behind. Was he a good man? I have no doubt but what he was a very good man in many respects, but he had his failings and his faults like many other good men. He took glory unto himself. About what? He understood by the promise of God that his seed should remain on the earth until the end should come, and it was a little too much for him, it overcame him, and he boasted in his own strength, took glory unto himself; nevertheless, not enough to destroy the promise made to him in regard to the eternal order of the Priesthood.
Methuselah begat Lamech, and Lamech begat Noah, who was ordained to the same Priesthood. Noah brought down the Priesthood through the flood, and he conferred it upon Shem. Now the order was to confer it upon the oldest, but was that order without conditions? No. Japheth was older than Shem, and yet Shem obtained the Priesthood. How is that, inquires one? Why vary from the order? Because Japheth was not faithful and could not lay claim to the Priesthood that was appointed to be bestowed upon the first born. Shem received it, and no doubt conferred it upon a succession of men whose names are mentioned in Genesis down to the days of Abraham. Now, was that the only channel? No. The Lord, notwithstanding what was said about the first born, had other channels for the Priesthood besides the one that is named in the Book of Genesis from Noah to Abraham. For instance, there was a certain channel or chain of Priesthood, of which Melchisedec was one link. Was Melchisedec the father of Abraham? No. Was he the grandfather? No. Was he either one of those personages that are named from the days of Noah down to the days of Abraham? No, unless they had two names. Melchisedec may have been a second name; but it seems the Priesthood after the order of the Son of God had been transferred to Melchisedec through his father as well as the fathers of Abraham. Now, says one, have we any account of this? Yes. It says, in the revelation given the 22nd day of September 1832, that Abraham received the Priesthood from Melchisedec, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, back to the days of Noah. Melchisedec, then, had a channel through which the Priesthood reached back to the days of Noah; Abraham had another channel in all probability through which the Priesthood was continued back to the days of Noah. That was two channels. Any other one? Yes. Here is the Book of Mormon. It is a history of a certain righteous branch that lived on the earth in the days of the Tower of Babel after the days of Noah, and rather before the time of Abraham. Then somebody had the priesthood in this tower? Yes. Who was it? A man whose name is not given in the Book of Mormon. He is designated as the brother of a person whose name is Jared. How do you know but what he may have been a righteous man and yet not have had the Priesthood? I answer that without the Priesthood and the ordinances thereof the powers of godliness can not be made manifest to man in the flesh. Did the power of godliness accompany those that were led forth from the tower? I think so. In what way? By a cloud in which the Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared in various ways until the Lord condescended to take the vail from the eyes of the brother of Jared and he saw the finger of the Lord. He prayed still further, and he saw the personage of the Lord, the spirit of Jesus, not his flesh and bones, but Jesus appeared unto him in his bodily organization and said, “I am he that was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people.” This personage showed not only his finger and all the details of his spiritual person, but also his face. Did the brother of Jared behold the face of this personage without being administered unto by that everlasting Priesthood and the ordinances thereof? I think not. This then shows another channel through which the Priesthood is handed down between the days of the flood and the days of the Patriarch Abraham; three different channels are here named. How long the Priesthood that was conferred upon the brother of Jared and perhaps upon other male members of the Jaredites is not revealed any further than we read that among the various generations of the Jaredites there were certain men to whom the Son of Righteousness did appear. If He did, those to whom He appeared had the Priesthood, otherwise no man could see the face of God and live.
But now let us leave the Jaredites and come down to the days before Christ, say 600 years. We find a man by the name of Lehi who was filled with the power of God. Was the Priesthood given to him? Why, he saw God upon his throne surrounded by an innumerable concourse of angels. Is not this an indication that Lehi by ordination of the higher Priesthood had been prepared to behold the face of God? I think so. Did He appear to have conferred that Priesthood upon any others? Yes. Nephi came upon the stage of action, and we read of his beholding the Son of God. He saw Jesus. He saw that He was born a virgin, saw Him when He was a child, saw Him in His manhood going forth in his ministry among the inhabitants of Palestine, ministering in power and great glory in the land of His fathers. He beheld the Redeemer, therefore he must have had the Priesthood or the ordinances thereof administered unto him. By and bye Lehi passed away. Then two of the brothers of Nephi, namely, Joseph and Jacob, also saw the Redeemer’s face as Nephi had seen Him and as Lehi also had seen Him, shewing clearly that the power of the Priesthood had been administered unto them, or else they never could have attained to this blessing. By and bye we read further on in the Book of Mormon that a Temple was built and Nephi was authorized to consecrate Jacob and Joseph, two of his own brothers, to the Priesthood, not to the Aaronic but to the higher Priesthood that led men into the presence of God. Read still further to the days of Alma and see what is there said about this Priesthood, this eternal Priesthood, the same as was conferred upon our father Adam. The same Priesthood was continued down upon the Prophets Lehi and Nephi that lived a little while before the coming of Christ, by which the prisons were made to shake and the power of God was clearly made manifest. The Priesthood was also conferred upon the twelve disciples, not the Aaronic, but the higher Priesthood, who conferred it upon others from generation to generation, until the days of Mormon and Moroni. That traces the Priesthood on this western continent.
But now let us go back to the channels of the Priesthood from the days of Abraham down to the days of Moses. The Lord ordained Abraham after His holy order by the hands of Melchisedec. Did it stop there in his lineage? No. If you were any of you as great a man as Abraham, who could stand in the presence of God and plead for promises in behalf of your children, would you not plead for the Priesthood to be given to them? I think so. The Priesthood then was continued down among the tribes of Israel from generation to generation during the time they were in Egypt, and before they went into Egypt, and while they tarried in Egypt some three or four centuries. Why was not Moses ordained by that lineage? Because the Lord had another method; he had another channel besides the Israelites. Jethro, the priest of Midian, ordained Moses. Moses might have obtained it under the hands of some of his fathers, but he did not do it. Who were the Midianites? They did not belong to the descendants of Isaac, they were not the lineage of Jacob, but they were the children of Abraham through his wife Keturah. What! The Priesthood in another seed, in another channel beside that of the chosen seed! Yes. Jethro belonging to the Midianites enjoyed that Priesthood and it had been handed down through a legal succession—not through Abraham, Jethro never received the Priesthood through Abraham, that we have any account of—but he received the Priesthood from Caleb, Caleb from Elihu, Elihu from Jeremy, Jeremy from Gad. Gad received it under the hand of Esaias, Esaias lived in the days of Abraham and received the Priesthood under the hands of God, and conferred it upon a succession of individuals and it finally went down into the Midianite nation, and Jethro enjoying this privilege conferred it upon Moses. I presume Moses if he had been in Egypt might have got it through the other channel, but he had been a long time separated from his brethren and having a great mission to perform the Lord saw proper to give it through another lineage. Thus we see that the Lord though he has made promises to the chosen seed, though He had stated that it is the right of the first born among that chosen seed to claim the Priesthood, yet if they did not do it others might come and through their righteousness obtain it. Amen.
Delivered by Orson Pratt, at the General Conference, Friday Afternoon, October 8, 1880.
Reported by John Irvine.
It is to be hoped that in this large assembly every one will studiously seek to be as still as possible, that there may be an opportunity of hearing. I do not suppose there will be much business presented before the Conference this afternoon, and I have been requested to speak, which I am willing to do, and desire to do in a manner that shall be acceptable to the Lord and also instructive and edifying to the Latter-day Saints.
I will commence by reading a promise that was given by our Lord in the month of May, 1833—a promise made to all of the Latter-day Saints, not to a few individuals, not to the members of the Church alone, but to every person in all the world. This promise will be found in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants (page 328 new edition) as follows:--“Verily, thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh their sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am, and that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; and that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.” This is a great promise which the Lord has made to all of his people, male and female. I esteem it to be one of the great characteristics of the Latter-day dispensation, one of the great and important promises made to the children of mortality, one that deeply concerns us all. This promise, however, is made on certain conditions, some of which are here specified. One of the conditions in regard to this matter will be found in a revelation given on the 22nd day of September, 1832, which reads: “And this greater Priesthood”—speaking of the order of the Son of God—“administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of God; therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is made manifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.” This Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness and sought diligently to sanctify them, that they might behold the face of God. But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore the holy Priesthood was taken out of their midst and also Moses holding that Priesthood, and the lesser Priesthood continued, even the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys in regard to outward ordinances and the keys of the ministration of angels and the law of carnal commandments which the Lord in His wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John. I may not have repeated word for word in the language of the revelation, but I have given you at least the substance. Before that time—the time when the higher Priesthood was taken from amongst the children of Israel—they enjoyed all the privileges of the Gospel in various dispensations from the days of Adam down until the days of Moses, namely, the privilege I have just read in your hearing of seeing the face of God. In every dispensation? Yes. Standing in the presence of God in every dispensation in this temporal life? Yes. When was there ever a generation or a people from Adam to the days of Moses when this principle was not exhibited provided that a dispensation of God was among them? I do not know of any. Were there any dispensations in which the higher Priesthood did not exist? I do not know of any. It is true the Lord in calling His servants in these early ages of the world had a particular order, but He did not always confine Himself to that particular order in regard to lineage. The order that God ordained and established on the earth in the days of Adam was that the first born was entitled by right to the grand order of patriarchal government, including the High Priesthood after the order of the Son of God. Adam was the first man in mortality in this probation that had this great and glorious and high and heavenly calling conferred upon him. There is no dubiety in our minds in regard to this matter. It is revealed, it is declared in the revelations that are printed to which you all have access, that Adam himself as the first man in mortality received not only the Gospel, but the Priesthood. I do not know that I can repeat this revelation word for word, but I will state the substance of it. The Spirit of the Lord was upon our father Adam, and conversed with him, made known unto him in great plainness the plan of salvation, taught him concerning baptism in water, told him the reason why he should be baptized in water, that it was a similitude, or in other words, something that was similar to our natural birth into the world; and after having explained to him the Gospel, saying that he and his children must be baptized in water and should receive the Holy Ghost which should bear record of the Father and the Son and should make manifest unto him the things of the kingdom of God, and the things necessary for him to understand in his probationary state in order to get back again into the kingdom of his Father in the heavens. While the spirit of God was still upon him, Adam believing, he called upon the name of the Lord. What was the effect of this? The Spirit of the Lord took him—now I don’t want you to spiritualize this as the sectarians do—to a place where there was water, that Spirit placed him beneath the water, brought him forth out of the water, and thus Adam was baptized, the first baptism that pertains to mortal man here on the earth. What next? The everlasting Priesthood was given to him on that occasion, for the Spirit said unto him, “thou art after the order of Him that is without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to eternity.” What a great blessing to be permitted to enjoy that Priesthood that had no beginning, a Priesthood that was without father, without mother, a Priesthood that was from all eternity to all eternity. Adam received this, entered into the order of it, and became a High Priest forever after the order of Him who is eternal, namely the Son of God. Then after this, the Lord gave many revelations, and he gave a pattern, as you can read here in this book, after which the people should write, and they commenced writing the things of God, they commenced writing their genealogies, they commenced writing concerning the Gospel and concerning the Priesthood. They named their book which they wrote in those days the Book of Numbers—that is to number that which God had spoken, to number the genealogies, to number the Gospel as it was revealed, to number the prophecies as they were delivered, and this Book of Numbers was written by the inspiration of the Most High God. In this Book of Numbers kept by the forefathers it was recorded that the first born among the descendants of Adam should have conferred upon them the everlasting Priesthood, the patriarchal power to govern over their seed. Here, then, is what might be termed a temporal order, a political government combined with a spiritual order revealed from heaven. It was all one in those days. The management and government of the children of God were dictated by revelation, by the Priesthood, by the patriarchal power, by the laws that were communicated from the heavens unto the children of men.
The next one that received this Priesthood of which we have any account was Abel. Adam had a numerous family, how many this book does not tell us, but they were so numerous that they were scattered over the face of the land two and two. Adam and Eve begat sons and daughters, and they united in marriage, two and two, and scattered abroad on the face of the land. You all have the history in this book as to what took place in regard to two of these sons, Cain and Abel.
It seems that some of the others, according to the record given, were rebels. A great many of them did not hearken unto the Lord, did not keep His commandments, and became quite wicked before the heavens. The Lord, it would seem conferred the Priesthood upon Abel, and he offered a sacrifice that was acceptable before the Lord. Cain undertook to imitate it in some measure by offering the fruits of the ground; but his heart being corrupt, not having faith, it was not accepted of the Lord. Cain felt angry about it, and his countenance fell, yet the Lord condescended to talk with him on the subject. “Why art thou wroth,” said the Lord, “and why is they countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto My commandments I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire, and thou shalt rule over him,” etc., according to the new translation. Well, Cain did not repent, but hardened his heart and finally built up a secret combination—that is, he gathered the posterity of Adam who were rebellious, and organized quite a large combination. The object of the combination was to plunder, to steal, to obtain political power outside of the order that God had established, and Satan was the founder of it. He gave them all the various plans pertaining to it and built up a combination that was wicked in the extreme. Cain being one of the most wicked of all that combination, he was appointed the chief captain, the Grand Master. Do you want to know his name? Grand Master Mahan.
After Abel was murdered Adam still had the High Priesthood. It was the great governing power appointed by the Almighty. The Priesthood was not taken from the earth. It was still held by the first man of all, and when 130 years had passed away, a person by the name of Seth came on the stage of action; and he hearkened to the voice of the Lord, gave heed to the instructions of his father, Adam, and the Priesthood was conferred upon him. By and bye, a little over one hundred years after Seth obtained the Priesthood, Enos was born, and Enos hearkened to the word of God, and the Priesthood was conferred upon him, and after a few years he begat a son whom he called Cainan, the fourth generation from Adam. At that time the people of God had become quite numerous. They were scattered over the face of the land, and the wicked were among them, and so great was the wickedness that prevailed among the descendants of Adam, that it was counseled by Enos that he and all the residue of the righteous should flee out of the land. They fled out about 325 years after Adam was placed on the earth. The land which they had occupied prior to that time was called the land of Shulon. Where it was I do not know, it is not revealed. I suppose Adam went with them, although it does not say so, it only says that “Enos and the residue of the people of God came out from the land, which was called Shulon, and dwelt in a land of promise." I mention some of these circumstances to show you the early history of the Priesthood, the early history of the dealings of God with the children of men, as revealed to us in this generation. They seemed to maintain a foothold in this land to which they fled. It might have been north of Jackson County for aught I know. There seem to be some old ruins in Davis County in the State of Missouri, and no doubt there were altars built there. We know from verbal revelation, not written, that Adam built an altar in that country and offered sacrifices thereon. They maintained a foothold from 325 years after Adam came upon the stage of being down from generation to generation to the days of Enoch; for Cainan begat Mahalaleel; Mahalaleel begat Jared; and Jared begat Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam. Enoch being wrought upon by the Spirit of God, left the land of Cainan, where all the righteous were living, and went forth on a foreign mission, the same as many of our Elders now go forth. He traveled eastward from the land of Cainan till he came to the borders of the sea. What sea it was I do not know. The Atlantic ocean flows between the great eastern continent and the western, but whether that ocean was there in this days of Adam I do not know. There is one thing certain, however, that from the days of Adam down to the days of Peleg, the earth was not divided. At any rate Enoch traveled eastward and he came to the sea shore, and the Lord appeared to him. The Lord does not appear to people that do not have the Priesthood according to the revelation that I have already repeated. I mean—do not misunderstand me—he does not appear to those who have not been administered through the order of the Priesthood, male and female, Enoch having been in the land of Cainan was administered unto and taught in the ways of God. He had the privilege of seeing the face of God, and God revealed himself to him even after he started on his mission. What did the Lord say to him? “Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see.” Enoch did as he was commanded, and his spiritual eyes were opened so that he could see those things which were not visible to the natural eyes of men. One of the first visions given to him was to show him what God had created before the foundation of the world. He saw the spirits of men that God had made before the world was made. What a wonderful power was bestowed upon this man through that simple ordinance that he was commanded to attend to! He saw the spirits of men as they existed before this world was formed; and it says he saw things that could not be seen by the natural eye. And the Lord commanded him to lift up his voice in the east country near the sea shore to the nations who had forgotten God, and he did so. He was quite a marvel to the people, for he spake with great power and fear came upon them and they durst not lay hands on him to destroy him. “And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent keepers, Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the Seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us.” Enoch declared the things of God not in a temple or in a tabernacle, or in any public building, but in the “high places” and “upon the hills” wherever he could get the people congregated together. And they begged to ask him some questions. They asked him “Tell us plainly who thou art, and from whence thou comest?” And Enoch in answer to the questions put to him said, “I came out from the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day,” and commenced to deliver unto them a great discourse. Enoch succeeded by following the direction of the Almighty in building up unto the Lord many churches in the land of Shem, in the land of Heni, and in various parts of the land, the names of which are given, being commanded of the Lord to preach to all these nations that were shown to him in vision, excepting certain people that were under the curse. He was forbidden to preach to them. A skin of blackness had come upon them. They were cursed of the Lord. They were the descendants of the murderer Cain. Enoch was not permitted to preach to them, but he gathered out from the land of Heni, Shem, and various other parts, many who received the Gospel, unto a place where he built up a city that was called Zion. Now, where was that city? It is not revealed. Where was the garden of Eden? It is not revealed—that is, there is no written revelation. It may have been verbally revealed where the city of Zion stood and where the garden was, if so it has been handed down verbally without ever having been written. They were gathered together; a city was built. This was some 40 years after Enoch was called. He was called quite young, too, being only 25 years of age when he was commanded to go on this mission. After gathering together this people, it seems that the city was built, and it stood on the earth 365 years, making Enoch 430 years old when he and his city were taken from the earth. Now, I doubt about Adam’s dwelling in that city. I think Adam had a dwelling place to the north of the city. What makes you think so? I think so from what is revealed in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. In that book we read that three years before Adam died, he gathered together Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and the various heads of his posterity, and all the righteous unto a certain valley that will be found in Davis County, Missouri. There is a little hill on one side of that valley, quite a prominent place. They were gathered in that valley, perhaps they may have numbered many scores of thousands. It seems to have been a prominent conference in those days, and it must have been very encouraging indeed for Adam to see his descendants for some seven or eight generation gathered round about him. They did not hold this conference in the city of Zion, for Zion probably had already fled. We do not know whether it was on the earth at that time or not. At any rate this conference was not held in the city of Zion. The Lord appeared to the people assembled at this conference. What a great blessing! I think if they expected any kind of blessing as this, they would not be at all anxious to go home, they would be willing to stay until the conference was closed. Well, along toward the close of this gathering Adam predicted what should come to pass down until the end of the earth among all the generations of his people, and it was considered of such great importance that they wrote it in a book which was called the Book of Enoch. In that book they recorded this prophecy in the language of Adam, a pure language, according to the pattern shown them by the Lord. What has become of that book? I have not enquired, and I do not know that any of my brethren have. It is no doubt preserved. Whether it was hid up by Methuselah, Lamech, or Noah, I do not know. Noah lived on the earth some 600 years before the flood came, and he understood all about his forefathers. The records having come into his hands I presume that he would see that they were not destroyed in the flood. He would be very apt to secure them somewhere and as Noah lived upon this western hemisphere, I presume there is a place of deposit somewhere on this land where Enoch’s records are hidden and where the records of Seth, Adam and all those High Priests I have been speaking of who all wrote according to the spirit of inspiration. I presume these prophecies and records are all kept. Well, says one, have you any idea that they will ever come forth? Why, certainly. The Lord tells us—you can read it in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants—that the things that were written in the Book of Enoch concerning that great and last council are to come forth and be testified of in due time. The Lord while he was dwelling in the city of Enoch—for the Lord dwelt there, it was one of his holy places; I do not say he was there every moment, for he had many other mansions and kingdom besides that—revealed unto the people a great many things. Enoch saw what should become of his seed, and in his enquiries, he found out that his seed at some future period would be translated and taken up into heaven and he would be with them. He also found out that there was a long period of time to intervene between the translation of his city and the coming of the Messiah in the flesh and the redemption that was to be wrought out by the shedding of the blood of “the Righteous,” even the Son of God. He saw the spirits of men that were shut up some of them in prison. But, says one, I thought they were all shut up in prison. No; if you take this book and read it you will find that the Lord made a distinction; He did not send them all to prison. There were certain ones that were not worthy of going to that prison; they were too wicked, too corrupt, too abominable while in the flesh; they were reserved in chains of darkness. How long? For a long period after those in person should be redeemed. Enoch saw this, and he saw that when the Lamb of God was lifted up and the blood of the Righteous was shed, he saw the prison doors open and as many of the spirits as were in prison—not all the spirits—but as many of them as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. What became of the other spirits that were not in prison? The others were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day. This was shown to the Prophet Enoch. By and bye he saw this same personage that was crucified arising from the dead. He saw the heavens veiled in darkness at the time of the crucifixion and the earth quaked and trembled, and after the resurrection of Christ the Saints of the Most High God came forth from the dead. All the righteous from the days of Adam down until the time of the resurrection of Jesus had the privilege of coming forth in what was then termed the first resurrection. By and bye Enoch saw that Jesus being resurrected from the dead ascended up unto his Father and God, and he felt very anxious. Says he: “Wilt thou not come again upon the earth?” And he saw in vision that the earth itself was pained and groaned under the load of sin and corruption which was upon the face thereof, and made use of the words, “When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?” And when Enoch heard these things, he felt inexpressible sorrow for old mother earth. He looked upon the earth as a being of intelligence, a being that was capable of uttering forth words, a being that was capable of being afflicted because of the wickedness upon her face. It was more than he could endure without offering a supplication on behalf o the earth. He said: “O Lord, wilt thou not have compassion upon the earth,” etc. And the Lord, we are told, could not withhold, and he sent forth an unalterable decree that he would again stand on the earth in the latter days and the earth should rest. This he unfolded unto Enoch, that when that period of time should be about to be ushered in, that he would send down out of heaven righteousness, that he would send truth out of the earth, and righteousness and truth should again be sent forth among the children of men to sweep the earth as it were with a flood, to gather out the righteous from all the nations unto a place that should be called Zion, or the New Jerusalem. Then says the Lord to Enoch, “thou and all thy city shall meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest.”
Now, in regard to the Priesthood, let us not lose sight of this. In this book there is a promise made in the days of old Father Adam, that this Priesthood that he gave unto Adam and Seth and Enos, and all those holy men should be on the earth again in the latter-days; the same Priesthood, not another one. But after Enoch and his city were taken up into heaven, the Priesthood was not destroyed out of the earth. Who held it, says one? A man by the name of Methuselah, one of Enoch’s own children. Why did not he receive a translation with the city? How came Enoch’s son to be left behind? Because of the promise which God had made to Enoch. He told Enoch that through his son Methuselah his seed should be preserved on the earth, when all flesh should be swept away by the flood. It was for this reason that Methuselah was left behind. Was he a good man? I have no doubt but what he was a very good man in many respects, but he had his failings and his faults like many other good men. He took glory unto himself. About what? He understood by the promise of God that his seed should remain on the earth until the end should come, and it was a little too much for him, it overcame him, and he boasted in his own strength, took glory unto himself; nevertheless, not enough to destroy the promise made to him in regard to the eternal order of the Priesthood.
Methuselah begat Lamech, and Lamech begat Noah, who was ordained to the same Priesthood. Noah brought down the Priesthood through the flood, and he conferred it upon Shem. Now the order was to confer it upon the oldest, but was that order without conditions? No. Japheth was older than Shem, and yet Shem obtained the Priesthood. How is that, inquires one? Why vary from the order? Because Japheth was not faithful and could not lay claim to the Priesthood that was appointed to be bestowed upon the first born. Shem received it, and no doubt conferred it upon a succession of men whose names are mentioned in Genesis down to the days of Abraham. Now, was that the only channel? No. The Lord, notwithstanding what was said about the first born, had other channels for the Priesthood besides the one that is named in the Book of Genesis from Noah to Abraham. For instance, there was a certain channel or chain of Priesthood, of which Melchisedec was one link. Was Melchisedec the father of Abraham? No. Was he the grandfather? No. Was he either one of those personages that are named from the days of Noah down to the days of Abraham? No, unless they had two names. Melchisedec may have been a second name; but it seems the Priesthood after the order of the Son of God had been transferred to Melchisedec through his father as well as the fathers of Abraham. Now, says one, have we any account of this? Yes. It says, in the revelation given the 22nd day of September 1832, that Abraham received the Priesthood from Melchisedec, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, back to the days of Noah. Melchisedec, then, had a channel through which the Priesthood reached back to the days of Noah; Abraham had another channel in all probability through which the Priesthood was continued back to the days of Noah. That was two channels. Any other one? Yes. Here is the Book of Mormon. It is a history of a certain righteous branch that lived on the earth in the days of the Tower of Babel after the days of Noah, and rather before the time of Abraham. Then somebody had the priesthood in this tower? Yes. Who was it? A man whose name is not given in the Book of Mormon. He is designated as the brother of a person whose name is Jared. How do you know but what he may have been a righteous man and yet not have had the Priesthood? I answer that without the Priesthood and the ordinances thereof the powers of godliness can not be made manifest to man in the flesh. Did the power of godliness accompany those that were led forth from the tower? I think so. In what way? By a cloud in which the Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared in various ways until the Lord condescended to take the vail from the eyes of the brother of Jared and he saw the finger of the Lord. He prayed still further, and he saw the personage of the Lord, the spirit of Jesus, not his flesh and bones, but Jesus appeared unto him in his bodily organization and said, “I am he that was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people.” This personage showed not only his finger and all the details of his spiritual person, but also his face. Did the brother of Jared behold the face of this personage without being administered unto by that everlasting Priesthood and the ordinances thereof? I think not. This then shows another channel through which the Priesthood is handed down between the days of the flood and the days of the Patriarch Abraham; three different channels are here named. How long the Priesthood that was conferred upon the brother of Jared and perhaps upon other male members of the Jaredites is not revealed any further than we read that among the various generations of the Jaredites there were certain men to whom the Son of Righteousness did appear. If He did, those to whom He appeared had the Priesthood, otherwise no man could see the face of God and live.
But now let us leave the Jaredites and come down to the days before Christ, say 600 years. We find a man by the name of Lehi who was filled with the power of God. Was the Priesthood given to him? Why, he saw God upon his throne surrounded by an innumerable concourse of angels. Is not this an indication that Lehi by ordination of the higher Priesthood had been prepared to behold the face of God? I think so. Did He appear to have conferred that Priesthood upon any others? Yes. Nephi came upon the stage of action, and we read of his beholding the Son of God. He saw Jesus. He saw that He was born a virgin, saw Him when He was a child, saw Him in His manhood going forth in his ministry among the inhabitants of Palestine, ministering in power and great glory in the land of His fathers. He beheld the Redeemer, therefore he must have had the Priesthood or the ordinances thereof administered unto him. By and bye Lehi passed away. Then two of the brothers of Nephi, namely, Joseph and Jacob, also saw the Redeemer’s face as Nephi had seen Him and as Lehi also had seen Him, shewing clearly that the power of the Priesthood had been administered unto them, or else they never could have attained to this blessing. By and bye we read further on in the Book of Mormon that a Temple was built and Nephi was authorized to consecrate Jacob and Joseph, two of his own brothers, to the Priesthood, not to the Aaronic but to the higher Priesthood that led men into the presence of God. Read still further to the days of Alma and see what is there said about this Priesthood, this eternal Priesthood, the same as was conferred upon our father Adam. The same Priesthood was continued down upon the Prophets Lehi and Nephi that lived a little while before the coming of Christ, by which the prisons were made to shake and the power of God was clearly made manifest. The Priesthood was also conferred upon the twelve disciples, not the Aaronic, but the higher Priesthood, who conferred it upon others from generation to generation, until the days of Mormon and Moroni. That traces the Priesthood on this western continent.
But now let us go back to the channels of the Priesthood from the days of Abraham down to the days of Moses. The Lord ordained Abraham after His holy order by the hands of Melchisedec. Did it stop there in his lineage? No. If you were any of you as great a man as Abraham, who could stand in the presence of God and plead for promises in behalf of your children, would you not plead for the Priesthood to be given to them? I think so. The Priesthood then was continued down among the tribes of Israel from generation to generation during the time they were in Egypt, and before they went into Egypt, and while they tarried in Egypt some three or four centuries. Why was not Moses ordained by that lineage? Because the Lord had another method; he had another channel besides the Israelites. Jethro, the priest of Midian, ordained Moses. Moses might have obtained it under the hands of some of his fathers, but he did not do it. Who were the Midianites? They did not belong to the descendants of Isaac, they were not the lineage of Jacob, but they were the children of Abraham through his wife Keturah. What! The Priesthood in another seed, in another channel beside that of the chosen seed! Yes. Jethro belonging to the Midianites enjoyed that Priesthood and it had been handed down through a legal succession—not through Abraham, Jethro never received the Priesthood through Abraham, that we have any account of—but he received the Priesthood from Caleb, Caleb from Elihu, Elihu from Jeremy, Jeremy from Gad. Gad received it under the hand of Esaias, Esaias lived in the days of Abraham and received the Priesthood under the hands of God, and conferred it upon a succession of individuals and it finally went down into the Midianite nation, and Jethro enjoying this privilege conferred it upon Moses. I presume Moses if he had been in Egypt might have got it through the other channel, but he had been a long time separated from his brethren and having a great mission to perform the Lord saw proper to give it through another lineage. Thus we see that the Lord though he has made promises to the chosen seed, though He had stated that it is the right of the first born among that chosen seed to claim the Priesthood, yet if they did not do it others might come and through their righteousness obtain it. Amen.
Elder W. Woodruff
announced a Priesthood meeting to be held this evening at 7 p. m., in the Assembly Hall.
Choir sang: Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah, Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Conference adjourned until to-morrow, Saturday, at 10 a. m.
Benediction by Elder Geo. Q. Cannon.
announced a Priesthood meeting to be held this evening at 7 p. m., in the Assembly Hall.
Choir sang: Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah, Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Conference adjourned until to-morrow, Saturday, at 10 a. m.
Benediction by Elder Geo. Q. Cannon.
FOURTH DAY.
Saturday, Oct. 9th. 10 o’clock a. m.
Choir sang: O God, our Father, let thy grace Shed its glad beams on Jacob’s race.
Prayer by Elder David O. Calder.
Choir sang: With joy we own thy servants, Lord—Thy ministers below.
Saturday, Oct. 9th. 10 o’clock a. m.
Choir sang: O God, our Father, let thy grace Shed its glad beams on Jacob’s race.
Prayer by Elder David O. Calder.
Choir sang: With joy we own thy servants, Lord—Thy ministers below.
Elder Moses Thatcher
spoke of the fallibility of human nature, and his own feeling of timidity in standing before the Latter-day Saints, lest in anything he might have said or done he might have rendered himself unworthy of that aid and succor of the Holy Spirit so essential to have as a public teacher. He therefore asked for the combined faith and prayers of the Saints in his behalf. He then read from page 423 Doctrine and Covenants, “Behold, many are called, but few are chosen,” etc.
There is no prophecy or prayer found in all the pages of Holy Writ, more beautiful and pure than the sentiments contained in the portion he had just read. If we would enjoy all the blessings connected with the Holy Priesthood, we must learn to wield its powers in strict conformity with the dictations of the Holy Ghost. Without the guidance of that spirit, we are constantly exposed to error and wrong doing. On what condition can we secure the guidance of the Spirit of God? Only by faithfully keeping God’s commandments and living humbly before him. He illustrated the power of the Holy Priesthood, and the strictness with which the Lord held those who wielded it accountable, by reference to the history of Moses, in his connection with the children of Israel. Alluded to the smiting of the rock when water gushed out to satisfy the thirst of the people, showing that the spirit in which Moses performed that act, caused the displeasure of the Almighty. What a lesson this should teach us! It should influence us to be humble, and become as little children, as the Savior taught to his disciples when he said, “He that will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, must become as this little child.”
Any one who seeks the honor and good name of his fellow men instead of the glory of God, will certainly be destitute of the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.
Whatever views we may entertain in regard to co-operation and the United Order, we may rest assured that God never intended to establish a class distinction, or monied aristocracy among this people.
He denounced in most emphatic terms the folly of covetous ambition, which produces hardness of heart, and an unwillingness to be guided by the counsels of the servants of God. There is no sacrifice too great to make, to secure the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Lord. God is a jealous God, we should therefore worship him in all humility, give to him the glory of our success, and learn lessons from the pure and guileless spirit of a little child. He then exhorted the brethren to lay aside all bickerings and backbitings, and encouraged all Latter-day Saints to do their duty, and carry out the Scripture instructions given to allay hard feelings. There is no reason why there should be jealousies and distrust, neither is there any reason why we should not enjoy all the blessings connected with the Gospel. Men who are under the influence of the Spirit of God, will always seek after the best interests of the kingdom of God. The speaker denounced hypocrisy, and the worship of money, and showed the necessity of a frank, honest, ingenuous course, of personal honor, faithfulness and integrity, of prayer and strict attention to every duty and of the avoidance of evil in every form, that we may not only be the called of God but be numbered among the chosen. He testified that though some were erring, there were many thousands in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal, and though some of them may not be noted among the people, they would shine among the jewels of God, and obtain that power spoken of in the words he had read, which, “without compulsory means would flow unto them forever.”
spoke of the fallibility of human nature, and his own feeling of timidity in standing before the Latter-day Saints, lest in anything he might have said or done he might have rendered himself unworthy of that aid and succor of the Holy Spirit so essential to have as a public teacher. He therefore asked for the combined faith and prayers of the Saints in his behalf. He then read from page 423 Doctrine and Covenants, “Behold, many are called, but few are chosen,” etc.
There is no prophecy or prayer found in all the pages of Holy Writ, more beautiful and pure than the sentiments contained in the portion he had just read. If we would enjoy all the blessings connected with the Holy Priesthood, we must learn to wield its powers in strict conformity with the dictations of the Holy Ghost. Without the guidance of that spirit, we are constantly exposed to error and wrong doing. On what condition can we secure the guidance of the Spirit of God? Only by faithfully keeping God’s commandments and living humbly before him. He illustrated the power of the Holy Priesthood, and the strictness with which the Lord held those who wielded it accountable, by reference to the history of Moses, in his connection with the children of Israel. Alluded to the smiting of the rock when water gushed out to satisfy the thirst of the people, showing that the spirit in which Moses performed that act, caused the displeasure of the Almighty. What a lesson this should teach us! It should influence us to be humble, and become as little children, as the Savior taught to his disciples when he said, “He that will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, must become as this little child.”
Any one who seeks the honor and good name of his fellow men instead of the glory of God, will certainly be destitute of the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.
Whatever views we may entertain in regard to co-operation and the United Order, we may rest assured that God never intended to establish a class distinction, or monied aristocracy among this people.
He denounced in most emphatic terms the folly of covetous ambition, which produces hardness of heart, and an unwillingness to be guided by the counsels of the servants of God. There is no sacrifice too great to make, to secure the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Lord. God is a jealous God, we should therefore worship him in all humility, give to him the glory of our success, and learn lessons from the pure and guileless spirit of a little child. He then exhorted the brethren to lay aside all bickerings and backbitings, and encouraged all Latter-day Saints to do their duty, and carry out the Scripture instructions given to allay hard feelings. There is no reason why there should be jealousies and distrust, neither is there any reason why we should not enjoy all the blessings connected with the Gospel. Men who are under the influence of the Spirit of God, will always seek after the best interests of the kingdom of God. The speaker denounced hypocrisy, and the worship of money, and showed the necessity of a frank, honest, ingenuous course, of personal honor, faithfulness and integrity, of prayer and strict attention to every duty and of the avoidance of evil in every form, that we may not only be the called of God but be numbered among the chosen. He testified that though some were erring, there were many thousands in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal, and though some of them may not be noted among the people, they would shine among the jewels of God, and obtain that power spoken of in the words he had read, which, “without compulsory means would flow unto them forever.”
Elder Daniel H. Wells
said we have many things to contend with especially in our efforts to secure our own legal rights and privileges, owing to the disposition in the children of men to infringe upon the rights of others. God has commenced a form of government upon the earth, which is just and righteous, and has given power and authority to his servants, with a view of maintaining correct and righteous principles, and though that government is now in its incipiency, it will finally become universal over the face of the earth. He urged on all new comers to become citizens in this great republic, as soon as they possibly can, so that they may enjoy and exercise the privileges connected with citizenship, that of sitting as jurors, etc., not to forswear themselves, but to vindicate and befriend the innocent, protect the good from the malevolence of wicked and corrupt men and act only on evidence instead of prejudice and hearsay. We are striving to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth, and have devoted our time, our means and our lives to the maintenance of those great and holy principles which God has revealed. He never has revealed a principle but which, if carried out as he designed, would prove a benefit and a blessing to the world. We should labor with each other to bring about a state of union and good feeling in our midst, and maintain the spirit of God in our own hearts. We are called to a high and holy calling, and we should not seek by ambitious motives to gain power and prominence. Let us maintain our integrity before high heaven, and seek to bring about the great and glorious purposes of the Lord. The day of God’s power is advancing and he will soon assert his dominion and government on the earth. When we are gathered together as a body, are we not stronger than in an individual capacity? Let us then be united and exert ourselves as a unit on the side of right.
Choir sang the anthem: O praise the Lord in his holiness.
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p.m.
Benediction by Elder L. J. Nuttall.
said we have many things to contend with especially in our efforts to secure our own legal rights and privileges, owing to the disposition in the children of men to infringe upon the rights of others. God has commenced a form of government upon the earth, which is just and righteous, and has given power and authority to his servants, with a view of maintaining correct and righteous principles, and though that government is now in its incipiency, it will finally become universal over the face of the earth. He urged on all new comers to become citizens in this great republic, as soon as they possibly can, so that they may enjoy and exercise the privileges connected with citizenship, that of sitting as jurors, etc., not to forswear themselves, but to vindicate and befriend the innocent, protect the good from the malevolence of wicked and corrupt men and act only on evidence instead of prejudice and hearsay. We are striving to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth, and have devoted our time, our means and our lives to the maintenance of those great and holy principles which God has revealed. He never has revealed a principle but which, if carried out as he designed, would prove a benefit and a blessing to the world. We should labor with each other to bring about a state of union and good feeling in our midst, and maintain the spirit of God in our own hearts. We are called to a high and holy calling, and we should not seek by ambitious motives to gain power and prominence. Let us maintain our integrity before high heaven, and seek to bring about the great and glorious purposes of the Lord. The day of God’s power is advancing and he will soon assert his dominion and government on the earth. When we are gathered together as a body, are we not stronger than in an individual capacity? Let us then be united and exert ourselves as a unit on the side of right.
Choir sang the anthem: O praise the Lord in his holiness.
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p.m.
Benediction by Elder L. J. Nuttall.
Oct. 9th, 2 p.m.
Conference called to order by Elder W. Woodruff.
Choir sang: I saw a mighty angel fly, To earth he bent his way.
Prayer by Elder John Van Cott.
Choir sang: Jesus mighty king in Zion Thou alone our guide shall be.
Conference called to order by Elder W. Woodruff.
Choir sang: I saw a mighty angel fly, To earth he bent his way.
Prayer by Elder John Van Cott.
Choir sang: Jesus mighty king in Zion Thou alone our guide shall be.
President Joseph Young
said he had been much interested in the remarks of his brethren, and particularly in some of the quotations they had made. He had been a Bible student ever since he was six years old, but made no pretension to being a Biblical scholar. His opportunities for learning in early youth were very limited, but he had learned that to edify a congregation of Latter-day Saints, nothing short of the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit of God was necessary. We have our fallen natures to contend with, and our weaknesses and imperfections could not be overcome all at once, it was a gradual attainment. Speaking of the Christian world he said they all professed to base their faith upon the Holy Scriptures. Man has a fleshly tabernacle and in that there is spirit, and the revelations of God declare that the spirit and the body is the soul of man, that the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
He addressed himself to the Seventies, and gave them some excellent instructions pertaining to their ministry as missionaries to the nations of the earth. Since 48 years last April he himself had been made the happy partaker of the spirit of the holy gospel, after obeying its ordinances. Thousands of the messengers of salvation have been sent to all parts of the earth, and with all the results of their labors, not one ship load of saints has ever been lost on the ocean, because God Almighty was with them, and his angels had charge of them. There was no greater mission given to mortal man than that which he owes to his wife and children. “Your light should shine before them by setting them a good example, and by your good instructions and prayers, you should throw around them a shield and protection. By founding them in the truth as well as leaving them supplied with the blessings of this life, you can leave and go to the nations to preach the gospel, and be justified.” He did not think it wisdom for our missionaries to preach much of the terror of the law to the people, but dwell more fully on the sweet, soft, persuasive invitations of the gospel and the peaceable things of the kingdom. He then dwelt on the extreme torture and sufferings that were endured by our Savior when he was hung upon the cross, and the great work of salvation thus wrought out for the human family.
He then urged a kind and generous treatment towards the poor who are out of employment, and gave some excellent advice to both brethren and sisters who have come from the old country and are seeking work. He also gave some good counsel to those who are about to leave as missionaries warning them of the many evils that exist in the world, and exhorting them to patience and faithfulness.
said he had been much interested in the remarks of his brethren, and particularly in some of the quotations they had made. He had been a Bible student ever since he was six years old, but made no pretension to being a Biblical scholar. His opportunities for learning in early youth were very limited, but he had learned that to edify a congregation of Latter-day Saints, nothing short of the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit of God was necessary. We have our fallen natures to contend with, and our weaknesses and imperfections could not be overcome all at once, it was a gradual attainment. Speaking of the Christian world he said they all professed to base their faith upon the Holy Scriptures. Man has a fleshly tabernacle and in that there is spirit, and the revelations of God declare that the spirit and the body is the soul of man, that the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
He addressed himself to the Seventies, and gave them some excellent instructions pertaining to their ministry as missionaries to the nations of the earth. Since 48 years last April he himself had been made the happy partaker of the spirit of the holy gospel, after obeying its ordinances. Thousands of the messengers of salvation have been sent to all parts of the earth, and with all the results of their labors, not one ship load of saints has ever been lost on the ocean, because God Almighty was with them, and his angels had charge of them. There was no greater mission given to mortal man than that which he owes to his wife and children. “Your light should shine before them by setting them a good example, and by your good instructions and prayers, you should throw around them a shield and protection. By founding them in the truth as well as leaving them supplied with the blessings of this life, you can leave and go to the nations to preach the gospel, and be justified.” He did not think it wisdom for our missionaries to preach much of the terror of the law to the people, but dwell more fully on the sweet, soft, persuasive invitations of the gospel and the peaceable things of the kingdom. He then dwelt on the extreme torture and sufferings that were endured by our Savior when he was hung upon the cross, and the great work of salvation thus wrought out for the human family.
He then urged a kind and generous treatment towards the poor who are out of employment, and gave some excellent advice to both brethren and sisters who have come from the old country and are seeking work. He also gave some good counsel to those who are about to leave as missionaries warning them of the many evils that exist in the world, and exhorting them to patience and faithfulness.
Elder L. J. Nuttall then presented the names of the following missionaries.
Names of missionaries who have been called and set apart since the last Conference, and who are now in their fields of labor:
GREAT BRITAIN.
Albert Story Goodwin, Beaver.
John Archibald McAllister, Logan.
Alexander Burt, Salt Lake City.
Joseph W. Burt, Salt Lake City.
William Jack, Manti.
William C. Rydalch, Grantsville.
William Cooper 7th ward, city.
John Wiser, Lewiston.
Joseph Robinson, Payson.
Alfred Best, 7th ward, city.
Edwin Harman, 16th “
George Mitton Spencer, North Jordan.
Joseph Lamoni Holbrook, Bountiful.
Stephen Tucker, 2nd ward, city.
William Wood, 19th “ “
David Spillsbury, Toquerville.
John Urie, Cedar City.
David Urie, “
Mosiah Booth, St. Charles.
Joseph Carlisle, Mill Creek.
Joseph James Giles, Herriman.
Gibson Condie, Jr., 6th ward, city.
William Richard Jones, 15th “ “
John Morris Bowen, Herriman.
Joseph Stafford Tingey, 17th ward, city.
Edmond H. LeCheminant, Brighton.
Heber John Romney, 20th ward, city.
Charles F. Wilcox, 14th ward, city.
John Richards Howard, 20th Ward, City.
CANADA.
John Lows Campbell, St. George.
SCANDINAVIA.
Rasmus Berntsen, Logan.
Paul Hammer, 12th Ward, City.
Lars Nielsen, Fountain Green.
Martin Jacobsen, St. Charles.
Charles Samuelson, Santaquin.
Peter Olsen Hansen, Manti.
Casper Bryner, St. George.
Jacob Peter Olsen, 2nd Ward, City.
Swen Erricksen, Grantsville.
UNITED STATES.
John Leishman, Wellsville—Returned on account of ill health.
Milford B. Shipp, Salt Lake City.
David Orson Miner, do
Jacob Weiler, do
SOUTHERN STATES.
William Hulme, Bloomington.
Daniel Densley, Jr., Herriman.
Joseph Ford, Centreville.
John Nelson Price, Mill Creek.
Alexander Bickmore Kidd, South Jordan.
Names of missionaries who have not yet departed:
FOR GREAT BRITAIN.
Albert Carrington, Salt Lake City.
Benjamin Harman, Mill Creek.
George Stringfellow, 3d Ward, City.
David Cook, East Bountiful.
James Farmer, Jr., Monroe.
John H. White, 16th Ward, City.
John Gray, 11th Ward.
Joseph G. Cutler, 14th Ward.
Thomas Laing Pringle, 18th Ward.
Moroni J. Thomas, 19th Ward.
Wm. S. Brighton, 11th Ward.
Wm. F. King, Fillmore.
Joseph A. Jennings, 16th Ward.
Isaac Duffin, Toquerville.
Wm. G. Davis, Big Cottonwood.
Wm. Probert, Jr., Holden.
Lyman Robinson, Fillmore.
David West, Pleasant Grove.
Franklin Snow, Brigham City.
Benjamin E. Rich, Ogden.
Winfred S. Harris, do.
Moroni Brown, do.
Moroni F. Brown, do.
Wm. H. Butler, Marriott.
John R. Baxter, Spring City.
Thos. D. Reese, Wales.
Robert Spence, Lake Town.
John Miller, Nephi.
Richard Henry Stringfellow, Draperville.
Geo. H. Butler, Marriott.
SCANDINAVIA.
James Hansen, Ephraim.
James P. Larsen, “
Jens J. Hansen, Hyrum.
Niels Rasmussen Lindhal, Union.
John Hansen, South Jordan.
James C. Olsen, Salina.
Jens Jensen, Monroe.
Hans Enoch Nielsen, Hyrum.
Andrew Amondsen, South Jordan.
Lars N. Larsen, Moroni.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Samuel Gentry, Jr., Coalville.
UNITED STATES.
Joseph A. Smith, Beaver.
George D. Nebeker, 19th ward, City.
James S. Jensen, Redmon.
Jacob Jacobsen, Moroni.
Daniel Zundel, Willard.
Samuel B. Warner, Willard.
John Blackham, Moroni.
Joseph R. Murdock, Charleston.
D. E. Harris, Monroe.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Edward Stevens, Holden.
Anthony Paxton, Kanosh.
Lashbrook Laker, St. Charles.
George Passey, Paris.
James H. Wells, Joseph.
John Houston, Panguitch.
Riley G. Clark, “
Samuel Porter, Manti.
Peter H. Anderson, Manti.
George M. Bartholomew, Fayette.
Wm. H. Adams, Fountain Green.
John Carter, Mount Pleasant.
James K. McClenahan, Mount Pleasant.
Samuel Bills, Fairview.
Elmer W. Johnson, Kanab.
James W. Eardley, 3d ward, city.
James Mott Barlow, 15th ward, city.
Charles B. Felt, 17th ward, city.
Matthias F. Cowley, 14th ward, city.
Daniel R. Bateman, West Jordan.
H. B. M. Jolley, Mt. Carmel.
Isaac Riddle, Beaver.
John Robertson, Spanish Fork.
Wm. J. Packer, Brigham City.
Jacob G. Bigler, jr., Nephi.
Wm. H. Bakes, Beaver.
Wm. Hanks, Charleston.
Horace Eldredge, Sugar House Ward.
Francis M. Jolley, Manti.
Wm. Thompson, Granite.
Richard C. Camp, Wallsburg.
Names of missionaries who have been called and set apart since the last Conference, and who are now in their fields of labor:
GREAT BRITAIN.
Albert Story Goodwin, Beaver.
John Archibald McAllister, Logan.
Alexander Burt, Salt Lake City.
Joseph W. Burt, Salt Lake City.
William Jack, Manti.
William C. Rydalch, Grantsville.
William Cooper 7th ward, city.
John Wiser, Lewiston.
Joseph Robinson, Payson.
Alfred Best, 7th ward, city.
Edwin Harman, 16th “
George Mitton Spencer, North Jordan.
Joseph Lamoni Holbrook, Bountiful.
Stephen Tucker, 2nd ward, city.
William Wood, 19th “ “
David Spillsbury, Toquerville.
John Urie, Cedar City.
David Urie, “
Mosiah Booth, St. Charles.
Joseph Carlisle, Mill Creek.
Joseph James Giles, Herriman.
Gibson Condie, Jr., 6th ward, city.
William Richard Jones, 15th “ “
John Morris Bowen, Herriman.
Joseph Stafford Tingey, 17th ward, city.
Edmond H. LeCheminant, Brighton.
Heber John Romney, 20th ward, city.
Charles F. Wilcox, 14th ward, city.
John Richards Howard, 20th Ward, City.
CANADA.
John Lows Campbell, St. George.
SCANDINAVIA.
Rasmus Berntsen, Logan.
Paul Hammer, 12th Ward, City.
Lars Nielsen, Fountain Green.
Martin Jacobsen, St. Charles.
Charles Samuelson, Santaquin.
Peter Olsen Hansen, Manti.
Casper Bryner, St. George.
Jacob Peter Olsen, 2nd Ward, City.
Swen Erricksen, Grantsville.
UNITED STATES.
John Leishman, Wellsville—Returned on account of ill health.
Milford B. Shipp, Salt Lake City.
David Orson Miner, do
Jacob Weiler, do
SOUTHERN STATES.
William Hulme, Bloomington.
Daniel Densley, Jr., Herriman.
Joseph Ford, Centreville.
John Nelson Price, Mill Creek.
Alexander Bickmore Kidd, South Jordan.
Names of missionaries who have not yet departed:
FOR GREAT BRITAIN.
Albert Carrington, Salt Lake City.
Benjamin Harman, Mill Creek.
George Stringfellow, 3d Ward, City.
David Cook, East Bountiful.
James Farmer, Jr., Monroe.
John H. White, 16th Ward, City.
John Gray, 11th Ward.
Joseph G. Cutler, 14th Ward.
Thomas Laing Pringle, 18th Ward.
Moroni J. Thomas, 19th Ward.
Wm. S. Brighton, 11th Ward.
Wm. F. King, Fillmore.
Joseph A. Jennings, 16th Ward.
Isaac Duffin, Toquerville.
Wm. G. Davis, Big Cottonwood.
Wm. Probert, Jr., Holden.
Lyman Robinson, Fillmore.
David West, Pleasant Grove.
Franklin Snow, Brigham City.
Benjamin E. Rich, Ogden.
Winfred S. Harris, do.
Moroni Brown, do.
Moroni F. Brown, do.
Wm. H. Butler, Marriott.
John R. Baxter, Spring City.
Thos. D. Reese, Wales.
Robert Spence, Lake Town.
John Miller, Nephi.
Richard Henry Stringfellow, Draperville.
Geo. H. Butler, Marriott.
SCANDINAVIA.
James Hansen, Ephraim.
James P. Larsen, “
Jens J. Hansen, Hyrum.
Niels Rasmussen Lindhal, Union.
John Hansen, South Jordan.
James C. Olsen, Salina.
Jens Jensen, Monroe.
Hans Enoch Nielsen, Hyrum.
Andrew Amondsen, South Jordan.
Lars N. Larsen, Moroni.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Samuel Gentry, Jr., Coalville.
UNITED STATES.
Joseph A. Smith, Beaver.
George D. Nebeker, 19th ward, City.
James S. Jensen, Redmon.
Jacob Jacobsen, Moroni.
Daniel Zundel, Willard.
Samuel B. Warner, Willard.
John Blackham, Moroni.
Joseph R. Murdock, Charleston.
D. E. Harris, Monroe.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Edward Stevens, Holden.
Anthony Paxton, Kanosh.
Lashbrook Laker, St. Charles.
George Passey, Paris.
James H. Wells, Joseph.
John Houston, Panguitch.
Riley G. Clark, “
Samuel Porter, Manti.
Peter H. Anderson, Manti.
George M. Bartholomew, Fayette.
Wm. H. Adams, Fountain Green.
John Carter, Mount Pleasant.
James K. McClenahan, Mount Pleasant.
Samuel Bills, Fairview.
Elmer W. Johnson, Kanab.
James W. Eardley, 3d ward, city.
James Mott Barlow, 15th ward, city.
Charles B. Felt, 17th ward, city.
Matthias F. Cowley, 14th ward, city.
Daniel R. Bateman, West Jordan.
H. B. M. Jolley, Mt. Carmel.
Isaac Riddle, Beaver.
John Robertson, Spanish Fork.
Wm. J. Packer, Brigham City.
Jacob G. Bigler, jr., Nephi.
Wm. H. Bakes, Beaver.
Wm. Hanks, Charleston.
Horace Eldredge, Sugar House Ward.
Francis M. Jolley, Manti.
Wm. Thompson, Granite.
Richard C. Camp, Wallsburg.
Elder Joseph F. Smith
said from his youth up he had rejoiced in the principles of the gospel, and knew that it was the power of God unto salvation, not only unto himself, but unto all those who believe and obey the truth. He thought that God would have to exercise much charity and mercy towards us, or we should certainly come far short of the blessings we were anticipating. He felt anxious himself to do the best he could according to his knowledge and comprehension of his duty towards God, and wherein he fell short he should have to appeal to God his Heavenly Father for that forgiveness which he could exercise according to his mercy. The principle of forgiveness is too plain to be misunderstood, and we are required to forgive each other and not hold enmity in our hearts towards one another. Unless we learn to practise this principle, it will be folly to expect forgiveness from God our Heavenly Father, for he hath said, If you forgive not your brother, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses. He then read from the revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants wherein we are required to forgive the trespasses of our enemies, the first, second, third and fourth times, even though they do not repent and ask forgiveness, and until seventy times seven when they do repent and seek forgiveness. He thought it was high time for us to study the word of God, and try to live it in our daily lives, that we may be indeed the Saints of the Most High God.
Conference adjourned till Sunday, 10th 10 a. m.
Choir sang: Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.
Benediction by Elder Lorenzo Snow.
said from his youth up he had rejoiced in the principles of the gospel, and knew that it was the power of God unto salvation, not only unto himself, but unto all those who believe and obey the truth. He thought that God would have to exercise much charity and mercy towards us, or we should certainly come far short of the blessings we were anticipating. He felt anxious himself to do the best he could according to his knowledge and comprehension of his duty towards God, and wherein he fell short he should have to appeal to God his Heavenly Father for that forgiveness which he could exercise according to his mercy. The principle of forgiveness is too plain to be misunderstood, and we are required to forgive each other and not hold enmity in our hearts towards one another. Unless we learn to practise this principle, it will be folly to expect forgiveness from God our Heavenly Father, for he hath said, If you forgive not your brother, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses. He then read from the revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants wherein we are required to forgive the trespasses of our enemies, the first, second, third and fourth times, even though they do not repent and ask forgiveness, and until seventy times seven when they do repent and seek forgiveness. He thought it was high time for us to study the word of God, and try to live it in our daily lives, that we may be indeed the Saints of the Most High God.
Conference adjourned till Sunday, 10th 10 a. m.
Choir sang: Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.
Benediction by Elder Lorenzo Snow.
FIFTH DAY.
Sunday, October 10th, 1880. 10 a. m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
Choir sang: The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Lo, Zion’s standard is unfurled.
Prayer by Elder Edward Partridge.
Choir sang: Arise O glorious Zion, Thou joy of latter days.
Sunday, October 10th, 1880. 10 a. m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
Choir sang: The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Lo, Zion’s standard is unfurled.
Prayer by Elder Edward Partridge.
Choir sang: Arise O glorious Zion, Thou joy of latter days.
Elder Orson Pratt
said there are thousands of male members of this Church, who hold, as we all testify, divine authority, to act in their several callings in the holy priesthood. If we are destitute of that authority as the world say we are, then we are in the same position as they and there is no authority from God vested in man upon the earth. But we affirm that God bestowed divine authority upon Joseph Smith and that by divine commandment he bestowed it upon others. Joseph Smith received power to translate the Book of Mormon from the plates before he was ordained to the holy priesthood in the flesh. But he did hold the priesthood in eternity, being ordained before the foundations of the world, in common with others who were reserved to come forth in the last days, to hold the priesthood with authority and power to administer the plan of salvation to the children of men in the flesh. There is no beginning to the priesthood. It always existed, being from all eternity to all eternity, but there is a beginning to the time when each individual receives that everlasting priesthood.
He then referred to the first vision of Joseph Smith when but a boy. He saw two personages, the Father and the Son, and yet the sight did not consume him, although it is written that without the priesthood no man can see the face of God and live. The reason why he was enabled to look upon the face of God and live was because he was chosen and ordained in the spirit world to the holy priesthood, and was selected to come forth in this age to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times. In due time however, on the 15th of May, 1829, John the Baptist came and conferred upon him the priesthood of Aaron, which gave him authority to preach the gospel and baptize for the remission of sins. Subsequently, Peter, James and John ordained him to the Melchisedec priesthood, which gave him authority to still further carry on the work of God, and administer in the higher ordinances of the plan of redemption. In a short time God revealed to him the necessity of a quorum of Twelve Apostles, after which the Quorum of Seventies was pointed out to him, as the number of converts increased, God gradually made known to him one principle and authority after another as the necessity of the Church required. God dealt with his servant Joseph just the same as the wise earthly parent does with his children, adapting his instructions according to their growth and capacity.
In the course of time men were appointed to take charge of and attend to the temporal properties of the Church; this was done before there was any Bishop appointed. This circumstance clearly proves that God adapts his course with his children according to their condition and requirements. And what is essential under one set of circumstances, may not be suitable under other circumstances, hence we find that God reveals his mind and will to his children, according to their needs and his own good pleasure. And because something is done in one age of the world, that is no reason why it should be repeated in another.
He traced the history of the church in its various organizations, especially illustrating the difference in the duties of Bishops Edward Partridge and Newel K. Whitney, who were general Bishops over large districts, and the Bishops over wards whose duties are entirely local. The first presiding Bishop of the Church was Vinson Knight, who with his Counselors had presidency over all the other bishops. In process of time, as the number of Saints multiplied, and cities and settlements increased, it became necessary to have local or ward Bishops, as at the present time, whose authority is strictly confined to their own particular ward. He then defined the several duties of a Traveling Bishop and Bishop’s Agent, both of whom should hold the Bishopric, because their duties are connected with temporal things. The time will come when the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled concerning every one that dwells on this continent, who will not believe the Book of Mormon, who will not repent and obey the word of the Lord and hearken to the voice of his priesthood---God will cut them off from among the people, and the remnants that are left will bow to the laws of Zion.
He dwelt at some length on the future glory and advancement of the kingdom of God. He also spoke of the several duties and responsibilities that attach to the First Presidency of the Church and to the Twelve, who are a traveling High Council, authorized to set in order the quorums and authorities of the Church throughout the world. He spoke of the occasions when the quorum of the First Presidency was lacking in consequence of the death of the First President and showed that the duties of guiding the Church then necessarily rested upon the Twelve. It was deemed wisdom to again fill up that important quorum, viz. the First Presidency, at this conference, which had been acted upon by the Twelve and also by a great body of the priesthood at their meeting last evening. This change will take three from the quorum of the Twelve and their vacancies have to be filled, all of which will be presented before the Conference this afternoon and both male and female members will be called upon to vote thereon.
said there are thousands of male members of this Church, who hold, as we all testify, divine authority, to act in their several callings in the holy priesthood. If we are destitute of that authority as the world say we are, then we are in the same position as they and there is no authority from God vested in man upon the earth. But we affirm that God bestowed divine authority upon Joseph Smith and that by divine commandment he bestowed it upon others. Joseph Smith received power to translate the Book of Mormon from the plates before he was ordained to the holy priesthood in the flesh. But he did hold the priesthood in eternity, being ordained before the foundations of the world, in common with others who were reserved to come forth in the last days, to hold the priesthood with authority and power to administer the plan of salvation to the children of men in the flesh. There is no beginning to the priesthood. It always existed, being from all eternity to all eternity, but there is a beginning to the time when each individual receives that everlasting priesthood.
He then referred to the first vision of Joseph Smith when but a boy. He saw two personages, the Father and the Son, and yet the sight did not consume him, although it is written that without the priesthood no man can see the face of God and live. The reason why he was enabled to look upon the face of God and live was because he was chosen and ordained in the spirit world to the holy priesthood, and was selected to come forth in this age to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times. In due time however, on the 15th of May, 1829, John the Baptist came and conferred upon him the priesthood of Aaron, which gave him authority to preach the gospel and baptize for the remission of sins. Subsequently, Peter, James and John ordained him to the Melchisedec priesthood, which gave him authority to still further carry on the work of God, and administer in the higher ordinances of the plan of redemption. In a short time God revealed to him the necessity of a quorum of Twelve Apostles, after which the Quorum of Seventies was pointed out to him, as the number of converts increased, God gradually made known to him one principle and authority after another as the necessity of the Church required. God dealt with his servant Joseph just the same as the wise earthly parent does with his children, adapting his instructions according to their growth and capacity.
In the course of time men were appointed to take charge of and attend to the temporal properties of the Church; this was done before there was any Bishop appointed. This circumstance clearly proves that God adapts his course with his children according to their condition and requirements. And what is essential under one set of circumstances, may not be suitable under other circumstances, hence we find that God reveals his mind and will to his children, according to their needs and his own good pleasure. And because something is done in one age of the world, that is no reason why it should be repeated in another.
He traced the history of the church in its various organizations, especially illustrating the difference in the duties of Bishops Edward Partridge and Newel K. Whitney, who were general Bishops over large districts, and the Bishops over wards whose duties are entirely local. The first presiding Bishop of the Church was Vinson Knight, who with his Counselors had presidency over all the other bishops. In process of time, as the number of Saints multiplied, and cities and settlements increased, it became necessary to have local or ward Bishops, as at the present time, whose authority is strictly confined to their own particular ward. He then defined the several duties of a Traveling Bishop and Bishop’s Agent, both of whom should hold the Bishopric, because their duties are connected with temporal things. The time will come when the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled concerning every one that dwells on this continent, who will not believe the Book of Mormon, who will not repent and obey the word of the Lord and hearken to the voice of his priesthood---God will cut them off from among the people, and the remnants that are left will bow to the laws of Zion.
He dwelt at some length on the future glory and advancement of the kingdom of God. He also spoke of the several duties and responsibilities that attach to the First Presidency of the Church and to the Twelve, who are a traveling High Council, authorized to set in order the quorums and authorities of the Church throughout the world. He spoke of the occasions when the quorum of the First Presidency was lacking in consequence of the death of the First President and showed that the duties of guiding the Church then necessarily rested upon the Twelve. It was deemed wisdom to again fill up that important quorum, viz. the First Presidency, at this conference, which had been acted upon by the Twelve and also by a great body of the priesthood at their meeting last evening. This change will take three from the quorum of the Twelve and their vacancies have to be filled, all of which will be presented before the Conference this afternoon and both male and female members will be called upon to vote thereon.
The Divine Authority of the Holy Priesthood, Etc.
Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered at the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I have been asked by President Taylor to address the congregation this morning on a particular subject, in which we are all interested, namely, the divine authority of the Priesthood, divine callings, ordinances, etc.
We have in this Church several thousand male members who hold authority and power which they say is from heaven. If it be from heaven, as we testify, and have testified ever since the rise of the Church, then the Lord our God has manifested His power, and in His mercy has once more bestowed authority upon the children of men to administer His holy ordinances, and to occupy the positions to which we have severally been called. On the other hand, if the views of the world are correct—they do not consider us to have any authority—we are then on the same ground and platform with the rest of the religious world, there is no authority upon the earth. One or the other is true.
There never was a principle more clearly proven than that the inhabitants of the earth are destitute of all divine authority, among all religious denominations, whether Pagan, Mahometan or so-called Christian; the authority cannot be found throughout all the various denominations that have existed through the long period of time called the dark ages, until the Lord, in His mercy, has organized His Church again on the earth and bestowed that authority, and if He has not done it, as the world say He has not, there are no persons upon this whole earth that have any authority from the heavens; and therefore we are just as well off as the balance of them.
We are not indebted to man for the various authorities in this Church; this is our testimony. Man did not commence this work, man is not the originator of this work, neither is he the origin of the authority by which we administer. The Lord did not see proper to organize the authority of this Church all at once in all the various councils and authorities that, from time to time, have been ordained among this people; it was a gradual work. Authority was bestowed before there was any Church. First (not the authority of the Priesthood) but the authority to bring forth the plates of the Book of Mormon, and to translate them by the Urim and Thummim, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. This was the first authority conferred upon the one whom the Lord chose to commence this great work. The authority of the Priesthood was not conferred upon him at that time, but He revealed unto him concerning the everlasting Gospel contained in the ancient records kept by the Nephites, or Israelites, upon this great Western Continent.
Joseph Smith, when he translated these records by the aid of the Urim and Thummim, had not yet received any Priesthood, so far as his temporal existence was concerned. But now, do not misunderstand me in regard to this position. He did hold the Priesthood before he came here upon the earth. I remarked that Joseph, so far as any ordination here in the flesh was concerned, held no Priesthood at the time that he brought forth the plates of the Book of Mormon and translated them; but he did hold the Priesthood, which was conferred upon him in the councils of eternity, before this world was formed. You will find this recorded in a sermon delivered by the Prophet Joseph, showing that not only he, but also all of the faithful that have received the Priesthood here in this life, were ordained before the foundation of the world. Consequently, they had the ordination; that ordination was after the order of Him who is from all eternity to all eternity, an everlasting Priesthood, without father, without mother, without beginning, without end; having been handed down from all eternity. That Priesthood was conferred upon Joseph Smith before he came here; he was among those that are spoken of in “The Pearl of Great Price,” whom the ancient Prophets saw in heaven. Moses saw them, and Abraham saw them, namely, the spirits that existed before the world was made; and they saw that among that vast number of spirits there were some choice ones, some that were noble in the sight of God, probably because of their integrity and steadfastness in upholding truth; among those noble ones were those whom the Lord chose before the foundation of the world to come forth upon the earth in their second estate, and to hold authority and power in the various dispensations, and to administer the plan of salvation to the human family. Abraham was among that number. The High Priests that lived from the days of Adam down to the flood were among that number, who were then chosen and then ordained, according to the foreknowledge of God. It is recorded in the Book of Alma regarding the Priesthood, that the ordinances of the Priesthood and the calling to the Priesthood were without beginning or end. There may be a beginning to the person who is called, but that Priesthood existed before that person was called, and there was no beginning to the calling, no beginning to the ordinances of the Priesthood, no beginning to the Priesthood itself, being handed down from all eternity, being in existence in all of the worlds that were worthy of having the Priesthood and authority from God. The reason for my making this observation is to clear up one point which may perhaps trouble the minds of some of the Latter-day Saints.
You have read in the revelation given on the 22nd day of September, 1832, that without the Priesthood and the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is not manifested unto men in the flesh. You have also read in that same revelation, that without the ordinances of that Priesthood and the power thereof to administer to the children of men no man could see the face of God the Father and live. When you read this plain saying your minds may have reverted back to the days when there was no Priesthood so far as ordination was concerned, on this earth, I mean the ordination that took place here. You find a little boy, Joseph Smith, calling upon the name of the Lord, in the spring of the year 1820, before he was not yet fifteen years of age; and the result of his calling upon the name of the Lord was that a pillar of fire appeared in the heavens above him, and it continued to descend and grow brighter and brighter, until it reached the top of the trees that were growing around about where he was praying; and so great was the glory of this light that this lad, this youth, this boy, seemed to feel almost fearful lest the trees themselves would be consumed by it. But it continued to descend until it rested upon this lad and immediately his mind was caught away from the surrounding objects, was swallowed up in a heavenly vision, in which he saw two glorious personages, one was the Father, the other was the Son.
“No man without the Priesthood, can behold the face of the Father and live.”
Now, this has troubled the minds of some of the Latter-day Saints. “How is it, (say they) that Joseph lived, after having seen the face of the Father, after having heard the words of His mouth, after the Father had said unto him, ‘He is my beloved Son, hear ye him.’”
If you had thought upon this other subject, namely, that Joseph had been already ordained before this world was made—to what Priesthood? To the Priesthood after the Order of an Endless Life, a Priesthood that is everlasting, a Priesthood handed down, that had no beginning, a Priesthood after the holiest Order of God, a Priesthood that was after the Order of His Only Begotten Son. If you had only reflected that that same Priesthood had been conferred upon him in the councils of the holy ones before the world was made, and that he was ordained to come forth in this dispensation of the fulness of times to hold the keys of authority and power of that high and holy Priesthood—that he was ordained to come forth and perform the work that God intended to accomplish in the latter times, then the mystery would have been cleared up to your minds. He was not without the Priesthood in reality; but was a man chosen, a man ordained, a man appointed from before the foundation of this world, to come forth in the fulness of times to introduce the last dispensation among the children of men; to come in order to organize that kingdom, that was predicted by the ancient Prophets, that should stand forever; to come to fulfil the great and glorious work of preparation for the coming of the Son of God to reign in righteousness upon the earth; he could see the face of God the Father and live. But after having received this heavenly vision, after having brought forth the Book of Mormon, and translated it (the Lord having prepared a way by which the book could be printed), and having received the command of the Almighty to organize the Church, and having received the Priesthood reconfirmed upon him by Peter, James, and John, and prior to that having received the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, on the 15th day of May, 1829—having all these preparations here in the flesh as well as having been preordained to this mission, he was prepared to begin the work that should be everlasting, or in other words, the establishment of the kingdom of God that should never again be taken away from the earth.
The Apostleship being conferred—the Aaronic Priesthood having been previously conferred—all the powers of the Priesthood rested upon this man, and he had the right to the authority to administer, not only in the introductory principles of the Gospel of the Son of God, by which people might be born into the kingdom, but also had the authority and the power from the heavens to administer in all the sacred ordinances of this kingdom, at least so far as the building up of the Church was concerned, and of officiating in the various offices of the Priesthood. After having conferred this authority and power, the Lord was prepared to give little by little, one portion or degree of Priesthood after another, until by and by, in accordance with the revelation given in June, 1829, He called twelve men to be Apostles, some three or four years after the revelation was given, when it was predicted that such should be the case. What did we know about the callings and duties of this council of the Twelve? Nothing, only as God revealed it through His servant Joseph.
After this Apostleship was given, some were faithful therein, others were not; some lost the authority of the Priesthood, others retained it, and the blessings of God were upon those that were faithful in their calling, while the curse of an offended God followed those who abused this sacred trust, and their Priesthood was taken from them and conferred upon others that were worthy of it. The Lord also, about the same time that He called the Twelve Apostles, was prepared to call Seventies to minister under the direction of the Twelve; and many were ordained to this Apostleship, and they were men who had proven themselves faithful before the Lord: and others were perhaps ordained who had not been fully proven, and therefore the opportunity was afforded them, acting upon the agency they had in common with all men, of proving themselves before God. Some of them were faithful, others were unfaithful; those that were unfaithful apostatized eventually and left the Church, while those that were faithful continued in their office and calling until many of them passed down to the tomb; and having magnified the good office and calling that had been conferred upon them, they will claim, in the eternal worlds the blessings appertaining to their several offices.
And what did we know about these Seventies and their particular calling? Were there specified duties assigned to that body of men anciently, whose call by the Savior is recorded in the New Testament?
No, we were ignorant. The Prophet himself, the Twelve and all that had been called, knew nothing in relation to the duties of these Seventies until the Lord revealed what they were, and at the same time He pointed out the duties of the Presidency of the Seventies, both the duties of the seven men constituting the Presidency of all the Seventies, and also those of the seven men that were to preside over each Council of the Seventies. The Lord made manifest these things not all at once, but from time to time, as the people progressed and were counted worthy in His sight to receive further knowledge upon these things. You may ask, why it was that the Lord did not give the whole pattern at once, why He did not unfold everything all in a moment? It was because we were as little children then, and indeed I am of the opinion that many of us are little children still—and we could not bear all things at once; therefore He revealed unto us enough from time to time to set our minds reflecting; He revealed sufficient to cause us to be stirred up in our minds to pray unto Him; and when we prayed unto Him about any of the duties of the Priesthood, then He would reveal it. But He would be sought unto by His people before He would reveal a fulness of knowledge upon these important subjects. This seeking unto the Lord to obtain little by little, and precept by precept in the knowledge of the things of God, is just the way a wise parent would instruct his own sons. Our parents would not tell us all about the various branches of education when we were two or three, or four years old; but they taught us as children, giving us line upon line until we could understand more fully those things that pertained to a good education. So the Lord dealt with His people, as a wise, judicious, kindhearted parent, imparting just according to the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and according to His own mind and will, and good pleasure.
By and by, after the Church was organized and there being no Bishops the Lord saw that it was necessary to introduce some kind of a plan in relation to the property of His people in the State of New York. What did the Lord say to us under those circumstances, when we were not fully organized? Said He to the Church in the State of New York, in the General Conference, through the mouth of His servant Joseph, in a revelation given on the 2nd day of January, 1831, He said, Let my Church in this land flee out from the State of New York; let them go westward to the land of Kirtland, and join my people in the State of Ohio; let them do this immediately, lest their enemies come upon them, etc. The Lord understood what was in the hearts of the enemies of His people; He understood what they were doing in their secret councils, in their secret chambers to bring to pass the destruction of the Latter-day Saints that were in the States of New York and Pennsylvania. How shall this work be done? No Bishop to take charge of the properties. The Lord said, Let certain men among you in the State of New York be appointed to take charge of the properties of my people, that which you cannot dispose of or sell in time to flee out; let them have charge of it to sell it in after times for the benefit of the Church. Here, then, was a revelation appointing certain men without ordination, without the Bishopric, to handle properties, to do that which Bishops were afterwards required to perform. Now, here is a lesson for us. Because the Lord does one thing in the year 1831, and points out certain men according to the circumstances in which people are placed, that is no evidence that He will always continue the same order. The Lord deals with the children of men according to circumstances, and afterwards varies from that plan according to His own good will and pleasure. When these men had fulfilled their duties in relation to the properties of the Saints, and the Saints had gathered out from New York and Pennsylvania to the land of Kirtland, then it became necessary for a regular Bishop to be called and ordained, also his Counselors. Did the Lord point out that these Bishops should be taken from the High Priesthood? No.
“And again, I have called my servant Edward Partridge; and I give a commandment, that he should be appointed by the voice of the church, and ordained a bishop unto the church.” And with regard to choosing his Counselors, the Lord said they should be selected from the Elders of his Church. Why did He say the Elders? Because the High Priests at that time had not been ordained; that is, they had not been ordained under that name. Although the Apostleship had been conferred upon Joseph and Oliver, even they were called Elders; the word High Priest was not known among them to be understood and comprehended until a long time after Bishops were called; and that is the reason why the Lord said to Bishop Partridge, “select from the Elders of my Church.” “But,” says one who has read the Doctrine and Covenants, “you will find in the revelation given on the 6th of April, 1830, something about Bishops, High Priests, etc.”
[The speaker was here stopped that an important notice might be given out.]
I was saying that at the time that Bishop Partridge was called and ordained a Bishop, on the 4th of February, 1831, that at that time there were no High Priests, they were not known under that name, but were known under the name of the Apostleship, etc., and hence Elders were specified to be called as Counselors. I was also saying that in the revelation given on the 6th day of April, 1830, there was nothing said about High Priests at the time the revelation was given; neither about Bishops. But you will find two paragraphs in that revelation which mention them, which paragraphs were placed there several years after the revelation was given, which the Lord had a perfect right to do; and if it were necessary we might quote examples from Scripture to show that the Lord adds to any revelation when He sees proper, in order to make it more fully understood. For instance, you recollect that Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah a lengthy revelation regarding the king of Israel and the house of Israel. And that when the revelation was given to the king of Israel and after he “had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed.” Did the Lord give it over again? Yes, “and,” says the Scripture, “there were added besides unto them many like words,” not in the former revelation. If the Lord took that method in the days of Jeremiah, was there anything inconsistent in the Prophet Joseph, in years afterwards, adding the words, “Bishops and High Priests,” in order that the people might more fully understand? My motive in mentioning these things is that the people may understand the ways of the Lord. His ways are not as the ways of man, neither are His thoughts limited by our limited thoughts or conceptions. But He does as He pleases.
By and by the time came when the Lord saw proper to make manifest something in relation to the name and the authority and the power of this High Priesthood; showing us that it was after the order of His Only Begotten Son, that it holds the keys to power, etc., on the earth.
Well, after the first Bishop had been chosen, and two Elders selected by him to operate with him, his duties began to be more fully made manifest. I shall not have time on this occasion to point out the various duties that were assigned to Bishop Edward Partridge, in the land of Zion, in Jackson County, Missouri, and other duties devolving upon him while he yet remained at Kirtland. Perhaps it might be well enough, however, to just briefly touch upon his duties, that were more fully made manifest when he was required to go out from Kirtland about a day's journey to the southeast, and organize the Colesville branch in the town of Thompson. The Lord told him how to organize the people, and that there was a man in the Church whose name was Leman Copley, who had a large tract of land, and he covenanted before God that if the Colesville Branch would go upon his land, they might have their inheritances, etc., and that they might enter into the Order of God, as should be pointed out by the voice of the Prophet. And when the Prophet Joseph went out to Thompson and undertook to organize the Branch according to this promise and covenant that was made, Bishop Partridge was there, and he had it pointed out to him how he should deal with that particular organization, that they should all be made equal, and should receive their stewardships, and should consecrate all of their property into the hands of the Bishop; and that was made a sample for all other churches throughout the Lord's vineyard. You may judge whether we have kept it or not. And his duties were also made manifest in the latter part of the summer of 1831. And many of the first Elders were commanded to go west of Kirtland about one thousand miles; and the promise was that the land which the Lord intended to give to His people should be made known, and it should be told them where the city should be built. In the months of July and August of that year, the Lord pointed out more fully the duties of Bishop Partridge in regard to dividing the land, that is, the land that, had been purchased by the Church, dividing it out among the various families of the Saints. The first families, with the exception of some that had been baptized in that land, were faithful ones among the Colesville branch, one of the earliest organizations of the Church. They were commanded to flee from the town of Thompson, because this rich man had broken his covenant. They went up to Jackson County, and Bishop Partridge was commanded to divide off to them inheritances by the law of consecration.
Here then was a Bishop whose duties were made known and specified, and which were very different in their nature in many respects from our Ward Bishops. Can you not see the difference between these duties assigned to Edward Partridge, and the duties assigned to the several Ward Bishops of our Church? So far as the Ward Bishops' duties go, they coincide perfectly with the duties that were assigned to this general Bishop. But there were a great many things required of him that are not required of Ward Bishops; quite different in their duties and in their callings.
In December, 1831, the Lord saw proper again to give another Bishop, his name was Newel K. Whitney. Was he merely a Bishop of a Ward, whose jurisdiction was limited to a little spot of ground that might be termed a place for the residence of a Ward Bishop? No; he was another general Bishop. Bishop Partridge having general jurisdiction in Jackson County, and in the regions round about; while the duties of Newel K. Whitney extended to the State of Ohio and the States of Pennsylvania and New York, and throughout all the Eastern countries, wherever the Church of God was organized.
Here were two Bishops, then, one having jurisdiction in the West, a thousand miles from the other; the other having jurisdiction in the East. Their duties were pointed out, but neither of them was a Presiding Bishop. But what were they? As was clearly shown by President Taylor at the Priesthood meeting on last evening, they were general Bishops. By and by, after the Church of God was driven from the State of Missouri, it became necessary to have a Presiding Bishop; and the Lord gave a revelation, saying:
“Let my servant Vinson Knight, and my servant Shadrach Roundy, and my servant Samuel H. Smith, be appointed as Presidents over the bishopric of my church.”
Here, then, is the first intimation that we have of a Presiding Bishop. Neither Bishop Partridge nor Newel K. Whitney at that time was a presiding Bishop, but each one held distinct jurisdiction, presiding in a distinct locality, neither presiding over the other. But when Vinson Knight, in years afterwards, was called, it was his duty to preside over all of the Bishops that were then appointed. Was there any general Bishop after the death of Bishop Partridge? Yes:
“Let my servant, George Miller, receive the bishopric which was conferred upon Edward Partridge, to receive the consecrations of my people,” etc.
He was ordained to the same calling, and called to the same Bishopric; not to the Presiding Bishopric, but to the same Bishopric conferred upon Edward Partridge, to receive the consecrations of the Lord's Church, to administer to the poor and needy, etc. Here, then, were two distinct orders of Bishops, so far as their duties, jurisdiction and responsibilities were concerned, but as Bishops they held the same calling as others. By and by, in the process of time, as the Church increased and multiplied upon the earth, it became necessary that there should be local Bishops; hence arose Bishops over this town and over that town, not general Bishops, but Ward Bishops, the same as you have throughout your respective Stakes.
Now the duties of these three distinct callings of those that are termed Bishops are very different, so far as their duties are concerned. The jurisdiction of a Ward Bishop does not go beyond his Ward, unless he be particularly called to do so. He must be selected, must be appointed, and must be sent to some other place in order to have jurisdiction outside of his Ward in the capacity of a Bishop. The office of the Presiding Bishop still continues, but for some reason we have not at the present time, so far as I am aware, any traveling or general Bishop like Bishop Ed. Partridge, and like Bishop Newel K. Whitney, who afterwards did become a Presiding Bishop. A traveling Bishop in his jurisdiction would not be limited to a Ward; it would be his duty if so called and appointed to travel through the various Stakes of Zion to exhort the people to do their duty, to look after the temporal interests of the Church, to humble the rich and the proud and lift up the low and the meek of the earth.
There is another class of Bishops. We find in every Stake of Zion what is termed a Bishop's Agent. Does he hold the Bishopric? He should have that office conferred upon him. Why? Because it is his duty to administer in temporal things. Does his jurisdiction extend beyond that of a Ward Bishop? It does. Why? By appointment, by selection, by being sent by the Presidency of the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek to administer in the special duties of his office in any or in all the Stakes of Zion, as the case may be according to the nature of his appointment, and by the authority of the Presiding Bishop. There are a great many things to be taken into consideration when we strive to understand the Book of Covenants according to the revelations that are therein given. Because God confined His servants to certain duties in the early rise of this Church, that is no proof or evidence that He will always work in the same channel. He will enlarge the borders of this kingdom; He will stretch forth the curtains of Zion; He will lengthen her cords and strengthen her Stakes and will multiply them not only throughout this mountain Territory, but throughout the United States, this land of Joseph: and they will be called the Stakes of the great City of Zion.
Let me here take the liberty to say to this congregation that the City of Zion when it is built in Jackson County, will not be called a Stake. We can find no mention in all the revelations that God has given, that the City of Zion is to be the Center Stake of Zion; the Lord never called it a Stake in any revelation that has been given. It is to be the headquarters, it is to be the place where the Son of Man will come and dwell, where He will have a Temple, in which Temple there will be a throne prepared where Jesus will dwell in the midst of His people; it will be the great central city, and the outward branches will be called Stakes wherever they shall be organized as such.
We cannot suppose, as I was saying, that when the Lord shall thus enlarge the borders of Zion and multiply her Stakes, that He will be obliged to confine Himself to those circumstances and that condition of things that existed when we were a little handful of people. We are swelling out, we are becoming numerous upon the face of the land; and the day will come when Isaiah's prophecy, as contained in the 60th chapter, will be literally fulfilled, that is, a little one shall not only become a thousand, but the small one a strong nation. Are we then to be governed in all respects by those limited things that we were governed by in our childhood? Will there be no change of circumstances? Yes, as there is in the growth of grain, we have first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, but these will all be in accordance with the development made by the progress of the kingdom as is explained in the blade, the ear and the full corn in the ear, and let me here prophesy on the strength of the revelations that were given through the Prophet Joseph, and through all the ancient Prophets, that the time will come when the Lord our God will so manifest His power that every soul upon the face of this great Western Continent that will not believe the Book of Mormon, that will not repent of his sins, that will not turn away from his iniquities, and that will not hearken to the voice of His Son, that it will be with such a one as Moses said, he shall be cut off from among the people. Do you believe it? It will be the case. And when that day comes that the Lord shall cut off such people, when the day comes that he will fulfil the revelations of Isaiah, as well as many other revelations that have been given, Zion will have to go forth in her strength and power, and the inhabitants of the nations that are afar off will say, “Surely, Zion is the city of our God, for the Lord is there, and His glory is there, and the power and the might of His terror is there,”—terror to the wicked, terror to those who commit sin: and many people will say “Come, let us be subject to her laws.” That will be after the Lord has broken up the nations, after He has destroyed and wasted them away, so far as the wicked portions are concerned. Those who are left will gladly acknowledge Zion, will acknowledge God and His people, and will acknowledge the laws that will be literally sent forth from Zion to the nations of the earth. Must we then be limited in all respects as we were limited in the early rise of the Church? No. New circumstances require new power, new knowledge, new additions, new strength and new Quorums; not to do away with the old, but additional in their nature. Men will hold authority and power to carry forth the laws of Zion to the remnants of this nation, and to foreign nations—ministers, or plenipotentiaries, if you please, to use a political term, will go forth to the nations of the earth with the laws of God. Now, this is a prophecy of my own, but it is a prophecy according to that which is written, according to that which God gave to His ancient and His modern Prophets.
I find that I shall not be able to continue my remarks as they present themselves to my mind, for there are numerous branches pertaining to this subject of the Priesthood, besides that of the Bishopric, and blessings pertaining to the two Priesthoods, upon which it would be very pleasing to my mind to dwell, that is, if I had the time and the strength of body to do so.
I would say, however, that in regard to the organization of the First Presidency, it was done soon after the rise of the Church. The Lord exhibited to us, by revelation, the order of things as it existed in former days, away back in the dispensation before the flood—the dispensation of the antediluvian Patriarchs and their order of government; and also the dispensation of the Patriarchs after the flood and their order of government, and which I dwelt upon some two or three days since. I say that in relation to these matters much might be said, and much might be said in regard to our privileges, the privileges of those holding these two Priesthoods. And much might be said of the First Presidency, which quorum presides over all the Church of God; and much might be said in relation to the duties of the Twelve, not only as a traveling High Council, but in regard to the setting in order of the various offices in Zion. We might talk a great deal about that. We, as the Twelve, have been fulfilling both of these duties, traveling abroad and sending abroad, and also setting in order the councils of the Priesthood in the midst of Zion, as the revelation required of us. In so doing, we have acted for a short time as a Presiding Council in the midst of the Church of God. We did so upon the death of the Prophet Joseph. The Spirit of God wrought upon his servants, that during our administration for some three or four years after the death of Brother Joseph, the First Presidency was not organized. Did the Council of the Twelve forget it? No. Did they ignore it? No; they all the time had their minds fixed upon the revelation which God had given showing that the Council of the First Presidency was the supreme Council and authority in the Church, and that the Twelve could not act in that supreme authority and power only as the First Presidency was made vacant. This Quorum was reorganized some three or four years after the death of the Prophet, and it continued organized until the year 1877, and upon the death of President Young, who was the President in the First Presidency, it then fell again upon the Twelve as formerly, and they have continued some three years and upwards occupying that position. Have they done right? Yes; they have done as they were required to do during the time being. And now, after having performed their duties, they still keep in mind the necessity of this First Quorum of all Quorums of the Church again being filled up, so that the revelations of God may be honored and we fulfil their requirements. Hence, the Council of the Apostles has taken into consideration this subject, and the question in our minds was, Have we sufficiently, as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, magnified our office and calling, in setting in order the Church of the living God, in organizing the various Councils, or is there something lacking? Every time we thought upon the subject we saw that one Council, the most important of all, was still vacant. Could we ignore it? No. We therefore considered the propriety of organizing it at the present Conference; and Brother John Taylor, by the voice of his brethren, the Twelve, being the person holding the legal right to that office, as the President of the Twelve Apostles, was selected to occupy the position of the President of the whole Church. And he, according to the right and authority given to him, suggested his own Counselors. They were sanctioned by the Twelve Apostles; hence, the First Presidency again, so far as the Council of the Twelve is concerned, has been reorganized. We have fulfilled our duties, then, in relation to that revelation which says, it is given unto the Twelve Apostles to set in order all those offices that are named in that revelation, we, I say, have done it. And we have laid the subject before the Priesthood of all the various Quorums, as they were assembled in general council on last evening, and they with us have had the privilege of sanctioning this action, that that quorum be filled up and be complete. It now remains with the body of the people to give their sanction, males and females, as well as the Priesthood. And in order that this may be done according to the pattern which God has given through His servant Joseph, the Priesthood will be organized this afternoon in their respective Quorums, and this subject will be brought before them to be voted upon by each Quorum separately; and then the whole congregation will be called upon to sanction the same.
I would state that this change made a vacancy of three in the Quorum of the Apostles, and persons have been selected to fill this vacancy thus made; or, rather, two persons have been selected from among the High Priesthood to partially fill that vacancy in the Council of the Apostles. The third one has not yet been chosen to completely fill the vacancy in the Apostles' Quorum; we, however, may be prepared to act on that today, and we may not.
Having said so much, in a very scattered manner, in regard to the Priesthood, and the dealings of God with us from time to time, I would state to my brethren and sisters, to the Latter-day Saints, I rejoice that the time has again come when our Quorums in the Church of God will be completed as given in the Doctrine and Covenants. I feel to rejoice in seeing this order carried out. There never has been a time, from the commencement of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the organization has been so complete as during the last two or three years. I trust that His great purposes will be carried out and fulfilled, until Zion shall become, as it is written in the Book of Mormon, in the parable of the vineyard, shall become one body and its branches shall be equal. Amen.
Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered at the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I have been asked by President Taylor to address the congregation this morning on a particular subject, in which we are all interested, namely, the divine authority of the Priesthood, divine callings, ordinances, etc.
We have in this Church several thousand male members who hold authority and power which they say is from heaven. If it be from heaven, as we testify, and have testified ever since the rise of the Church, then the Lord our God has manifested His power, and in His mercy has once more bestowed authority upon the children of men to administer His holy ordinances, and to occupy the positions to which we have severally been called. On the other hand, if the views of the world are correct—they do not consider us to have any authority—we are then on the same ground and platform with the rest of the religious world, there is no authority upon the earth. One or the other is true.
There never was a principle more clearly proven than that the inhabitants of the earth are destitute of all divine authority, among all religious denominations, whether Pagan, Mahometan or so-called Christian; the authority cannot be found throughout all the various denominations that have existed through the long period of time called the dark ages, until the Lord, in His mercy, has organized His Church again on the earth and bestowed that authority, and if He has not done it, as the world say He has not, there are no persons upon this whole earth that have any authority from the heavens; and therefore we are just as well off as the balance of them.
We are not indebted to man for the various authorities in this Church; this is our testimony. Man did not commence this work, man is not the originator of this work, neither is he the origin of the authority by which we administer. The Lord did not see proper to organize the authority of this Church all at once in all the various councils and authorities that, from time to time, have been ordained among this people; it was a gradual work. Authority was bestowed before there was any Church. First (not the authority of the Priesthood) but the authority to bring forth the plates of the Book of Mormon, and to translate them by the Urim and Thummim, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. This was the first authority conferred upon the one whom the Lord chose to commence this great work. The authority of the Priesthood was not conferred upon him at that time, but He revealed unto him concerning the everlasting Gospel contained in the ancient records kept by the Nephites, or Israelites, upon this great Western Continent.
Joseph Smith, when he translated these records by the aid of the Urim and Thummim, had not yet received any Priesthood, so far as his temporal existence was concerned. But now, do not misunderstand me in regard to this position. He did hold the Priesthood before he came here upon the earth. I remarked that Joseph, so far as any ordination here in the flesh was concerned, held no Priesthood at the time that he brought forth the plates of the Book of Mormon and translated them; but he did hold the Priesthood, which was conferred upon him in the councils of eternity, before this world was formed. You will find this recorded in a sermon delivered by the Prophet Joseph, showing that not only he, but also all of the faithful that have received the Priesthood here in this life, were ordained before the foundation of the world. Consequently, they had the ordination; that ordination was after the order of Him who is from all eternity to all eternity, an everlasting Priesthood, without father, without mother, without beginning, without end; having been handed down from all eternity. That Priesthood was conferred upon Joseph Smith before he came here; he was among those that are spoken of in “The Pearl of Great Price,” whom the ancient Prophets saw in heaven. Moses saw them, and Abraham saw them, namely, the spirits that existed before the world was made; and they saw that among that vast number of spirits there were some choice ones, some that were noble in the sight of God, probably because of their integrity and steadfastness in upholding truth; among those noble ones were those whom the Lord chose before the foundation of the world to come forth upon the earth in their second estate, and to hold authority and power in the various dispensations, and to administer the plan of salvation to the human family. Abraham was among that number. The High Priests that lived from the days of Adam down to the flood were among that number, who were then chosen and then ordained, according to the foreknowledge of God. It is recorded in the Book of Alma regarding the Priesthood, that the ordinances of the Priesthood and the calling to the Priesthood were without beginning or end. There may be a beginning to the person who is called, but that Priesthood existed before that person was called, and there was no beginning to the calling, no beginning to the ordinances of the Priesthood, no beginning to the Priesthood itself, being handed down from all eternity, being in existence in all of the worlds that were worthy of having the Priesthood and authority from God. The reason for my making this observation is to clear up one point which may perhaps trouble the minds of some of the Latter-day Saints.
You have read in the revelation given on the 22nd day of September, 1832, that without the Priesthood and the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is not manifested unto men in the flesh. You have also read in that same revelation, that without the ordinances of that Priesthood and the power thereof to administer to the children of men no man could see the face of God the Father and live. When you read this plain saying your minds may have reverted back to the days when there was no Priesthood so far as ordination was concerned, on this earth, I mean the ordination that took place here. You find a little boy, Joseph Smith, calling upon the name of the Lord, in the spring of the year 1820, before he was not yet fifteen years of age; and the result of his calling upon the name of the Lord was that a pillar of fire appeared in the heavens above him, and it continued to descend and grow brighter and brighter, until it reached the top of the trees that were growing around about where he was praying; and so great was the glory of this light that this lad, this youth, this boy, seemed to feel almost fearful lest the trees themselves would be consumed by it. But it continued to descend until it rested upon this lad and immediately his mind was caught away from the surrounding objects, was swallowed up in a heavenly vision, in which he saw two glorious personages, one was the Father, the other was the Son.
“No man without the Priesthood, can behold the face of the Father and live.”
Now, this has troubled the minds of some of the Latter-day Saints. “How is it, (say they) that Joseph lived, after having seen the face of the Father, after having heard the words of His mouth, after the Father had said unto him, ‘He is my beloved Son, hear ye him.’”
If you had thought upon this other subject, namely, that Joseph had been already ordained before this world was made—to what Priesthood? To the Priesthood after the Order of an Endless Life, a Priesthood that is everlasting, a Priesthood handed down, that had no beginning, a Priesthood after the holiest Order of God, a Priesthood that was after the Order of His Only Begotten Son. If you had only reflected that that same Priesthood had been conferred upon him in the councils of the holy ones before the world was made, and that he was ordained to come forth in this dispensation of the fulness of times to hold the keys of authority and power of that high and holy Priesthood—that he was ordained to come forth and perform the work that God intended to accomplish in the latter times, then the mystery would have been cleared up to your minds. He was not without the Priesthood in reality; but was a man chosen, a man ordained, a man appointed from before the foundation of this world, to come forth in the fulness of times to introduce the last dispensation among the children of men; to come in order to organize that kingdom, that was predicted by the ancient Prophets, that should stand forever; to come to fulfil the great and glorious work of preparation for the coming of the Son of God to reign in righteousness upon the earth; he could see the face of God the Father and live. But after having received this heavenly vision, after having brought forth the Book of Mormon, and translated it (the Lord having prepared a way by which the book could be printed), and having received the command of the Almighty to organize the Church, and having received the Priesthood reconfirmed upon him by Peter, James, and John, and prior to that having received the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, on the 15th day of May, 1829—having all these preparations here in the flesh as well as having been preordained to this mission, he was prepared to begin the work that should be everlasting, or in other words, the establishment of the kingdom of God that should never again be taken away from the earth.
The Apostleship being conferred—the Aaronic Priesthood having been previously conferred—all the powers of the Priesthood rested upon this man, and he had the right to the authority to administer, not only in the introductory principles of the Gospel of the Son of God, by which people might be born into the kingdom, but also had the authority and the power from the heavens to administer in all the sacred ordinances of this kingdom, at least so far as the building up of the Church was concerned, and of officiating in the various offices of the Priesthood. After having conferred this authority and power, the Lord was prepared to give little by little, one portion or degree of Priesthood after another, until by and by, in accordance with the revelation given in June, 1829, He called twelve men to be Apostles, some three or four years after the revelation was given, when it was predicted that such should be the case. What did we know about the callings and duties of this council of the Twelve? Nothing, only as God revealed it through His servant Joseph.
After this Apostleship was given, some were faithful therein, others were not; some lost the authority of the Priesthood, others retained it, and the blessings of God were upon those that were faithful in their calling, while the curse of an offended God followed those who abused this sacred trust, and their Priesthood was taken from them and conferred upon others that were worthy of it. The Lord also, about the same time that He called the Twelve Apostles, was prepared to call Seventies to minister under the direction of the Twelve; and many were ordained to this Apostleship, and they were men who had proven themselves faithful before the Lord: and others were perhaps ordained who had not been fully proven, and therefore the opportunity was afforded them, acting upon the agency they had in common with all men, of proving themselves before God. Some of them were faithful, others were unfaithful; those that were unfaithful apostatized eventually and left the Church, while those that were faithful continued in their office and calling until many of them passed down to the tomb; and having magnified the good office and calling that had been conferred upon them, they will claim, in the eternal worlds the blessings appertaining to their several offices.
And what did we know about these Seventies and their particular calling? Were there specified duties assigned to that body of men anciently, whose call by the Savior is recorded in the New Testament?
No, we were ignorant. The Prophet himself, the Twelve and all that had been called, knew nothing in relation to the duties of these Seventies until the Lord revealed what they were, and at the same time He pointed out the duties of the Presidency of the Seventies, both the duties of the seven men constituting the Presidency of all the Seventies, and also those of the seven men that were to preside over each Council of the Seventies. The Lord made manifest these things not all at once, but from time to time, as the people progressed and were counted worthy in His sight to receive further knowledge upon these things. You may ask, why it was that the Lord did not give the whole pattern at once, why He did not unfold everything all in a moment? It was because we were as little children then, and indeed I am of the opinion that many of us are little children still—and we could not bear all things at once; therefore He revealed unto us enough from time to time to set our minds reflecting; He revealed sufficient to cause us to be stirred up in our minds to pray unto Him; and when we prayed unto Him about any of the duties of the Priesthood, then He would reveal it. But He would be sought unto by His people before He would reveal a fulness of knowledge upon these important subjects. This seeking unto the Lord to obtain little by little, and precept by precept in the knowledge of the things of God, is just the way a wise parent would instruct his own sons. Our parents would not tell us all about the various branches of education when we were two or three, or four years old; but they taught us as children, giving us line upon line until we could understand more fully those things that pertained to a good education. So the Lord dealt with His people, as a wise, judicious, kindhearted parent, imparting just according to the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and according to His own mind and will, and good pleasure.
By and by, after the Church was organized and there being no Bishops the Lord saw that it was necessary to introduce some kind of a plan in relation to the property of His people in the State of New York. What did the Lord say to us under those circumstances, when we were not fully organized? Said He to the Church in the State of New York, in the General Conference, through the mouth of His servant Joseph, in a revelation given on the 2nd day of January, 1831, He said, Let my Church in this land flee out from the State of New York; let them go westward to the land of Kirtland, and join my people in the State of Ohio; let them do this immediately, lest their enemies come upon them, etc. The Lord understood what was in the hearts of the enemies of His people; He understood what they were doing in their secret councils, in their secret chambers to bring to pass the destruction of the Latter-day Saints that were in the States of New York and Pennsylvania. How shall this work be done? No Bishop to take charge of the properties. The Lord said, Let certain men among you in the State of New York be appointed to take charge of the properties of my people, that which you cannot dispose of or sell in time to flee out; let them have charge of it to sell it in after times for the benefit of the Church. Here, then, was a revelation appointing certain men without ordination, without the Bishopric, to handle properties, to do that which Bishops were afterwards required to perform. Now, here is a lesson for us. Because the Lord does one thing in the year 1831, and points out certain men according to the circumstances in which people are placed, that is no evidence that He will always continue the same order. The Lord deals with the children of men according to circumstances, and afterwards varies from that plan according to His own good will and pleasure. When these men had fulfilled their duties in relation to the properties of the Saints, and the Saints had gathered out from New York and Pennsylvania to the land of Kirtland, then it became necessary for a regular Bishop to be called and ordained, also his Counselors. Did the Lord point out that these Bishops should be taken from the High Priesthood? No.
“And again, I have called my servant Edward Partridge; and I give a commandment, that he should be appointed by the voice of the church, and ordained a bishop unto the church.” And with regard to choosing his Counselors, the Lord said they should be selected from the Elders of his Church. Why did He say the Elders? Because the High Priests at that time had not been ordained; that is, they had not been ordained under that name. Although the Apostleship had been conferred upon Joseph and Oliver, even they were called Elders; the word High Priest was not known among them to be understood and comprehended until a long time after Bishops were called; and that is the reason why the Lord said to Bishop Partridge, “select from the Elders of my Church.” “But,” says one who has read the Doctrine and Covenants, “you will find in the revelation given on the 6th of April, 1830, something about Bishops, High Priests, etc.”
[The speaker was here stopped that an important notice might be given out.]
I was saying that at the time that Bishop Partridge was called and ordained a Bishop, on the 4th of February, 1831, that at that time there were no High Priests, they were not known under that name, but were known under the name of the Apostleship, etc., and hence Elders were specified to be called as Counselors. I was also saying that in the revelation given on the 6th day of April, 1830, there was nothing said about High Priests at the time the revelation was given; neither about Bishops. But you will find two paragraphs in that revelation which mention them, which paragraphs were placed there several years after the revelation was given, which the Lord had a perfect right to do; and if it were necessary we might quote examples from Scripture to show that the Lord adds to any revelation when He sees proper, in order to make it more fully understood. For instance, you recollect that Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah a lengthy revelation regarding the king of Israel and the house of Israel. And that when the revelation was given to the king of Israel and after he “had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed.” Did the Lord give it over again? Yes, “and,” says the Scripture, “there were added besides unto them many like words,” not in the former revelation. If the Lord took that method in the days of Jeremiah, was there anything inconsistent in the Prophet Joseph, in years afterwards, adding the words, “Bishops and High Priests,” in order that the people might more fully understand? My motive in mentioning these things is that the people may understand the ways of the Lord. His ways are not as the ways of man, neither are His thoughts limited by our limited thoughts or conceptions. But He does as He pleases.
By and by the time came when the Lord saw proper to make manifest something in relation to the name and the authority and the power of this High Priesthood; showing us that it was after the order of His Only Begotten Son, that it holds the keys to power, etc., on the earth.
Well, after the first Bishop had been chosen, and two Elders selected by him to operate with him, his duties began to be more fully made manifest. I shall not have time on this occasion to point out the various duties that were assigned to Bishop Edward Partridge, in the land of Zion, in Jackson County, Missouri, and other duties devolving upon him while he yet remained at Kirtland. Perhaps it might be well enough, however, to just briefly touch upon his duties, that were more fully made manifest when he was required to go out from Kirtland about a day's journey to the southeast, and organize the Colesville branch in the town of Thompson. The Lord told him how to organize the people, and that there was a man in the Church whose name was Leman Copley, who had a large tract of land, and he covenanted before God that if the Colesville Branch would go upon his land, they might have their inheritances, etc., and that they might enter into the Order of God, as should be pointed out by the voice of the Prophet. And when the Prophet Joseph went out to Thompson and undertook to organize the Branch according to this promise and covenant that was made, Bishop Partridge was there, and he had it pointed out to him how he should deal with that particular organization, that they should all be made equal, and should receive their stewardships, and should consecrate all of their property into the hands of the Bishop; and that was made a sample for all other churches throughout the Lord's vineyard. You may judge whether we have kept it or not. And his duties were also made manifest in the latter part of the summer of 1831. And many of the first Elders were commanded to go west of Kirtland about one thousand miles; and the promise was that the land which the Lord intended to give to His people should be made known, and it should be told them where the city should be built. In the months of July and August of that year, the Lord pointed out more fully the duties of Bishop Partridge in regard to dividing the land, that is, the land that, had been purchased by the Church, dividing it out among the various families of the Saints. The first families, with the exception of some that had been baptized in that land, were faithful ones among the Colesville branch, one of the earliest organizations of the Church. They were commanded to flee from the town of Thompson, because this rich man had broken his covenant. They went up to Jackson County, and Bishop Partridge was commanded to divide off to them inheritances by the law of consecration.
Here then was a Bishop whose duties were made known and specified, and which were very different in their nature in many respects from our Ward Bishops. Can you not see the difference between these duties assigned to Edward Partridge, and the duties assigned to the several Ward Bishops of our Church? So far as the Ward Bishops' duties go, they coincide perfectly with the duties that were assigned to this general Bishop. But there were a great many things required of him that are not required of Ward Bishops; quite different in their duties and in their callings.
In December, 1831, the Lord saw proper again to give another Bishop, his name was Newel K. Whitney. Was he merely a Bishop of a Ward, whose jurisdiction was limited to a little spot of ground that might be termed a place for the residence of a Ward Bishop? No; he was another general Bishop. Bishop Partridge having general jurisdiction in Jackson County, and in the regions round about; while the duties of Newel K. Whitney extended to the State of Ohio and the States of Pennsylvania and New York, and throughout all the Eastern countries, wherever the Church of God was organized.
Here were two Bishops, then, one having jurisdiction in the West, a thousand miles from the other; the other having jurisdiction in the East. Their duties were pointed out, but neither of them was a Presiding Bishop. But what were they? As was clearly shown by President Taylor at the Priesthood meeting on last evening, they were general Bishops. By and by, after the Church of God was driven from the State of Missouri, it became necessary to have a Presiding Bishop; and the Lord gave a revelation, saying:
“Let my servant Vinson Knight, and my servant Shadrach Roundy, and my servant Samuel H. Smith, be appointed as Presidents over the bishopric of my church.”
Here, then, is the first intimation that we have of a Presiding Bishop. Neither Bishop Partridge nor Newel K. Whitney at that time was a presiding Bishop, but each one held distinct jurisdiction, presiding in a distinct locality, neither presiding over the other. But when Vinson Knight, in years afterwards, was called, it was his duty to preside over all of the Bishops that were then appointed. Was there any general Bishop after the death of Bishop Partridge? Yes:
“Let my servant, George Miller, receive the bishopric which was conferred upon Edward Partridge, to receive the consecrations of my people,” etc.
He was ordained to the same calling, and called to the same Bishopric; not to the Presiding Bishopric, but to the same Bishopric conferred upon Edward Partridge, to receive the consecrations of the Lord's Church, to administer to the poor and needy, etc. Here, then, were two distinct orders of Bishops, so far as their duties, jurisdiction and responsibilities were concerned, but as Bishops they held the same calling as others. By and by, in the process of time, as the Church increased and multiplied upon the earth, it became necessary that there should be local Bishops; hence arose Bishops over this town and over that town, not general Bishops, but Ward Bishops, the same as you have throughout your respective Stakes.
Now the duties of these three distinct callings of those that are termed Bishops are very different, so far as their duties are concerned. The jurisdiction of a Ward Bishop does not go beyond his Ward, unless he be particularly called to do so. He must be selected, must be appointed, and must be sent to some other place in order to have jurisdiction outside of his Ward in the capacity of a Bishop. The office of the Presiding Bishop still continues, but for some reason we have not at the present time, so far as I am aware, any traveling or general Bishop like Bishop Ed. Partridge, and like Bishop Newel K. Whitney, who afterwards did become a Presiding Bishop. A traveling Bishop in his jurisdiction would not be limited to a Ward; it would be his duty if so called and appointed to travel through the various Stakes of Zion to exhort the people to do their duty, to look after the temporal interests of the Church, to humble the rich and the proud and lift up the low and the meek of the earth.
There is another class of Bishops. We find in every Stake of Zion what is termed a Bishop's Agent. Does he hold the Bishopric? He should have that office conferred upon him. Why? Because it is his duty to administer in temporal things. Does his jurisdiction extend beyond that of a Ward Bishop? It does. Why? By appointment, by selection, by being sent by the Presidency of the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek to administer in the special duties of his office in any or in all the Stakes of Zion, as the case may be according to the nature of his appointment, and by the authority of the Presiding Bishop. There are a great many things to be taken into consideration when we strive to understand the Book of Covenants according to the revelations that are therein given. Because God confined His servants to certain duties in the early rise of this Church, that is no proof or evidence that He will always work in the same channel. He will enlarge the borders of this kingdom; He will stretch forth the curtains of Zion; He will lengthen her cords and strengthen her Stakes and will multiply them not only throughout this mountain Territory, but throughout the United States, this land of Joseph: and they will be called the Stakes of the great City of Zion.
Let me here take the liberty to say to this congregation that the City of Zion when it is built in Jackson County, will not be called a Stake. We can find no mention in all the revelations that God has given, that the City of Zion is to be the Center Stake of Zion; the Lord never called it a Stake in any revelation that has been given. It is to be the headquarters, it is to be the place where the Son of Man will come and dwell, where He will have a Temple, in which Temple there will be a throne prepared where Jesus will dwell in the midst of His people; it will be the great central city, and the outward branches will be called Stakes wherever they shall be organized as such.
We cannot suppose, as I was saying, that when the Lord shall thus enlarge the borders of Zion and multiply her Stakes, that He will be obliged to confine Himself to those circumstances and that condition of things that existed when we were a little handful of people. We are swelling out, we are becoming numerous upon the face of the land; and the day will come when Isaiah's prophecy, as contained in the 60th chapter, will be literally fulfilled, that is, a little one shall not only become a thousand, but the small one a strong nation. Are we then to be governed in all respects by those limited things that we were governed by in our childhood? Will there be no change of circumstances? Yes, as there is in the growth of grain, we have first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear, but these will all be in accordance with the development made by the progress of the kingdom as is explained in the blade, the ear and the full corn in the ear, and let me here prophesy on the strength of the revelations that were given through the Prophet Joseph, and through all the ancient Prophets, that the time will come when the Lord our God will so manifest His power that every soul upon the face of this great Western Continent that will not believe the Book of Mormon, that will not repent of his sins, that will not turn away from his iniquities, and that will not hearken to the voice of His Son, that it will be with such a one as Moses said, he shall be cut off from among the people. Do you believe it? It will be the case. And when that day comes that the Lord shall cut off such people, when the day comes that he will fulfil the revelations of Isaiah, as well as many other revelations that have been given, Zion will have to go forth in her strength and power, and the inhabitants of the nations that are afar off will say, “Surely, Zion is the city of our God, for the Lord is there, and His glory is there, and the power and the might of His terror is there,”—terror to the wicked, terror to those who commit sin: and many people will say “Come, let us be subject to her laws.” That will be after the Lord has broken up the nations, after He has destroyed and wasted them away, so far as the wicked portions are concerned. Those who are left will gladly acknowledge Zion, will acknowledge God and His people, and will acknowledge the laws that will be literally sent forth from Zion to the nations of the earth. Must we then be limited in all respects as we were limited in the early rise of the Church? No. New circumstances require new power, new knowledge, new additions, new strength and new Quorums; not to do away with the old, but additional in their nature. Men will hold authority and power to carry forth the laws of Zion to the remnants of this nation, and to foreign nations—ministers, or plenipotentiaries, if you please, to use a political term, will go forth to the nations of the earth with the laws of God. Now, this is a prophecy of my own, but it is a prophecy according to that which is written, according to that which God gave to His ancient and His modern Prophets.
I find that I shall not be able to continue my remarks as they present themselves to my mind, for there are numerous branches pertaining to this subject of the Priesthood, besides that of the Bishopric, and blessings pertaining to the two Priesthoods, upon which it would be very pleasing to my mind to dwell, that is, if I had the time and the strength of body to do so.
I would say, however, that in regard to the organization of the First Presidency, it was done soon after the rise of the Church. The Lord exhibited to us, by revelation, the order of things as it existed in former days, away back in the dispensation before the flood—the dispensation of the antediluvian Patriarchs and their order of government; and also the dispensation of the Patriarchs after the flood and their order of government, and which I dwelt upon some two or three days since. I say that in relation to these matters much might be said, and much might be said in regard to our privileges, the privileges of those holding these two Priesthoods. And much might be said of the First Presidency, which quorum presides over all the Church of God; and much might be said in relation to the duties of the Twelve, not only as a traveling High Council, but in regard to the setting in order of the various offices in Zion. We might talk a great deal about that. We, as the Twelve, have been fulfilling both of these duties, traveling abroad and sending abroad, and also setting in order the councils of the Priesthood in the midst of Zion, as the revelation required of us. In so doing, we have acted for a short time as a Presiding Council in the midst of the Church of God. We did so upon the death of the Prophet Joseph. The Spirit of God wrought upon his servants, that during our administration for some three or four years after the death of Brother Joseph, the First Presidency was not organized. Did the Council of the Twelve forget it? No. Did they ignore it? No; they all the time had their minds fixed upon the revelation which God had given showing that the Council of the First Presidency was the supreme Council and authority in the Church, and that the Twelve could not act in that supreme authority and power only as the First Presidency was made vacant. This Quorum was reorganized some three or four years after the death of the Prophet, and it continued organized until the year 1877, and upon the death of President Young, who was the President in the First Presidency, it then fell again upon the Twelve as formerly, and they have continued some three years and upwards occupying that position. Have they done right? Yes; they have done as they were required to do during the time being. And now, after having performed their duties, they still keep in mind the necessity of this First Quorum of all Quorums of the Church again being filled up, so that the revelations of God may be honored and we fulfil their requirements. Hence, the Council of the Apostles has taken into consideration this subject, and the question in our minds was, Have we sufficiently, as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, magnified our office and calling, in setting in order the Church of the living God, in organizing the various Councils, or is there something lacking? Every time we thought upon the subject we saw that one Council, the most important of all, was still vacant. Could we ignore it? No. We therefore considered the propriety of organizing it at the present Conference; and Brother John Taylor, by the voice of his brethren, the Twelve, being the person holding the legal right to that office, as the President of the Twelve Apostles, was selected to occupy the position of the President of the whole Church. And he, according to the right and authority given to him, suggested his own Counselors. They were sanctioned by the Twelve Apostles; hence, the First Presidency again, so far as the Council of the Twelve is concerned, has been reorganized. We have fulfilled our duties, then, in relation to that revelation which says, it is given unto the Twelve Apostles to set in order all those offices that are named in that revelation, we, I say, have done it. And we have laid the subject before the Priesthood of all the various Quorums, as they were assembled in general council on last evening, and they with us have had the privilege of sanctioning this action, that that quorum be filled up and be complete. It now remains with the body of the people to give their sanction, males and females, as well as the Priesthood. And in order that this may be done according to the pattern which God has given through His servant Joseph, the Priesthood will be organized this afternoon in their respective Quorums, and this subject will be brought before them to be voted upon by each Quorum separately; and then the whole congregation will be called upon to sanction the same.
I would state that this change made a vacancy of three in the Quorum of the Apostles, and persons have been selected to fill this vacancy thus made; or, rather, two persons have been selected from among the High Priesthood to partially fill that vacancy in the Council of the Apostles. The third one has not yet been chosen to completely fill the vacancy in the Apostles' Quorum; we, however, may be prepared to act on that today, and we may not.
Having said so much, in a very scattered manner, in regard to the Priesthood, and the dealings of God with us from time to time, I would state to my brethren and sisters, to the Latter-day Saints, I rejoice that the time has again come when our Quorums in the Church of God will be completed as given in the Doctrine and Covenants. I feel to rejoice in seeing this order carried out. There never has been a time, from the commencement of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the organization has been so complete as during the last two or three years. I trust that His great purposes will be carried out and fulfilled, until Zion shall become, as it is written in the Book of Mormon, in the parable of the vineyard, shall become one body and its branches shall be equal. Amen.
Elder John Taylor
said it was very necessary for every matter of importance to come before the body of the Church, for their approval or otherwise, that unity of action and feeling may be promoted, and therefore the measures alluded to by Elder Pratt would be presented to the whole conference.
said it was very necessary for every matter of importance to come before the body of the Church, for their approval or otherwise, that unity of action and feeling may be promoted, and therefore the measures alluded to by Elder Pratt would be presented to the whole conference.
Elder L. John Nuttall presented the following names of missionaries to the
UNITED STATES,
James McGhie, Sen., Sugar House Ward.
Mons Anderson, Lehi.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Adam Wilcox, Cottonwood, Bear Lake Stake.
They were unanimously sustained by the Conference.
UNITED STATES,
James McGhie, Sen., Sugar House Ward.
Mons Anderson, Lehi.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Adam Wilcox, Cottonwood, Bear Lake Stake.
They were unanimously sustained by the Conference.
Elder Geo. Q. Cannon
then designated the seats in the Tabernacle which the several quorums of the priesthood should occupy in the afternoon.
Choir sang an anthem: Worship God.
Conference adjourned till 2 p. m. Benediction by Elder W. Woodruff.
then designated the seats in the Tabernacle which the several quorums of the priesthood should occupy in the afternoon.
Choir sang an anthem: Worship God.
Conference adjourned till 2 p. m. Benediction by Elder W. Woodruff.
2 p. m.
The several quorums of the priesthood in Solemn Assembly were seated in the following order, according to previous announcement:
The Twelve Apostles in their usual seats.
On the south part of the stand the Patriarchs, the Presidents of Stakes with their Counselors and the High Councils.
On the north part of the stand the Bishops and their Counselors, Presiding Bishop Hunter and his Counselors in front of them.
The High Priests in the north centre of the body of the house, the quorum presidents in front.
The Seventies in the south centre of the body of the house, the First Seven Presidents in front.
The Elders immediately behind the High Priests.
The Lesser Priesthood in the north side of the house.
Conference called to order by Prest. John Taylor.
Choir sang, O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come.
Prayer by Elder Albert Carrington.
Choir sang, O God the eternal Father, Who dwells amid the sky.
The several quorums of the priesthood in Solemn Assembly were seated in the following order, according to previous announcement:
The Twelve Apostles in their usual seats.
On the south part of the stand the Patriarchs, the Presidents of Stakes with their Counselors and the High Councils.
On the north part of the stand the Bishops and their Counselors, Presiding Bishop Hunter and his Counselors in front of them.
The High Priests in the north centre of the body of the house, the quorum presidents in front.
The Seventies in the south centre of the body of the house, the First Seven Presidents in front.
The Elders immediately behind the High Priests.
The Lesser Priesthood in the north side of the house.
Conference called to order by Prest. John Taylor.
Choir sang, O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come.
Prayer by Elder Albert Carrington.
Choir sang, O God the eternal Father, Who dwells amid the sky.
Elder Orson Pratt
then presented the following authorities of the Church to the Conference, all of whom were unanimously sustained by each quorum of the priesthood, rising in their order, with uplifted hands to heaven:
First, the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors; second, the Patriarchs, Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors and the High Councils; third, the High Priests; fourth, the Seventies; fifth, the Elders; sixth, the Bishops and their Counselors; seventh, the Lesser Priesthood—Priests, Teachers and Deacons; eighth, the Presidents of the various Quorums. Last, the whole congregation, male and female, in the galleries, on the stand and in the body of the house:
John Taylor, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon, as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith, as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Wilford Woodruff, as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Apostles—Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young [Jr.], Albert Carrington and Moses Thatcher.
As Counselors to the Twelve—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
Francis Marion Lyman as an Apostle in the Council of the Twelve.
John Henry Smith as an Apostle in the Council of the Twelve.
After the sustaining of the First Presidency the votes were first acted upon by that Quorum and then by each Quorum in its order as named above.
then presented the following authorities of the Church to the Conference, all of whom were unanimously sustained by each quorum of the priesthood, rising in their order, with uplifted hands to heaven:
First, the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors; second, the Patriarchs, Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors and the High Councils; third, the High Priests; fourth, the Seventies; fifth, the Elders; sixth, the Bishops and their Counselors; seventh, the Lesser Priesthood—Priests, Teachers and Deacons; eighth, the Presidents of the various Quorums. Last, the whole congregation, male and female, in the galleries, on the stand and in the body of the house:
John Taylor, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon, as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith, as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Wilford Woodruff, as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Apostles—Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young [Jr.], Albert Carrington and Moses Thatcher.
As Counselors to the Twelve—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
Francis Marion Lyman as an Apostle in the Council of the Twelve.
John Henry Smith as an Apostle in the Council of the Twelve.
After the sustaining of the First Presidency the votes were first acted upon by that Quorum and then by each Quorum in its order as named above.
Elder George Q. Cannon
announced that the changes having been voted upon severally by the Quorums, and as it would take too long and was unnecessary to follow the same order in relation to the rest of the Church authorities, they would be submitted to the Conference as usual. They were then unanimously and severally sustained as follows:
The Counselors to President John Taylor, the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
As the First Seven Presidents of the Sevenites—Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates John Van Cott and W. W. Taylor.
The Presiding Bishop of the Church, Edward Hunter, with Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton as his Counselors.
John Taylor, as Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshippers known and recognized as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to hold the legal title to its property and contract for it.
The Twelve Apostles, their two Counselors and Bishop Edward Hunter, as counselors to the Trustee-in-Trust.
Albert Carrington, as President of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund for the Gathering of the Poor, and F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, H. S. Eldredge, Joseph F. Smith, John W. Young, Angus M. Cannon, Moses Thatcher, Wm. Jennings, John R. Winder, Henry Dinwoodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson as his assistants.
Orson Pratt, as Historian and General Church Recorder, and Wilford Woodruff as his assistant.
Truman O. Angel, as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angel, Jun., and Wm. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—W. Woodruff, E. Snow, F. D. Richards and J. F. Smith.
George Goddard as Clerk of the General Conference.
George F. Gibbs as Church Reporter.
announced that the changes having been voted upon severally by the Quorums, and as it would take too long and was unnecessary to follow the same order in relation to the rest of the Church authorities, they would be submitted to the Conference as usual. They were then unanimously and severally sustained as follows:
The Counselors to President John Taylor, the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
As the First Seven Presidents of the Sevenites—Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates John Van Cott and W. W. Taylor.
The Presiding Bishop of the Church, Edward Hunter, with Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton as his Counselors.
John Taylor, as Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshippers known and recognized as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to hold the legal title to its property and contract for it.
The Twelve Apostles, their two Counselors and Bishop Edward Hunter, as counselors to the Trustee-in-Trust.
Albert Carrington, as President of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund for the Gathering of the Poor, and F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, H. S. Eldredge, Joseph F. Smith, John W. Young, Angus M. Cannon, Moses Thatcher, Wm. Jennings, John R. Winder, Henry Dinwoodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson as his assistants.
Orson Pratt, as Historian and General Church Recorder, and Wilford Woodruff as his assistant.
Truman O. Angel, as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angel, Jun., and Wm. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—W. Woodruff, E. Snow, F. D. Richards and J. F. Smith.
George Goddard as Clerk of the General Conference.
George F. Gibbs as Church Reporter.
President Geo. Q. Cannon
said: I hold in my hand the Book of Doctrine and Covenants and also the book The Pearl of Great Price, which books contain revelations of God. In Kirtland, the Doctrine and Covenants in its original form, as first printed, was submitted to the officers of the Church and the members of the Church to vote upon. As there have been additions made to it by the publishing of revelations which were not contained in the original edition, it has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the Conference, to see whether the Conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church.
said: I hold in my hand the Book of Doctrine and Covenants and also the book The Pearl of Great Price, which books contain revelations of God. In Kirtland, the Doctrine and Covenants in its original form, as first printed, was submitted to the officers of the Church and the members of the Church to vote upon. As there have been additions made to it by the publishing of revelations which were not contained in the original edition, it has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the Conference, to see whether the Conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church.
President Joseph F. Smith
said, I move that we receive and accept the revelations contained in these books, as revelations from God to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to all the world.
The motion was seconded and sustained by unanimous vote of the whole Conference.
said, I move that we receive and accept the revelations contained in these books, as revelations from God to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to all the world.
The motion was seconded and sustained by unanimous vote of the whole Conference.
President George Q. Cannon
read a list of amounts of P. E. Fund indebtedness recommended for remittance by the Presidency of the various Stakes of Zion, and passed upon by the President of the P. E. Fund Company, as follows:
Bear Lake Stake, principle and interest together, $12,328.67; Beaver Stake, 8,147.32; Box Elder Stake, 9,608.94; Cache Stake, 22,896.55; Davis Stake, 20,477.70; Juab Stake, 3,571.53; Kanab Stake, 1,092.35; Millard Stake, 5,391.85. Morgan Stake, 10,559.86; Panguitch Stake, 981.53; Parowan Stake, 6,916.74; Sanpete Stake, 27,291.96; Salt Lake Stake, 103,615.19; Sevier Stake, 5,824.84; Summit Stake, 6,532.34; St George Stake, 7,950.55; Tooele Stake, 21,002.85; Utah Stake, 53,560.60; Wasatch Stake, 9,261.27; total, $337,015.64. Weber, Little Colorado and eastern Arizona, no reports.
The Conference voted to sustain the action of the P. E. Fund Company in remitting the amounts named in the list.
The Sacrament was then administered.
read a list of amounts of P. E. Fund indebtedness recommended for remittance by the Presidency of the various Stakes of Zion, and passed upon by the President of the P. E. Fund Company, as follows:
Bear Lake Stake, principle and interest together, $12,328.67; Beaver Stake, 8,147.32; Box Elder Stake, 9,608.94; Cache Stake, 22,896.55; Davis Stake, 20,477.70; Juab Stake, 3,571.53; Kanab Stake, 1,092.35; Millard Stake, 5,391.85. Morgan Stake, 10,559.86; Panguitch Stake, 981.53; Parowan Stake, 6,916.74; Sanpete Stake, 27,291.96; Salt Lake Stake, 103,615.19; Sevier Stake, 5,824.84; Summit Stake, 6,532.34; St George Stake, 7,950.55; Tooele Stake, 21,002.85; Utah Stake, 53,560.60; Wasatch Stake, 9,261.27; total, $337,015.64. Weber, Little Colorado and eastern Arizona, no reports.
The Conference voted to sustain the action of the P. E. Fund Company in remitting the amounts named in the list.
The Sacrament was then administered.
President John Taylor
said it was gratifying to him to know that the organizations of the Church were now provided for. The mind of the Twelve had been exercised on the question of the First Presidency, and what has been done to-day he believed was approbated by the Lord, as well as the people. So far as his own feelings were concerned he could have wished to continue his connection with the Twelve, but as was clearly portrayed to us by Brother Pratt, God has an order in his kingdom, and it is our duty to observe it. He therefore acquiesced in the change. When everything was adjusted, it was nothing but right and proper for the Quorum of the first Presidency to be filled. He did not aspire to that position, but he did deem it a high honor to be a member of the Church and Kingdom of God. He had examined very carefully those principles in relation to the priesthood meeting, and every man should seek to become acquainted with those principles, that they may become more thoroughly conversant with the duties and responsibilities of their several callings. The Lord revealed all these things, or we should never have been in possession of them; we are not indebted to the world for them. He spoke with much pleasure at the prompt and energetic manner in which the Twelve had discharged their duties as the First Presidency, and their readiness to retire from that position, and introduce the order that God had instituted in his kingdom, when the proper time arrived. After receiving the sanction of the Twelve it was deemed wisdom to have the voting done by quorums, then by the whole congregation, which was emphatically the voice of God and the voice of the people. Vox populi and vox dei united. Where the spirit of God is there is peace and union. Let us seek to know the mind and will of God and then do it. He then blessed the various quorums of the priesthood and the different organizations of the Church, including the singers, and all that feel well towards Zion.
said it was gratifying to him to know that the organizations of the Church were now provided for. The mind of the Twelve had been exercised on the question of the First Presidency, and what has been done to-day he believed was approbated by the Lord, as well as the people. So far as his own feelings were concerned he could have wished to continue his connection with the Twelve, but as was clearly portrayed to us by Brother Pratt, God has an order in his kingdom, and it is our duty to observe it. He therefore acquiesced in the change. When everything was adjusted, it was nothing but right and proper for the Quorum of the first Presidency to be filled. He did not aspire to that position, but he did deem it a high honor to be a member of the Church and Kingdom of God. He had examined very carefully those principles in relation to the priesthood meeting, and every man should seek to become acquainted with those principles, that they may become more thoroughly conversant with the duties and responsibilities of their several callings. The Lord revealed all these things, or we should never have been in possession of them; we are not indebted to the world for them. He spoke with much pleasure at the prompt and energetic manner in which the Twelve had discharged their duties as the First Presidency, and their readiness to retire from that position, and introduce the order that God had instituted in his kingdom, when the proper time arrived. After receiving the sanction of the Twelve it was deemed wisdom to have the voting done by quorums, then by the whole congregation, which was emphatically the voice of God and the voice of the people. Vox populi and vox dei united. Where the spirit of God is there is peace and union. Let us seek to know the mind and will of God and then do it. He then blessed the various quorums of the priesthood and the different organizations of the Church, including the singers, and all that feel well towards Zion.
The Organization of the First Presidency, Etc.
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I will make a few remarks while the Sacrament is being administered. It is gratifying to me to be able to state that now all the various organizations of the Church are provided for. For some time the Twelve have been operating in the capacity of a First Presidency, and it was very proper that they should have acted in that capacity. As you heard Brother Pratt state this morning, in referring to this subject, this was the course adopted at the time when the Prophet Joseph Smith left us. The Twelve then stepped forward into the position of the First Presidency, and operated for about three years in that capacity. And when President Young left us it was thought proper that the same course should be pursued. The Twelve, I believe, have in this respect magnified their calling and taken a course that is approved by the Lord, and I think also by the brethren, judging from the vote given here today.
Had it not been our duty to have the Church organized fully and completely in all its departments, I should have much preferred to have continued with the brethren of the Twelve, speaking of it merely as a matter of personal feeling. But there are questions arising in regard to these matters that are not for us to say how they shall be, or what course shall be pursued. When God has given us an order and has appointed an organization in his Church, with the various quorums of Priesthood as presented to us by revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, I do not think that either the First Presidency, the Twelve, the High Priests, the Seventies, the Bishops, or anybody else, have a right to change or alter that plan which the Lord has introduced and established. And as you heard Brother Pratt state this morning, one duty devolving upon the Twelve is to see that the churches are organized correctly. And I think they are now thus organized throughout the land of Zion. The Churches generally are organized with Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors, with High Councils, with Bishops and their Counselors, and with the Lesser Priesthood, according to the order that is given us.
Then we have the High Priests, Seventies and Elders occupying their places according to their Priesthood, position, and standing in the Church. And the First Presidency seemed to be the only quorum that was deficient. And it is impossible for men acquainted with the order of the Holy Priesthood to ignore this quorum, as it is one of the principal councils of the Church. While the Twelve stand as a bulwark ready to protect, defend and maintain, to step forward and carry out the order of God's Kingdom in times of necessity, such as above referred to, yet when everything is adjusted and matters assume their normal condition, then it is proper that the Quorum of the First Presidency, as well as all other quorums, should occupy the place assigned it by the Almighty.
These were the suggestions of the Spirit of the Lord to me. I expressed my feelings to the Twelve, who coincided with me, and, indeed, several of them had had the same feelings as those with which I was actuated. It is not with us, or ought not to be, a matter of place, position, or honor, although it is a great honor to be a servant of God; it is a great honor to hold the Priesthood of God; but while it is an honor to be God's servants, holding His Priesthood, it is not honorable for any man or any set of men to seek for position in the Holy Priesthood. Jesus said, Ye have not called me, but I have called you. And as I said before, had I consulted my own personal feelings, I would have said, things are going on very pleasantly, smoothly and agreeably; and I have a number of good associates whom I respect and esteem, as my brethren, and I rejoice in their counsels. Let things remain as they are. But it is not for me to say, it is not for you to say, what we would individually prefer, but it is for us holding the Holy Priesthood; to see that all the organizations of that Priesthood are preserved intact, and that everything in the Church and kingdom of God is organized according to the plan which He has revealed; therefore we have taken the course which you have been called upon to sanction by your votes today.
I would further remark that I have examined very carefully for some time past some of those principles you heard read over in the Priesthood meeting, and which were referred to in part, by Brother Pratt, this morning. And there are other principles associated with the Priesthood that we wish and hope to have thoroughly defined; so that every man will know his true position and the nature of the calling and responsibility and Priesthood with which he is endowed. It is very proper and very important that we should comprehend these things; every man in his place, and every woman in her place; but I more particularly refer to the Holy Priesthood, that every man may feel and realize the duties and responsibilities which rest upon him.
It is gratifying to me, and it is no doubt satisfactory to you, to see the unanimity and oneness of feeling and the united sentiment which have been manifested in our votes. Those votes being taken first in their quorum capacity, each quorum having voted affirmatively, then by the vote of the Presidents of the several quorums united, and afterwards by the vote of the quorums and people combined, men and women, among the many thousands assembled who have participated in this vote, having a full and free opportunity, uncontrolled by any influence other than the Spirit of God, to express their wishes and desires, there has not been, from all that we could discover, one dissenting vote.
You could not find the same unanimity anywhere upon the earth. Union is a principle that exists in the heavens, and so far as we manifest this feeling in all sincerity, so far do we exhibit our faith in God, in His Priesthood, and in His law as revealed to us. For our religion, our Priesthood and all the blessings and ordinances that we possess were not given us by any man or any combination of men; it was the Lord who revealed all of these things or we could not have been in possession of them. We have had an example here today of the unanimity which characterizes those possessed of the Spirit of the Gospel, and it ought to be a pattern for us in all of our affairs.
And now let me refer with pride to my brethren of the Twelve here, which I do by saying that while they as a quorum held the right by the vote of the people to act in the capacity of the First Presidency, yet when they found, as Brother Pratt expressed it this morning, that they had performed their work, they were willing to withdraw from that Presidency, and put it in the position that God had directed, and fall back into the place that they have always held, as the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I say it is with pride that I refer to this action and the feeling that prompted it. I very much question whether you could find the same personal exhibition of disinterested motives and self-abnegation, and the like readiness to renounce place and position in deference to principle, among the same number of men in any other place. They saw the necessity of this action; a motion was made in that Council; and the vote was unanimously adopted that the First Presidency be reorganized, and afterwards the brethren to fill this quorum, were selected. The next step was to present the matter to the Church, and it was laid before the Priesthood at a meeting, when there were present a representation of all the important authorities of the Church in the different Stakes in Zion. After having done that, lest some difficulty might exist somewhere, it was thought proper to pursue the course taken today—that each organization of the Priesthood, embracing all the quorums, should be seated in a quorum capacity by themselves, and separately have the opportunity of voting freely and fully without control of any kind, and of expressing their feelings, and finally, that the whole congregation should have the same opportunity. This is emphatically the voice of God, and the voice of the people; and this is the order that the Lord has instituted in Zion, as it was in former times among Israel. God gave his commandments; they were delivered by His Prophet to the people and submitted to them, and all Israel said, Amen. You have all done this by your votes; which vote, so far as we can learn, has been without a dissenting voice either among the separate quorums, or in the vote of the combined quorums and people. Now, continue to be united in everything as you are in this thing, and God will stand by you from this time henceforth and forever. And any man who opposes principles of this kind is an enemy of God, an enemy of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, an enemy to the people of God, and an enemy to the freedom and rights of man. The Lord has selected a Priesthood that He might among all Israel make known His mind and will through them, and that they might be His representatives upon the earth. And while He does this He does not wish men to be coerced or forced to do things contrary to their will. But where the Spirit of God is, there is union, harmony and liberty, and where it is not there is strife, confusion and bondage. Let us then seek to be one, honor our God, honor our religion, and keep the commandments of God, and seek to know His will, and then to do it.
I do not know but that I have spoken as long as I ought to. God bless you; God bless the Twelve; and God bless the Presidents of Stakes and their associates, and the Seventies and the High Priests, and the Elders, and the Bishops, and the Lesser Priesthood. And God bless the Relief Societies, and the Young People's Mutual Improvement Associations, and all who love and fear God and keep his commandments. And may God bless the Sunday Schools and the Primary Associations and the educational interests, and all interested in the welfare of Zion, as well as all the good and virtuous, the honorable and high-minded everywhere, who are seeking to promote purity, holiness, and virtue on the earth. And God bless our singers and all who make music for us; and may the peace and blessing of God rest upon all Israel. And when you go to your homes, carry out the principles you have voted for, and God will bless you and your generations after you; and you shall be blessed in time, and through all eternity. And I bless you by virtue of the holy Priesthood, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I will make a few remarks while the Sacrament is being administered. It is gratifying to me to be able to state that now all the various organizations of the Church are provided for. For some time the Twelve have been operating in the capacity of a First Presidency, and it was very proper that they should have acted in that capacity. As you heard Brother Pratt state this morning, in referring to this subject, this was the course adopted at the time when the Prophet Joseph Smith left us. The Twelve then stepped forward into the position of the First Presidency, and operated for about three years in that capacity. And when President Young left us it was thought proper that the same course should be pursued. The Twelve, I believe, have in this respect magnified their calling and taken a course that is approved by the Lord, and I think also by the brethren, judging from the vote given here today.
Had it not been our duty to have the Church organized fully and completely in all its departments, I should have much preferred to have continued with the brethren of the Twelve, speaking of it merely as a matter of personal feeling. But there are questions arising in regard to these matters that are not for us to say how they shall be, or what course shall be pursued. When God has given us an order and has appointed an organization in his Church, with the various quorums of Priesthood as presented to us by revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, I do not think that either the First Presidency, the Twelve, the High Priests, the Seventies, the Bishops, or anybody else, have a right to change or alter that plan which the Lord has introduced and established. And as you heard Brother Pratt state this morning, one duty devolving upon the Twelve is to see that the churches are organized correctly. And I think they are now thus organized throughout the land of Zion. The Churches generally are organized with Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors, with High Councils, with Bishops and their Counselors, and with the Lesser Priesthood, according to the order that is given us.
Then we have the High Priests, Seventies and Elders occupying their places according to their Priesthood, position, and standing in the Church. And the First Presidency seemed to be the only quorum that was deficient. And it is impossible for men acquainted with the order of the Holy Priesthood to ignore this quorum, as it is one of the principal councils of the Church. While the Twelve stand as a bulwark ready to protect, defend and maintain, to step forward and carry out the order of God's Kingdom in times of necessity, such as above referred to, yet when everything is adjusted and matters assume their normal condition, then it is proper that the Quorum of the First Presidency, as well as all other quorums, should occupy the place assigned it by the Almighty.
These were the suggestions of the Spirit of the Lord to me. I expressed my feelings to the Twelve, who coincided with me, and, indeed, several of them had had the same feelings as those with which I was actuated. It is not with us, or ought not to be, a matter of place, position, or honor, although it is a great honor to be a servant of God; it is a great honor to hold the Priesthood of God; but while it is an honor to be God's servants, holding His Priesthood, it is not honorable for any man or any set of men to seek for position in the Holy Priesthood. Jesus said, Ye have not called me, but I have called you. And as I said before, had I consulted my own personal feelings, I would have said, things are going on very pleasantly, smoothly and agreeably; and I have a number of good associates whom I respect and esteem, as my brethren, and I rejoice in their counsels. Let things remain as they are. But it is not for me to say, it is not for you to say, what we would individually prefer, but it is for us holding the Holy Priesthood; to see that all the organizations of that Priesthood are preserved intact, and that everything in the Church and kingdom of God is organized according to the plan which He has revealed; therefore we have taken the course which you have been called upon to sanction by your votes today.
I would further remark that I have examined very carefully for some time past some of those principles you heard read over in the Priesthood meeting, and which were referred to in part, by Brother Pratt, this morning. And there are other principles associated with the Priesthood that we wish and hope to have thoroughly defined; so that every man will know his true position and the nature of the calling and responsibility and Priesthood with which he is endowed. It is very proper and very important that we should comprehend these things; every man in his place, and every woman in her place; but I more particularly refer to the Holy Priesthood, that every man may feel and realize the duties and responsibilities which rest upon him.
It is gratifying to me, and it is no doubt satisfactory to you, to see the unanimity and oneness of feeling and the united sentiment which have been manifested in our votes. Those votes being taken first in their quorum capacity, each quorum having voted affirmatively, then by the vote of the Presidents of the several quorums united, and afterwards by the vote of the quorums and people combined, men and women, among the many thousands assembled who have participated in this vote, having a full and free opportunity, uncontrolled by any influence other than the Spirit of God, to express their wishes and desires, there has not been, from all that we could discover, one dissenting vote.
You could not find the same unanimity anywhere upon the earth. Union is a principle that exists in the heavens, and so far as we manifest this feeling in all sincerity, so far do we exhibit our faith in God, in His Priesthood, and in His law as revealed to us. For our religion, our Priesthood and all the blessings and ordinances that we possess were not given us by any man or any combination of men; it was the Lord who revealed all of these things or we could not have been in possession of them. We have had an example here today of the unanimity which characterizes those possessed of the Spirit of the Gospel, and it ought to be a pattern for us in all of our affairs.
And now let me refer with pride to my brethren of the Twelve here, which I do by saying that while they as a quorum held the right by the vote of the people to act in the capacity of the First Presidency, yet when they found, as Brother Pratt expressed it this morning, that they had performed their work, they were willing to withdraw from that Presidency, and put it in the position that God had directed, and fall back into the place that they have always held, as the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I say it is with pride that I refer to this action and the feeling that prompted it. I very much question whether you could find the same personal exhibition of disinterested motives and self-abnegation, and the like readiness to renounce place and position in deference to principle, among the same number of men in any other place. They saw the necessity of this action; a motion was made in that Council; and the vote was unanimously adopted that the First Presidency be reorganized, and afterwards the brethren to fill this quorum, were selected. The next step was to present the matter to the Church, and it was laid before the Priesthood at a meeting, when there were present a representation of all the important authorities of the Church in the different Stakes in Zion. After having done that, lest some difficulty might exist somewhere, it was thought proper to pursue the course taken today—that each organization of the Priesthood, embracing all the quorums, should be seated in a quorum capacity by themselves, and separately have the opportunity of voting freely and fully without control of any kind, and of expressing their feelings, and finally, that the whole congregation should have the same opportunity. This is emphatically the voice of God, and the voice of the people; and this is the order that the Lord has instituted in Zion, as it was in former times among Israel. God gave his commandments; they were delivered by His Prophet to the people and submitted to them, and all Israel said, Amen. You have all done this by your votes; which vote, so far as we can learn, has been without a dissenting voice either among the separate quorums, or in the vote of the combined quorums and people. Now, continue to be united in everything as you are in this thing, and God will stand by you from this time henceforth and forever. And any man who opposes principles of this kind is an enemy of God, an enemy of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, an enemy to the people of God, and an enemy to the freedom and rights of man. The Lord has selected a Priesthood that He might among all Israel make known His mind and will through them, and that they might be His representatives upon the earth. And while He does this He does not wish men to be coerced or forced to do things contrary to their will. But where the Spirit of God is, there is union, harmony and liberty, and where it is not there is strife, confusion and bondage. Let us then seek to be one, honor our God, honor our religion, and keep the commandments of God, and seek to know His will, and then to do it.
I do not know but that I have spoken as long as I ought to. God bless you; God bless the Twelve; and God bless the Presidents of Stakes and their associates, and the Seventies and the High Priests, and the Elders, and the Bishops, and the Lesser Priesthood. And God bless the Relief Societies, and the Young People's Mutual Improvement Associations, and all who love and fear God and keep his commandments. And may God bless the Sunday Schools and the Primary Associations and the educational interests, and all interested in the welfare of Zion, as well as all the good and virtuous, the honorable and high-minded everywhere, who are seeking to promote purity, holiness, and virtue on the earth. And God bless our singers and all who make music for us; and may the peace and blessing of God rest upon all Israel. And when you go to your homes, carry out the principles you have voted for, and God will bless you and your generations after you; and you shall be blessed in time, and through all eternity. And I bless you by virtue of the holy Priesthood, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder W. Woodruff
felt thankful for what he had seen and heard this day. It was a solemn scene to witness the thousands of men holding the priesthood rising on their feet with one consent, and with uplifted hands sustaining the servants of God in their position. It will have its effect not only on the earth but in the heavens. He spoke of the responsibilities that rested upon those who hold the priesthood. He believed they were ordained in the spirit world before they came here. If anything should tend to humble us before the Lord it is that we have been called to this holy calling. He said he had had quite a number of interviews until within the last 10 or 12 years, with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and recently with Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, and others, and received some valuable instructions from them. He prayed God that we might magnify our calling in this probation, that when we get through we may meet with those ancient and modern worthies who have gone before us. It does not pay to apostatize. But it does and will pay to continue faithful to the end.
felt thankful for what he had seen and heard this day. It was a solemn scene to witness the thousands of men holding the priesthood rising on their feet with one consent, and with uplifted hands sustaining the servants of God in their position. It will have its effect not only on the earth but in the heavens. He spoke of the responsibilities that rested upon those who hold the priesthood. He believed they were ordained in the spirit world before they came here. If anything should tend to humble us before the Lord it is that we have been called to this holy calling. He said he had had quite a number of interviews until within the last 10 or 12 years, with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and recently with Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, and others, and received some valuable instructions from them. He prayed God that we might magnify our calling in this probation, that when we get through we may meet with those ancient and modern worthies who have gone before us. It does not pay to apostatize. But it does and will pay to continue faithful to the end.
Organization of the First Presidency—Responsibility of the Saints, Etc.
Discourse by Elder Wilford Woodruff, delivered at the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
There are many times when I feel a great desire to speak to the people because I have things in my heart that I would like to say. I cannot say at the present time however, that I have any great desire to speak, still I will bear my testimony and express a few thoughts in my reflections that are upon me today.
I am happy and greatly pleased in what I have witnessed, and I feel that the heavens are pleased with our proceedings this day. I feel that they are right. The kingdom of God is onward; it is not backward. It is wisdom that we perform what we have done today.
The act of organizing the council of the first presidency of the church and kingdom of God, I have regarded as a most solemn scene, to see this mighty host of priesthood who are assembled in this house vote in such unanimity, and to see this vast congregation rise in a body with uplifted hands to heaven, it is like the rushing of many waters—there is power in it; there is power with this people; there is power with the priesthood and in the ordinances of the house of God. And what we have done today will have its effect, it will have its effect in the heavens and on the earth. The responsibility that we bear as elders of Israel, before the heavens and before the earth and before each other, is very great. We are called of God; we have been chosen, we have been ordained as men who have been called to bear the priesthood and to attend to the ordinances of the house of God, to preach the Gospel, to warn this generation, to build up Zion, to redeem the earth, to erect temples unto the name of the Most High God, to redeem the living and the dead, and to carry out those great purposes which have been foreordained before the world was. It is a great calling, it is a great responsibility: and I feel that we, as servants of God and as elders of Israel, that we should try in our minds to comprehend these things.
I reflect a good deal with regard to our position, as was described to us today by Brother Pratt. It has been my faith and belief from the time that I was made acquainted with the Gospel that no greater prophet than Joseph Smith ever lived on the face of the earth save Jesus Christ. He was raised up to stand at the head of this great dispensation—the greatest of all dispensations God has ever given to man. He remarked on several occasions when conversing with his brethren: “brethren you do not know me, you do not know who I am.” As I remarked at our priesthood meeting on Friday evening, I have heard him in my early days while conversing with the brethren, say, (at the same time smiting himself upon the breast) “I would to God that I could unbosom my feelings in the house of my friends.” Joseph Smith was ordained before he came here, the same as Jeremiah was. Said the Lord unto him, “Before you were begotten I knew you” etc.
So do I believe with regard to this people, so do I believe with regard to the apostles, the high priests, seventies and the elders of Israel bearing the holy priesthood, I believe they were ordained before they came here; and I believe the God of Israel has raised them up, and has watched over them from their youth, and has carried them through all the scenes of life both seen and unseen, and has prepared them as instruments in his hands to take this kingdom and bear it off. If this be so, what manner of men ought we to be? If anything under the heavens should humble men before the Lord and before one another, it should be the fact that we have been called of God.
I believe the eyes of the heavenly hosts are over this people; I believe they are watching the elders of Israel, the prophets and apostles and men who are called to bear off this kingdom. I believe they watch over us all with great interest.
I will here make a remark concerning my own feelings. After the death of Joseph Smith I saw and conversed with him many times in my dreams in the night season. On one occasion he and his brother Hyrum met me when on the sea going on a mission to England. I had Dan Jones with me. He received his mission from Joseph Smith before his death; and the prophet talked freely to me about the mission I was then going to perform. And he also talked to me with regard to the mission of the Twelve Apostles in the flesh, and he laid before me the work they had to perform; and he also spoke of the reward they would receive after death. And there were many other things he laid before me in his interview on that occasion. And when I awoke many of the things he had told me were taken from me, I could not comprehend them. I have had many interviews with Brother Joseph until the last 15 or 20 years of my life; I have not seen him for that length of time. But during my travels in the southern country last winter I had many interviews with President Young, and with Heber C. Kimball, and Geo. A. Smith, and Jedediah M. Grant, and many others who are dead. They attended our conference, they attended our meetings. And on one occasion, I saw Brother Brigham and Brother Heber ride in carriage ahead of the carriage in which I rode when I was on my way to attend conference; and they were dressed in the most priestly robes. When we arrived at our destination I asked President Young if he would preach to us. He said, “No, I have finished my testimony in the flesh I shall not talk to this people any more. But (said he) I have come to see you; I have come to watch over you, and to see what the people are doing. Then (said he) I want you to teach the people—and I want you to follow this counsel yourself—that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom; without the spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark, and in danger of failing to accomplish your calling as apostles and as elders in the church and kingdom of God. And, said he, Brother Joseph taught me this principle. “And I will here say, I have heard him refer to that while he was living. But what I was going to say is this: the thought came to me that Brother Joseph had left the work of watching over this church and kingdom to others, and that he had gone ahead, and that he had left this work to men who have lived and labored with us since he left us. This idea manifested itself to me, that such men advance in the spirit world. And I believe myself that these men who have died and gone into the spirit world had this mission left with them, that is, a certain portion of them, to watch over the Latter-day Saints.
I feel myself as though we are blessed of the Lord, and that we ought to be satisfied. I feel that we should humble ourselves before God, that we should labor to magnify our callings, and honor this priesthood which we received before we came here while we live out the few days appointed to man in the flesh. And I do hope and pray God that we may magnify our priesthood and calling while we tarry here, so that when we get through our earthly mission and go into the spirit world, we may meet with Brothers Joseph and Brigham and Heber and the rest of the faithful men whom we knew and labored with while in the flesh, as well as Father Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets and apostles who have had their day and their time and their generation, and who have finished their work here below and gone home to glory. Do you not think they are interested about us? I tell you they are. And I desire when I die, and my spirit goes into the spirit world, to meet these men and to go where they are; and I wish to live in that way and manner so as to be worthy of this blessing. And when I say this of myself I wish it to apply to all Israel. It will not pay us to apostatize; neither will it pay us to sin, it costs ten thousand times more than it is worth from beginning to end. Therefore, let us be true and faithful to God. And inasmuch as we have voted today to sustain the presidency of this church and kingdom, let our prayers ascend night and morning into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, in behalf of the men who now stand at our head, and also in behalf of the apostles and in behalf of all the priesthood of God in their place and station. And inasmuch as we do this we will grow, we will advance, the Spirit of God will be poured out upon us which will reveal unto us the mind and the will of God concerning us. And Zion will continue to increase in power on the earth, and eventually accomplish all for which it is designed, which is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: The Spirit of God like a fire is burning, The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
The whole congregation rose to their feet and joined in the singing by request of President Taylor.
Conference adjourned till April 6th, 1881, at 10 am.
Benediction by President Joseph F. Smith.
George Goddard,
Clerk of Conference.
Discourse by Elder Wilford Woodruff, delivered at the General Conference, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, Oct. 10th, 1880.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
There are many times when I feel a great desire to speak to the people because I have things in my heart that I would like to say. I cannot say at the present time however, that I have any great desire to speak, still I will bear my testimony and express a few thoughts in my reflections that are upon me today.
I am happy and greatly pleased in what I have witnessed, and I feel that the heavens are pleased with our proceedings this day. I feel that they are right. The kingdom of God is onward; it is not backward. It is wisdom that we perform what we have done today.
The act of organizing the council of the first presidency of the church and kingdom of God, I have regarded as a most solemn scene, to see this mighty host of priesthood who are assembled in this house vote in such unanimity, and to see this vast congregation rise in a body with uplifted hands to heaven, it is like the rushing of many waters—there is power in it; there is power with this people; there is power with the priesthood and in the ordinances of the house of God. And what we have done today will have its effect, it will have its effect in the heavens and on the earth. The responsibility that we bear as elders of Israel, before the heavens and before the earth and before each other, is very great. We are called of God; we have been chosen, we have been ordained as men who have been called to bear the priesthood and to attend to the ordinances of the house of God, to preach the Gospel, to warn this generation, to build up Zion, to redeem the earth, to erect temples unto the name of the Most High God, to redeem the living and the dead, and to carry out those great purposes which have been foreordained before the world was. It is a great calling, it is a great responsibility: and I feel that we, as servants of God and as elders of Israel, that we should try in our minds to comprehend these things.
I reflect a good deal with regard to our position, as was described to us today by Brother Pratt. It has been my faith and belief from the time that I was made acquainted with the Gospel that no greater prophet than Joseph Smith ever lived on the face of the earth save Jesus Christ. He was raised up to stand at the head of this great dispensation—the greatest of all dispensations God has ever given to man. He remarked on several occasions when conversing with his brethren: “brethren you do not know me, you do not know who I am.” As I remarked at our priesthood meeting on Friday evening, I have heard him in my early days while conversing with the brethren, say, (at the same time smiting himself upon the breast) “I would to God that I could unbosom my feelings in the house of my friends.” Joseph Smith was ordained before he came here, the same as Jeremiah was. Said the Lord unto him, “Before you were begotten I knew you” etc.
So do I believe with regard to this people, so do I believe with regard to the apostles, the high priests, seventies and the elders of Israel bearing the holy priesthood, I believe they were ordained before they came here; and I believe the God of Israel has raised them up, and has watched over them from their youth, and has carried them through all the scenes of life both seen and unseen, and has prepared them as instruments in his hands to take this kingdom and bear it off. If this be so, what manner of men ought we to be? If anything under the heavens should humble men before the Lord and before one another, it should be the fact that we have been called of God.
I believe the eyes of the heavenly hosts are over this people; I believe they are watching the elders of Israel, the prophets and apostles and men who are called to bear off this kingdom. I believe they watch over us all with great interest.
I will here make a remark concerning my own feelings. After the death of Joseph Smith I saw and conversed with him many times in my dreams in the night season. On one occasion he and his brother Hyrum met me when on the sea going on a mission to England. I had Dan Jones with me. He received his mission from Joseph Smith before his death; and the prophet talked freely to me about the mission I was then going to perform. And he also talked to me with regard to the mission of the Twelve Apostles in the flesh, and he laid before me the work they had to perform; and he also spoke of the reward they would receive after death. And there were many other things he laid before me in his interview on that occasion. And when I awoke many of the things he had told me were taken from me, I could not comprehend them. I have had many interviews with Brother Joseph until the last 15 or 20 years of my life; I have not seen him for that length of time. But during my travels in the southern country last winter I had many interviews with President Young, and with Heber C. Kimball, and Geo. A. Smith, and Jedediah M. Grant, and many others who are dead. They attended our conference, they attended our meetings. And on one occasion, I saw Brother Brigham and Brother Heber ride in carriage ahead of the carriage in which I rode when I was on my way to attend conference; and they were dressed in the most priestly robes. When we arrived at our destination I asked President Young if he would preach to us. He said, “No, I have finished my testimony in the flesh I shall not talk to this people any more. But (said he) I have come to see you; I have come to watch over you, and to see what the people are doing. Then (said he) I want you to teach the people—and I want you to follow this counsel yourself—that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom; without the spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark, and in danger of failing to accomplish your calling as apostles and as elders in the church and kingdom of God. And, said he, Brother Joseph taught me this principle. “And I will here say, I have heard him refer to that while he was living. But what I was going to say is this: the thought came to me that Brother Joseph had left the work of watching over this church and kingdom to others, and that he had gone ahead, and that he had left this work to men who have lived and labored with us since he left us. This idea manifested itself to me, that such men advance in the spirit world. And I believe myself that these men who have died and gone into the spirit world had this mission left with them, that is, a certain portion of them, to watch over the Latter-day Saints.
I feel myself as though we are blessed of the Lord, and that we ought to be satisfied. I feel that we should humble ourselves before God, that we should labor to magnify our callings, and honor this priesthood which we received before we came here while we live out the few days appointed to man in the flesh. And I do hope and pray God that we may magnify our priesthood and calling while we tarry here, so that when we get through our earthly mission and go into the spirit world, we may meet with Brothers Joseph and Brigham and Heber and the rest of the faithful men whom we knew and labored with while in the flesh, as well as Father Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets and apostles who have had their day and their time and their generation, and who have finished their work here below and gone home to glory. Do you not think they are interested about us? I tell you they are. And I desire when I die, and my spirit goes into the spirit world, to meet these men and to go where they are; and I wish to live in that way and manner so as to be worthy of this blessing. And when I say this of myself I wish it to apply to all Israel. It will not pay us to apostatize; neither will it pay us to sin, it costs ten thousand times more than it is worth from beginning to end. Therefore, let us be true and faithful to God. And inasmuch as we have voted today to sustain the presidency of this church and kingdom, let our prayers ascend night and morning into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, in behalf of the men who now stand at our head, and also in behalf of the apostles and in behalf of all the priesthood of God in their place and station. And inasmuch as we do this we will grow, we will advance, the Spirit of God will be poured out upon us which will reveal unto us the mind and the will of God concerning us. And Zion will continue to increase in power on the earth, and eventually accomplish all for which it is designed, which is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: The Spirit of God like a fire is burning, The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
The whole congregation rose to their feet and joined in the singing by request of President Taylor.
Conference adjourned till April 6th, 1881, at 10 am.
Benediction by President Joseph F. Smith.
George Goddard,
Clerk of Conference.