April 1884
Cannon, George Q. "Predictions in the Book of Mormon—Evidence of Its Divinity—Proof that Joseph Smith Was Inspired—Predictions Concerning the Indians Fulfilled—Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon Foretold—Plainness of Its Teachings—Prediction Relating to Sidney Rigdon—Only Two Churches—Other Prophecies Being Fulfilled." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 6, 1884: pg. 119-129.
Smith, Joseph F. "Divine Mission of Joseph Smith—Prediction and Promise Fulfilled—Many Others Will Yet Be Verified—The World's Hatred of the Saints—Indisputable Evidence of the Divine Origin of the Church—No Power Can Destroy It—Missionaries Should Go to the Fields to Which They Are Called—The Effects of Obedience and Its Opposite." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 6, 1884: pg. 97-101.
Thatcher, Moses. "Hatred Towards Saints—Its Cause—Hope of the Saints—Constitutional Rights—Loyal Intentions." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 4, 1884: pg. 113-116.
The Deseret News. "Fifty-Fourth Annual Conference." April 9, 1884: pg. 180-181, 188.
Young, Brigham, Jr. "Uniting of Temporal Interests—Not An Obsolete Principle—Improvement Among the Saints—Need of Being More Self-Sustaining—Works to Be Accomplished." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 5, 1884: pg. 117-119.
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
President John Taylor
Apostle George Teasdale
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Meeting of MIA
Friday, 2 p.m.
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Hatred Towards Saints
Apostle Albert Carrington
Apostle F. D. Richards
Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
President John Taylor
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
Apostle Brigham Young, Jr.
Uniting of Temporal Interests
Apostle Erastus Snow
Mission Calls
Saturday, 2 p. m.
Statistical Report
President Wilford Woodruff
President Geo. Q. Cannon
President John Taylor
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.
Auditing Committee Report
President George Q. Cannon
Predictions in the Book of Mormon
President Joseph F. Smith
Divine Mission of Joseph Smith
2 p.m.
Mission Calls
Sustaining of the General Authorities
Elder John W. Taylor
Wm. B. Preston
President John Taylor
Smith, Joseph F. "Divine Mission of Joseph Smith—Prediction and Promise Fulfilled—Many Others Will Yet Be Verified—The World's Hatred of the Saints—Indisputable Evidence of the Divine Origin of the Church—No Power Can Destroy It—Missionaries Should Go to the Fields to Which They Are Called—The Effects of Obedience and Its Opposite." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 6, 1884: pg. 97-101.
Thatcher, Moses. "Hatred Towards Saints—Its Cause—Hope of the Saints—Constitutional Rights—Loyal Intentions." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 4, 1884: pg. 113-116.
The Deseret News. "Fifty-Fourth Annual Conference." April 9, 1884: pg. 180-181, 188.
Young, Brigham, Jr. "Uniting of Temporal Interests—Not An Obsolete Principle—Improvement Among the Saints—Need of Being More Self-Sustaining—Works to Be Accomplished." Journal of Discourses. Volume 25. April 5, 1884: pg. 117-119.
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
President John Taylor
Apostle George Teasdale
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Meeting of MIA
Friday, 2 p.m.
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Hatred Towards Saints
Apostle Albert Carrington
Apostle F. D. Richards
Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
President John Taylor
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
Apostle Brigham Young, Jr.
Uniting of Temporal Interests
Apostle Erastus Snow
Mission Calls
Saturday, 2 p. m.
Statistical Report
President Wilford Woodruff
President Geo. Q. Cannon
President John Taylor
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.
Auditing Committee Report
President George Q. Cannon
Predictions in the Book of Mormon
President Joseph F. Smith
Divine Mission of Joseph Smith
2 p.m.
Mission Calls
Sustaining of the General Authorities
Elder John W. Taylor
Wm. B. Preston
President John Taylor
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
On Friday, April 4th, 1884, the Conference met in the Tabernacle at 10 o’clock a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Glorious things of these are spoken, Zion City of our God.
Prayer by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir sang: Zion stands with hills surrounded, Zion kept by power divine.
Present on the stand:--Of the First Presidency, John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith.
Of the Twelve Apostles, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Albert Carrington, Moses Thatcher, Francis Marion Lyman and George Teasdale.
Counselor to the Twelve, Daniel H. Wells.
Patriarch of the Church, John Smith.
Of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, Horace S. Eldredge, W. W. Taylor, Abram H. Cannon and Seymour B. Young.
Of the Presiding Bishopric, Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton.
Also a number of Presidents of Stakes, Bishops and Elders from various parts of the Territory.
On Friday, April 4th, 1884, the Conference met in the Tabernacle at 10 o’clock a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Glorious things of these are spoken, Zion City of our God.
Prayer by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir sang: Zion stands with hills surrounded, Zion kept by power divine.
Present on the stand:--Of the First Presidency, John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith.
Of the Twelve Apostles, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Albert Carrington, Moses Thatcher, Francis Marion Lyman and George Teasdale.
Counselor to the Twelve, Daniel H. Wells.
Patriarch of the Church, John Smith.
Of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, Horace S. Eldredge, W. W. Taylor, Abram H. Cannon and Seymour B. Young.
Of the Presiding Bishopric, Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton.
Also a number of Presidents of Stakes, Bishops and Elders from various parts of the Territory.
President John Taylor.
He was pleased to have another opportunity of meeting with the Saints in Annual Conference, he was thankful for the favorable circumstances and the beautiful weather which we now enjoy. These occasions were fraught with events of importance to the Latter-day Saints, causing them to reflect upon the goodness and mercy of God and to strengthen and encourage us for the events of the future. This work was one which God our Heavenly Father had instituted, it was not the work of man. It was planned in the heavens. The Father and the Son instituted it, and it had been perpetuated by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and the introduction of the Holy Priesthood. Prophets had looked forward with joy and had written and sung of our day. It was “the dispensation of the fulness of times.” It was not within the power of any men, no matter what their wisdom or ability, to carry on this work without God’s aid. We were indebted to the wisdom and guidance of God for the inception and beginning of this work and in each successive step that we had taken we were indebted to Him for all the progress we had made. Without His aid no man, whatever his position, could do anything for the advancement of this work.
All the children of God were interested in this work, the living, the dead and unborn, and we as a people held their destinies to a great extent in our hands, for our actions not as individuals but as a people would have a bearing upon nations as well as individuals in the future. It behooved us as Saints and as the servants of God holding the Holy Priesthood to magnify our callings. President Taylor hailed the congregation as his brethren and sisters invoked the blessings of God upon them in Conference and declared that His wrath and indignation would be upon their enemies and all who would fight against Zion.
He was pleased to have another opportunity of meeting with the Saints in Annual Conference, he was thankful for the favorable circumstances and the beautiful weather which we now enjoy. These occasions were fraught with events of importance to the Latter-day Saints, causing them to reflect upon the goodness and mercy of God and to strengthen and encourage us for the events of the future. This work was one which God our Heavenly Father had instituted, it was not the work of man. It was planned in the heavens. The Father and the Son instituted it, and it had been perpetuated by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and the introduction of the Holy Priesthood. Prophets had looked forward with joy and had written and sung of our day. It was “the dispensation of the fulness of times.” It was not within the power of any men, no matter what their wisdom or ability, to carry on this work without God’s aid. We were indebted to the wisdom and guidance of God for the inception and beginning of this work and in each successive step that we had taken we were indebted to Him for all the progress we had made. Without His aid no man, whatever his position, could do anything for the advancement of this work.
All the children of God were interested in this work, the living, the dead and unborn, and we as a people held their destinies to a great extent in our hands, for our actions not as individuals but as a people would have a bearing upon nations as well as individuals in the future. It behooved us as Saints and as the servants of God holding the Holy Priesthood to magnify our callings. President Taylor hailed the congregation as his brethren and sisters invoked the blessings of God upon them in Conference and declared that His wrath and indignation would be upon their enemies and all who would fight against Zion.
Apostle George Teasdale.
said, upon receiving the Gospel he received a knowledge of its truth for himself. The history of this people was singularly like that of Abraham, having left all to obey the Gospel, We had believed in the true and living God and obeyed His Gospel and received the promised blessings. The promises that were made and their fulfillment in the case of those who received the Gospel was an evidence that God’s power was with His servants and that their authority was valid. The Elders would not dare to make the promises they do in going forth to proclaim the Gospel if they were not called of God. Another evidence of the divinity of this work was the peace that reigned in the families of the Saints, even in what was called polygamy, while it was difficult for persons in the world to get along with one wife, and even among us it would be found that there was more trouble in monogamous families than among those who had received the celestial law of marriage. This was accounted for by the fact that this people came here for the love of God, and they tried to claim the blessings promised to those who seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Though the Elders were treated despitefully by the people of the world generally, there were a few who gladly received the Gospel, and bore their testimony to its truth, as others had done before them. The signs still followed the believer, and the power of God was continually being made manifest in response to the ministrations of the servants of God. God was at the head of this work and it was our duty to desire that the will of God might be done and to realize the importance of sustaining the servants of God, that they might lead the people aright, and that He would make known to His servants everything necessary to the progress of this work and for the instruction of the people. The only way we could expect the blessings of God was by keeping His commandments, and if we did this we need not fear the efforts of men. They conceded we had the right to believe, but denied to us the right to practice our religion. Such was the result of the boasted enlightenment of the men of this nation. God help such intelligence! We were interested in doing good to ourselves and all mankind: then let us keep the commandments of God, and we would be blessed with the power to redeem ourselves, to redeem our dead, and have glory added unto us, having made good use of our talents. And we owed it to God, having come here pure, to return with the same character that we had when we left His presence. Theory would not do alone, for we would be judged by the deeds done in the body, and our professions or good desires were not sufficient.
said, upon receiving the Gospel he received a knowledge of its truth for himself. The history of this people was singularly like that of Abraham, having left all to obey the Gospel, We had believed in the true and living God and obeyed His Gospel and received the promised blessings. The promises that were made and their fulfillment in the case of those who received the Gospel was an evidence that God’s power was with His servants and that their authority was valid. The Elders would not dare to make the promises they do in going forth to proclaim the Gospel if they were not called of God. Another evidence of the divinity of this work was the peace that reigned in the families of the Saints, even in what was called polygamy, while it was difficult for persons in the world to get along with one wife, and even among us it would be found that there was more trouble in monogamous families than among those who had received the celestial law of marriage. This was accounted for by the fact that this people came here for the love of God, and they tried to claim the blessings promised to those who seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Though the Elders were treated despitefully by the people of the world generally, there were a few who gladly received the Gospel, and bore their testimony to its truth, as others had done before them. The signs still followed the believer, and the power of God was continually being made manifest in response to the ministrations of the servants of God. God was at the head of this work and it was our duty to desire that the will of God might be done and to realize the importance of sustaining the servants of God, that they might lead the people aright, and that He would make known to His servants everything necessary to the progress of this work and for the instruction of the people. The only way we could expect the blessings of God was by keeping His commandments, and if we did this we need not fear the efforts of men. They conceded we had the right to believe, but denied to us the right to practice our religion. Such was the result of the boasted enlightenment of the men of this nation. God help such intelligence! We were interested in doing good to ourselves and all mankind: then let us keep the commandments of God, and we would be blessed with the power to redeem ourselves, to redeem our dead, and have glory added unto us, having made good use of our talents. And we owed it to God, having come here pure, to return with the same character that we had when we left His presence. Theory would not do alone, for we would be judged by the deeds done in the body, and our professions or good desires were not sufficient.
Apostle F. M. Lyman.
rejoiced in the opportunities afforded on these occasions. Our religion required not only good intentions but good works. Faith would not avail us, only as it prompted us to works. If the true faith existed it would prompt us to action. What advantage had we if we only professed to believe in the various ordinances and principles of the gospel, and had not faith to go forth and perform the work. A religion without works is dead. It was singular liberality that would only permit us to believe. God required us to keep his commandments as well as to believe in them, and it were better that we had never been born than to break the commandments of God. We could not do it: we had too much at Stake. All our hopes depended on us doing the works of righteousness. We would be just the kind of people that God desired us to be if we kept His commandments. We were chosen to perform this work before we came here; we had made covenants to keep the commandments of God. We did not expect to wait until the hereafter to receive blessings, we were receiving blessings here every day. We knew that God lived, and had an assurance of this beyond all the reasoning and sophistries of men. We knew also that this was the work of God. We knew these things beyond all doubt as we know that we have a living. And we knew that the nations that fought against Zion would be destroyed and cut off. The servants of God were bearing these testimonies to the nations, but the people hardened their hearts and rejected the truth. If they would listen and obey they might receive the same blessings as we enjoyed. As we had this knowledge let us strive to keep all the commandments, that we might be blessed with the unspeakable riches of eternity, which through our mortal imperfections we were not now prepared to fully realize. He testified that the kingdom was never more firmly rooted than at present, that there were never so many persons who were devoted to the truth, and that it would continue to grow in power as God had intended.
rejoiced in the opportunities afforded on these occasions. Our religion required not only good intentions but good works. Faith would not avail us, only as it prompted us to works. If the true faith existed it would prompt us to action. What advantage had we if we only professed to believe in the various ordinances and principles of the gospel, and had not faith to go forth and perform the work. A religion without works is dead. It was singular liberality that would only permit us to believe. God required us to keep his commandments as well as to believe in them, and it were better that we had never been born than to break the commandments of God. We could not do it: we had too much at Stake. All our hopes depended on us doing the works of righteousness. We would be just the kind of people that God desired us to be if we kept His commandments. We were chosen to perform this work before we came here; we had made covenants to keep the commandments of God. We did not expect to wait until the hereafter to receive blessings, we were receiving blessings here every day. We knew that God lived, and had an assurance of this beyond all the reasoning and sophistries of men. We knew also that this was the work of God. We knew these things beyond all doubt as we know that we have a living. And we knew that the nations that fought against Zion would be destroyed and cut off. The servants of God were bearing these testimonies to the nations, but the people hardened their hearts and rejected the truth. If they would listen and obey they might receive the same blessings as we enjoyed. As we had this knowledge let us strive to keep all the commandments, that we might be blessed with the unspeakable riches of eternity, which through our mortal imperfections we were not now prepared to fully realize. He testified that the kingdom was never more firmly rooted than at present, that there were never so many persons who were devoted to the truth, and that it would continue to grow in power as God had intended.
President W. Woodruff
announced that a meeting of the Mutual Improvement Societies of both sexes would be held in the Assembly Hall, at 7 o’clock this evening; also a meeting of the Sunday School Union most likely in the same place on Saturday evening, and a meeting of the Priesthood on Sunday evening.
The choir sang: “Who can stand against the works of the Lord.”
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p. m.
Benediction by Apostle Wilford Woodruff.
announced that a meeting of the Mutual Improvement Societies of both sexes would be held in the Assembly Hall, at 7 o’clock this evening; also a meeting of the Sunday School Union most likely in the same place on Saturday evening, and a meeting of the Priesthood on Sunday evening.
The choir sang: “Who can stand against the works of the Lord.”
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock p. m.
Benediction by Apostle Wilford Woodruff.
Friday, 2 p.m.
The choir sang: We’re not ashamed to own our Lord, And worship him on earth.
Prayer by Apostle Lorenzo Snow.
The choir sang: O awake my slumbering minstrel, Let my harp forget its swell.
The choir sang: We’re not ashamed to own our Lord, And worship him on earth.
Prayer by Apostle Lorenzo Snow.
The choir sang: O awake my slumbering minstrel, Let my harp forget its swell.
Apostle Moses Thatcher.
rejoiced at the remarks made this morning. As stated by our venerable President, we can accomplish nothing without the aid of the Lord. It was not difficult to discern the hand of God in the affairs of nations, but it was not always so easy to see it in the affairs of individuals. Yet God is the author of life, and overrules all things. During the past few months the speaker had reflected much upon the malice exhibited by the world against us, and had been led to see that we are hated more for our virtues than for our errors. We were ourselves filled with pity for the evil-doer and compassion for the erring. When hatred was directed against the innocent, the shafts were generally dipped in malice before they were shot from the bow of envy. Cain hated Abel, not because Abel was guilty, but because he was pure. It had been so in every age. Trace up the history of persecution, and it would be found that those who invented instruments of torture were moved by malice and envy, and by the spirit of him who would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven. It was the good deeds of Joseph the Prophet which urged the wicked in their hatred to shed his blood. Divest the enemies of the Saints of malice, hatred and envy, and there would be little left. If we copied the vices and wickedness of the world we would be taken by the right hand of fellowship. We were rowing against the tide of the world’s corruption. We were seeking to solve the problem of the kingdom of God, and if we kept free from the contaminations of the age we should surely succeed. We were accused of being lawbreakers. The speaker could trace his lineage to the revolutionary fathers, and he loved the Constitution and institutions of the country. And he held that if Congress could pass a law in relation to marriage, it could enact laws in regard to the sacrament and to baptism. We did not violate any constitutional law. We had gathered here not to be slaves but to be freemen. And the very persecutions we suffered would cause our sons to defend freedom and educate them to be statesmen. We had never thought of secession. We expected to gain our liberties under the flag and within the purview of the United States. And those who called us disloyal, were often themselves violators of their oaths to sustain the Constitution and laws of their country. Out of all the evil heaped upon us good would come to us and our cause. There were thousands of people in this nation who, if they understood us, would defend our cause. And he was satisfied that “Mormonism” was becoming better known, and the efforts of our enemies tended to draw attention to the truth. While excitement raged abroad, all was calmness and peace at home. And this was not because we were not aware of the relative strength of 150,000 and 50,000,000 of people, but because we trusted in God and in the cause in which we were engaged. He bore testimony to the final triumph of this work and could sincerely pray for those who fought against it.
rejoiced at the remarks made this morning. As stated by our venerable President, we can accomplish nothing without the aid of the Lord. It was not difficult to discern the hand of God in the affairs of nations, but it was not always so easy to see it in the affairs of individuals. Yet God is the author of life, and overrules all things. During the past few months the speaker had reflected much upon the malice exhibited by the world against us, and had been led to see that we are hated more for our virtues than for our errors. We were ourselves filled with pity for the evil-doer and compassion for the erring. When hatred was directed against the innocent, the shafts were generally dipped in malice before they were shot from the bow of envy. Cain hated Abel, not because Abel was guilty, but because he was pure. It had been so in every age. Trace up the history of persecution, and it would be found that those who invented instruments of torture were moved by malice and envy, and by the spirit of him who would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven. It was the good deeds of Joseph the Prophet which urged the wicked in their hatred to shed his blood. Divest the enemies of the Saints of malice, hatred and envy, and there would be little left. If we copied the vices and wickedness of the world we would be taken by the right hand of fellowship. We were rowing against the tide of the world’s corruption. We were seeking to solve the problem of the kingdom of God, and if we kept free from the contaminations of the age we should surely succeed. We were accused of being lawbreakers. The speaker could trace his lineage to the revolutionary fathers, and he loved the Constitution and institutions of the country. And he held that if Congress could pass a law in relation to marriage, it could enact laws in regard to the sacrament and to baptism. We did not violate any constitutional law. We had gathered here not to be slaves but to be freemen. And the very persecutions we suffered would cause our sons to defend freedom and educate them to be statesmen. We had never thought of secession. We expected to gain our liberties under the flag and within the purview of the United States. And those who called us disloyal, were often themselves violators of their oaths to sustain the Constitution and laws of their country. Out of all the evil heaped upon us good would come to us and our cause. There were thousands of people in this nation who, if they understood us, would defend our cause. And he was satisfied that “Mormonism” was becoming better known, and the efforts of our enemies tended to draw attention to the truth. While excitement raged abroad, all was calmness and peace at home. And this was not because we were not aware of the relative strength of 150,000 and 50,000,000 of people, but because we trusted in God and in the cause in which we were engaged. He bore testimony to the final triumph of this work and could sincerely pray for those who fought against it.
Hatred Towards Saints—Its Cause—Hope of the Saints—Constitutional Rights—Loyal Intentions
Discourse by Apostle Moses Thatcher, delivered at the General Conference, Friday Afternoon, April 4th, 1884.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I rejoice in the remarks that were made this morning by the brethren, and feel that they were prompted by the Holy Ghost. It was truly remarked by our aged and venerated President, that unless sustained by the Lord, we cannot, as a people, accomplish His work; and it certainly must be apparent to every thoughtful mind, that man in and of himself is very weak, that he is unable, alone and unaided, to accomplish that which will result in his own salvation. It is not difficult to understand or to comprehend the power of God, as it is manifested in the affairs of nations; but we cannot always see how He manages and controls individuals. And yet no human being without His permission breathes the breath of life, for He is the giver of life; and when we, as a community or as individuals, sense this, manifesting by our works a goodly degree of faith and humility before God, then we are in the light. But people, on the other hand, who undertake to exhibit their own wisdom, or to depend upon the knowledge of man will, if they continue in that spirit, be led into darkness, and their life will result in failure.
During the past few months, I have thought much upon a particular subject, which has weighed heavily upon my mind by reason of the enmity, the malice and hatred which I have seen manifested towards the Latter-day Saints. And I have been led to believe that they are hated more for their virtues than for their supposed vices. In connection with this subject, I have been led to believe that many among this people are apt to have compassion for the guilty. And I must confess myself that I have never heard judgment passed on any man by the authorities of the Church without more or less pity in my heart for that man. We are generally apt to be too lenient to the falsifier, who becomes the accuser of his brethren. We are too apt to look with pity upon one who may have fallen from the path of chastity, and forsaken the ways of the Lord. There is something in the human heart that is drawn out in sympathy and compassion for the erring. I will not attempt this afternoon to show whether this is a correct or an incorrect sentiment; whether it is a failing or a virtue; but I have noticed on the other hand, when hatred prompts action, there is but little if any mercy shown. The shafts intended for the innocent are often dipped in doubly distilled poison, before they are sped from the bow of envy by the hand of malice. It was so in the days of the Savior. Thrice tried and thrice condemned, followed to the cross with but little human sympathy, he endured the agonies of a cruel, lingering death. How much sympathy do you suppose Cain had when he slew his brother Abel? Did Cain hate Abel because he was innocent, or because he was guilty? His hand would have paused; he would have reflected had Abel been as guilty before God as he was. But because he was pure, and because God recognized his purity by accepting his offering, there arose in Cain's heart envy, malice and hatred, that could only be appeased with blood. It has been so in every age of the world. You may trace human persecution; you may trace the history of those who invented the rack, the thumbscrew and the wheel, and you will find they have always been moved by one spirit, that same spirit which raised the rebellion in heaven, and that sought the glory and power of God the Father, and that found its culmination in sending to perdition Lucifer and those that were cast out with him. And Milton, interpreting the spirit that prompted Lucifer in the course he pursues, makes him say, “It is better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.” And wherever we find that spirit, we find a spirit of envy, a spirit of malice, a spirit that desires to destroy that which is more excellent and worthy than itself. In this way, after a just comparison between our persecutors and ourselves, we can account for the persecution to which we have been made subject.
Let the youth of Zion contemplate the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and see how evidences of prejudice, hatred and malice were heaped upon him until those that were prompted by it, succeeded at last in slaying him. They perpetrated this deed without mercy, without pity, innocent and guiltless as he was.
How is it today? Converse with certain people in Salt Lake City, those who have made it their business to hate, to lie about, and to do all in their power to persecute and despoil the Latter-day Saints, and you will find lurking in their breasts exactly the same spirit manifested by the wicked towards the Saints of God in all ages of the world; divest them of their malice and hatred and there would be little left.
We hear a great deal about the immorality of this people; but allow me to say, if we permitted ourselves to be led into wickedness; if we would adopt the ways of the Christian age; if we would cast our children into reservoirs and ash pits, on vacant lots and dung heaps, or throw them on to the railroad track; if we would transmit to our sons and daughters disease, and encourage them in ways that lead to death, hell and the grave; we should then have assimilated, as some of our would-be Christianizers have expressed it, with “American institutions;” in other words, then we should be hail fellows well met with the office seekers, with adventurers, with libertines and other destroyers of other people's peace and happiness. It is because we cannot do this; because we refuse to “assimilate;” because we prefer to row against the current of corruption; because the fruits of our labors, political, financial and social are good, and bespeak a higher and better civilization, that we are hated and ostracized, and not because of any immorality that may exist in our midst. We are sensible of the fact that we are not of the world; that if we were, the world would love us as its own. We are sensible of the fact that we have come out from the world, and that, too, for a wise purpose in the wisdom of God. In these mountains we expect to establish the foundation of a civilization that will yet be the admiration of the world. We expect to bequeath to our children the blessings of physical and mental strength such as will enable them to stand the test that will be required of them; and the very principle and tenet of our religion, against which the Christian feeling of the age appears to be so much shocked, will be the chief cornerstone in the hands of the builder of rearing the structure that will be different from anything else in the world. Because we practice celestial or plural marriage, we are branded as lawbreakers; we are told that we seek to violate constitutional law, and the enactments of the Congress of the United States. Upon this point I desire to make a few remarks.
I was born in this country. I can trace my lineage to the revolutionary fathers. I love the institutions of my country; I love and venerate the Constitution. But I am not so ignorant, I am not so blind that I cannot see that anything which you or I may do may be made contrary to law, and may be called unconstitutional; but I hold that the Constitution was made broad enough, high enough and deep enough to enable us to practice our religion and be free before God and man. I hold that if Congress has a right to enact a law in relation to marriage, it might just as consistently make a law affecting baptism, or prescribing the manner, if at all, the sacrament of the Lord's supper should be administered. “What will you do about it?” says one. I do not pretend to know what others will do, neither do I pretend to give advice in the premises; but I do say this: that no nation or government has ever been able to crush the religious sentiment of any people unless it crushed the whole people. The nearest approach to success in this direction that I can find in history, was that of Charles IX, advised by his wicked mother, when he slew the Huguenots in the streets of Paris. But even this kind of treatment did not succeed, and never can succeed. For a persecuted religion will be an investigated religion; and in my opinion it is truth that receives the thrust of the enemy far more frequently than evil.
I wish to bear my testimony in relation to the Latter-day Saints and their position. We will abide in these mountains, and we will plead with our government; we will continue to petition Congress and submit our memorials to the President of the United States; and we will continue to love our country, defend its interests, and be free men in these mountains. If we were aught else, if we could be bound hand and foot as abject slaves, we should be unworthy to be citizens of so great a Republic as is ours. It cannot be done, and for this reason: We have come from the nations of the civilized world of our own free will and choice, expecting to enjoy and to bequeath to our children the freedom guaranteed by the laws and institutions of our country; we came as intelligent, independent men and women, and a people who are intelligent and independent cannot be made slaves. The result will doubtless be this: We shall be crowded upon from time to time—but no more, I apprehend, than God in His wisdom will permit—and the very acts of persecution and unfairness that will be directed against us, will bring out and develop the elements of excellency that will make our young men statesmen, and that will make them lovers and defenders of right and liberty, until, in the due time of the Lord, there will grow up in these mountains a race of people that will not only defend the Constitution, but defend the flag of the nation, and at the same time be willing to extend the principles of freedom to all who desire to receive them. It is a great mistake to imagine that the “Mormons” are opposed to the government. They are not opposed to the government; there is not a feeling of secession about them, and they do not propose to be forced on the other side of the fence by any alliance formed either in Utah or outside of Utah. We expect to stand upon the platform laid broad and deep by the fathers. We expect to defend our rights as American citizens, and to do less than this would be unworthy a free people.
Before closing I wish to bear my testimony in regard to the people in the world. I am perfectly satisfied there are thousands of good and honest men and women in our nation who, if they knew our true status, and understood the facts as they are, would defend our rights to the uttermost of their power. But they have been hedged about; and reports misrepresenting and belying our true character have been so widely circulated, that they have been led to believe them; but as we are becoming better known we may expect to find men and women with a high degree of moral courage, here and there, defending us, and speaking favorably of us. There is no such feeling exhibited in our nation towards us today as two years ago; and even that, hostile as it was, did good. The evil that the ministers and priests and politicians together, sought to bring upon us was, through the wisdom of God, overruled for our good. And so it will continue to be, whatever the enemies of truth do for the purpose of crushing it, will eventually be found to be the very means used to establish it. We have confidence in the wisdom and power of God, and are abundantly able to wait and labor, to work on in the path marked out for us to walk in, fully believing that in His own due time He will accomplish His “marvelous work and a wonder,” and bring about those happy results foreshadowed in the promises made to His people, both ancient and modern. Amen.
Discourse by Apostle Moses Thatcher, delivered at the General Conference, Friday Afternoon, April 4th, 1884.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
I rejoice in the remarks that were made this morning by the brethren, and feel that they were prompted by the Holy Ghost. It was truly remarked by our aged and venerated President, that unless sustained by the Lord, we cannot, as a people, accomplish His work; and it certainly must be apparent to every thoughtful mind, that man in and of himself is very weak, that he is unable, alone and unaided, to accomplish that which will result in his own salvation. It is not difficult to understand or to comprehend the power of God, as it is manifested in the affairs of nations; but we cannot always see how He manages and controls individuals. And yet no human being without His permission breathes the breath of life, for He is the giver of life; and when we, as a community or as individuals, sense this, manifesting by our works a goodly degree of faith and humility before God, then we are in the light. But people, on the other hand, who undertake to exhibit their own wisdom, or to depend upon the knowledge of man will, if they continue in that spirit, be led into darkness, and their life will result in failure.
During the past few months, I have thought much upon a particular subject, which has weighed heavily upon my mind by reason of the enmity, the malice and hatred which I have seen manifested towards the Latter-day Saints. And I have been led to believe that they are hated more for their virtues than for their supposed vices. In connection with this subject, I have been led to believe that many among this people are apt to have compassion for the guilty. And I must confess myself that I have never heard judgment passed on any man by the authorities of the Church without more or less pity in my heart for that man. We are generally apt to be too lenient to the falsifier, who becomes the accuser of his brethren. We are too apt to look with pity upon one who may have fallen from the path of chastity, and forsaken the ways of the Lord. There is something in the human heart that is drawn out in sympathy and compassion for the erring. I will not attempt this afternoon to show whether this is a correct or an incorrect sentiment; whether it is a failing or a virtue; but I have noticed on the other hand, when hatred prompts action, there is but little if any mercy shown. The shafts intended for the innocent are often dipped in doubly distilled poison, before they are sped from the bow of envy by the hand of malice. It was so in the days of the Savior. Thrice tried and thrice condemned, followed to the cross with but little human sympathy, he endured the agonies of a cruel, lingering death. How much sympathy do you suppose Cain had when he slew his brother Abel? Did Cain hate Abel because he was innocent, or because he was guilty? His hand would have paused; he would have reflected had Abel been as guilty before God as he was. But because he was pure, and because God recognized his purity by accepting his offering, there arose in Cain's heart envy, malice and hatred, that could only be appeased with blood. It has been so in every age of the world. You may trace human persecution; you may trace the history of those who invented the rack, the thumbscrew and the wheel, and you will find they have always been moved by one spirit, that same spirit which raised the rebellion in heaven, and that sought the glory and power of God the Father, and that found its culmination in sending to perdition Lucifer and those that were cast out with him. And Milton, interpreting the spirit that prompted Lucifer in the course he pursues, makes him say, “It is better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.” And wherever we find that spirit, we find a spirit of envy, a spirit of malice, a spirit that desires to destroy that which is more excellent and worthy than itself. In this way, after a just comparison between our persecutors and ourselves, we can account for the persecution to which we have been made subject.
Let the youth of Zion contemplate the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and see how evidences of prejudice, hatred and malice were heaped upon him until those that were prompted by it, succeeded at last in slaying him. They perpetrated this deed without mercy, without pity, innocent and guiltless as he was.
How is it today? Converse with certain people in Salt Lake City, those who have made it their business to hate, to lie about, and to do all in their power to persecute and despoil the Latter-day Saints, and you will find lurking in their breasts exactly the same spirit manifested by the wicked towards the Saints of God in all ages of the world; divest them of their malice and hatred and there would be little left.
We hear a great deal about the immorality of this people; but allow me to say, if we permitted ourselves to be led into wickedness; if we would adopt the ways of the Christian age; if we would cast our children into reservoirs and ash pits, on vacant lots and dung heaps, or throw them on to the railroad track; if we would transmit to our sons and daughters disease, and encourage them in ways that lead to death, hell and the grave; we should then have assimilated, as some of our would-be Christianizers have expressed it, with “American institutions;” in other words, then we should be hail fellows well met with the office seekers, with adventurers, with libertines and other destroyers of other people's peace and happiness. It is because we cannot do this; because we refuse to “assimilate;” because we prefer to row against the current of corruption; because the fruits of our labors, political, financial and social are good, and bespeak a higher and better civilization, that we are hated and ostracized, and not because of any immorality that may exist in our midst. We are sensible of the fact that we are not of the world; that if we were, the world would love us as its own. We are sensible of the fact that we have come out from the world, and that, too, for a wise purpose in the wisdom of God. In these mountains we expect to establish the foundation of a civilization that will yet be the admiration of the world. We expect to bequeath to our children the blessings of physical and mental strength such as will enable them to stand the test that will be required of them; and the very principle and tenet of our religion, against which the Christian feeling of the age appears to be so much shocked, will be the chief cornerstone in the hands of the builder of rearing the structure that will be different from anything else in the world. Because we practice celestial or plural marriage, we are branded as lawbreakers; we are told that we seek to violate constitutional law, and the enactments of the Congress of the United States. Upon this point I desire to make a few remarks.
I was born in this country. I can trace my lineage to the revolutionary fathers. I love the institutions of my country; I love and venerate the Constitution. But I am not so ignorant, I am not so blind that I cannot see that anything which you or I may do may be made contrary to law, and may be called unconstitutional; but I hold that the Constitution was made broad enough, high enough and deep enough to enable us to practice our religion and be free before God and man. I hold that if Congress has a right to enact a law in relation to marriage, it might just as consistently make a law affecting baptism, or prescribing the manner, if at all, the sacrament of the Lord's supper should be administered. “What will you do about it?” says one. I do not pretend to know what others will do, neither do I pretend to give advice in the premises; but I do say this: that no nation or government has ever been able to crush the religious sentiment of any people unless it crushed the whole people. The nearest approach to success in this direction that I can find in history, was that of Charles IX, advised by his wicked mother, when he slew the Huguenots in the streets of Paris. But even this kind of treatment did not succeed, and never can succeed. For a persecuted religion will be an investigated religion; and in my opinion it is truth that receives the thrust of the enemy far more frequently than evil.
I wish to bear my testimony in relation to the Latter-day Saints and their position. We will abide in these mountains, and we will plead with our government; we will continue to petition Congress and submit our memorials to the President of the United States; and we will continue to love our country, defend its interests, and be free men in these mountains. If we were aught else, if we could be bound hand and foot as abject slaves, we should be unworthy to be citizens of so great a Republic as is ours. It cannot be done, and for this reason: We have come from the nations of the civilized world of our own free will and choice, expecting to enjoy and to bequeath to our children the freedom guaranteed by the laws and institutions of our country; we came as intelligent, independent men and women, and a people who are intelligent and independent cannot be made slaves. The result will doubtless be this: We shall be crowded upon from time to time—but no more, I apprehend, than God in His wisdom will permit—and the very acts of persecution and unfairness that will be directed against us, will bring out and develop the elements of excellency that will make our young men statesmen, and that will make them lovers and defenders of right and liberty, until, in the due time of the Lord, there will grow up in these mountains a race of people that will not only defend the Constitution, but defend the flag of the nation, and at the same time be willing to extend the principles of freedom to all who desire to receive them. It is a great mistake to imagine that the “Mormons” are opposed to the government. They are not opposed to the government; there is not a feeling of secession about them, and they do not propose to be forced on the other side of the fence by any alliance formed either in Utah or outside of Utah. We expect to stand upon the platform laid broad and deep by the fathers. We expect to defend our rights as American citizens, and to do less than this would be unworthy a free people.
Before closing I wish to bear my testimony in regard to the people in the world. I am perfectly satisfied there are thousands of good and honest men and women in our nation who, if they knew our true status, and understood the facts as they are, would defend our rights to the uttermost of their power. But they have been hedged about; and reports misrepresenting and belying our true character have been so widely circulated, that they have been led to believe them; but as we are becoming better known we may expect to find men and women with a high degree of moral courage, here and there, defending us, and speaking favorably of us. There is no such feeling exhibited in our nation towards us today as two years ago; and even that, hostile as it was, did good. The evil that the ministers and priests and politicians together, sought to bring upon us was, through the wisdom of God, overruled for our good. And so it will continue to be, whatever the enemies of truth do for the purpose of crushing it, will eventually be found to be the very means used to establish it. We have confidence in the wisdom and power of God, and are abundantly able to wait and labor, to work on in the path marked out for us to walk in, fully believing that in His own due time He will accomplish His “marvelous work and a wonder,” and bring about those happy results foreshadowed in the promises made to His people, both ancient and modern. Amen.
Apostle Albert Carrington
knew that the cause in which this little handful of Saints were engaged was the great and grand latter-day work of our Father in the heavens. The wicked could do nothing against this work, but for it. He rejoiced in this. If it were not for this knowledge, considering the great odds against us, we might find our knees trembling. But God and one righteous person were a very great majority against the wicked. And there were thousands who were striving to actually live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Father in the heavens. When Enoch labored, after working for over three hundred years he only gathered a few. The great majority rejected the truth and were destroyed from the face of the earth, Noah, after preaching a hundred and twenty years, only gained seven besides himself out of that perverse generation. But there were thousands upon thousands ready to stand up shoulder to shoulder with our President in anything in which our Father in the heavens inspired him to lead forth in. The speaker marvelled at the blindness and perverseness of the people of the world in closing their eyes against this grand latter-day work revealed in this our day. No man by human experience could find out the ways of God or understand His purposes. Yet the way to their comprehension was so plain and simple that “a wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein.” Yet this was not followed because the people loved darkness rather than light. Was not this course absolutely absurd? Yet it was a fact that the majority of mankind were thus blind and foolish and self-willed. No man had the right to do wrong. The claim that he had was incorrect. He felt to pity all that class of mankind who preferred evil to good and the slavery of sin to the freedom of the gospel. He felt that he could pray for those who were bond-slaves to wickedness, that our Father would cause the scales to fall from their eyes. It was no use to argue with them in regard to the beauty of this grand work of our Father, but he would not put a straw in the way of their agency or injure a hair of the head of the worst enemy of this work. The Lord had fitted the backs of this people to the burdens imposed upon them. If he had been told years ago that he could have borne with cheerfulness the opprobrium that had been heaped upon us he would have refused to believe it. With all the fancied freedom, and loyalty, and liberality of the world, they were filled with animosity against the Saints and were in bondage to their own lusts. Yet he knew there were many noble men and women, some of whom, notwithstanding the folly and extravagance and wickedness of a wayward and wicked world would yet come out and receive the everlasting Gospel.
knew that the cause in which this little handful of Saints were engaged was the great and grand latter-day work of our Father in the heavens. The wicked could do nothing against this work, but for it. He rejoiced in this. If it were not for this knowledge, considering the great odds against us, we might find our knees trembling. But God and one righteous person were a very great majority against the wicked. And there were thousands who were striving to actually live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Father in the heavens. When Enoch labored, after working for over three hundred years he only gathered a few. The great majority rejected the truth and were destroyed from the face of the earth, Noah, after preaching a hundred and twenty years, only gained seven besides himself out of that perverse generation. But there were thousands upon thousands ready to stand up shoulder to shoulder with our President in anything in which our Father in the heavens inspired him to lead forth in. The speaker marvelled at the blindness and perverseness of the people of the world in closing their eyes against this grand latter-day work revealed in this our day. No man by human experience could find out the ways of God or understand His purposes. Yet the way to their comprehension was so plain and simple that “a wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein.” Yet this was not followed because the people loved darkness rather than light. Was not this course absolutely absurd? Yet it was a fact that the majority of mankind were thus blind and foolish and self-willed. No man had the right to do wrong. The claim that he had was incorrect. He felt to pity all that class of mankind who preferred evil to good and the slavery of sin to the freedom of the gospel. He felt that he could pray for those who were bond-slaves to wickedness, that our Father would cause the scales to fall from their eyes. It was no use to argue with them in regard to the beauty of this grand work of our Father, but he would not put a straw in the way of their agency or injure a hair of the head of the worst enemy of this work. The Lord had fitted the backs of this people to the burdens imposed upon them. If he had been told years ago that he could have borne with cheerfulness the opprobrium that had been heaped upon us he would have refused to believe it. With all the fancied freedom, and loyalty, and liberality of the world, they were filled with animosity against the Saints and were in bondage to their own lusts. Yet he knew there were many noble men and women, some of whom, notwithstanding the folly and extravagance and wickedness of a wayward and wicked world would yet come out and receive the everlasting Gospel.
Apostle F. D. Richards.
These opportunities were like coming up to a banquet of the Lord. Those who were in any wise cast down could find rest and recuperation. And all could be refreshed and invigorated. During the past few months there was an evident increase of improvement among the Saints and the efforts of the wicked against us had brought as nearer to the Lord. Many had laid aside their investments and had come into the liberty of the sons of God. The Lord was revealing the abundance of peace and truth. And when the wicked were imagining that they were accomplishing something against the Saints, behold the people of the Lord were but impelled to a closer walk with God by which they became strengthened. The animus of the adversary was exhibited, but it did no harm to the Saints. Those who had worked for our injury had only driven from their own souls that measure of light from the spirit of God which had enlightened them. He felt that a duty rested upon the Saints to set forth the truth to their kindred who were scattered abroad, and to correct the falsehoods which were circulated against this work, that so much might be done to give them a chance to resist prejudice and learn the truth. The circulation of the Deseret News would aid in this good work, as many of the missionaries had testified. We should never know how much good we had done in our labors until the day of judgment. Many of our brethren labored in the missionary field apparently without result. But if they performed their duty they would find that they had at least sown seeds of truth which would act so as to keep men in whose hearts they were sown, from those overt acts of opposition which bring people into the greater condemnation. There were many patriotic people who did not countenance the oppressions and persecutions heaped upon us and we should do our duty towards them in striving to convince them of the truth. The few men who dared to stand up for our rights in Congress have been sustained by their constituents as shown in their very general return to the National Legislature. Our existence here was designed of God to try us and if we would hearken to Him all that happened would tend to our benefit. He rejoiced in the increase of the Saints whose posterity was multiplying in the land, and who ought to be reared up to become a nation of kings and priests. If we could understand something of the glory which we, like Jesus, had with the Father before the world was, we would be strengthened to perform those duties which would qualify us to return to it. The speaker portrayed the liberty, prosperity and blessings, temporal and spiritual, which the Saints enjoyed above all people on the face of the earth, and the increase of wickedness in the places from which they had gathered, and urged the Saints to live according to the vital principles of the Gospel, individually, that they might endure to the end, withstand every evil day, keep all the covenants made with God or one another, sanctify their natures, and be prepared to enter into the glory of God. He exhorted so that all might be thoroughly informed, and desired that we might all be strengthened and become truly the embodiments of the principles of eternal life.
The choir sang an anthem: O give thanks unto the Lord.
Conference was adjourned till to-morrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m.
Benediction by President Joseph F. Smith.
These opportunities were like coming up to a banquet of the Lord. Those who were in any wise cast down could find rest and recuperation. And all could be refreshed and invigorated. During the past few months there was an evident increase of improvement among the Saints and the efforts of the wicked against us had brought as nearer to the Lord. Many had laid aside their investments and had come into the liberty of the sons of God. The Lord was revealing the abundance of peace and truth. And when the wicked were imagining that they were accomplishing something against the Saints, behold the people of the Lord were but impelled to a closer walk with God by which they became strengthened. The animus of the adversary was exhibited, but it did no harm to the Saints. Those who had worked for our injury had only driven from their own souls that measure of light from the spirit of God which had enlightened them. He felt that a duty rested upon the Saints to set forth the truth to their kindred who were scattered abroad, and to correct the falsehoods which were circulated against this work, that so much might be done to give them a chance to resist prejudice and learn the truth. The circulation of the Deseret News would aid in this good work, as many of the missionaries had testified. We should never know how much good we had done in our labors until the day of judgment. Many of our brethren labored in the missionary field apparently without result. But if they performed their duty they would find that they had at least sown seeds of truth which would act so as to keep men in whose hearts they were sown, from those overt acts of opposition which bring people into the greater condemnation. There were many patriotic people who did not countenance the oppressions and persecutions heaped upon us and we should do our duty towards them in striving to convince them of the truth. The few men who dared to stand up for our rights in Congress have been sustained by their constituents as shown in their very general return to the National Legislature. Our existence here was designed of God to try us and if we would hearken to Him all that happened would tend to our benefit. He rejoiced in the increase of the Saints whose posterity was multiplying in the land, and who ought to be reared up to become a nation of kings and priests. If we could understand something of the glory which we, like Jesus, had with the Father before the world was, we would be strengthened to perform those duties which would qualify us to return to it. The speaker portrayed the liberty, prosperity and blessings, temporal and spiritual, which the Saints enjoyed above all people on the face of the earth, and the increase of wickedness in the places from which they had gathered, and urged the Saints to live according to the vital principles of the Gospel, individually, that they might endure to the end, withstand every evil day, keep all the covenants made with God or one another, sanctify their natures, and be prepared to enter into the glory of God. He exhorted so that all might be thoroughly informed, and desired that we might all be strengthened and become truly the embodiments of the principles of eternal life.
The choir sang an anthem: O give thanks unto the Lord.
Conference was adjourned till to-morrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m.
Benediction by President Joseph F. Smith.
SECOND DAY.
Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Come thou glorious day of promise, Come and spread thy cheerful ray.
Prayer by Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
The choir sang: How are Thy Servants blest, O Lord, How sure is their defense.
Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Come thou glorious day of promise, Come and spread thy cheerful ray.
Prayer by Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
The choir sang: How are Thy Servants blest, O Lord, How sure is their defense.
President John Taylor
said that it was almost impossible to hear in this large congregation when there was confusion or noise, in consequence of the sensitiveness of this building to sound. When order was preserved it was one of the best places in the world for persons to hearin, but for this very reason, when there was confusion, the voice of the speaker was drowned. He requested the congregation to preserve silence, and the sixty-three ushers to maintain order.
said that it was almost impossible to hear in this large congregation when there was confusion or noise, in consequence of the sensitiveness of this building to sound. When order was preserved it was one of the best places in the world for persons to hearin, but for this very reason, when there was confusion, the voice of the speaker was drowned. He requested the congregation to preserve silence, and the sixty-three ushers to maintain order.
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
said that we were entitled to the inspiration of God, without those aid this work could not be accomplished. It was a delightful privilege accorded us to meet in conference. He was impressed with the appropriateness to this people of the hymn commencing “We’re not ashamed to own our Lord and worship Him on earth.” No one who had truly known the Lord could feel otherwise than this. God had made Himself known to His children in various dispensations. Abraham was treated as a friend of God, he talked and reasoned with Him as one man would reason with another. Others of the servants of God had seen God and beheld His glory while in the flesh, and lived afterwards. The Divine Being, who manifested Himself to the ancients, came to the earth in the meridian of time and took upon Himself mortality and ministered unto the children of men. It seemed singular that it was necessary, after laboring with the Father in creating the world, for the Lord to be sanctified through suffering. But the Scriptures said that it was necessary that He should pass through trial and suffering that He might have compassion for others. If it was necessary that the Savior should pass through trial and suffering it, was also necessary that all who expected to attain the same glory should be willing to bear all for the Gospel’s sake. We could not attain to exaltation and glory except by passing through this probation. It was strange that such ideas could prevail with reference to the being of God as were entertained by the sectarians, considering the plainness of the Scriptures on this question. Men who now lived had beheld the face of the Savior. He had appeared in the Kirtland Temple and talked face to face with the servants of God. Moses had tried to teach the people to prepare themselves to meet the Lord. It was our duty to prepare ourselves for the advent of the Savior, for He would come again and meet with the Saints of God in sacred places.
said that we were entitled to the inspiration of God, without those aid this work could not be accomplished. It was a delightful privilege accorded us to meet in conference. He was impressed with the appropriateness to this people of the hymn commencing “We’re not ashamed to own our Lord and worship Him on earth.” No one who had truly known the Lord could feel otherwise than this. God had made Himself known to His children in various dispensations. Abraham was treated as a friend of God, he talked and reasoned with Him as one man would reason with another. Others of the servants of God had seen God and beheld His glory while in the flesh, and lived afterwards. The Divine Being, who manifested Himself to the ancients, came to the earth in the meridian of time and took upon Himself mortality and ministered unto the children of men. It seemed singular that it was necessary, after laboring with the Father in creating the world, for the Lord to be sanctified through suffering. But the Scriptures said that it was necessary that He should pass through trial and suffering that He might have compassion for others. If it was necessary that the Savior should pass through trial and suffering it, was also necessary that all who expected to attain the same glory should be willing to bear all for the Gospel’s sake. We could not attain to exaltation and glory except by passing through this probation. It was strange that such ideas could prevail with reference to the being of God as were entertained by the sectarians, considering the plainness of the Scriptures on this question. Men who now lived had beheld the face of the Savior. He had appeared in the Kirtland Temple and talked face to face with the servants of God. Moses had tried to teach the people to prepare themselves to meet the Lord. It was our duty to prepare ourselves for the advent of the Savior, for He would come again and meet with the Saints of God in sacred places.
Apostle Brigham Young.
It seems the privilege of the servants of God if faithful to speak the words of inspiration to the people. There were some principles dwelt upon years ago which our brethren now seemed to be seldom prompted to speak upon. Were these things forgotten? No. The time was approaching when this people would be prepared to receive instruction on the subject of union, and to carry out those principles as they had never done before. The spirit that was manifested by the people to observe the fundamental principles of the Gospel was deep and widespread. Those who had deviated from the commandments of God were repenting and turning unto the Lord. This was no spirit of excitement and wildfire but a quiet determination to keep the commandments of God and observe His counsels. Under these circumstances he thought the question as to what we were going to do to sustain ourselves was one of paramount importance. The time was coming when we must sustain ourselves or we must lose our status financially. All that we did to sustain ourselves tended to strengthen us in the work of God, and all that we sent away weakened the hands of this people. We were importing everything and exporting nothing, comparatively, and the time would come when the supply of cash would stop. There were hundreds now out of employment, and it behooved us to use as little as possible of that which was imported, and encourage every branch of home manufacture.
It seems the privilege of the servants of God if faithful to speak the words of inspiration to the people. There were some principles dwelt upon years ago which our brethren now seemed to be seldom prompted to speak upon. Were these things forgotten? No. The time was approaching when this people would be prepared to receive instruction on the subject of union, and to carry out those principles as they had never done before. The spirit that was manifested by the people to observe the fundamental principles of the Gospel was deep and widespread. Those who had deviated from the commandments of God were repenting and turning unto the Lord. This was no spirit of excitement and wildfire but a quiet determination to keep the commandments of God and observe His counsels. Under these circumstances he thought the question as to what we were going to do to sustain ourselves was one of paramount importance. The time was coming when we must sustain ourselves or we must lose our status financially. All that we did to sustain ourselves tended to strengthen us in the work of God, and all that we sent away weakened the hands of this people. We were importing everything and exporting nothing, comparatively, and the time would come when the supply of cash would stop. There were hundreds now out of employment, and it behooved us to use as little as possible of that which was imported, and encourage every branch of home manufacture.
Uniting of Temporal Interests—Not An Obsolete Principle—Improvement Among the Saints—Need of Being More Self-Sustaining—Works to Be Accomplished
Remarks by Apostle Brigham Young, delivered at the General Conference, on Saturday Morning, April 5th, 1884.
Reported by John Irvine.
It has been said, that words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. This is especially true when they are accompanied by the Spirit of the Lord, carrying with them life and salvation to the people. There are many subjects that might be dwelt upon which are familiar to the Latter-day Saints, and which would doubtless yet be appropriate to speak upon in our general assemblies. I look back upon the past few years and recall principles that have been taught to the people, but which the Spirit no longer seems to inspire the Elders to dwell upon. And the question arises in the mind: Have such principles become obsolete? Are they done away? I look forward to the time when we shall be able to speak upon the principles of uniting this people together in their temporal as well as their spiritual interests far more effectually than we have ever done heretofore. United we stand; our interests are identified; the welfare of the one affects the other; and our influence socially, financially and politically is powerful for good, and is a lever for our own prosperity as well as our own protection. Disunited we acknowledge our own weakness; infirmity is stamped in our every act, and in time we pass away like the dream of the night vision. I do not desire at this time to treat upon the subject of the United Order, but I would like to ask if the Latter-day Saints think for a moment that that principle is done away, or that it may be considered a failure never again to be brought to our notice? If such has been the conclusion of any part of this assembly, I have no hesitancy in stating for their information that such is not the case; it cannot be so if we are ever to answer the design of the Almighty respecting the future of His Kingdom upon the earth. I would say further, the time is approaching, if I am a judge of the Spirit as witnessed among the people throughout our settlements from the extreme north to the extreme south, when the principle will again be sounded in our ears; and the Spirit of God as I read it in its workings among the people, and as I feel its operations in my own breast, testifies to me that when it comes again the people will be prepared to receive it, and act upon it, as they have never done before. It is, perhaps, necessary, in our present state, that we should have a certain amount of experience; the experience we have had will doubtless be of value to us, in the future, when the people will again be called upon to practice this principle; and when this time comes, in my opinion, we will commence at the root of the matter, accepting in the spirit and meaning thereof, that principle which has been disregarded and shunned by us for many years, the principle that lies at the foundation of the greatness and power to which we are destined to attain. I am happy to say that the people are being led to examine their own hearts, and to ask themselves what they are doing individually towards building up the Zion of God, and towards influencing others to do likewise. The spirit that is working among the people is having the effect of reform, as I have never before witnessed it. The reformation of 1856 ran through the people like wild fire; they received it under the impulse of the moment when the spirit of enthusiasm ran high; but now there appears to be but little effort to move the people in this direction, at the same time a determined feeling exists among the Saints to right themselves, and that too by commencing at the bottom round of the ladder, and then gradually ascending. The hearts of the people are being turned to the Lord. The men who have of late been addicted to drinking, using tobacco, swearing, and other loose habits, are, of their own free will, discarding their bad habits, and thus righting themselves, and setting a better example to their children and associates. This silent but potent influence that is fruitful of such good results is significant to the man or woman that is alive in this work, and that is watching with interest its onward progress; and it comes home to our hearts with convincing proof that the Lord is working among the people by His Spirit, and it bids us all in its silent and suggestive way, to prepare ourselves for events that must come, and that are even nigh at our doors.
In witnessing the operations of the Spirit in the midst of the people in such a remarkable manner I was strongly impressed with the idea that we, as a people, ought to be turning our attention in directions looking to our becoming self-sustaining. We are paying out very much more than we produce. Where does the money come from? How is it that the families of our working men are able to purchase for their use imported articles? How long can this people prosper by pursuing such a course? The danger of this course has long been pointed out by our leading men; and sooner or later, unless all turn a short corner, the condition that we shall place ourselves in, will be of such a convincing character, that all will readily concede the correctness of the position taken by our leaders in urging the people to become producers and patrons of home productions. This doctrine was taught by President Young, during much of his lifetime, but especially during his later years; and it does appear to me that we are hastening on to the point that President Young said we should reach, unless we became self-sustaining, namely, financial embarrassment. In fact his doctrine on this subject was, that we could not stand financially, unless we became self-sustaining. It is doctrine that comes home to the heart of every Latter-day Saint; it is doctrine that all must accept and reduce to practice, if we would attain to power and influence in the land. We must become financially strong. Wealth in and of itself, is a lever of power; and wealth in the hands of a righteous people must necessarily command an influence for good. We must first learn to make a wise use of the means that we possess, however little that may be; and by continuing to do this, we prepare ourselves to make a right and proper use of the power that wealth brings. But in order to attain the position that we are bound to occupy in the land, we must learn to combine our interests in such a manner that it will be to the advantage of the whole community to consume and wear that which is produced and manufactured at home. It will be by cooperative action that we shall be tied together in temporal matters as we are now bound together in spiritual things. As a thoroughly united people we can the better hasten the work of God in the earth; such as building temples, establishing settlements, civilizing the Lamanites, carrying the Gospel to the Jews, and building up the Zion of God in these mountains. We shall be the better able to extend a helping hand to the needy poor, to the oppressed and downtrodden among the nations, as well as to protect ourselves from the inroads of wicked and designing men. The few minutes allotted to me have expired.
That God may inspire our hearts to do His will, and that all may be willing in the day of His power, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Remarks by Apostle Brigham Young, delivered at the General Conference, on Saturday Morning, April 5th, 1884.
Reported by John Irvine.
It has been said, that words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. This is especially true when they are accompanied by the Spirit of the Lord, carrying with them life and salvation to the people. There are many subjects that might be dwelt upon which are familiar to the Latter-day Saints, and which would doubtless yet be appropriate to speak upon in our general assemblies. I look back upon the past few years and recall principles that have been taught to the people, but which the Spirit no longer seems to inspire the Elders to dwell upon. And the question arises in the mind: Have such principles become obsolete? Are they done away? I look forward to the time when we shall be able to speak upon the principles of uniting this people together in their temporal as well as their spiritual interests far more effectually than we have ever done heretofore. United we stand; our interests are identified; the welfare of the one affects the other; and our influence socially, financially and politically is powerful for good, and is a lever for our own prosperity as well as our own protection. Disunited we acknowledge our own weakness; infirmity is stamped in our every act, and in time we pass away like the dream of the night vision. I do not desire at this time to treat upon the subject of the United Order, but I would like to ask if the Latter-day Saints think for a moment that that principle is done away, or that it may be considered a failure never again to be brought to our notice? If such has been the conclusion of any part of this assembly, I have no hesitancy in stating for their information that such is not the case; it cannot be so if we are ever to answer the design of the Almighty respecting the future of His Kingdom upon the earth. I would say further, the time is approaching, if I am a judge of the Spirit as witnessed among the people throughout our settlements from the extreme north to the extreme south, when the principle will again be sounded in our ears; and the Spirit of God as I read it in its workings among the people, and as I feel its operations in my own breast, testifies to me that when it comes again the people will be prepared to receive it, and act upon it, as they have never done before. It is, perhaps, necessary, in our present state, that we should have a certain amount of experience; the experience we have had will doubtless be of value to us, in the future, when the people will again be called upon to practice this principle; and when this time comes, in my opinion, we will commence at the root of the matter, accepting in the spirit and meaning thereof, that principle which has been disregarded and shunned by us for many years, the principle that lies at the foundation of the greatness and power to which we are destined to attain. I am happy to say that the people are being led to examine their own hearts, and to ask themselves what they are doing individually towards building up the Zion of God, and towards influencing others to do likewise. The spirit that is working among the people is having the effect of reform, as I have never before witnessed it. The reformation of 1856 ran through the people like wild fire; they received it under the impulse of the moment when the spirit of enthusiasm ran high; but now there appears to be but little effort to move the people in this direction, at the same time a determined feeling exists among the Saints to right themselves, and that too by commencing at the bottom round of the ladder, and then gradually ascending. The hearts of the people are being turned to the Lord. The men who have of late been addicted to drinking, using tobacco, swearing, and other loose habits, are, of their own free will, discarding their bad habits, and thus righting themselves, and setting a better example to their children and associates. This silent but potent influence that is fruitful of such good results is significant to the man or woman that is alive in this work, and that is watching with interest its onward progress; and it comes home to our hearts with convincing proof that the Lord is working among the people by His Spirit, and it bids us all in its silent and suggestive way, to prepare ourselves for events that must come, and that are even nigh at our doors.
In witnessing the operations of the Spirit in the midst of the people in such a remarkable manner I was strongly impressed with the idea that we, as a people, ought to be turning our attention in directions looking to our becoming self-sustaining. We are paying out very much more than we produce. Where does the money come from? How is it that the families of our working men are able to purchase for their use imported articles? How long can this people prosper by pursuing such a course? The danger of this course has long been pointed out by our leading men; and sooner or later, unless all turn a short corner, the condition that we shall place ourselves in, will be of such a convincing character, that all will readily concede the correctness of the position taken by our leaders in urging the people to become producers and patrons of home productions. This doctrine was taught by President Young, during much of his lifetime, but especially during his later years; and it does appear to me that we are hastening on to the point that President Young said we should reach, unless we became self-sustaining, namely, financial embarrassment. In fact his doctrine on this subject was, that we could not stand financially, unless we became self-sustaining. It is doctrine that comes home to the heart of every Latter-day Saint; it is doctrine that all must accept and reduce to practice, if we would attain to power and influence in the land. We must become financially strong. Wealth in and of itself, is a lever of power; and wealth in the hands of a righteous people must necessarily command an influence for good. We must first learn to make a wise use of the means that we possess, however little that may be; and by continuing to do this, we prepare ourselves to make a right and proper use of the power that wealth brings. But in order to attain the position that we are bound to occupy in the land, we must learn to combine our interests in such a manner that it will be to the advantage of the whole community to consume and wear that which is produced and manufactured at home. It will be by cooperative action that we shall be tied together in temporal matters as we are now bound together in spiritual things. As a thoroughly united people we can the better hasten the work of God in the earth; such as building temples, establishing settlements, civilizing the Lamanites, carrying the Gospel to the Jews, and building up the Zion of God in these mountains. We shall be the better able to extend a helping hand to the needy poor, to the oppressed and downtrodden among the nations, as well as to protect ourselves from the inroads of wicked and designing men. The few minutes allotted to me have expired.
That God may inspire our hearts to do His will, and that all may be willing in the day of His power, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Apostle Erastus Snow
said that all persons who reflected upon it must feel that the subject of home production was one of paramount importance. In the early settlement of this Territory there was plenty of work in cultivating the earth and developing the natural rsources of the country. In those times goods were high and money scarce, and people resorted to the spinning wheel and handloom. Tanneries were common, and many articles were manufactured at home which are now imported. We had abundance of iron, coal and precious metals, but while we were consuming vast amounts of iron, glass, leather and other articles that could be procured here, we manufactured scarcely anything. We were getting to be a commercial rather than a manufacturing people, having large mercantile establishments, and depending principally upon our silver mines. Where agriculture was properly conducted it was the foundation of self-sustenance. Next to this home industry should be cultivated. The same capital invested in manufacture employed ten persons where one would be employed if invested in commerce. Those who took a comprehensive view of this question would seek the welfare of their fellows, for any other course must soon or later result in their own ruin. This was an opportune moment to establish home industries in view of the scarcity of money, and abundance of labor and provisions. Efforts were being made to develop our iron, glass and fine crockeryware. There were some who were sanguine of success, but their efforts were not seconded as the should be by men who had means. The development of iron and steel in view of the immense consumption was infinitely more important than that of the precious metals. Our agricultural resourses and cultivatable lands were not by any means exhausted though much had been done, there was yet much that might be done. There were many places that would support a much larger population if the natural facilities were properly developed, and the people should avail themselves of these advantages. Capitalists should seek to employ the surplus labor in manufacturing, and on the other hand, laborers should be ready to work for fair wages, so that they might obtain more steady employment and be better off. It was a mistaken idea that a man could do as well to earn large wages for six months, and remain idle the rest of the year, there was nothing more demoralizing than idleness.
said that all persons who reflected upon it must feel that the subject of home production was one of paramount importance. In the early settlement of this Territory there was plenty of work in cultivating the earth and developing the natural rsources of the country. In those times goods were high and money scarce, and people resorted to the spinning wheel and handloom. Tanneries were common, and many articles were manufactured at home which are now imported. We had abundance of iron, coal and precious metals, but while we were consuming vast amounts of iron, glass, leather and other articles that could be procured here, we manufactured scarcely anything. We were getting to be a commercial rather than a manufacturing people, having large mercantile establishments, and depending principally upon our silver mines. Where agriculture was properly conducted it was the foundation of self-sustenance. Next to this home industry should be cultivated. The same capital invested in manufacture employed ten persons where one would be employed if invested in commerce. Those who took a comprehensive view of this question would seek the welfare of their fellows, for any other course must soon or later result in their own ruin. This was an opportune moment to establish home industries in view of the scarcity of money, and abundance of labor and provisions. Efforts were being made to develop our iron, glass and fine crockeryware. There were some who were sanguine of success, but their efforts were not seconded as the should be by men who had means. The development of iron and steel in view of the immense consumption was infinitely more important than that of the precious metals. Our agricultural resourses and cultivatable lands were not by any means exhausted though much had been done, there was yet much that might be done. There were many places that would support a much larger population if the natural facilities were properly developed, and the people should avail themselves of these advantages. Capitalists should seek to employ the surplus labor in manufacturing, and on the other hand, laborers should be ready to work for fair wages, so that they might obtain more steady employment and be better off. It was a mistaken idea that a man could do as well to earn large wages for six months, and remain idle the rest of the year, there was nothing more demoralizing than idleness.
President George Q. Cannon
presented the following names of brethren selected as missionaries to the places named, who were unanimously sustained by the vote of the Conference:
GREAT BRITAIN:
Frank Talton, Beaver.
Rollin Ray Tanner, Beaver.
Albert Jones, Provo.
L. John Nuttall, Jr., Kanab.
Moroni M. Sheets, 8th Ward.
Asahel H. Woodruff, Farmers’ Ward.
Thomas Wright, Sr., Nephi.
James W. Paxman, Nephi.
Isaac Gadd, Nephi.
James McPherson, Nephi.
Reuben S. Collett, Mesa, Arizona.
Thomas P. Biggs, Mesa, Arizona.
George Fraser, Richfield.
Edward Morgan, Mill Creek.
Samuel Mitton, Wellsville.
Joshua Brown, Wellsville.
George Goddard, 13th Ward.
James Eardley, 3rd Ward.
Thomas Aubrey, 13th Ward.
Thomas F. H. Morton, 3rd Ward.
James L. McMurrin, 8th Ward.
Laurence H. Young, 18th Ward.
Wm. Smith Read, Ogden.
Wm. C. B. Orrock, Richfield.
James Ogden, Richfield.
Edwin T. Woolley, Paris.
Ricy Jones, Brigham.
Moroni Llewellyn Pratt, Sugar House Ward.
SCANDINAVIA.
Christian F. Olsen, Hyrum.
Waldemar Peterson, 15th Ward.
Peter Mikkleson, Manti.
James Nelson, Brigham.
Peter P. Dyring, Manti.
James Olson, Logan.
Niels Peterson Clove, Hillsdale.
UNITED STATES.
Thomas E. Olsen, Fillmore.
James M. Stewart, Meadow.
Charles H. Bement, Kanosh.
Charles W. Hopkins, Kanosh.
James Houston, Panguitch.
James B. Heywood, Panguitch.
Thomas E. King, Kingston.
George A. Cloward, Burrville.
Herbert H. Bell, Glenwood.
Peter K. Lemon, Glenwood.
Vance Shaffer, Loa.
William Greenwood, Inverury.
Morten Jensen, Richfield.
Soren Christiansen, Richfield.
Victor E. Bean, Richfield.
Oscar Rose, Inverury.
Joseph B. Jackson, Annabella.
Canute W. Peterson, Ephraim.
Harrald A. Young, 1st Ward.
Talma E. Pomeroy, Mesa, Arizona.
Wm. S. Johnson, Mesa, Arizona.
Mads Anderson, Mt. Pleasant.
Niels Bengtson, Herriman.
UNITED STATES.
(Western and Northwestern.)
George L. Breinholt, Redmond.
James H. Fillmore, Payson.
John C. Mellor, Fayette.
Lewis Anderson, Fountain Green.
Ferdinand Clark, Mt. Pleasant.
Franklin W. Young, Fremont.
Wm. R. R. Stowell, Ogden.
Southern States.
Alvin J. McCuistion, Tooele.
John C. De La Mare, Tooele.
Nathan Tanner Jr., Ogden.
Thomas H. Robins, Kaysville.
A. U. Hobson, Richmond.
Richard M. Humphrey, Salina.
Willard H. Robinson, Salina.
SWISS AND GERMAN MISSION.
Samuel W. Musser, 1st Ward.
Jacob Spori, Logan.
NEW ZEALAND.
Amasa Aldrich, Mt. Pleasant.
Anthony Metcalf, Gunnison.
William Wolsey, Gunnison.
Charles Anderson, Elsinore.
Edward Newby, Joseph.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
George Wilcox, 11th Ward.
Sanford Allred, Spring City.
John R. Tilby, Chester.
The Choir then sang “A Song of Triumph,” (solo by Brother W. H. Foster. Composed by H. W. Naisbitt, and music by Professor E. Beesley.
Conference adjourned till 2 p. m.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
presented the following names of brethren selected as missionaries to the places named, who were unanimously sustained by the vote of the Conference:
GREAT BRITAIN:
Frank Talton, Beaver.
Rollin Ray Tanner, Beaver.
Albert Jones, Provo.
L. John Nuttall, Jr., Kanab.
Moroni M. Sheets, 8th Ward.
Asahel H. Woodruff, Farmers’ Ward.
Thomas Wright, Sr., Nephi.
James W. Paxman, Nephi.
Isaac Gadd, Nephi.
James McPherson, Nephi.
Reuben S. Collett, Mesa, Arizona.
Thomas P. Biggs, Mesa, Arizona.
George Fraser, Richfield.
Edward Morgan, Mill Creek.
Samuel Mitton, Wellsville.
Joshua Brown, Wellsville.
George Goddard, 13th Ward.
James Eardley, 3rd Ward.
Thomas Aubrey, 13th Ward.
Thomas F. H. Morton, 3rd Ward.
James L. McMurrin, 8th Ward.
Laurence H. Young, 18th Ward.
Wm. Smith Read, Ogden.
Wm. C. B. Orrock, Richfield.
James Ogden, Richfield.
Edwin T. Woolley, Paris.
Ricy Jones, Brigham.
Moroni Llewellyn Pratt, Sugar House Ward.
SCANDINAVIA.
Christian F. Olsen, Hyrum.
Waldemar Peterson, 15th Ward.
Peter Mikkleson, Manti.
James Nelson, Brigham.
Peter P. Dyring, Manti.
James Olson, Logan.
Niels Peterson Clove, Hillsdale.
UNITED STATES.
Thomas E. Olsen, Fillmore.
James M. Stewart, Meadow.
Charles H. Bement, Kanosh.
Charles W. Hopkins, Kanosh.
James Houston, Panguitch.
James B. Heywood, Panguitch.
Thomas E. King, Kingston.
George A. Cloward, Burrville.
Herbert H. Bell, Glenwood.
Peter K. Lemon, Glenwood.
Vance Shaffer, Loa.
William Greenwood, Inverury.
Morten Jensen, Richfield.
Soren Christiansen, Richfield.
Victor E. Bean, Richfield.
Oscar Rose, Inverury.
Joseph B. Jackson, Annabella.
Canute W. Peterson, Ephraim.
Harrald A. Young, 1st Ward.
Talma E. Pomeroy, Mesa, Arizona.
Wm. S. Johnson, Mesa, Arizona.
Mads Anderson, Mt. Pleasant.
Niels Bengtson, Herriman.
UNITED STATES.
(Western and Northwestern.)
George L. Breinholt, Redmond.
James H. Fillmore, Payson.
John C. Mellor, Fayette.
Lewis Anderson, Fountain Green.
Ferdinand Clark, Mt. Pleasant.
Franklin W. Young, Fremont.
Wm. R. R. Stowell, Ogden.
Southern States.
Alvin J. McCuistion, Tooele.
John C. De La Mare, Tooele.
Nathan Tanner Jr., Ogden.
Thomas H. Robins, Kaysville.
A. U. Hobson, Richmond.
Richard M. Humphrey, Salina.
Willard H. Robinson, Salina.
SWISS AND GERMAN MISSION.
Samuel W. Musser, 1st Ward.
Jacob Spori, Logan.
NEW ZEALAND.
Amasa Aldrich, Mt. Pleasant.
Anthony Metcalf, Gunnison.
William Wolsey, Gunnison.
Charles Anderson, Elsinore.
Edward Newby, Joseph.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
George Wilcox, 11th Ward.
Sanford Allred, Spring City.
John R. Tilby, Chester.
The Choir then sang “A Song of Triumph,” (solo by Brother W. H. Foster. Composed by H. W. Naisbitt, and music by Professor E. Beesley.
Conference adjourned till 2 p. m.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
Saturday, 2 p. m.
The choir sang: Joy to the world the Lord will come And earth receive her King.
Prayer by Counselor D. H. Wells.
The choir sang: Give us room that we may dwell, Zion’s children cry aloud.
The choir sang: Joy to the world the Lord will come And earth receive her King.
Prayer by Counselor D. H. Wells.
The choir sang: Give us room that we may dwell, Zion’s children cry aloud.
President George Q. Cannon
then read statistical reports of the various stakes of Zion; also reports from the Primary Associations, Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations and also of the Relief Societies and Sunday Schools. The two latter were unanimously received by the General Conference.
then read statistical reports of the various stakes of Zion; also reports from the Primary Associations, Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations and also of the Relief Societies and Sunday Schools. The two latter were unanimously received by the General Conference.
President Wilford Woodruff
said this was the fifty-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He considered the human voice a poor medium to convey the impressions upon the soul of man. It was a matter of impossibility in the few moments he had to stand before the people to express his reflections upon the things of God and the duties of the Saints. There was a vast amount of subjects of great interest to us as a people. He endorsed the sentiments advanced on the subject of home industries. He wished to say a few words on the conflict between truth and error, light and darkness. We were in the midst of it and so were the servants of God from the beginning. It would be so down to the end of time. This warfare commenced in heaven. One third of the host of heaven rebelled against God and His Christ while the two-thirds kept their first estate. This made a tremendous number of falling spirits who were cast down to the earth, without bodies, constituting those evil ones who tempted those who had bodies to do evil. Whenever there were men on earth who labored to establish righteousness and introduce a celestial law, these spirits worked against them and influence the majority of mankind to reject the servants of God. It cost the servants of God their lives. It cost Joseph Smith his life. This warfare would continue. These evil spirits would war against the Saints, against God, against Christ, against His work until the time came when Satan and his hosts should be bound for a thousand years. But we had the promises of the Lord for our encouragement that this work should stand. God had decreed that He would establish His work in the dispensation of the fulness of times never to be cast down. There was no higher calling on the face of the earth than to become a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The day had dawned when the God of heaven had stretched out His hand to restore Judah and Israel, and set up His dominion. Our business was to labor for this cause. It had come here to stay. Though the Prophet and Patriarch were martyred, and this people had been driven, the progress of this work had not been and could not be stayed. The God of heaven required us to warn this generation, who were approaching a very important day and time. A class of beings would follow the Elders in their testimonies to the world, beings who would command the thunders and the tempests and the destroying elements as witnesses to the truth of our testimony and the truths we proclaim would rise in judgment against the wicked in the great day of the Lord.
said this was the fifty-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He considered the human voice a poor medium to convey the impressions upon the soul of man. It was a matter of impossibility in the few moments he had to stand before the people to express his reflections upon the things of God and the duties of the Saints. There was a vast amount of subjects of great interest to us as a people. He endorsed the sentiments advanced on the subject of home industries. He wished to say a few words on the conflict between truth and error, light and darkness. We were in the midst of it and so were the servants of God from the beginning. It would be so down to the end of time. This warfare commenced in heaven. One third of the host of heaven rebelled against God and His Christ while the two-thirds kept their first estate. This made a tremendous number of falling spirits who were cast down to the earth, without bodies, constituting those evil ones who tempted those who had bodies to do evil. Whenever there were men on earth who labored to establish righteousness and introduce a celestial law, these spirits worked against them and influence the majority of mankind to reject the servants of God. It cost the servants of God their lives. It cost Joseph Smith his life. This warfare would continue. These evil spirits would war against the Saints, against God, against Christ, against His work until the time came when Satan and his hosts should be bound for a thousand years. But we had the promises of the Lord for our encouragement that this work should stand. God had decreed that He would establish His work in the dispensation of the fulness of times never to be cast down. There was no higher calling on the face of the earth than to become a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The day had dawned when the God of heaven had stretched out His hand to restore Judah and Israel, and set up His dominion. Our business was to labor for this cause. It had come here to stay. Though the Prophet and Patriarch were martyred, and this people had been driven, the progress of this work had not been and could not be stayed. The God of heaven required us to warn this generation, who were approaching a very important day and time. A class of beings would follow the Elders in their testimonies to the world, beings who would command the thunders and the tempests and the destroying elements as witnesses to the truth of our testimony and the truths we proclaim would rise in judgment against the wicked in the great day of the Lord.
President Geo. Q. Cannon
said the subject of home manufactures introduced this morning caused a vibration in the hearts of all who were interested in the welfare of Zion. We had gone along with the stream for years. There had been a market for our produce and the building of railroads and found employment for many hands. But this was now stopped and our grain market was glutted and there were thousands of people unemployed. There were organized in some of our counties Boards of Trade. If these had acted in their calling much of these difficulties would have been avoided. The trouble arising from the “cut rates” could have been averted by our combining to put our grain upon the market at less a figure even than the produce brought here under the cut rates from the East. We had been flooded with cheap grain and had sat with our arms folded. Of what use were these Boards of Trade if they did nothing? Every President of a Stake should call his wise men together to see if something could not be done in such emergencies and not leave all these movements to the President of the Church. Steps should be taken to supply all these idle hands with employment. We were struggling here to establish home products and manufactures. Not a pound of grain, or butter or anything that could be produced here should be brought from abroad and if families would not use the elements in their own hands, they ought to go without. If we would all be determined to buy that which is made at home and not patronize the foreign products, we could all do something to promote the general prosperity. Patronize those who do patronize home industry. Woolen goods, soap, butter, cheese, lard, matches, shoes and a vast number of articles made here just as good as elsewhere, ought to be purchased in preference to articles made elsewhere. The course we were taking was disgraceful to us as a people. This imported pork, and oleomargarine and filthy, diseased lard was not fit to put in a human mouth. Patient attention should be turned to these things, and our efforts should be turned towards making us a truly independent people.
said the subject of home manufactures introduced this morning caused a vibration in the hearts of all who were interested in the welfare of Zion. We had gone along with the stream for years. There had been a market for our produce and the building of railroads and found employment for many hands. But this was now stopped and our grain market was glutted and there were thousands of people unemployed. There were organized in some of our counties Boards of Trade. If these had acted in their calling much of these difficulties would have been avoided. The trouble arising from the “cut rates” could have been averted by our combining to put our grain upon the market at less a figure even than the produce brought here under the cut rates from the East. We had been flooded with cheap grain and had sat with our arms folded. Of what use were these Boards of Trade if they did nothing? Every President of a Stake should call his wise men together to see if something could not be done in such emergencies and not leave all these movements to the President of the Church. Steps should be taken to supply all these idle hands with employment. We were struggling here to establish home products and manufactures. Not a pound of grain, or butter or anything that could be produced here should be brought from abroad and if families would not use the elements in their own hands, they ought to go without. If we would all be determined to buy that which is made at home and not patronize the foreign products, we could all do something to promote the general prosperity. Patronize those who do patronize home industry. Woolen goods, soap, butter, cheese, lard, matches, shoes and a vast number of articles made here just as good as elsewhere, ought to be purchased in preference to articles made elsewhere. The course we were taking was disgraceful to us as a people. This imported pork, and oleomargarine and filthy, diseased lard was not fit to put in a human mouth. Patient attention should be turned to these things, and our efforts should be turned towards making us a truly independent people.
President Taylor then arose and said:
I have been very much interested in the remarks which have been made on this subject—the subject of home industries. And I would ask this congregation if I may have the privilege of aiding them as Trustee in Trust. We have some iron works started in the south and I want to know if this congregation will authorize me to assist those iron works? If you do make it manifest by raising the right hand [a forest of hands went up]. I believe that you would feel just so, and I have already assisted them. (laughter.) There is another thing I want to ask associated with this affair. You have given me the privilege of assisting this industry, now I want to ask if you yourselves, will assist in this matter; and all who are in favor of doing so, hold up the right hand [all hands went up.] Now, we will say Yankee Doodle do it. There are a great many other things associated with our temporal interests—some of which have been referred to—which we must look after. There has been a good deal said in regard to the United Order. We have had this talked about a long time. We shall have a United Order by and by. As one of the brethren mentioned—I think it was Brother Young—there is a feeling of the kind growing among the people. But we have not yet had the order that we shall have. By and by people will not have to be asked to go into the United Order, for they will beg for the privilege of coming in. If we will only do right—which we are seeking to do—and keep the commandments of God—which I am very much pleased to hear, with all our infirmities and weaknesses, and we have a great many of them, we are trying to do. The time is not far distant when Zion, as the Scriptures say, will be the richest of all people. And when it comes to pass you will know it. Let me make a remark or two upon this subject. What do the Scriptures say upon it. They say: “For brass I will bring silver, for silver gold, and for stones iron.” Well, that is rather a singular exchange. What else? “I will make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness.” Justice, righteousness, truth and integrity, and not covetousness, deceitfulness and self-interest must be associated with the law of God, the work of God, the order of God, and the kingdom of God. When we can prepare ourselves to observe His laws and keep His commandments, God is prepared to cause the riches of the Gentiles to flow unto us, as the Scriptures say. But we have to learn to observe the law of God, and to keep the commandments of God. I feel sometimes a little unpleasant on one subject. I am appointed here as Trustee-in-Trust, and I have a great responsibility devolving upon me in regard to the financial affairs of the Church. I have associated with me my brethren of the Twelve and the Presiding Bishop to counsel in regard to those matters. It has been stated here that there is a great outside pressure, and a great desire to become acquainted with our affairs and our monetary matters. I have been applied to time and time again in this respect, and I cannot conceive of any other idea associated with it than that they would like to do with our finances as they would with our wives take them from us (laughter). Now, we have a financial report here. My idea would be to have it presented in all its details to this congregation. But it is thought not wise to do so. This is the thing that does not suit me exactly—that is, it does not suit me not to be able to put this report before the people so that everybody may hear and see and know and comprehend for themselves, for I think it is our right to understand these things, and what is done with our financial matters. But, as I have said, it is thought wisdom not to have the report presented to the general public—not to put them in possession of information in regard to our matters. Let them find them out. Some one suggests that the conduct of our enemies would be exhibited in the utterance of a prayer, “Let us arise and rob somebody in the name of the Lord”—or rather in the name of the law. (Laughter.) Well, we do not propose to put them in possession of this information. But we have got our record which tells what every man has done and what they have not done in relation to these matters. We have faithful records pertaining to all these things, and anybody that is interested and that has a right to enquire can come and obtain the information pertaining to their affairs individually or to Stakes or to Wards as the case may be; but it is none of the business of outsiders to know about our financial matters; it don’t belong to them; it didn’t come from them; we never received anything at their hands. It is simply our own, and they may as well ask to examine our letters as to make them acquainted with our financial affairs. All who favor this idea of not reading the report, signify it by holding up the right hand [Unanimous vote. On motion the financial report was referred to the auditing committee.]
President Taylor continued, I have yet been furnished with the report of the auditing committee on the last financial report submitted to them but as soon as received I will communicate it. I will state, however, for the satisfaction of the brethren and sisters—and I see them from all parts, from the far south, from the far north—that our financial affairs are in a very good position, that our tithing instead of being on the decrease, is on the increase, and that there is a general feeling to meet the requirements of the law of God pertaining to all these matters; and we think that all of us—or say the major part of us; we do not expect everybody to do exactly right—are striving to carry out the law of God and if we will continue to observe His requirements and keep His commandments, the blessing of the God of Israel will rest upon Israel. Men may plot and contrive, and calculate and try to manipulate the affairs of Israel: but our affairs are in the hands of God, and He will take care of us if we will obey His law: and our progress is onward and upward; God will stand by Israel if we only stand by Him. Amen.
The choir sang an anthem: “With full voice choir resounding.”
Conference adjourned till to-morrow (Sunday) 10 a. m.
Benediction by President Horace S. Eldredge.
I have been very much interested in the remarks which have been made on this subject—the subject of home industries. And I would ask this congregation if I may have the privilege of aiding them as Trustee in Trust. We have some iron works started in the south and I want to know if this congregation will authorize me to assist those iron works? If you do make it manifest by raising the right hand [a forest of hands went up]. I believe that you would feel just so, and I have already assisted them. (laughter.) There is another thing I want to ask associated with this affair. You have given me the privilege of assisting this industry, now I want to ask if you yourselves, will assist in this matter; and all who are in favor of doing so, hold up the right hand [all hands went up.] Now, we will say Yankee Doodle do it. There are a great many other things associated with our temporal interests—some of which have been referred to—which we must look after. There has been a good deal said in regard to the United Order. We have had this talked about a long time. We shall have a United Order by and by. As one of the brethren mentioned—I think it was Brother Young—there is a feeling of the kind growing among the people. But we have not yet had the order that we shall have. By and by people will not have to be asked to go into the United Order, for they will beg for the privilege of coming in. If we will only do right—which we are seeking to do—and keep the commandments of God—which I am very much pleased to hear, with all our infirmities and weaknesses, and we have a great many of them, we are trying to do. The time is not far distant when Zion, as the Scriptures say, will be the richest of all people. And when it comes to pass you will know it. Let me make a remark or two upon this subject. What do the Scriptures say upon it. They say: “For brass I will bring silver, for silver gold, and for stones iron.” Well, that is rather a singular exchange. What else? “I will make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness.” Justice, righteousness, truth and integrity, and not covetousness, deceitfulness and self-interest must be associated with the law of God, the work of God, the order of God, and the kingdom of God. When we can prepare ourselves to observe His laws and keep His commandments, God is prepared to cause the riches of the Gentiles to flow unto us, as the Scriptures say. But we have to learn to observe the law of God, and to keep the commandments of God. I feel sometimes a little unpleasant on one subject. I am appointed here as Trustee-in-Trust, and I have a great responsibility devolving upon me in regard to the financial affairs of the Church. I have associated with me my brethren of the Twelve and the Presiding Bishop to counsel in regard to those matters. It has been stated here that there is a great outside pressure, and a great desire to become acquainted with our affairs and our monetary matters. I have been applied to time and time again in this respect, and I cannot conceive of any other idea associated with it than that they would like to do with our finances as they would with our wives take them from us (laughter). Now, we have a financial report here. My idea would be to have it presented in all its details to this congregation. But it is thought not wise to do so. This is the thing that does not suit me exactly—that is, it does not suit me not to be able to put this report before the people so that everybody may hear and see and know and comprehend for themselves, for I think it is our right to understand these things, and what is done with our financial matters. But, as I have said, it is thought wisdom not to have the report presented to the general public—not to put them in possession of information in regard to our matters. Let them find them out. Some one suggests that the conduct of our enemies would be exhibited in the utterance of a prayer, “Let us arise and rob somebody in the name of the Lord”—or rather in the name of the law. (Laughter.) Well, we do not propose to put them in possession of this information. But we have got our record which tells what every man has done and what they have not done in relation to these matters. We have faithful records pertaining to all these things, and anybody that is interested and that has a right to enquire can come and obtain the information pertaining to their affairs individually or to Stakes or to Wards as the case may be; but it is none of the business of outsiders to know about our financial matters; it don’t belong to them; it didn’t come from them; we never received anything at their hands. It is simply our own, and they may as well ask to examine our letters as to make them acquainted with our financial affairs. All who favor this idea of not reading the report, signify it by holding up the right hand [Unanimous vote. On motion the financial report was referred to the auditing committee.]
President Taylor continued, I have yet been furnished with the report of the auditing committee on the last financial report submitted to them but as soon as received I will communicate it. I will state, however, for the satisfaction of the brethren and sisters—and I see them from all parts, from the far south, from the far north—that our financial affairs are in a very good position, that our tithing instead of being on the decrease, is on the increase, and that there is a general feeling to meet the requirements of the law of God pertaining to all these matters; and we think that all of us—or say the major part of us; we do not expect everybody to do exactly right—are striving to carry out the law of God and if we will continue to observe His requirements and keep His commandments, the blessing of the God of Israel will rest upon Israel. Men may plot and contrive, and calculate and try to manipulate the affairs of Israel: but our affairs are in the hands of God, and He will take care of us if we will obey His law: and our progress is onward and upward; God will stand by Israel if we only stand by Him. Amen.
The choir sang an anthem: “With full voice choir resounding.”
Conference adjourned till to-morrow (Sunday) 10 a. m.
Benediction by President Horace S. Eldredge.
THIRD DAY.
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Gently raise the sacred strain For the Sabbath’s come again.
Prayer by President Joseph F. Smith.
The choir sang: Stars of morning shout for joy Sing redemption’s mystery.
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.
Conference called to order by President John Taylor.
The choir sang: Gently raise the sacred strain For the Sabbath’s come again.
Prayer by President Joseph F. Smith.
The choir sang: Stars of morning shout for joy Sing redemption’s mystery.
President George Q. Cannon
presented to the Conference the following report, which on motion was accepted by the unanimous vote of the Conference:
Salt Lake City, U. T., April 5, 1884.
President John Taylor and Counselors, and the Officers and Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in General Conference Assembled:
The undersigned, your auditing committee, respectfully represent that we have carefully examined all the annual exhibits, books, accounts, reports and vouchers belonging to the office of the Trustee in Trust, for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1882, submitted to us to audit and inspect, and have satisfied ourselves of their correctness.
Respectfully submitted by your brethren in the Gospel.
Wilford Woodruff,
Erastus Snow,
Franklin D. Richards,
Jos. F. Smith,
Wm. Jennings,
He then read from the Book of Mormon the 29th chapter of II Nephi, as far as the 10th verse inclusive, and showed how remarkably the prophecies in this and the preceding chapter, likewise the one following, had been and were being fulfilled since the translation of the ancient records by the Prophet Joseph. The Book of Mormon contained within itself the evidences of its own divinity. It was impossible that Joseph Smith or any other man, uninspired of God, could have foreseen and foretold what the Book of Mormon had told in great plainness and minuteness concerning the present and future. It had been preserved and hid up and kept pure while the Bible, which it corroborated had passed through uninspired hands, and been changed and taken from, so that it was the cause of endless confusion and discord among the sects of Christendom. If the claims of Joseph Smith to being a prophet rested solely upon the words of Nephi in relation to the effect the translation of the Book of Mormon would have upon the Christian world (who had cried “we have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible,”) that claim would be proven good, for no man uninspired, could have had any such conception of what would follow. The chapter preceding (the 28th) depicted in photographic exactness the condition of the Christian world to-day, and the 30th chapter had a remarkable prophecy relating to the going forth of the Book to the Lamanites, and their restoration through the Gospel from darkness unto light.
The words of Jesus, in the 16th chapter of III Nephi, also foretold similar events, which had taken place or would shortly come to pass, and all this hundreds of years before it commenced, before the records containing it had been translated, before the Priesthood was given or there was a Latter-day Saint upon the face of the earth. It was supposed then as now by the Gentile world that the Indians were a perishing race and it would be impossible to save them, but here was the word of God arrayed against such opinions and assertions and already it was commencing to be fulfilled. The Gentiles who had received the Gospel were now, as Latter-day Saints, carrying it to the Lamanites, some of whom had gladly received it, and after the Gentiles as a nation had rejected it (as it was feared they would) they would receive it in greater numbers. The speaker showed how the Bible, the writings of the fruit of the loins of Judah, and the Book of Mormon, the writings of the fruit of the loins of Joseph, had grown together according to prediction, to the confounding of false doctrine, the laying down of contention and the establishment of peace; how the word of the Lord through Lehi concerning one “like unto Moses,” who should have a spokesman, had been fulfilled in Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and that the Book of Mormon, containing this prophecy, was published over a year before Sidney Rigdon saw it. He quoted the words of the angel to Nephi, concerning the Church of the Lamb and that of the devil—the only two churches that could exist—and showed that what was said concerning them had been partly fulfilled in the history and experience of this Church, as opposed and persecuted by the Churches of the world. He then read the last words of Moroni, (exhorting all to whom the Book of Mormon should come to ask God in the name of Jesus Christ for a testimony of its truth, and it should be given them) and asked for the sentiment of the congregation as to whether they had in this manner received a knowledge of its truth. The vast assembly responded “yes” an with one voice.
presented to the Conference the following report, which on motion was accepted by the unanimous vote of the Conference:
Salt Lake City, U. T., April 5, 1884.
President John Taylor and Counselors, and the Officers and Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in General Conference Assembled:
The undersigned, your auditing committee, respectfully represent that we have carefully examined all the annual exhibits, books, accounts, reports and vouchers belonging to the office of the Trustee in Trust, for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1882, submitted to us to audit and inspect, and have satisfied ourselves of their correctness.
Respectfully submitted by your brethren in the Gospel.
Wilford Woodruff,
Erastus Snow,
Franklin D. Richards,
Jos. F. Smith,
Wm. Jennings,
He then read from the Book of Mormon the 29th chapter of II Nephi, as far as the 10th verse inclusive, and showed how remarkably the prophecies in this and the preceding chapter, likewise the one following, had been and were being fulfilled since the translation of the ancient records by the Prophet Joseph. The Book of Mormon contained within itself the evidences of its own divinity. It was impossible that Joseph Smith or any other man, uninspired of God, could have foreseen and foretold what the Book of Mormon had told in great plainness and minuteness concerning the present and future. It had been preserved and hid up and kept pure while the Bible, which it corroborated had passed through uninspired hands, and been changed and taken from, so that it was the cause of endless confusion and discord among the sects of Christendom. If the claims of Joseph Smith to being a prophet rested solely upon the words of Nephi in relation to the effect the translation of the Book of Mormon would have upon the Christian world (who had cried “we have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible,”) that claim would be proven good, for no man uninspired, could have had any such conception of what would follow. The chapter preceding (the 28th) depicted in photographic exactness the condition of the Christian world to-day, and the 30th chapter had a remarkable prophecy relating to the going forth of the Book to the Lamanites, and their restoration through the Gospel from darkness unto light.
The words of Jesus, in the 16th chapter of III Nephi, also foretold similar events, which had taken place or would shortly come to pass, and all this hundreds of years before it commenced, before the records containing it had been translated, before the Priesthood was given or there was a Latter-day Saint upon the face of the earth. It was supposed then as now by the Gentile world that the Indians were a perishing race and it would be impossible to save them, but here was the word of God arrayed against such opinions and assertions and already it was commencing to be fulfilled. The Gentiles who had received the Gospel were now, as Latter-day Saints, carrying it to the Lamanites, some of whom had gladly received it, and after the Gentiles as a nation had rejected it (as it was feared they would) they would receive it in greater numbers. The speaker showed how the Bible, the writings of the fruit of the loins of Judah, and the Book of Mormon, the writings of the fruit of the loins of Joseph, had grown together according to prediction, to the confounding of false doctrine, the laying down of contention and the establishment of peace; how the word of the Lord through Lehi concerning one “like unto Moses,” who should have a spokesman, had been fulfilled in Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and that the Book of Mormon, containing this prophecy, was published over a year before Sidney Rigdon saw it. He quoted the words of the angel to Nephi, concerning the Church of the Lamb and that of the devil—the only two churches that could exist—and showed that what was said concerning them had been partly fulfilled in the history and experience of this Church, as opposed and persecuted by the Churches of the world. He then read the last words of Moroni, (exhorting all to whom the Book of Mormon should come to ask God in the name of Jesus Christ for a testimony of its truth, and it should be given them) and asked for the sentiment of the congregation as to whether they had in this manner received a knowledge of its truth. The vast assembly responded “yes” an with one voice.
Predictions in the Book of Mormon—Evidence of Its Divinity—Proof that Joseph Smith Was Inspired—Predictions Concerning the Indians Fulfilled—Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon Foretold—Plainness of Its Teachings—Prediction Relating to Sidney Rigdon—Only Two Churches—Other Prophecies Being Fulfilled
Discourse by President George Q. Cannon, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, (to the General Conference assembly) Sunday Morning, April 6, 1884.
Reported by John Irvine.
I will read a portion of the 29th chapter of the second book of Nephi, from the last edition of the Book of Mormon.
1. “But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2. “And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
3. “And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4. “But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5. “O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord hath not forgotten my people.
6. “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7. “Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8. “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9. “And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
10. “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11. “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.”
There is much more of the next chapter and of the preceding chapter that pertains to our time, to the day and age in which we live, and these chapters, with many more, are full of predictions by the Prophet Nephi, concerning the days when the Book of Mormon should come forth.
I want this morning, if I can have the Spirit of God to lead and to assist me, to speak somewhat upon the predictions contained in the Book of Mormon—the predictions which had to be fulfilled after the publication of the book. It is alleged, as you know, that the Book of Mormon is not an inspired record, but that Joseph Smith, if he was the author of it, copied a great deal of it from the Old and New Testament. Now, there is scarcely any need to say to those who have studied the Book of Mormon, who have read it prayerfully and carefully—there is scarcely any need to say to them that it contains the internal evidence of its own divinity, that God wrote it through inspired men, and that no one but an inspired man or men could have written the book. There is no book in the English language that compares with it, unless it be books which contain the pure word of God. It has the advantage of the Bible in this: that it was translated by the power of God, not by the learning of man, and not selected from hundreds and thousands of versions as the Bible has been; for there is no end to the versions which exist, of the books contained in the Bible. Of course we have our version translated by learned men; but there is scarcely a passage of any importance in the Bible concerning which there is not some dispute among learned commentators. But with the Book of Mormon it is different. God preserved those records for a purpose in Himself. They were hidden up. This book, called the Book of Mormon, is an abridgment prepared by one of the last prophets of the Nephites, under the command of God, that it might come forth in the last days. God revealed in part to him, and to his son Moroni, the purpose which He had in view, in making this abridgment, and in concealing it in the earth, and they performed the labor connected with this under the direct command and inspiration of the Almighty, to come forth in the latter times, and to accomplish a great work. I wish to allude to some of the predictions—not those that are contained in other books, but those that are original with the Book of Mormon itself, and that could not have been made, unless the man who wrote them was inspired of God.
The words which I have read were written by Nephi, one of the first prophets of the Nephite nation, and he describes, at great length, and with wonderful plainness and minuteness, the condition of the inhabitants of the earth at the time that this work should go forth. Much of this, the caviler may say, could have been written by a man of these days. But there are some things which Nephi wrote, that could not have been written by a modern man who did not have the spirit of prophecy, and that which I have read in your hearing is a part that could not have been written by any human being, unless he had been inspired of God, and was a prophet of God. If Joseph Smith—if the divinity of his mission—his claims to be a Prophet rested upon this chapter alone, or this portion of the chapter that I have read in your hearing, according to my view his claims would be fully and indisputably established, for the reason that at the time that he translated this chapter he had no conception, neither could any human being have any conception, unless inspired of God, as to the effect the publication of the Book of Mormon would have upon the Gentile world. But Joseph, inspired of God, translated the prediction of Nephi, which prediction states that when the Book of Mormon should be published, it should be received by the Gentiles with this expression: “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.” How many times has this expression been made by clergymen, by professors of religion, and by Christendom generally, since the publication of the Book of Mormon? Ye Elders who have traversed sea and land, who have gone from continent to continent, who have visited the isles of the ocean, who have lifted up your voices in the cities of the Gentiles, and in their congregations; ye Elders, who have thus labored, know full well, that in every land, and among every people where you have labored, when you have spoken about God having restored another record, the Book of Mormon—you know that you have been met with these expressions, the literal words that Nephi said, would be used in the last days by the Gentiles, in regard to this work. You Latter-day Saints, who have endeavored to teach your friends the doctrines that God had revealed, and endeavored to show them that God had restored this ancient record—you know how your testimonies have been received concerning the Book of Mormon. These remarkable expressions have come from thousands of lips in many, many lands, and in many, many languages, confirmatory of the Book itself, and of its divine origin, and of its inspired translation. You read all the words of Nephi in this 29th chapter, and you will find that he describes with wonderful, and, I might say, photographic accuracy and minuteness, the condition of the so-called Christian world—the spirit that they possess, the crimes of which they are guilty, the condition in which they are placed, and all the circumstances connected with them.
In his next chapter, he makes further remarks concerning this work, and the effect it should have. He says:
3. “And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
4. “And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
5. “And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.
6. “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people.”
Now, that is one prediction. These are the words of Nephi. I will now read the words of Jesus, recorded in the 16th chapter of the third Book of Nephi, where He, in speaking about the last days, and the coming forth of this work, says:
“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
“And then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
“And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.”
These predictions are parallel; they point to the same period; they describe the same events, the same condition of affairs—one uttered 600 years or thereabouts, before the other, and yet they are precisely similar in their tenor, describing that which should be done with the Gospel among the Gentiles. I wish you all to remember—you Latter-day Saints, you young men and you young women, you little children who are capable of understanding my words—I wish you all to remember that at the time this was written, or rather at the time this was translated into the English language—say somewhere about the year 1828—Joseph Smith himself, had not received, or at least obeyed, the Gospel. He had derived some knowledge of it through the ministration of angels, and from that portion of the record that he had translated; but there was not a Latter-day Saint upon the face of the whole earth that we know anything about, or that he knew anything about. No man or woman had received the Gospel; no church had been organized; no Priesthood from the eternal worlds had been bestowed; not a man among all the children of men had been clothed with the power of the eternal Priesthood of the Son of God to administer the ordinances of life and salvation unto the children of men. Yet the Prophet Joseph Smith in this translation, showed forth with great clearness, that the Gospel would be revealed, and that it should be received by some of the Gentiles; that when it should be received by the Gentiles, it should be carried by them to the descendants of Nephi and his brethren, who by that time should have become a filthy and a loathsome people. The Indians of our continent should receive the message of life and salvation. The Gospel should be carried to them. They would receive it with gladness. They would come to a knowledge of their Redeemer, as well as to a knowledge of the principles and doctrines and covenants which their fathers understood, and which their fathers had received. Wonderful prediction! And most wonderfully has it been fulfilled. At the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith translated this Book of Mormon, I suppose the impression was general, as it is today, that the Indians were a perishing race, that they would soon disappear from the face of the land. But before Joseph had translated this, he had found in previous predictions that the Gentiles—that is, our nation—that we as a race and the nation to which we belong, should not have power to destroy the Indians. This was a most remarkable statement to make when we consider where Joseph was brought up, and the circumstances surrounding him. If he had not been inspired of God, he would not have dared, in my opinion, and no man would have dared to have made such a prediction. But what does Nephi say concerning this matter as translated by the Prophet? He says:
“Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.
“Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren.
“Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren”—that is, the Lamanites proper. They were not to be permitted to destroy Nephi's seed that should be mingled among the Lamanites, nor should they be permitted to destroy the Lamanites—that is, the descendants of Laman and Lemuel. Nephi predicted this. Today it is said that the Indians will perish, and that it is impossible to save them. Here is the word of God recorded in this sacred book. We have the words of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ arrayed against all, or nearly all, the conclusions of the Gentiles. I look around and I see here on this stand today, representatives of strange tribes of Indians who have come here to visit, thus being in part a fulfillment of the prediction of the Son of God, and also the fulfillment of that prediction of Nephi, that I have read in your hearing. The Gentiles did receive the Gospel of the Son of God, when it was revealed. Burning with zeal to carry this Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people; inspired by the Holy Ghost, they went out among the Indian races as well as others, and fulfilled the predictions of the Book of Mormon in this respect. And strange to say—if anything can be said to be strange connected with the work of God—the descendants of those ancient covenant people of the Lord, have gladly received the testimony of the servants of God. Wherever we have gone and mingled with those people, with those Red Men, and been able to communicate to them the truths of which we are in possession, which God has revealed to us, they have received the same gladly; not only upon this continent, but upon the islands of the sea, throughout Polynesia, the Sandwich, the Marquesas, the Society and the Navigator Islands—yes, and everywhere where those men with red skins dwell, they have gladly received the testimony of God's servants concerning the Gospel, and they rejoice in its fullness and in the knowledge that their fathers once possessed, and of the redemption that Jesus Christ has wrought out for them. Most wonderful has this prediction been fulfilled in this respect! And God has done and is doing a great and a mighty work among the people, fulfilling the words of the ancient prophets and of Jesus. When the Gentiles do reject the Gospel—as I fear they will from their conduct in the past—that is, as a nation—although I trust there will yet be many hundreds and thousands—yea, I would that I could say millions—of Gentiles gathered in by this Gospel; I trust that this will be the case, though the prospects are not very hopeful at present. It seems at present that as a nation, the Gentiles will reject the Gospel. When they do reject it, as they have in part, then God will commence, as the Savior said, to do a great work among the house of Israel. He will carry his Gospel there, and the work will commence then among all the scattered remnants of the house of Israel, over the whole earth.
“I wish to read another prophecy connected with the coming forth of this Book, and the results that should attend it, namely:
“Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write;” [the Prophet here is speaking of the fruit of the loins of the Patriarch Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brethren]; “and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins” [that is, of Joseph's loins], “and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.”
Now, here is a very remarkable prediction connected with the coming forth of this Book. It should have the effect, when united with the Bible—for it was the Bible that the Prophet was referring to as being the writings of the fruit of the loins of Judah; when these two Books should be united, it should have a remarkable effect—that is, their union should. They should confound false doctrine; they should lay down contentions, put an end to them and establish peace; and they should be the means of bringing the people to the knowledge of the covenants of God with those ancient Prophets, with His ancient servants and people. Now, all those who know anything about the effect of the Book of Mormon—of the preaching of the Elders with the aid of the Book of Mormon—know that these words have been fulfilled to the very letter. False doctrines have been put down. Contentions have ceased. Peace has been established, and the people have been brought to the knowledge of the covenants which God made with His ancient servants. Those who have read this Book know how precious are the words of God, contained in it—how plain the doctrine of Jesus Christ is set forth in it. There are no mistranslations; there is no mysticism infused into it by men who have had their own peculiar views of the doctrine of Christ; for in consequence of the taking out from the ancient records (the Bible) of many plain and precious parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the whole religious world is in confusion as to the meaning of certain texts. So far as baptism itself is concerned there is no end to contention. The Baptists say that immersion is necessary and is right. Others say that it is wrong, and that sprinkling is right. Others contend for infant baptism, while others say it is not of God. Many claim that infant baptism is necessary, and that if a child is not baptized, it is in danger of being consigned to the regions of the damned. While others, again, contend for the pouring of water; and still others who permit the candidate to elect which mode of baptism he will have, whether sprinkling, immersion or pouring; while men are thus divided upon this subject, Paul says there is but one baptism.
Now, the Book of Mormon comes forth, and it speaks in exceeding great plainness upon this point. It not only gives the mode of baptism which Jesus gave to His ancient disciples on this continent; but the very words to be used. It says that they shall immerse candidates in the water; and it gives particular directions about the laying on of hands, and about all the doctrines of the church of Christ, or of the Gospel. No man who reads the Book of Mormon, need be at a loss to know the doctrine of Christ. It is as plain as it is possible for the English language to make it, and everybody can see it. Therefore, most wonderfully, when united with the Bible, has it fulfilled this prediction—the writings of the descendants of Joseph, of which this Book is the record.
Another most remarkable prediction is given in this same chapter; showing how plainly the Lord revealed to His ancient servants who wrote this Book, that which should take place in the last times. Lehi in speaking about Moses, said, that the Lord had revealed to Joseph the Patriarch, that He would raise up a mighty prophet named Moses, and that He should raise up for him a spokesman; that Moses would not be mighty in word, but in deed. Here is what the Lord said unto Joseph the Patriarch, as quoted by Lehi:
“And the Lord said unto me also:” [that is, Joseph the Patriarch], “I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.”
After the church had been organized some months, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer, and Ziba Petersen were appointed by the prophet of God to visit the western boundaries of Missouri. On their journey westward, they passed through the western part of Ohio, where Parley had formerly lived and labored in connection with the Reformed Baptists. They called upon one of the founders of that sect, Sidney Rigdon. They found him in the town of Kirtland, gave him a Book of Mormon, and bore their testimony to him of the restoration of the Gospel. Sidney Rigdon said to them: “You tell me a strange tale. I will examine this book;” and he commenced to do so. They were all young men, Sidney Rigdon was many years their senior. Rigdon examined the book, and became convinced that it was the word of God. He was baptized in the town of Kirtland, and the foundation of a great work was laid there. God afterwards revealed that this man was to be a spokesman, and he became the spokesman to this people and to the world for the prophet Joseph. Those who knew Sidney Rigdon, know how wonderfully God inspired him, and with what wonderful eloquence he declared the word of God to the people. He was a mighty man in the hands of God, as a spokesman, as long as the prophet lived, or up to a short time before his death. Thus you see that even this which many might look upon as a small matter, was predicted about 1,700 years before the birth of the Savior, and was quoted by Lehi 600 years before the same event, and about 2,400 years before its fulfillment, and was translated by the power of God, through his servant Joseph, as was predicted should be the case, and at a time, as I have said, when there was not a man upon the earth who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church had not yet been organized, and Joseph did not know, unless he knew by the spirit of revelation, whether any man would receive the Gospel. I doubt whether he knew as to how the church would be organized. He had some idea, doubtless; but there were many things which he himself did not know, till he wrote this translation.
Time will not permit me to proceed much further with this subject; I wish I had a day to speak upon it; but I am now trespassing on Brother Joseph F. Smith's time.
There is one prediction, however, I wish, before I sit down, to allude to, because I think it is most signally fulfilled, namely:
“And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only;” [this was the angel speaking to Nephi in the vision,] “the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil;”
This is a new thing. It is supposed there are a great many churches. The Lord here says there is but one church outside of his own church.
“Wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
“And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.
“And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
“And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.”
At the time this was written, a man would have been a bold man who would have said—that is, unless he was inspired of God—that anything of this kind could happen in these United States. One of the chief foundation stones of the great fabric of Government in this land, upon this continent, is religious liberty—liberty for every creed. Persecution of people for religion was unknown at the time this was written, and no man, unless he had been inspired of God, could have contemplated such a possibility as that any church would be persecuted for religion's sake. Yet here was a prediction made by Nephi, 2,400 years before it took place, in which he foretold the condition of things in this land, and upon all lands where the church of Christ should exist. There should be combinations and peoples gathered together, by religious influences, against the church of God. Now, what are the facts? Among the first persecutors of this church, when its members were few, were those who were themselves religious teachers. The earliest persecutors of Joseph Smith were religious teachers, and the mobs in Missouri, and the mobs in Illinois, were led by religious teachers. Even the mob that murdered our beloved Prophet and Patriarch, and wounded our revered President—that mob was led by a local Baptist preacher, and our people were driven from Nauvoo, as Brother Wells well knows, by a mob headed by a preacher. And today, those who are inciting mobs against this people; those who go to Congress, and incite persecutions against us; those who fulminate threats and frame petitions; those who meet together in conventions; those who gather together in conferences, are those who belong to this “mother of abominations,” this “whore of all the earth,” and it is through the influence of that accursed whore, that they gather together and marshal their forces in every land against the Latter-day Saints, the Church of the living God. The blood that has stained Georgia, and that cries from the ground for vengeance upon those who shed it—that blood was shed by mobs who were banded together, headed and aided and egged on by religious men; and if it were not for this “mother of abominations,” and those who are connected with her, we could dwell in peace and in safety in the valleys of these mountains. Here in this city, who has done as much or more than anyone else? The religious teachers, men who came here to preach what they call the Gospel. They are stirring up strife continually, instead of making peace; going back to other religious associations in the east, and telling the most abominable falsehoods about us, exciting the public mind, in order that they may get money with which to come here and accomplish their wicked designs. They tell lies without number about us. Our newspapers have exposed such people time and time again, and yet they shamelessly go forth and repeat those lies about the wickedness of this people, about the intolerance of this people, about the dangers they run when here in this country, when they know, as we all know who are here today, that they have never been molested, and that we have never injured them, nor interfered with them in any form, but that we have always treated them with that respect and kindness with which we desire to be treated ourselves.
In this way, this word of God, through his servant Nephi, uttered 2,400 years ago, has been and is being fulfilled to the very letter. Thus God is bringing to pass in the most wonderful manner the words of this Book. It is going forth, as He said it should, to all the nations of the earth. It is accomplishing that which He designed it should, and it will go forth and accomplish its mission. There is no power upon the earth that can stop it, because it is the word of God, and the doctrines of Jesus Christ, and it will be the means, as has been said, of gathering out the honest from every nation, causing them to dwell in peace, uniting them in doctrine, and putting an end to all controversy and contention concerning points of doctrine, because it reveals the Gospel with great plainness unto all those who will receive it.
Now, I want to read one more prediction and then stop. It is contained in the last words of Moroni, concerning this work, namely:
“When ye shall receive these things” says Moroni (standing alone on the continent, the last one of his race who had been true to God, not knowing what his own fate would be; he leaves on record for us Gentiles, the word of God, as he was inspired to give it, and thus he writes), “I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
These are the words of a prophet of God, standing in the face of eternity, not knowing what his own fate would be. He leaves this, his dying declaration, on record, at the close of this glorious book, which he was the instrument in the hands of God, of hiding up to be brought forth in the latter times. He testifies that if we will ask God concerning these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, we shall know concerning the truth of them by the power of the Holy Ghost. Let me ask this vast congregation: Has not this word of God, through his inspired prophet, been fulfilled?
You men and women and children, who have sought unto God, in the name of Jesus, as he commanded you, have you not received, by the power of the Holy Ghost, a testimony for yourselves, that these things are true, that this is the word of God, divinely inspired, written by the finger of inspiration, and translated by the power of God? [Yes]. I know that if I were to call for a response it would be universal in this congregation, and not only in this congregation, but in every congregation of the Latter-day Saints throughout all these mountains, and scattered abroad among all the nations of the earth. I ask you, at the request of my brethren, if this is not true? All who know it is, and have received this testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost, say yes—[the vast congregation responded “YES” as by one voice.]
God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Discourse by President George Q. Cannon, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, (to the General Conference assembly) Sunday Morning, April 6, 1884.
Reported by John Irvine.
I will read a portion of the 29th chapter of the second book of Nephi, from the last edition of the Book of Mormon.
1. “But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2. “And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
3. “And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4. “But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5. “O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord hath not forgotten my people.
6. “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7. “Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8. “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9. “And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
10. “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11. “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.”
There is much more of the next chapter and of the preceding chapter that pertains to our time, to the day and age in which we live, and these chapters, with many more, are full of predictions by the Prophet Nephi, concerning the days when the Book of Mormon should come forth.
I want this morning, if I can have the Spirit of God to lead and to assist me, to speak somewhat upon the predictions contained in the Book of Mormon—the predictions which had to be fulfilled after the publication of the book. It is alleged, as you know, that the Book of Mormon is not an inspired record, but that Joseph Smith, if he was the author of it, copied a great deal of it from the Old and New Testament. Now, there is scarcely any need to say to those who have studied the Book of Mormon, who have read it prayerfully and carefully—there is scarcely any need to say to them that it contains the internal evidence of its own divinity, that God wrote it through inspired men, and that no one but an inspired man or men could have written the book. There is no book in the English language that compares with it, unless it be books which contain the pure word of God. It has the advantage of the Bible in this: that it was translated by the power of God, not by the learning of man, and not selected from hundreds and thousands of versions as the Bible has been; for there is no end to the versions which exist, of the books contained in the Bible. Of course we have our version translated by learned men; but there is scarcely a passage of any importance in the Bible concerning which there is not some dispute among learned commentators. But with the Book of Mormon it is different. God preserved those records for a purpose in Himself. They were hidden up. This book, called the Book of Mormon, is an abridgment prepared by one of the last prophets of the Nephites, under the command of God, that it might come forth in the last days. God revealed in part to him, and to his son Moroni, the purpose which He had in view, in making this abridgment, and in concealing it in the earth, and they performed the labor connected with this under the direct command and inspiration of the Almighty, to come forth in the latter times, and to accomplish a great work. I wish to allude to some of the predictions—not those that are contained in other books, but those that are original with the Book of Mormon itself, and that could not have been made, unless the man who wrote them was inspired of God.
The words which I have read were written by Nephi, one of the first prophets of the Nephite nation, and he describes, at great length, and with wonderful plainness and minuteness, the condition of the inhabitants of the earth at the time that this work should go forth. Much of this, the caviler may say, could have been written by a man of these days. But there are some things which Nephi wrote, that could not have been written by a modern man who did not have the spirit of prophecy, and that which I have read in your hearing is a part that could not have been written by any human being, unless he had been inspired of God, and was a prophet of God. If Joseph Smith—if the divinity of his mission—his claims to be a Prophet rested upon this chapter alone, or this portion of the chapter that I have read in your hearing, according to my view his claims would be fully and indisputably established, for the reason that at the time that he translated this chapter he had no conception, neither could any human being have any conception, unless inspired of God, as to the effect the publication of the Book of Mormon would have upon the Gentile world. But Joseph, inspired of God, translated the prediction of Nephi, which prediction states that when the Book of Mormon should be published, it should be received by the Gentiles with this expression: “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.” How many times has this expression been made by clergymen, by professors of religion, and by Christendom generally, since the publication of the Book of Mormon? Ye Elders who have traversed sea and land, who have gone from continent to continent, who have visited the isles of the ocean, who have lifted up your voices in the cities of the Gentiles, and in their congregations; ye Elders, who have thus labored, know full well, that in every land, and among every people where you have labored, when you have spoken about God having restored another record, the Book of Mormon—you know that you have been met with these expressions, the literal words that Nephi said, would be used in the last days by the Gentiles, in regard to this work. You Latter-day Saints, who have endeavored to teach your friends the doctrines that God had revealed, and endeavored to show them that God had restored this ancient record—you know how your testimonies have been received concerning the Book of Mormon. These remarkable expressions have come from thousands of lips in many, many lands, and in many, many languages, confirmatory of the Book itself, and of its divine origin, and of its inspired translation. You read all the words of Nephi in this 29th chapter, and you will find that he describes with wonderful, and, I might say, photographic accuracy and minuteness, the condition of the so-called Christian world—the spirit that they possess, the crimes of which they are guilty, the condition in which they are placed, and all the circumstances connected with them.
In his next chapter, he makes further remarks concerning this work, and the effect it should have. He says:
3. “And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
4. “And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
5. “And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.
6. “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people.”
Now, that is one prediction. These are the words of Nephi. I will now read the words of Jesus, recorded in the 16th chapter of the third Book of Nephi, where He, in speaking about the last days, and the coming forth of this work, says:
“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
“And then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
“And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.”
These predictions are parallel; they point to the same period; they describe the same events, the same condition of affairs—one uttered 600 years or thereabouts, before the other, and yet they are precisely similar in their tenor, describing that which should be done with the Gospel among the Gentiles. I wish you all to remember—you Latter-day Saints, you young men and you young women, you little children who are capable of understanding my words—I wish you all to remember that at the time this was written, or rather at the time this was translated into the English language—say somewhere about the year 1828—Joseph Smith himself, had not received, or at least obeyed, the Gospel. He had derived some knowledge of it through the ministration of angels, and from that portion of the record that he had translated; but there was not a Latter-day Saint upon the face of the whole earth that we know anything about, or that he knew anything about. No man or woman had received the Gospel; no church had been organized; no Priesthood from the eternal worlds had been bestowed; not a man among all the children of men had been clothed with the power of the eternal Priesthood of the Son of God to administer the ordinances of life and salvation unto the children of men. Yet the Prophet Joseph Smith in this translation, showed forth with great clearness, that the Gospel would be revealed, and that it should be received by some of the Gentiles; that when it should be received by the Gentiles, it should be carried by them to the descendants of Nephi and his brethren, who by that time should have become a filthy and a loathsome people. The Indians of our continent should receive the message of life and salvation. The Gospel should be carried to them. They would receive it with gladness. They would come to a knowledge of their Redeemer, as well as to a knowledge of the principles and doctrines and covenants which their fathers understood, and which their fathers had received. Wonderful prediction! And most wonderfully has it been fulfilled. At the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith translated this Book of Mormon, I suppose the impression was general, as it is today, that the Indians were a perishing race, that they would soon disappear from the face of the land. But before Joseph had translated this, he had found in previous predictions that the Gentiles—that is, our nation—that we as a race and the nation to which we belong, should not have power to destroy the Indians. This was a most remarkable statement to make when we consider where Joseph was brought up, and the circumstances surrounding him. If he had not been inspired of God, he would not have dared, in my opinion, and no man would have dared to have made such a prediction. But what does Nephi say concerning this matter as translated by the Prophet? He says:
“Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.
“Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren.
“Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren”—that is, the Lamanites proper. They were not to be permitted to destroy Nephi's seed that should be mingled among the Lamanites, nor should they be permitted to destroy the Lamanites—that is, the descendants of Laman and Lemuel. Nephi predicted this. Today it is said that the Indians will perish, and that it is impossible to save them. Here is the word of God recorded in this sacred book. We have the words of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ arrayed against all, or nearly all, the conclusions of the Gentiles. I look around and I see here on this stand today, representatives of strange tribes of Indians who have come here to visit, thus being in part a fulfillment of the prediction of the Son of God, and also the fulfillment of that prediction of Nephi, that I have read in your hearing. The Gentiles did receive the Gospel of the Son of God, when it was revealed. Burning with zeal to carry this Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people; inspired by the Holy Ghost, they went out among the Indian races as well as others, and fulfilled the predictions of the Book of Mormon in this respect. And strange to say—if anything can be said to be strange connected with the work of God—the descendants of those ancient covenant people of the Lord, have gladly received the testimony of the servants of God. Wherever we have gone and mingled with those people, with those Red Men, and been able to communicate to them the truths of which we are in possession, which God has revealed to us, they have received the same gladly; not only upon this continent, but upon the islands of the sea, throughout Polynesia, the Sandwich, the Marquesas, the Society and the Navigator Islands—yes, and everywhere where those men with red skins dwell, they have gladly received the testimony of God's servants concerning the Gospel, and they rejoice in its fullness and in the knowledge that their fathers once possessed, and of the redemption that Jesus Christ has wrought out for them. Most wonderful has this prediction been fulfilled in this respect! And God has done and is doing a great and a mighty work among the people, fulfilling the words of the ancient prophets and of Jesus. When the Gentiles do reject the Gospel—as I fear they will from their conduct in the past—that is, as a nation—although I trust there will yet be many hundreds and thousands—yea, I would that I could say millions—of Gentiles gathered in by this Gospel; I trust that this will be the case, though the prospects are not very hopeful at present. It seems at present that as a nation, the Gentiles will reject the Gospel. When they do reject it, as they have in part, then God will commence, as the Savior said, to do a great work among the house of Israel. He will carry his Gospel there, and the work will commence then among all the scattered remnants of the house of Israel, over the whole earth.
“I wish to read another prophecy connected with the coming forth of this Book, and the results that should attend it, namely:
“Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write;” [the Prophet here is speaking of the fruit of the loins of the Patriarch Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brethren]; “and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins” [that is, of Joseph's loins], “and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.”
Now, here is a very remarkable prediction connected with the coming forth of this Book. It should have the effect, when united with the Bible—for it was the Bible that the Prophet was referring to as being the writings of the fruit of the loins of Judah; when these two Books should be united, it should have a remarkable effect—that is, their union should. They should confound false doctrine; they should lay down contentions, put an end to them and establish peace; and they should be the means of bringing the people to the knowledge of the covenants of God with those ancient Prophets, with His ancient servants and people. Now, all those who know anything about the effect of the Book of Mormon—of the preaching of the Elders with the aid of the Book of Mormon—know that these words have been fulfilled to the very letter. False doctrines have been put down. Contentions have ceased. Peace has been established, and the people have been brought to the knowledge of the covenants which God made with His ancient servants. Those who have read this Book know how precious are the words of God, contained in it—how plain the doctrine of Jesus Christ is set forth in it. There are no mistranslations; there is no mysticism infused into it by men who have had their own peculiar views of the doctrine of Christ; for in consequence of the taking out from the ancient records (the Bible) of many plain and precious parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the whole religious world is in confusion as to the meaning of certain texts. So far as baptism itself is concerned there is no end to contention. The Baptists say that immersion is necessary and is right. Others say that it is wrong, and that sprinkling is right. Others contend for infant baptism, while others say it is not of God. Many claim that infant baptism is necessary, and that if a child is not baptized, it is in danger of being consigned to the regions of the damned. While others, again, contend for the pouring of water; and still others who permit the candidate to elect which mode of baptism he will have, whether sprinkling, immersion or pouring; while men are thus divided upon this subject, Paul says there is but one baptism.
Now, the Book of Mormon comes forth, and it speaks in exceeding great plainness upon this point. It not only gives the mode of baptism which Jesus gave to His ancient disciples on this continent; but the very words to be used. It says that they shall immerse candidates in the water; and it gives particular directions about the laying on of hands, and about all the doctrines of the church of Christ, or of the Gospel. No man who reads the Book of Mormon, need be at a loss to know the doctrine of Christ. It is as plain as it is possible for the English language to make it, and everybody can see it. Therefore, most wonderfully, when united with the Bible, has it fulfilled this prediction—the writings of the descendants of Joseph, of which this Book is the record.
Another most remarkable prediction is given in this same chapter; showing how plainly the Lord revealed to His ancient servants who wrote this Book, that which should take place in the last times. Lehi in speaking about Moses, said, that the Lord had revealed to Joseph the Patriarch, that He would raise up a mighty prophet named Moses, and that He should raise up for him a spokesman; that Moses would not be mighty in word, but in deed. Here is what the Lord said unto Joseph the Patriarch, as quoted by Lehi:
“And the Lord said unto me also:” [that is, Joseph the Patriarch], “I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.”
After the church had been organized some months, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer, and Ziba Petersen were appointed by the prophet of God to visit the western boundaries of Missouri. On their journey westward, they passed through the western part of Ohio, where Parley had formerly lived and labored in connection with the Reformed Baptists. They called upon one of the founders of that sect, Sidney Rigdon. They found him in the town of Kirtland, gave him a Book of Mormon, and bore their testimony to him of the restoration of the Gospel. Sidney Rigdon said to them: “You tell me a strange tale. I will examine this book;” and he commenced to do so. They were all young men, Sidney Rigdon was many years their senior. Rigdon examined the book, and became convinced that it was the word of God. He was baptized in the town of Kirtland, and the foundation of a great work was laid there. God afterwards revealed that this man was to be a spokesman, and he became the spokesman to this people and to the world for the prophet Joseph. Those who knew Sidney Rigdon, know how wonderfully God inspired him, and with what wonderful eloquence he declared the word of God to the people. He was a mighty man in the hands of God, as a spokesman, as long as the prophet lived, or up to a short time before his death. Thus you see that even this which many might look upon as a small matter, was predicted about 1,700 years before the birth of the Savior, and was quoted by Lehi 600 years before the same event, and about 2,400 years before its fulfillment, and was translated by the power of God, through his servant Joseph, as was predicted should be the case, and at a time, as I have said, when there was not a man upon the earth who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church had not yet been organized, and Joseph did not know, unless he knew by the spirit of revelation, whether any man would receive the Gospel. I doubt whether he knew as to how the church would be organized. He had some idea, doubtless; but there were many things which he himself did not know, till he wrote this translation.
Time will not permit me to proceed much further with this subject; I wish I had a day to speak upon it; but I am now trespassing on Brother Joseph F. Smith's time.
There is one prediction, however, I wish, before I sit down, to allude to, because I think it is most signally fulfilled, namely:
“And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only;” [this was the angel speaking to Nephi in the vision,] “the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil;”
This is a new thing. It is supposed there are a great many churches. The Lord here says there is but one church outside of his own church.
“Wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
“And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.
“And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
“And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.”
At the time this was written, a man would have been a bold man who would have said—that is, unless he was inspired of God—that anything of this kind could happen in these United States. One of the chief foundation stones of the great fabric of Government in this land, upon this continent, is religious liberty—liberty for every creed. Persecution of people for religion was unknown at the time this was written, and no man, unless he had been inspired of God, could have contemplated such a possibility as that any church would be persecuted for religion's sake. Yet here was a prediction made by Nephi, 2,400 years before it took place, in which he foretold the condition of things in this land, and upon all lands where the church of Christ should exist. There should be combinations and peoples gathered together, by religious influences, against the church of God. Now, what are the facts? Among the first persecutors of this church, when its members were few, were those who were themselves religious teachers. The earliest persecutors of Joseph Smith were religious teachers, and the mobs in Missouri, and the mobs in Illinois, were led by religious teachers. Even the mob that murdered our beloved Prophet and Patriarch, and wounded our revered President—that mob was led by a local Baptist preacher, and our people were driven from Nauvoo, as Brother Wells well knows, by a mob headed by a preacher. And today, those who are inciting mobs against this people; those who go to Congress, and incite persecutions against us; those who fulminate threats and frame petitions; those who meet together in conventions; those who gather together in conferences, are those who belong to this “mother of abominations,” this “whore of all the earth,” and it is through the influence of that accursed whore, that they gather together and marshal their forces in every land against the Latter-day Saints, the Church of the living God. The blood that has stained Georgia, and that cries from the ground for vengeance upon those who shed it—that blood was shed by mobs who were banded together, headed and aided and egged on by religious men; and if it were not for this “mother of abominations,” and those who are connected with her, we could dwell in peace and in safety in the valleys of these mountains. Here in this city, who has done as much or more than anyone else? The religious teachers, men who came here to preach what they call the Gospel. They are stirring up strife continually, instead of making peace; going back to other religious associations in the east, and telling the most abominable falsehoods about us, exciting the public mind, in order that they may get money with which to come here and accomplish their wicked designs. They tell lies without number about us. Our newspapers have exposed such people time and time again, and yet they shamelessly go forth and repeat those lies about the wickedness of this people, about the intolerance of this people, about the dangers they run when here in this country, when they know, as we all know who are here today, that they have never been molested, and that we have never injured them, nor interfered with them in any form, but that we have always treated them with that respect and kindness with which we desire to be treated ourselves.
In this way, this word of God, through his servant Nephi, uttered 2,400 years ago, has been and is being fulfilled to the very letter. Thus God is bringing to pass in the most wonderful manner the words of this Book. It is going forth, as He said it should, to all the nations of the earth. It is accomplishing that which He designed it should, and it will go forth and accomplish its mission. There is no power upon the earth that can stop it, because it is the word of God, and the doctrines of Jesus Christ, and it will be the means, as has been said, of gathering out the honest from every nation, causing them to dwell in peace, uniting them in doctrine, and putting an end to all controversy and contention concerning points of doctrine, because it reveals the Gospel with great plainness unto all those who will receive it.
Now, I want to read one more prediction and then stop. It is contained in the last words of Moroni, concerning this work, namely:
“When ye shall receive these things” says Moroni (standing alone on the continent, the last one of his race who had been true to God, not knowing what his own fate would be; he leaves on record for us Gentiles, the word of God, as he was inspired to give it, and thus he writes), “I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
These are the words of a prophet of God, standing in the face of eternity, not knowing what his own fate would be. He leaves this, his dying declaration, on record, at the close of this glorious book, which he was the instrument in the hands of God, of hiding up to be brought forth in the latter times. He testifies that if we will ask God concerning these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, we shall know concerning the truth of them by the power of the Holy Ghost. Let me ask this vast congregation: Has not this word of God, through his inspired prophet, been fulfilled?
You men and women and children, who have sought unto God, in the name of Jesus, as he commanded you, have you not received, by the power of the Holy Ghost, a testimony for yourselves, that these things are true, that this is the word of God, divinely inspired, written by the finger of inspiration, and translated by the power of God? [Yes]. I know that if I were to call for a response it would be universal in this congregation, and not only in this congregation, but in every congregation of the Latter-day Saints throughout all these mountains, and scattered abroad among all the nations of the earth. I ask you, at the request of my brethren, if this is not true? All who know it is, and have received this testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost, say yes—[the vast congregation responded “YES” as by one voice.]
God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
President Joseph F. Smith
referred to the Doctrine and Covenants as containing many indisputable evidences of the divine mission of Joseph Smith. He alluded to the revelation on war, given Dec. 25, 1832, part of which prediction was fulfilled in the civil war between North and South. He then referred to another revelation given at Kirtland, Ohio, March, 1831, through Joseph the Prophet to Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt and Lemon Copley, in which it was declared that before the great day of the Lord should come, Jacob should flourish in the wilderness and the Lamanites should blossom as the rose; that Zion should flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and should be assembled together unto the place which the Lord had appointed. Much of this had already been fulfilled, though announced by Joseph Smith long before such things in the history of this people were thought of. If Joseph had not uttered another prophecy, this alone would be sufficient to prove that he was an inspired man and told the truth. The speaker alluded to another revelation in which the Saints were promised that if they would hearken unto the Lord and keep His commandment, they should commence to prevail against their enemies from that hour and testified that this too had thus far been fulfilled, and that it was the foreknowledge in the bosom of Satan of its complete and literal fulfillment which was stirring up his emissaries throughout the earth to fight against the kingdom of God. It would not be long before the world would be subdued under God’s feet and Satan knew this better than many who profess to have that knowledge. It was no wonder the wicked raged, it was only surprising that there should be a Latter-day Saints not as fully awake to his work as Satan’s emissaries were to theirs. It was grievous to think there should exist any need for reformation in the midst of this people.
It was fifty-four years since the Gospel and the Book of Mormon were placed before the world, and though no stone had been left unturned to prove them a delusion and forgery, their truth had never been and never could be disproved. It was truth that made our fortification strong our bulwarks invulnerable. In conclusion he made an appeal to the missionaries. They should be willing to go to any place they were sent—Great Britain, the Southern States, the Sandwich Islands or anywhere else. He knew a gifted man who apostatized because he was called to go to the Sandwich Islands instead of to a more enlightened nation, feeling that he was disgraced in being sent to preach to the heathen. The speaker said he had always been thankful that he went there, and so was Brother Cannon, who was now the First Counselor to the President of the Church. More Apostles and Bishops had been chosen from Elders who went to the Sandwich Islands, in proportion to numbers, than from those who went to England. If a man wished to be exalted, he must humble himself, for if he exalted himself God would abase him.
referred to the Doctrine and Covenants as containing many indisputable evidences of the divine mission of Joseph Smith. He alluded to the revelation on war, given Dec. 25, 1832, part of which prediction was fulfilled in the civil war between North and South. He then referred to another revelation given at Kirtland, Ohio, March, 1831, through Joseph the Prophet to Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt and Lemon Copley, in which it was declared that before the great day of the Lord should come, Jacob should flourish in the wilderness and the Lamanites should blossom as the rose; that Zion should flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and should be assembled together unto the place which the Lord had appointed. Much of this had already been fulfilled, though announced by Joseph Smith long before such things in the history of this people were thought of. If Joseph had not uttered another prophecy, this alone would be sufficient to prove that he was an inspired man and told the truth. The speaker alluded to another revelation in which the Saints were promised that if they would hearken unto the Lord and keep His commandment, they should commence to prevail against their enemies from that hour and testified that this too had thus far been fulfilled, and that it was the foreknowledge in the bosom of Satan of its complete and literal fulfillment which was stirring up his emissaries throughout the earth to fight against the kingdom of God. It would not be long before the world would be subdued under God’s feet and Satan knew this better than many who profess to have that knowledge. It was no wonder the wicked raged, it was only surprising that there should be a Latter-day Saints not as fully awake to his work as Satan’s emissaries were to theirs. It was grievous to think there should exist any need for reformation in the midst of this people.
It was fifty-four years since the Gospel and the Book of Mormon were placed before the world, and though no stone had been left unturned to prove them a delusion and forgery, their truth had never been and never could be disproved. It was truth that made our fortification strong our bulwarks invulnerable. In conclusion he made an appeal to the missionaries. They should be willing to go to any place they were sent—Great Britain, the Southern States, the Sandwich Islands or anywhere else. He knew a gifted man who apostatized because he was called to go to the Sandwich Islands instead of to a more enlightened nation, feeling that he was disgraced in being sent to preach to the heathen. The speaker said he had always been thankful that he went there, and so was Brother Cannon, who was now the First Counselor to the President of the Church. More Apostles and Bishops had been chosen from Elders who went to the Sandwich Islands, in proportion to numbers, than from those who went to England. If a man wished to be exalted, he must humble himself, for if he exalted himself God would abase him.
Divine Mission of Joseph Smith—Prediction and Promise Fulfilled—Many Others Will Yet Be Verified—The World's Hatred of the Saints—Indisputable Evidence of the Divine Origin of the Church—No Power Can Destroy It—Missionaries Should Go to the Fields to Which They Are Called—The Effects of Obedience and Its Opposite
Remarks by President Joseph F. Smith, delivered at the General Conference, on Sunday Morning, April 6th, 1884.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
As the time remaining is so short, I think I could not do better than devote it to continuing the subject dwelt upon by Brother Cannon.
The Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Book of Mormon, contains indisputable evidence of the divine calling and mission of Joseph Smith. For instance, I will refer the congregation to the revelation given Dec. 25th, 1832, in relation to the great war of the Rebellion, with which all are more or less familiar. A portion of that revelation has been literally fulfilled, even to the very place indicated in the prediction where the war should commence: which, as was therein stated, was to terminate in the death and misery of many souls. Again, in the revelation given in March, 1831, to Parley P. Pratt and Lemon Copley, the following remarkable prediction is found:
“But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose. Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed.”
Who, let me ask, unless he was inspired of the Lord, speaking by the gift and power of God, at that remote period of the Church's history, when our numbers were few, when we had no influence, name or standing in the world—who, I would ask, under the circumstances in which we were placed when this prediction was made, could have uttered such words unless God inspired him? Zion is, indeed, flourishing on the hills, and is rejoicing on the mountains, and we who compose it are gathering and assembling together unto the place appointed. I now ask this congregation if they cannot see that this prediction (which was made many years before the idea prevailed at all among this people that we should ever migrate and gather out to these mountain valleys), has been and is being literally fulfilled? If there were no other prophecy uttered by Joseph Smith, fulfillment of which could be pointed to, this alone would be sufficient to entitle him to the claim of being a true Prophet.
Again, in the revelation given Feb. 24th, 1834, this remarkable promise and prophecy is found:
“But verily I say unto you, I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever.”
Is there a person within the sound of my voice, or anywhere else upon the face of the wide earth, who can say that this promise has failed, that this prediction is not founded in truth, that so far it has not been fulfilled? I stand before this vast congregation, and am at the defiance of any human being to say, that this was not pronounced by the spirit of truth, by the inspiration of the Almighty, for it has been fulfilled, and is being fulfilled, and that, too, in the face of opposition of the most deadly character: and what remains will be fulfilled literally and completely. And it is the fear in the heart of Satan that this will be the case, that causes him to stir up his emissaries to oppose the Kingdom of God and seek, if possible, to destroy this great and glorious work. For it is a living fact, a fact that fills the hearts of the righteous and Godfearing with unspeakable joy and the hearts of the wicked and ungodly with consternation and jealous fear, that this work of God, this work of redemption and salvation in which we are engaged, is moving forward and is destined to continue in its onward march until the kingdoms of the world shall be subdued and brought under the law of Almighty God. And that this will come to pass, I can assure you, the enemy of all righteousness comprehends as well as we do. Yes, he knows that this will eventually be the case, better than many who profess to have received the Holy Spirit in their hearts; and, therefore, he is diligently seeking to stir up the hearts of the wicked to fight against the Saints of God, until they are discomfited, and Zion is free.
These predictions concerning the triumph of the cause of God over wickedness, and the triumph of the Saints of God over the wicked who contend against them, were uttered by Joseph Smith in his youth, in the early rise of the Church when, to all human appearance, their fulfillment was absolutely impossible. At that time there were but few who could believe, that dared to believe the truth of these predictions. The few, comparatively, that did believe when they heard, were those whose minds had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit of promise and who, therefore, were prepared to receive them. As these predictions have been fulfilled, so those not yet fulfilled will come to pass in the due time of the Lord; and as this latter-day work has so far grown and assumed force and power in the earth, so it will continue to do, and there is no power beneath the Celestial Kingdom that can prevent its growth, or the consummation of all that has been predicted concerning it.
I do not wonder that the enemies of righteousness are stirred up about this matter. I am not surprised that the wicked rage and the heathen imagine a vain thing. I am not astonished when certain men get mad, or that their souls are vexed within them, that their minds are perplexed, and that they feel wrought up with anger against a people who have never injured them or theirs. One thing I am surprised about in relation to this matter is, that the Latter-day Saints themselves should not be as strongly aroused in the interest of the Kingdom of God, as the enemies of truth are against it. When I contemplate the situation as it is presented to my mind, I am astonished that so many of the Latter-day Saints should be so indifferent and neglectful of duty that they cannot, apparently, appreciate the importance of living their religion. I am surprised that there should be any necessity for reformation among the Latter-day Saints, that is, if I should be surprised at all; though surprised is not the appropriate word to use, the word grieved, perhaps, might be used with greater propriety in this sense. If I would allow myself to indulge in a feeling of sorrow, I might indeed feel grieved that any of us should find ourselves in a condition to require reform in our lives. It certainly cannot be in consequence of the lack of evidences of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, as there are so many such evidences transpiring every day in our experience; in fact the whole spectacle of this latter-day work is overwhelming in undeniable proof to the people of God, at least, that it is His work; while the whole world, on the contrary, are arrayed against it, because they cannot see the light. You who have obeyed the requirements of the everlasting Gospel, and have been chosen out of the world, having received the gift of the Holy Ghost, through the laying on of hands, it is your privilege to receive the witness of the Spirit for yourselves; it is your privilege to discern the mind and will of the Father respecting your own welfare, and respecting the final triumph of the work of God. Why, then, should we be told that “Mormonism” is true? Why should we need any further proof that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet, or that his predictions are being fulfilled? Why should it be necessary to prove that the word of God has come to the world through him, and that that word is indisputable, that the world cannot gainsay it? The doctrines and revelations believed in by the Latter-day Saints have now been before the world for 54 years, and during that time what the world has been pleased to call “Mormonism” has been to them an unsolved problem. The sound of the Book of Mormon has rung in the ears of the civilized world since the year 1830, when it was published, and the report of it had gone forth and was being agitated some time before that; and during the 54 years that that book has been made public to the world, there has been no stone unturned by the most learned men of the age to disprove it, and make it appear a delusion and imposition. In this, however, they have signally failed, not being able to produce a single argument that cannot be successfully met by even the boys of this community. This may seem a broad assertion, but it is nevertheless true. Our Elders have been sent out as missionaries to the different nations now for the last 50 years, during which time they have testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and have invited investigation of its pages. And although many in their day and time have arisen either to ridicule or disprove the truths it contains, their efforts have been futile, resulting only in their own dismay. It cannot be disproved, for it is true. There is not a word or doctrine, of admonition, of instruction within its lids, but what agrees in sentiment and veracity with those of Christ and His Apostles, as contained in the Bible. Neither is there a word of counsel, of admonition or reproof within its lids, but what is calculated to make a bad man a good man, and a good man a better man, if he will hearken to it. It bears the mark of inspiration from beginning to end, and carries conviction to every honest-hearted soul. And because the Book of Mormon is a true and authentic record of a people who once lived and flourished on this American continent—and because God Himself has undertaken, through us, His weak and erring children, to establish His rule and government on the earth in answer to the prayers of His Saints, ancient and modern, and according to the counsels of His own will—because it is verily so, devils rage and the willfully wicked are angered and seek the life and liberties of the Saints, and the destruction of the work of the Lord; but in the name of Israel's God, they never will be able to accomplish their purposes against us. As I have often said, so I repeat, the best time the world ever saw, or ever will see, to destroy “Mormonism,” was on the 6th day of April, 1830. But they did not do it then, and so they let the opportunity slip: and have ever since been blindly struggling in the hope of doing something towards it. But the more they struggle, the wider of the mark their efforts will be. This is my testimony. If I had the power, and was called upon to do it, I would go to the ends of the earth and would lift up my voice in testimony of this fact to every nation, tongue and people, for I know that it is true.
Before I close I want to say a word to our young men who are called as missionaries. When a man is called to go on a mission, and a field of labor is assigned him, he should, I think, say in his heart, not my will be done, but thine, O Lord. We find it a little difficult sometimes to get the right men to go to certain distant lands to preach the Gospel. It is sometimes thought, especially among our young Elders, that Great Britain is the finest field of labor in the world; and, consequently, they want to go there. They do not like to go to the Southern States; they do not much fancy the Northern States; they do not care to go to New Zealand, or to the Sandwich Islands. When we call men to go to Great Britain, it is gratifying for them to respond cheerfully to the call; and when we call others to go to the Northern States, to New Zealand, or to the Sandwich Islands, we do not want any to come and say, they want their field of labor changed to England. We expect every man to be on hand to go wherever he may be called, and then he may expect the blessing of the Lord to attend him in his labors. I have been thankful only once since I went to the Sandwich Islands on my first mission, and that has been ever since.
Soon after I was sent, there was a very bright, intelligent man called to go to the Islands, and it was one of the causes of his apostasy. “What,” said he, “send me, a linguist, a man well read, an educated man, and an Englishman at that, to preach to heathens?” He felt that he was not looked upon with that consideration and respect that his scholarly attainments commanded; he felt that he was slighted; and apostatized, and returned to his native land, where he wrote a book against us, and has since died. When Brother George Q. Cannon was called to go to the Islands, he had no such feelings. He learned the language, and translated the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language. He performed a glorious mission, and is now one of the First Presidency of the Church. And singular as it may appear, out of the number of Elders that have been on missions to the Sandwich Islands, I can count more Apostles, more Presidents of Stakes, Bishops, and leading men, than can be found in the same number that have gone to any other country. Why is this? Perhaps it is because they manifested their willingness to descend below all things, that they might rise above all things. If a man in this Church would be exalted, let him humble himself; and he that would exalt himself, God will abase.
God bless Israel, and pour out His Spirit upon the household of faith, and strengthen us to do the labors required of us, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: How beautiful upon the mountains.
Conference adjourned till 2 p.m.
Benediction by Elder L. John Nuttall.
Remarks by President Joseph F. Smith, delivered at the General Conference, on Sunday Morning, April 6th, 1884.
Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.
As the time remaining is so short, I think I could not do better than devote it to continuing the subject dwelt upon by Brother Cannon.
The Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Book of Mormon, contains indisputable evidence of the divine calling and mission of Joseph Smith. For instance, I will refer the congregation to the revelation given Dec. 25th, 1832, in relation to the great war of the Rebellion, with which all are more or less familiar. A portion of that revelation has been literally fulfilled, even to the very place indicated in the prediction where the war should commence: which, as was therein stated, was to terminate in the death and misery of many souls. Again, in the revelation given in March, 1831, to Parley P. Pratt and Lemon Copley, the following remarkable prediction is found:
“But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose. Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed.”
Who, let me ask, unless he was inspired of the Lord, speaking by the gift and power of God, at that remote period of the Church's history, when our numbers were few, when we had no influence, name or standing in the world—who, I would ask, under the circumstances in which we were placed when this prediction was made, could have uttered such words unless God inspired him? Zion is, indeed, flourishing on the hills, and is rejoicing on the mountains, and we who compose it are gathering and assembling together unto the place appointed. I now ask this congregation if they cannot see that this prediction (which was made many years before the idea prevailed at all among this people that we should ever migrate and gather out to these mountain valleys), has been and is being literally fulfilled? If there were no other prophecy uttered by Joseph Smith, fulfillment of which could be pointed to, this alone would be sufficient to entitle him to the claim of being a true Prophet.
Again, in the revelation given Feb. 24th, 1834, this remarkable promise and prophecy is found:
“But verily I say unto you, I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever.”
Is there a person within the sound of my voice, or anywhere else upon the face of the wide earth, who can say that this promise has failed, that this prediction is not founded in truth, that so far it has not been fulfilled? I stand before this vast congregation, and am at the defiance of any human being to say, that this was not pronounced by the spirit of truth, by the inspiration of the Almighty, for it has been fulfilled, and is being fulfilled, and that, too, in the face of opposition of the most deadly character: and what remains will be fulfilled literally and completely. And it is the fear in the heart of Satan that this will be the case, that causes him to stir up his emissaries to oppose the Kingdom of God and seek, if possible, to destroy this great and glorious work. For it is a living fact, a fact that fills the hearts of the righteous and Godfearing with unspeakable joy and the hearts of the wicked and ungodly with consternation and jealous fear, that this work of God, this work of redemption and salvation in which we are engaged, is moving forward and is destined to continue in its onward march until the kingdoms of the world shall be subdued and brought under the law of Almighty God. And that this will come to pass, I can assure you, the enemy of all righteousness comprehends as well as we do. Yes, he knows that this will eventually be the case, better than many who profess to have received the Holy Spirit in their hearts; and, therefore, he is diligently seeking to stir up the hearts of the wicked to fight against the Saints of God, until they are discomfited, and Zion is free.
These predictions concerning the triumph of the cause of God over wickedness, and the triumph of the Saints of God over the wicked who contend against them, were uttered by Joseph Smith in his youth, in the early rise of the Church when, to all human appearance, their fulfillment was absolutely impossible. At that time there were but few who could believe, that dared to believe the truth of these predictions. The few, comparatively, that did believe when they heard, were those whose minds had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit of promise and who, therefore, were prepared to receive them. As these predictions have been fulfilled, so those not yet fulfilled will come to pass in the due time of the Lord; and as this latter-day work has so far grown and assumed force and power in the earth, so it will continue to do, and there is no power beneath the Celestial Kingdom that can prevent its growth, or the consummation of all that has been predicted concerning it.
I do not wonder that the enemies of righteousness are stirred up about this matter. I am not surprised that the wicked rage and the heathen imagine a vain thing. I am not astonished when certain men get mad, or that their souls are vexed within them, that their minds are perplexed, and that they feel wrought up with anger against a people who have never injured them or theirs. One thing I am surprised about in relation to this matter is, that the Latter-day Saints themselves should not be as strongly aroused in the interest of the Kingdom of God, as the enemies of truth are against it. When I contemplate the situation as it is presented to my mind, I am astonished that so many of the Latter-day Saints should be so indifferent and neglectful of duty that they cannot, apparently, appreciate the importance of living their religion. I am surprised that there should be any necessity for reformation among the Latter-day Saints, that is, if I should be surprised at all; though surprised is not the appropriate word to use, the word grieved, perhaps, might be used with greater propriety in this sense. If I would allow myself to indulge in a feeling of sorrow, I might indeed feel grieved that any of us should find ourselves in a condition to require reform in our lives. It certainly cannot be in consequence of the lack of evidences of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged, as there are so many such evidences transpiring every day in our experience; in fact the whole spectacle of this latter-day work is overwhelming in undeniable proof to the people of God, at least, that it is His work; while the whole world, on the contrary, are arrayed against it, because they cannot see the light. You who have obeyed the requirements of the everlasting Gospel, and have been chosen out of the world, having received the gift of the Holy Ghost, through the laying on of hands, it is your privilege to receive the witness of the Spirit for yourselves; it is your privilege to discern the mind and will of the Father respecting your own welfare, and respecting the final triumph of the work of God. Why, then, should we be told that “Mormonism” is true? Why should we need any further proof that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet, or that his predictions are being fulfilled? Why should it be necessary to prove that the word of God has come to the world through him, and that that word is indisputable, that the world cannot gainsay it? The doctrines and revelations believed in by the Latter-day Saints have now been before the world for 54 years, and during that time what the world has been pleased to call “Mormonism” has been to them an unsolved problem. The sound of the Book of Mormon has rung in the ears of the civilized world since the year 1830, when it was published, and the report of it had gone forth and was being agitated some time before that; and during the 54 years that that book has been made public to the world, there has been no stone unturned by the most learned men of the age to disprove it, and make it appear a delusion and imposition. In this, however, they have signally failed, not being able to produce a single argument that cannot be successfully met by even the boys of this community. This may seem a broad assertion, but it is nevertheless true. Our Elders have been sent out as missionaries to the different nations now for the last 50 years, during which time they have testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and have invited investigation of its pages. And although many in their day and time have arisen either to ridicule or disprove the truths it contains, their efforts have been futile, resulting only in their own dismay. It cannot be disproved, for it is true. There is not a word or doctrine, of admonition, of instruction within its lids, but what agrees in sentiment and veracity with those of Christ and His Apostles, as contained in the Bible. Neither is there a word of counsel, of admonition or reproof within its lids, but what is calculated to make a bad man a good man, and a good man a better man, if he will hearken to it. It bears the mark of inspiration from beginning to end, and carries conviction to every honest-hearted soul. And because the Book of Mormon is a true and authentic record of a people who once lived and flourished on this American continent—and because God Himself has undertaken, through us, His weak and erring children, to establish His rule and government on the earth in answer to the prayers of His Saints, ancient and modern, and according to the counsels of His own will—because it is verily so, devils rage and the willfully wicked are angered and seek the life and liberties of the Saints, and the destruction of the work of the Lord; but in the name of Israel's God, they never will be able to accomplish their purposes against us. As I have often said, so I repeat, the best time the world ever saw, or ever will see, to destroy “Mormonism,” was on the 6th day of April, 1830. But they did not do it then, and so they let the opportunity slip: and have ever since been blindly struggling in the hope of doing something towards it. But the more they struggle, the wider of the mark their efforts will be. This is my testimony. If I had the power, and was called upon to do it, I would go to the ends of the earth and would lift up my voice in testimony of this fact to every nation, tongue and people, for I know that it is true.
Before I close I want to say a word to our young men who are called as missionaries. When a man is called to go on a mission, and a field of labor is assigned him, he should, I think, say in his heart, not my will be done, but thine, O Lord. We find it a little difficult sometimes to get the right men to go to certain distant lands to preach the Gospel. It is sometimes thought, especially among our young Elders, that Great Britain is the finest field of labor in the world; and, consequently, they want to go there. They do not like to go to the Southern States; they do not much fancy the Northern States; they do not care to go to New Zealand, or to the Sandwich Islands. When we call men to go to Great Britain, it is gratifying for them to respond cheerfully to the call; and when we call others to go to the Northern States, to New Zealand, or to the Sandwich Islands, we do not want any to come and say, they want their field of labor changed to England. We expect every man to be on hand to go wherever he may be called, and then he may expect the blessing of the Lord to attend him in his labors. I have been thankful only once since I went to the Sandwich Islands on my first mission, and that has been ever since.
Soon after I was sent, there was a very bright, intelligent man called to go to the Islands, and it was one of the causes of his apostasy. “What,” said he, “send me, a linguist, a man well read, an educated man, and an Englishman at that, to preach to heathens?” He felt that he was not looked upon with that consideration and respect that his scholarly attainments commanded; he felt that he was slighted; and apostatized, and returned to his native land, where he wrote a book against us, and has since died. When Brother George Q. Cannon was called to go to the Islands, he had no such feelings. He learned the language, and translated the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language. He performed a glorious mission, and is now one of the First Presidency of the Church. And singular as it may appear, out of the number of Elders that have been on missions to the Sandwich Islands, I can count more Apostles, more Presidents of Stakes, Bishops, and leading men, than can be found in the same number that have gone to any other country. Why is this? Perhaps it is because they manifested their willingness to descend below all things, that they might rise above all things. If a man in this Church would be exalted, let him humble himself; and he that would exalt himself, God will abase.
God bless Israel, and pour out His Spirit upon the household of faith, and strengthen us to do the labors required of us, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: How beautiful upon the mountains.
Conference adjourned till 2 p.m.
Benediction by Elder L. John Nuttall.
2 p.m.
The choir sang: Earth with her ten thousand flowers, Air with all its beams and showers.
Prayer by President W. B. Preston.
The choir sang: T’was on that dark and solemn night When powers of earth and hell arose.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was then administered by the Bishopric of the 17th Ward.
The choir sang: Earth with her ten thousand flowers, Air with all its beams and showers.
Prayer by President W. B. Preston.
The choir sang: T’was on that dark and solemn night When powers of earth and hell arose.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was then administered by the Bishopric of the 17th Ward.
President George Q. Cannon
The read the following additional names of missionaries who were unanimously sustained by vote of the Conference
GREAT BRITAIN.
Wm. Griffin, 10th Ward.
NORTH WESTERN STATES.
Wm. Brown, Jr., Fayette.
Joseph U. Eldredge, 18th War.
Theodore Brandley, Richfield.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Wm. S. Berry, Kanarra.
NEW ZEALAND.
John W. Ash, Logan.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Geo. T. Holdaway, Aurora.
Joseph S. Hyde, Spring City.
SWISS AND GERMAN MISSION.
Geo. C. Naegle, Toquerville.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Israel Bale, Nephi.
Frank Teasdale.
To labor at Washakie under the direction of Bishop I. E. D. Zundell, John Dutton, Brigham.
The read the following additional names of missionaries who were unanimously sustained by vote of the Conference
GREAT BRITAIN.
Wm. Griffin, 10th Ward.
NORTH WESTERN STATES.
Wm. Brown, Jr., Fayette.
Joseph U. Eldredge, 18th War.
Theodore Brandley, Richfield.
SOUTHERN STATES.
Wm. S. Berry, Kanarra.
NEW ZEALAND.
John W. Ash, Logan.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Geo. T. Holdaway, Aurora.
Joseph S. Hyde, Spring City.
SWISS AND GERMAN MISSION.
Geo. C. Naegle, Toquerville.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Israel Bale, Nephi.
Frank Teasdale.
To labor at Washakie under the direction of Bishop I. E. D. Zundell, John Dutton, Brigham.
He then presented the General Authorities of the Church as follows, all of whom were sustained by uplifted hand of the entire Conference:
John Taylor, Prophet, Seer and Revelator to, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First and Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Wilford Woodruff, President of the Twelve Apostles.
Members of the Council of the Apostles—Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Albert Carrington, Moses Thatcher, Francis Marion Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant.
Owing to a vacancy occurring by the decease of Charles C. Rich, in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, John W. Taylor was elected to the office, and was sustained by the unanimous vote of the Conference.
John Taylor, Prophet, Seer and Revelator to, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First and Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Wilford Woodruff, President of the Twelve Apostles.
Members of the Council of the Apostles—Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Albert Carrington, Moses Thatcher, Francis Marion Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant.
Owing to a vacancy occurring by the decease of Charles C. Rich, in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, John W. Taylor was elected to the office, and was sustained by the unanimous vote of the Conference.
By request of President George Q. Cannon, Elder John W. Taylor
arose and expressed his willingness to accept the office, and asked the faith and prayers of the Saints in his behalf.
arose and expressed his willingness to accept the office, and asked the faith and prayers of the Saints in his behalf.
George Q. Cannon:
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
The Counselors to President John Taylor—the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
The First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates, Wm. W. Taylor, Abram H. Cannon and Seymour B. Young.
To fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of John Van Cott, in the Quorum of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, Elder Christian D. Fjelsted was appointed to fill that office, and was sustained by the united vote of the Conference.
A vacancy having arisen in the Presiding Bishopric, in the death of Bishop Edward Hunter,
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
The Counselors to President John Taylor—the Twelve Apostles and their Counselors, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
The First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates, Wm. W. Taylor, Abram H. Cannon and Seymour B. Young.
To fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of John Van Cott, in the Quorum of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies, Elder Christian D. Fjelsted was appointed to fill that office, and was sustained by the united vote of the Conference.
A vacancy having arisen in the Presiding Bishopric, in the death of Bishop Edward Hunter,
Wm. B. Preston
was unanimously sustained by the vote of the Conference as the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and being called upon to make a few remarks said, “Let the will of the Lord be done, by the faith, confidence and prayers of the Saints, the counsel of my brethren and the blessing and assistance of God I will endeavor to do my best. Amen.
was unanimously sustained by the vote of the Conference as the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and being called upon to make a few remarks said, “Let the will of the Lord be done, by the faith, confidence and prayers of the Saints, the counsel of my brethren and the blessing and assistance of God I will endeavor to do my best. Amen.
George Q. Cannon:
Counselors to the Presiding Bishop of the Church, Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton.
John Taylor was 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 Counselors to the President—The Twelve Apostles, their Counselors, and Bishop Wm. B. Preston as Counselors to the Trustee-in-Trust.
Wilford Woodruff as Historian for the Church and General Church Recorder, and F. D. Richards as his assistant.
Albert Carrington as President of the Perpetual Emigration Fund Co. for the Gathering of the Poor, and F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, H. S. Eldredge, Joseph F. Smith, Angus M. Cannon, Moses Thatcher, Wm. Jennings, John R. Winder, Henry Dinwodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson, as his assistants.
Truman O. Angel as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angel, Jr., and W. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—Wilford Woodruff, E. Snow, F. D. Richards, J. F. Smith, W. Jennings.
Owing to Elder George Goddard being called on a mission to Great Britain, and a vacancy as Clerk of the General Conference being thereby created, John Nicholson was appointed to the office and sustained by the unanimous vote of the conference.
Elders George F. Gibbs and John Irvine were sustained by unanimous vote as Church reporters.
The Missionaries whose names had been called during this conference, were requested to meet in the social Hall at 9 o’clock a.m., Monday, April 7th, to be set apart for their respective missions.
Counselors to the Presiding Bishop of the Church, Leonard W. Hardy and Robert T. Burton.
John Taylor was 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 Counselors to the President—The Twelve Apostles, their Counselors, and Bishop Wm. B. Preston as Counselors to the Trustee-in-Trust.
Wilford Woodruff as Historian for the Church and General Church Recorder, and F. D. Richards as his assistant.
Albert Carrington as President of the Perpetual Emigration Fund Co. for the Gathering of the Poor, and F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, H. S. Eldredge, Joseph F. Smith, Angus M. Cannon, Moses Thatcher, Wm. Jennings, John R. Winder, Henry Dinwodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson, as his assistants.
Truman O. Angel as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angel, Jr., and W. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—Wilford Woodruff, E. Snow, F. D. Richards, J. F. Smith, W. Jennings.
Owing to Elder George Goddard being called on a mission to Great Britain, and a vacancy as Clerk of the General Conference being thereby created, John Nicholson was appointed to the office and sustained by the unanimous vote of the conference.
Elders George F. Gibbs and John Irvine were sustained by unanimous vote as Church reporters.
The Missionaries whose names had been called during this conference, were requested to meet in the social Hall at 9 o’clock a.m., Monday, April 7th, to be set apart for their respective missions.
President John Taylor
then addressed the congregation. He referred to the greatness of the work of God and showed its peculiar character in reaching into the eternities, both past and present, while the works of men began and ended with time. He spoke of the eternal nature of the Priesthood and its covenants, and of the principles of the Gospel, as enjoyed by Noah, Melchisedec, Abraham and other ancient worthies, as well as by those to whom God had revealed these things to the latter-days. The outside world were ignorant of these glorious truths as ignorant of the Saints that were before God enlightened them. He dwelt upon the mission of Elijah whom Malachi foretold should precede the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord, to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers,” lest the earth should be smitten with a curse. After depicting the judgments of the “great and terrible day,” as shown by Isaiah and other ancient prophets, the speaker showed how Elijah had been sent and had conferred upon Joseph Smith the keys of his ministry as well as others who had likewise appeared for a similar purpose.
He showed that in building temples and baptizing for the dead, the Saints were carrying out the work, the keys of which were bestowed by Elijah upon Joseph, and were thereby preparing to be Saviours upon Mount Zion, and to be perfected like Enoch and his city of old, who were translated for their righteousness. He showed how Satan was interested in leading away the children of men, how he incited the killing of Abel, the crucifixion of Christ, and had always employed what some men in our day termed “heroic measures” to destroy the work of God and put an end to His servants. He portrayed the great mercy of God in sending Christ to preach to the spirits in prison. Which were disobedient in the days of Noah when the floods were sent to destroy them, and exhorted the Saints to be likewise merciful and charitable to those who sought their own overthrow.
At the time the civil war broke out in this land, he felt like weeping of the people, for he had foreseen their troubles and they were not over yet. Worse times were coming upon the nations than had yet been known. But the Saints had a great work to do and must do it, leaving their enemies in the hands of God who would deal out justice and mercy to all. No power could hinder the building up of Zion, the gathering of the elect and the fulfillment of all God had decreed for this the dispensation of the fullness of times. The speaker counseled obedience and fidelity to God and His work, and called upon all who were willing to so live, to say “aye.” The response was a universal from the assembled multitude. The speaker then blessed them in the morning of the Lord.
Conference was adjourned till the 6th of October.
The choir sang an anthem: “The Gathered Saints.”
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
George Goddard,
Clerk.
then addressed the congregation. He referred to the greatness of the work of God and showed its peculiar character in reaching into the eternities, both past and present, while the works of men began and ended with time. He spoke of the eternal nature of the Priesthood and its covenants, and of the principles of the Gospel, as enjoyed by Noah, Melchisedec, Abraham and other ancient worthies, as well as by those to whom God had revealed these things to the latter-days. The outside world were ignorant of these glorious truths as ignorant of the Saints that were before God enlightened them. He dwelt upon the mission of Elijah whom Malachi foretold should precede the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord, to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers,” lest the earth should be smitten with a curse. After depicting the judgments of the “great and terrible day,” as shown by Isaiah and other ancient prophets, the speaker showed how Elijah had been sent and had conferred upon Joseph Smith the keys of his ministry as well as others who had likewise appeared for a similar purpose.
He showed that in building temples and baptizing for the dead, the Saints were carrying out the work, the keys of which were bestowed by Elijah upon Joseph, and were thereby preparing to be Saviours upon Mount Zion, and to be perfected like Enoch and his city of old, who were translated for their righteousness. He showed how Satan was interested in leading away the children of men, how he incited the killing of Abel, the crucifixion of Christ, and had always employed what some men in our day termed “heroic measures” to destroy the work of God and put an end to His servants. He portrayed the great mercy of God in sending Christ to preach to the spirits in prison. Which were disobedient in the days of Noah when the floods were sent to destroy them, and exhorted the Saints to be likewise merciful and charitable to those who sought their own overthrow.
At the time the civil war broke out in this land, he felt like weeping of the people, for he had foreseen their troubles and they were not over yet. Worse times were coming upon the nations than had yet been known. But the Saints had a great work to do and must do it, leaving their enemies in the hands of God who would deal out justice and mercy to all. No power could hinder the building up of Zion, the gathering of the elect and the fulfillment of all God had decreed for this the dispensation of the fullness of times. The speaker counseled obedience and fidelity to God and His work, and called upon all who were willing to so live, to say “aye.” The response was a universal from the assembled multitude. The speaker then blessed them in the morning of the Lord.
Conference was adjourned till the 6th of October.
The choir sang an anthem: “The Gathered Saints.”
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
George Goddard,
Clerk.