April 1885
Richards, Franklin D. "Present Conditions—The Hatred of the World Toward the Saints—Why the Leaders of the Church Are Attacked—The Purpose of Persecution—The Saints Need not Be Afflicted or Worried About the Present State of Affairs—The Sifting Process—The Epistle of the First Presidency—Work of God Always Met With Opposition—The Gospel Revealed in this Day Was the Gospel that Was Revealed to Adam—More Revelation to Be Given—Saints Must not Borrow Trouble—When a Nation Perverts Justice, Then Commences Its Downfall—The Constitution of the United States—Saints Must Commit No Overt Act—Exhortation to Faithfulness—Conclusion." Journal of Discourses. Volume 26. April 4, 1885: pg. 164-173.
Richards, Franklin D. "Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains—The Kingdom of God is One of Peace, While Those of the World Are Kingdoms of War and Oppression—Exhortations to Faithfulness—We Must Trust in God and He Will Preserve Us—The Saints Are Not Using Carnal Weapons to Defend Themselves Against the Indians, Nor Against Their Enemies—If Necessary, We Should be Willing to Give Our Lives for the Cause of Truth—The Blessings of God Invoked Upon the Saints." Journal of Discourses. Volume 26. April 6, 1885: pg. 253-259.
Smith, John H. "Love of Home—Visit to Friends—Sent to Preside Over the European Mission—Former Ill-Health in England—Extensive System of Tract Distribution Inaugurated—Tribute to the Worth and Efficiency of the Missionaries—Report of the Condition of the Work in Various European Countries—Hatred Manifested Towards Us After the Murder of Our Brethren in Tennessee—America the Haven of Freedom—Truth Has Ever Met With Persecution—Professed Ministers of the Gospel our Greatest Enemies—No One Injured By Our Principles—Plural Marriage—The Social Evil—Conclusion." Journal of Discourses. Volume 26. April 6, 1885: pg. 174-182.
The Deseret News. "General Conference." April 8, 1885: pg. 184-185.
The Deseret News. "General Conference." April 15, 1885: pg. 200-201.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President F. D. Richards
Present Conditions
Bishop David H. Cannon
President Silas S. Smith
President W. W. Cluff
Elder N. C. Flygare
Afternoon
Elder Junius F. Wells
President Abram Hatch
President E. D. Woolley
President Willard Smith
Elder John Nicholson
Morning Session. Sunday, April 5th
Apostle John W. Taylor
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Elder Harvey H. Cluff
Afternoon Session. Sunday, April 5, 1885
Sustaining the General Authorities
Epistle from the First Presidency
Motion
President F. D. Richards
Morning Session. April 6th
Apostle John Henry Smith
Love of Home
President Oliver G. Snow
President F. D. Richards
Afternoon Session
Apostle Francis Marion Lyman
President Franklin D. Richards
Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains
Richards, Franklin D. "Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains—The Kingdom of God is One of Peace, While Those of the World Are Kingdoms of War and Oppression—Exhortations to Faithfulness—We Must Trust in God and He Will Preserve Us—The Saints Are Not Using Carnal Weapons to Defend Themselves Against the Indians, Nor Against Their Enemies—If Necessary, We Should be Willing to Give Our Lives for the Cause of Truth—The Blessings of God Invoked Upon the Saints." Journal of Discourses. Volume 26. April 6, 1885: pg. 253-259.
Smith, John H. "Love of Home—Visit to Friends—Sent to Preside Over the European Mission—Former Ill-Health in England—Extensive System of Tract Distribution Inaugurated—Tribute to the Worth and Efficiency of the Missionaries—Report of the Condition of the Work in Various European Countries—Hatred Manifested Towards Us After the Murder of Our Brethren in Tennessee—America the Haven of Freedom—Truth Has Ever Met With Persecution—Professed Ministers of the Gospel our Greatest Enemies—No One Injured By Our Principles—Plural Marriage—The Social Evil—Conclusion." Journal of Discourses. Volume 26. April 6, 1885: pg. 174-182.
The Deseret News. "General Conference." April 8, 1885: pg. 184-185.
The Deseret News. "General Conference." April 15, 1885: pg. 200-201.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President F. D. Richards
Present Conditions
Bishop David H. Cannon
President Silas S. Smith
President W. W. Cluff
Elder N. C. Flygare
Afternoon
Elder Junius F. Wells
President Abram Hatch
President E. D. Woolley
President Willard Smith
Elder John Nicholson
Morning Session. Sunday, April 5th
Apostle John W. Taylor
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Elder Harvey H. Cluff
Afternoon Session. Sunday, April 5, 1885
Sustaining the General Authorities
Epistle from the First Presidency
Motion
President F. D. Richards
Morning Session. April 6th
Apostle John Henry Smith
Love of Home
President Oliver G. Snow
President F. D. Richards
Afternoon Session
Apostle Francis Marion Lyman
President Franklin D. Richards
Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains
GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Fifty-fifth Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Logan Tabernacle, Logan City, on Saturday, April 4th, 1885, in pursuance of an announcement by the First Presidency.
Apostle Franklin D. Richards presided.
Present on the stand: Of the Twelve Apostles, Franklin D. Richards, Francis Marion Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant.
Also a number of the Presidents of Stakes, Bishops, Elders and other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and adjacent Territories.
The Conference was called to order by President Richards.
The Logan choir sang: Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God.
The opening prayer was offered by Apostle John Henry Smith.
The choir sang: All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by His grace.
The Fifty-fifth Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Logan Tabernacle, Logan City, on Saturday, April 4th, 1885, in pursuance of an announcement by the First Presidency.
Apostle Franklin D. Richards presided.
Present on the stand: Of the Twelve Apostles, Franklin D. Richards, Francis Marion Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant.
Also a number of the Presidents of Stakes, Bishops, Elders and other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and adjacent Territories.
The Conference was called to order by President Richards.
The Logan choir sang: Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God.
The opening prayer was offered by Apostle John Henry Smith.
The choir sang: All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by His grace.
President F. D. Richards
said it was an occasion for heartfelt gratitude that we were permitted to meet under so favorable circumstances as those that surround us. It was a matter of regret, however, that the Presidency of the Church were unable to be present, and others of our brethren were necessarily absent from this Conference. If any additional evidence were wanted to show that this Church is not of the world, it exists to-day. Notwithstanding the peculiar surroundings of the Saints, a brighter day never appeared for the Church than this. Trees that are shaken by the winds seem as if they would be torn up. The soil of the earth is loosened around the roots. The trees are thus tested. At such times the tallest of them are most exposed to the hurricane. It is not therefore a matter of surprise that some of our leading brethren are not with us to-day. There are ties of winter when the frosts cause the trees to show scarcely any foliage or appearance of life. But while the adverse season is on, the sap is down in the roots, and if the winds have loosened the earth, they are extending themselves, and when the season changes, the result will be larger and better fruit. Some of our brethren and sisters may feel timid at the threatening condition that exists, but there is no cause for real alarm. It is a time when the Saints can go before the Lord in secret, obtaining the spirit of revelation that they may be leaders and instructors to their families. The present hour finds the standing of men and women. Those who are not grounded in the truth by the love of it are showing themselves, and thus the Church is made purer and better. Such situations of trial are periodically necessary to separate the corrupt from the pure. They are needful to bring us to repentance of all our shortcomings. The speaker hoped that those who should follow him in addressing the people would be enabled to feed the flock of Christ. The Saints of Cache Stake are peculiarly blessed, being under the very shades of a Temple of God. He prayed that the blessing of the Lord might attend the proceedings of the Conference.
said it was an occasion for heartfelt gratitude that we were permitted to meet under so favorable circumstances as those that surround us. It was a matter of regret, however, that the Presidency of the Church were unable to be present, and others of our brethren were necessarily absent from this Conference. If any additional evidence were wanted to show that this Church is not of the world, it exists to-day. Notwithstanding the peculiar surroundings of the Saints, a brighter day never appeared for the Church than this. Trees that are shaken by the winds seem as if they would be torn up. The soil of the earth is loosened around the roots. The trees are thus tested. At such times the tallest of them are most exposed to the hurricane. It is not therefore a matter of surprise that some of our leading brethren are not with us to-day. There are ties of winter when the frosts cause the trees to show scarcely any foliage or appearance of life. But while the adverse season is on, the sap is down in the roots, and if the winds have loosened the earth, they are extending themselves, and when the season changes, the result will be larger and better fruit. Some of our brethren and sisters may feel timid at the threatening condition that exists, but there is no cause for real alarm. It is a time when the Saints can go before the Lord in secret, obtaining the spirit of revelation that they may be leaders and instructors to their families. The present hour finds the standing of men and women. Those who are not grounded in the truth by the love of it are showing themselves, and thus the Church is made purer and better. Such situations of trial are periodically necessary to separate the corrupt from the pure. They are needful to bring us to repentance of all our shortcomings. The speaker hoped that those who should follow him in addressing the people would be enabled to feed the flock of Christ. The Saints of Cache Stake are peculiarly blessed, being under the very shades of a Temple of God. He prayed that the blessing of the Lord might attend the proceedings of the Conference.
Present Conditions—The Hatred of the World Toward the Saints—Why the Leaders of the Church Are Attacked—The Purpose of Persecution—The Saints Need not Be Afflicted or Worried About the Present State of Affairs—The Sifting Process—The Epistle of the First Presidency—Work of God Always Met With Opposition—The Gospel Revealed in this Day Was the Gospel that Was Revealed to Adam—More Revelation to Be Given—Saints Must not Borrow Trouble—When a Nation Perverts Justice, Then Commences Its Downfall—The Constitution of the United States—Saints Must Commit No Overt Act—Exhortation to Faithfulness—Conclusion
Discourse by Apostle F. D. Richards, delivered at the Annual Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Logan, Cache County, Saturday and Sunday, April 4th and 5th, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
It is very pleasing and it is also an occasion of heartfelt gratitude to be permitted to meet, so many of us, this morning and under such favorable circumstances as those which surround us; even the elements conspire to make our coming together convenient and agreeable. Circumstances are such as prevent our brethren of the First Presidency and several of the Twelve Apostles from being with us, and perhaps others from among the people, who would be glad to be with us at this General Conference, but who deem it advisable, or are so situated that they cannot consistently attend. Let us that have come together seek unto the Lord for His Spirit and His guidance, that we may receive that measure of grace and blessing at His hand which we need under the present conditions which attend upon us.
If any evidence were wanting to indicate to the doubtful, the unbelieving, or the half-hearted, as to whether we are of the world or the world of us, we are obtaining daily evidence of the fact that we are not of the world. The Savior told the brethren that sojourned with Him: “If ye were of the world, the world would love you: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” The same reason essentially exists today that existed then. But the Lord has made very gracious and precious promises to His people—that where only two or three are agreed as touching matters pertaining to the interest of His Kingdom and the honor of His name, their prayers shall be heard. There never was a day since the Church has been organized in these last days that the Saints had better reasons, or more of them, to be strong and confident in God their living Head, than they have this morning. We need to know and realize that our trust is in Him and not in man, for woe! to him that putteth his trust in man and maketh flesh his arm. God has undertaken to perform a work in the earth which is going to astonish the world, and which will give to His name honor, and glory, power and dominion. Now, all these things that occur—I need not go into any enumeration of them, because in all of your different settlements circumstances and conditions are more or less varied—it has been the studied plan of our adversaries to spread snares for our feet throughout the land; and it need not be wondered at, of course, that they who stand highest in authority should be the objects more particularly of their wicked designs.
Take a look at this thing rationally and in a commonsense view for a moment. The forest trees that are shaken with the wind sometimes almost seem as if they would be uprooted by it, and blown over. By this operation the soil is wonderfully loosened about the roots. By this storm the strength of a tree is tested, and the trunk and the branches of it, as to whether they bear proper relation to each other and derive that support that sustains every part in its natural position. It is also very natural that in that grove, as the wind passes over it, the tallest trees are really the most tried part of it, for the wind and storm will dash and blow upon them, while the smaller ones that are protected by each other, scarcely feel it, perhaps. Then you need not wonder if some of the tallest trees do not happen to be here today. We will, however, remember our brethren who are absent, and pray for them; we will ask the Lord to bless and protect them, to strengthen and fill them with the wisdom of the Holy Ghost continually, that the joy and comfort of the truth and of the holy Gospel shall be theirs, and that they shall be preserved from the hands of their enemies.
We who are gathered together, instead of entertaining ill feeling of cultivating malicious designs towards our enemies, will ask the Lord to strengthen us and to qualify us not only for what is upon us now, but for what is before us; for we do not know what there may be for us in the purposes of Jehovah. All this may be necessary and profitable to give us an experience that we should pass through trials, that may tend to our improvement and qualification, enable us in our different positions to better magnify our callings, and to bear off His Kingdom in the last days as He requires.
There are times and seasons when the hoary frosts of winter not only prevent the trees from showing forth their foliage, from developing any bloom, but cause them to cast their fruit to the earth, scarcely giving indications of life. It may not be wondered at then, if through the storms and blasts of adversity which come upon the Church from time to time that its members are not spreading forth and reaching out their branches, or that the foliage shows no such immediate prospects of fruit, as we might, under more favorable sunshine and with more beautiful weather, expect. While this adverse season is on and the leaves perhaps have blown to the ground, and all presents the appearance of barrenness and death itself, the sap is at work down in the roots. Do you understand this? Gardeners and nurserymen especially will understand that at the close of the adverse season, when the winds and storms have loosened the soil, the roots have extended themselves deeper into the earth, when the sun shines and the gentle rain falls and the pleasant spring appears, those roots, now greatly enlarged, will cause the trees to put forth larger leaves, with more abundant bud and bloom, and with larger and more luscious fruit than before. So it is and will be with the great tree of Life which God has planted in the earth, and which is bringing forth and will yield more abundantly the fruits of Everlasting Life.
Well, then, we have nothing that we need be afflicted or worried about, except our own unrighteousness. I know how the Saints feel about many things which are menacing and intimidating them at the present time; but brethren and sisters, now is the best of all times to go often into your closets, for secret prayer, and there find that grace and help of God which is able to buoy you up in every time of need. Men that are the heads of families need now to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be Prophets, Seers and Revelators to their families, to their kindred and to those that are around them. You need to have your roots strike deep into the soil of Heaven and stronger into the soil of eternity, that you may derive that nourishment and that strength that shall bring to you greater, more abundant and more glorious blessings than ever you have yet realized.
Among other benefits that will be produced by the strange conditions that attend us is this: that while there are those among us who have not known whether they were following for the loaves and fishes, or whether they were following for the truth's sake—many who are ready to dabble in spirituous liquors and in those intoxicating drinks which inflame the passions, which madden the soul, daze their intellects, destroy the faculties of man, drowning their souls in the perdition of the ungodly; many who have never sought to dig deep and lay their foundation upon the rock of revelation which is the only foundation of eternal truth. It is absolutely important that we and they should know which side of the fence they dwell on; that they make up their minds either to serve God or the devil; and this is a time that calls all people professing to be Saints to make up their minds determinedly whom it is best to serve, and if the Lord is their God, to get some oil in their vessels that they be not always in darkness.
Again, there are conditions which pertain to all animated nature, and which are incident to the great body of the Church as well, and they are these: Notwithstanding it may be the choicest food we may eat, notwithstanding the most healthful or precious drinks we may use—there are operations going on in the system whereby those elements that are not found of use are cast off as waste by the various avenues provided by nature for the expulsion of that which is not useful to the system. Just so this principle of life exists with God's people. They who will not in their due time and place become articles of nutriment and health to the Church and the Saints will become refuse and will be cast off. These are principles in nature and in life which all are conversant with; we know and understand them. In this dispensation of Providence, wherein it seems as though all the powers of darkness were arrayed against us, we need to understand that it is to God and to God alone that we must look. We need to understand the laws of all things well. The Lord has borne us off in troubles and in tribulations while in Ohio, in Missouri, and in Illinois, and the God that has been with us through these troubles will not forsake us at the present time. The great thing for us to do is to feel after Him, and repent of our sins, our waywardness, and of our weaknesses and sinfulness, and put away everything that is unrighteous and that which is displeasing in the sight of God and of angels and good men. If we do this His favor and His power will rest upon us, and He will allow nothing to come upon us but what He will sanctify to our greatest good and to His own eternal honor and glory, and we shall see by and by His infinite wisdom in all His providences towards us.
I appreciate with you the many precious sentiments that have been uttered in our hearing since we have come together at this conference, and also appreciate with you the consideration which our absent brethren of the First Presidency have felt concerning us, and the work in which we are engaged.
There is something about our labor that is strangely peculiar, but not more so, perhaps, in our day than has existed in former ages of the world when the Gospel has been revealed to man. It has always seemed to be the case that whatever period of time we take up to read concerning the work of God and its effects among the inhabitants of the earth—we always find that the people of God and the people of the world have been in direct antagonism; and when we get back to the most remote items of history—or items of information which history is permitted to furnish us—we find that even in the spiritual state of man's existence, before the family of Adam came to dwell in the flesh, that there was antagonism there between truth and error, between those that embraced truth and those that embraced error, and following down through the ages that same antagonism has existed and been made manifest in one form or in another, so that the people of the earth have never been in a position to see and understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of salvation, in the same light, and to understand it together and correctly. The principles of the Gospel which have been revealed of God have been admitted by the greatest moral philosophers who have lived—aside from religious professors—to be the most noble principles, the most calculated to exalt mankind, in the belief, in the exercise, and in the obedience of them, of any doctrines or principles of ethics that have ever been given to the human family; great moralists, great scientists have been willing to give this credit to the principles and doctrines of our Savior. Philosophers of this world have done this; and all they of the Saints who have rendered obedience to these principles know, truly, how a faith in them exalts those that embrace them, until it has come to be a truism among the people of God, “that righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Therefore, let it be known to all the world that it is one of the first principles of the Gospel of Christ that men should repent of their sins, that they should be washed in the waters of regeneration for the remission of their sins, that then, in pursuance thereof, they may receive the Holy Ghost from heaven, which is promised unto obedient believers.
This is not only the doctrine of the Gospel of this dispensation, and the doctrine of the Gospel in the dispensation when Jesus and the Apostles of His day were upon the earth, but this is the very principle and doctrine that was revealed to Father Adam, after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden, when the angel of the Lord came to him and asked him why he offered sacrifices. He replied that he knew not, only that the Lord had told him to do so. Then the angel of the Lord proceeded to explain the matter to him—told him that the object of his offering sacrifices was to keep before his mind the great sacrifice that must be offered up in the meridian of time. This was the only symbol and type given to men to cause them to look forward through an ordinance they practiced to the Savior, who was to come as a sacrifice for sin and to become the Savior of the world. Thus early did God place this principle before the mind of the great father of the human family when in that terrible dilemma, he having consented to partake of the fruit and go out of the garden with mother Eve. It was then that our first parents began to be taught this principle. Adam was taught that he must be born of the water and of the spirit, and in demonstration of this he was caught up by the Spirit and placed in the water and brought forth out of the water, as the revelation of God to Joseph declares. Then he was baptized by the Holy Ghost and with fire. And the Lord told him to teach those things to his children that they might look forward with him to the time when the Only Begotten should come in the flesh and should be made an offering for the sins of the world. Adam was further told that if he taught these things to his children he and they should have in this life the words of eternal life, and in the life to come eternal life itself. Mark the careful distinction; that if they would keep the commandments they should in this life have the words of eternal life given to them, and in the life to come they should have eternal life itself, and, added the Lord to this great promise, “thus may all become my sons.”
Thus the plan of salvation was in brief laid out in plainness to our Father Adam, that he and all his children might be thought meet to enter into the favor of God, receive the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be born of water and of the Spirit, and thus come to a knowledge of the principles of eternal life.
We see from this that the first step to be taken in those days, when the works of Cain had gone forth, and when the people had become exceedingly wicked—so bad that the Scriptures say the thoughts of their hearts were only evil and that continually—the very first thing to consider was how to deprive sinfulness of its power and make righteousness to take hold of the children of men so that they might find favor with the Gods, and with all the righteous both in heaven and on the earth.
This was the principle, this was the doctrine, and this was the way by which the Patriarch Enoch—that great and ancient worthy of whom we know so little—went forth and by the power of God reasoned with those wicked people and preached the Gospel to them, and baptized all who would receive it and gathered them together into a place which he called Zion. It was a very great and mighty work he had to perform; for the people had become terribly wicked, filled with the spirit of murder and every manner of abomination that the human heart can conceive of.
This, then, is the foundation that all men have to lay in their hearts and lives before they begin to receive the principles of eternal life as they are revealed. You my brethren and sisters that are from Scandinavia, from the northern countries, from the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, Australia, and from the islands of the sea, including the frozen regions of Iceland—every one of you were taught and embraced those first principles in the primitive part of your faith and belief in the Gospel. It was the beginning; it was the step which every son and daughter of Adam has had to take, from the days of Adam until now, in order to cleanse themselves before God, so as to receive the blessings of eternal life. It was by carrying out these principles and preaching that Adam was saved. It was by an obedience to the same principles that Enoch succeeded in gathering out the honest in heart unto the city of Zion. He was 365 years in building up that Zion and in gathering into it a people on the same principles that have been revealed to us in these latter days. We are preaching the same Gospel that was given to those ancient worthies. You can trace the Priesthood by referring to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants—the holy, high Priesthood that has come down from Adam to Noah, and down through Enoch, Methuselah and the different men of God who lived in ancient times—you can trace it clear back to Adam who was ordained under the hands of God, who told him that that Priesthood should abide in his generations and that it should be on the earth at the end of time. What is the Priesthood that you grey-headed fathers are bearing before us today in the midst of Israel? It is the holy, high Priesthood of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God, and which is after the power of an endless life. Then, brethren and sisters, understand it. It is not a new Gospel revealed now for the first time—these first principles are not new, because they have been revealed from the beginning. They are the same principles that Christ commenced to preach when He was upon the earth. They were the first principles that John the Baptist taught when he came to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man; they were the very first principles that Joseph and Oliver taught in this dispensation when they began to preach the Gospel. They were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. This is the beginning of the work of righteousness.
There are revelations and doctrines given unto us in our day, however, which were not given in former ages, because the people were not prepared and were not in a suitable condition to receive such. Do not let us think that we have got all the revelation there is. In the last great revelation which the Lord gave to Joseph, He told him that He had not revealed all to him, but that there were many laws pertaining to His Priesthood which He would reveal hereafter. Do you remember it? But if the world is going to get scared and terrified and ready to lay waste and destroy the Latter-day Saints before we have got so far advanced in the civilization of heaven as to understand the marriage laws and some of the marital relations of the sexes—if they go crazy over this what will happen to them when something more comes along?
Now, I hope that none of the Saints will grow weak in the knees; do not let them hang down their heads, nor allow their hearts to be troubled; do not let the sisters lie awake at nights brooding over this and that that is going to happen, and getting a great deal of borrowed trouble. There is no promise of grace to sustain them in such trouble; but the Lord has promised that His grace shall be sufficient for our day, sufficient for the troubles we have to bear; but we have no promise of grace to sustain us in borrowed trouble. Do not be alarmed though the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things. While they are in confusion and strife of every kind, you will multiply upon the earth and establish lasting peace upon the face thereof. The Latter-day Saints who are the object of all observation from the four quarters of the earth, are the only people that have pure and settled peace in their hearts and in their midst. Do you realize this? Our missionaries go to the Southern States, and the North Western States; they go to Europe, to Asia, Africa, and every point of the compass, and when they return they tell us that in no place do they find as true, settled and substantial peace, as there is right here in Utah, where one would think, from all that is going on and all that is threatened, that the waves of the sea were going to roll over us. Our peace is that which the Gospel brings. The fruit of the Spirit which the wicked can neither give nor take away. There is no use being worried over these things. It is part of our heritage. They who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; we have every reason to expect it. It is our duty to seek wisdom of the Lord in all matters; seek for the Holy Spirit, and attend to our own business.
In regard to the principles of the Gospel which the Lord has revealed to us beyond what He has to other people, we should remember that we shall be called to account for the use we make of them; remember that we use them, live them, and administer them in all righteousness in our lives and conduct, and while there are no two families whose conditions and circumstances are just alike, still the same general principles will have their general effect in all households. We must cultivate righteousness. We are learning the principles of the Gospel one after another; how to observe and obey them. We want to know how to hold them in righteousness, because we cannot hold these precious eternal treasures in unrighteousness; if we think we can we shall be deceived and will some day find out that they are not to be held in unrighteousness, for they only take effect with the pure in heart, they that are willing to keep the commandments of God, and walk in the way of His counsels.
Sin is a reproach to any people. It is better for us right here in this life that we keep the commandments of God, even if we did not look for any future reward of glory. Don't you know it is? Why? Because we feel happy and strong within ourselves when we lie down at night and rise up in the morning; when we go out and when we come in; we feel the sustaining influence and approval of an honest heart, of a pure conscience, and of all just people—a conscience void of offense towards God and His people. This is the greatest treasure that a person can possess in this life. And do you know that go where you will—among those ignorant tribes that surround us, or to the highest civilized, and most cultivated portions of the European or American nations—the man that is obedient to the holy principles of the everlasting Gospel—if they do not know he is called a Mormon—is respected above all men who disregard the principles of righteousness and truth. If some of our brethren who work in the mining camps behave themselves and live their religion, the very men around them respect and honor them. Why? Because they are reliable; because the principles they have embraced and put into practice render them substantial and trustworthy. You go into the classes of the university or of the colleges where young men have gone in quest of an education, and you will find that the man who is pure and virtuous in his feelings, in his thoughts and in his ways, who does not delight in folly, in sin and the secret works of darkness, but is at home attending to his lessons and his duty—it is he that makes his way to the head of the class, and gets the highest honor among his fellows. It is he that they look up to because of his upright conduct and all that is excellent in man. That is the kind of men that go forth and make their way and mark among their neighbors and their countrymen. True virtue and righteousness exalt individuals, and it therefore must exalt a nation composed of such individuals. When a nation disregards the principles of justice, equity, righteousness and truth—so far as to fail or refuse the administration of its laws equitably to any portion or class of its citizens, then the people have reason to fear the dreadful consequences that must follow, unless a reformation is effected; then the noble, the honorable, the virtuous and the pure should be willing to make sacrifice for that which is ennobling, exalting, upright and praiseworthy.
Go back in the history of the world and you will see that the greatest nations that ever existed, as soon as they commenced to pervert justice, crush truth and right, persecute God's people and exalt iniquity, then commenced their downfall, and their way was down, down, down, to demolition and destruction, until more substantial and better elements were found in their ruins with which to raise up and create something new. It was that excellence and purity which God saw in the Puritan fathers that came over to this country for the love of the truth, and to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences—it was that excellence that preserved them and established them here, and as long as they maintained the principles of liberty, allowed others to enjoy the same rights that they themselves enjoyed, just so long did they prosper. They were powerful in that they had influence and faith to receive inspiration from God, to draw up and establish the greatest Constitution that has ever been known on the earth—the grandest combination of loyal principles and fundamental truths that has been established by man, since the days of Noah, and that is the Constitution with which politicians have become so reckless, in construing its provisions, and have gone outside of its limitations to rule and regulate the people of this great nation as they please. That glorious Constitution was made to regulate rulers as well as the ruled. It was so constructed that those who should be appointed to rule over the people should not be their masters, but their servants. How comes it now, that the whole polity has been perverted to another way; the rulers have come to be masters of the people, and are undertaking now to lord it over God's heritage. We ought to understand these things. It is our duty to do so.
I desire now to refer to a particular expression in the epistle which has just been read, wherein the brethren of the First Presidency have exhorted the Saints not to allow themselves to commit any overt act. No matter how much you are worried, no matter how much you are aggravated by the acts of the ungodly, do not do a thing that you could afterwards be sorry for. Do nothing that could let blood stick to one of you. Bear with every impious insult. Put up with it as Christ did when he was hanging upon the cross and his life's blood oozing out from his heart, and his spirit ready to depart, and say “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That is the way we want to look as far as we can upon those who are oppressing and injuring us, breaking up our homes, and scattering our women and children to the four winds. It is something that could not be allowed in the old monarchial countries, which are looked upon as being measurably beneath the United States in the matter of a constitutional government, and yet we see men among us who are ready to demolish the very sanctity of home, lay waste and destroy that which lies at the very foundation of all law, natural and governmental. It is painful; it is sorrowful. Let us pity while they are so blind, so ignorant, so ill-natured, and so willing to depart from good government, even to enact laws to prevent their fellowcitizens from worshipping God according to the dictates of their own conscience. But, for my own part, I feel like the First Presidency in this matter. Let us commit no overt act, which in any event we could be sorry for.
We never saw a time when we had reason to feel more thankful and lifted up in our hearts before the living God than the present. Why? Because the Savior said: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” But says He, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.”
I wish to exhort the Saints to frequent their closets more than they do; to neglect not their prayers night and morning, and in the season thereof fail not to bow the knee and call your sons and daughters around you. If you do this, by and by your sons and daughters will rise up and call you blessed; if you do not they will get cold and depart from truth and the faith of the living God, and that will bring the greatest sorrow you can conceive of. This is a time when we are called upon to bring our practical religion into use, to put on the whole armor of God, and to trust in Him. The Savior said He could call to His help more than twelve legions of angels; more than the Roman hosts; but He knowing the great purposes of Jehovah could go like a lamb to the slaughter. He understood those purposes, could curb His powers, control His feelings, and could make a manly fight for righteousness and truth, and carry out the decrees of heaven. Can we do so? Can you and I do so? If we cannot, can we be counted worthy to be called His brethren, and Saviors upon Mount Zion? We have got to be considerably more like him than we are before we attain unto all those excellencies that are promised.
Inasmuch as the work of God spreads, and its influence and potency are felt among the nations of the earth, so long will this opposition and this antagonism exist, and we must expect it; it cannot be avoided. It is an eternal consequence of our faith. If we reckoned upon anything else, we reckoned wrongly. Every true Saint, when he embraced this Gospel, felt to lay down his good name, his earthly substance, and life itself—all was laid upon the altar. We need not think, however, that although the Lord permits certain things to come upon us, that He will not soften the hearts of the wicked and ungodly. He has told us with a firm decree, that from a time when the Saints commenced to be more faithful they should begin to prevail against their enemies, and they have proved this in the deliverances that have been wrought out in their behalf from time to time. Have we any reason to doubt or lack confidence in the promises of God for the future? Not a particle. Every step of the way affords a greater, a more powerful confirmation and assurance that He is true to His promises, and will carry them out in our behalf.
Do you know, says one, how far these things will go? Just so far as the Lord will allow them. When it comes to the right time He will put a stop to them. He knows how to do it, just at His good pleasure.
We should go to work and put transgression from our midst, cultivate righteousness and put away all sin, and by keeping His commandments and living by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of His servants the work of sanctification will go on in our hearts, our homes, and our habitations will be holy in His sight. He will not allow the acts of the wicked to come against us any longer than will be for His own glory and our greatest good. Let us feel that we are in the hands of the Lord, that He is our Father and friend. Let us draw near to Him; find Him out, and walk with Him here in the flesh, then we shall know that it will be well with us hereafter.
I pray that the good Spirit of God may dwell in our hearts; may write His law on the tablets of our hearts; may impress the principles of truth upon our minds, so that we may live them and make them profitable to us in the future. That God may grant these blessings unto us, I humbly ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Discourse by Apostle F. D. Richards, delivered at the Annual Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Logan, Cache County, Saturday and Sunday, April 4th and 5th, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
It is very pleasing and it is also an occasion of heartfelt gratitude to be permitted to meet, so many of us, this morning and under such favorable circumstances as those which surround us; even the elements conspire to make our coming together convenient and agreeable. Circumstances are such as prevent our brethren of the First Presidency and several of the Twelve Apostles from being with us, and perhaps others from among the people, who would be glad to be with us at this General Conference, but who deem it advisable, or are so situated that they cannot consistently attend. Let us that have come together seek unto the Lord for His Spirit and His guidance, that we may receive that measure of grace and blessing at His hand which we need under the present conditions which attend upon us.
If any evidence were wanting to indicate to the doubtful, the unbelieving, or the half-hearted, as to whether we are of the world or the world of us, we are obtaining daily evidence of the fact that we are not of the world. The Savior told the brethren that sojourned with Him: “If ye were of the world, the world would love you: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” The same reason essentially exists today that existed then. But the Lord has made very gracious and precious promises to His people—that where only two or three are agreed as touching matters pertaining to the interest of His Kingdom and the honor of His name, their prayers shall be heard. There never was a day since the Church has been organized in these last days that the Saints had better reasons, or more of them, to be strong and confident in God their living Head, than they have this morning. We need to know and realize that our trust is in Him and not in man, for woe! to him that putteth his trust in man and maketh flesh his arm. God has undertaken to perform a work in the earth which is going to astonish the world, and which will give to His name honor, and glory, power and dominion. Now, all these things that occur—I need not go into any enumeration of them, because in all of your different settlements circumstances and conditions are more or less varied—it has been the studied plan of our adversaries to spread snares for our feet throughout the land; and it need not be wondered at, of course, that they who stand highest in authority should be the objects more particularly of their wicked designs.
Take a look at this thing rationally and in a commonsense view for a moment. The forest trees that are shaken with the wind sometimes almost seem as if they would be uprooted by it, and blown over. By this operation the soil is wonderfully loosened about the roots. By this storm the strength of a tree is tested, and the trunk and the branches of it, as to whether they bear proper relation to each other and derive that support that sustains every part in its natural position. It is also very natural that in that grove, as the wind passes over it, the tallest trees are really the most tried part of it, for the wind and storm will dash and blow upon them, while the smaller ones that are protected by each other, scarcely feel it, perhaps. Then you need not wonder if some of the tallest trees do not happen to be here today. We will, however, remember our brethren who are absent, and pray for them; we will ask the Lord to bless and protect them, to strengthen and fill them with the wisdom of the Holy Ghost continually, that the joy and comfort of the truth and of the holy Gospel shall be theirs, and that they shall be preserved from the hands of their enemies.
We who are gathered together, instead of entertaining ill feeling of cultivating malicious designs towards our enemies, will ask the Lord to strengthen us and to qualify us not only for what is upon us now, but for what is before us; for we do not know what there may be for us in the purposes of Jehovah. All this may be necessary and profitable to give us an experience that we should pass through trials, that may tend to our improvement and qualification, enable us in our different positions to better magnify our callings, and to bear off His Kingdom in the last days as He requires.
There are times and seasons when the hoary frosts of winter not only prevent the trees from showing forth their foliage, from developing any bloom, but cause them to cast their fruit to the earth, scarcely giving indications of life. It may not be wondered at then, if through the storms and blasts of adversity which come upon the Church from time to time that its members are not spreading forth and reaching out their branches, or that the foliage shows no such immediate prospects of fruit, as we might, under more favorable sunshine and with more beautiful weather, expect. While this adverse season is on and the leaves perhaps have blown to the ground, and all presents the appearance of barrenness and death itself, the sap is at work down in the roots. Do you understand this? Gardeners and nurserymen especially will understand that at the close of the adverse season, when the winds and storms have loosened the soil, the roots have extended themselves deeper into the earth, when the sun shines and the gentle rain falls and the pleasant spring appears, those roots, now greatly enlarged, will cause the trees to put forth larger leaves, with more abundant bud and bloom, and with larger and more luscious fruit than before. So it is and will be with the great tree of Life which God has planted in the earth, and which is bringing forth and will yield more abundantly the fruits of Everlasting Life.
Well, then, we have nothing that we need be afflicted or worried about, except our own unrighteousness. I know how the Saints feel about many things which are menacing and intimidating them at the present time; but brethren and sisters, now is the best of all times to go often into your closets, for secret prayer, and there find that grace and help of God which is able to buoy you up in every time of need. Men that are the heads of families need now to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be Prophets, Seers and Revelators to their families, to their kindred and to those that are around them. You need to have your roots strike deep into the soil of Heaven and stronger into the soil of eternity, that you may derive that nourishment and that strength that shall bring to you greater, more abundant and more glorious blessings than ever you have yet realized.
Among other benefits that will be produced by the strange conditions that attend us is this: that while there are those among us who have not known whether they were following for the loaves and fishes, or whether they were following for the truth's sake—many who are ready to dabble in spirituous liquors and in those intoxicating drinks which inflame the passions, which madden the soul, daze their intellects, destroy the faculties of man, drowning their souls in the perdition of the ungodly; many who have never sought to dig deep and lay their foundation upon the rock of revelation which is the only foundation of eternal truth. It is absolutely important that we and they should know which side of the fence they dwell on; that they make up their minds either to serve God or the devil; and this is a time that calls all people professing to be Saints to make up their minds determinedly whom it is best to serve, and if the Lord is their God, to get some oil in their vessels that they be not always in darkness.
Again, there are conditions which pertain to all animated nature, and which are incident to the great body of the Church as well, and they are these: Notwithstanding it may be the choicest food we may eat, notwithstanding the most healthful or precious drinks we may use—there are operations going on in the system whereby those elements that are not found of use are cast off as waste by the various avenues provided by nature for the expulsion of that which is not useful to the system. Just so this principle of life exists with God's people. They who will not in their due time and place become articles of nutriment and health to the Church and the Saints will become refuse and will be cast off. These are principles in nature and in life which all are conversant with; we know and understand them. In this dispensation of Providence, wherein it seems as though all the powers of darkness were arrayed against us, we need to understand that it is to God and to God alone that we must look. We need to understand the laws of all things well. The Lord has borne us off in troubles and in tribulations while in Ohio, in Missouri, and in Illinois, and the God that has been with us through these troubles will not forsake us at the present time. The great thing for us to do is to feel after Him, and repent of our sins, our waywardness, and of our weaknesses and sinfulness, and put away everything that is unrighteous and that which is displeasing in the sight of God and of angels and good men. If we do this His favor and His power will rest upon us, and He will allow nothing to come upon us but what He will sanctify to our greatest good and to His own eternal honor and glory, and we shall see by and by His infinite wisdom in all His providences towards us.
I appreciate with you the many precious sentiments that have been uttered in our hearing since we have come together at this conference, and also appreciate with you the consideration which our absent brethren of the First Presidency have felt concerning us, and the work in which we are engaged.
There is something about our labor that is strangely peculiar, but not more so, perhaps, in our day than has existed in former ages of the world when the Gospel has been revealed to man. It has always seemed to be the case that whatever period of time we take up to read concerning the work of God and its effects among the inhabitants of the earth—we always find that the people of God and the people of the world have been in direct antagonism; and when we get back to the most remote items of history—or items of information which history is permitted to furnish us—we find that even in the spiritual state of man's existence, before the family of Adam came to dwell in the flesh, that there was antagonism there between truth and error, between those that embraced truth and those that embraced error, and following down through the ages that same antagonism has existed and been made manifest in one form or in another, so that the people of the earth have never been in a position to see and understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of salvation, in the same light, and to understand it together and correctly. The principles of the Gospel which have been revealed of God have been admitted by the greatest moral philosophers who have lived—aside from religious professors—to be the most noble principles, the most calculated to exalt mankind, in the belief, in the exercise, and in the obedience of them, of any doctrines or principles of ethics that have ever been given to the human family; great moralists, great scientists have been willing to give this credit to the principles and doctrines of our Savior. Philosophers of this world have done this; and all they of the Saints who have rendered obedience to these principles know, truly, how a faith in them exalts those that embrace them, until it has come to be a truism among the people of God, “that righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Therefore, let it be known to all the world that it is one of the first principles of the Gospel of Christ that men should repent of their sins, that they should be washed in the waters of regeneration for the remission of their sins, that then, in pursuance thereof, they may receive the Holy Ghost from heaven, which is promised unto obedient believers.
This is not only the doctrine of the Gospel of this dispensation, and the doctrine of the Gospel in the dispensation when Jesus and the Apostles of His day were upon the earth, but this is the very principle and doctrine that was revealed to Father Adam, after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden, when the angel of the Lord came to him and asked him why he offered sacrifices. He replied that he knew not, only that the Lord had told him to do so. Then the angel of the Lord proceeded to explain the matter to him—told him that the object of his offering sacrifices was to keep before his mind the great sacrifice that must be offered up in the meridian of time. This was the only symbol and type given to men to cause them to look forward through an ordinance they practiced to the Savior, who was to come as a sacrifice for sin and to become the Savior of the world. Thus early did God place this principle before the mind of the great father of the human family when in that terrible dilemma, he having consented to partake of the fruit and go out of the garden with mother Eve. It was then that our first parents began to be taught this principle. Adam was taught that he must be born of the water and of the spirit, and in demonstration of this he was caught up by the Spirit and placed in the water and brought forth out of the water, as the revelation of God to Joseph declares. Then he was baptized by the Holy Ghost and with fire. And the Lord told him to teach those things to his children that they might look forward with him to the time when the Only Begotten should come in the flesh and should be made an offering for the sins of the world. Adam was further told that if he taught these things to his children he and they should have in this life the words of eternal life, and in the life to come eternal life itself. Mark the careful distinction; that if they would keep the commandments they should in this life have the words of eternal life given to them, and in the life to come they should have eternal life itself, and, added the Lord to this great promise, “thus may all become my sons.”
Thus the plan of salvation was in brief laid out in plainness to our Father Adam, that he and all his children might be thought meet to enter into the favor of God, receive the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be born of water and of the Spirit, and thus come to a knowledge of the principles of eternal life.
We see from this that the first step to be taken in those days, when the works of Cain had gone forth, and when the people had become exceedingly wicked—so bad that the Scriptures say the thoughts of their hearts were only evil and that continually—the very first thing to consider was how to deprive sinfulness of its power and make righteousness to take hold of the children of men so that they might find favor with the Gods, and with all the righteous both in heaven and on the earth.
This was the principle, this was the doctrine, and this was the way by which the Patriarch Enoch—that great and ancient worthy of whom we know so little—went forth and by the power of God reasoned with those wicked people and preached the Gospel to them, and baptized all who would receive it and gathered them together into a place which he called Zion. It was a very great and mighty work he had to perform; for the people had become terribly wicked, filled with the spirit of murder and every manner of abomination that the human heart can conceive of.
This, then, is the foundation that all men have to lay in their hearts and lives before they begin to receive the principles of eternal life as they are revealed. You my brethren and sisters that are from Scandinavia, from the northern countries, from the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, Australia, and from the islands of the sea, including the frozen regions of Iceland—every one of you were taught and embraced those first principles in the primitive part of your faith and belief in the Gospel. It was the beginning; it was the step which every son and daughter of Adam has had to take, from the days of Adam until now, in order to cleanse themselves before God, so as to receive the blessings of eternal life. It was by carrying out these principles and preaching that Adam was saved. It was by an obedience to the same principles that Enoch succeeded in gathering out the honest in heart unto the city of Zion. He was 365 years in building up that Zion and in gathering into it a people on the same principles that have been revealed to us in these latter days. We are preaching the same Gospel that was given to those ancient worthies. You can trace the Priesthood by referring to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants—the holy, high Priesthood that has come down from Adam to Noah, and down through Enoch, Methuselah and the different men of God who lived in ancient times—you can trace it clear back to Adam who was ordained under the hands of God, who told him that that Priesthood should abide in his generations and that it should be on the earth at the end of time. What is the Priesthood that you grey-headed fathers are bearing before us today in the midst of Israel? It is the holy, high Priesthood of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God, and which is after the power of an endless life. Then, brethren and sisters, understand it. It is not a new Gospel revealed now for the first time—these first principles are not new, because they have been revealed from the beginning. They are the same principles that Christ commenced to preach when He was upon the earth. They were the first principles that John the Baptist taught when he came to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man; they were the very first principles that Joseph and Oliver taught in this dispensation when they began to preach the Gospel. They were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. This is the beginning of the work of righteousness.
There are revelations and doctrines given unto us in our day, however, which were not given in former ages, because the people were not prepared and were not in a suitable condition to receive such. Do not let us think that we have got all the revelation there is. In the last great revelation which the Lord gave to Joseph, He told him that He had not revealed all to him, but that there were many laws pertaining to His Priesthood which He would reveal hereafter. Do you remember it? But if the world is going to get scared and terrified and ready to lay waste and destroy the Latter-day Saints before we have got so far advanced in the civilization of heaven as to understand the marriage laws and some of the marital relations of the sexes—if they go crazy over this what will happen to them when something more comes along?
Now, I hope that none of the Saints will grow weak in the knees; do not let them hang down their heads, nor allow their hearts to be troubled; do not let the sisters lie awake at nights brooding over this and that that is going to happen, and getting a great deal of borrowed trouble. There is no promise of grace to sustain them in such trouble; but the Lord has promised that His grace shall be sufficient for our day, sufficient for the troubles we have to bear; but we have no promise of grace to sustain us in borrowed trouble. Do not be alarmed though the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things. While they are in confusion and strife of every kind, you will multiply upon the earth and establish lasting peace upon the face thereof. The Latter-day Saints who are the object of all observation from the four quarters of the earth, are the only people that have pure and settled peace in their hearts and in their midst. Do you realize this? Our missionaries go to the Southern States, and the North Western States; they go to Europe, to Asia, Africa, and every point of the compass, and when they return they tell us that in no place do they find as true, settled and substantial peace, as there is right here in Utah, where one would think, from all that is going on and all that is threatened, that the waves of the sea were going to roll over us. Our peace is that which the Gospel brings. The fruit of the Spirit which the wicked can neither give nor take away. There is no use being worried over these things. It is part of our heritage. They who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; we have every reason to expect it. It is our duty to seek wisdom of the Lord in all matters; seek for the Holy Spirit, and attend to our own business.
In regard to the principles of the Gospel which the Lord has revealed to us beyond what He has to other people, we should remember that we shall be called to account for the use we make of them; remember that we use them, live them, and administer them in all righteousness in our lives and conduct, and while there are no two families whose conditions and circumstances are just alike, still the same general principles will have their general effect in all households. We must cultivate righteousness. We are learning the principles of the Gospel one after another; how to observe and obey them. We want to know how to hold them in righteousness, because we cannot hold these precious eternal treasures in unrighteousness; if we think we can we shall be deceived and will some day find out that they are not to be held in unrighteousness, for they only take effect with the pure in heart, they that are willing to keep the commandments of God, and walk in the way of His counsels.
Sin is a reproach to any people. It is better for us right here in this life that we keep the commandments of God, even if we did not look for any future reward of glory. Don't you know it is? Why? Because we feel happy and strong within ourselves when we lie down at night and rise up in the morning; when we go out and when we come in; we feel the sustaining influence and approval of an honest heart, of a pure conscience, and of all just people—a conscience void of offense towards God and His people. This is the greatest treasure that a person can possess in this life. And do you know that go where you will—among those ignorant tribes that surround us, or to the highest civilized, and most cultivated portions of the European or American nations—the man that is obedient to the holy principles of the everlasting Gospel—if they do not know he is called a Mormon—is respected above all men who disregard the principles of righteousness and truth. If some of our brethren who work in the mining camps behave themselves and live their religion, the very men around them respect and honor them. Why? Because they are reliable; because the principles they have embraced and put into practice render them substantial and trustworthy. You go into the classes of the university or of the colleges where young men have gone in quest of an education, and you will find that the man who is pure and virtuous in his feelings, in his thoughts and in his ways, who does not delight in folly, in sin and the secret works of darkness, but is at home attending to his lessons and his duty—it is he that makes his way to the head of the class, and gets the highest honor among his fellows. It is he that they look up to because of his upright conduct and all that is excellent in man. That is the kind of men that go forth and make their way and mark among their neighbors and their countrymen. True virtue and righteousness exalt individuals, and it therefore must exalt a nation composed of such individuals. When a nation disregards the principles of justice, equity, righteousness and truth—so far as to fail or refuse the administration of its laws equitably to any portion or class of its citizens, then the people have reason to fear the dreadful consequences that must follow, unless a reformation is effected; then the noble, the honorable, the virtuous and the pure should be willing to make sacrifice for that which is ennobling, exalting, upright and praiseworthy.
Go back in the history of the world and you will see that the greatest nations that ever existed, as soon as they commenced to pervert justice, crush truth and right, persecute God's people and exalt iniquity, then commenced their downfall, and their way was down, down, down, to demolition and destruction, until more substantial and better elements were found in their ruins with which to raise up and create something new. It was that excellence and purity which God saw in the Puritan fathers that came over to this country for the love of the truth, and to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences—it was that excellence that preserved them and established them here, and as long as they maintained the principles of liberty, allowed others to enjoy the same rights that they themselves enjoyed, just so long did they prosper. They were powerful in that they had influence and faith to receive inspiration from God, to draw up and establish the greatest Constitution that has ever been known on the earth—the grandest combination of loyal principles and fundamental truths that has been established by man, since the days of Noah, and that is the Constitution with which politicians have become so reckless, in construing its provisions, and have gone outside of its limitations to rule and regulate the people of this great nation as they please. That glorious Constitution was made to regulate rulers as well as the ruled. It was so constructed that those who should be appointed to rule over the people should not be their masters, but their servants. How comes it now, that the whole polity has been perverted to another way; the rulers have come to be masters of the people, and are undertaking now to lord it over God's heritage. We ought to understand these things. It is our duty to do so.
I desire now to refer to a particular expression in the epistle which has just been read, wherein the brethren of the First Presidency have exhorted the Saints not to allow themselves to commit any overt act. No matter how much you are worried, no matter how much you are aggravated by the acts of the ungodly, do not do a thing that you could afterwards be sorry for. Do nothing that could let blood stick to one of you. Bear with every impious insult. Put up with it as Christ did when he was hanging upon the cross and his life's blood oozing out from his heart, and his spirit ready to depart, and say “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That is the way we want to look as far as we can upon those who are oppressing and injuring us, breaking up our homes, and scattering our women and children to the four winds. It is something that could not be allowed in the old monarchial countries, which are looked upon as being measurably beneath the United States in the matter of a constitutional government, and yet we see men among us who are ready to demolish the very sanctity of home, lay waste and destroy that which lies at the very foundation of all law, natural and governmental. It is painful; it is sorrowful. Let us pity while they are so blind, so ignorant, so ill-natured, and so willing to depart from good government, even to enact laws to prevent their fellowcitizens from worshipping God according to the dictates of their own conscience. But, for my own part, I feel like the First Presidency in this matter. Let us commit no overt act, which in any event we could be sorry for.
We never saw a time when we had reason to feel more thankful and lifted up in our hearts before the living God than the present. Why? Because the Savior said: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” But says He, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.”
I wish to exhort the Saints to frequent their closets more than they do; to neglect not their prayers night and morning, and in the season thereof fail not to bow the knee and call your sons and daughters around you. If you do this, by and by your sons and daughters will rise up and call you blessed; if you do not they will get cold and depart from truth and the faith of the living God, and that will bring the greatest sorrow you can conceive of. This is a time when we are called upon to bring our practical religion into use, to put on the whole armor of God, and to trust in Him. The Savior said He could call to His help more than twelve legions of angels; more than the Roman hosts; but He knowing the great purposes of Jehovah could go like a lamb to the slaughter. He understood those purposes, could curb His powers, control His feelings, and could make a manly fight for righteousness and truth, and carry out the decrees of heaven. Can we do so? Can you and I do so? If we cannot, can we be counted worthy to be called His brethren, and Saviors upon Mount Zion? We have got to be considerably more like him than we are before we attain unto all those excellencies that are promised.
Inasmuch as the work of God spreads, and its influence and potency are felt among the nations of the earth, so long will this opposition and this antagonism exist, and we must expect it; it cannot be avoided. It is an eternal consequence of our faith. If we reckoned upon anything else, we reckoned wrongly. Every true Saint, when he embraced this Gospel, felt to lay down his good name, his earthly substance, and life itself—all was laid upon the altar. We need not think, however, that although the Lord permits certain things to come upon us, that He will not soften the hearts of the wicked and ungodly. He has told us with a firm decree, that from a time when the Saints commenced to be more faithful they should begin to prevail against their enemies, and they have proved this in the deliverances that have been wrought out in their behalf from time to time. Have we any reason to doubt or lack confidence in the promises of God for the future? Not a particle. Every step of the way affords a greater, a more powerful confirmation and assurance that He is true to His promises, and will carry them out in our behalf.
Do you know, says one, how far these things will go? Just so far as the Lord will allow them. When it comes to the right time He will put a stop to them. He knows how to do it, just at His good pleasure.
We should go to work and put transgression from our midst, cultivate righteousness and put away all sin, and by keeping His commandments and living by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of His servants the work of sanctification will go on in our hearts, our homes, and our habitations will be holy in His sight. He will not allow the acts of the wicked to come against us any longer than will be for His own glory and our greatest good. Let us feel that we are in the hands of the Lord, that He is our Father and friend. Let us draw near to Him; find Him out, and walk with Him here in the flesh, then we shall know that it will be well with us hereafter.
I pray that the good Spirit of God may dwell in our hearts; may write His law on the tablets of our hearts; may impress the principles of truth upon our minds, so that we may live them and make them profitable to us in the future. That God may grant these blessings unto us, I humbly ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Bishop David H. Cannon of St. George, was the next speaker.
He had been called upon to represent the St. George Stake of Zion, the masses of the people of which were striving to serve God. The threatening aspects of affairs was causing them to be more united. The Stake was somewhat scattered, Panacca, one of its settlements, being 113 miles from St. George, and the roads were somewhat difficult to travel. At one time there had been a good deal of speculation as to what would form a line of demarcation between the righteous and the hypocrites. It appeared at one time that the united order, which was so much advocated by President Young, would produce that effect, and also create that union that is necessary. This result has not, however, been attained by that means. Neither has it brought the sinner to repentance. The present crusade against the Saints was having a strong tendency in that direction. Many who had been previously slack in relation to their duties were slack in relation to their duties were already returning to the Lord. Persecution, in the shape of hunting and harassing the servants of God, and driving the innocent from their homes, is not only to try the Saints but also to enable the wicked to fill up the cup of their iniquity, after which the Lord will come out of His hiding place and vex this and other nations with a sore vexation. Their sufferings will be such as to create sorrow among the Saints. The speaker testified that the work of God would go on. The gospel would be preached in the world in order to leave the wicked without excuse and gather the honest, and thus prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, the signs of whose advent are everywhere apparent. The Saints may have to be tried, but the just will live by faith, and stand the testing hour. It was through trial that Abraham was tested, and so with those who shall be numbered among His children, and be heirs to the same promises given to him. And as Abraham was delivered, so will the Saints be, in the due time of the Lord.
He had been called upon to represent the St. George Stake of Zion, the masses of the people of which were striving to serve God. The threatening aspects of affairs was causing them to be more united. The Stake was somewhat scattered, Panacca, one of its settlements, being 113 miles from St. George, and the roads were somewhat difficult to travel. At one time there had been a good deal of speculation as to what would form a line of demarcation between the righteous and the hypocrites. It appeared at one time that the united order, which was so much advocated by President Young, would produce that effect, and also create that union that is necessary. This result has not, however, been attained by that means. Neither has it brought the sinner to repentance. The present crusade against the Saints was having a strong tendency in that direction. Many who had been previously slack in relation to their duties were slack in relation to their duties were already returning to the Lord. Persecution, in the shape of hunting and harassing the servants of God, and driving the innocent from their homes, is not only to try the Saints but also to enable the wicked to fill up the cup of their iniquity, after which the Lord will come out of His hiding place and vex this and other nations with a sore vexation. Their sufferings will be such as to create sorrow among the Saints. The speaker testified that the work of God would go on. The gospel would be preached in the world in order to leave the wicked without excuse and gather the honest, and thus prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, the signs of whose advent are everywhere apparent. The Saints may have to be tried, but the just will live by faith, and stand the testing hour. It was through trial that Abraham was tested, and so with those who shall be numbered among His children, and be heirs to the same promises given to him. And as Abraham was delivered, so will the Saints be, in the due time of the Lord.
President Silas S. Smith, of San Luis Stake, addressed the Conference.
It had been his fortune to be, during his identification with the Church, most of the period of his life, a resident of frontier settlements. The Stake to which he was attached (in Colorado) was composed mostly of people from the Southern States. A great many many of had been compelled to leave their former homes on account of persecution, and had mostly reached their new location in an almost penniless condition. Business was dull and labor scarce, but all the institutions and organizations that existed in other parts of the Church were established there and are prospering. The present attack upon the Church had the contrary effect upon the people than that of discouragement. The Saints were increasing in faith and good works. The clouds which had gathered will in due time be dispelled, and the sunshine of peace appear in renewed splendor.
It had been his fortune to be, during his identification with the Church, most of the period of his life, a resident of frontier settlements. The Stake to which he was attached (in Colorado) was composed mostly of people from the Southern States. A great many many of had been compelled to leave their former homes on account of persecution, and had mostly reached their new location in an almost penniless condition. Business was dull and labor scarce, but all the institutions and organizations that existed in other parts of the Church were established there and are prospering. The present attack upon the Church had the contrary effect upon the people than that of discouragement. The Saints were increasing in faith and good works. The clouds which had gathered will in due time be dispelled, and the sunshine of peace appear in renewed splendor.
President W. W. Cluff, of Summit Stake, addressed the Conference.
To-day we are passing through a peculiar experience; a time of trial. But the Saints have been anticipating just such scenes. These events have all been foretold by the servants of God who have lived in different dispensations. If the Saints were not expecting such circumstances it would show that they do not have faith in those inspired predictions. The world, however, look upon such things as marvelous. Some visitors from abroad express wonder at the animus that is exhibited by some of the people of this nation toward the Latter-day Saints. The speaker related expressions to this effect that had been made in his hearing. As had already been remarked, the attacks made upon the Saints acted as a stimulus to cause them to be more faithful. It is not a new struggle. It has always existed when God has had a people on earth who were ready and willing to serve Him. And it will continue until the power of Satan is destroyed. The speaker cited the case of Daniel, who was cast into the lions’ den. Those who caused the decree to be issued to bring about that result, imagined they had accomplished something that would effect the destruction of the Prophet. But he was miraculously preserved. So in other instances related in the Scriptures. The efforts that are now being made against the Church of Christ, and which it is fondly hoped will accomplish its destruction, will also finally be overturned. The history of the Church, from its incipiency till now, is full of wonderful deliverances, wrought out by the Almighty, and the Lord will never forsake it. The present efforts against it will be just as unfruitful of the results anticipated by those who are making them as former attempts of the same kind have been.
To-day we are passing through a peculiar experience; a time of trial. But the Saints have been anticipating just such scenes. These events have all been foretold by the servants of God who have lived in different dispensations. If the Saints were not expecting such circumstances it would show that they do not have faith in those inspired predictions. The world, however, look upon such things as marvelous. Some visitors from abroad express wonder at the animus that is exhibited by some of the people of this nation toward the Latter-day Saints. The speaker related expressions to this effect that had been made in his hearing. As had already been remarked, the attacks made upon the Saints acted as a stimulus to cause them to be more faithful. It is not a new struggle. It has always existed when God has had a people on earth who were ready and willing to serve Him. And it will continue until the power of Satan is destroyed. The speaker cited the case of Daniel, who was cast into the lions’ den. Those who caused the decree to be issued to bring about that result, imagined they had accomplished something that would effect the destruction of the Prophet. But he was miraculously preserved. So in other instances related in the Scriptures. The efforts that are now being made against the Church of Christ, and which it is fondly hoped will accomplish its destruction, will also finally be overturned. The history of the Church, from its incipiency till now, is full of wonderful deliverances, wrought out by the Almighty, and the Lord will never forsake it. The present efforts against it will be just as unfruitful of the results anticipated by those who are making them as former attempts of the same kind have been.
Elder N. C. Flygare, Counselor in the Presidency of the Weber Stake, was the next speaker.
The preceding speakers have referred to the peculiar times in which we are living. From the time we embraced the truth we have understood that we would have to suffer persecution. We have been aware that it would be said by the wicked, “Let Zion be defiled.” We have for over thirty years enjoyed comparative immunity from persecution, and during the lull the gathering of the elect and other departments of the work of the Lord have been forwarded. It is God’s work, and we are merely instruments to be used in building it up. We have to be tried that we may lay a foundation for eternal glory, by proving our worthiness under difficulty. The present assault upon the liberties of the Saints will draw them nearer together, that they may be one, in accordance with the command of our Heavenly Father. They will gain a better understanding of the principles and institutions of the kingdom of God, and be better prepared to carry out His will. We have come out of the nations to do the bidding of God through His servants, and it is to be hoped that we have not, because of the cares of the world, forgotten our sacred obligations. Our condition cannot be stationary. It must either be forward or retrogressive.
The choir sang the anthem: I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
The preceding speakers have referred to the peculiar times in which we are living. From the time we embraced the truth we have understood that we would have to suffer persecution. We have been aware that it would be said by the wicked, “Let Zion be defiled.” We have for over thirty years enjoyed comparative immunity from persecution, and during the lull the gathering of the elect and other departments of the work of the Lord have been forwarded. It is God’s work, and we are merely instruments to be used in building it up. We have to be tried that we may lay a foundation for eternal glory, by proving our worthiness under difficulty. The present assault upon the liberties of the Saints will draw them nearer together, that they may be one, in accordance with the command of our Heavenly Father. They will gain a better understanding of the principles and institutions of the kingdom of God, and be better prepared to carry out His will. We have come out of the nations to do the bidding of God through His servants, and it is to be hoped that we have not, because of the cares of the world, forgotten our sacred obligations. Our condition cannot be stationary. It must either be forward or retrogressive.
The choir sang the anthem: I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
Afternoon.
The choir sang: Hark! the song of jubilee, Loud as mighty thunders roar.
Prayer by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
Now, let us rejoice in the day of salvation, No longer as strangers on earth need we roam. Was sung by the choir.
The choir sang: Hark! the song of jubilee, Loud as mighty thunders roar.
Prayer by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
Now, let us rejoice in the day of salvation, No longer as strangers on earth need we roam. Was sung by the choir.
Elder Junius F. Wells addressed the congregation.
He esteemed it a privilege to bear testimony to the truth in the presence of the people of God. The Saints had assembled in accordance with an annual custom that had been established for more than fifty years. Such occasions had been pregnant with blessings to those who are disposed to obey the will of God. Business has always been transacted at such times that is of great importance to the people of the world. Ambassadors for Christ are commissioned to go forth bearing the massage of the Gospel, which is tidings of great joy to the honest in heart. It was a happy time when you listened to the preaching of what God had revealed for the benefit of His children. You received the message gladly and obeyed it. In doing so you laid your worldly prospects on the altar of sacrifice. You received the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, and, through that medium, a witness of the truth. Because of that testimony you gathered to this land that you might increase in a knowledge of the truth and in consequent obedience to it. Those who possess the truth are filled with courage, for such a foundation promotes the highest phase of valor. The Lord has, in this dispensation, revealed an order or system of government that fully meets the requirement of the human race. Because of this revelation the world is arrayed against those who acknowledge it. It is but a repetition of what has occurred in the history of the world. We know that there is nothing in the religion that we have espoused that has any other effect than to exalt and improve those who put it into practice. The speaker had, he said, been subjected to many allurements to lead him from the faith of his father. He had asked of those who had offered such inducements to show him any truth of a progressive and desirable character that was not incorporated in his religion. It was stated in reply that the Saints had no standing in society at large; that they were degraded. The speaker said that the hatred of the world was no evidence against the Saints, and they were far from being degraded. A good deal had been said about the status of the young people of the community. Some had proved recreant, but they were exceptions, and the majority were strong in their integrity. Brother Wells said it was far from a proper method to draw him away from the religion of his father, to hold up his parents as the extremest type of criminality. He knew that they had taught him to honor God and walk uprightly, and if he did not so conduct himself, it was no fault of theirs. He concluded by stating that the Gospel developed all that is good in man.
He esteemed it a privilege to bear testimony to the truth in the presence of the people of God. The Saints had assembled in accordance with an annual custom that had been established for more than fifty years. Such occasions had been pregnant with blessings to those who are disposed to obey the will of God. Business has always been transacted at such times that is of great importance to the people of the world. Ambassadors for Christ are commissioned to go forth bearing the massage of the Gospel, which is tidings of great joy to the honest in heart. It was a happy time when you listened to the preaching of what God had revealed for the benefit of His children. You received the message gladly and obeyed it. In doing so you laid your worldly prospects on the altar of sacrifice. You received the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, and, through that medium, a witness of the truth. Because of that testimony you gathered to this land that you might increase in a knowledge of the truth and in consequent obedience to it. Those who possess the truth are filled with courage, for such a foundation promotes the highest phase of valor. The Lord has, in this dispensation, revealed an order or system of government that fully meets the requirement of the human race. Because of this revelation the world is arrayed against those who acknowledge it. It is but a repetition of what has occurred in the history of the world. We know that there is nothing in the religion that we have espoused that has any other effect than to exalt and improve those who put it into practice. The speaker had, he said, been subjected to many allurements to lead him from the faith of his father. He had asked of those who had offered such inducements to show him any truth of a progressive and desirable character that was not incorporated in his religion. It was stated in reply that the Saints had no standing in society at large; that they were degraded. The speaker said that the hatred of the world was no evidence against the Saints, and they were far from being degraded. A good deal had been said about the status of the young people of the community. Some had proved recreant, but they were exceptions, and the majority were strong in their integrity. Brother Wells said it was far from a proper method to draw him away from the religion of his father, to hold up his parents as the extremest type of criminality. He knew that they had taught him to honor God and walk uprightly, and if he did not so conduct himself, it was no fault of theirs. He concluded by stating that the Gospel developed all that is good in man.
President Abram Hatch, of Wasatch Stake, was the next speaker.
This is God’s work. We are in His hands to do as He desires. He, through his servants, will instruct us as to what course we should take under all circumstances. While listening to what was said by the speakers this morning, the mind wandered back to the scenes of Illinois, when the Prophet Joseph lived, and then came his death by violent hands; subsequently came the driving of the Saints from their homes. Many people looked upon those times as involving great hardships, as the Saints had done nothing to deserve such treatment, being peaceful and law-abiding. The gathering to this place under President Young was accomplished; the people have established themselves in homes, and have spread out on every hand. If we are faithful we are as sure to remain here as we live. We fear nothing only that we should do wrong. Prosperity has, in some instances, caused us to be proud, forgetting that what we have received has come from the Almighty.
The Wasatch Stake extends over a large extent of Territory. It includes Wasatch and Uintah counties, formerly one. The people are attentive to their duties, being diligent, prayerful and sober. The little ripple of excitement that has passed over Utah has scarcely reached Wasatch Stake. The people are staying at home, attending to their farms. They feel for their brethren who are harassed by persecution, and do not know but it may come their turn after a while. There was very little business for the High Council to do, disputes being but few and far between. There are three Indian tribes within the borders of the Stake. The people are very kind to them, and a friendly feeling exists between them and the settlers. God requires of us obedience to His law, and to do the labors of life in the spirit of the Gospel.
This is God’s work. We are in His hands to do as He desires. He, through his servants, will instruct us as to what course we should take under all circumstances. While listening to what was said by the speakers this morning, the mind wandered back to the scenes of Illinois, when the Prophet Joseph lived, and then came his death by violent hands; subsequently came the driving of the Saints from their homes. Many people looked upon those times as involving great hardships, as the Saints had done nothing to deserve such treatment, being peaceful and law-abiding. The gathering to this place under President Young was accomplished; the people have established themselves in homes, and have spread out on every hand. If we are faithful we are as sure to remain here as we live. We fear nothing only that we should do wrong. Prosperity has, in some instances, caused us to be proud, forgetting that what we have received has come from the Almighty.
The Wasatch Stake extends over a large extent of Territory. It includes Wasatch and Uintah counties, formerly one. The people are attentive to their duties, being diligent, prayerful and sober. The little ripple of excitement that has passed over Utah has scarcely reached Wasatch Stake. The people are staying at home, attending to their farms. They feel for their brethren who are harassed by persecution, and do not know but it may come their turn after a while. There was very little business for the High Council to do, disputes being but few and far between. There are three Indian tribes within the borders of the Stake. The people are very kind to them, and a friendly feeling exists between them and the settlers. God requires of us obedience to His law, and to do the labors of life in the spirit of the Gospel.
President E. D. Woolley, of Kanab Stake, addressed the Conference.
He left home on the 25th of March to attend the gathering of the Saints. His residence is in the extreme south of Utah. The Stake he represented was in a prosperous condition. The number of the people is small, but they are, generally speaking, good Latter-day Saints. There are few if any permanent residents who do not belong to the church; consequently their interests are common. They feel like sustaining and protecting one another. They had passed through some trials of late, but they had effected but little harm. The Saints have no occasion to fear. Times of the past have been more trying in their character than those of the present, so far as they have progressed. We have been informed that the time would yet come when powerful opposition would be needed for the development of this work. The young, in some instances, had almost begun to imagine that those predictions would fail of fulfillment, but they are taking place as they had been stated. The speaker said that when he was a boy he heard President Young say that Utah would be peopled from one end to the other, and a person would yet travel from one extremity to the other and scarcely lose sight of human habitations. He, at the same time, described, as he looked over the Salt Lake Valley, canals that would be constructed. This was in an early time, and the speaker had seen in his journey hither from home, a verification of this prediction. The Latter-day Saints are firmly established in these mountains, and they will remain until they have accomplished the design of the Almighty in bringing them here.
He left home on the 25th of March to attend the gathering of the Saints. His residence is in the extreme south of Utah. The Stake he represented was in a prosperous condition. The number of the people is small, but they are, generally speaking, good Latter-day Saints. There are few if any permanent residents who do not belong to the church; consequently their interests are common. They feel like sustaining and protecting one another. They had passed through some trials of late, but they had effected but little harm. The Saints have no occasion to fear. Times of the past have been more trying in their character than those of the present, so far as they have progressed. We have been informed that the time would yet come when powerful opposition would be needed for the development of this work. The young, in some instances, had almost begun to imagine that those predictions would fail of fulfillment, but they are taking place as they had been stated. The speaker said that when he was a boy he heard President Young say that Utah would be peopled from one end to the other, and a person would yet travel from one extremity to the other and scarcely lose sight of human habitations. He, at the same time, described, as he looked over the Salt Lake Valley, canals that would be constructed. This was in an early time, and the speaker had seen in his journey hither from home, a verification of this prediction. The Latter-day Saints are firmly established in these mountains, and they will remain until they have accomplished the design of the Almighty in bringing them here.
President Willard Smith, of Morgan Stake of Zion.
That division of the Church contains a very good people. There are nine Bishops’ Wards, fully organized. All the associations peculiar to the Saints exist there, and are performing their several functions in the development and education of the Saints. The officers are active and efficient. There are disadvantages in the Morgan Stake, owing to the great altitude of the location, frosts being intense and frequent. Some of the productions, however, are unsurpassed by any yielded in any other portion of Utah, so that the disadvantages were balanced by advantages. The speaker had been employed in the building of the Temple at Kirtland, Ohio, when a boy. His father and brother were both killed in Haun’s Mill massacre. He related a number of incidents connected with the early history of the Church which came under his own personal observation. He spoke of the trials of the present day, and concluded with an exhortation for the Saints to be true to their integrity.
That division of the Church contains a very good people. There are nine Bishops’ Wards, fully organized. All the associations peculiar to the Saints exist there, and are performing their several functions in the development and education of the Saints. The officers are active and efficient. There are disadvantages in the Morgan Stake, owing to the great altitude of the location, frosts being intense and frequent. Some of the productions, however, are unsurpassed by any yielded in any other portion of Utah, so that the disadvantages were balanced by advantages. The speaker had been employed in the building of the Temple at Kirtland, Ohio, when a boy. His father and brother were both killed in Haun’s Mill massacre. He related a number of incidents connected with the early history of the Church which came under his own personal observation. He spoke of the trials of the present day, and concluded with an exhortation for the Saints to be true to their integrity.
Elder John Nicholson was the next speaker.
He drew the attention of the people to the signs of the times, speaking of the present condition of the nations, showing that the spirit of peace was leaving the earth. All of the indications that Christ had said would be precursory of His second coming existed now. In accordance with the divine injunction it was therefore proper for the Saints to lift up their heads and rejoice, because of the nearness of their redemption. He alluded to the numerous disrupting elements that were at work in this country, and spoke of the present position of the Church in reference to the cruel and harassing opposition to which it was being subjected. The clouds of adversity were as needful for the development of the work as the sunshine of prosperity. There never was a time in which the Saints had greater reason to rejoice. The opposition would have two leading effects. They were already being produced: the united of the people and the purification of the organization. The former condition could not be reached without the latter, and unless we were one, Christ would not fully accept us. Already the riddling process was begun, and men were showing where they stand. In the course of time the hypocritical and corrupt would be eliminated from the Church, leaving it stronger, more solid and peaceful. The speaker had nothing to say about those who were engaged in persecuting the Saints. If the ultimate effects of their movements will be as stated, they are unconsciously doing their part of the work of the Lord as well as we, but on the opposite line. Denunciation was useless, and he had none to hurl at any one. Speaking for himself, without claiming to voice the opinion of others in relation to the controversy that was in progress, he said he knew of nothing those who were opposed to the Church had to offer for which he proposed to barter away anything he had received through obedience to the Gospel. He exhorted the Saints to be true to each other and to sustain the servants of God; not only in word, but also in deed should it be necessary. He declaimed against those who turned against their friends and the truth, and characterized a traitor as the most despicable of all creatures on earth.
The choir sang an anthem.
Benediction by Apostle John W. Taylor.
He drew the attention of the people to the signs of the times, speaking of the present condition of the nations, showing that the spirit of peace was leaving the earth. All of the indications that Christ had said would be precursory of His second coming existed now. In accordance with the divine injunction it was therefore proper for the Saints to lift up their heads and rejoice, because of the nearness of their redemption. He alluded to the numerous disrupting elements that were at work in this country, and spoke of the present position of the Church in reference to the cruel and harassing opposition to which it was being subjected. The clouds of adversity were as needful for the development of the work as the sunshine of prosperity. There never was a time in which the Saints had greater reason to rejoice. The opposition would have two leading effects. They were already being produced: the united of the people and the purification of the organization. The former condition could not be reached without the latter, and unless we were one, Christ would not fully accept us. Already the riddling process was begun, and men were showing where they stand. In the course of time the hypocritical and corrupt would be eliminated from the Church, leaving it stronger, more solid and peaceful. The speaker had nothing to say about those who were engaged in persecuting the Saints. If the ultimate effects of their movements will be as stated, they are unconsciously doing their part of the work of the Lord as well as we, but on the opposite line. Denunciation was useless, and he had none to hurl at any one. Speaking for himself, without claiming to voice the opinion of others in relation to the controversy that was in progress, he said he knew of nothing those who were opposed to the Church had to offer for which he proposed to barter away anything he had received through obedience to the Gospel. He exhorted the Saints to be true to each other and to sustain the servants of God; not only in word, but also in deed should it be necessary. He declaimed against those who turned against their friends and the truth, and characterized a traitor as the most despicable of all creatures on earth.
The choir sang an anthem.
Benediction by Apostle John W. Taylor.
SECOND DAY.
Morning Session. Sunday, April 5th.
Conference convened at 10 a.m.
The choir sang: Come, thou glorious day of promise, Come and spread thy cheerful ray.
Prayer by Apostle F. M. Lyman.
Hark! ye mortals. Hist! be still, Voices from Cumorah’s hill, was sung by the choir.
Morning Session. Sunday, April 5th.
Conference convened at 10 a.m.
The choir sang: Come, thou glorious day of promise, Come and spread thy cheerful ray.
Prayer by Apostle F. M. Lyman.
Hark! ye mortals. Hist! be still, Voices from Cumorah’s hill, was sung by the choir.
Apostle John W. Taylor addressed the Conference.
although, as a people, we are subject to many frailties, we also exhibit many qualities that are noble. The speaker had not, since his arrival in Logan, heard the name of Deity blasphemed; neither had he observed any intemperance or disturbance of the peace. The homes of the people are neat and comfortable. The people of the community are of different nationalities, and their gathering together ought to be a great testimony to the world, if they would receive it. It was one of the most significant signs of the latter times. The Saints have come to Zion to feast upon the instructions given them by the servants of God. They believe in inspiration and prophecy. They had faith in the inspired predictions delivered in ancient times. Some had been fulfilled, some are in process of fulfilment and others would surely be verified in due time. The prophets of olden times, notably Isaiah, had prophesied in relation to the establishment, in its present exalted location, of Zion. The speaker had heard it admitted by people who do not believe in the divinity of this work that it is a wonderful phenomenon, for according to its history the more its adherents were abused, and the more determined the efforts made to suppress it, it had the more success. The Church is a nursery, destined to spread and yield good fruit in every nation. The young should prepare themselves for the work that will devolve upon upon them in the world. This opposition which has been porminently mentioned during this Conference need not cause any fearfulness. This called to mind the fact that in the State of Georgia in the year and a half following the assassination of Joseph Standing more people were added to the Church than during the same length of time in any previous period. The principle of plural marriage, against which the main force of the opposition was being hurled, had been a divine institution from before the foundation of the world. There had been some talk about President Taylor issuing a revelation abolishing that system of marriage. When a revelation of that kind is given it will be when the Lord has no use for the Latter-day Saints, and this will never transpire, for He has promised to give them the kingdom and to sustain them. But those who oppose the Church do not care much about plural marriage; it is the principle of unity, and consequently of power that is feared. The Latter-day Saints are the most thoroughly organized of any people on earth. This is admitted by persons who have studied the associations of every part of the world. The officials who are opposing the Church are in pursuit of money and power. Take away the one and the prospect of the other and their work would cease. Those engaged in the crusade are seeking to break the political power of the community. If the Government would take less trouble to pursue the Latter-day Saints and pay more attention to rooting out the destructive elements that were threatening society at large, it would be much more conducive to the public weal. The secret combinations that are forming mean destruction and devastation. They will increase, and cause fear to seize upon the people, and prominent men would be marks for their antipathy. Men occupying conspicuous positions would be in danger because of the state of things approaching.
The speaker related an anecdote about an Elder named Butterfield, who was, in the East, invited by a lady relative of a late Utah Federal Judge, to call at her house. When he visited her he was asked into a room where there were a large number of ladies and none of the other sex. He was placed in the middle of the group, and the hostess asked him what the people thought of Judge M-------.” “Oh! We didn’t pay any attention to such small potatoes as he,” was the reply. This incensed the questioner, and she said: “I suppose you don’t like the Judge because he won’t allow you to have as many wives as you want.” “Well,” said Brother Butterfield, “I had two wives when he arrived in Utah, and I have got them yet.” This so excited the lady’s indignation that she sprang to her feet and exclaimed—“Ladies, let us put him out;” so as many of them as could get near enough seized hold of him. The Elder looked at them imploringly and said: “Now ladies, I wish you would wait, as this is not the time nor place for such a manifestation of affection. If you will only be patient and come along to Utah and if you continue in the same mind I will fulfil the words of Isaiah, who said the time should come when seven women would take hold of one man and ask him for the privilege of taking his name in order to take away their reproach. Wait till you go to Utah and I will marry you all.
This anecdote caused the audience to smile more or less audibly.
The speaker continued: What is the cry of women who have been neglected and injured by men? It is that their reproach may be taken away. The hue and cry about polygamy will cease after awhile, and it will be supplanted by another in regard to treason. It is the fruit of the goodly tree that is now being assailed. In course of time the assault will be upon the tree itself.
although, as a people, we are subject to many frailties, we also exhibit many qualities that are noble. The speaker had not, since his arrival in Logan, heard the name of Deity blasphemed; neither had he observed any intemperance or disturbance of the peace. The homes of the people are neat and comfortable. The people of the community are of different nationalities, and their gathering together ought to be a great testimony to the world, if they would receive it. It was one of the most significant signs of the latter times. The Saints have come to Zion to feast upon the instructions given them by the servants of God. They believe in inspiration and prophecy. They had faith in the inspired predictions delivered in ancient times. Some had been fulfilled, some are in process of fulfilment and others would surely be verified in due time. The prophets of olden times, notably Isaiah, had prophesied in relation to the establishment, in its present exalted location, of Zion. The speaker had heard it admitted by people who do not believe in the divinity of this work that it is a wonderful phenomenon, for according to its history the more its adherents were abused, and the more determined the efforts made to suppress it, it had the more success. The Church is a nursery, destined to spread and yield good fruit in every nation. The young should prepare themselves for the work that will devolve upon upon them in the world. This opposition which has been porminently mentioned during this Conference need not cause any fearfulness. This called to mind the fact that in the State of Georgia in the year and a half following the assassination of Joseph Standing more people were added to the Church than during the same length of time in any previous period. The principle of plural marriage, against which the main force of the opposition was being hurled, had been a divine institution from before the foundation of the world. There had been some talk about President Taylor issuing a revelation abolishing that system of marriage. When a revelation of that kind is given it will be when the Lord has no use for the Latter-day Saints, and this will never transpire, for He has promised to give them the kingdom and to sustain them. But those who oppose the Church do not care much about plural marriage; it is the principle of unity, and consequently of power that is feared. The Latter-day Saints are the most thoroughly organized of any people on earth. This is admitted by persons who have studied the associations of every part of the world. The officials who are opposing the Church are in pursuit of money and power. Take away the one and the prospect of the other and their work would cease. Those engaged in the crusade are seeking to break the political power of the community. If the Government would take less trouble to pursue the Latter-day Saints and pay more attention to rooting out the destructive elements that were threatening society at large, it would be much more conducive to the public weal. The secret combinations that are forming mean destruction and devastation. They will increase, and cause fear to seize upon the people, and prominent men would be marks for their antipathy. Men occupying conspicuous positions would be in danger because of the state of things approaching.
The speaker related an anecdote about an Elder named Butterfield, who was, in the East, invited by a lady relative of a late Utah Federal Judge, to call at her house. When he visited her he was asked into a room where there were a large number of ladies and none of the other sex. He was placed in the middle of the group, and the hostess asked him what the people thought of Judge M-------.” “Oh! We didn’t pay any attention to such small potatoes as he,” was the reply. This incensed the questioner, and she said: “I suppose you don’t like the Judge because he won’t allow you to have as many wives as you want.” “Well,” said Brother Butterfield, “I had two wives when he arrived in Utah, and I have got them yet.” This so excited the lady’s indignation that she sprang to her feet and exclaimed—“Ladies, let us put him out;” so as many of them as could get near enough seized hold of him. The Elder looked at them imploringly and said: “Now ladies, I wish you would wait, as this is not the time nor place for such a manifestation of affection. If you will only be patient and come along to Utah and if you continue in the same mind I will fulfil the words of Isaiah, who said the time should come when seven women would take hold of one man and ask him for the privilege of taking his name in order to take away their reproach. Wait till you go to Utah and I will marry you all.
This anecdote caused the audience to smile more or less audibly.
The speaker continued: What is the cry of women who have been neglected and injured by men? It is that their reproach may be taken away. The hue and cry about polygamy will cease after awhile, and it will be supplanted by another in regard to treason. It is the fruit of the goodly tree that is now being assailed. In course of time the assault will be upon the tree itself.
Apostle Heber J. Grant
was the next speaker. Through our diligence and faithfulness we will be entitled to the blessings of the Lord. There is one thing that is certain about the present trouble—the Latter-day Saints will come out uppermost at the end of the controversy. No matter what restrictions we may be placed under by men, our only consistent course is to keep the commandments of God. We should, in this regard, place ourselves in the same position as that of the three Hebrews who were cast into the fiery furnace. If we are living in the light of the Gospel we have a testimony of the truth, and we have but one choice, that is to abide in the law of God, no matter as to the consequences. It is sometimes held that the Saints are in error because so many are opposed to them. But when people know they are right it is wrong for them to forgo their own honest convictions by yielding their judgment to that of a majority, no matter how large. When a man knows himself that he is honest, he needs care but little as to what the world may think or say concerning him. Some people are thought well of in public, while in their domestic conduct they are not what they should be. Every man’s life should be such that his wives and children can bear the best testimony concerning him. The speaker stated that his esteem and love for the servants of god had increased by closer association with them. This was because he had opportunities of discovering their devotion to the truth. There is nothing that is right but they are ready to do if it conduces to the advancement of the cause of God on the earth. He had heard it stated that “Mormonism” was a stupendous fraud, and those who were of that opinion had wondered that he had been selected for one of the leaders, and he had been asked whether he did not realize that it was a humbug. To such he had borne his testimony with good effect, because he had lived according to his profession. A good deal was being said about some of the authorities retiring from public view for a season. Why should any people thrust their hands into the fire when they know they will be burned by so doing? There will be opposition to the Latter-day Saints until the whole social fabric of the world is revolutionized. In seeing these things we are only witnessing the fulfilment of that which has been prophesied. We may expect to see men who are corrupt arise and proclaim that this people are wicked. No man in this Church can commit the sin which the world falsely accuse the Saints of perpetrating and retain the Spirit and a standing in the community. Adultery is of all sins the most abominable (the shedding of innocent blood excepted) in the sight of God. By incidents of his own experience the speaker illustrated the confidence that people outside the Church have—in a business capacity—in faithful Latter-day Saints, and the distrust with which they look upon apostates. There are, however, some men who have been in the Church who never were energetic while in it, and have exhibited a similar indifference after leaving it. Some who have withdrawn from the Church, the speaker homed some day to see return to the fold of Christ. Some who had been filled with light and energy when in the faith of the Gospel, are equally bitter against the truth, seeking to tear down what they formerly were engaged in building up. Notwithstanding, the evil that is falsely spoken of the prominent Elders in this Church, if any one of them were to give his word of honor to any of these deputy Marshals that are hunting them that he would appear at a stated time and place, he had no doubt that it would be taken by the officer. The best and most honorable men of the community, as a rule, had entered into plural marriage and were the objects of the cruel prosecutions that were now being enforced. The speaker concluded by expressing confidence that the cause of truth and righteousness would be vindicated.
was the next speaker. Through our diligence and faithfulness we will be entitled to the blessings of the Lord. There is one thing that is certain about the present trouble—the Latter-day Saints will come out uppermost at the end of the controversy. No matter what restrictions we may be placed under by men, our only consistent course is to keep the commandments of God. We should, in this regard, place ourselves in the same position as that of the three Hebrews who were cast into the fiery furnace. If we are living in the light of the Gospel we have a testimony of the truth, and we have but one choice, that is to abide in the law of God, no matter as to the consequences. It is sometimes held that the Saints are in error because so many are opposed to them. But when people know they are right it is wrong for them to forgo their own honest convictions by yielding their judgment to that of a majority, no matter how large. When a man knows himself that he is honest, he needs care but little as to what the world may think or say concerning him. Some people are thought well of in public, while in their domestic conduct they are not what they should be. Every man’s life should be such that his wives and children can bear the best testimony concerning him. The speaker stated that his esteem and love for the servants of god had increased by closer association with them. This was because he had opportunities of discovering their devotion to the truth. There is nothing that is right but they are ready to do if it conduces to the advancement of the cause of God on the earth. He had heard it stated that “Mormonism” was a stupendous fraud, and those who were of that opinion had wondered that he had been selected for one of the leaders, and he had been asked whether he did not realize that it was a humbug. To such he had borne his testimony with good effect, because he had lived according to his profession. A good deal was being said about some of the authorities retiring from public view for a season. Why should any people thrust their hands into the fire when they know they will be burned by so doing? There will be opposition to the Latter-day Saints until the whole social fabric of the world is revolutionized. In seeing these things we are only witnessing the fulfilment of that which has been prophesied. We may expect to see men who are corrupt arise and proclaim that this people are wicked. No man in this Church can commit the sin which the world falsely accuse the Saints of perpetrating and retain the Spirit and a standing in the community. Adultery is of all sins the most abominable (the shedding of innocent blood excepted) in the sight of God. By incidents of his own experience the speaker illustrated the confidence that people outside the Church have—in a business capacity—in faithful Latter-day Saints, and the distrust with which they look upon apostates. There are, however, some men who have been in the Church who never were energetic while in it, and have exhibited a similar indifference after leaving it. Some who have withdrawn from the Church, the speaker homed some day to see return to the fold of Christ. Some who had been filled with light and energy when in the faith of the Gospel, are equally bitter against the truth, seeking to tear down what they formerly were engaged in building up. Notwithstanding, the evil that is falsely spoken of the prominent Elders in this Church, if any one of them were to give his word of honor to any of these deputy Marshals that are hunting them that he would appear at a stated time and place, he had no doubt that it would be taken by the officer. The best and most honorable men of the community, as a rule, had entered into plural marriage and were the objects of the cruel prosecutions that were now being enforced. The speaker concluded by expressing confidence that the cause of truth and righteousness would be vindicated.
Elder Harvey H. Cluff, Counselor in the Presidency of the Utah Stake, was the next speaker.
He had been engaged in the work of God nearly fifty years. In all his travels in the world he had never encountered anything which he was willing to accept in exchange for his faith. He had a testimony of the truth for himself. He had witnessed and passed through persecutions and he rejoiced in them. If we keep the commandments of God we will behold His salvation. He had always believed the Saints would have to pass through difficulty, and that every species of subterfuge would be resorted to to bring about their destruction. The ungodly will continue in this line. It is not the practice of some of the doctrines that brings the animus alluded to. It is the principle of power among the Saints that is opposed. Many of the very men who are opposed to the Church are the ones who are corrupt, and would bring immoral practices into this community. He concluded by exhorting the Saints to increased faithfulness.
The choir sang an Anthem.
Benediction by President Charles O. Card.
He had been engaged in the work of God nearly fifty years. In all his travels in the world he had never encountered anything which he was willing to accept in exchange for his faith. He had a testimony of the truth for himself. He had witnessed and passed through persecutions and he rejoiced in them. If we keep the commandments of God we will behold His salvation. He had always believed the Saints would have to pass through difficulty, and that every species of subterfuge would be resorted to to bring about their destruction. The ungodly will continue in this line. It is not the practice of some of the doctrines that brings the animus alluded to. It is the principle of power among the Saints that is opposed. Many of the very men who are opposed to the Church are the ones who are corrupt, and would bring immoral practices into this community. He concluded by exhorting the Saints to increased faithfulness.
The choir sang an Anthem.
Benediction by President Charles O. Card.
Afternoon Session. Sunday, April 5, 1885.
Conference re-assembled at 2 o’clock.
The choir sang: O say what is truth? ‘Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce.
Prayer by President William Budge.
The choir sang: Though deep’ning trials throng your way, Press on, press on, ye Saints of God.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered.
Conference re-assembled at 2 o’clock.
The choir sang: O say what is truth? ‘Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce.
Prayer by President William Budge.
The choir sang: Though deep’ning trials throng your way, Press on, press on, ye Saints of God.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered.
The Clerk presented the general authorities of the Church to be sustained by the Conference as follows:
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, Heber J. Grant and John W. Taylor.
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
The first Seven Presidents of Seventies—Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates, Abram H. Cannon, Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjelsted and John Morgan.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John Q. Cannon as his Second Counselor.
John Taylor as Trustee-in-Trust in 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 Dinwoodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson, as his assistants.
Truman O. Angell as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angell, Jr., and W. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Joseph F. Smith, William Jennings.
John Nicholson as Clerk of Conference.
John Irvine and George F. Gibbs as Church Reporters.
Every vote taken was unanimous.
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, Heber J. Grant and John W. Taylor.
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
Patriarch of the Church—John Smith.
The first Seven Presidents of Seventies—Henry Herriman, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates, Abram H. Cannon, Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjelsted and John Morgan.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John Q. Cannon as his Second Counselor.
John Taylor as Trustee-in-Trust in 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 Dinwoodey, Robert T. Burton, A. O. Smoot and H. B. Clawson, as his assistants.
Truman O. Angell as General Architect of the Church, and T. O. Angell, Jr., and W. H. Folsom as his assistants.
As Auditing Committee—Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Joseph F. Smith, William Jennings.
John Nicholson as Clerk of Conference.
John Irvine and George F. Gibbs as Church Reporters.
Every vote taken was unanimous.
President Franklin D. Richards
Said it was with pleasure that he had to announce that although the brethren of the First Presidency were unable to be present at Conference, they had no forgotten us, having forwarded an epistle to be read to the Saints. The epistle, which was published yesterday in the News, was then read by Elder B. F. Cummings, Jr.
During the afternoon session the following epistle from the First Presidency was read by Elder B. F. Cummings, Jr.:
President’s Office,
Salt Lake City,
April 4th, 1885.
To the Officers and Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Conference assembled:
Beloved Brethren and Sisters:
It is eminently proper, under the circumstances, not being able to be with you in person at our Annual Conference, that we should address you a few lines and express to you our faith, feelings and hopes concerning the great work of our God in which we are all mutually interested. Never at any time in our lives have we had more joy and satisfaction in the Gospel and in the labors thereof than we have at the present time. Profoundly grateful to our God for His kindness to us in permitting us to have a name and place among His people, and to be the bearers of His everlasting Priesthood, we are determined with His help to press forward with increased diligence and zeal in doing our part towards the carrying on of His purposes and work. We see His hand marvelously manifested in behalf of His people. We know that His power is with us, that His Angels have charge concerning us, and that no affliction can fall upon any one, however humble, without it being fully known to Him. This knowledge that God is near to us, and hears and answers our prayers, is an unceasing cause of thankfulness and praise. For a wise purpose in His providence He permits the wicked, in the exercise of their agency, from time to time to afflict His followers. Since the days of our father Adam this has always been the case, and it will continue to be, so long as Satan has any power over the hearts of the children of men. We are all children of the same Great Parent, and each one has the opportunity and privilege granted to him or her to exercise his or her agency. We have chosen to serve the God of Israel. We have submitted to His laws, have obeyed His Gospel, and have chosen the path which He assures us will bring us into His presence. Others of His children prefer a different course. They yield to a different influence, and, under its power, they seek to destroy the work of God and all who are connected with it. This they can do in the exercise of the agency which the Father has given unto them. Not only in times past, but in our own day, the wicked have persecuted, tormented and murdered the Saints of God. But, while in so doing, they bring upon themselves everlasting condemnation, their acts are overruled for the glory and exaltation of His faithful people and the accomplishment of His purposes in the redemption of the earth.
For a few months past we have seen in these valleys an exhibition of this deadly hostility against the Latter-day Saints. We need not enumerate to you all these acts of oppression and wrong. You are familiar with them. But the best men in the community, men of pure lives, men who have set an example to the people ever since they came to these mountains, and in all their days, who have led in works of righteousness, who have been citizens of the highest type of character, have been selected as victims of a vile persecution and been assailed and denounced as criminals of the lowest grade. Juries have been selected for the express purpose of convicting men who are prominent in the Church; and their partisan bias has become so thoroughly known in the community that the common expression is, that an accusation in the courts, as now constituted, is equivalent to a conviction. The rule of juris-prudence which has come down for ages past has been that the accused shall be deemed innocent until proven guilty. In our courts, we are sorry to say, this has been reversed. The burden of proof has rested upon the accused in almost every instance—the judge, the jury, equally with the persecution, appearing to view him as guilty, and that it was his duty to furnish all the proof necessary to exculpate him from the accusation of guilt. Among all the English-speaking people and for ages past, the jury has been looked upon as the palladium of human liberty. It has been the richest fruit of our civilization. No greater guarantee of fairness could be imagined by our ancestors than that a man accused of crime should have his case submitted to the judgment of his peers—his neighbors living in the vicinage—and presumably acquainted with his life and with the motives which may have prompted him to commit the crime of which he was accused. The wisdom of man has failed to devise fairer or more just means than this of deciding upon their fellow-man’s guilt or innocence when accused. But in this Judicial District, for a long period past, we do not know of a jury that has been thus constituted. Jurors have been selected for their known enmity to the parties accused, or to the principle involved in the trial.
The result has been that a Latter-day Saint would almost be as safe in seeking for justice in the infernal regions, or at the hands of Algerine pirates as in courts of this character. Indictments have been found against different parties upon the flimsiest evidence, and in some instances upon evidence which would have no weight with any fair-minded jury. The result has been a reign of judicial terror has prevailed and still prevails in these valleys. Seeing no prospect of fair trial, men have deemed it better to avoid arrest for a season, or until there was a prospect of receiving impartial treatment by the courts and juries. Prosecution has degenerated into persecution. A law which is in and of itself, as we believe, unconstitutional and aimed at the practice of religion, and so viewed by a number of our leading statesmen in Congress, is taken advantage of and carried to lengths probably never dreamed of by many of the men who voted for it. We have sometimes thought that it was impossible for men to indulge in such vindictive feelings as have been manifested here; but in searching for a cause we have been forced to the conclusion that these violent prosecutions were only intended to provoke the people to commit some overt act whereby the incoming administration might be embarrassed.
Permit us to refer to our own cases. President John Taylor, at the beginning of this year, hearing of the persecution to which our brethren were subjected in Arizona, determined to visit that region, in company with a number of the Elders. His object in going there was to visit with and, as far as possible, comfort the Saints. Five of our co-religionists had undergone a form of trial, a travesty of justice, and three of them had been sent, under a sentence of imprisonment of three and a half years and $500 fine each, to what may be rightly termed the American Siberia, upwards of 2,000 miles distant from their own homes—the House of Correction at Detroit. The other two had been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and $500 fine in the Territorial Penitentiary at Yuma. Every member of our Church was shocked at these outrageous proceedings. For, while all were prepared to endure the legal consequences of the violation of the Edmunds law, they were not prepared for such gross and tyrannical perversions of the law as were involved in those sentences. No man who could by any possibility be accused, any longer dared to submit his case to such treatment. Many of them, therefore, left their homes, to seek in a foreign land that freedom from persecution which was denied them in their own. It was under these circumstances that President Taylor, and the company of Elders referred to, visited Arizona. Upon his return, and while at San Francisco, he received telegrams informing him that it was unsafe for him to come back to Salt Lake City. Disregarding these, however, he did return and publicly attended to his business for some time; in the meanwhile delivering a discourse to the Saints in the Tabernacle. Seeing, however, how determined certain Federal officials here were to embarrass, arrest and place under bonds every prominent man, and being informed of threats made against his own liberty, he deemed it wise, under the circumstances, to withdraw for awhile to attend to his business in a more private manner than he had been in the habit of doing in his public office. This he has continued to do up to the present writing, receiving and answering letters, giving counsel and instruction, and devoting himself assiduously to all the duties of his calling, except in delivering public addresses from the stand. Neither he, President George Q. Cannon, nor President Joseph F. Smith have had any official notification or reliable information from any officer of the court that process of any kind had been issued against them; at the same time their residences, especially that of Brother Joseph F. Smith, have been invaded and searched, and the Marshal, his deputies and their spotters and spies have displayed a zeal to ascertain the whereabouts of the First Presidency that has led to the conclusion that they wished to get them into their power and place them under arrest. And not only his anxiety was manifested in their cases, but President Woodruff and several of the Twelve Apostles, besides numbers of other leading men, have been threatened and sought for with assiduity.
In England, upon one occasion, the eloquent Lord Chatham said, in speaking of the rights of the subject, that a man’s house was his castle: that though it might be so poor that the rains of heaven could penetrate it and the winds beat through its crevices, yet the King of England himself could not cross its threshold without its owner’s permission.
A recent illustration of the zeal of these officials and their creatures has come to light in the case of President George Q. Cannon, who has just returned from the East. The railroads and highways have been swarming with Deputy Marshals and their myrmidons to intercept and arrest him. We have yet to learn that it has become necessary for honorable gentlemen in America to report themselves to courts, Marshals or any civil officer when they leave home on business, or to ask for passports or to have them vised.
The question has been asked us, how long we intend to pursue this course. In answer we say, that at no time during our existence have we ever shrunk from the investigation of our conduct, our utterances or of our lives by any fair tribunal. We have lived under the gaze of the public, and where every act and expression could be scrutinized. We are as ready to-day, as ever, to submit our cases to a properly organized court and jury of our peers, to decide upon. So confident are we of our innocence of alleged wrong-doing that we entertain no fears of the result of such a trial. We are willing to meet the issue at any moment. We are fully conscious of our innocence of all violation of the laws of God or of Constitutional laws enacted by man. But if there are laws made to entrap us, because of our belief in and practice of the revelations which God has given to His Church, which a court and jury shall decide we have violated, we desire at least, that it shall be upon what all the world call good evidence and substantial proof, and not upon religious prejudice, and through a determination to convict and punish, evidence or no evidence. We ought, at least, to have the same rights that burglars, thieves and murderers are accorded under the law. In that case, should conviction follow, we should submit to it as martyrs have submitted in every age when God has had a people upon the earth, as persecution inflicted upon us for our adherence to His laws.
Our faith and practice for which we are sought to be condemned and punished, is the faith and practice of the best and holiest of God’s children. If we are sinners in this respect, then Abraham, who is distinguished by the Lord himself as the friend of God, was a sinner. If we are sinners, then Jacob and Moses and Elkanah, Solomon and David, and a host of others too numerous to mention, were also sinners. Even Jesus himself, the Being whom we adore as our Redeemer and the Author of our salvation, called the Eternal Father whom He worshipped, and whom we are commanded to worship, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, showing that the God of heaven himself attached no condemnation to these men for their practice of patriarchal marriage; but in many instances commanded it, provided laws for its arrangement, and called those who practised it His friends and men after His own heart. And, what is still more worthy of remark, that in choosing a lineage from which His beloved Son Jesus should descend, He chose a lineage distinguished in the earth among all nations, as polygamic. The most renowned ancestors of the Savior of the world, and to whom He most frequently alluded, were polygamists. Can therefore our belief in and practice of this system of marriage be as wrong as our opponents would have it appear? When this noble array of God’s favorite children are remembered, and when, in addition, we call to mind the fact that the Bible itself, which has given to the Christian world all the knowledge it has of God and godliness, has principally, under God, polygamists as its authors.
It is averred by some of our enemies that this is not religion. This is not the view, however, of the members of the Utah Commission, for they have said:
“This article of faith is as much an essential and substantial part of their creed as their belief in baptism, repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the like.” And again: “All orthodox Mormons believe polygamy to be right, and that it is an essential part of their creed.”
It has also been alleged in Congress, by those who take pleasure in denouncing our system of marriage, that the English government in India has put down the Suttee, and that, therefore, the United States ought to put down plural marriage. If those venerable Solons had made themselves more acquainted with the action of the Imperial Government of Great Britain, they would have found that, while that government put down widow burning, it protects by law, in all their rights, privileges and franchises, 180,000,000 of polygamists and places them on an equal footing with others.
The Lord has revealed to us by His special revelations, as clearly and positively as he ever did to any of the ancient Prophets, certain principles associated with the eternity of the marriage covenant, has given definite commands pertaining thereto and made them obligatory upon us to carry out. He has made manifest to us those great and eternal principles which bind woman to man and man to woman, children to parents and parents to children, and has called upon us in the most emphatic and pointed manner to obey them. These glorious principles involve our dearest interests and associations in time and throughout the eternities that are to come. We are told that this is His everlasting covenant, and that it has existed from eternity; and, furthermore, that all covenants that relate only to time shall be dissolved at death and be no longer binding upon the human family. He has, moreover told us that if we do not obey those principles we shall be damned. Believing these principles to be of God and from God we have entered into eternal covenants with our wives under the most solemn promises and in the most sacred manner. Among the rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution of the United States is not only that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” but that no State shall enact any “law impairing the obligation of contracts.” Ours are contracts of a most sacred character and of such vital importance for time and eternity that all worldly obligations and contracts sink into insignificance in comparison with them. Among many of the professors of modern Christianity this is looked upon as an error, and without inspiration or revelation on this subject, all the idea that is ever presented associated with the marital relations, is that they enter into these contracts “until death do them part.” The beauties, the glories and perpetuity of those domestic ties, those endearing associations which cluster around the family organization, perish whenever the grim messenger Death approaches. It is now made a crime by uninspired men to possess those hopes and practice those principles which the most virtuous, upright, holy and eminent men of God have esteemed as treasures beyond price. Under an infatuated, mistaken and suicidal policy they seek to blast those hopes which are a solace to the life of the believer in the revelations of God, and to sever those connubial ties which bud in time and will blossom and bear fruit in the Celestial Kingdom of our God in the eternities to come.
The Christianity of to-day cannot offer us anything of an eternal character to compensate us for the abandonment of the truth which is demanded of us. The fact is, mankind, in their endeavor to correct God’s system of marriage, have adopted a system which is entirely inadequate to save man from the dreadful evils by which he is surrounded. Where there are thousands and millions of honorable, upright men in the world, who have devoted their entire lives to the promotion of morality and virtue, and the extirpation of every sinful practice, the evils against which they battled, have steadily increased around them. The system which they taught was not God’s system; it did not, therefore, meet man’s wants. Those channels which God has provided for the lawful exercise of the appetites with which he has endowed man, under the system now in vogue, have been dammed up, and the history of Christendom informs us with what terrible results—the degradation and prostitution of woman and the spread of the most terrible scourge known to humanity, the social evil, with its attendant train of loathsome horrors. With our knowledge of God’s laws we never can adopt such a system and call it civilization. And we again take this opportunity of warning the Latter-day Saints against those murderous and damning practices of foeticide and infanticide, to introduce which in our midst attempts have been made. These practices are also the horrible fruits of a man-made system of marriage, and so terrible have they become that many of the leading thinkers of the East have told their people, and brought statistics to prove, that unless these crimes are stopped, it will only be a short time until the primitive, Puritanic stock will become extinct and foreigners take their place, their lands, their houses and their homes. These fiendish practices are becoming so common that one of the most reliable historians positively asserts that “millions do them, because they think they cannot afford to raise children.”
As the male members of our Church who practice plural marriage are estimated as not exceeding but little, if any, two per cent of the entire membership of the Church, we consider it an act of great injustice to the ninety-eight per cent. to be abused and outraged and have all their business relations disturbed, values of every kind unsettled, neighborhoods agitated and alarmed, and the property of the people generally jeopardized, because of this “raid” upon these alleged breakers of the law.
The statement of how small a portion of the males is engaged in this practice, exhibits in the clearest light how destitute of foundation are the charges made against us respecting this institution threatening the monogamic form of marriage, claimed to be the feature of the present civilization.
Need we ask you, Latter-day Saints, here assembled: Do the lives and conduct of our present would-be reformers afford you examples that you would choose to adopt, or have your children follow? Again, need we ask you: Who have been the introducers of drinking saloons, gambling dens and brothels into our towns and cities? or who have been their patrons and the aiders and promoters of every form of licentiousness, which, when we came to these mountains, we hoped to have left forever behind us? We call upon you to guard and protect yourselves and families against their corrupt and insidious influences. Their ways are the ways of death, and their paths lead down to destruction. We exhort you, therefore, to preserve your bodies and spirits pure, to protect the virtue and honor of your wives and daughters, to live your religion, to deal honestly and honorably with all men, and to maintain inviolate those glorious principles which have been revealed unto you. And, furthermore, do not permit any of these abuses with which we have to cope, to tempt you to retaliate in kind, or to violate any Constitutional law of the land. You will remember that Joseph Smith has said that that sacred instrument was given by inspiration of God, and it becomes our bounden duty to sustain it in all its provisions. And while men may in the blind zeal seek to oppress us and bring us into bondage, we must not be provoked to do as they do; but to maintain the rights, immunities, and seek for the happiness and well-being, as well as to maintain the freedom of all men of every name, color and creed.
In conclusion, we solemnly testify to the Latter-day Saints and to the world, as we have done so often in the past, that God has established His Zion, and His work will roll forth, and that all those who fight against it will perish. You have seen this fulfilled to the letter in the past.
We pray God, the Eternal Father, to bless you in your families, in your fields, and flocks and herds, and in your business and in all your righteous undertakings, and to preserve you from the hands of all your enemies and to eventually save and exalt you in His Celestial Kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Your Brethren,
John Taylor,
George Q. Cannon,
First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Said it was with pleasure that he had to announce that although the brethren of the First Presidency were unable to be present at Conference, they had no forgotten us, having forwarded an epistle to be read to the Saints. The epistle, which was published yesterday in the News, was then read by Elder B. F. Cummings, Jr.
During the afternoon session the following epistle from the First Presidency was read by Elder B. F. Cummings, Jr.:
President’s Office,
Salt Lake City,
April 4th, 1885.
To the Officers and Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Conference assembled:
Beloved Brethren and Sisters:
It is eminently proper, under the circumstances, not being able to be with you in person at our Annual Conference, that we should address you a few lines and express to you our faith, feelings and hopes concerning the great work of our God in which we are all mutually interested. Never at any time in our lives have we had more joy and satisfaction in the Gospel and in the labors thereof than we have at the present time. Profoundly grateful to our God for His kindness to us in permitting us to have a name and place among His people, and to be the bearers of His everlasting Priesthood, we are determined with His help to press forward with increased diligence and zeal in doing our part towards the carrying on of His purposes and work. We see His hand marvelously manifested in behalf of His people. We know that His power is with us, that His Angels have charge concerning us, and that no affliction can fall upon any one, however humble, without it being fully known to Him. This knowledge that God is near to us, and hears and answers our prayers, is an unceasing cause of thankfulness and praise. For a wise purpose in His providence He permits the wicked, in the exercise of their agency, from time to time to afflict His followers. Since the days of our father Adam this has always been the case, and it will continue to be, so long as Satan has any power over the hearts of the children of men. We are all children of the same Great Parent, and each one has the opportunity and privilege granted to him or her to exercise his or her agency. We have chosen to serve the God of Israel. We have submitted to His laws, have obeyed His Gospel, and have chosen the path which He assures us will bring us into His presence. Others of His children prefer a different course. They yield to a different influence, and, under its power, they seek to destroy the work of God and all who are connected with it. This they can do in the exercise of the agency which the Father has given unto them. Not only in times past, but in our own day, the wicked have persecuted, tormented and murdered the Saints of God. But, while in so doing, they bring upon themselves everlasting condemnation, their acts are overruled for the glory and exaltation of His faithful people and the accomplishment of His purposes in the redemption of the earth.
For a few months past we have seen in these valleys an exhibition of this deadly hostility against the Latter-day Saints. We need not enumerate to you all these acts of oppression and wrong. You are familiar with them. But the best men in the community, men of pure lives, men who have set an example to the people ever since they came to these mountains, and in all their days, who have led in works of righteousness, who have been citizens of the highest type of character, have been selected as victims of a vile persecution and been assailed and denounced as criminals of the lowest grade. Juries have been selected for the express purpose of convicting men who are prominent in the Church; and their partisan bias has become so thoroughly known in the community that the common expression is, that an accusation in the courts, as now constituted, is equivalent to a conviction. The rule of juris-prudence which has come down for ages past has been that the accused shall be deemed innocent until proven guilty. In our courts, we are sorry to say, this has been reversed. The burden of proof has rested upon the accused in almost every instance—the judge, the jury, equally with the persecution, appearing to view him as guilty, and that it was his duty to furnish all the proof necessary to exculpate him from the accusation of guilt. Among all the English-speaking people and for ages past, the jury has been looked upon as the palladium of human liberty. It has been the richest fruit of our civilization. No greater guarantee of fairness could be imagined by our ancestors than that a man accused of crime should have his case submitted to the judgment of his peers—his neighbors living in the vicinage—and presumably acquainted with his life and with the motives which may have prompted him to commit the crime of which he was accused. The wisdom of man has failed to devise fairer or more just means than this of deciding upon their fellow-man’s guilt or innocence when accused. But in this Judicial District, for a long period past, we do not know of a jury that has been thus constituted. Jurors have been selected for their known enmity to the parties accused, or to the principle involved in the trial.
The result has been that a Latter-day Saint would almost be as safe in seeking for justice in the infernal regions, or at the hands of Algerine pirates as in courts of this character. Indictments have been found against different parties upon the flimsiest evidence, and in some instances upon evidence which would have no weight with any fair-minded jury. The result has been a reign of judicial terror has prevailed and still prevails in these valleys. Seeing no prospect of fair trial, men have deemed it better to avoid arrest for a season, or until there was a prospect of receiving impartial treatment by the courts and juries. Prosecution has degenerated into persecution. A law which is in and of itself, as we believe, unconstitutional and aimed at the practice of religion, and so viewed by a number of our leading statesmen in Congress, is taken advantage of and carried to lengths probably never dreamed of by many of the men who voted for it. We have sometimes thought that it was impossible for men to indulge in such vindictive feelings as have been manifested here; but in searching for a cause we have been forced to the conclusion that these violent prosecutions were only intended to provoke the people to commit some overt act whereby the incoming administration might be embarrassed.
Permit us to refer to our own cases. President John Taylor, at the beginning of this year, hearing of the persecution to which our brethren were subjected in Arizona, determined to visit that region, in company with a number of the Elders. His object in going there was to visit with and, as far as possible, comfort the Saints. Five of our co-religionists had undergone a form of trial, a travesty of justice, and three of them had been sent, under a sentence of imprisonment of three and a half years and $500 fine each, to what may be rightly termed the American Siberia, upwards of 2,000 miles distant from their own homes—the House of Correction at Detroit. The other two had been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and $500 fine in the Territorial Penitentiary at Yuma. Every member of our Church was shocked at these outrageous proceedings. For, while all were prepared to endure the legal consequences of the violation of the Edmunds law, they were not prepared for such gross and tyrannical perversions of the law as were involved in those sentences. No man who could by any possibility be accused, any longer dared to submit his case to such treatment. Many of them, therefore, left their homes, to seek in a foreign land that freedom from persecution which was denied them in their own. It was under these circumstances that President Taylor, and the company of Elders referred to, visited Arizona. Upon his return, and while at San Francisco, he received telegrams informing him that it was unsafe for him to come back to Salt Lake City. Disregarding these, however, he did return and publicly attended to his business for some time; in the meanwhile delivering a discourse to the Saints in the Tabernacle. Seeing, however, how determined certain Federal officials here were to embarrass, arrest and place under bonds every prominent man, and being informed of threats made against his own liberty, he deemed it wise, under the circumstances, to withdraw for awhile to attend to his business in a more private manner than he had been in the habit of doing in his public office. This he has continued to do up to the present writing, receiving and answering letters, giving counsel and instruction, and devoting himself assiduously to all the duties of his calling, except in delivering public addresses from the stand. Neither he, President George Q. Cannon, nor President Joseph F. Smith have had any official notification or reliable information from any officer of the court that process of any kind had been issued against them; at the same time their residences, especially that of Brother Joseph F. Smith, have been invaded and searched, and the Marshal, his deputies and their spotters and spies have displayed a zeal to ascertain the whereabouts of the First Presidency that has led to the conclusion that they wished to get them into their power and place them under arrest. And not only his anxiety was manifested in their cases, but President Woodruff and several of the Twelve Apostles, besides numbers of other leading men, have been threatened and sought for with assiduity.
In England, upon one occasion, the eloquent Lord Chatham said, in speaking of the rights of the subject, that a man’s house was his castle: that though it might be so poor that the rains of heaven could penetrate it and the winds beat through its crevices, yet the King of England himself could not cross its threshold without its owner’s permission.
A recent illustration of the zeal of these officials and their creatures has come to light in the case of President George Q. Cannon, who has just returned from the East. The railroads and highways have been swarming with Deputy Marshals and their myrmidons to intercept and arrest him. We have yet to learn that it has become necessary for honorable gentlemen in America to report themselves to courts, Marshals or any civil officer when they leave home on business, or to ask for passports or to have them vised.
The question has been asked us, how long we intend to pursue this course. In answer we say, that at no time during our existence have we ever shrunk from the investigation of our conduct, our utterances or of our lives by any fair tribunal. We have lived under the gaze of the public, and where every act and expression could be scrutinized. We are as ready to-day, as ever, to submit our cases to a properly organized court and jury of our peers, to decide upon. So confident are we of our innocence of alleged wrong-doing that we entertain no fears of the result of such a trial. We are willing to meet the issue at any moment. We are fully conscious of our innocence of all violation of the laws of God or of Constitutional laws enacted by man. But if there are laws made to entrap us, because of our belief in and practice of the revelations which God has given to His Church, which a court and jury shall decide we have violated, we desire at least, that it shall be upon what all the world call good evidence and substantial proof, and not upon religious prejudice, and through a determination to convict and punish, evidence or no evidence. We ought, at least, to have the same rights that burglars, thieves and murderers are accorded under the law. In that case, should conviction follow, we should submit to it as martyrs have submitted in every age when God has had a people upon the earth, as persecution inflicted upon us for our adherence to His laws.
Our faith and practice for which we are sought to be condemned and punished, is the faith and practice of the best and holiest of God’s children. If we are sinners in this respect, then Abraham, who is distinguished by the Lord himself as the friend of God, was a sinner. If we are sinners, then Jacob and Moses and Elkanah, Solomon and David, and a host of others too numerous to mention, were also sinners. Even Jesus himself, the Being whom we adore as our Redeemer and the Author of our salvation, called the Eternal Father whom He worshipped, and whom we are commanded to worship, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, showing that the God of heaven himself attached no condemnation to these men for their practice of patriarchal marriage; but in many instances commanded it, provided laws for its arrangement, and called those who practised it His friends and men after His own heart. And, what is still more worthy of remark, that in choosing a lineage from which His beloved Son Jesus should descend, He chose a lineage distinguished in the earth among all nations, as polygamic. The most renowned ancestors of the Savior of the world, and to whom He most frequently alluded, were polygamists. Can therefore our belief in and practice of this system of marriage be as wrong as our opponents would have it appear? When this noble array of God’s favorite children are remembered, and when, in addition, we call to mind the fact that the Bible itself, which has given to the Christian world all the knowledge it has of God and godliness, has principally, under God, polygamists as its authors.
It is averred by some of our enemies that this is not religion. This is not the view, however, of the members of the Utah Commission, for they have said:
“This article of faith is as much an essential and substantial part of their creed as their belief in baptism, repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the like.” And again: “All orthodox Mormons believe polygamy to be right, and that it is an essential part of their creed.”
It has also been alleged in Congress, by those who take pleasure in denouncing our system of marriage, that the English government in India has put down the Suttee, and that, therefore, the United States ought to put down plural marriage. If those venerable Solons had made themselves more acquainted with the action of the Imperial Government of Great Britain, they would have found that, while that government put down widow burning, it protects by law, in all their rights, privileges and franchises, 180,000,000 of polygamists and places them on an equal footing with others.
The Lord has revealed to us by His special revelations, as clearly and positively as he ever did to any of the ancient Prophets, certain principles associated with the eternity of the marriage covenant, has given definite commands pertaining thereto and made them obligatory upon us to carry out. He has made manifest to us those great and eternal principles which bind woman to man and man to woman, children to parents and parents to children, and has called upon us in the most emphatic and pointed manner to obey them. These glorious principles involve our dearest interests and associations in time and throughout the eternities that are to come. We are told that this is His everlasting covenant, and that it has existed from eternity; and, furthermore, that all covenants that relate only to time shall be dissolved at death and be no longer binding upon the human family. He has, moreover told us that if we do not obey those principles we shall be damned. Believing these principles to be of God and from God we have entered into eternal covenants with our wives under the most solemn promises and in the most sacred manner. Among the rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution of the United States is not only that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” but that no State shall enact any “law impairing the obligation of contracts.” Ours are contracts of a most sacred character and of such vital importance for time and eternity that all worldly obligations and contracts sink into insignificance in comparison with them. Among many of the professors of modern Christianity this is looked upon as an error, and without inspiration or revelation on this subject, all the idea that is ever presented associated with the marital relations, is that they enter into these contracts “until death do them part.” The beauties, the glories and perpetuity of those domestic ties, those endearing associations which cluster around the family organization, perish whenever the grim messenger Death approaches. It is now made a crime by uninspired men to possess those hopes and practice those principles which the most virtuous, upright, holy and eminent men of God have esteemed as treasures beyond price. Under an infatuated, mistaken and suicidal policy they seek to blast those hopes which are a solace to the life of the believer in the revelations of God, and to sever those connubial ties which bud in time and will blossom and bear fruit in the Celestial Kingdom of our God in the eternities to come.
The Christianity of to-day cannot offer us anything of an eternal character to compensate us for the abandonment of the truth which is demanded of us. The fact is, mankind, in their endeavor to correct God’s system of marriage, have adopted a system which is entirely inadequate to save man from the dreadful evils by which he is surrounded. Where there are thousands and millions of honorable, upright men in the world, who have devoted their entire lives to the promotion of morality and virtue, and the extirpation of every sinful practice, the evils against which they battled, have steadily increased around them. The system which they taught was not God’s system; it did not, therefore, meet man’s wants. Those channels which God has provided for the lawful exercise of the appetites with which he has endowed man, under the system now in vogue, have been dammed up, and the history of Christendom informs us with what terrible results—the degradation and prostitution of woman and the spread of the most terrible scourge known to humanity, the social evil, with its attendant train of loathsome horrors. With our knowledge of God’s laws we never can adopt such a system and call it civilization. And we again take this opportunity of warning the Latter-day Saints against those murderous and damning practices of foeticide and infanticide, to introduce which in our midst attempts have been made. These practices are also the horrible fruits of a man-made system of marriage, and so terrible have they become that many of the leading thinkers of the East have told their people, and brought statistics to prove, that unless these crimes are stopped, it will only be a short time until the primitive, Puritanic stock will become extinct and foreigners take their place, their lands, their houses and their homes. These fiendish practices are becoming so common that one of the most reliable historians positively asserts that “millions do them, because they think they cannot afford to raise children.”
As the male members of our Church who practice plural marriage are estimated as not exceeding but little, if any, two per cent of the entire membership of the Church, we consider it an act of great injustice to the ninety-eight per cent. to be abused and outraged and have all their business relations disturbed, values of every kind unsettled, neighborhoods agitated and alarmed, and the property of the people generally jeopardized, because of this “raid” upon these alleged breakers of the law.
The statement of how small a portion of the males is engaged in this practice, exhibits in the clearest light how destitute of foundation are the charges made against us respecting this institution threatening the monogamic form of marriage, claimed to be the feature of the present civilization.
Need we ask you, Latter-day Saints, here assembled: Do the lives and conduct of our present would-be reformers afford you examples that you would choose to adopt, or have your children follow? Again, need we ask you: Who have been the introducers of drinking saloons, gambling dens and brothels into our towns and cities? or who have been their patrons and the aiders and promoters of every form of licentiousness, which, when we came to these mountains, we hoped to have left forever behind us? We call upon you to guard and protect yourselves and families against their corrupt and insidious influences. Their ways are the ways of death, and their paths lead down to destruction. We exhort you, therefore, to preserve your bodies and spirits pure, to protect the virtue and honor of your wives and daughters, to live your religion, to deal honestly and honorably with all men, and to maintain inviolate those glorious principles which have been revealed unto you. And, furthermore, do not permit any of these abuses with which we have to cope, to tempt you to retaliate in kind, or to violate any Constitutional law of the land. You will remember that Joseph Smith has said that that sacred instrument was given by inspiration of God, and it becomes our bounden duty to sustain it in all its provisions. And while men may in the blind zeal seek to oppress us and bring us into bondage, we must not be provoked to do as they do; but to maintain the rights, immunities, and seek for the happiness and well-being, as well as to maintain the freedom of all men of every name, color and creed.
In conclusion, we solemnly testify to the Latter-day Saints and to the world, as we have done so often in the past, that God has established His Zion, and His work will roll forth, and that all those who fight against it will perish. You have seen this fulfilled to the letter in the past.
We pray God, the Eternal Father, to bless you in your families, in your fields, and flocks and herds, and in your business and in all your righteous undertakings, and to preserve you from the hands of all your enemies and to eventually save and exalt you in His Celestial Kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Your Brethren,
John Taylor,
George Q. Cannon,
First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Apostle Heber J. Grant introduced the following Motion:
“In view of the statement in the epistle that we have heard read, that the proportion of the male members of our Church who are living in the practice of plural marriage is but little, if any, more than two per cent of the entire membership of the church, and the injustice done to the great majority of this community by the action of the Federal officials, I move that a committee be appointed by this Conference to draft a series of resolutions, and a protest to the President of the United States, and to the nation, in which the wrongs the people of this Territory have suffered and are still suffering, from the tyrannical conduct of Federal officials shall be set forth specifically and in detail, and asking in respectful language for the same treatment to which other citizens of the United States are entitled, and report the same to a mass meeting which shall be hereafter called.”
President Richards put the motion to the Conference and it was carried unanimously.
The following were submitted as the committee provided for in the motion:
John T. Caine, William Jennings, Feramorz Little, James Sharp, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Orson F. Whitney, John Q. Cannon, J. F. Wells, Chas. O. Card, Abram Hatch, Wm. W. Cluff, Willard G. Smith, Lewis W. Shurtliff, Oliver G. Snow, Thomas G. Webber, Franklin S. Richards, Samuel R. Thurman, Joel Grover, Rees R. Llewellyn, B. H. Roberts, Joseph Kimball.
The committee were sustained by unanimous vote.
“In view of the statement in the epistle that we have heard read, that the proportion of the male members of our Church who are living in the practice of plural marriage is but little, if any, more than two per cent of the entire membership of the church, and the injustice done to the great majority of this community by the action of the Federal officials, I move that a committee be appointed by this Conference to draft a series of resolutions, and a protest to the President of the United States, and to the nation, in which the wrongs the people of this Territory have suffered and are still suffering, from the tyrannical conduct of Federal officials shall be set forth specifically and in detail, and asking in respectful language for the same treatment to which other citizens of the United States are entitled, and report the same to a mass meeting which shall be hereafter called.”
President Richards put the motion to the Conference and it was carried unanimously.
The following were submitted as the committee provided for in the motion:
John T. Caine, William Jennings, Feramorz Little, James Sharp, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Orson F. Whitney, John Q. Cannon, J. F. Wells, Chas. O. Card, Abram Hatch, Wm. W. Cluff, Willard G. Smith, Lewis W. Shurtliff, Oliver G. Snow, Thomas G. Webber, Franklin S. Richards, Samuel R. Thurman, Joel Grover, Rees R. Llewellyn, B. H. Roberts, Joseph Kimball.
The committee were sustained by unanimous vote.
President F. D. Richards
said he appreciated the sentiments which had been expressed during the Conference, and for the consideration that had been manifested by our brethren of the First Presidency. The people of the world and the people of God had always been in direct antagonism. The conflict had followed down through the ages. The people of the earth have never been able to see the principles of Christ correctly as a whole. The principles of the Gospel as revealed from God have been admitted to be the most ennobling by the greatest moral philosophers, aside from religious considerations. Great moralists and scientists have held them to be equal in value to the greatest truths that have been elucidated through them. Repentance of sin is a first principle of the Gospel of regeneration; then comes the washing in the waters of regeneration, followed by the realization of the ministration of the Holy Spirit. These principles were made known to Adam. The first man was informed by Got that his offering of sacrifice was a forecast of the coming of Christ and His atonement. It was taught to him that he must be born of the water and of the Spirit. He was caught up by the Spirit, immersed in and brought out of the water, and he was born of the Holy Ghost. He was also commanded to teach these things to his children, and if they observed them they would have the words of life in the world and eternal life in eternity. The very first practical step to be taken after wickedness had appeared on the earth, that men might rid themselves of uncleanness, was to comply with these principles. This is the foundation that all men have to lay in their hearts, that they may be redeemed. Those who are in this congregation and have come from nations far and near, know that it was obedience to these things that enabled them to reach their present position. That same Priesthood which is after the Order of Melchisedec, had descended from Adam, who was ordained under the hands of God. This is the same authority that exists in this Church. There will yet be other laws and principles revealed for the observance of the Priesthood besides those already given. If the world are afraid of what exists, what shall they do when still more is manifested from God. The Saints need not fear. The Lord will sustain them in all times of trouble by His grace, but He makes no promise in regard to trouble that is borrowed. It would be better if some of the more inquisitive ones in the Church did not ask quite so many questions. It is occasionally safe to be able to say truthfully that you do not know some things. People should not be quite so anxious for certain kinds of information. Obedience to the Gospel is not only full of peace and blessing for the life to come, but gives joy in the present. No matter in what society a man mingles, those who do their duty and are pure and upright elicit the largest degree of esteem. It may not always be openly admitted, but it generally is inwardly. It is with nations as with individuals: tendencies to corruption bring misery and ruin. The fathers of this country who founded the nation, came to this land to be free. They framed and adopted the glorious Constitution, which incorporates more the real principles of good government than any other instrument ever produced. It was given by inspiration of the Almighty. But men have become so degenerate, that they are trampling all its safeguards underfoot in order to crush the people of God.
The First Presidency have counseled the Saints to commit no evert act, no matter how great may be the provocation. Remember the words of Christ when his life’s blood was oozing from Him—“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” It is painful to see men trample the principles of the Constitution into the dust, but let us pity them awhile. The Saints have reason to rejoice, because a woe is pronounced against them, when all men speak well of them; but they have reason to rejoice when men speak evil of them falsely. It is a time to bring our practical religion into use, and, knowing the purposes of God, we can follow in the footsteps of Christ and exercise self control. This opposition is just what has been looked for. As the work of God spreads, so will this antagonism exist. It is an eternal consequence of our faith. We are on the altar, with everything we possess. The Saints were told in early times that if they would keep God’s commandments they would from that time begin to prevail, and this promise had been fulfilled. The opposition now developed will go just so far as the Lord will permit. The speaker prayed that the blessings of the Almighty might rest upon the people.
The choir sang: The Son of the Redeemed.
Benediction by Elder Junius F. Wells.
said he appreciated the sentiments which had been expressed during the Conference, and for the consideration that had been manifested by our brethren of the First Presidency. The people of the world and the people of God had always been in direct antagonism. The conflict had followed down through the ages. The people of the earth have never been able to see the principles of Christ correctly as a whole. The principles of the Gospel as revealed from God have been admitted to be the most ennobling by the greatest moral philosophers, aside from religious considerations. Great moralists and scientists have held them to be equal in value to the greatest truths that have been elucidated through them. Repentance of sin is a first principle of the Gospel of regeneration; then comes the washing in the waters of regeneration, followed by the realization of the ministration of the Holy Spirit. These principles were made known to Adam. The first man was informed by Got that his offering of sacrifice was a forecast of the coming of Christ and His atonement. It was taught to him that he must be born of the water and of the Spirit. He was caught up by the Spirit, immersed in and brought out of the water, and he was born of the Holy Ghost. He was also commanded to teach these things to his children, and if they observed them they would have the words of life in the world and eternal life in eternity. The very first practical step to be taken after wickedness had appeared on the earth, that men might rid themselves of uncleanness, was to comply with these principles. This is the foundation that all men have to lay in their hearts, that they may be redeemed. Those who are in this congregation and have come from nations far and near, know that it was obedience to these things that enabled them to reach their present position. That same Priesthood which is after the Order of Melchisedec, had descended from Adam, who was ordained under the hands of God. This is the same authority that exists in this Church. There will yet be other laws and principles revealed for the observance of the Priesthood besides those already given. If the world are afraid of what exists, what shall they do when still more is manifested from God. The Saints need not fear. The Lord will sustain them in all times of trouble by His grace, but He makes no promise in regard to trouble that is borrowed. It would be better if some of the more inquisitive ones in the Church did not ask quite so many questions. It is occasionally safe to be able to say truthfully that you do not know some things. People should not be quite so anxious for certain kinds of information. Obedience to the Gospel is not only full of peace and blessing for the life to come, but gives joy in the present. No matter in what society a man mingles, those who do their duty and are pure and upright elicit the largest degree of esteem. It may not always be openly admitted, but it generally is inwardly. It is with nations as with individuals: tendencies to corruption bring misery and ruin. The fathers of this country who founded the nation, came to this land to be free. They framed and adopted the glorious Constitution, which incorporates more the real principles of good government than any other instrument ever produced. It was given by inspiration of the Almighty. But men have become so degenerate, that they are trampling all its safeguards underfoot in order to crush the people of God.
The First Presidency have counseled the Saints to commit no evert act, no matter how great may be the provocation. Remember the words of Christ when his life’s blood was oozing from Him—“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” It is painful to see men trample the principles of the Constitution into the dust, but let us pity them awhile. The Saints have reason to rejoice, because a woe is pronounced against them, when all men speak well of them; but they have reason to rejoice when men speak evil of them falsely. It is a time to bring our practical religion into use, and, knowing the purposes of God, we can follow in the footsteps of Christ and exercise self control. This opposition is just what has been looked for. As the work of God spreads, so will this antagonism exist. It is an eternal consequence of our faith. We are on the altar, with everything we possess. The Saints were told in early times that if they would keep God’s commandments they would from that time begin to prevail, and this promise had been fulfilled. The opposition now developed will go just so far as the Lord will permit. The speaker prayed that the blessings of the Almighty might rest upon the people.
The choir sang: The Son of the Redeemed.
Benediction by Elder Junius F. Wells.
THIRD DAY.
Morning Session. April 6th.
Conference convened at 10 o’clock.
The choir sang: The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Lo! Zion’s standard is unfurled.
Prayer by Elder Hugh S. Gowans.
The choir sang: Ere long the veil will rend in twain, The King descend with all His train.
Morning Session. April 6th.
Conference convened at 10 o’clock.
The choir sang: The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Lo! Zion’s standard is unfurled.
Prayer by Elder Hugh S. Gowans.
The choir sang: Ere long the veil will rend in twain, The King descend with all His train.
Apostle John Henry Smith
was the first speaker this morning. It afforded him pleasure to once more be in Zion and mingle with the people of God in a General Conference. His feelings regarding his mountain home could not be expressed in language. His heart was full and his joy was great in again assembling with those he had known from childhood and with the Saints generally. In the last few months he had been visiting and explaining the Gospel to his kindred, and while he was received with kindness, he had reason to believe that his utterances had fallen upon stony ground. In 1882 he was sent by the Church authorities to Europe, to preside for a time over the mission in that part of the world. While on a previous mission to the same part of the world his health had been exceedingly precarious. On going to fill his more recent appointment he had been promised by the servants of God that he would be prospered. This had been fully realized, he having become free from all deleterious effects that he had formerly incurred. There had been a great deal of proselyting done by the liberal distribution of the written word, and many had been warned. The Elders who had labored with him had been efficient, humble and active, and he had nothing but blessings for each and all of them. He respected and honored them as his own brothers. The friendship that springs up between brethren in the midst of strangers and adversity is of an enduring character. Some baptizing had been done and some new ground had been broken in Great Britain, or at least places that had been closed for years had been re-opened. The mission work had lapped over from Scandinavia into Finland, to which country Elder Fjelsted had sent a few Elders some time before and gained a foothold. Through the services of a native Elder efforts were also being made to open the Gospel door on the borders of Prussia and Austria. An opening was also being attempted in Turkey. It is hoped by putting forth such efforts that, under the blessing of God, every son and daughter of our Father will eventually be warned. In Great Britain the work is closing up. In Ireland, through the efforts of Elders Wilson and Marshall, an opening had been made, and a good number of people had embraced the Gospel. The speaker visited Italy in the hope that the work could be introduced there. Two Elders who had been laboring there almost lost their lives. But little could be done in that nation at present, the people being so bound up by Catholicism. Elder Bunot labored assiduously to spread the Gospel in France, but with no apparent result, except to warn the people so far as he had opportunity. It is not only a day of gleaning and gathering but of warning, to leave the people without excuse. At the time our brethren were murdered in cold blood in Tennessee, a wave of hatred passed over Europe in regard to the Saints. The press teemed with false accusations, and anti-“Mormon” lecturers were plentiful. This feeling was more or less intense up to the time the speaker left for home. But as usual a cooler condition will ensue, by the law of re-action. Many people will investigate, and realize the truth of the remark of Mr. Beecher, that in North-west America is the most striking phenomenon of the Nineteenth century. They see a people who are irrepressible. They see a conflict against the evils of the world. The speaker rejoiced to once more put his foot on the soil of America—the land of freedom. Men may seek to crush the principles of liberty, but Divinity has decreed that here those principles shall live and extend over all the earth. The law of God shall yet go forth from this chosen land. All we need to do is to keep our eye upon the truth, hating no one, no matter how evil-disposed he may be. No matter how corrupt men are, we should look upon them as having something in them we should make an effort to save. The speaker wished some things could be otherwise, but he saw no other road to travel than through trials without fear, that the object in view might be gained. This was the way in which he looked upon the present opposition to the Church. There was no other course but to accept the situation. Surely we can endure imprisonment or hardship for the gospel’s sake. He had no personal concern regarding the matter. It may be that men may be imprisoned; they may be hunted to death; men die, but systems live and cannot be annihilated. We are but the instruments to accomplish the work of establishing the Church of Christ, and while some of the implements may be broken, there are others ready to take up the same labor and perpetuate it. The judgments of God will visit the nations, and that which divinity has established will break in pieces all things that oppose it. The forces that are brought to bear against the Saints are not confined to the politicians of the country. Behind them are the people. There are first the clergymen of the different religious denominations. They are incited by false statements that are formulated by those who reside here. These awful stories are believed, and thus an influence is brought to bear upon the politicians that moves them to inimical action against the Saints. The mass of the people of New England appear to imagine it to be their special mission to extirpate “Mormonism,” and the speaker, on his late visit there, had been warned that the end of the system was near. His friends there had referred him to Mrs. Stenhouse’s book, but he had informed those drawing his attention to its fabrications that he could, if he were a bookmaker, write a work in a short time of occurrences in New England that would throw the one referred to into the shade. The laws of God were being outraged in New England, by women refusing to answer the end of their beings, preferring to be childless, or nearly so. Satan himself recognizes the growing power among the people of Utah, who answer the design of God in the relations of the sexes, rearing children like flocks to honor God. But all were not depraved in these relations in New England, there being many honorable exceptions. The Saints have wronged no one by peopling these valleys. Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the imposition of hands for the imparting of the Holy Ghost are principles of the Gospel, and in obeying them we have injured no people. We have sworn allegiance to the institutions of the country and we sustain them. The man who seeks to enchain his fellows is the one who needs to tremble. All the doctrines we have obeyed may be enumerated, and our works in redeeming the desert may be cited and they all go to show that we have interfered with nobody. We have not raised a standard against the country. If, on religious conviction a woman makes a sacrifice and consents for her husband to take another wife into the family, and the man is willing to take upon himself the additional responsibility, no outside party is injured. The principle was revealed for the salvation of both men and women. Millions of the fair sex are going to ruin, and the Almighty never interposed the interdict against that which would prevent so great an abomination and calamity. We shall not tremble while we confront this great problem in fighting the battle which Deity has outlined. Let us bless all, curse none: feed the hungry and clothe the naked. And if we live godly it must needs be that we suffer persecution. Let us sustain each other and betray none. The speaker proposed to continue to labor among the people. He had been treated as an alien by his countrymen, yet American blood of generation flowed in his veins. He had never lifted his voice or hand against an institution of the country, and he never expected to do anything in that line. He intended to observe every constitutional law of the land. He considered it the greatest foolishness to sustain those who were engaged in or sympathized with the present crusade against the Saints. The people should confine their support to their friends, and not put a knife into the hands of their enemies to be used by them in cutting their throats.
was the first speaker this morning. It afforded him pleasure to once more be in Zion and mingle with the people of God in a General Conference. His feelings regarding his mountain home could not be expressed in language. His heart was full and his joy was great in again assembling with those he had known from childhood and with the Saints generally. In the last few months he had been visiting and explaining the Gospel to his kindred, and while he was received with kindness, he had reason to believe that his utterances had fallen upon stony ground. In 1882 he was sent by the Church authorities to Europe, to preside for a time over the mission in that part of the world. While on a previous mission to the same part of the world his health had been exceedingly precarious. On going to fill his more recent appointment he had been promised by the servants of God that he would be prospered. This had been fully realized, he having become free from all deleterious effects that he had formerly incurred. There had been a great deal of proselyting done by the liberal distribution of the written word, and many had been warned. The Elders who had labored with him had been efficient, humble and active, and he had nothing but blessings for each and all of them. He respected and honored them as his own brothers. The friendship that springs up between brethren in the midst of strangers and adversity is of an enduring character. Some baptizing had been done and some new ground had been broken in Great Britain, or at least places that had been closed for years had been re-opened. The mission work had lapped over from Scandinavia into Finland, to which country Elder Fjelsted had sent a few Elders some time before and gained a foothold. Through the services of a native Elder efforts were also being made to open the Gospel door on the borders of Prussia and Austria. An opening was also being attempted in Turkey. It is hoped by putting forth such efforts that, under the blessing of God, every son and daughter of our Father will eventually be warned. In Great Britain the work is closing up. In Ireland, through the efforts of Elders Wilson and Marshall, an opening had been made, and a good number of people had embraced the Gospel. The speaker visited Italy in the hope that the work could be introduced there. Two Elders who had been laboring there almost lost their lives. But little could be done in that nation at present, the people being so bound up by Catholicism. Elder Bunot labored assiduously to spread the Gospel in France, but with no apparent result, except to warn the people so far as he had opportunity. It is not only a day of gleaning and gathering but of warning, to leave the people without excuse. At the time our brethren were murdered in cold blood in Tennessee, a wave of hatred passed over Europe in regard to the Saints. The press teemed with false accusations, and anti-“Mormon” lecturers were plentiful. This feeling was more or less intense up to the time the speaker left for home. But as usual a cooler condition will ensue, by the law of re-action. Many people will investigate, and realize the truth of the remark of Mr. Beecher, that in North-west America is the most striking phenomenon of the Nineteenth century. They see a people who are irrepressible. They see a conflict against the evils of the world. The speaker rejoiced to once more put his foot on the soil of America—the land of freedom. Men may seek to crush the principles of liberty, but Divinity has decreed that here those principles shall live and extend over all the earth. The law of God shall yet go forth from this chosen land. All we need to do is to keep our eye upon the truth, hating no one, no matter how evil-disposed he may be. No matter how corrupt men are, we should look upon them as having something in them we should make an effort to save. The speaker wished some things could be otherwise, but he saw no other road to travel than through trials without fear, that the object in view might be gained. This was the way in which he looked upon the present opposition to the Church. There was no other course but to accept the situation. Surely we can endure imprisonment or hardship for the gospel’s sake. He had no personal concern regarding the matter. It may be that men may be imprisoned; they may be hunted to death; men die, but systems live and cannot be annihilated. We are but the instruments to accomplish the work of establishing the Church of Christ, and while some of the implements may be broken, there are others ready to take up the same labor and perpetuate it. The judgments of God will visit the nations, and that which divinity has established will break in pieces all things that oppose it. The forces that are brought to bear against the Saints are not confined to the politicians of the country. Behind them are the people. There are first the clergymen of the different religious denominations. They are incited by false statements that are formulated by those who reside here. These awful stories are believed, and thus an influence is brought to bear upon the politicians that moves them to inimical action against the Saints. The mass of the people of New England appear to imagine it to be their special mission to extirpate “Mormonism,” and the speaker, on his late visit there, had been warned that the end of the system was near. His friends there had referred him to Mrs. Stenhouse’s book, but he had informed those drawing his attention to its fabrications that he could, if he were a bookmaker, write a work in a short time of occurrences in New England that would throw the one referred to into the shade. The laws of God were being outraged in New England, by women refusing to answer the end of their beings, preferring to be childless, or nearly so. Satan himself recognizes the growing power among the people of Utah, who answer the design of God in the relations of the sexes, rearing children like flocks to honor God. But all were not depraved in these relations in New England, there being many honorable exceptions. The Saints have wronged no one by peopling these valleys. Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the imposition of hands for the imparting of the Holy Ghost are principles of the Gospel, and in obeying them we have injured no people. We have sworn allegiance to the institutions of the country and we sustain them. The man who seeks to enchain his fellows is the one who needs to tremble. All the doctrines we have obeyed may be enumerated, and our works in redeeming the desert may be cited and they all go to show that we have interfered with nobody. We have not raised a standard against the country. If, on religious conviction a woman makes a sacrifice and consents for her husband to take another wife into the family, and the man is willing to take upon himself the additional responsibility, no outside party is injured. The principle was revealed for the salvation of both men and women. Millions of the fair sex are going to ruin, and the Almighty never interposed the interdict against that which would prevent so great an abomination and calamity. We shall not tremble while we confront this great problem in fighting the battle which Deity has outlined. Let us bless all, curse none: feed the hungry and clothe the naked. And if we live godly it must needs be that we suffer persecution. Let us sustain each other and betray none. The speaker proposed to continue to labor among the people. He had been treated as an alien by his countrymen, yet American blood of generation flowed in his veins. He had never lifted his voice or hand against an institution of the country, and he never expected to do anything in that line. He intended to observe every constitutional law of the land. He considered it the greatest foolishness to sustain those who were engaged in or sympathized with the present crusade against the Saints. The people should confine their support to their friends, and not put a knife into the hands of their enemies to be used by them in cutting their throats.
Love of Home—Visit to Friends—Sent to Preside Over the European Mission—Former Ill-Health in England—Extensive System of Tract Distribution Inaugurated—Tribute to the Worth and Efficiency of the Missionaries—Report of the Condition of the Work in Various European Countries—Hatred Manifested Towards Us After the Murder of Our Brethren in Tennessee—America the Haven of Freedom—Truth Has Ever Met With Persecution—Professed Ministers of the Gospel our Greatest Enemies—No One Injured By Our Principles—Plural Marriage—The Social Evil—Conclusion
Discourse by Apostle John Henry Smith, delivered at the Annual Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Logan, Cache County, Monday Morning, April 6th, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
It affords me pleasure to meet again with the Saints in Zion, and to have the privilege of mingling with the people of God in a general conference. It is sometime since I had this privilege, and I can assure you that I appreciate it very much. I do not think it is possible for me to express in proper language my feelings in regard to my mountain home. I never learned but one verse of poetry in my life, and that one I have repeated many times, and I do not know but what it would be well for me to repeat it this morning. The verse to which I allude says:
“There is a magical tie in the land of my home, That the heart cannot break, though the footsteps may roam, Be that land where it may, at the line or the pole, It still holds the magnet that draws back my soul.”
Such is the case this morning in arising to address you for a short time. What the Lord may have for me to say to you I cannot imagine. For a few months past I have not addressed any congregations; I have been visiting; I have been reasoning with my friends upon the principles of the Gospel, and seeking to enlighten them in regard to my position. Having accepted the Gospel, and dedicated my life to the preaching of the same, I was desirous that my kindred should hear it. I have not been idle, but have been laboring with zeal to impress upon them the nature of the latter-day work. I did not go there expecting to make converts but to relieve my friends of prejudice. I have found, so to speak, that my utterances have fallen on stony ground outside of my kindred and that while I was received with kindness, and trust that good may in time come from my labors in certain directions, yet I cannot say, as many have said, that I have accomplished much good, and that I have removed a world of prejudice. I trust, however, that I may have done some good during the past few weeks among my kindred in the Eastern States.
As you are aware, in 1882 I was sent by my brethren to preside for a season over the European mission. I proceeded to my field of labor with some dubiety in regard to my own self. My former experience upon the island of Great Britain had been such that I was really fearful in regard to my health. For five years after my first mission to the British Isles, I had never passed a night in sound and perfect sleep. I suffered from a cold contracted on that mission. On my departure in 1882, however, my brethren promised me I should go in peace; that I should enjoy good health; that the blessings of the Lord should be around me; and that I should be enabled to accomplish the object for which I was sent forth. And while I went with some foreboding with regard to myself, still it appears I had to return to Great Britain, to lose that which had seized upon me on a former mission.
I found upon my arrival in that land a corps of very excellent Elders. The mission was in a very good condition, with an earnest and determined lot of missionaries who were willing to do anything that might be required at their hands for the furtherance of the purposes of the Lord. I found, however, upon investigation and mingling with my brethren, that the road seemed to be hedged up in a manner so that they could not accomplish that which their hearts desired. After visiting various conferences, and giving the brethren such instructions and counsel as the spirit suggested as to the best method to reach the people, getting their views and the result of their experience in the field, some of them having been there for a year or two—it was decided, on the suggestion of several, that an effort be made to distribute more of the written word than had heretofore been done. Communications were addressed to the Presidency of the Church, and by their consent a system of tract distribution was inaugurated and has been followed systematically from that day to this. What the result may be in the future we cannot say. Nevertheless, we have done the best we could in our ministrations among the people, and have striven with the power that the Lord has given us to warn our fellow men of the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God. The Elders that have been sent to labor under my watchcare and counsel, have been men of worth. It is a matter of pride to me that those who have been sent to labor under my direction have been good and humble men. Many of them have been young men, reared in these mountains—that were taken from the farm, from the stock range, from the store, and from the work bench. They had received comparatively little training in the ministry; but a few weeks time has developed them, and they have gone forward in faith; the Lord has blessed them in their administrations. I have had much joy and satisfaction in laboring with them, and in all my ministrations and counsels to them I believe they have listened to them and sought to the best of their ability to carry out these counsels, and labor for the advancement of the work of the Lord.
Since I returned home there has nothing afforded me greater pleasure than during this conference to take into my arms and press to my breast the men that have been laboring in the same cause as myself; for I respect and honor them as I would my own brother. These sentiments are from the heart in regard to them, and I trust that their experience with me and our acquaintance, and the friendship that springs up amid adversity and trials, may be as lasting as life itself.
I am pleased to report that in Great Britain we continue to do some baptizing. During my administration in that land a little new ground, or rather ground that had been worked years ago and been abandoned, has been opened up in various places. We have gained a foothold in Finland, and a few have been baptized in that land. Brother Fjelsted sent some native Elders into that section of country. Some men that were inspired with zeal, and who were humble, and who were ready to meet any trial and difficulty that might come in their way, succeeded in opening a little door. Seed has been sown. Away north on the borders of Prussia and Russia, an opening has been made through a native who had been ordained by Brother J. A. Smith, of Cache Valley, and there is a prospect of the Gospel being introduced in that country. We have also made a little effort to introduce the Gospel in Austria. Brother Beisinger has been there and labored some time. Brother Hammer was there also, but was run off by the authorities. Brother Beisinger and Brother Jennings are now, I suppose, in Austria, probably in Bohemia. I felt while in Switzerland, in December, that it would be impossible for me to return home without another effort being made to open up the Gospel to Austria, although the brethren had already suffered considerable in that land. The authorities there do not treat our Elders as they should; but I trust that by wisdom and prudence, the Gospel may be preached, and that the inhabitants thereof—a fine race of people—may sense their position and embrace the truth. We have also made an effort to establish ourselves in Turkey, and I trust that a work will be opened up there. A few baptisms have already been made.
The brethren throughout the British Isles have been making efforts to introduce the Gospel in every corner and place where opportunity presented itself. I would say, however, that the England of a few years ago is not the England of today. While the same spirit of liberty—the love of the rights of man—may exist among the English people, still that spirit of hospitality that characterized them years and years ago, seems to be on the wane. Many people are out of employment, the numbers that are wandering around begging their bread, closes, in a measure the hearts of the people, and they feel that they cannot carry the loads that they have been carrying. Still, among the Latter-day Saints, the same hospitality is to be found. Their hearts are as warm today as they ever were.
We have made recently—through the labors of Brothers Wilson and Marshall, two Irish brethren—an opening in the north of Ireland, and we trust that with care much good will result in that neighborhood. Some very fine people have embraced the Gospel there, people in good circumstances, and who, inspired with zeal, desire to spread the principles of the Gospel. And thus little by little we accomplish the object of our mission, and the world is being warned. When I left England there were three valley Elders in Ireland, and I hope others may be added to their number before long, so that the work may spread at least in the protestant portion of that country. I am inclined to believe that there are hundreds and thousands of people in Ireland who will receive the Gospel. My prejudices in regard to the Irish people have been wiped away in mingling among them. I find them among the purest of the stocks upon the earth. Virtue is held at a high premium among them. The statistics of Great Britain show this fact; that illegitimate births in Ireland constitute 3 percent. In England six, in Scotland nine. I say this speaks volumes for Ireland, and I trust that the Gospel may spread in that land and that thousands may receive its truths.
I have visited nearly all parts of the mission—at least where there are any Saints, and some portions where there are none. I went to Italy in the hope that I might see some chance of making an opening in that country. I came very near having two of the Elders starved by staying there. I was determined, however, to try and introduce the Gospel. There are some sections of the country that are Protestant, and I trust there may be a time come when the Gospel will spread among that people. But I regard Italy as in such a condition that there are but few chances at the present time for any opening to be made. The Italians are bound up in the religious faith that they have been reared in, or they are infidel almost entirely. I noticed in my attendance at the churches, that they are usually well filled with priests and beggars, and that few, comparatively speaking, of the well-to-do classes, or the middle classes, or the better informed classes, were paying any attention whatever to religious observance.
I have also during my administration in the British mission, sought to have the Gospel preached among the French people. Brother Bunot and Brother West made an effort on the Island of Jersey. Brother Bunot was sent to France, and he stayed there just as long as he could possibly live, using his own means, and striving by every means in his power to open some door to his countrymen. Brother Bunot is a man who was educated for the Catholic ministry, a man of intelligence and learning, and a humble man who did everything in his power to warn his countrymen. He was not successful in accomplishing the desires of his heart. On the borders of Switzerland and France a number of the Elders have labored, and while we have not reaped as we could have wished to have done, still there has been satisfaction in the labors we have performed; for we realize that it is not only a day of gleaning and gathering the people, but it is also a day of warning.
I will say here, that about the time our brethren in the southern States were murdered in cold blood, a wave of hatred seemed to have been engendered in the minds of the people in every direction. The press of Europe teemed with the most horrid stories that can be imagined. Everything that had ever been thought of everything that had ever been manufactured for partisan purposes in our own land was scattered broadcast throughout Europe, and the masses of the people were warned in every direction in regard to us. And not only were they warned through the newspapers, but lecturers began to take the field in every direction, and incite the people not to avoid our meetings, but on the contrary to follow us up and to mob us, giving us no chance to explain to them the principles of the Gospel, or represent ourselves as we should. This feeling has been growing in power from that time until the time I left that land. But as heretofore a cool wave will by and by come along and as a result of the heated condition of the people over the Mormon problem, and the efforts that have been made to impede the Lord's work, people will begin to inquire, thoughtful people will look into the truth, and the work will continue to grow in the future as it has done in the past. It is true that people do not come by hundreds and thousands to hear the good word of life and salvation; but the eyes of the world are directed to this our mountain home. They recognize the force of the utterance of Henry Ward Beecher, when he said: “Gentlemen, say what you will, but yonder in the Rocky Mountains is the phenomenon of the nineteenth century.” It is a living fact that people in every land and clime are turning their eyes towards this region of country, and wondering what will be the upshot of the problem that is being worked out by the Latter-day Saints in their western home. Men of intelligence are traveling; they are mingling among our people; they see their industry; they recognize the perseverance they have manifested; they see the obstacles they have overcome; they recognize in them a growing race that knows no failure, that meets no rebuff, that cannot understand nor sense what defeat means; and they see in the Latter-day Saints the growth and development of a power that will accomplish its object in the earth, and that object Deity has designed it should accomplish—the gathering in of the honest in heart, the establishment of righteousness, the combating of wickedness, the driving back of the forces of evil as they cluster around the hearts of men and that are leading men step by step to inevitable shame and destruction.
It affords me pleasure, my brethren and sisters, to again put my feet on the soil of America. I recognize in it the home of a free man. There may be those who desire to pervert this freedom, who may seek to engender strife and drive us from the soil upon which we live; there may be those who seek to trample upon the rights and liberties of man; but I believe from the bottom of my heart that Deity has stamped it upon this soil, that He has written it throughout the universe, that in this land His work should prosper. That it should go forward and increase until its great destiny shall be accomplished; that this is the spot chosen, that here it will be nourished, here it will grow, here it will go forward, and the nations of the earth will look upon it and recognize it as the great force that will conquer the earth and bring subject to it the powers that exist thereon; and all this will be brought about by the law of righteousness, the law of truth, the law of God given to mankind for their guidance and control, and they will accept it and live in accordance with its principles. You and I may tread a thorny path; it may be strewn with rugged places; we may break the flesh upon our hands, and be bruised in our forward movement; but the work will advance and progress. Deity is our friend, our guide, our protector. All we need do as a people is to keep our eye upon the mark of divine truth; move forward without fear, and ask no favors so far as mankind is concerned; only seek to do right by our fellow creatures. Hate no one. I dare not hate any man upon the face of the earth. No matter how vile, how wicked, how corrupt he may be, if I find him in want of a friend I would extend to him the hand of friendship; I would give him bread if he was hungry; water if he was thirsty; clothing if he was naked; for I would recognize in him the fact that he was a creation of my Father, and I would not dare to hate him, no matter how vile he might be. I might hate the principles he had espoused; the wicked acts of which he was guilty; but I would recognize in him something that I should seek to benefit, bless and save, and I would use all the powers God had bestowed upon me in that direction.
“Brother Smith,” some may say, “don't you feel uneasy over the condition of things that now exists in our Territory?” I have sometimes wished that things were not as they are. As I have wandered in the earth and stood up in the streets and parks and halls preaching the Gospel, I have said to myself, I wish that my Father had not set me to this work; I wish that these things were not required at my hands. I have sometimes felt timid in being brought in contact with the world, and the efforts that were being made against me and my brethren. I have wished it could be otherwise, and yet when I stop and reflect, when I look over the history of the past, when I read the facts as history brings them to us, I see no other way, I see no other road to travel. Every fiber of my being is convinced of the truth of this Gospel. It is stamped upon every feature, upon every part of my being. I regard it as dearer than life and everything else upon the face of the earth. Why need I be fearful, why need I tremble, why need I be wrought up at the prospect that is before us? No great system has ever been established upon the face of the earth without much labor and perseverance. Look at the inventions that have been brought out and the efforts that have been directed against them, even in those things that were to be utilized for our own clothing, for our own movements from place to place, or for the comfort and convenience of our homes. The men that have invented these things have met with continual persecution. They have struggled against nature itself; and why need we, who have had given to us the great plan of life and salvation, that which will bring us back into the presence of God, that which stamps upon our souls the prospect of eternal union with our wives and our children, and of mingling with our friends and relatives that have gone before—why need we fear the hand of our enemies. Who cannot stand a few weeks of imprisonment, a few months of torture, a few years of difficulty, that they may offer an offering in righteousness to that God that called them forth? Not one of us. Therefore, so far as I am concerned, my brethren and sisters as an individual, I am perfectly happy, just as happy as I can possibly be under the circumstances in which we are placed. I have no worry nor concern. One of my uncles, whose home I left but a few weeks ago warned me that certain things were inevitable; that it was impossible for us to hope to fight longer these things our pronounced enemies were seeking to bring upon us. All I said to him was, “Wait and see.” That is what I propose to do—wait and see, just wait and see. I have been waiting from my childhood, and expect to continue to wait. It is possible that a few men like myself maybe hustled within the prison walls; it is possible that a few “Mormons” may be outraged and banished from their native land; it is possible that men may follow us to the death; but while men die, systems continue to live and grow, and the powers of earth and hell can never check their advancement and development. Such is the case in regard to the work we have embraced. It is a living work. It is one of the active forces in nature. It is backed by the powers of heaven, and ye are its emissaries sent here at this time to aid in its advancement. The Gospel must be preached; the nations of the earth must be warned, and this nation, or any other nation, will fall beneath the judgment of an enraged God if they reject the message of glad tidings, which our Father has offered them for their exaltation in His kingdom. The work of God must conquer every foe, it must overcome every opposing force, and it will accomplish that destiny as sure as there is a God in heaven. Write it upon the page of history; stamp it upon your souls; for deity has designed that it should be the case.
I find in mingling among the people in the east, that the moving force today against the Latter-day Saints is not the politicians of the country. The politicians, so far as they are concerned would care little about us, but there are behind them the people. There are first the ministers of the Gospel. I do not desire to speak harshly of the ministers that live among us, or make charges against them, for I have been away for some time; but this fact is patent to every one—that the fervor against the “Mormons” is worked up right from our own homes, and largely by Christian ministers. Letters are written to the ministers of the country; the ministers work upon their flocks. Go among many of the peoples of the east—among the old Puritan stock, of which my fathers are descendants—and you will find that the tales of the horrors of Mormonism are of the most startling character. This I discovered while visiting among my relatives in New England.
They were all more or less prejudiced against Mormonism; but I trust that the little light I was able to throw upon the question may result in good. The New Englanders as a rule, have but small families, and the evil practices that are resorted to by many to prevent their having children at all, will be the means of carrying them down to the pit.
Now, brethren and sisters, whom have we wronged? Whom have we wronged by peopling this desert land? Nobody. If there was anybody wronged it was the red man, and he has not been wronged but blessed; for we have tried to feed instead of fight him. The first principle of the Gospel is faith. Whom have we hurt if we have faith? Then there is the principle of repentance. Whom have we injured if we have repented? Is anybody hurt? Is the government hurt? Does repentance beget hostility to the government? If we make a covenant with God in the waters of baptism that we will be pure, is anybody wronged? No! Have we plotted for the overthrow and destruction of the government in which we live because the hands of the servants of God have been laid upon our heads and they have bestowed upon us the Holy Ghost, the witness of the Spirit that shall guide us into all truth? No. Have you or I made a contract with our God to wage antagonism to the institutions of the country in which we live, or sign allegiance to any other government upon the earth? I have not. I have sworn allegiance to the government in which I live. My labors as a man are in the interests of humanity—the freedom of man; that his conscience may not be chained up; that his body may not be bowed down with the yoke of tyranny; but that before God he may stand erect, fearless and strong, determined to benefit and bless the human family. Need we be fearful in regard to these things? I think not. There is one that will recompense at the last day; and the man who denies the other his liberties, who binds him in chains, who ties him to the rack, is the man who should tremble when the reckoning of Deity is made with His sons and daughters. We might go through all the principles of the faith we have espoused and then ask who is wronged? We have made grass grow where it did not grow before. If we have built homes, if we pay taxes for the sustenance and government of the cities and towns that are to be found upon this once sterile spot, and which was once the great American desert, who is wronged? No one. Who has raised a standard against the government in which we live? Not one of us. But you believe in the Priesthood. You accept of a system of government that is most perfect on the face of the earth. Who is wronged if we do? You have not changed it. It has not changed you. It has not wronged you; and that which we have accepted we have accepted of our own free will and choice, recognizing the fact that Deity has required it at our hands. Who is injured if my wife makes a sacrifice with me and takes into our home one of her sisters and makes her my wife. If she makes the sacrifice; if I shoulder the additional responsibility, and open the door that will save one of Eve's fair daughters, who is wronged? Do I plot for the overthrow of the government, the breaking in pieces of the powers that be, because I desire that my sister or my daughter, my aunt or my cousin may be preserved from the evils thrown around them by the systems that man has created? No. God has laid upon every woman the decree placed upon mother Eve—multiply and replenish the earth. In sections of the land in which we live, thousands of women today must become the play things of some vile wretch, if they answer the design of their being. My whole being is convinced of the fact—that it is a decree of God Himself that these women should have a chance to marry, and that He Himself has opened the door. He Himself has established the principle. I want my daughters married as I desired to marry myself; I want them honored wives, whether plural ones or otherwise, no matter who may seek to brand their offspring as infamous. I know—for God has given me the witness, He has stamped it upon this heart that they who come through that lineage are as much honored of God and approved of Him, as any that have ever walked His footstool from the day that this earth was peopled until the day in which we live. This principle was given for a purpose, and that purpose is the salvation of the female sex as well as the male sex. Go to Great Britain, and you will find a million more women than men moving upon the streets of the great cities. Go up the Strand in London; Go up Lime Street, in Liverpool; and the streets in Manchester; go into any of the leading streets of the great cities of the world, and gaze upon as fine specimens of womanhood as our Father ever put breath into. What are their prospects in life? What is written across their brow? Infamy, shame—going to their graves the victims of loathsome disease. It is not one, it is not two or three; but it is millions of them that are going this inevitable road. Who is responsible? Who placed upon them the interdict, preventing them, from fulfilling the object of their creation? Not God; for He made His law so liberal and established principle so correct that there was no necessity for such a thing. It is man that has introduced it; it is man that has overturned the condition of society; it is man that has turned his daughter into the street. I say again and again that the “Mormon” people can wait the result of this thing without fear; they can afford to suffer pains and penalties if that will but open the door by which the fair daughters of Eve can be redeemed from the position in which they are placed and be made honored and respected women of society.
The speaker concluded by reiterating his allegiance to the American government, and exhorting the Saints to be faithful in keeping the commandments of God in all things.
Discourse by Apostle John Henry Smith, delivered at the Annual Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Logan, Cache County, Monday Morning, April 6th, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
It affords me pleasure to meet again with the Saints in Zion, and to have the privilege of mingling with the people of God in a general conference. It is sometime since I had this privilege, and I can assure you that I appreciate it very much. I do not think it is possible for me to express in proper language my feelings in regard to my mountain home. I never learned but one verse of poetry in my life, and that one I have repeated many times, and I do not know but what it would be well for me to repeat it this morning. The verse to which I allude says:
“There is a magical tie in the land of my home, That the heart cannot break, though the footsteps may roam, Be that land where it may, at the line or the pole, It still holds the magnet that draws back my soul.”
Such is the case this morning in arising to address you for a short time. What the Lord may have for me to say to you I cannot imagine. For a few months past I have not addressed any congregations; I have been visiting; I have been reasoning with my friends upon the principles of the Gospel, and seeking to enlighten them in regard to my position. Having accepted the Gospel, and dedicated my life to the preaching of the same, I was desirous that my kindred should hear it. I have not been idle, but have been laboring with zeal to impress upon them the nature of the latter-day work. I did not go there expecting to make converts but to relieve my friends of prejudice. I have found, so to speak, that my utterances have fallen on stony ground outside of my kindred and that while I was received with kindness, and trust that good may in time come from my labors in certain directions, yet I cannot say, as many have said, that I have accomplished much good, and that I have removed a world of prejudice. I trust, however, that I may have done some good during the past few weeks among my kindred in the Eastern States.
As you are aware, in 1882 I was sent by my brethren to preside for a season over the European mission. I proceeded to my field of labor with some dubiety in regard to my own self. My former experience upon the island of Great Britain had been such that I was really fearful in regard to my health. For five years after my first mission to the British Isles, I had never passed a night in sound and perfect sleep. I suffered from a cold contracted on that mission. On my departure in 1882, however, my brethren promised me I should go in peace; that I should enjoy good health; that the blessings of the Lord should be around me; and that I should be enabled to accomplish the object for which I was sent forth. And while I went with some foreboding with regard to myself, still it appears I had to return to Great Britain, to lose that which had seized upon me on a former mission.
I found upon my arrival in that land a corps of very excellent Elders. The mission was in a very good condition, with an earnest and determined lot of missionaries who were willing to do anything that might be required at their hands for the furtherance of the purposes of the Lord. I found, however, upon investigation and mingling with my brethren, that the road seemed to be hedged up in a manner so that they could not accomplish that which their hearts desired. After visiting various conferences, and giving the brethren such instructions and counsel as the spirit suggested as to the best method to reach the people, getting their views and the result of their experience in the field, some of them having been there for a year or two—it was decided, on the suggestion of several, that an effort be made to distribute more of the written word than had heretofore been done. Communications were addressed to the Presidency of the Church, and by their consent a system of tract distribution was inaugurated and has been followed systematically from that day to this. What the result may be in the future we cannot say. Nevertheless, we have done the best we could in our ministrations among the people, and have striven with the power that the Lord has given us to warn our fellow men of the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God. The Elders that have been sent to labor under my watchcare and counsel, have been men of worth. It is a matter of pride to me that those who have been sent to labor under my direction have been good and humble men. Many of them have been young men, reared in these mountains—that were taken from the farm, from the stock range, from the store, and from the work bench. They had received comparatively little training in the ministry; but a few weeks time has developed them, and they have gone forward in faith; the Lord has blessed them in their administrations. I have had much joy and satisfaction in laboring with them, and in all my ministrations and counsels to them I believe they have listened to them and sought to the best of their ability to carry out these counsels, and labor for the advancement of the work of the Lord.
Since I returned home there has nothing afforded me greater pleasure than during this conference to take into my arms and press to my breast the men that have been laboring in the same cause as myself; for I respect and honor them as I would my own brother. These sentiments are from the heart in regard to them, and I trust that their experience with me and our acquaintance, and the friendship that springs up amid adversity and trials, may be as lasting as life itself.
I am pleased to report that in Great Britain we continue to do some baptizing. During my administration in that land a little new ground, or rather ground that had been worked years ago and been abandoned, has been opened up in various places. We have gained a foothold in Finland, and a few have been baptized in that land. Brother Fjelsted sent some native Elders into that section of country. Some men that were inspired with zeal, and who were humble, and who were ready to meet any trial and difficulty that might come in their way, succeeded in opening a little door. Seed has been sown. Away north on the borders of Prussia and Russia, an opening has been made through a native who had been ordained by Brother J. A. Smith, of Cache Valley, and there is a prospect of the Gospel being introduced in that country. We have also made a little effort to introduce the Gospel in Austria. Brother Beisinger has been there and labored some time. Brother Hammer was there also, but was run off by the authorities. Brother Beisinger and Brother Jennings are now, I suppose, in Austria, probably in Bohemia. I felt while in Switzerland, in December, that it would be impossible for me to return home without another effort being made to open up the Gospel to Austria, although the brethren had already suffered considerable in that land. The authorities there do not treat our Elders as they should; but I trust that by wisdom and prudence, the Gospel may be preached, and that the inhabitants thereof—a fine race of people—may sense their position and embrace the truth. We have also made an effort to establish ourselves in Turkey, and I trust that a work will be opened up there. A few baptisms have already been made.
The brethren throughout the British Isles have been making efforts to introduce the Gospel in every corner and place where opportunity presented itself. I would say, however, that the England of a few years ago is not the England of today. While the same spirit of liberty—the love of the rights of man—may exist among the English people, still that spirit of hospitality that characterized them years and years ago, seems to be on the wane. Many people are out of employment, the numbers that are wandering around begging their bread, closes, in a measure the hearts of the people, and they feel that they cannot carry the loads that they have been carrying. Still, among the Latter-day Saints, the same hospitality is to be found. Their hearts are as warm today as they ever were.
We have made recently—through the labors of Brothers Wilson and Marshall, two Irish brethren—an opening in the north of Ireland, and we trust that with care much good will result in that neighborhood. Some very fine people have embraced the Gospel there, people in good circumstances, and who, inspired with zeal, desire to spread the principles of the Gospel. And thus little by little we accomplish the object of our mission, and the world is being warned. When I left England there were three valley Elders in Ireland, and I hope others may be added to their number before long, so that the work may spread at least in the protestant portion of that country. I am inclined to believe that there are hundreds and thousands of people in Ireland who will receive the Gospel. My prejudices in regard to the Irish people have been wiped away in mingling among them. I find them among the purest of the stocks upon the earth. Virtue is held at a high premium among them. The statistics of Great Britain show this fact; that illegitimate births in Ireland constitute 3 percent. In England six, in Scotland nine. I say this speaks volumes for Ireland, and I trust that the Gospel may spread in that land and that thousands may receive its truths.
I have visited nearly all parts of the mission—at least where there are any Saints, and some portions where there are none. I went to Italy in the hope that I might see some chance of making an opening in that country. I came very near having two of the Elders starved by staying there. I was determined, however, to try and introduce the Gospel. There are some sections of the country that are Protestant, and I trust there may be a time come when the Gospel will spread among that people. But I regard Italy as in such a condition that there are but few chances at the present time for any opening to be made. The Italians are bound up in the religious faith that they have been reared in, or they are infidel almost entirely. I noticed in my attendance at the churches, that they are usually well filled with priests and beggars, and that few, comparatively speaking, of the well-to-do classes, or the middle classes, or the better informed classes, were paying any attention whatever to religious observance.
I have also during my administration in the British mission, sought to have the Gospel preached among the French people. Brother Bunot and Brother West made an effort on the Island of Jersey. Brother Bunot was sent to France, and he stayed there just as long as he could possibly live, using his own means, and striving by every means in his power to open some door to his countrymen. Brother Bunot is a man who was educated for the Catholic ministry, a man of intelligence and learning, and a humble man who did everything in his power to warn his countrymen. He was not successful in accomplishing the desires of his heart. On the borders of Switzerland and France a number of the Elders have labored, and while we have not reaped as we could have wished to have done, still there has been satisfaction in the labors we have performed; for we realize that it is not only a day of gleaning and gathering the people, but it is also a day of warning.
I will say here, that about the time our brethren in the southern States were murdered in cold blood, a wave of hatred seemed to have been engendered in the minds of the people in every direction. The press of Europe teemed with the most horrid stories that can be imagined. Everything that had ever been thought of everything that had ever been manufactured for partisan purposes in our own land was scattered broadcast throughout Europe, and the masses of the people were warned in every direction in regard to us. And not only were they warned through the newspapers, but lecturers began to take the field in every direction, and incite the people not to avoid our meetings, but on the contrary to follow us up and to mob us, giving us no chance to explain to them the principles of the Gospel, or represent ourselves as we should. This feeling has been growing in power from that time until the time I left that land. But as heretofore a cool wave will by and by come along and as a result of the heated condition of the people over the Mormon problem, and the efforts that have been made to impede the Lord's work, people will begin to inquire, thoughtful people will look into the truth, and the work will continue to grow in the future as it has done in the past. It is true that people do not come by hundreds and thousands to hear the good word of life and salvation; but the eyes of the world are directed to this our mountain home. They recognize the force of the utterance of Henry Ward Beecher, when he said: “Gentlemen, say what you will, but yonder in the Rocky Mountains is the phenomenon of the nineteenth century.” It is a living fact that people in every land and clime are turning their eyes towards this region of country, and wondering what will be the upshot of the problem that is being worked out by the Latter-day Saints in their western home. Men of intelligence are traveling; they are mingling among our people; they see their industry; they recognize the perseverance they have manifested; they see the obstacles they have overcome; they recognize in them a growing race that knows no failure, that meets no rebuff, that cannot understand nor sense what defeat means; and they see in the Latter-day Saints the growth and development of a power that will accomplish its object in the earth, and that object Deity has designed it should accomplish—the gathering in of the honest in heart, the establishment of righteousness, the combating of wickedness, the driving back of the forces of evil as they cluster around the hearts of men and that are leading men step by step to inevitable shame and destruction.
It affords me pleasure, my brethren and sisters, to again put my feet on the soil of America. I recognize in it the home of a free man. There may be those who desire to pervert this freedom, who may seek to engender strife and drive us from the soil upon which we live; there may be those who seek to trample upon the rights and liberties of man; but I believe from the bottom of my heart that Deity has stamped it upon this soil, that He has written it throughout the universe, that in this land His work should prosper. That it should go forward and increase until its great destiny shall be accomplished; that this is the spot chosen, that here it will be nourished, here it will grow, here it will go forward, and the nations of the earth will look upon it and recognize it as the great force that will conquer the earth and bring subject to it the powers that exist thereon; and all this will be brought about by the law of righteousness, the law of truth, the law of God given to mankind for their guidance and control, and they will accept it and live in accordance with its principles. You and I may tread a thorny path; it may be strewn with rugged places; we may break the flesh upon our hands, and be bruised in our forward movement; but the work will advance and progress. Deity is our friend, our guide, our protector. All we need do as a people is to keep our eye upon the mark of divine truth; move forward without fear, and ask no favors so far as mankind is concerned; only seek to do right by our fellow creatures. Hate no one. I dare not hate any man upon the face of the earth. No matter how vile, how wicked, how corrupt he may be, if I find him in want of a friend I would extend to him the hand of friendship; I would give him bread if he was hungry; water if he was thirsty; clothing if he was naked; for I would recognize in him the fact that he was a creation of my Father, and I would not dare to hate him, no matter how vile he might be. I might hate the principles he had espoused; the wicked acts of which he was guilty; but I would recognize in him something that I should seek to benefit, bless and save, and I would use all the powers God had bestowed upon me in that direction.
“Brother Smith,” some may say, “don't you feel uneasy over the condition of things that now exists in our Territory?” I have sometimes wished that things were not as they are. As I have wandered in the earth and stood up in the streets and parks and halls preaching the Gospel, I have said to myself, I wish that my Father had not set me to this work; I wish that these things were not required at my hands. I have sometimes felt timid in being brought in contact with the world, and the efforts that were being made against me and my brethren. I have wished it could be otherwise, and yet when I stop and reflect, when I look over the history of the past, when I read the facts as history brings them to us, I see no other way, I see no other road to travel. Every fiber of my being is convinced of the truth of this Gospel. It is stamped upon every feature, upon every part of my being. I regard it as dearer than life and everything else upon the face of the earth. Why need I be fearful, why need I tremble, why need I be wrought up at the prospect that is before us? No great system has ever been established upon the face of the earth without much labor and perseverance. Look at the inventions that have been brought out and the efforts that have been directed against them, even in those things that were to be utilized for our own clothing, for our own movements from place to place, or for the comfort and convenience of our homes. The men that have invented these things have met with continual persecution. They have struggled against nature itself; and why need we, who have had given to us the great plan of life and salvation, that which will bring us back into the presence of God, that which stamps upon our souls the prospect of eternal union with our wives and our children, and of mingling with our friends and relatives that have gone before—why need we fear the hand of our enemies. Who cannot stand a few weeks of imprisonment, a few months of torture, a few years of difficulty, that they may offer an offering in righteousness to that God that called them forth? Not one of us. Therefore, so far as I am concerned, my brethren and sisters as an individual, I am perfectly happy, just as happy as I can possibly be under the circumstances in which we are placed. I have no worry nor concern. One of my uncles, whose home I left but a few weeks ago warned me that certain things were inevitable; that it was impossible for us to hope to fight longer these things our pronounced enemies were seeking to bring upon us. All I said to him was, “Wait and see.” That is what I propose to do—wait and see, just wait and see. I have been waiting from my childhood, and expect to continue to wait. It is possible that a few men like myself maybe hustled within the prison walls; it is possible that a few “Mormons” may be outraged and banished from their native land; it is possible that men may follow us to the death; but while men die, systems continue to live and grow, and the powers of earth and hell can never check their advancement and development. Such is the case in regard to the work we have embraced. It is a living work. It is one of the active forces in nature. It is backed by the powers of heaven, and ye are its emissaries sent here at this time to aid in its advancement. The Gospel must be preached; the nations of the earth must be warned, and this nation, or any other nation, will fall beneath the judgment of an enraged God if they reject the message of glad tidings, which our Father has offered them for their exaltation in His kingdom. The work of God must conquer every foe, it must overcome every opposing force, and it will accomplish that destiny as sure as there is a God in heaven. Write it upon the page of history; stamp it upon your souls; for deity has designed that it should be the case.
I find in mingling among the people in the east, that the moving force today against the Latter-day Saints is not the politicians of the country. The politicians, so far as they are concerned would care little about us, but there are behind them the people. There are first the ministers of the Gospel. I do not desire to speak harshly of the ministers that live among us, or make charges against them, for I have been away for some time; but this fact is patent to every one—that the fervor against the “Mormons” is worked up right from our own homes, and largely by Christian ministers. Letters are written to the ministers of the country; the ministers work upon their flocks. Go among many of the peoples of the east—among the old Puritan stock, of which my fathers are descendants—and you will find that the tales of the horrors of Mormonism are of the most startling character. This I discovered while visiting among my relatives in New England.
They were all more or less prejudiced against Mormonism; but I trust that the little light I was able to throw upon the question may result in good. The New Englanders as a rule, have but small families, and the evil practices that are resorted to by many to prevent their having children at all, will be the means of carrying them down to the pit.
Now, brethren and sisters, whom have we wronged? Whom have we wronged by peopling this desert land? Nobody. If there was anybody wronged it was the red man, and he has not been wronged but blessed; for we have tried to feed instead of fight him. The first principle of the Gospel is faith. Whom have we hurt if we have faith? Then there is the principle of repentance. Whom have we injured if we have repented? Is anybody hurt? Is the government hurt? Does repentance beget hostility to the government? If we make a covenant with God in the waters of baptism that we will be pure, is anybody wronged? No! Have we plotted for the overthrow and destruction of the government in which we live because the hands of the servants of God have been laid upon our heads and they have bestowed upon us the Holy Ghost, the witness of the Spirit that shall guide us into all truth? No. Have you or I made a contract with our God to wage antagonism to the institutions of the country in which we live, or sign allegiance to any other government upon the earth? I have not. I have sworn allegiance to the government in which I live. My labors as a man are in the interests of humanity—the freedom of man; that his conscience may not be chained up; that his body may not be bowed down with the yoke of tyranny; but that before God he may stand erect, fearless and strong, determined to benefit and bless the human family. Need we be fearful in regard to these things? I think not. There is one that will recompense at the last day; and the man who denies the other his liberties, who binds him in chains, who ties him to the rack, is the man who should tremble when the reckoning of Deity is made with His sons and daughters. We might go through all the principles of the faith we have espoused and then ask who is wronged? We have made grass grow where it did not grow before. If we have built homes, if we pay taxes for the sustenance and government of the cities and towns that are to be found upon this once sterile spot, and which was once the great American desert, who is wronged? No one. Who has raised a standard against the government in which we live? Not one of us. But you believe in the Priesthood. You accept of a system of government that is most perfect on the face of the earth. Who is wronged if we do? You have not changed it. It has not changed you. It has not wronged you; and that which we have accepted we have accepted of our own free will and choice, recognizing the fact that Deity has required it at our hands. Who is injured if my wife makes a sacrifice with me and takes into our home one of her sisters and makes her my wife. If she makes the sacrifice; if I shoulder the additional responsibility, and open the door that will save one of Eve's fair daughters, who is wronged? Do I plot for the overthrow of the government, the breaking in pieces of the powers that be, because I desire that my sister or my daughter, my aunt or my cousin may be preserved from the evils thrown around them by the systems that man has created? No. God has laid upon every woman the decree placed upon mother Eve—multiply and replenish the earth. In sections of the land in which we live, thousands of women today must become the play things of some vile wretch, if they answer the design of their being. My whole being is convinced of the fact—that it is a decree of God Himself that these women should have a chance to marry, and that He Himself has opened the door. He Himself has established the principle. I want my daughters married as I desired to marry myself; I want them honored wives, whether plural ones or otherwise, no matter who may seek to brand their offspring as infamous. I know—for God has given me the witness, He has stamped it upon this heart that they who come through that lineage are as much honored of God and approved of Him, as any that have ever walked His footstool from the day that this earth was peopled until the day in which we live. This principle was given for a purpose, and that purpose is the salvation of the female sex as well as the male sex. Go to Great Britain, and you will find a million more women than men moving upon the streets of the great cities. Go up the Strand in London; Go up Lime Street, in Liverpool; and the streets in Manchester; go into any of the leading streets of the great cities of the world, and gaze upon as fine specimens of womanhood as our Father ever put breath into. What are their prospects in life? What is written across their brow? Infamy, shame—going to their graves the victims of loathsome disease. It is not one, it is not two or three; but it is millions of them that are going this inevitable road. Who is responsible? Who placed upon them the interdict, preventing them, from fulfilling the object of their creation? Not God; for He made His law so liberal and established principle so correct that there was no necessity for such a thing. It is man that has introduced it; it is man that has overturned the condition of society; it is man that has turned his daughter into the street. I say again and again that the “Mormon” people can wait the result of this thing without fear; they can afford to suffer pains and penalties if that will but open the door by which the fair daughters of Eve can be redeemed from the position in which they are placed and be made honored and respected women of society.
The speaker concluded by reiterating his allegiance to the American government, and exhorting the Saints to be faithful in keeping the commandments of God in all things.
President Oliver G. Snow, of Box Elder Stake, was the next speaker.
No people have so much cause to rejoice as have the Latter-day Saints. Their history shows that the blessings of God have attended them, and He has preserved and delivered them from every power of the foe They are more united now than at any time in their career. This oneness is a most essential condition. This is exemplified in all the teaching of the Savior and His Apostles. This unity has caused the people to accomplish the gratifying work they had performed. In visiting the settlements of this section the speaker had been gratified with the material advancement attained by the Saints, in making homes, orchards and farms. The same could be said regarding nearly every part of this country to which the Saints have gathered. The people generally appeared to appreciate the fact that these blessings had come from God. It did not appear that there was much fear and trembling among them regarding the present persecutions. Their trust is in the Lord. There is no dubiety among them regarding the ultimate victory that awaits them in keeping the commandments of the Almighty. They were built, as were the Saints in olden times, upon the rock of revelation. The darkest and most forbidding aspect cannot obliterate that intelligent testimony. The organization of the Church is the most perfect and thorough in existence. It is so complete that none are left on the outside of it. The young people are becoming a strong lever for good in the community. He prayed that the blessings of God might rest upon all who were engaged in seeking to establish truth in the earth.
No people have so much cause to rejoice as have the Latter-day Saints. Their history shows that the blessings of God have attended them, and He has preserved and delivered them from every power of the foe They are more united now than at any time in their career. This oneness is a most essential condition. This is exemplified in all the teaching of the Savior and His Apostles. This unity has caused the people to accomplish the gratifying work they had performed. In visiting the settlements of this section the speaker had been gratified with the material advancement attained by the Saints, in making homes, orchards and farms. The same could be said regarding nearly every part of this country to which the Saints have gathered. The people generally appeared to appreciate the fact that these blessings had come from God. It did not appear that there was much fear and trembling among them regarding the present persecutions. Their trust is in the Lord. There is no dubiety among them regarding the ultimate victory that awaits them in keeping the commandments of the Almighty. They were built, as were the Saints in olden times, upon the rock of revelation. The darkest and most forbidding aspect cannot obliterate that intelligent testimony. The organization of the Church is the most perfect and thorough in existence. It is so complete that none are left on the outside of it. The young people are becoming a strong lever for good in the community. He prayed that the blessings of God might rest upon all who were engaged in seeking to establish truth in the earth.
President F. D. Richards
stated that under existing conditions it was not deemed prudent to call the names of missionaries to various parts of the earth, who had already gone to their fields of labor since the last General Conference, or who might be called during this. It would be proper, however, for the Saints to say whether they were willing to confide the matter of sending Elders out to preach the Gospel to the missionary committee, of which he was a member. One thing was certain the work of proclaiming the truth was being actively prosecuted.
A motion was made by Apostle Francis M. Lyman, to the effect that the action of the missionary committee in selecting and sending out Elders to the nations to be endorsed, and that the whole matter be left in their hands to be conducted according to their best judgment, under the blessings of God.
The motion was carried unanimously.
The choir sang the anthem: Oh! Father, Almighty.
Benediction by Elder George C. Parkinson.
stated that under existing conditions it was not deemed prudent to call the names of missionaries to various parts of the earth, who had already gone to their fields of labor since the last General Conference, or who might be called during this. It would be proper, however, for the Saints to say whether they were willing to confide the matter of sending Elders out to preach the Gospel to the missionary committee, of which he was a member. One thing was certain the work of proclaiming the truth was being actively prosecuted.
A motion was made by Apostle Francis M. Lyman, to the effect that the action of the missionary committee in selecting and sending out Elders to the nations to be endorsed, and that the whole matter be left in their hands to be conducted according to their best judgment, under the blessings of God.
The motion was carried unanimously.
The choir sang the anthem: Oh! Father, Almighty.
Benediction by Elder George C. Parkinson.
Afternoon Session.
Conference met at 2 o’clock.
The choir sang: All hail the glorious day, By prophets long foretold.
Prayer by Apostle John W. Taylor.
Singing by the choir: O give me back my Prophet dear, And Patriarch, O give them back.
Conference met at 2 o’clock.
The choir sang: All hail the glorious day, By prophets long foretold.
Prayer by Apostle John W. Taylor.
Singing by the choir: O give me back my Prophet dear, And Patriarch, O give them back.
Apostle Francis Marion Lyman
addressed the Conference. He considered that there had been an excellent Conference. The spirit of the Lord had been poured out upon the brethren who had spoken. Besides, we have been addressed, by epistle, by the brethren of the First Presidency. It is necessary to be collected and avoid extremes that might have a bad effect. Troubles that accrue to the Latter-day Saints for righteousness sake will soon end. As related in the second chapter of Daniel, it was made known to Nebuchadnezzar what would transpire in the latter days. The speaker read the passage relating to the setting up, in the latter days of a kingdom, which was to break in pieces and supersede all others. The Lord had begun to establish that work. In order to do so He had conferred upon man the right to officiate in His name, so that He should be bound to acknowledge their ministrations. It was necessary that men should be informed in regard to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. For this reason they revealed themselves to Joseph Smith. Faith, repentance that produces reformation, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost, imparted by the imposition of the hands by the authorized servants of God, were doctrines of the Gospel. On the base thus formed, we go forward in knowledge and obedience unto salvation. Latter-day Saints have no license to do any wrong of any character, but must work righteousness before the Lord. The Priesthood has been given, and it is not confined to those who preside in the Church, but every good man is entitled to it. Those who are unholy have no claim to that authority. Every woman is entitled to have at her head a man bearing the Melchisedec Priesthood. So has every child born into the Church a right to have a man thus endowed for a father. Every family should have a head of that character. The heads of families are entitled to be governed by the Spirit of God, and in turn they should, under that influence, preside over those entrusted to their care. The speaker here read the revelation regarding the obligation upon parents to teach their children the doctrines of the Gospel, and to see that they are baptized when eight years old, and to teach them to pray and walk uprightly. When these things are not done, the sins of the children are visited upon the parents. This injunction had, in speaker’s opinion, been more or less neglected. The Priesthood is organized into quorums, and there are presidencies and appointments, from the presiding officers of the Church downward through all the ramifications of the system. This compact organization enabled all to be taught in relation to their duties. There are also associations in the nature of aids to the Priesthood in carrying on the work of advancement and regeneration. But of all others parents are the most deeply interested in their children. God has provided that Satan has no power to tempt little children, so that they are already redeemed if they die before they reach a condition of personal responsibility. A spirit of opposition is developing all over the world against the Latter-day Saints. Apostates are in many instances inclined to disturb the peace of their old friends. But the Saints cannot be robbed of their right to the kingdom of God. Nebuchadnezzar was shown that it would never be given to another people. In this day prophets and others of God’s servants had been slain, but these things have driven us closer together, and have made us stronger. All neglect of duty will pass away, and we will draw closer to the Lord. Parents will be more diligent in teaching their children. The Saints need to reform, and repent of the lack of wisdom, and no longer strew their ways to strangers. No reasonable person will find fault with them for supporting their friends and letting their enemies alone. The world are united in matters in which they are interested; so should the Saints be. Those who are engaged in the present crusade are not making efforts against any crimes among us. It is for things that are good we do that we are pursued. A law has been enacted against one of our religious institutions, but it would just be as consistent to make a law to prohibit us from baptizing for the remission of sins, or attending to any other religious ceremony of the Church. There is no principle of the Gospel that is more sacred to Latter-day Saints than the marriage covenant. It enables a man to secure the relationship of his family for all eternity. No more important principle has yet been revealed to us. We have no inclination to marry wives from among unbelievers, for this is forbidden. Therefore, who is being infringed upon in this matter. Some sisters have married men outside of the Church, and this has been a grievous wrong. Such women have placed themselves outside the ordinances of the Church. They are united to their partners for time only, they and their children being subjected to separation after death. The Saints look to the glorious prospect of a perpetuity of the family order. The people who have gathered here from so many nations have not come together by the preaching of a popular doctrine. Quite the reverse. The necessarily are subjected to persecution. They have taken up the cross of Christ, who suffered as no ordinary man could suffer, and his atonement applies to all men save the sons of perdition, who cannot be redeemed. There are three general kingdom, degrees, or conditions in eternity, and to reach any of them it is needful that men, either here or hereafter, must repent of their sins. The doctrines of the Gospel have been embraced by the most independent and resolute people on the earth. They have exhibited an individuality and strength of character that are rare among men. They are not only independent, but they are honest, industrious and exemplary. They were not attracted here by hopes of ease and plenty. They acted on principle aside from any prospect of material advancement. But God has blessed the land and prospered His people. There has been an international intermixture of races by marriage, the result being that a bold an capable generation is developing. We are a peaceable people, and are learning to be self-supporting. We abhor iniquity in every form and excommunicate those who are guilty of corrupt conduct, and permanently expel those who commit adultery, declining to allow them to re-enter the Church. If the Saints had their way there would not be a house of ill-fame in this whole region. We would rather that our children should die than that they should become unvirtuous. The laws regulating our conduct should be strictly observed. If we do not the Lord will allow trouble to come upon us. But if we are true and pure we can, with complacency, suffer, if need be, for righteousness sake. May the Lord bless Zion and her friends throughout the earth, and the righteous everywhere.
addressed the Conference. He considered that there had been an excellent Conference. The spirit of the Lord had been poured out upon the brethren who had spoken. Besides, we have been addressed, by epistle, by the brethren of the First Presidency. It is necessary to be collected and avoid extremes that might have a bad effect. Troubles that accrue to the Latter-day Saints for righteousness sake will soon end. As related in the second chapter of Daniel, it was made known to Nebuchadnezzar what would transpire in the latter days. The speaker read the passage relating to the setting up, in the latter days of a kingdom, which was to break in pieces and supersede all others. The Lord had begun to establish that work. In order to do so He had conferred upon man the right to officiate in His name, so that He should be bound to acknowledge their ministrations. It was necessary that men should be informed in regard to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. For this reason they revealed themselves to Joseph Smith. Faith, repentance that produces reformation, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost, imparted by the imposition of the hands by the authorized servants of God, were doctrines of the Gospel. On the base thus formed, we go forward in knowledge and obedience unto salvation. Latter-day Saints have no license to do any wrong of any character, but must work righteousness before the Lord. The Priesthood has been given, and it is not confined to those who preside in the Church, but every good man is entitled to it. Those who are unholy have no claim to that authority. Every woman is entitled to have at her head a man bearing the Melchisedec Priesthood. So has every child born into the Church a right to have a man thus endowed for a father. Every family should have a head of that character. The heads of families are entitled to be governed by the Spirit of God, and in turn they should, under that influence, preside over those entrusted to their care. The speaker here read the revelation regarding the obligation upon parents to teach their children the doctrines of the Gospel, and to see that they are baptized when eight years old, and to teach them to pray and walk uprightly. When these things are not done, the sins of the children are visited upon the parents. This injunction had, in speaker’s opinion, been more or less neglected. The Priesthood is organized into quorums, and there are presidencies and appointments, from the presiding officers of the Church downward through all the ramifications of the system. This compact organization enabled all to be taught in relation to their duties. There are also associations in the nature of aids to the Priesthood in carrying on the work of advancement and regeneration. But of all others parents are the most deeply interested in their children. God has provided that Satan has no power to tempt little children, so that they are already redeemed if they die before they reach a condition of personal responsibility. A spirit of opposition is developing all over the world against the Latter-day Saints. Apostates are in many instances inclined to disturb the peace of their old friends. But the Saints cannot be robbed of their right to the kingdom of God. Nebuchadnezzar was shown that it would never be given to another people. In this day prophets and others of God’s servants had been slain, but these things have driven us closer together, and have made us stronger. All neglect of duty will pass away, and we will draw closer to the Lord. Parents will be more diligent in teaching their children. The Saints need to reform, and repent of the lack of wisdom, and no longer strew their ways to strangers. No reasonable person will find fault with them for supporting their friends and letting their enemies alone. The world are united in matters in which they are interested; so should the Saints be. Those who are engaged in the present crusade are not making efforts against any crimes among us. It is for things that are good we do that we are pursued. A law has been enacted against one of our religious institutions, but it would just be as consistent to make a law to prohibit us from baptizing for the remission of sins, or attending to any other religious ceremony of the Church. There is no principle of the Gospel that is more sacred to Latter-day Saints than the marriage covenant. It enables a man to secure the relationship of his family for all eternity. No more important principle has yet been revealed to us. We have no inclination to marry wives from among unbelievers, for this is forbidden. Therefore, who is being infringed upon in this matter. Some sisters have married men outside of the Church, and this has been a grievous wrong. Such women have placed themselves outside the ordinances of the Church. They are united to their partners for time only, they and their children being subjected to separation after death. The Saints look to the glorious prospect of a perpetuity of the family order. The people who have gathered here from so many nations have not come together by the preaching of a popular doctrine. Quite the reverse. The necessarily are subjected to persecution. They have taken up the cross of Christ, who suffered as no ordinary man could suffer, and his atonement applies to all men save the sons of perdition, who cannot be redeemed. There are three general kingdom, degrees, or conditions in eternity, and to reach any of them it is needful that men, either here or hereafter, must repent of their sins. The doctrines of the Gospel have been embraced by the most independent and resolute people on the earth. They have exhibited an individuality and strength of character that are rare among men. They are not only independent, but they are honest, industrious and exemplary. They were not attracted here by hopes of ease and plenty. They acted on principle aside from any prospect of material advancement. But God has blessed the land and prospered His people. There has been an international intermixture of races by marriage, the result being that a bold an capable generation is developing. We are a peaceable people, and are learning to be self-supporting. We abhor iniquity in every form and excommunicate those who are guilty of corrupt conduct, and permanently expel those who commit adultery, declining to allow them to re-enter the Church. If the Saints had their way there would not be a house of ill-fame in this whole region. We would rather that our children should die than that they should become unvirtuous. The laws regulating our conduct should be strictly observed. If we do not the Lord will allow trouble to come upon us. But if we are true and pure we can, with complacency, suffer, if need be, for righteousness sake. May the Lord bless Zion and her friends throughout the earth, and the righteous everywhere.
President Franklin D. Richards
was the next speaker. We have great reason to rejoice before our Father in Heaven, and before the people of the earth. We are more satisfactorily situated, spiritually and temporally, than any other community on the same extent of territory anywhere. People have better opportunities for gaining good homes than anywhere else. There is a great scope here for skill, enterprise and native intelligence. We are sometimes oppressed by the enemies of liberty, yet many people are vastly worse off than us in that regard. People in various parts of the earth are filled with anxiety because of things that are hanging over their heads. They are troubled with dread lest they be drafted to take part in threatened wards. Nowhere else is there more settled peace than here. No power can place upon us the shackles of sin and Satan. The speaker wished to see every species of fear dispelled and a due appreciation of the freedom we enjoy and the substantial blessings we possess manifested. Food and all things else needful for sustenance are in abundance. Let the people command the peace of God in their hearts. There may be attempts to trouble and harass us, but the trouble they bring will not be a drop in the bucket compared with what they will produce upon themselves. We are identified with the strongest form of government that was ever revealed to man on the earth. Those who sit in secret council to pass laws to make us offenders because of a doctrine of our faith, will yet be filled with fear. The secret works of darkness that are developing in the world to produce destruction are scarcely a beginning of what yet will be. Every man should warn his neighbor and teach his children that righteousness may be established. Let nothing divert you from what is prudent. Commit no overt act, but observe every constitutional law. We have not risen up against any constitutional law of the land. Avoid all violent conflict with the ministers of the law, some of whom are anxious to exhibit their brief authority. It is just the experiences through which we are passing that will increase our faith and confirm our knowledge that God lives. You will live to see the day when in this land those who will not take part in a frightful conflict that will ensue will have to come here for safety. It will yet be a problem with us as to how to manage the large number of people who will yet flock hither. We should pray for the brethren who are our leaders. If some lives have to be sacrificed, even that need not be feared. It is sometimes necessary that witnesses should go to the other side, that all things may be adjusted according to the law of the Lord in relation to testimony. He prayed the Lord to bless the people.
was the next speaker. We have great reason to rejoice before our Father in Heaven, and before the people of the earth. We are more satisfactorily situated, spiritually and temporally, than any other community on the same extent of territory anywhere. People have better opportunities for gaining good homes than anywhere else. There is a great scope here for skill, enterprise and native intelligence. We are sometimes oppressed by the enemies of liberty, yet many people are vastly worse off than us in that regard. People in various parts of the earth are filled with anxiety because of things that are hanging over their heads. They are troubled with dread lest they be drafted to take part in threatened wards. Nowhere else is there more settled peace than here. No power can place upon us the shackles of sin and Satan. The speaker wished to see every species of fear dispelled and a due appreciation of the freedom we enjoy and the substantial blessings we possess manifested. Food and all things else needful for sustenance are in abundance. Let the people command the peace of God in their hearts. There may be attempts to trouble and harass us, but the trouble they bring will not be a drop in the bucket compared with what they will produce upon themselves. We are identified with the strongest form of government that was ever revealed to man on the earth. Those who sit in secret council to pass laws to make us offenders because of a doctrine of our faith, will yet be filled with fear. The secret works of darkness that are developing in the world to produce destruction are scarcely a beginning of what yet will be. Every man should warn his neighbor and teach his children that righteousness may be established. Let nothing divert you from what is prudent. Commit no overt act, but observe every constitutional law. We have not risen up against any constitutional law of the land. Avoid all violent conflict with the ministers of the law, some of whom are anxious to exhibit their brief authority. It is just the experiences through which we are passing that will increase our faith and confirm our knowledge that God lives. You will live to see the day when in this land those who will not take part in a frightful conflict that will ensue will have to come here for safety. It will yet be a problem with us as to how to manage the large number of people who will yet flock hither. We should pray for the brethren who are our leaders. If some lives have to be sacrificed, even that need not be feared. It is sometimes necessary that witnesses should go to the other side, that all things may be adjusted according to the law of the Lord in relation to testimony. He prayed the Lord to bless the people.
Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains—The Kingdom of God is One of Peace, While Those of the World Are Kingdoms of War and Oppression—Exhortations to Faithfulness—We Must Trust in God and He Will Preserve Us—The Saints Are Not Using Carnal Weapons to Defend Themselves Against the Indians, Nor Against Their Enemies—If Necessary, We Should be Willing to Give Our Lives for the Cause of Truth—The Blessings of God Invoked Upon the Saints
Remarks by Apostle F. D. Richards, delivered at the General Conference, held in Logan, on the 6th April, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
The Latter-day Saints have very great reason to rejoice and to be exceedingly glad before our Father who is in heaven and before the people here on the earth. If we take a look at our condition, and
consider the same carefully—whether it be in temporal matters or in spiritual concerns—we are better and more comfortably situated today than any other people of the same number anywhere on God's footstool. If we take into consideration our present condition as to the comforts of life, we are better situated today with grain in our granaries and food in our houses, than any other people of the same number upon the face of the earth, or that can be found located together upon the same extent of territory anywhere. If we take into consideration our condition as to homes, there is a greater proportion of this people today who have comfortable homes of their own than can be found anywhere else; more of them have no need to strive for the privilege of earning a living, as a great many of our people had to do before they were gathered when they often found it difficult to obtain employment, and even if successful were obliged to work by the piece or by the day, receiving their pay regularly at the end of the week, and in this way measuring the conditions of their living by the amount of means which they were permitted to earn. In this manner life or existence and its comforts were measured out to them. There was comparatively no room for the exercise of enterprise, of skill, of native wit, and those qualities which God has placed in their nature, and which He designed they should practice and thus become wise and skilled by their own ingenuity.
We sometimes feel that we are oppressed, that we are pinched and persecuted by the people who are intruding upon our rights, and trampling upon our liberties, but as yet we know but little, comparatively speaking about oppression. The people of the countries of Asia and of Europe, with all of the liberty that they enjoy, are under the most severe daily oppression, continued dependence and subordination to those that are over them. In those countries there is a feeling of fear—fear of their rulers, terror in their minds caused by the dread of threatening war which is liable at any time to come upon them with all its horrors. In every national dispute that arises they see and feel at once the liability that their sons, fathers, neighbors and kinsmen may be drafted and sent off to the war, perhaps never to return. And their hearts are filled with fear and anxiety over this and other similar things.
We see in newspapers that in Egypt, China, Central America, and almost everywhere else the air is thick with the mists and clouds of war. Where is the mother or sister, father or son among us that is today away from one of their kindred on account of war? The worst you have to dread is a short imprisonment and a few hundred dollars fine; that is the worst thing you can find to mourn and worry over. Why, bless your dear souls, there is not another community of the same number anywhere on the whole earth in which there is to be found such settled peace as right here among this very people that are before me, and the people that fill this territory all around us. And yet you think the times are terribly hard with your granaries full of wheat that you cannot sell, with large quantities of potatoes and vegetables that you cannot dispose of, with flocks and herds about you; because you cannot sell your products and get as good prices as you would like, some of you think you are in a terribly distressed condition (Laughter).
I wish the Saints would put away these foolish ideas. I want to have you realize that you are in a condition of peace and plenty, with liberty, too, for God has made you free.
God has made His people free from the bondage of sin and death; we are at liberty, and there is no power on the earth that has the ability to fasten the shackles of sin and Satan upon us. It all depends upon our own conduct, as to whether we are and shall continue free.
In almost all of the countries from which you came and in the nations that surrounded you in your former homes, people are taxed with a taxation that is oppressive. On the green Isle of Ireland, where the poor and afflicted are numerous there are people who have to pay a rent of five pounds an acre for land, and they must raise sufficient off it to support their families, and raise the money to pay the rent. But here we can buy or take up land, and have it, too, for the taking, but some of us consider it an awful job to fence it (Laughter). No, we don't know anything about oppression, as compared with the Jews, the Poles and the Irish. In older portions of the United States, we never could have enjoyed the blessings we enjoy here; we never could have located and built up our towns and cities; as it was the mobs plundered us of our homes and drove us out here to this part of the earth. It was like a new world; it looked so entirely new, that it seemed as if the work of creation was scarcely finished. By the blessing of God we brought life with us and life came from heaven; life that animated the soil under our feet; that tempered and controlled the elements over our heads; so that in these high valleys and canyons, where it was thought no grain or fruit could be raised, with snow and frost every month in the year—now we raise good crops and varieties of fruits. A few years ago it was a problem whether an apple or a peach could be raised here in Cache valley; but it is not long since her enterprising fruit growers took the premium in the Territorial Fair for the best collection of apples to be found in the Territory.
Who has done this for us? It is the Lord our God. He brought us to this land as He brought the children of Israel to the land of Judea, which He gave to them and to their children after them, to be their inheritance forever.
I want to have us consider these things; and instead of being anxious and worried, troubled and filled with fear, learn to rely upon the arm of the Lord and trust Him for His goodness; cultivate the peace of heaven and let the love of God dwell in our hearts. Though our enemies may harass, trouble, and disturb us; the trouble that they will bring upon us will be but as a drop in the bucket compared with what will come upon them by and by. They cannot stop the work of God. His decree has established it. We have the promise that it never shall be overthrown or given to another people. Understand it. This form of government which the Lord has given to us, is the strongest form of government that was ever revealed to man. The governments of the world have power to oppress, annoy, make war upon and destroy men from the face of the earth. But this Kingdom that God has given to His people is to be a kingdom of peace, a kingdom of righteousness, and its righteousness is going to exalt His people, to make them become the greatest people on the face of the earth, filled with power, wisdom and intelligence that all the surrounding nations will look up to.
The people that are around us in our midst, and who wish to dictate to us; those who sit in the council chambers to make laws against us and our holy faith, and thereby make us offenders—are themselves filled with fear and anxiety at what is taking place in this and other nations. This spirit of fear will increase upon them. Look at the dread they experienced at the work of the dynamiters in the old country, and that is but a beginning of what is to come. These secret societies will work great mischief and death, with frequent assassinations, and by and by these things will come so thick and fast that people will not know what way to escape. The Lord is gathering His people together that He may deal with them by themselves. The great trouble is, that we have too many among us who are careless and indifferent; that are wicked and sinful; that ought to be dealt with and cut off the Church. There are plenty who are ready to sell their brethren into the hands of their enemies, but the day will come, when they will realize the awful consequence of their acts. We have not much to fear unless we offend the God whom we agreed to serve.
Brethren and sisters, let not your hearts be troubled. Obey the commandments of God, keep your covenants inviolate and learn to live by every word that proceeds from Him and the constituted authorities of His Church—and if you find trials in your pathway you will find help to endure them. Parents, cultivate affection toward each other, toward your children and toward all included in your households; do right by your wives, your husband, your children and your God. You will find that all the rest will come right in its own due time. The Lord will bring it about in so strange and simple a manner that it will be astonishing to us when we find out how He has done it. We cannot go to the Bible, Book of Mormon or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, to be informed how this, that and the other thing will be solved and arranged. We can read how He did anciently according to the circumstances that surrounded His people then; but we cannot find out His methods and plans of today only as He manifests them to us by the spirit of revelation. His ways are past finding out. He tells us that Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. We must remember this. If we would have power with God and with the angels, it must be because of our diligent attention to God, to the work He has called us to do, and we must see that we establish it in the earth. Every man should warn his neighbor; should teach his children and his family, and establish righteousness in his household. Presidents and Bishops should deal with transgressors in the Church, that they may repent, or be cut off. It is that righteousness may be established in the earth that the Lord has commenced His work again, that it may be established not in a little place, but in all the land, and it shall spread until His righteous word and work shall fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the mighty deep.
Do not let anything divert you from the path of duty; let nothing cause you to commit an overt act. Honor and respect the laws of the land as far as possible, consistent with the laws and commandments of God. Observe and obey every constitutional law. When our enemies place us in violation of a law of the land, it is painful to us, and it is our trial, but the responsibility of it rests with them. Let us make up our minds to bear this crusade of legal persecution with fortitude as Saints have had to do in all ages of Gospel reform, because they believed in the revelations of Jesus Christ. We have not revolted against any law of the land; we have not contended against any constitutional principle, law or doctrine that could benefit, improve or exalt the human family, nor anything that could promote the pursuit of happiness—we seek after all these things. But, our Congressmen, Governors and Judges, in the supreme wisdom with which they imagine they are endowed, impose penalties upon God's people for keeping His commandments. Thus we see that when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
We ought to gain by all this experience valuable knowledge. We want to profit by it. Let every man question himself: “Can I stand this or that without getting angry!” Or can we be righteously angry and sin not? If not we should go into our closets and ask God for that measure of His spirit that is necessary to sustain us in a proper frame of mind. This is the kind of experience, the very kind of discipline that is necessary for us, to make us find out whether we will draw near to Him and have fellowship, and communion with Him. These things are all for our experience, for our profit. The Lord has made known to us that the days we live in are dark with threatenings of war. The hour of his judgment is nigh at hand. We have seen one terrible war in our land—and it is well that we should take heed to His counsels. Wars and rumors of wars are spreading abroad upon the face of the earth, and it will come to pass before a great while that people will be so far from having peace that they must either take up the sword to contend against their neighbor, or flee to Zion and gather with God's people. You will see this come to pass. Mark my words. All kinds and conditions of people will desire to come here and make homes with us. You will see the day when it will be as hard to keep the wicked away from us as it ever has been to get people to join us. Mark that, too. I tell you that a people with full granaries, a people of peace and prosperity, is a people that will be sought after by the peoples of the nations of the earth, and things cannot always go on in the way they are going with us, without bringing down upon our oppressors the retribution of an offended God. We ought to rely upon His promises. These experiences are well calculated to do us good, and teach us to trust in the Lord.
Nor should we forget that when a governor of unsavory memory forbade the use of the militia alike for defense against Indian depredations, as well as for Fourth of July celebrations; that since that date, no single predatory excursion of the red man has been experienced by any one of our settlements. On the contrary it would seem that all use of firearms for any kind of military defense had become entirely obsolete—gone into utter desuetude—so entirely at peace have the Lamanites become, that instead of either noise of war, or even the apprehension thereof, there is given us of God to enjoy the most settled peace from the red man on all our borders round; and now having assisted to build our temples, they are enjoying with us the heavenly blessing bestowed therein. Instead of roaming wild and lawlessly over the plains, numbers have renounced their tribal relations, sworn allegiance to government, have preempted or homesteaded lands of the public domain, are raising crops, cultivating their flocks and herds, are building and occupying comfortable dwellings, as good neighbors among their white brethren, as is evidenced at Washakie in Oneida Stake, and at Indianola in the San Pete Stake. Their schools are turning out scholars in the elementary branches of good common school education.
Not only has the need of firearms been done away as between us and the natives, but we have very great reason to be thankful that in the present unholy crusade against the Church the onslaught has not been with fire and the sword as in former times, but with mind and moral suasion in the application of the law by a perversion of many of its well-settled methods of interpretation, construction and application. These conclusions have been the implements and the tactics of the present warfare.
It is devoutly to be hoped that no one with a zeal which is not according to knowledge shall commit an overt act that shall precipitate a conflict with carnal weapons and give the enemy an occasion or opportunity to shed the blood of the Saints or to increase their unhallowed oppressions upon us.
Since, then, the weapons of our warfare are not powder, lead and fine steel; let us put on the whole armor of God; banish unrighteousness from our midst, and we or our children shall see the governments of this world become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ in His own due time, for which all Saints should ever labor and pray.
We have had a great deal of good instruction during this conference. I have been much edified myself in hearing my brethren talk, and I am sure you all have. The teachings which have been given are of a character to promote good feelings between brethren and sisters, fathers and mothers, parents and children, and it is pleasant to hear of each other's welfare.
When we go to our respective homes let us go with the determination to stand steadfast in the faith. I am sure that after such a conference as this every honest soul who has met with us, if he wanted a portion of the bread of life, has received that portion, has received something which he can take home for his own use—some words of encouragement, some strengthening exhortation, some good words that will help to put away weakness and enable the feeble to say I am strong in the Lord.
I pray God to bless you, to comfort your hearts; to increase your faith towards Him; to strengthen you that you may not be overcome of sin, and that you may seek in all things to overcome evil with good. Remember and pray for the brethren—our leaders. We do not know what awaits us; we care but little. The main thing devolving upon us is to do our duty acceptably day by day. We will trust in God and go forward. What if it were necessary that some of our lives should be taken? There is no need for fear or worriment about it. It has always been so when God had a people on the earth. Some of the best lives have been taken—taken as witnesses in yonder heavens to testify to facts as they exist here. Do you understand this? It is in accordance with the great principles of eternal justice which rule and regulate in heaven with a great deal more precision and certainty than here on the earth. The Lord has told us how He does business in some of these matters before the councils of the Church, namely by the voice of two or three witnesses every word is to be established, and so it has to be up yonder. Perhaps it is necessary once in a while to have some go in that kind of a way. Well don't get scared about that. We have all to die some day. It will be all right whether it shall be tomorrow or next week, if we keep the commandments of God in all matters. Choose the wise and the perfect way, and if we are right we will be willing to say, “O Lord, thy will be done.” If when we embraced the Gospel we placed our all upon the altar, it is of very little consequence about all these things. For if we seek to save our lives we may lose them, but if we lose them in the service of God, we shall find life eternal.
I pray that God may bless us all; you who are parents, should bless your children—that they may render more loving obedience to you, that you may be more affectionate to them, remembering the union in which you have been united and in which you have been sealed; that you may be strengthened of the Holy Ghost, and be enabled to go into the holy temples and set yourselves in order before the Lord; that you may obtain those eternal gifts that shall bring an eternal weight of glory to your household, families, friends and kindred; that you may have the full assurance of the promises of God, and have joy to animate, stimulate and sustain you through every trying circumstance in life, and bring you safely back into the presence of our heavenly Father. Amen.
The anthem: Daughters of Zion. was sung by the coir.
Benediction by President Richards.
Conference adjourned until October, 1885, the precise day not being stated.
John Nicholson,
Clerk of Conference.
Remarks by Apostle F. D. Richards, delivered at the General Conference, held in Logan, on the 6th April, 1885.
Reported by John Irvine.
The Latter-day Saints have very great reason to rejoice and to be exceedingly glad before our Father who is in heaven and before the people here on the earth. If we take a look at our condition, and
consider the same carefully—whether it be in temporal matters or in spiritual concerns—we are better and more comfortably situated today than any other people of the same number anywhere on God's footstool. If we take into consideration our present condition as to the comforts of life, we are better situated today with grain in our granaries and food in our houses, than any other people of the same number upon the face of the earth, or that can be found located together upon the same extent of territory anywhere. If we take into consideration our condition as to homes, there is a greater proportion of this people today who have comfortable homes of their own than can be found anywhere else; more of them have no need to strive for the privilege of earning a living, as a great many of our people had to do before they were gathered when they often found it difficult to obtain employment, and even if successful were obliged to work by the piece or by the day, receiving their pay regularly at the end of the week, and in this way measuring the conditions of their living by the amount of means which they were permitted to earn. In this manner life or existence and its comforts were measured out to them. There was comparatively no room for the exercise of enterprise, of skill, of native wit, and those qualities which God has placed in their nature, and which He designed they should practice and thus become wise and skilled by their own ingenuity.
We sometimes feel that we are oppressed, that we are pinched and persecuted by the people who are intruding upon our rights, and trampling upon our liberties, but as yet we know but little, comparatively speaking about oppression. The people of the countries of Asia and of Europe, with all of the liberty that they enjoy, are under the most severe daily oppression, continued dependence and subordination to those that are over them. In those countries there is a feeling of fear—fear of their rulers, terror in their minds caused by the dread of threatening war which is liable at any time to come upon them with all its horrors. In every national dispute that arises they see and feel at once the liability that their sons, fathers, neighbors and kinsmen may be drafted and sent off to the war, perhaps never to return. And their hearts are filled with fear and anxiety over this and other similar things.
We see in newspapers that in Egypt, China, Central America, and almost everywhere else the air is thick with the mists and clouds of war. Where is the mother or sister, father or son among us that is today away from one of their kindred on account of war? The worst you have to dread is a short imprisonment and a few hundred dollars fine; that is the worst thing you can find to mourn and worry over. Why, bless your dear souls, there is not another community of the same number anywhere on the whole earth in which there is to be found such settled peace as right here among this very people that are before me, and the people that fill this territory all around us. And yet you think the times are terribly hard with your granaries full of wheat that you cannot sell, with large quantities of potatoes and vegetables that you cannot dispose of, with flocks and herds about you; because you cannot sell your products and get as good prices as you would like, some of you think you are in a terribly distressed condition (Laughter).
I wish the Saints would put away these foolish ideas. I want to have you realize that you are in a condition of peace and plenty, with liberty, too, for God has made you free.
God has made His people free from the bondage of sin and death; we are at liberty, and there is no power on the earth that has the ability to fasten the shackles of sin and Satan upon us. It all depends upon our own conduct, as to whether we are and shall continue free.
In almost all of the countries from which you came and in the nations that surrounded you in your former homes, people are taxed with a taxation that is oppressive. On the green Isle of Ireland, where the poor and afflicted are numerous there are people who have to pay a rent of five pounds an acre for land, and they must raise sufficient off it to support their families, and raise the money to pay the rent. But here we can buy or take up land, and have it, too, for the taking, but some of us consider it an awful job to fence it (Laughter). No, we don't know anything about oppression, as compared with the Jews, the Poles and the Irish. In older portions of the United States, we never could have enjoyed the blessings we enjoy here; we never could have located and built up our towns and cities; as it was the mobs plundered us of our homes and drove us out here to this part of the earth. It was like a new world; it looked so entirely new, that it seemed as if the work of creation was scarcely finished. By the blessing of God we brought life with us and life came from heaven; life that animated the soil under our feet; that tempered and controlled the elements over our heads; so that in these high valleys and canyons, where it was thought no grain or fruit could be raised, with snow and frost every month in the year—now we raise good crops and varieties of fruits. A few years ago it was a problem whether an apple or a peach could be raised here in Cache valley; but it is not long since her enterprising fruit growers took the premium in the Territorial Fair for the best collection of apples to be found in the Territory.
Who has done this for us? It is the Lord our God. He brought us to this land as He brought the children of Israel to the land of Judea, which He gave to them and to their children after them, to be their inheritance forever.
I want to have us consider these things; and instead of being anxious and worried, troubled and filled with fear, learn to rely upon the arm of the Lord and trust Him for His goodness; cultivate the peace of heaven and let the love of God dwell in our hearts. Though our enemies may harass, trouble, and disturb us; the trouble that they will bring upon us will be but as a drop in the bucket compared with what will come upon them by and by. They cannot stop the work of God. His decree has established it. We have the promise that it never shall be overthrown or given to another people. Understand it. This form of government which the Lord has given to us, is the strongest form of government that was ever revealed to man. The governments of the world have power to oppress, annoy, make war upon and destroy men from the face of the earth. But this Kingdom that God has given to His people is to be a kingdom of peace, a kingdom of righteousness, and its righteousness is going to exalt His people, to make them become the greatest people on the face of the earth, filled with power, wisdom and intelligence that all the surrounding nations will look up to.
The people that are around us in our midst, and who wish to dictate to us; those who sit in the council chambers to make laws against us and our holy faith, and thereby make us offenders—are themselves filled with fear and anxiety at what is taking place in this and other nations. This spirit of fear will increase upon them. Look at the dread they experienced at the work of the dynamiters in the old country, and that is but a beginning of what is to come. These secret societies will work great mischief and death, with frequent assassinations, and by and by these things will come so thick and fast that people will not know what way to escape. The Lord is gathering His people together that He may deal with them by themselves. The great trouble is, that we have too many among us who are careless and indifferent; that are wicked and sinful; that ought to be dealt with and cut off the Church. There are plenty who are ready to sell their brethren into the hands of their enemies, but the day will come, when they will realize the awful consequence of their acts. We have not much to fear unless we offend the God whom we agreed to serve.
Brethren and sisters, let not your hearts be troubled. Obey the commandments of God, keep your covenants inviolate and learn to live by every word that proceeds from Him and the constituted authorities of His Church—and if you find trials in your pathway you will find help to endure them. Parents, cultivate affection toward each other, toward your children and toward all included in your households; do right by your wives, your husband, your children and your God. You will find that all the rest will come right in its own due time. The Lord will bring it about in so strange and simple a manner that it will be astonishing to us when we find out how He has done it. We cannot go to the Bible, Book of Mormon or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, to be informed how this, that and the other thing will be solved and arranged. We can read how He did anciently according to the circumstances that surrounded His people then; but we cannot find out His methods and plans of today only as He manifests them to us by the spirit of revelation. His ways are past finding out. He tells us that Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. We must remember this. If we would have power with God and with the angels, it must be because of our diligent attention to God, to the work He has called us to do, and we must see that we establish it in the earth. Every man should warn his neighbor; should teach his children and his family, and establish righteousness in his household. Presidents and Bishops should deal with transgressors in the Church, that they may repent, or be cut off. It is that righteousness may be established in the earth that the Lord has commenced His work again, that it may be established not in a little place, but in all the land, and it shall spread until His righteous word and work shall fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the mighty deep.
Do not let anything divert you from the path of duty; let nothing cause you to commit an overt act. Honor and respect the laws of the land as far as possible, consistent with the laws and commandments of God. Observe and obey every constitutional law. When our enemies place us in violation of a law of the land, it is painful to us, and it is our trial, but the responsibility of it rests with them. Let us make up our minds to bear this crusade of legal persecution with fortitude as Saints have had to do in all ages of Gospel reform, because they believed in the revelations of Jesus Christ. We have not revolted against any law of the land; we have not contended against any constitutional principle, law or doctrine that could benefit, improve or exalt the human family, nor anything that could promote the pursuit of happiness—we seek after all these things. But, our Congressmen, Governors and Judges, in the supreme wisdom with which they imagine they are endowed, impose penalties upon God's people for keeping His commandments. Thus we see that when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
We ought to gain by all this experience valuable knowledge. We want to profit by it. Let every man question himself: “Can I stand this or that without getting angry!” Or can we be righteously angry and sin not? If not we should go into our closets and ask God for that measure of His spirit that is necessary to sustain us in a proper frame of mind. This is the kind of experience, the very kind of discipline that is necessary for us, to make us find out whether we will draw near to Him and have fellowship, and communion with Him. These things are all for our experience, for our profit. The Lord has made known to us that the days we live in are dark with threatenings of war. The hour of his judgment is nigh at hand. We have seen one terrible war in our land—and it is well that we should take heed to His counsels. Wars and rumors of wars are spreading abroad upon the face of the earth, and it will come to pass before a great while that people will be so far from having peace that they must either take up the sword to contend against their neighbor, or flee to Zion and gather with God's people. You will see this come to pass. Mark my words. All kinds and conditions of people will desire to come here and make homes with us. You will see the day when it will be as hard to keep the wicked away from us as it ever has been to get people to join us. Mark that, too. I tell you that a people with full granaries, a people of peace and prosperity, is a people that will be sought after by the peoples of the nations of the earth, and things cannot always go on in the way they are going with us, without bringing down upon our oppressors the retribution of an offended God. We ought to rely upon His promises. These experiences are well calculated to do us good, and teach us to trust in the Lord.
Nor should we forget that when a governor of unsavory memory forbade the use of the militia alike for defense against Indian depredations, as well as for Fourth of July celebrations; that since that date, no single predatory excursion of the red man has been experienced by any one of our settlements. On the contrary it would seem that all use of firearms for any kind of military defense had become entirely obsolete—gone into utter desuetude—so entirely at peace have the Lamanites become, that instead of either noise of war, or even the apprehension thereof, there is given us of God to enjoy the most settled peace from the red man on all our borders round; and now having assisted to build our temples, they are enjoying with us the heavenly blessing bestowed therein. Instead of roaming wild and lawlessly over the plains, numbers have renounced their tribal relations, sworn allegiance to government, have preempted or homesteaded lands of the public domain, are raising crops, cultivating their flocks and herds, are building and occupying comfortable dwellings, as good neighbors among their white brethren, as is evidenced at Washakie in Oneida Stake, and at Indianola in the San Pete Stake. Their schools are turning out scholars in the elementary branches of good common school education.
Not only has the need of firearms been done away as between us and the natives, but we have very great reason to be thankful that in the present unholy crusade against the Church the onslaught has not been with fire and the sword as in former times, but with mind and moral suasion in the application of the law by a perversion of many of its well-settled methods of interpretation, construction and application. These conclusions have been the implements and the tactics of the present warfare.
It is devoutly to be hoped that no one with a zeal which is not according to knowledge shall commit an overt act that shall precipitate a conflict with carnal weapons and give the enemy an occasion or opportunity to shed the blood of the Saints or to increase their unhallowed oppressions upon us.
Since, then, the weapons of our warfare are not powder, lead and fine steel; let us put on the whole armor of God; banish unrighteousness from our midst, and we or our children shall see the governments of this world become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ in His own due time, for which all Saints should ever labor and pray.
We have had a great deal of good instruction during this conference. I have been much edified myself in hearing my brethren talk, and I am sure you all have. The teachings which have been given are of a character to promote good feelings between brethren and sisters, fathers and mothers, parents and children, and it is pleasant to hear of each other's welfare.
When we go to our respective homes let us go with the determination to stand steadfast in the faith. I am sure that after such a conference as this every honest soul who has met with us, if he wanted a portion of the bread of life, has received that portion, has received something which he can take home for his own use—some words of encouragement, some strengthening exhortation, some good words that will help to put away weakness and enable the feeble to say I am strong in the Lord.
I pray God to bless you, to comfort your hearts; to increase your faith towards Him; to strengthen you that you may not be overcome of sin, and that you may seek in all things to overcome evil with good. Remember and pray for the brethren—our leaders. We do not know what awaits us; we care but little. The main thing devolving upon us is to do our duty acceptably day by day. We will trust in God and go forward. What if it were necessary that some of our lives should be taken? There is no need for fear or worriment about it. It has always been so when God had a people on the earth. Some of the best lives have been taken—taken as witnesses in yonder heavens to testify to facts as they exist here. Do you understand this? It is in accordance with the great principles of eternal justice which rule and regulate in heaven with a great deal more precision and certainty than here on the earth. The Lord has told us how He does business in some of these matters before the councils of the Church, namely by the voice of two or three witnesses every word is to be established, and so it has to be up yonder. Perhaps it is necessary once in a while to have some go in that kind of a way. Well don't get scared about that. We have all to die some day. It will be all right whether it shall be tomorrow or next week, if we keep the commandments of God in all matters. Choose the wise and the perfect way, and if we are right we will be willing to say, “O Lord, thy will be done.” If when we embraced the Gospel we placed our all upon the altar, it is of very little consequence about all these things. For if we seek to save our lives we may lose them, but if we lose them in the service of God, we shall find life eternal.
I pray that God may bless us all; you who are parents, should bless your children—that they may render more loving obedience to you, that you may be more affectionate to them, remembering the union in which you have been united and in which you have been sealed; that you may be strengthened of the Holy Ghost, and be enabled to go into the holy temples and set yourselves in order before the Lord; that you may obtain those eternal gifts that shall bring an eternal weight of glory to your household, families, friends and kindred; that you may have the full assurance of the promises of God, and have joy to animate, stimulate and sustain you through every trying circumstance in life, and bring you safely back into the presence of our heavenly Father. Amen.
The anthem: Daughters of Zion. was sung by the coir.
Benediction by President Richards.
Conference adjourned until October, 1885, the precise day not being stated.
John Nicholson,
Clerk of Conference.