April 1891
The Deseret Weekly. "General Conference." April 11, 1891: pg. 497-509.
Woodruff, Wilford. "Discourse." The Deseret Weekly, April 25, 1891: pg. 553-555.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President Wilford Woodruff
Apostle Anthon H. Lund
Apostle Marriner W. Merrill
Apostle John W. Taylor
Afternoon Session. Saturday, April 4th
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
President George Q. Cannon
Priesthood Meeting
President George Q. Cannon
President Woodruff
Second Day. Sunday, April 5th
President Wilford Woodruff
Apostle Franklin D. Richards
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Afternoon Session
President George Q. Cannon
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Overflow Meeting
Elder John Morgan
Elder Joseph M. Tanner
Elder B. H. Roberts
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
Third Day. April 6th. Morning Session
The Authorities
President Wilford Woodruff
The Ladies' Relief Society Report
President Wilford Woodruff
Discourse
Apostle John Henry Smith
Elder Seymour B. Young
Afternoon Session
Elder Jacob Gates
Elder John Morgan
President George Q. Cannon
Woodruff, Wilford. "Discourse." The Deseret Weekly, April 25, 1891: pg. 553-555.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President Wilford Woodruff
Apostle Anthon H. Lund
Apostle Marriner W. Merrill
Apostle John W. Taylor
Afternoon Session. Saturday, April 4th
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
President George Q. Cannon
Priesthood Meeting
President George Q. Cannon
President Woodruff
Second Day. Sunday, April 5th
President Wilford Woodruff
Apostle Franklin D. Richards
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Afternoon Session
President George Q. Cannon
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Overflow Meeting
Elder John Morgan
Elder Joseph M. Tanner
Elder B. H. Roberts
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
Third Day. April 6th. Morning Session
The Authorities
President Wilford Woodruff
The Ladies' Relief Society Report
President Wilford Woodruff
Discourse
Apostle John Henry Smith
Elder Seymour B. Young
Afternoon Session
Elder Jacob Gates
Elder John Morgan
President George Q. Cannon
GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Sixty-first Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4th, 1891, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon; of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the Presiding Council of the Seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston, R. T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also number of Presidents of Stakes and of other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding region.
Conference opened by President Wilford Woodruff announcing that the choir would sing the hymn commencing:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation;
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
Prayer was offered by President Angus M. Cannon.
Singing by the choir:
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God!
He whose word can not be broken, Chose thee for His own abode.
The Sixty-first Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4th, 1891, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon; of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the Presiding Council of the Seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston, R. T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also number of Presidents of Stakes and of other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding region.
Conference opened by President Wilford Woodruff announcing that the choir would sing the hymn commencing:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation;
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
Prayer was offered by President Angus M. Cannon.
Singing by the choir:
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God!
He whose word can not be broken, Chose thee for His own abode.
President Wilford Woodruff.
We are highly blessed of God in being permitted to meet together on this the sixty-first anniversary of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel that we ought to be thankful before the Lord, that our hearts should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for this privilege which we now enjoy. It is true many of our friends have been called from our midst during the past year, to the other side of the veil. The Lord has been merciful to us, as a people, in preserving us through our history, in all the vicissitudes of life through which we have been called to pass since the establishment of this Church and Kingdom. I feel that we should lift our hearts in prayer to God our Heavenly Father for His mercies, and that He will guide and direct us by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that our minds may be enlightened, our understanding opened to comprehend His mind and will concerning His people. I rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the revelations that come from heaven to both Jew and Gentile, with the various dispensations of God to man. Generation after generation has passed away since the early patriarchs stood in the flesh on the earth. The Lord has expressed through the mouths of inspired men, from generation to generation, His mind, His will, His work. Those revelations which were delivered thousands of years ago have been fulfilled today in our midst and among the nations of the earth. Go has set His hand to establish His work, to warn the world once more, for the last time, before the coming of the Son of man, and He has called Elders into the vineyard of the Lord, to labor while the days last; for “the night cometh, when no man can work.” We have the fruits of this labor before us today, in this Tabernacle, in the valleys of these mountains.
I trust while we are together that our prayers may be lifted up to the Lord, that our hearts may be united; that while our brethren, the Apostles and Elder, stand before us and give unto us their testimony of the word of God we may have a full share of His blessing.
I do not think I ought to occupy much more of your time this morning, but I feel thankful that I am still with you, and able to meet on this occasion with so many of the Latter-day Saints who have entered into covenant with the Lord, and upon whose shoulders He has laid the holy Priesthood, to administer, to warn the world, to devote their time and attention to the ordinances of the House of God, both for the living and the dead. I feel myself that of all people under heaven that have ever lived, the Latter-day Saints have the greatest cause to rejoice that they live in the day and generation when the Lord has set His hand to gather together His people, to establish both Jerusalem and Zion, to fulfil His promises made to Father Abraham an the ancient patriarchs an prophets.
The Jews have been a hiss and a bye-word among the Gentiles since the death of the Savior, eighteen hundred years ago. Their redemption is at the door today; it has been proclaimed by inspired men to their own tribe. It is left on record that the Jews will return home, that Jerusalem will be rebuilt, their temple established and all those great and mighty promises given by inspiration and revelation will come to pass.
I pray God our Heavenly Father to bestow His blessing upon us, that it may continue to rest upon His Saints who have entered into covenant with Him; that we may recognize our responsibility and magnify our calling day by day, so that when we pass to the other side of the veil we may be justified in His sight. This is my prayer and desire for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
We are highly blessed of God in being permitted to meet together on this the sixty-first anniversary of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel that we ought to be thankful before the Lord, that our hearts should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for this privilege which we now enjoy. It is true many of our friends have been called from our midst during the past year, to the other side of the veil. The Lord has been merciful to us, as a people, in preserving us through our history, in all the vicissitudes of life through which we have been called to pass since the establishment of this Church and Kingdom. I feel that we should lift our hearts in prayer to God our Heavenly Father for His mercies, and that He will guide and direct us by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that our minds may be enlightened, our understanding opened to comprehend His mind and will concerning His people. I rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the revelations that come from heaven to both Jew and Gentile, with the various dispensations of God to man. Generation after generation has passed away since the early patriarchs stood in the flesh on the earth. The Lord has expressed through the mouths of inspired men, from generation to generation, His mind, His will, His work. Those revelations which were delivered thousands of years ago have been fulfilled today in our midst and among the nations of the earth. Go has set His hand to establish His work, to warn the world once more, for the last time, before the coming of the Son of man, and He has called Elders into the vineyard of the Lord, to labor while the days last; for “the night cometh, when no man can work.” We have the fruits of this labor before us today, in this Tabernacle, in the valleys of these mountains.
I trust while we are together that our prayers may be lifted up to the Lord, that our hearts may be united; that while our brethren, the Apostles and Elder, stand before us and give unto us their testimony of the word of God we may have a full share of His blessing.
I do not think I ought to occupy much more of your time this morning, but I feel thankful that I am still with you, and able to meet on this occasion with so many of the Latter-day Saints who have entered into covenant with the Lord, and upon whose shoulders He has laid the holy Priesthood, to administer, to warn the world, to devote their time and attention to the ordinances of the House of God, both for the living and the dead. I feel myself that of all people under heaven that have ever lived, the Latter-day Saints have the greatest cause to rejoice that they live in the day and generation when the Lord has set His hand to gather together His people, to establish both Jerusalem and Zion, to fulfil His promises made to Father Abraham an the ancient patriarchs an prophets.
The Jews have been a hiss and a bye-word among the Gentiles since the death of the Savior, eighteen hundred years ago. Their redemption is at the door today; it has been proclaimed by inspired men to their own tribe. It is left on record that the Jews will return home, that Jerusalem will be rebuilt, their temple established and all those great and mighty promises given by inspiration and revelation will come to pass.
I pray God our Heavenly Father to bestow His blessing upon us, that it may continue to rest upon His Saints who have entered into covenant with Him; that we may recognize our responsibility and magnify our calling day by day, so that when we pass to the other side of the veil we may be justified in His sight. This is my prayer and desire for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Apostle Anthon H. Lund
addressed the Conference. Following is substantially what he said: I am pleased to meet with the Saints and listen to the remarks of President Woodruff. In looking back on their history the Latter-day Saints have much cause to rejoice. We can see that the Lord has been with His people, notwithstanding the opposition they have had to meet. In the early history, which was marked by great difficulties, if the Lord had not been close to the Saints they would not have been able to stem the opposition which confronted them. We need have no fear of the outcome. The Lord has power to protect His people. But we should look to ourselves. We have received the truth. We should show our gratitude for this boon by our works. You know of the Lord’s parable of the sower. I have no fear that the word has been in the case of the Saints, sown on stony ground. But with some of us it has, I fear, been sown on soil on which briars have grown and partially choked it. As a rule, however, the loss of this world’s goods and of friends have had no power to draw us away from the truth. Generally speaking the truth was sown on good ground.
We have need to beware, lest, in times of peace, riches become the chief object of our lives. We have so much to live for that we cannot afford to o this. We should be honest in our dealings. I have seen more trouble arise among the Saints from temporal matters than any other cause. We should all deal justly and remember the debt we owe to our Heavenly Father and pay our tithing. If we neglect this duty our faith and love for God’s work will decrease. If we attend to this duty, those conditions will increase with us. There is a special debt of honor that not a few have omitted to discharge—the refunding of means supplied by brethren to enable them to come to this country. This is not right, as such an obligation is sacred. We should remember our benefactors and not be guilty of the base sin of ingratitude.
We should not forget the object of gathering. It is to learn more fully the ways of the Lord. We have progressed in this respect, but many have neglected to give their children proper instruction in these matters. Some have imagined that their time has been too much occupied to give their children these beneficent teachings. Those who cannot occupy much of their own time in this labor should be particular to send them where they can get instruction—Church and Sabbath schools. In this way they may become grounded in the faith of the Gospel and be able to give reason for the hope that is in them. Many parents, seeing the result of former negligence in this regard now regret their sins of omission. Some have thought that their children could receive all that was necessary at ordinary meetings. This is an error, as children are only capable of receiving but a little at a time.
The speaker bore testimony to the divine character of the work in which he is engaged, stating it to be preparatory labor for the coming of Christ to govern the world.
addressed the Conference. Following is substantially what he said: I am pleased to meet with the Saints and listen to the remarks of President Woodruff. In looking back on their history the Latter-day Saints have much cause to rejoice. We can see that the Lord has been with His people, notwithstanding the opposition they have had to meet. In the early history, which was marked by great difficulties, if the Lord had not been close to the Saints they would not have been able to stem the opposition which confronted them. We need have no fear of the outcome. The Lord has power to protect His people. But we should look to ourselves. We have received the truth. We should show our gratitude for this boon by our works. You know of the Lord’s parable of the sower. I have no fear that the word has been in the case of the Saints, sown on stony ground. But with some of us it has, I fear, been sown on soil on which briars have grown and partially choked it. As a rule, however, the loss of this world’s goods and of friends have had no power to draw us away from the truth. Generally speaking the truth was sown on good ground.
We have need to beware, lest, in times of peace, riches become the chief object of our lives. We have so much to live for that we cannot afford to o this. We should be honest in our dealings. I have seen more trouble arise among the Saints from temporal matters than any other cause. We should all deal justly and remember the debt we owe to our Heavenly Father and pay our tithing. If we neglect this duty our faith and love for God’s work will decrease. If we attend to this duty, those conditions will increase with us. There is a special debt of honor that not a few have omitted to discharge—the refunding of means supplied by brethren to enable them to come to this country. This is not right, as such an obligation is sacred. We should remember our benefactors and not be guilty of the base sin of ingratitude.
We should not forget the object of gathering. It is to learn more fully the ways of the Lord. We have progressed in this respect, but many have neglected to give their children proper instruction in these matters. Some have imagined that their time has been too much occupied to give their children these beneficent teachings. Those who cannot occupy much of their own time in this labor should be particular to send them where they can get instruction—Church and Sabbath schools. In this way they may become grounded in the faith of the Gospel and be able to give reason for the hope that is in them. Many parents, seeing the result of former negligence in this regard now regret their sins of omission. Some have thought that their children could receive all that was necessary at ordinary meetings. This is an error, as children are only capable of receiving but a little at a time.
The speaker bore testimony to the divine character of the work in which he is engaged, stating it to be preparatory labor for the coming of Christ to govern the world.
Apostle Marriner W. Merrill
said he was pleased to meet with such a large number of Latter-day Saints in conference. He had had many reflections since coming here in relation to the past. Thirty-eight years had gone by since he first became associated with the Saints in this city and Territory, and during that period how many of the brethren with whom he had been intimately acquainted had passed away! He dared say there were many present that morning who had never seen the face of President Young, President Kimball, Brother George A. Smith, and others of the early pioneers and settlers of this Territory; and he presumed also there were vey few persons now in the Church who had ever beheld the Prophet Joseph. He himself was one of the latter. But the Prophet Joseph’s testimony was still in force; his spirit had continued in the earth at his death; his mantle fell upon the shoulders of President Young; in turn it fell upon those of President Taylor, and not it was borne by President Woodruff. Thus we say that the spirit of the great latter-day work was fully sustained among God’s servants; in other words, the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that rested upon the Prophet Joseph and his brethren in an early day was still with the Church. That Spirit and inspiration would continue in the earth and could not be taken away. The man or woman who had lost the spirit of this work had done so through his or her own neglect—through the non-observance of the commandments of God. During thirty-eight years of close observation he had seen that those Saints who had faithfully kept the laws of the Lord, who were honest in their dealings, had attended to their duties, and been prayerful in their daily life, were firm and steadfast in the truth today. The speaker counseled the Latter-day Saints to examine their acts closely, to sit in judgment upon themselves, as it were, and see, if needs be, wherein they had lost the gifts of the Gospel. They must be a prayerful people or they would assuredly lose the spirit of this work. Apostle Merrill next dwelt upon the subject of tithing, the strict observance of which he strongly enforced upon his hearers. The payment of tithing was an important matter among the Latter-day Saints. Though some had perhaps parted with thousands of dollars in this way, they yet had an abundance of this world’s goods; they were full of faith and greatly blessed of the Lord.
In bearing a strong and earnest testimony to the truth of the latter-day work, the speaker urged the Saints always to be honest and forgiving. They must not encourage hard feelings in their hearts against one another; they could not afford to do this, though the world might do it. He said the Latter-day Saints had the grandest organization on earth, an he pointed with pride to their Sabbath schools, Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ M. I. associations, and Primary associations. If we keep the commandments of God, he said, we would be sustained in our work and lifted up to a far higher plane than those who now ridiculed and reviled them, and upon whom they looked with pity because of their ignorance.
said he was pleased to meet with such a large number of Latter-day Saints in conference. He had had many reflections since coming here in relation to the past. Thirty-eight years had gone by since he first became associated with the Saints in this city and Territory, and during that period how many of the brethren with whom he had been intimately acquainted had passed away! He dared say there were many present that morning who had never seen the face of President Young, President Kimball, Brother George A. Smith, and others of the early pioneers and settlers of this Territory; and he presumed also there were vey few persons now in the Church who had ever beheld the Prophet Joseph. He himself was one of the latter. But the Prophet Joseph’s testimony was still in force; his spirit had continued in the earth at his death; his mantle fell upon the shoulders of President Young; in turn it fell upon those of President Taylor, and not it was borne by President Woodruff. Thus we say that the spirit of the great latter-day work was fully sustained among God’s servants; in other words, the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that rested upon the Prophet Joseph and his brethren in an early day was still with the Church. That Spirit and inspiration would continue in the earth and could not be taken away. The man or woman who had lost the spirit of this work had done so through his or her own neglect—through the non-observance of the commandments of God. During thirty-eight years of close observation he had seen that those Saints who had faithfully kept the laws of the Lord, who were honest in their dealings, had attended to their duties, and been prayerful in their daily life, were firm and steadfast in the truth today. The speaker counseled the Latter-day Saints to examine their acts closely, to sit in judgment upon themselves, as it were, and see, if needs be, wherein they had lost the gifts of the Gospel. They must be a prayerful people or they would assuredly lose the spirit of this work. Apostle Merrill next dwelt upon the subject of tithing, the strict observance of which he strongly enforced upon his hearers. The payment of tithing was an important matter among the Latter-day Saints. Though some had perhaps parted with thousands of dollars in this way, they yet had an abundance of this world’s goods; they were full of faith and greatly blessed of the Lord.
In bearing a strong and earnest testimony to the truth of the latter-day work, the speaker urged the Saints always to be honest and forgiving. They must not encourage hard feelings in their hearts against one another; they could not afford to do this, though the world might do it. He said the Latter-day Saints had the grandest organization on earth, an he pointed with pride to their Sabbath schools, Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ M. I. associations, and Primary associations. If we keep the commandments of God, he said, we would be sustained in our work and lifted up to a far higher plane than those who now ridiculed and reviled them, and upon whom they looked with pity because of their ignorance.
Apostle John W. Taylor
addressed the Conference, the following being the substance of his remarks:
I desire to be directed in my speaking by the Holy Spirit. I have listened with great interest to the remarks of Elder Merrill. I have paid particular attention to his testimony regarding the truth of this work. Any strangers who may be present will think his declaration in that regard rather remarkable. Our Lord and Savior promised that all who should do His will should know for themselves as to the divine origin of the Gospel This is the reason why Elder Merrill is able to make such a positive statement of the knowledge he has obtained.
What is necessary to be one in order to be in accord with the will of God and as a result obtain a similar testimony? There are many opinions abroad on this subject. The best source of information is the Scriptures, which Christ commended to the consideration of men in His day. The speaker here read from the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark, showing that baptism by immersion in water, and the obtaining of the Holy Ghost, by a prescribed ordinance, were necessary parts of the law of the Gospel. He also dwelt upon the commission given to the servants of God in that age to preach the Gospel, free of charge, to all peoples. In the same chapter is also a statement of the spiritual signs that were to follow the believer as a result of obedience. An explanation was given by Elder Taylor in the manner in which the divine message was carried to the people by the ancient Apostles and the results of the reception or rejection of their teachings. He next referred to the case of Nicodemus, who visited the Savior under cover of night to make inquiry regarding the steps he should take to obtain salvation, the reply being, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Christ asserted that He testified of things that He had seen and did know. Here then is an instance of a similar character here this morning, Brother Merrill having testified to what he does know. Christ gave other instructions to His servants in the days of the primitive Church. He enjoined them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. He promised that if they did he would bestow upon them the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, who would instruct them and show them things to come. It is this spirit that imparts this knowledge of the things of God. These are not new doctrines. Thy are laid down in the Scriptures, which state that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The speaker then dwelt for some time upon the gifts of the Holy Sprit as defined by the Apostle Paul, asserting that people among whom these spiritual manifestations do not exist, are not in possession of the power of God unto salvation. He admonished all his hearers to take the advice of the Apostle Paul and seek earnest the best gifts. He promised strangers that those who would believe in Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by one holding authority for the remission of them, should receive the Holy Ghost and be able to testify that they ha acted in accord with the divine will.
Adjournment till 2 p.m.
The choir sang, From afar gracious Lord.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
addressed the Conference, the following being the substance of his remarks:
I desire to be directed in my speaking by the Holy Spirit. I have listened with great interest to the remarks of Elder Merrill. I have paid particular attention to his testimony regarding the truth of this work. Any strangers who may be present will think his declaration in that regard rather remarkable. Our Lord and Savior promised that all who should do His will should know for themselves as to the divine origin of the Gospel This is the reason why Elder Merrill is able to make such a positive statement of the knowledge he has obtained.
What is necessary to be one in order to be in accord with the will of God and as a result obtain a similar testimony? There are many opinions abroad on this subject. The best source of information is the Scriptures, which Christ commended to the consideration of men in His day. The speaker here read from the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark, showing that baptism by immersion in water, and the obtaining of the Holy Ghost, by a prescribed ordinance, were necessary parts of the law of the Gospel. He also dwelt upon the commission given to the servants of God in that age to preach the Gospel, free of charge, to all peoples. In the same chapter is also a statement of the spiritual signs that were to follow the believer as a result of obedience. An explanation was given by Elder Taylor in the manner in which the divine message was carried to the people by the ancient Apostles and the results of the reception or rejection of their teachings. He next referred to the case of Nicodemus, who visited the Savior under cover of night to make inquiry regarding the steps he should take to obtain salvation, the reply being, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Christ asserted that He testified of things that He had seen and did know. Here then is an instance of a similar character here this morning, Brother Merrill having testified to what he does know. Christ gave other instructions to His servants in the days of the primitive Church. He enjoined them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. He promised that if they did he would bestow upon them the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, who would instruct them and show them things to come. It is this spirit that imparts this knowledge of the things of God. These are not new doctrines. Thy are laid down in the Scriptures, which state that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The speaker then dwelt for some time upon the gifts of the Holy Sprit as defined by the Apostle Paul, asserting that people among whom these spiritual manifestations do not exist, are not in possession of the power of God unto salvation. He admonished all his hearers to take the advice of the Apostle Paul and seek earnest the best gifts. He promised strangers that those who would believe in Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by one holding authority for the remission of them, should receive the Holy Ghost and be able to testify that they ha acted in accord with the divine will.
Adjournment till 2 p.m.
The choir sang, From afar gracious Lord.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
Afternoon Session. Saturday, April 4th.
The choir sang:
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning;
The Latter-day glory begins to come forth.
Prayer by Elder Jacob Gates.
Singing:
Lord, Thou wilt hear me when I pray, I am forever Thine.
I fear before Thee all the day, O may I never sin.
The choir sang:
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning;
The Latter-day glory begins to come forth.
Prayer by Elder Jacob Gates.
Singing:
Lord, Thou wilt hear me when I pray, I am forever Thine.
I fear before Thee all the day, O may I never sin.
Apostle F. M. Lyman
addressed the Conference, substantially as follows:
As was quoted this morning from the Apostle Paul, no man can say that Jesus is the Christ except by the Holy Ghost, so it is in reference to this work; no man can say Joseph Smith was a Prophet except by that same spirit. These things can only be known by the revelations of the Lord, which come by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We believe we are the children of God, that we are in His likeness, just as we are in the likeness of our parents, and our children in ours. We believe in Christ and him crucified and in His mission to save mankind; that for the cause of salvation He laid down His life and taught the law. His ancient Saints by their faith, repentance and baptism, and having the hands of the servants of God laid upon their heads, received the Holy Ghost. That Spirit bore testimony to them of the mission of the Savior and that their faith was perfect and their repentance genuine. They received a testimony that their sins were forgiven. Their faith became so strong that they endured persecution unto death. The history of those things have come down to us. We believe in the resurrection of the body, of which Christ was the first fruit. That His was the great atonement for the sins of man. We believe that those who follow His footsteps will be redeemed and obtain immortality and eternal life. We hold that men to have this faith, must obtain it through repentance and baptism, and receive the Holy Ghost through being pure and just. They must love their fellow men and deal justly by them. They must have the spirit of charity—the genius of Christ. If they do not they will fall short of a fulness of salvation.
God has sent none of His children to earth without their having the privilege of attaining to eternal life. Those who fail to reach that blessing will have themselves to blame. Man has his agency, and has from the beginning had power to resist evil and accept of and practice righteousness. Men will be judged according to the deeds done in the body. For all good deeds God will reward His children. Such works are the result of the inspiration of the Spirit of the Almighty. All good emanates from that source. All that is wicked comes from the evil one. The inspiration of Satan leads to the destruction of men.
We have the privilege to know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we have received. He established it and planted His authority on the earth. This knowledge has caused the Saints to gather from the lands of their birth. They have, in numbers of instances, laid down their lives in the cause of truth. Among those who have done so was the Prophet Joseph. We can afford to lay down our lives, when necessary, in such a work. All that we endure for righteousness’ sake will redound to our advantage in the life to come. We are to be rewarded for our good works, our endurance, and our labors for truth in the earth. Our lives here are but for a little season. Almost all the old members who were prominent in the Church have passed away. Nearly all who are at the head are new people.
The speaker proceeded to say that the Church had increased in strength from the beginning and that in the future it would not be of less importance than it was today, but would spread abroad, increasing in numbers and righteousness, and the Latter-day Saints would show the effects of the doctrines of the Gospel upon them. It would show in their communities, wards and Stakes as well as in themselves individually. The time was coming when the Latter-day Saints ought to seek to emphasize still more definitely the distinctive features of the Gospel in their lives.
In traveling among the Latter-day Saints difficulties were sometimes found to exist; but he begged of them to vie with each other in seeing who could be the most ready with the spirit of forgiveness. Where there was hardness of heart the Spirit of God could not dwell. In the presence of assembled Israel he warned the Latter-day Saints against the inclination towards stubbornness and unforgiveness. The Spirit of the Lord was full of forgiveness, justice, righteousness, mercy and long-suffering, and they could not possibly be true Latter-day Saints without these virtues.
addressed the Conference, substantially as follows:
As was quoted this morning from the Apostle Paul, no man can say that Jesus is the Christ except by the Holy Ghost, so it is in reference to this work; no man can say Joseph Smith was a Prophet except by that same spirit. These things can only be known by the revelations of the Lord, which come by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We believe we are the children of God, that we are in His likeness, just as we are in the likeness of our parents, and our children in ours. We believe in Christ and him crucified and in His mission to save mankind; that for the cause of salvation He laid down His life and taught the law. His ancient Saints by their faith, repentance and baptism, and having the hands of the servants of God laid upon their heads, received the Holy Ghost. That Spirit bore testimony to them of the mission of the Savior and that their faith was perfect and their repentance genuine. They received a testimony that their sins were forgiven. Their faith became so strong that they endured persecution unto death. The history of those things have come down to us. We believe in the resurrection of the body, of which Christ was the first fruit. That His was the great atonement for the sins of man. We believe that those who follow His footsteps will be redeemed and obtain immortality and eternal life. We hold that men to have this faith, must obtain it through repentance and baptism, and receive the Holy Ghost through being pure and just. They must love their fellow men and deal justly by them. They must have the spirit of charity—the genius of Christ. If they do not they will fall short of a fulness of salvation.
God has sent none of His children to earth without their having the privilege of attaining to eternal life. Those who fail to reach that blessing will have themselves to blame. Man has his agency, and has from the beginning had power to resist evil and accept of and practice righteousness. Men will be judged according to the deeds done in the body. For all good deeds God will reward His children. Such works are the result of the inspiration of the Spirit of the Almighty. All good emanates from that source. All that is wicked comes from the evil one. The inspiration of Satan leads to the destruction of men.
We have the privilege to know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we have received. He established it and planted His authority on the earth. This knowledge has caused the Saints to gather from the lands of their birth. They have, in numbers of instances, laid down their lives in the cause of truth. Among those who have done so was the Prophet Joseph. We can afford to lay down our lives, when necessary, in such a work. All that we endure for righteousness’ sake will redound to our advantage in the life to come. We are to be rewarded for our good works, our endurance, and our labors for truth in the earth. Our lives here are but for a little season. Almost all the old members who were prominent in the Church have passed away. Nearly all who are at the head are new people.
The speaker proceeded to say that the Church had increased in strength from the beginning and that in the future it would not be of less importance than it was today, but would spread abroad, increasing in numbers and righteousness, and the Latter-day Saints would show the effects of the doctrines of the Gospel upon them. It would show in their communities, wards and Stakes as well as in themselves individually. The time was coming when the Latter-day Saints ought to seek to emphasize still more definitely the distinctive features of the Gospel in their lives.
In traveling among the Latter-day Saints difficulties were sometimes found to exist; but he begged of them to vie with each other in seeing who could be the most ready with the spirit of forgiveness. Where there was hardness of heart the Spirit of God could not dwell. In the presence of assembled Israel he warned the Latter-day Saints against the inclination towards stubbornness and unforgiveness. The Spirit of the Lord was full of forgiveness, justice, righteousness, mercy and long-suffering, and they could not possibly be true Latter-day Saints without these virtues.
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
remarked that they were dependent entirely upon the Lord whom they endeavored to serve for that intelligence and instruction, and those qualifications, which were essential in order that they might perform the duties and obligations devolving upon them. The Lord had accomplished a great deal for the Latter-day Saints. He had aided them materially in their various experiences, in the trials and temptations to which they had been exposed while endeavoring to carry out His purposes during the last sixty-one years.
In taking a retrospect of their history as a church and people, they could not but feel grateful indeed for the mercies of the Almighty towards them. Referring to the advancement of the Latter-day Saints, morally, spiritually, and financially, the speaker said that during his experience of the last fifty-five years—since he had been associated with this Church—he had watched the wonderful strides made in these respects. He dwelt upon the persecutions and trials through which the Saints passed in Nauvoo and Missouri, the sacrifice of their homes and farms, and even consecrated through the revelations of the Almighty. They submitted to these cheerfully, though it took considerable faith to make the surrender. In Missouri their wives and children tramped over the frozen plains, and in some places their tracks were marked with their blood. Yet despite all these trials, the people grew in strength in the principles which they had espoused. They knew that all these things were of God and that they were suffering for His cause. It was plain to their understanding that the Holy Ghost assisted them; otherwise those sacrifices could never have ben made. Various offers came that if they would renounce their principles there would be no cause for sacrifice; but they valued their religion too much to do this.
God had revealed to His chosen people many glorious things. He had enlightened their understandings; because when the Gospel reached them they were in darkness; they knew not God nor His ways. Who could wish for better prospects than were before the Latter-day Saints? What God had revealed in regard to their future was the result of faithfulness in this life in the carrying out of His purposes. It was wonderful what they had been able to do as a people, and they were still growing. More had been accomplished by the Latter-day Saints than by any other people on the earth. What more did their persecutors want than they had delivered over to them already? Why did their missionaries go forth and preach the Gospel, while some had even laid down their lives in God’s cause? For the good of mankind at large—because we were the children of God. When men persecuted the Latter-day Saints they knew not what they did. This people would not be satisfied until every knee should bow and acknowledge the Lord as King.
God bless the Latter-day Saints. Let them not be discouraged. There was One at the helm who would not fail them, and the time would come when they would have everything that their hearts desired.
remarked that they were dependent entirely upon the Lord whom they endeavored to serve for that intelligence and instruction, and those qualifications, which were essential in order that they might perform the duties and obligations devolving upon them. The Lord had accomplished a great deal for the Latter-day Saints. He had aided them materially in their various experiences, in the trials and temptations to which they had been exposed while endeavoring to carry out His purposes during the last sixty-one years.
In taking a retrospect of their history as a church and people, they could not but feel grateful indeed for the mercies of the Almighty towards them. Referring to the advancement of the Latter-day Saints, morally, spiritually, and financially, the speaker said that during his experience of the last fifty-five years—since he had been associated with this Church—he had watched the wonderful strides made in these respects. He dwelt upon the persecutions and trials through which the Saints passed in Nauvoo and Missouri, the sacrifice of their homes and farms, and even consecrated through the revelations of the Almighty. They submitted to these cheerfully, though it took considerable faith to make the surrender. In Missouri their wives and children tramped over the frozen plains, and in some places their tracks were marked with their blood. Yet despite all these trials, the people grew in strength in the principles which they had espoused. They knew that all these things were of God and that they were suffering for His cause. It was plain to their understanding that the Holy Ghost assisted them; otherwise those sacrifices could never have ben made. Various offers came that if they would renounce their principles there would be no cause for sacrifice; but they valued their religion too much to do this.
God had revealed to His chosen people many glorious things. He had enlightened their understandings; because when the Gospel reached them they were in darkness; they knew not God nor His ways. Who could wish for better prospects than were before the Latter-day Saints? What God had revealed in regard to their future was the result of faithfulness in this life in the carrying out of His purposes. It was wonderful what they had been able to do as a people, and they were still growing. More had been accomplished by the Latter-day Saints than by any other people on the earth. What more did their persecutors want than they had delivered over to them already? Why did their missionaries go forth and preach the Gospel, while some had even laid down their lives in God’s cause? For the good of mankind at large—because we were the children of God. When men persecuted the Latter-day Saints they knew not what they did. This people would not be satisfied until every knee should bow and acknowledge the Lord as King.
God bless the Latter-day Saints. Let them not be discouraged. There was One at the helm who would not fail them, and the time would come when they would have everything that their hearts desired.
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
was the next speaker, the following being the substance of his discourse: I have listened with great interest to the remarks of the speakers who have preceded me. God has been merciful unto us in imparting His mind and will through these Apostles who have addressed the conference. Though the church has been organized nearly sixty-one years it is still in its infancy. The events of the past will in future be considered small compared with those which will yet be developed. When we reflect concerning what God has said about the latter-day Zion, and the great things which are yet to come, we must see that we have scarcely passed the stage of childhood. We have not reached that maturity in which our greatest strength will be exhibited. Notwithstanding this, in comparison with the religious world at large, we are in the brilliant sunshine. In spiritual things the Saints lead the van of progress. In other things we, as a people, occasionally are very deficient. We have not learned how to live as Saints because we have not learned to take care of temporal blessings. We have not yet brought temporal blessings under subjection to the law of God. We are not as just or forgiving as we should be. We are not as diligent in attending our meetings as we should be. The Gospel plan means temporal as well as spiritual salvation. It relates to time as well as eternity. Unless we learn more fully the temporal lessons of life woe will come short of a fulness of blessings. Industries necessary for the future growth and benefit of Zion are not as much encouraged as they ought to be. They languish in consequence of this indifference. It is not possible for Zion to grow and become a heaven to the honorable of the earth unless we take a more consistent course in regard to temporalities. Consider for a moment the financial difficulties passed through of late. It has been deemed necessary to induce capital to come here from abroad to build up the country. Why not put forth our own efforts and establish permanent industries.
In 1875 shortly after the Franco-German war, France had an immense indemnity fund to raise. It was so great that it would seem as if it must crush the nation. Yet it was all paid in an astonishingly short time, and France recently was able to loan England an exceedingly large sum to bridge a financial difficulty. The poor peasantry were able to come to the assistance of their government in paying the indemnity, and the latter pay the interest to their own people. Thus they build up their own country. Why cannot we emulate such an example. The time is foretold in relation to Zion that her people will yet become lenders and not borrowers. These thoughts have come to me while listening to the brethren.
Some people have predicted that the destruction of the Church is near. A greater error could not be made. Those who take this view have not read aright the history of this community.
The speaker went on to state that those who assert that the Church is going to decay, point, as an evidence in that direction, to what they conceive to be the mistakes of the authorities. What they hold to be mistakes are, however, only what was proper should be done under existing conditions at the time the steps were taken. The same class of pessimists regard the act of Adam and Eve in partaking of the forbidden fruit as a calamity to humanity, when it was a part of the divine plan whereby man could be brought to a knowledge of good and evil, and gain an experience that would advance him in the scale of being. A certain class of the contemporaries of Moses condemned the leading of the Israelites out of bondage into the wilderness as a mistake. But the glorious results of the exodus is a manifestation of divine wisdom. The lowly character of the birth of Christ has been regarded by some as a mistake, as it would, in their estimation, have been better for him to have come into the world under affluent circumstances so that he might have been received by the rich and the noble. It was deemed a mistake for him to be nailed upon the cross, and even His disciples imagined when it occurred that their calling was gone. Yet that glorious act of sacrifice constituted the atonement of a God for the redemption of humanity. It is the judgment of men not illuminated by the Holy Ghost which commits mistakes. Men’s thoughts are not as God’s. The men who have led this Church in this dispensation do not make mistakes, although viewed by individuals devoid of the Holy Spirit, some of their acts may assume that appearance. I testify that President Woodruff who stands at the head of the Church is directed by the revelations of God. So with those associated with him. They may make mistakes in their personal concerns, but the affairs of the Church of Christ are moved forward by the power of inspiration of the Almighty. The Church will not diminish in power, but will increase in every gift and grace and in the power of salvation from this time forward.
was the next speaker, the following being the substance of his discourse: I have listened with great interest to the remarks of the speakers who have preceded me. God has been merciful unto us in imparting His mind and will through these Apostles who have addressed the conference. Though the church has been organized nearly sixty-one years it is still in its infancy. The events of the past will in future be considered small compared with those which will yet be developed. When we reflect concerning what God has said about the latter-day Zion, and the great things which are yet to come, we must see that we have scarcely passed the stage of childhood. We have not reached that maturity in which our greatest strength will be exhibited. Notwithstanding this, in comparison with the religious world at large, we are in the brilliant sunshine. In spiritual things the Saints lead the van of progress. In other things we, as a people, occasionally are very deficient. We have not learned how to live as Saints because we have not learned to take care of temporal blessings. We have not yet brought temporal blessings under subjection to the law of God. We are not as just or forgiving as we should be. We are not as diligent in attending our meetings as we should be. The Gospel plan means temporal as well as spiritual salvation. It relates to time as well as eternity. Unless we learn more fully the temporal lessons of life woe will come short of a fulness of blessings. Industries necessary for the future growth and benefit of Zion are not as much encouraged as they ought to be. They languish in consequence of this indifference. It is not possible for Zion to grow and become a heaven to the honorable of the earth unless we take a more consistent course in regard to temporalities. Consider for a moment the financial difficulties passed through of late. It has been deemed necessary to induce capital to come here from abroad to build up the country. Why not put forth our own efforts and establish permanent industries.
In 1875 shortly after the Franco-German war, France had an immense indemnity fund to raise. It was so great that it would seem as if it must crush the nation. Yet it was all paid in an astonishingly short time, and France recently was able to loan England an exceedingly large sum to bridge a financial difficulty. The poor peasantry were able to come to the assistance of their government in paying the indemnity, and the latter pay the interest to their own people. Thus they build up their own country. Why cannot we emulate such an example. The time is foretold in relation to Zion that her people will yet become lenders and not borrowers. These thoughts have come to me while listening to the brethren.
Some people have predicted that the destruction of the Church is near. A greater error could not be made. Those who take this view have not read aright the history of this community.
The speaker went on to state that those who assert that the Church is going to decay, point, as an evidence in that direction, to what they conceive to be the mistakes of the authorities. What they hold to be mistakes are, however, only what was proper should be done under existing conditions at the time the steps were taken. The same class of pessimists regard the act of Adam and Eve in partaking of the forbidden fruit as a calamity to humanity, when it was a part of the divine plan whereby man could be brought to a knowledge of good and evil, and gain an experience that would advance him in the scale of being. A certain class of the contemporaries of Moses condemned the leading of the Israelites out of bondage into the wilderness as a mistake. But the glorious results of the exodus is a manifestation of divine wisdom. The lowly character of the birth of Christ has been regarded by some as a mistake, as it would, in their estimation, have been better for him to have come into the world under affluent circumstances so that he might have been received by the rich and the noble. It was deemed a mistake for him to be nailed upon the cross, and even His disciples imagined when it occurred that their calling was gone. Yet that glorious act of sacrifice constituted the atonement of a God for the redemption of humanity. It is the judgment of men not illuminated by the Holy Ghost which commits mistakes. Men’s thoughts are not as God’s. The men who have led this Church in this dispensation do not make mistakes, although viewed by individuals devoid of the Holy Spirit, some of their acts may assume that appearance. I testify that President Woodruff who stands at the head of the Church is directed by the revelations of God. So with those associated with him. They may make mistakes in their personal concerns, but the affairs of the Church of Christ are moved forward by the power of inspiration of the Almighty. The Church will not diminish in power, but will increase in every gift and grace and in the power of salvation from this time forward.
President George Q. Cannon
said: The allusions to temporal matters which have been made by previous speakers suggests a subject which I think should come before this conference. You are all doubtless aware that the residents of this neighborhood and Utah County, and also those in the north, have engaged in the erection of a sugar factory—the largest enterprise that has ever ben attempted among us in the shape of home manufacture. Our leading men are making great exertions to have this industry established in our midst, and to have the contract which has been made for machinery, etc., carried out in season. It is a business which has been thoroughly approved by those who have taken it into consideration.
There were some doubts entertained at first concerning the practicability of this undertaking, and likewise as to whether or not it would be remunerative. A number of practical men were selected to examine into this. They visited California and other places and made inquiries into the question of the manufacture of beet sugar. They were perfectly satisfied that it was an industry which could be established here, and made to pay if properly conducted.
Some doubts were expressed concerning the raising of beets in this part of the country of a quality suitable to the production of sugar, as it was feared that there was too much alkali in our soil. Experiments were made in various places as to the raising of the beets, and samples of these were sent to California for analysis. Some were also analyzed here. These analyses set at rest whatever doubts might have been entertained before on this point. Indeed many of the beets were found to exceed in richness of saccharine matter those raised in California. The plant, as you no doubt know, has been located in Utah County.
Now, it is very desirable that we should take hold of this matter as a people; that we should unite in our efforts and not leave the burden upon the shoulders of the few. The First Presidency have been much exercised, as well as the Twelve, in relation to this business. We started into it before the stringency occurred in the money market. We had gone to far to retreat without loss of prestige, and it was therefore determined to push the affair through.
All our people should take an interest in this question, and it is perhaps necessary to say here that none of those directly concerned in the enterprise have any misgiving as to its success, from what we can hear, there is a supineness and indifference on the part of many in this matter that is to be deplored. We could have put the plant in Cache Valley and had a $50,000 bonus, independent of the stock subscribed. The people there were actually willing to give $50,000 to have the sugar factory established in that place, and take stock in addition. But for reasons which seemed to be weighty in the minds of those who had the project in charge it was decided to build the factory where it is now, promises having been made by the people of Utah County which encouraged those taking the initiative. It appears to me that there should be a disposition manifested to carry out those promises now, and that men should be willing—even if at a sacrifice, as some anticipate would be the case—to raise the beets at the price proposed.
We are told by those building the factory—men familiar with the business, and who have been engaged in the manufacture of sugar—that beets can be raised half a dollar cheaper on the ton than has been offered, and that persons make a good living at it. The company felt, however, that they should put the price a little higher, and did so; but, no doubt, if the undertaking proves remunerative, and when it gets beyond the experimental stage, the company will be willing to divide and profits there might be with the farmers who raise the beets. But we feel that something should be done energetically. It would be a disgrace to this Territory if we had to import labor here to raise beets for this factory; and yet that will be the necessity to which the company will be driven unless they can make contracts for raising the roots by our own people at home.
We appeal to you—I do so personally on behalf of the company—to the farmers of Utah County, Salt Lake County and all places within the reach of this factory, to devote a portion of your land to the culture of sugar bets this coming spring. It is time that steps were taken in this direction. The only cause for fear we have is of there being a lack of beets. If these can be produced in sufficient quantity, the success of this enterprise is assured.
The contractors can furnish machinery to crush 300 tons of beets per day, and it is thought at a push 350 tons, by an additional expense on their own part. This will require a good many beets, and the employment of a good deal of labor. We should try and keep the money at home and help to keep in our own hands that which we shall otherwise have to send elsewhere.
A committee has been appointed who have the seed, an Bishop Thos. R. Cutler, of Utah County, is the manager. Anyone can also go and make inquiries of Brother Elias Morris, who is the president of the company; and those wishing to subscribe for stock can easily do so by applying to Brother Heber J. Grant, Brother Moses Thatcher or Brother Thos. G. Webber. All further information needed can be obtained on application to Brother Francis Armstrong, chairman of the executive committee, or Brother Leonard G. Hardy. The beet seed that has been imported is now for sale at the store of Hardy, Young & Co., Main Street.
The choir sang the anthem: “O Give Thanks unto the Lord.”
Benediction by Apostle Moses Thatcher.
said: The allusions to temporal matters which have been made by previous speakers suggests a subject which I think should come before this conference. You are all doubtless aware that the residents of this neighborhood and Utah County, and also those in the north, have engaged in the erection of a sugar factory—the largest enterprise that has ever ben attempted among us in the shape of home manufacture. Our leading men are making great exertions to have this industry established in our midst, and to have the contract which has been made for machinery, etc., carried out in season. It is a business which has been thoroughly approved by those who have taken it into consideration.
There were some doubts entertained at first concerning the practicability of this undertaking, and likewise as to whether or not it would be remunerative. A number of practical men were selected to examine into this. They visited California and other places and made inquiries into the question of the manufacture of beet sugar. They were perfectly satisfied that it was an industry which could be established here, and made to pay if properly conducted.
Some doubts were expressed concerning the raising of beets in this part of the country of a quality suitable to the production of sugar, as it was feared that there was too much alkali in our soil. Experiments were made in various places as to the raising of the beets, and samples of these were sent to California for analysis. Some were also analyzed here. These analyses set at rest whatever doubts might have been entertained before on this point. Indeed many of the beets were found to exceed in richness of saccharine matter those raised in California. The plant, as you no doubt know, has been located in Utah County.
Now, it is very desirable that we should take hold of this matter as a people; that we should unite in our efforts and not leave the burden upon the shoulders of the few. The First Presidency have been much exercised, as well as the Twelve, in relation to this business. We started into it before the stringency occurred in the money market. We had gone to far to retreat without loss of prestige, and it was therefore determined to push the affair through.
All our people should take an interest in this question, and it is perhaps necessary to say here that none of those directly concerned in the enterprise have any misgiving as to its success, from what we can hear, there is a supineness and indifference on the part of many in this matter that is to be deplored. We could have put the plant in Cache Valley and had a $50,000 bonus, independent of the stock subscribed. The people there were actually willing to give $50,000 to have the sugar factory established in that place, and take stock in addition. But for reasons which seemed to be weighty in the minds of those who had the project in charge it was decided to build the factory where it is now, promises having been made by the people of Utah County which encouraged those taking the initiative. It appears to me that there should be a disposition manifested to carry out those promises now, and that men should be willing—even if at a sacrifice, as some anticipate would be the case—to raise the beets at the price proposed.
We are told by those building the factory—men familiar with the business, and who have been engaged in the manufacture of sugar—that beets can be raised half a dollar cheaper on the ton than has been offered, and that persons make a good living at it. The company felt, however, that they should put the price a little higher, and did so; but, no doubt, if the undertaking proves remunerative, and when it gets beyond the experimental stage, the company will be willing to divide and profits there might be with the farmers who raise the beets. But we feel that something should be done energetically. It would be a disgrace to this Territory if we had to import labor here to raise beets for this factory; and yet that will be the necessity to which the company will be driven unless they can make contracts for raising the roots by our own people at home.
We appeal to you—I do so personally on behalf of the company—to the farmers of Utah County, Salt Lake County and all places within the reach of this factory, to devote a portion of your land to the culture of sugar bets this coming spring. It is time that steps were taken in this direction. The only cause for fear we have is of there being a lack of beets. If these can be produced in sufficient quantity, the success of this enterprise is assured.
The contractors can furnish machinery to crush 300 tons of beets per day, and it is thought at a push 350 tons, by an additional expense on their own part. This will require a good many beets, and the employment of a good deal of labor. We should try and keep the money at home and help to keep in our own hands that which we shall otherwise have to send elsewhere.
A committee has been appointed who have the seed, an Bishop Thos. R. Cutler, of Utah County, is the manager. Anyone can also go and make inquiries of Brother Elias Morris, who is the president of the company; and those wishing to subscribe for stock can easily do so by applying to Brother Heber J. Grant, Brother Moses Thatcher or Brother Thos. G. Webber. All further information needed can be obtained on application to Brother Francis Armstrong, chairman of the executive committee, or Brother Leonard G. Hardy. The beet seed that has been imported is now for sale at the store of Hardy, Young & Co., Main Street.
The choir sang the anthem: “O Give Thanks unto the Lord.”
Benediction by Apostle Moses Thatcher.
Priesthood Meeting.
At half past 7 o’clock in the evening a meeting of the Priesthood was held in the Tabernacle.
At half past 7 o’clock in the evening a meeting of the Priesthood was held in the Tabernacle.
President George Q. Cannon
was the opening speaker. The chief points of his discourse were: The responsibilities and duties of those whom he addressed, the falling off from the early practice of the missionaries going out into the nations without purse or scrip, to prove the world; the opportunities for all to do good at home, the importance of attending fast meetings and the payment of offerings for the support of the poor. He concluded with some clear and practical instructions regarding the important duties of Teachers in the Church.
was the opening speaker. The chief points of his discourse were: The responsibilities and duties of those whom he addressed, the falling off from the early practice of the missionaries going out into the nations without purse or scrip, to prove the world; the opportunities for all to do good at home, the importance of attending fast meetings and the payment of offerings for the support of the poor. He concluded with some clear and practical instructions regarding the important duties of Teachers in the Church.
President Woodruff
followed. He dwelt for some time upon the responsibility of the brethren in carrying the Gospel to all peoples. In the bestowal of the Priesthood upon men, the Lord had said many were called but few should be chosen, the reason for many not being among those of final selection being that they set their hearts too much upon the things of this world to the neglect of their higher duties. He explained the importance and power that could be exercised in prayer, and exhorted those present to take a wise and progressive course in matters pertaining to the temporal welfare of the people.
followed. He dwelt for some time upon the responsibility of the brethren in carrying the Gospel to all peoples. In the bestowal of the Priesthood upon men, the Lord had said many were called but few should be chosen, the reason for many not being among those of final selection being that they set their hearts too much upon the things of this world to the neglect of their higher duties. He explained the importance and power that could be exercised in prayer, and exhorted those present to take a wise and progressive course in matters pertaining to the temporal welfare of the people.
Second Day. Sunday, April 5th.
The choir and congregation sang: How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
Prayer by Elder John Morgan.
The choir sang:
Hark, listen to the trumpeters!
The sound for volunteers;
On Zion’s bright and flowery mount
Behold the officers.
The choir and congregation sang: How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
Prayer by Elder John Morgan.
The choir sang:
Hark, listen to the trumpeters!
The sound for volunteers;
On Zion’s bright and flowery mount
Behold the officers.
President Wilford Woodruff.
After a few prefatory observations, said he never wished to address any body of people upon the Gospel of Christ unless he could do so by the Spirit and inspiration of Almighty God; and that was his feeling this morning.
Those who were at Conference yesterday listened to some very strong testimonies presented by the Apostles. There was one discourse in particular to which he desired now to refer; that of Brother Abraham H. Cannon, who alluded to the views of certain persons as to the great mistakes which had been made in this world, some of them by people calling themselves Prophets, Apostles, and Saints of God. One of these alleged mistakes was in God permitting Adam and Even to partake of the forbidden fruit; another was the mistake made in the Savior being born in a stable and cradled in a manger, instead of his coming as a conqueror, as the leader of the inhabitants of the earth; another was that the Apostles and Prophets ceased to have revelations when Joseph Smith died. It was to these principles that he wished to refer.
When the Prophet Joseph was called of God to lay the foundation of this Church and kingdom he was a mere boy. His first prayer to the God of heaven was offered when he was only fourteen or fifteen years of age. he had read and studied the scriptures previously and was anxious to know what religious sect to join. An answer came to him from the Lord thereon. The heavens were opened; God the Father and God the Son appeared to him, and the Father said, “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him.” The history of Joseph Smith from that time until he organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the 6th of April 1830, was a constant scene of revelation and visitation. His counselors were the angels—those who held the Priesthood in the flesh while on the earth and administered upon this continent to the sons of Adam, to the children of Israel who dwelt here. They were his teachers and continued to be so until he was called to organize this Church and Kingdom upon the foundation laid by the ancient apostles and prophets, “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
The speaker said he would like to ask that assembly of Latter-day Saints, what power would the Prophets of God in those early days have had to organize and build up the Church of Christ upon earth unless they had been taught either by the angels of God or the Lord Himself? There was no other way; and every step that the Prophet Joseph took, up to the very day of his death, was a proof of this.
Any man or woman who read the Book of Doctrine and Covenants would find there a code of the most sublime revelations ever given by God to mankind. True, Joseph Smith was illiterate, in a measure, so far as learning was concerned; but those who had read those revelations could see that no ignorant boy, without inspiration could have prepared such a code. It required revelation almost every day. When this code of revelations was given, after the Church was organized, with Prophets, Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, High Councilors, Elders and Teachers, it was not particularly necessary while those revelation were before the people that the Lord should give special written revelations to President Young, though the latter had revelations. He had the power and Spirit of God with him; it was a living witness day by day to guide and direct him in all the works which he had to perform here in the flesh. What he accomplished had shown this. He (the speaker) wanted to make these remarks because he did not know to what extent the minds and feelings of the Latter-day Saints might be led to these channels.
The God of heaven had not forsaken the Presidency of this Church. He had not closed the heavens against them nor those associated with them. His Spirit and power were with this people, and would never be withdrawn from them up to the time of the coming of the Son of Man.
President Woodruff next adverted to some of the early missionaries of the Church, including Orson Pratt, Parley Pratt and Orson Hyde, who were ordained Elders and sent forth to work in the Lord’s vineyard and to warn the world. They held the Priesthood, they had authority to preach the Gospel of Christ to the children of men. He asked the congregation, had not Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, backed up the testimony which had been borne by these men and scores of other missionaries since their day? Where would Utah and its inhabitants have been today but for Latter-day Saints? It would have been a barren desert, just as they found it on the 24th of April, 1847.
Turning to the subject of the Priesthood, the speaker remarked that they could trace the history of Israel, the dealings of God with men, from the time of Father Adam down. Not an iota of evidence could be adduced proving that a man ever went forth, called of God, and successfully preached the Gospel of Christ without he bore the Holy Priesthood. The Lord had chosen the weak things of the earth to confound the wise. This had been the nature of His dealings with men in every age, and thus it was that humble men had been called in this last dispensation of the fullness of times to go forth and warn the generation in the midst of which we stood today.
Great responsibilities rested upon the shoulders of all Latter-day Saints, and the leaders of Israel would be held responsible before high heaven in the day of judgment for the manner in which they exercised their Priesthood. He advised the Saints to read section 121 Doctrine and Covenants, relating to the Lord’s answer to the Prophet Prophet Joseph’s prayer. This was, he said, one of the mightiest revelations that God had ever given to man, and it had been fulfilled. The Lord had said, “Many are called but few are chosen.” Why was this? Because their hearts were set so much upon the things of this world. The rights of the Priesthood were inseparably connected with the heavens and the heavens could be controlled only on the principles of righteousness. The people should understand this. The Lord would not withdraw himself from this work, for He had set His hand to fulfill the promised made through the mouths of inspired men.
Some of the brethren on the previous day bore testimony that this Church was the work of God. They certainly would not be qualified to preach the Gospel and undertake to build up Zion if they did not know this. And how did they know it? By the revelations of Jesus Christ, by the inspiration of Almighty God, that Spirit which belonged to every man who was faithful to his covenants. The testimony that we had in our day and generation was the same as was given in every age of the world.
Speaking next of the gifts and graces which had attended this Church and those who labored in it both at home and abroad, President Woodruff said he did not refer to this in any spirit of boasting. No member of this Church could undertake to preach to the people unless moved upon by the inspiration of God. What man was there that ever arose to speak on the stand who knew beforehand what he was going to say? If anyone else did, certainly he himself did not. These principles were before them, and they knew them to be true. He prayed to God his Heavenly Father that their hearts might be united. He could say for himself that if the inspiration of the Holy Spirit had not been with him, he would have been in his grave years ago, and hundreds more with him. If the Lord had not been with him in his travels many a time he would have been lost. President Woodruff in this connection mentioned a remarkable incident. On one occasion he said he was in charge of a company of Saints numbering upwards of one hundred. They had engaged passage on a steamboat at Pittsburg; but the Spirit of God said to him, “Do not go,” and but for that the entire company would doubtless have been lost. They did not go, but went by another boat. The one by which they were to have gone took fire at night some five miles down the river and all on board were lost either by fire or water. So the Spirit of God had been with them all through this work.
It was the duty of all to pray, and one of the requests which he had to make of the Latter-day Saints was to be a prayerful people. They did not pray enough. They should go before the Lord in their secret place and plead with Him to guide and direct them in all the affairs of this transitory life. When the prayers of 100,000 Latter-day Saints reached the Lord they were always heard and answered.
The Lord would build up Zion. He would establish His work and gather Israel together. They had to warn the world, so that all would be left without excuse in the day of judgment. The earth was heavily burdened with the sins of its inhabitants, and they were even increasing, causing pain and affliction on every hand. But before the judgments came the Lord had raised up men to warn the world, and he prayed that those warnings would not be without effect.
After a few prefatory observations, said he never wished to address any body of people upon the Gospel of Christ unless he could do so by the Spirit and inspiration of Almighty God; and that was his feeling this morning.
Those who were at Conference yesterday listened to some very strong testimonies presented by the Apostles. There was one discourse in particular to which he desired now to refer; that of Brother Abraham H. Cannon, who alluded to the views of certain persons as to the great mistakes which had been made in this world, some of them by people calling themselves Prophets, Apostles, and Saints of God. One of these alleged mistakes was in God permitting Adam and Even to partake of the forbidden fruit; another was the mistake made in the Savior being born in a stable and cradled in a manger, instead of his coming as a conqueror, as the leader of the inhabitants of the earth; another was that the Apostles and Prophets ceased to have revelations when Joseph Smith died. It was to these principles that he wished to refer.
When the Prophet Joseph was called of God to lay the foundation of this Church and kingdom he was a mere boy. His first prayer to the God of heaven was offered when he was only fourteen or fifteen years of age. he had read and studied the scriptures previously and was anxious to know what religious sect to join. An answer came to him from the Lord thereon. The heavens were opened; God the Father and God the Son appeared to him, and the Father said, “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him.” The history of Joseph Smith from that time until he organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the 6th of April 1830, was a constant scene of revelation and visitation. His counselors were the angels—those who held the Priesthood in the flesh while on the earth and administered upon this continent to the sons of Adam, to the children of Israel who dwelt here. They were his teachers and continued to be so until he was called to organize this Church and Kingdom upon the foundation laid by the ancient apostles and prophets, “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
The speaker said he would like to ask that assembly of Latter-day Saints, what power would the Prophets of God in those early days have had to organize and build up the Church of Christ upon earth unless they had been taught either by the angels of God or the Lord Himself? There was no other way; and every step that the Prophet Joseph took, up to the very day of his death, was a proof of this.
Any man or woman who read the Book of Doctrine and Covenants would find there a code of the most sublime revelations ever given by God to mankind. True, Joseph Smith was illiterate, in a measure, so far as learning was concerned; but those who had read those revelations could see that no ignorant boy, without inspiration could have prepared such a code. It required revelation almost every day. When this code of revelations was given, after the Church was organized, with Prophets, Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, High Councilors, Elders and Teachers, it was not particularly necessary while those revelation were before the people that the Lord should give special written revelations to President Young, though the latter had revelations. He had the power and Spirit of God with him; it was a living witness day by day to guide and direct him in all the works which he had to perform here in the flesh. What he accomplished had shown this. He (the speaker) wanted to make these remarks because he did not know to what extent the minds and feelings of the Latter-day Saints might be led to these channels.
The God of heaven had not forsaken the Presidency of this Church. He had not closed the heavens against them nor those associated with them. His Spirit and power were with this people, and would never be withdrawn from them up to the time of the coming of the Son of Man.
President Woodruff next adverted to some of the early missionaries of the Church, including Orson Pratt, Parley Pratt and Orson Hyde, who were ordained Elders and sent forth to work in the Lord’s vineyard and to warn the world. They held the Priesthood, they had authority to preach the Gospel of Christ to the children of men. He asked the congregation, had not Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, backed up the testimony which had been borne by these men and scores of other missionaries since their day? Where would Utah and its inhabitants have been today but for Latter-day Saints? It would have been a barren desert, just as they found it on the 24th of April, 1847.
Turning to the subject of the Priesthood, the speaker remarked that they could trace the history of Israel, the dealings of God with men, from the time of Father Adam down. Not an iota of evidence could be adduced proving that a man ever went forth, called of God, and successfully preached the Gospel of Christ without he bore the Holy Priesthood. The Lord had chosen the weak things of the earth to confound the wise. This had been the nature of His dealings with men in every age, and thus it was that humble men had been called in this last dispensation of the fullness of times to go forth and warn the generation in the midst of which we stood today.
Great responsibilities rested upon the shoulders of all Latter-day Saints, and the leaders of Israel would be held responsible before high heaven in the day of judgment for the manner in which they exercised their Priesthood. He advised the Saints to read section 121 Doctrine and Covenants, relating to the Lord’s answer to the Prophet Prophet Joseph’s prayer. This was, he said, one of the mightiest revelations that God had ever given to man, and it had been fulfilled. The Lord had said, “Many are called but few are chosen.” Why was this? Because their hearts were set so much upon the things of this world. The rights of the Priesthood were inseparably connected with the heavens and the heavens could be controlled only on the principles of righteousness. The people should understand this. The Lord would not withdraw himself from this work, for He had set His hand to fulfill the promised made through the mouths of inspired men.
Some of the brethren on the previous day bore testimony that this Church was the work of God. They certainly would not be qualified to preach the Gospel and undertake to build up Zion if they did not know this. And how did they know it? By the revelations of Jesus Christ, by the inspiration of Almighty God, that Spirit which belonged to every man who was faithful to his covenants. The testimony that we had in our day and generation was the same as was given in every age of the world.
Speaking next of the gifts and graces which had attended this Church and those who labored in it both at home and abroad, President Woodruff said he did not refer to this in any spirit of boasting. No member of this Church could undertake to preach to the people unless moved upon by the inspiration of God. What man was there that ever arose to speak on the stand who knew beforehand what he was going to say? If anyone else did, certainly he himself did not. These principles were before them, and they knew them to be true. He prayed to God his Heavenly Father that their hearts might be united. He could say for himself that if the inspiration of the Holy Spirit had not been with him, he would have been in his grave years ago, and hundreds more with him. If the Lord had not been with him in his travels many a time he would have been lost. President Woodruff in this connection mentioned a remarkable incident. On one occasion he said he was in charge of a company of Saints numbering upwards of one hundred. They had engaged passage on a steamboat at Pittsburg; but the Spirit of God said to him, “Do not go,” and but for that the entire company would doubtless have been lost. They did not go, but went by another boat. The one by which they were to have gone took fire at night some five miles down the river and all on board were lost either by fire or water. So the Spirit of God had been with them all through this work.
It was the duty of all to pray, and one of the requests which he had to make of the Latter-day Saints was to be a prayerful people. They did not pray enough. They should go before the Lord in their secret place and plead with Him to guide and direct them in all the affairs of this transitory life. When the prayers of 100,000 Latter-day Saints reached the Lord they were always heard and answered.
The Lord would build up Zion. He would establish His work and gather Israel together. They had to warn the world, so that all would be left without excuse in the day of judgment. The earth was heavily burdened with the sins of its inhabitants, and they were even increasing, causing pain and affliction on every hand. But before the judgments came the Lord had raised up men to warn the world, and he prayed that those warnings would not be without effect.
Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
was the next speaker. He greatly rejoiced to hear President Woodruff speak with such vigor and power in his great age, and that he was spared in the providence of God to give counsel unto the people. The labors of such men are needed among us; for the powers of darkness are tremendous in their opposition to the Church of God. This work, which seems now so great, is still in its infancy, and the Latter-day Saints have need to cultivate every grace and virtue of the Gospel.
We have been complained of as being exclusive. We have been made so because those who have not known us have been filled with such falsehoods that the very name of a “Mormon” has been odious to them. They have thought themselves holier than the Latter-day Saints. But the Lord is making His Gospel and its power felt in the earth. The Gospel is true, and this is being demonstrated by the people of God. We have learned by practical demonstrations that this is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as the ancient Apostles taught and practiced, and for which they laid down their lives. It is the same Gospel that the Lord promised Adam should abide in the earth until the end of the world. The leaven of this Gospel is being placed in the earth, and it has got to stay here till it shall leaven the whole lump. None need flatter themselves that they will get us out of the way. The Lord has put us here and we are here to stay. The spirit of the work is increasing upon us. The more intense the strife, the more determined does it make every Latter-day Saint feel that he will stand to the truth.
Latter-day Saints should strive to the uttermost to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts, and live so as to make every desire of our heart to be subservient to His honor. In the providences of God we shall be mixed with the human family, and we should have within us the leaven of righteousness and charity, so that these qualities may be manifest to those with whom we come in contact. We are apt to have small notions regarding some things. The Lord says His ways are not as our ways, and His thoughts not as our thoughts. This is exemplified in our daily lives. How many have laid plans and devised means to accomplish certain things, and have found themselves thwarted in their narrow plans? But by and by they find themselves coming out beyond where they expected. This is the way the Lord deals with His children. A notable illustration of this is found in the Scripture. A certain woman came to the Savior and asked that one of her sons should sit on His right hand and the other on His left, in His Kingdom. She felt, doubtless, that if that could be granted her she could depart in peace. What was the outcome? Why, the Savior declared that these two sons should be among the twelve men who should sit on thrones, judging the whole house of Israel. What she had asked was a small matter compared to this.
The speaker bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work of God. He testified that the truth will triumph, and that the blessings and gifts which have been promised will be realized by the faithful. In the hearts of those who are righteous the light of the truth will be increased and intensified, and their pathway will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. New revelation is not needed every week and every month concerning the order of the Church. The Lord has established that. But we need revelation for ourselves. We need to have the Spirit in us day by day, keep the commandments of God, walk in His statutes, and subdue our wayward ways and feelings unto Him. We should seek diligently to increase in knowledge, in faith, and in good works, so that we may glorify our Father in heaven. Then when the salt comes to be scattered abroad it will exert its saving and hallowing influence. Having retained its strength, it will have the effect to season and bless all with whom we come in contact. But if the salt loses its savor, it becomes good for nothing but to be trodden under the feet of men. How thankful we ought to be that these things are revealed to us. While the world is going headlong to destruction, our eyes have been permitted to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand, the truth. The work of God will prosper, and when we go hence we shall rejoice with those that have gone before, and shall be glad for that which we leave behind.
was the next speaker. He greatly rejoiced to hear President Woodruff speak with such vigor and power in his great age, and that he was spared in the providence of God to give counsel unto the people. The labors of such men are needed among us; for the powers of darkness are tremendous in their opposition to the Church of God. This work, which seems now so great, is still in its infancy, and the Latter-day Saints have need to cultivate every grace and virtue of the Gospel.
We have been complained of as being exclusive. We have been made so because those who have not known us have been filled with such falsehoods that the very name of a “Mormon” has been odious to them. They have thought themselves holier than the Latter-day Saints. But the Lord is making His Gospel and its power felt in the earth. The Gospel is true, and this is being demonstrated by the people of God. We have learned by practical demonstrations that this is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as the ancient Apostles taught and practiced, and for which they laid down their lives. It is the same Gospel that the Lord promised Adam should abide in the earth until the end of the world. The leaven of this Gospel is being placed in the earth, and it has got to stay here till it shall leaven the whole lump. None need flatter themselves that they will get us out of the way. The Lord has put us here and we are here to stay. The spirit of the work is increasing upon us. The more intense the strife, the more determined does it make every Latter-day Saint feel that he will stand to the truth.
Latter-day Saints should strive to the uttermost to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts, and live so as to make every desire of our heart to be subservient to His honor. In the providences of God we shall be mixed with the human family, and we should have within us the leaven of righteousness and charity, so that these qualities may be manifest to those with whom we come in contact. We are apt to have small notions regarding some things. The Lord says His ways are not as our ways, and His thoughts not as our thoughts. This is exemplified in our daily lives. How many have laid plans and devised means to accomplish certain things, and have found themselves thwarted in their narrow plans? But by and by they find themselves coming out beyond where they expected. This is the way the Lord deals with His children. A notable illustration of this is found in the Scripture. A certain woman came to the Savior and asked that one of her sons should sit on His right hand and the other on His left, in His Kingdom. She felt, doubtless, that if that could be granted her she could depart in peace. What was the outcome? Why, the Savior declared that these two sons should be among the twelve men who should sit on thrones, judging the whole house of Israel. What she had asked was a small matter compared to this.
The speaker bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work of God. He testified that the truth will triumph, and that the blessings and gifts which have been promised will be realized by the faithful. In the hearts of those who are righteous the light of the truth will be increased and intensified, and their pathway will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. New revelation is not needed every week and every month concerning the order of the Church. The Lord has established that. But we need revelation for ourselves. We need to have the Spirit in us day by day, keep the commandments of God, walk in His statutes, and subdue our wayward ways and feelings unto Him. We should seek diligently to increase in knowledge, in faith, and in good works, so that we may glorify our Father in heaven. Then when the salt comes to be scattered abroad it will exert its saving and hallowing influence. Having retained its strength, it will have the effect to season and bless all with whom we come in contact. But if the salt loses its savor, it becomes good for nothing but to be trodden under the feet of men. How thankful we ought to be that these things are revealed to us. While the world is going headlong to destruction, our eyes have been permitted to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand, the truth. The work of God will prosper, and when we go hence we shall rejoice with those that have gone before, and shall be glad for that which we leave behind.
Apostle Moses Thatcher
was the next speaker. He said, in substance:
I have listened with great pleasure to the remarks made by the speakers at this Conference, and have been highly edified by the remarks of our President and the testimonies that have been borne. It does not appear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints is at the point of decay. I believe the presence of this vast audience is a testimony that the work of God is not going to decline. The great distinction between the work of God and that of man is, that His works never decay, while mortal man's work bears in it the elements of destruction. God's works are eternal.
I have been reflecting lately upon the accusation which the Saints have been subjected to by those who know them not, with reference to their loyalty as citizens. We are told in public print that we advocate the union of church and state; that our doctrines tend to form the idea that the Church must be dominant, and that the allegiance of its members is given to the Church. Now I do not see how an individual can feel loyal to any government unless he is loyal to the maker of that government. He is most ready to defend the constitution of the land, who is ready to conform to the laws of the Maker of the world.
We should not be judged by those who know us not and whose object is to vilify us. No person jealous of our prosperity can be a just judge. I recently read in an anti-Catholic paper a serious charge made by an apostate from the Catholic church, intended to prove that President Lincoln was assassinated by Catholics, and that the deed was sanctioned by the Pope. I merely refer to these statements, but I have long since learned that assertions from apostates must be received with great allowance. I am not prepared to believe that the Catholics would have a priesthood guilty of a crime so damnable. I do not wish to dwell upon this except to show that there is a tendency among apostates to speak evil against their former associates.
I now wish to refer to the doctrines of the Church, and to show that the revelations do not teach a union between church and state. We should be judged by our own writings, and not by those who are prejudiced against us.
The speaker quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, section Iviii: 29, and following, and also Sec. ci: 76, 80. There is not space at command for the insertion of the quotations.
Here the Lord says distinctly that He established the constitution of the land, in order that liberty and freedom should be extended to all- His command to the people is to obey the laws of the land. God has clearly drawn the line between the boundaries of civil government and freedom of worship.
The speaker proved this from Jer. 27, where it is stated that God had made the king of Babylon the ruler over the kingdoms of the world. Now there were among the rulers of the empire, three young Hebrews. These, we must presume, knew that the king held his authority from God. And yet, when the monarch commanded them to worship the image he had erected they refused, and the event has been recorded in order to show us that there was a clear distinction between the freedom of worship and civil government. The king was told by these young men that they did not know whether God would protect them or not, but this they knew, that they would not worship the image. They felt that the king in commanding them to do so had overstepped his bounds, Well, the heat of the fiery furnace was intensified, but the three young heroes were delivered and the result was that the haughty king raised and glorified God, who was able to deliver His faithful servants from the greatest peril.
Daniel, too, was cast into a lion's den, having been entrapped by those who were jealous of his prosperity, but this king was soon led to recognize the true facts in the case, and he decreed that the vile plotters should receive the penalty which they had intended for Daniel. They were, therefore, with their whole families, cast before the lions, and the bones of the wicked were crushed between the teeth of the wild beasts.
Our Savior, also, when His enemies sought to entrap Him in order to put him into the clutches of the law, distinctly defined the difference between that which belongs to God and the civil government. He was asked if it was right to pay tribute to the emperor, and His answer was, "Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and unto God the things which be God's."
When, in the fourth century, Constantino attempted, by imperial decree, to unite church and state by making the Christian religion the state religion, the evil effects of the unauthorized alliance commenced at once to appear, and finally culminated in the bloody Inquisition in which it is said, sixty mil lions of people fell victims to religious persecution. The history of the Paulines, Waldenses, Huguenots, Covenanters and others, show how tragic and cruel that persecution was. In the establishment of this government, with its inspired national charter, God put a check to the fruit of that unholy alliance, and reaffirmed the divine words of Christ, " Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be God's." Should the first amendment to the Constitution ever be over-ridden, sorrow and bloodshed cannot fail to follow, and the history of the past will be repeated.
We are not disloyal to the Constitution, the greatest charter of liberty ever given to man, for we know that this was given by inspiration, and this grand instrument prohibits the enactment of laws against liberty of worship.
Yet there are associations in this republic which ask for that which we are accused of doing.
The speaker related some incidents connected with the Sunday laws which have been framed especially to invade the rights of one class of people,
"Let the eyes of the nation” it has been said, " cease to look at the mote in the eye of Utah and turn to the beam in the eyes of others.” For the question of church and state is really before the nation.
The following extract was read to illustrate the situation:
“Again, the National Reform Association propose to turn this government into a kingdom of Christ, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in national convention in 1887 said: "The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, local, state, national and world-wide, has one "vital organic thought, one all-absorbing purpose, one undying enthusiasm and that is that Christ shall be this world's King in its realm of cause and effect, King of its courts, its camps, its commerce—King of its colleges and cloisters—King of its constitutions...The kingdom of Christ must enter the realm of law through the gateway of politics." In conformity with the above idea national reformers have bestowed upon the Savior the title of The Divine Politician.”
Here we see that the Women's Christian Temperance Union endorse the idea of the National Reform Association, to turn this government into a kingdom of Christ.
God has given the laws of the Church, and in them He commands us to obey the law of the land. We have proven our loyalty in many ways. We know that God lives, that Christ lives, and that He stood on the pulpit in the Temple at Kirtland, proclaiming that He who died now lives. It is because we believe this and are willing to bear testimony to the truth thereof that we are accused of disloyalty. But we are not disloyal. We were driven from Kirtland, from Jackson County, Missouri, and from Nauvoo, and we came out to this wilderness, then Mexican territory, and planted the flag of our country, the emblem of liberty, on Ensign Peak. We then knocked at the door of the nation for admittance into the Union, The speaker depicted the loyalty of the people and predicted the triumph of truth, of liberty and the glorious work and destiny of the Saints. It will yet be shown, when millions flock to the banner of liberty, that our hands never wavered. Then we will no longer be objects of suspicion, and may God speed the day. Then we will not retaliate, but like Joseph of old, we will throw our arms around those who sold us and weep for joy at the re-union between us.
The choir sang: Let the mountains shout for joy, and the whole congregation afterwards joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
was the next speaker. He said, in substance:
I have listened with great pleasure to the remarks made by the speakers at this Conference, and have been highly edified by the remarks of our President and the testimonies that have been borne. It does not appear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints is at the point of decay. I believe the presence of this vast audience is a testimony that the work of God is not going to decline. The great distinction between the work of God and that of man is, that His works never decay, while mortal man's work bears in it the elements of destruction. God's works are eternal.
I have been reflecting lately upon the accusation which the Saints have been subjected to by those who know them not, with reference to their loyalty as citizens. We are told in public print that we advocate the union of church and state; that our doctrines tend to form the idea that the Church must be dominant, and that the allegiance of its members is given to the Church. Now I do not see how an individual can feel loyal to any government unless he is loyal to the maker of that government. He is most ready to defend the constitution of the land, who is ready to conform to the laws of the Maker of the world.
We should not be judged by those who know us not and whose object is to vilify us. No person jealous of our prosperity can be a just judge. I recently read in an anti-Catholic paper a serious charge made by an apostate from the Catholic church, intended to prove that President Lincoln was assassinated by Catholics, and that the deed was sanctioned by the Pope. I merely refer to these statements, but I have long since learned that assertions from apostates must be received with great allowance. I am not prepared to believe that the Catholics would have a priesthood guilty of a crime so damnable. I do not wish to dwell upon this except to show that there is a tendency among apostates to speak evil against their former associates.
I now wish to refer to the doctrines of the Church, and to show that the revelations do not teach a union between church and state. We should be judged by our own writings, and not by those who are prejudiced against us.
The speaker quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, section Iviii: 29, and following, and also Sec. ci: 76, 80. There is not space at command for the insertion of the quotations.
Here the Lord says distinctly that He established the constitution of the land, in order that liberty and freedom should be extended to all- His command to the people is to obey the laws of the land. God has clearly drawn the line between the boundaries of civil government and freedom of worship.
The speaker proved this from Jer. 27, where it is stated that God had made the king of Babylon the ruler over the kingdoms of the world. Now there were among the rulers of the empire, three young Hebrews. These, we must presume, knew that the king held his authority from God. And yet, when the monarch commanded them to worship the image he had erected they refused, and the event has been recorded in order to show us that there was a clear distinction between the freedom of worship and civil government. The king was told by these young men that they did not know whether God would protect them or not, but this they knew, that they would not worship the image. They felt that the king in commanding them to do so had overstepped his bounds, Well, the heat of the fiery furnace was intensified, but the three young heroes were delivered and the result was that the haughty king raised and glorified God, who was able to deliver His faithful servants from the greatest peril.
Daniel, too, was cast into a lion's den, having been entrapped by those who were jealous of his prosperity, but this king was soon led to recognize the true facts in the case, and he decreed that the vile plotters should receive the penalty which they had intended for Daniel. They were, therefore, with their whole families, cast before the lions, and the bones of the wicked were crushed between the teeth of the wild beasts.
Our Savior, also, when His enemies sought to entrap Him in order to put him into the clutches of the law, distinctly defined the difference between that which belongs to God and the civil government. He was asked if it was right to pay tribute to the emperor, and His answer was, "Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and unto God the things which be God's."
When, in the fourth century, Constantino attempted, by imperial decree, to unite church and state by making the Christian religion the state religion, the evil effects of the unauthorized alliance commenced at once to appear, and finally culminated in the bloody Inquisition in which it is said, sixty mil lions of people fell victims to religious persecution. The history of the Paulines, Waldenses, Huguenots, Covenanters and others, show how tragic and cruel that persecution was. In the establishment of this government, with its inspired national charter, God put a check to the fruit of that unholy alliance, and reaffirmed the divine words of Christ, " Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be God's." Should the first amendment to the Constitution ever be over-ridden, sorrow and bloodshed cannot fail to follow, and the history of the past will be repeated.
We are not disloyal to the Constitution, the greatest charter of liberty ever given to man, for we know that this was given by inspiration, and this grand instrument prohibits the enactment of laws against liberty of worship.
Yet there are associations in this republic which ask for that which we are accused of doing.
The speaker related some incidents connected with the Sunday laws which have been framed especially to invade the rights of one class of people,
"Let the eyes of the nation” it has been said, " cease to look at the mote in the eye of Utah and turn to the beam in the eyes of others.” For the question of church and state is really before the nation.
The following extract was read to illustrate the situation:
“Again, the National Reform Association propose to turn this government into a kingdom of Christ, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in national convention in 1887 said: "The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, local, state, national and world-wide, has one "vital organic thought, one all-absorbing purpose, one undying enthusiasm and that is that Christ shall be this world's King in its realm of cause and effect, King of its courts, its camps, its commerce—King of its colleges and cloisters—King of its constitutions...The kingdom of Christ must enter the realm of law through the gateway of politics." In conformity with the above idea national reformers have bestowed upon the Savior the title of The Divine Politician.”
Here we see that the Women's Christian Temperance Union endorse the idea of the National Reform Association, to turn this government into a kingdom of Christ.
God has given the laws of the Church, and in them He commands us to obey the law of the land. We have proven our loyalty in many ways. We know that God lives, that Christ lives, and that He stood on the pulpit in the Temple at Kirtland, proclaiming that He who died now lives. It is because we believe this and are willing to bear testimony to the truth thereof that we are accused of disloyalty. But we are not disloyal. We were driven from Kirtland, from Jackson County, Missouri, and from Nauvoo, and we came out to this wilderness, then Mexican territory, and planted the flag of our country, the emblem of liberty, on Ensign Peak. We then knocked at the door of the nation for admittance into the Union, The speaker depicted the loyalty of the people and predicted the triumph of truth, of liberty and the glorious work and destiny of the Saints. It will yet be shown, when millions flock to the banner of liberty, that our hands never wavered. Then we will no longer be objects of suspicion, and may God speed the day. Then we will not retaliate, but like Joseph of old, we will throw our arms around those who sold us and weep for joy at the re-union between us.
The choir sang: Let the mountains shout for joy, and the whole congregation afterwards joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
Afternoon Session.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah,
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer,
Blessed to open the last dispensation.
Kings shall extol him and nations revere.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
The choir sang the anthem: How beautiful upon the mountains.
The sacrament was administered, the Priesthood of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth wards officiating.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah,
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer,
Blessed to open the last dispensation.
Kings shall extol him and nations revere.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
The choir sang the anthem: How beautiful upon the mountains.
The sacrament was administered, the Priesthood of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth wards officiating.
President George Q. Cannon
addressed the conference. He read from the writings of Abraham—as they appear in the Pearl of Great Price—the passage showing how the father of the faithful was called of God and the feelings that animated him, his great desire being to become a producer of righteousness. Among the points of the discourse were the covenants of God, through the Priesthood, with the latter's posterity; the origin, earthly mission and destiny of man, as made clear to the Saints by revelation; the objects of the Saints in building holy temples, chief among them being the performance therein of sacred ordinances which would, as the work progressed, bind the human family together from Adam to the latest generations; the fulfilment of the covenants made by the Lord with ancient Israel concerning their descendants in these days, which were about to begin to be fulfilled; the comprehensive nature of the Gospel; its saving power reaching the dead as well as the living. The concluding part of the remarks was devoted to showing the necessity of young men in the community marrying, and of the ordinance of marriage being performed in the way in which God has appointed—by His authority. A synopsis of the discourse could not give an adequate idea of it, therefore there is no attempt to present one.
addressed the conference. He read from the writings of Abraham—as they appear in the Pearl of Great Price—the passage showing how the father of the faithful was called of God and the feelings that animated him, his great desire being to become a producer of righteousness. Among the points of the discourse were the covenants of God, through the Priesthood, with the latter's posterity; the origin, earthly mission and destiny of man, as made clear to the Saints by revelation; the objects of the Saints in building holy temples, chief among them being the performance therein of sacred ordinances which would, as the work progressed, bind the human family together from Adam to the latest generations; the fulfilment of the covenants made by the Lord with ancient Israel concerning their descendants in these days, which were about to begin to be fulfilled; the comprehensive nature of the Gospel; its saving power reaching the dead as well as the living. The concluding part of the remarks was devoted to showing the necessity of young men in the community marrying, and of the ordinance of marriage being performed in the way in which God has appointed—by His authority. A synopsis of the discourse could not give an adequate idea of it, therefore there is no attempt to present one.
Apostle Heber J. Grant
said he rejoiced at the testimonies which had been borne by his brethren during this conference. There was no joy that the Latter-day Saints had ever felt equal to that experienced by those who, while abroad, proclaimed the principles of the Gospel. The bringing of souls to a knowledge of the truth, laboring for the upbuilding of God’s Kingdom, was the greatest work that they as Latter-day Saints could be engaged in. If the Elders of Israel were as ready and willing to respond in all matter as they were to go forth and preach the Gospel to mankind, no power on earth or in hell could retard the onward progress of this work. Indeed, there existed no power that could check it now, even though they negligent in some things. But they, as a people, would move forward with greater rapidity if they were as faithful in all other directions as that in which he had mentioned. Call on a Latter-day Saint for a donation of a few hundred dollars, and he would sometimes hesitate, and many a time refuse, to respond to the call. Ask the same man, however, to make a sacrifice of his time for several years, and neglect his business in order to enable him to proclaim abroad the principles of the Gospel and, as a rule, he would yield cheerfully.
It had been remarked that some persons felt that the work of God was decaying, that the Church had not the same power it formerly possessed, and that those holding responsible positions in it had not the same influence. He wished to bear his testimony that this assertion was not true, and in proof of his refutation the speaker pointed to the crowded condition of the Tabernacle that day, as well as the overflow congregation in the adjacent building. People were occasionally heard to say, “Oh, that we could have the meetings of former days and the same joy that accompanied them.” when he heard an individual making a remark of that kind, he at once recognized that the Spirit of God no longer dwelt with him. He himself had never known the day when he rejoiced more in the principles of the Gospel than now; and this should apply to all who faithfully kept the commandments of God. There was no stronger evidence of neglect of Christian duty than for a man or woman to be longing for the testimony of the Spirit previously enjoyed.
A man might now and again be heard to say “Tithing—I am sick and tired of hearing about it; why cannot they talk of something else?” Such a remark as that plainly told the nature of the individual who uttered it; for he defied them as Latter-day Saints to find the man who lived strictly up to what was required of him in a religious sense, and who was himself obeying the law of tithing, that was ever tired of hearing that principle talked of.
There were some persons who asserted that they did not believe in the existence of a God; but no man on the face of the earth could say this in all honesty. There was something in the heart of every man that told him there was a God; no human being was ever born without a spark of divinity in his nature. A man denied his own very existence when he undertook to declare “There is no God.” The apostate “Mormon”—he who had once received a testimony of the truth and then turned away from it—realized that there was but one hope for him, and that was to destroy the work of God. In the course of conversation some time ago a gentleman said to him, “Mr. Grant, the great objection I have to your religion is that when a man has once been a Mormon, and then turns away from it, he can be nothing else. Outside of your church he can be a good Methodist or good Episcopalian today, tomorrow he can be a good Congregationalist, and the next day a good Baptist; but if a man turns away from Mormonism, why he has no religion, he has no faith, and he is a pagan.” His reply to this was, “My friend, the strongest testimony on earth to the reasoning faculties that I possess as an individual, as to the truth of Mormonism so-called is this very condition of the apostate Mormon.” It was a fulfilment of the scriptures. When men had received the light and that light went out, how great was the darkness!
When men had once known that the Gospel was true, and then through sin and iniquity lost the Spirit, their lives were beclouded; they realized that they had left the truth; and that was the reason why they would not join with any other religion. When men proclaimed against the gospel and displayed a feeling of vindictiveness against others their minds were lit up not by the Spirit of God, not by the light and intelligence which came from heaven, but that which came from beneath.
He prayed to God to help the Latter-day Saints to be true to their covenants and to direct their steps aright.
The choir sang the anthem, Grant us Peace, O Lord.
Benediction by Apostle John Henry Smith.
In consequence of the Large Tabernacle being unable to accommodate the general assembly of the Saints an
said he rejoiced at the testimonies which had been borne by his brethren during this conference. There was no joy that the Latter-day Saints had ever felt equal to that experienced by those who, while abroad, proclaimed the principles of the Gospel. The bringing of souls to a knowledge of the truth, laboring for the upbuilding of God’s Kingdom, was the greatest work that they as Latter-day Saints could be engaged in. If the Elders of Israel were as ready and willing to respond in all matter as they were to go forth and preach the Gospel to mankind, no power on earth or in hell could retard the onward progress of this work. Indeed, there existed no power that could check it now, even though they negligent in some things. But they, as a people, would move forward with greater rapidity if they were as faithful in all other directions as that in which he had mentioned. Call on a Latter-day Saint for a donation of a few hundred dollars, and he would sometimes hesitate, and many a time refuse, to respond to the call. Ask the same man, however, to make a sacrifice of his time for several years, and neglect his business in order to enable him to proclaim abroad the principles of the Gospel and, as a rule, he would yield cheerfully.
It had been remarked that some persons felt that the work of God was decaying, that the Church had not the same power it formerly possessed, and that those holding responsible positions in it had not the same influence. He wished to bear his testimony that this assertion was not true, and in proof of his refutation the speaker pointed to the crowded condition of the Tabernacle that day, as well as the overflow congregation in the adjacent building. People were occasionally heard to say, “Oh, that we could have the meetings of former days and the same joy that accompanied them.” when he heard an individual making a remark of that kind, he at once recognized that the Spirit of God no longer dwelt with him. He himself had never known the day when he rejoiced more in the principles of the Gospel than now; and this should apply to all who faithfully kept the commandments of God. There was no stronger evidence of neglect of Christian duty than for a man or woman to be longing for the testimony of the Spirit previously enjoyed.
A man might now and again be heard to say “Tithing—I am sick and tired of hearing about it; why cannot they talk of something else?” Such a remark as that plainly told the nature of the individual who uttered it; for he defied them as Latter-day Saints to find the man who lived strictly up to what was required of him in a religious sense, and who was himself obeying the law of tithing, that was ever tired of hearing that principle talked of.
There were some persons who asserted that they did not believe in the existence of a God; but no man on the face of the earth could say this in all honesty. There was something in the heart of every man that told him there was a God; no human being was ever born without a spark of divinity in his nature. A man denied his own very existence when he undertook to declare “There is no God.” The apostate “Mormon”—he who had once received a testimony of the truth and then turned away from it—realized that there was but one hope for him, and that was to destroy the work of God. In the course of conversation some time ago a gentleman said to him, “Mr. Grant, the great objection I have to your religion is that when a man has once been a Mormon, and then turns away from it, he can be nothing else. Outside of your church he can be a good Methodist or good Episcopalian today, tomorrow he can be a good Congregationalist, and the next day a good Baptist; but if a man turns away from Mormonism, why he has no religion, he has no faith, and he is a pagan.” His reply to this was, “My friend, the strongest testimony on earth to the reasoning faculties that I possess as an individual, as to the truth of Mormonism so-called is this very condition of the apostate Mormon.” It was a fulfilment of the scriptures. When men had received the light and that light went out, how great was the darkness!
When men had once known that the Gospel was true, and then through sin and iniquity lost the Spirit, their lives were beclouded; they realized that they had left the truth; and that was the reason why they would not join with any other religion. When men proclaimed against the gospel and displayed a feeling of vindictiveness against others their minds were lit up not by the Spirit of God, not by the light and intelligence which came from heaven, but that which came from beneath.
He prayed to God to help the Latter-day Saints to be true to their covenants and to direct their steps aright.
The choir sang the anthem, Grant us Peace, O Lord.
Benediction by Apostle John Henry Smith.
In consequence of the Large Tabernacle being unable to accommodate the general assembly of the Saints an
Overflow Meeting
was held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, April 5, 1891, commencing at 2 o’clock p.m.
Apostle F. M. Lyman presided.
The choir sang: Zion stands with hills surrounded.
Prayer by Bishop Geo. H. Taylor.
The choir sang: ‘Twas on that dark, that solemn night.
The Nineteenth Ward Bishopric and Teachers administered the Sacrament.
was held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, April 5, 1891, commencing at 2 o’clock p.m.
Apostle F. M. Lyman presided.
The choir sang: Zion stands with hills surrounded.
Prayer by Bishop Geo. H. Taylor.
The choir sang: ‘Twas on that dark, that solemn night.
The Nineteenth Ward Bishopric and Teachers administered the Sacrament.
Elder John Morgan
spoke concerning the favorable circumstances surrounding the Church at the present time—sixty-one years after its first organization—considering the hardships and persecutions to which its members had constantly been subject in times past. Our settlements, which extend from Canada in the north into Mexico in the south, teem with their tens of thousands, many of whom have been gathered from the different nations of the earth. Though so many different nationalities are represented in the Church, there should be no division or class distinction among us on national lines; all sectional organizations, representing classes and nationalities, should be discouraged wherever and whenever they tend to divide the people and create clanishness. One object of the Gospel of Christ is to make all true followers of the Redeemer one, and to establish a common brotherhood in which all class distinctions and national difference should be forever obliterated. One should not feel himself above another, because of the land that gave him birth, and not derision on account of nationality should be tolerated in the midst of the Saints. We should share all our privileges and rights on equal principles, the same as we enjoy certain rights and benefits as citizens of our great common country, whether we are American born or have become citizens by adoption.
We should also be kind and forbearing to those who are not of us, even to our enemies who persecute us, and are endeavoring to bring trouble upon us, for in many instances they do not know what they are doing. Christ and His disciples were also derided, slandered, persecuted and martyred, but the virtues of these former-day Saints have been recognized by following generation, and today they are honored among the children of men; so, also, will the Latter-day Saints, in course of time, become known throughout the world and be accepted on their true merits for what they really are, and not for what their enemies represent them to be at the present time.
spoke concerning the favorable circumstances surrounding the Church at the present time—sixty-one years after its first organization—considering the hardships and persecutions to which its members had constantly been subject in times past. Our settlements, which extend from Canada in the north into Mexico in the south, teem with their tens of thousands, many of whom have been gathered from the different nations of the earth. Though so many different nationalities are represented in the Church, there should be no division or class distinction among us on national lines; all sectional organizations, representing classes and nationalities, should be discouraged wherever and whenever they tend to divide the people and create clanishness. One object of the Gospel of Christ is to make all true followers of the Redeemer one, and to establish a common brotherhood in which all class distinctions and national difference should be forever obliterated. One should not feel himself above another, because of the land that gave him birth, and not derision on account of nationality should be tolerated in the midst of the Saints. We should share all our privileges and rights on equal principles, the same as we enjoy certain rights and benefits as citizens of our great common country, whether we are American born or have become citizens by adoption.
We should also be kind and forbearing to those who are not of us, even to our enemies who persecute us, and are endeavoring to bring trouble upon us, for in many instances they do not know what they are doing. Christ and His disciples were also derided, slandered, persecuted and martyred, but the virtues of these former-day Saints have been recognized by following generation, and today they are honored among the children of men; so, also, will the Latter-day Saints, in course of time, become known throughout the world and be accepted on their true merits for what they really are, and not for what their enemies represent them to be at the present time.
Elder Joseph M. Tanner
referred to what the Gospel had already done towards destroying national feelings and sectionalism among the Saints, and thus we have been enabled to accomplish by our union that which otherwise would have been impossible. The Saints are looking forward to the great reward promised the faithful, in which they have implicit confidence. Their aim is set high, their aspirations are noble and good, their ambition is commendable, and their hearts are bent on possessing the eternal riches of heaven. While many ambitious men of the world have set their aim high and through their perseverance and determination have succeeded in obtaining power and dominion on the earth, the Saints are patiently awaiting the results of their labors of love and look with much interest to the final outcome of the great war which is continually raging between the powers of darkness and the intelligence of heaven. And they will obtain all they desire in righteousness if they continue faithful and true to the end.
referred to what the Gospel had already done towards destroying national feelings and sectionalism among the Saints, and thus we have been enabled to accomplish by our union that which otherwise would have been impossible. The Saints are looking forward to the great reward promised the faithful, in which they have implicit confidence. Their aim is set high, their aspirations are noble and good, their ambition is commendable, and their hearts are bent on possessing the eternal riches of heaven. While many ambitious men of the world have set their aim high and through their perseverance and determination have succeeded in obtaining power and dominion on the earth, the Saints are patiently awaiting the results of their labors of love and look with much interest to the final outcome of the great war which is continually raging between the powers of darkness and the intelligence of heaven. And they will obtain all they desire in righteousness if they continue faithful and true to the end.
Elder B. H. Roberts
said that the presence of so many thousands of Saints at this annual conference of the Church was in itself great evidence to him of the truth of the great latter-day work: The Spirit of God is certainly moving upon the people and inspires them to gather together to learn of the ways of the Lord. So far we have not, as individuals, nor as a people, passed through any experience or difficulty that has not been calculated to benefit us. The Lord will cause His people to pass through such ordeals as will do them the most good, and give each one of us the experience most needed. By this means only will we be able to attain to that exalted position for which we are aiming. At the time the Saints were being driven out of Missouri Joseph the Prophet passed through most trying scenes, but as he lay incarcerated in a dreary dungeon, together with several of his brethren, the Lord spoke comforting words to his soul, and explained to him, at least in part, why He allowed His servants thus to suffer. Says the Lord (Doc. and Cov., 122: 3-8):
“The people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors; and although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shall be had in honor and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou are in perils by land or by sea; if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring...
...And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way, and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all; art thou greater than He?”
Of the many great and glorious revelations given to the Prophet Joseph perhaps none of them contain greater promises than this one. In that time many prominent men in the Church turned against the Prophet, and became traitors to him and the work of God, but they did not succeed in turning the hearts of the Saints away from him, nor did their opposition to him harm in the least degree in the final outcome. As it was with the Prophet Joseph so will it be with all the Latter-day Saints, who prove faithful to their God and His cause. Then let persecution continue to rage and bring what it will; let there be another exodus and another breaking up of homes and sacrifice of worldly possessions, yet let death come in its worst forms, or chains of slavery, it will all be for our good, and we have no grounds for fear.
The speaker then read an extract from another revelation, in which the Lord commands his people to “renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children.” (Doc. & Cov. 98:16-17), and then said it was a strange fact that notwithstanding the peaceful mission of the Latter-day Saints in behalf of both the living and the dead, they should be defamed and denounced as a wicked and blood-thirsty people, and be accused of disloyalty and numerous other crimes entirely unknown among us. Peace on earth and good will to man is and has always been our motto, and nothing could be farther from the truth than the accusation that we are a rebellious and war-like people. Truth, however, though slow in its progress, will prevail at last, and establish itself on the ruins of falsehood. And where revolution may succeed revolution, society be destroyed and virtue and truth be trampled under foot by the wicked and ungodly, these mountain valleys shall preserve the virtues, strength and elements of truth which shall finally renovate the earth and restore its inhabitants once more to their original purity and happiness.
said that the presence of so many thousands of Saints at this annual conference of the Church was in itself great evidence to him of the truth of the great latter-day work: The Spirit of God is certainly moving upon the people and inspires them to gather together to learn of the ways of the Lord. So far we have not, as individuals, nor as a people, passed through any experience or difficulty that has not been calculated to benefit us. The Lord will cause His people to pass through such ordeals as will do them the most good, and give each one of us the experience most needed. By this means only will we be able to attain to that exalted position for which we are aiming. At the time the Saints were being driven out of Missouri Joseph the Prophet passed through most trying scenes, but as he lay incarcerated in a dreary dungeon, together with several of his brethren, the Lord spoke comforting words to his soul, and explained to him, at least in part, why He allowed His servants thus to suffer. Says the Lord (Doc. and Cov., 122: 3-8):
“The people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors; and although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shall be had in honor and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou are in perils by land or by sea; if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring...
...And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way, and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all; art thou greater than He?”
Of the many great and glorious revelations given to the Prophet Joseph perhaps none of them contain greater promises than this one. In that time many prominent men in the Church turned against the Prophet, and became traitors to him and the work of God, but they did not succeed in turning the hearts of the Saints away from him, nor did their opposition to him harm in the least degree in the final outcome. As it was with the Prophet Joseph so will it be with all the Latter-day Saints, who prove faithful to their God and His cause. Then let persecution continue to rage and bring what it will; let there be another exodus and another breaking up of homes and sacrifice of worldly possessions, yet let death come in its worst forms, or chains of slavery, it will all be for our good, and we have no grounds for fear.
The speaker then read an extract from another revelation, in which the Lord commands his people to “renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children.” (Doc. & Cov. 98:16-17), and then said it was a strange fact that notwithstanding the peaceful mission of the Latter-day Saints in behalf of both the living and the dead, they should be defamed and denounced as a wicked and blood-thirsty people, and be accused of disloyalty and numerous other crimes entirely unknown among us. Peace on earth and good will to man is and has always been our motto, and nothing could be farther from the truth than the accusation that we are a rebellious and war-like people. Truth, however, though slow in its progress, will prevail at last, and establish itself on the ruins of falsehood. And where revolution may succeed revolution, society be destroyed and virtue and truth be trampled under foot by the wicked and ungodly, these mountain valleys shall preserve the virtues, strength and elements of truth which shall finally renovate the earth and restore its inhabitants once more to their original purity and happiness.
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
said he had learned to acknowledge the truth of the saying that there needs be opposition in all things; trials and difficulties are necessary to purify the Saints, and it is a positive fact that the work of God has made the greatest progress in the midst of persecution, and opposition. It is very doubtful whether our missionaries who have gone abroad would have made much progress in their various fields of labor, if they had not encountered opposition. It is said that when the first Elders who brought the fullness of the Gospel to the nation of Great Britain reported the opposition they met with there, both from the seen and unseen world, the Prophet Joseph rejoiced and declared that he knew the mission would prove a success, which it did. Likewise in Scandinavia, where so many have joined the Church, and in other lands, where the Gospel has been successfully preached, did the Elders meet with opposition in their endeavors to establish the banner of truth, and in many instances they were imprisoned and suffered much for the testimony they bore; but all this brought most glorious fruits. The Saints therefore, should not regret the fact that their enemies oppose them or that they are called upon to pass through persecution and sufferings for the truth’s sake; only weak minds yield to opposition; the strong persevere and gain the victory. Most of the scientific truths which have been introduced into this world have met with bitter opposition at first, and their advocates have in many instances been looked upon as madmen, and have been derided and persecuted; but as years have rolled on, their truths have been accepted and their inestimable benefits to mankind recognized. Thus will truth always triumph in the end.
We should not discourage those among us who set their aim high and who are ambitious to do good. There is no height and no position that can not be reached by the Latter-day Saints if they are faithful, persevering and actuated by good motives.
The speaker then referred to the position taken by Abraham of old in refusing to worship the idols of his native land, notwithstanding his father’s displeasure, and the king's reprimand; and when he was encouraged to worship fire, water, and the clouds, the winds, and other powers, he chose to worship the true author of these elements—the great God of Heaven. If Abraham could take this noble stand in the midst of heathen opponents, should not the Latter-day Saints be able to cope successfully with the opposition placed in their pathway and serve the true and living God amid trials and persecutions?
The choir sang the anthem: How beautiful upon the mountains.
Benediction by Elder Andrew Jenson.
said he had learned to acknowledge the truth of the saying that there needs be opposition in all things; trials and difficulties are necessary to purify the Saints, and it is a positive fact that the work of God has made the greatest progress in the midst of persecution, and opposition. It is very doubtful whether our missionaries who have gone abroad would have made much progress in their various fields of labor, if they had not encountered opposition. It is said that when the first Elders who brought the fullness of the Gospel to the nation of Great Britain reported the opposition they met with there, both from the seen and unseen world, the Prophet Joseph rejoiced and declared that he knew the mission would prove a success, which it did. Likewise in Scandinavia, where so many have joined the Church, and in other lands, where the Gospel has been successfully preached, did the Elders meet with opposition in their endeavors to establish the banner of truth, and in many instances they were imprisoned and suffered much for the testimony they bore; but all this brought most glorious fruits. The Saints therefore, should not regret the fact that their enemies oppose them or that they are called upon to pass through persecution and sufferings for the truth’s sake; only weak minds yield to opposition; the strong persevere and gain the victory. Most of the scientific truths which have been introduced into this world have met with bitter opposition at first, and their advocates have in many instances been looked upon as madmen, and have been derided and persecuted; but as years have rolled on, their truths have been accepted and their inestimable benefits to mankind recognized. Thus will truth always triumph in the end.
We should not discourage those among us who set their aim high and who are ambitious to do good. There is no height and no position that can not be reached by the Latter-day Saints if they are faithful, persevering and actuated by good motives.
The speaker then referred to the position taken by Abraham of old in refusing to worship the idols of his native land, notwithstanding his father’s displeasure, and the king's reprimand; and when he was encouraged to worship fire, water, and the clouds, the winds, and other powers, he chose to worship the true author of these elements—the great God of Heaven. If Abraham could take this noble stand in the midst of heathen opponents, should not the Latter-day Saints be able to cope successfully with the opposition placed in their pathway and serve the true and living God amid trials and persecutions?
The choir sang the anthem: How beautiful upon the mountains.
Benediction by Elder Andrew Jenson.
Third Day. April 6th. Morning Session.
We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet,
To guide us in these latter days:
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighthen our minds with its rays,
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Sweet is Thy name, my God, my King,
To praise Thy name, give thanks and sing.
We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet,
To guide us in these latter days:
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighthen our minds with its rays,
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Sweet is Thy name, my God, my King,
To praise Thy name, give thanks and sing.
The Authorities of the Church
were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Counselor to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, with their Counselor, as Prophets, Seer and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church—John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amost Howe, Anton H. Lund, James Sharp.
The voting in every instance was unanimous.
were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Counselor to the Twelve Apostles—John W. Young.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, with their Counselor, as Prophets, Seer and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church—John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amost Howe, Anton H. Lund, James Sharp.
The voting in every instance was unanimous.
President Wilford Woodruff
said that as the report of only one of their societies was complete, that would be the only one read to the congregation this morning. To give incomplete reports would be misleading.
In submitting the report of the Ladies’ Relief Society he would like to remark that credit was due to that body of the Latter-day Saints for the work which they had accomplished. They had done an immense amount of good for many years in feeding the poor, administering to the necessities of the needy, assisting the Bishops, and the Church and Kingdom of God in many ways. The blessings of the Lord would rest upon them, as it would upon all the Saints who did their duty.
said that as the report of only one of their societies was complete, that would be the only one read to the congregation this morning. To give incomplete reports would be misleading.
In submitting the report of the Ladies’ Relief Society he would like to remark that credit was due to that body of the Latter-day Saints for the work which they had accomplished. They had done an immense amount of good for many years in feeding the poor, administering to the necessities of the needy, assisting the Bishops, and the Church and Kingdom of God in many ways. The blessings of the Lord would rest upon them, as it would upon all the Saints who did their duty.
The Ladies’ Relief Society report was then read by President George Q. Cannon.
It gave the following exhibit:
Disbursements for charitable and other purposes $13,672.86
Cash, real estate and other property now on hand $41,217.09
In addition to above property there are 45,485 bushels of wheat on hand.
The report is signed by Zina D. Young, President; Jane S. Richards, First Counselor; Bathsheba W. Smith, Second Counselor; Sarah M. Kimball, Secretary; Romania B. Pratt, Assistant Secretary; M. Isabella Horne, Treasurer.
It gave the following exhibit:
Disbursements for charitable and other purposes $13,672.86
Cash, real estate and other property now on hand $41,217.09
In addition to above property there are 45,485 bushels of wheat on hand.
The report is signed by Zina D. Young, President; Jane S. Richards, First Counselor; Bathsheba W. Smith, Second Counselor; Sarah M. Kimball, Secretary; Romania B. Pratt, Assistant Secretary; M. Isabella Horne, Treasurer.
President Wilford Woodruff
delivered a discourse in which he showed that the Church had been led by the revelations of God from the time of its establishment in this dispensation, on the sixth of April, 1830, until the present. He supported this position by explaining some of the glorious principles which had been revealed, and historical facts which showed plainly that the Almighty was directing His work, constantly inspiring His servants at the head of it on earth with the revelations of His Spirit. He predicted that the Lord would continue at the helm of His Church and would never forsake it. It would not be appropriate to give a synopsis of the discourse.
delivered a discourse in which he showed that the Church had been led by the revelations of God from the time of its establishment in this dispensation, on the sixth of April, 1830, until the present. He supported this position by explaining some of the glorious principles which had been revealed, and historical facts which showed plainly that the Almighty was directing His work, constantly inspiring His servants at the head of it on earth with the revelations of His Spirit. He predicted that the Lord would continue at the helm of His Church and would never forsake it. It would not be appropriate to give a synopsis of the discourse.
Discourse
by President Wilford Woodruff
I have a few thoughts and reflections I would like to present to my friends, the Latter-day Saints. Fifty-two years ago the twenty-sixth day of this month I stood upon the Temple Block in Far West. Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Parley P. Pratt and others were in prison. The Lord had given a revelation and commanded us, as the Apostles, to go there upon that occasion to lay the foundation of that Temple. He appointed a day and a date on which we were commanded to perform this work. Then all was peace in Caldwell County, where we dwelt. The Lord perfectly understood what would take place before that time came. When the time came to fulfil this revelation the Latter-day Saints were in Illinois, they having been driven out of Missouri. The spirit of opposition was so great that our lives were in jeopardy in returning there to perform the revelation. When the day came for us to go there our Prophet was in prison for the Word of God and testimony of Jesus. When we conversed with our patriarch and leading men, they said the Lord would take the will for the deed. They did not think it was wisdom for us to go; for Missourians had sworn by all the gods in existence that if all the other revelations and prophecies of “Joe Smith” had been fulfilled, that this one should not be, because there was a day and date to it. After hearing the views of Father Smith and others of the brethren, Brother Brigham Young asked the Twelve what their feelings were with regard to this. We told Brother Brigham that the Lord God had spoken and we were ready to obey, and leave the event in His hands. We did. We went there. We arrived at that place, according to that revelation and commandment, on the 26th day of April, 1839. We laid the corner stone of that Temple, with Father Cutler, who had been appointed to oversee that building. After that stone was laid we knelt upon it, and Brother Geo. A. Smith and myself, who had been called by revelation to fill the places of some who had fallen, were ordained Apostles under the hands of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John Taylor and John E. Page. There was a number present. But they are all today in the spirit world, excepting myself, so far as I know. I name this, because I wish to say here to this congregation that during these fifty-two years that are past and gone I have had the opportunity of bearing my testimony to many of the nations of the earth and islands of the seas and to the Latter-day Saints. And as I know not how long I may still have this privilege in the flesh, I feel it my duty to bear my testimony today to this people upon a few principles, and one is the subject upon which I treated a little yesterday.
There are a few people who profess to believe that the Church has not had the living principle of revelation from heaven and the blessings of God with it since the death of the Prophet Joseph as it had while he lived. I want to say to these Latter-day Saints that I traveled with Joseph Smith a thousand miles in 1834 for the redemption of our brethren in Missouri. There are perhaps half a dozen men in this congregation today who were in that camp [Zion’s camp.] We were with that Prophet of God. We heard his testimonies. We saw his revelations fulfilled. I was with him when he received that revelation given on Fishing River. Of course, we know that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the keys of the kingdom of God. We knew the inspiration of Almighty God was with him, and that when he prophesied it came to pass. Those who are here today, Brother Gates, Brother Noble, and perhaps others, who were present on that occasion, will remember the day that Joseph Smith called the camp together. We were all well. There was no disease or sickness in our camp. But he told us what awaited us. He gave us to understand that there was to be a chastisement visit our camp. He told us the reason. He had given counsel to the brethren with regard to many things, and a number of them had disobeyed that counsel. They did not understand and appreciate fully his position and standing as a Prophet of God. “Yes,” says he, “you think of me as a boy, like the rest of you, but you will understand soon that I occupy a position where God governs and controls me.” Those who were present know the feelings that we had. There was not a dry eye in camp. He stood upon a wagon and told us the judgments of God would visit our camp and we would be chastised. These things came to pass. The day that we landed the destroying angel visited our camp, and, of course, there was sorrow. I do not know the number that went to the grave, but somewhere about fourteen, I think. Then we understood that we had a Prophet in our midst. We knew very well that what he said would come to pass. Well, everything that was done in that camp, going and returning, a record of it, in a measure, has been kept. During that thousand miles journey the word of the Lord was given unto us, and we fully understood we were being led by a Prophet of God. We realized that all the way through that mission.
Now, I want to say that I have traveled with Joseph Smith a good deal in my day. I was associated with him more or less from the spring of 1834 to the day of his death. I know, as do my brethren who were associated with him, that he was a Prophet of God—one of the greatest prophets God ever raised upon the earth. As I said yesterday, he received revelations upon every subject necessary for the organization of the Church—the organization of the Twelve Apostles, of the Seventies, of the High Councils, of the Bishops, etc. The Lord gave revelations upon all things, until we had the pattern set before us. He laid the foundation of a great work in this the greatest dispensation God ever gave to man. So much in testimony of Brother Joseph Smith.
In 1847 I likewise traveled one thousand miles with Brother Brigham Young, the man who was called to lead Israel after the Prophet Joseph’s death. There is a number in this house who came in the pioneer company. We had in Zion’s Camp two hundred and five souls. We had in the Pioneer Camp one hundred and forty-five, I believe. And I can testify before God, angels and men that the same power, and the same spirit of revelation were manifest in his work up to the day of his death as were manifest in the work of the Prophet Joseph. It is true, Joseph Smith’s life was short. The Savior labored only three and a half years, after He entered into the ministry, before He was crucified. The Prophet Joseph labored fourteen years before he was martyred. President Brigham Young lived longer. He led this Church quite a number of years. I was with him when he came into this valley. I was in the same carriage with him. He was taken sick on the Weber. A number of the camp were taken sick, cause, no doubt, by the change in coming to these mountains from the region we had left. He began to recover from the hour that he entered into this valley. He came here, and what did he do? I will name a few circumstances. He pitched camp some distance southeast of here. The next morning he and the Twelve who came with him took a walk. He had been quite feeble, but he was then able to walk with the assistance of his staff. We walked along until we came to this Temple Block. It was covered with sagebrush. There was no mark to place anything there. But while walking along Brother Brigham stopped very suddenly. He stuck his cane in the ground and said, “Right here will stand the great Temple of our God.” We drove a stake in the place indicated by him, and that particular spot is situated in the middle of the Temple site. One of the first things President Young did after he got here was to order the preparing of a block down here, called the Old Fort, where the camp could gather to. This country then was very desolate, covered with wild sage, and that pretty near dead, too. There was hardly anything here with life, owing to the excessive dryness. We went to work and surrounded this ten acre block to preserve ourselves; but adobie walls on three sides and log cabins on the east side. This was the wisdom displayed by President Brigham Young all his life—care and caution, and safety for the people. He then went to work and laid out this city. There was not a living soul in this valley excepting a few Indians who would eat roasted crickets for their dinner. He laid out these streets, these sidewalks, these blocks. He laid out this Temple block here. A number of councils were had with regard to it. Brother George A. Smith was very anxious that we should have forty acres instead of ten; so much so that there was a vote taken to lay forty acres out. Afterwards President Young through ten acres in a city of this kind was all that should be devoted to an interest of this character. So Brother George A. Smith surrendered his views, and we all voted for ten acres. When the city was laid out and these other arrangements made we returned to Winter Quarters, where President Young got his family and returned with them and some of the Saints; and two or three companies followed the same season.
I name these things for the benefit of those who consider that there has been no growth in the Church and Kingdom of God since the death of the Prophet Joseph. President Young laid the foundation of four Temples in this Territory. Three of these Temples are now in operation, and the other is being built right here.
by President Wilford Woodruff
I have a few thoughts and reflections I would like to present to my friends, the Latter-day Saints. Fifty-two years ago the twenty-sixth day of this month I stood upon the Temple Block in Far West. Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Parley P. Pratt and others were in prison. The Lord had given a revelation and commanded us, as the Apostles, to go there upon that occasion to lay the foundation of that Temple. He appointed a day and a date on which we were commanded to perform this work. Then all was peace in Caldwell County, where we dwelt. The Lord perfectly understood what would take place before that time came. When the time came to fulfil this revelation the Latter-day Saints were in Illinois, they having been driven out of Missouri. The spirit of opposition was so great that our lives were in jeopardy in returning there to perform the revelation. When the day came for us to go there our Prophet was in prison for the Word of God and testimony of Jesus. When we conversed with our patriarch and leading men, they said the Lord would take the will for the deed. They did not think it was wisdom for us to go; for Missourians had sworn by all the gods in existence that if all the other revelations and prophecies of “Joe Smith” had been fulfilled, that this one should not be, because there was a day and date to it. After hearing the views of Father Smith and others of the brethren, Brother Brigham Young asked the Twelve what their feelings were with regard to this. We told Brother Brigham that the Lord God had spoken and we were ready to obey, and leave the event in His hands. We did. We went there. We arrived at that place, according to that revelation and commandment, on the 26th day of April, 1839. We laid the corner stone of that Temple, with Father Cutler, who had been appointed to oversee that building. After that stone was laid we knelt upon it, and Brother Geo. A. Smith and myself, who had been called by revelation to fill the places of some who had fallen, were ordained Apostles under the hands of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John Taylor and John E. Page. There was a number present. But they are all today in the spirit world, excepting myself, so far as I know. I name this, because I wish to say here to this congregation that during these fifty-two years that are past and gone I have had the opportunity of bearing my testimony to many of the nations of the earth and islands of the seas and to the Latter-day Saints. And as I know not how long I may still have this privilege in the flesh, I feel it my duty to bear my testimony today to this people upon a few principles, and one is the subject upon which I treated a little yesterday.
There are a few people who profess to believe that the Church has not had the living principle of revelation from heaven and the blessings of God with it since the death of the Prophet Joseph as it had while he lived. I want to say to these Latter-day Saints that I traveled with Joseph Smith a thousand miles in 1834 for the redemption of our brethren in Missouri. There are perhaps half a dozen men in this congregation today who were in that camp [Zion’s camp.] We were with that Prophet of God. We heard his testimonies. We saw his revelations fulfilled. I was with him when he received that revelation given on Fishing River. Of course, we know that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the keys of the kingdom of God. We knew the inspiration of Almighty God was with him, and that when he prophesied it came to pass. Those who are here today, Brother Gates, Brother Noble, and perhaps others, who were present on that occasion, will remember the day that Joseph Smith called the camp together. We were all well. There was no disease or sickness in our camp. But he told us what awaited us. He gave us to understand that there was to be a chastisement visit our camp. He told us the reason. He had given counsel to the brethren with regard to many things, and a number of them had disobeyed that counsel. They did not understand and appreciate fully his position and standing as a Prophet of God. “Yes,” says he, “you think of me as a boy, like the rest of you, but you will understand soon that I occupy a position where God governs and controls me.” Those who were present know the feelings that we had. There was not a dry eye in camp. He stood upon a wagon and told us the judgments of God would visit our camp and we would be chastised. These things came to pass. The day that we landed the destroying angel visited our camp, and, of course, there was sorrow. I do not know the number that went to the grave, but somewhere about fourteen, I think. Then we understood that we had a Prophet in our midst. We knew very well that what he said would come to pass. Well, everything that was done in that camp, going and returning, a record of it, in a measure, has been kept. During that thousand miles journey the word of the Lord was given unto us, and we fully understood we were being led by a Prophet of God. We realized that all the way through that mission.
Now, I want to say that I have traveled with Joseph Smith a good deal in my day. I was associated with him more or less from the spring of 1834 to the day of his death. I know, as do my brethren who were associated with him, that he was a Prophet of God—one of the greatest prophets God ever raised upon the earth. As I said yesterday, he received revelations upon every subject necessary for the organization of the Church—the organization of the Twelve Apostles, of the Seventies, of the High Councils, of the Bishops, etc. The Lord gave revelations upon all things, until we had the pattern set before us. He laid the foundation of a great work in this the greatest dispensation God ever gave to man. So much in testimony of Brother Joseph Smith.
In 1847 I likewise traveled one thousand miles with Brother Brigham Young, the man who was called to lead Israel after the Prophet Joseph’s death. There is a number in this house who came in the pioneer company. We had in Zion’s Camp two hundred and five souls. We had in the Pioneer Camp one hundred and forty-five, I believe. And I can testify before God, angels and men that the same power, and the same spirit of revelation were manifest in his work up to the day of his death as were manifest in the work of the Prophet Joseph. It is true, Joseph Smith’s life was short. The Savior labored only three and a half years, after He entered into the ministry, before He was crucified. The Prophet Joseph labored fourteen years before he was martyred. President Brigham Young lived longer. He led this Church quite a number of years. I was with him when he came into this valley. I was in the same carriage with him. He was taken sick on the Weber. A number of the camp were taken sick, cause, no doubt, by the change in coming to these mountains from the region we had left. He began to recover from the hour that he entered into this valley. He came here, and what did he do? I will name a few circumstances. He pitched camp some distance southeast of here. The next morning he and the Twelve who came with him took a walk. He had been quite feeble, but he was then able to walk with the assistance of his staff. We walked along until we came to this Temple Block. It was covered with sagebrush. There was no mark to place anything there. But while walking along Brother Brigham stopped very suddenly. He stuck his cane in the ground and said, “Right here will stand the great Temple of our God.” We drove a stake in the place indicated by him, and that particular spot is situated in the middle of the Temple site. One of the first things President Young did after he got here was to order the preparing of a block down here, called the Old Fort, where the camp could gather to. This country then was very desolate, covered with wild sage, and that pretty near dead, too. There was hardly anything here with life, owing to the excessive dryness. We went to work and surrounded this ten acre block to preserve ourselves; but adobie walls on three sides and log cabins on the east side. This was the wisdom displayed by President Brigham Young all his life—care and caution, and safety for the people. He then went to work and laid out this city. There was not a living soul in this valley excepting a few Indians who would eat roasted crickets for their dinner. He laid out these streets, these sidewalks, these blocks. He laid out this Temple block here. A number of councils were had with regard to it. Brother George A. Smith was very anxious that we should have forty acres instead of ten; so much so that there was a vote taken to lay forty acres out. Afterwards President Young through ten acres in a city of this kind was all that should be devoted to an interest of this character. So Brother George A. Smith surrendered his views, and we all voted for ten acres. When the city was laid out and these other arrangements made we returned to Winter Quarters, where President Young got his family and returned with them and some of the Saints; and two or three companies followed the same season.
I name these things for the benefit of those who consider that there has been no growth in the Church and Kingdom of God since the death of the Prophet Joseph. President Young laid the foundation of four Temples in this Territory. Three of these Temples are now in operation, and the other is being built right here.
Apostle John Henry Smith
said he had enjoyed exceedingly the proceedings of the Conference thus far, and had listened with pleasure to the remarks made by the brethren. Almost every topic in which they were interested had been dwelt upon in some form or other. The Spirit of the Lord had rested in great abundance upon the entire congregation as well as those who had addressed them, so far as he had been able to judge. Points of doctrine, matters pertaining to our temporal concerns, our fidelity and faith in the discharge of the duties devolving upon us, had received due consideration.
None among us should fail to recognize that there was ample room for improvement. We all had our weaknesses and made our mistakes. We daily appreciate the truth of the words, " Man is prone to evil as the sparks fly upward;" therefore, it was our duty to remain constantly upon our guard, and not to become unmindful of our responsibilities in the least degree. Our movements must be either backward or forward; hence every possible effort should be made to advance in the direction of truth and righteousness.
In regard to the rising generation to-day, we found ourselves somewhat peculiarly situated. In some parts the instruction of our children was in the hands of those who were not of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. From the conditions which existed around, it behooved us to be more watchful in this matter than was formerly the case. Not that he desired to say one word which would reflect upon those who were in the field as teachers in the district schools, and against whom he had never heard a word leading toward the supposition that they made use of their positions to impress any particular faith or doctrine upon the minds of the scholars; yet the tendency of mankind was to create an impression upon others which was characteristic of the man himself. It should be our desire to foster education in every possible way—that which tended to enlighten and prepare a man for the discharge of his obligations both toward God and his neighbor. In sending their children to school, parents should look well to it that their spiritual training was not altogether neglected, and let them seek to inculcate correct principles in the minds of the young.
Associations should be conducted in our communities to aid in this work. Our Sabbath schools accomplished a great deal—they were probably the most active agencies outside the influence of home in directing the minds of the children for good. Then in addition to the Sabbath schools there were the Primary Associations, wherein little children were instructed by good and faithful sisters. The speaker also made mention of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, which he feared, however, were not always made so potent for good as they might be. He meant by this that parents were frequently neglectful in not urging upon their sons and daughters the great importance of joining such associations and being regular in their attendance at the meetings. There was no subject fraught with greater consequences to the Latter-day Saints than that of the conditions now surrounding our children.
The world presumed that "Mormonism" was designed to stultify men and women, and to restrict their liberties; but when people became conversant with the principles of the Gospel which the Latter-day Saints had received, they would soon see the error into which they had fallen.
In conclusion he urged those present to remember the instructions given during Conference, carry these with them to their homes, and seek to profit by the testimonies which had been borne.
said he had enjoyed exceedingly the proceedings of the Conference thus far, and had listened with pleasure to the remarks made by the brethren. Almost every topic in which they were interested had been dwelt upon in some form or other. The Spirit of the Lord had rested in great abundance upon the entire congregation as well as those who had addressed them, so far as he had been able to judge. Points of doctrine, matters pertaining to our temporal concerns, our fidelity and faith in the discharge of the duties devolving upon us, had received due consideration.
None among us should fail to recognize that there was ample room for improvement. We all had our weaknesses and made our mistakes. We daily appreciate the truth of the words, " Man is prone to evil as the sparks fly upward;" therefore, it was our duty to remain constantly upon our guard, and not to become unmindful of our responsibilities in the least degree. Our movements must be either backward or forward; hence every possible effort should be made to advance in the direction of truth and righteousness.
In regard to the rising generation to-day, we found ourselves somewhat peculiarly situated. In some parts the instruction of our children was in the hands of those who were not of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. From the conditions which existed around, it behooved us to be more watchful in this matter than was formerly the case. Not that he desired to say one word which would reflect upon those who were in the field as teachers in the district schools, and against whom he had never heard a word leading toward the supposition that they made use of their positions to impress any particular faith or doctrine upon the minds of the scholars; yet the tendency of mankind was to create an impression upon others which was characteristic of the man himself. It should be our desire to foster education in every possible way—that which tended to enlighten and prepare a man for the discharge of his obligations both toward God and his neighbor. In sending their children to school, parents should look well to it that their spiritual training was not altogether neglected, and let them seek to inculcate correct principles in the minds of the young.
Associations should be conducted in our communities to aid in this work. Our Sabbath schools accomplished a great deal—they were probably the most active agencies outside the influence of home in directing the minds of the children for good. Then in addition to the Sabbath schools there were the Primary Associations, wherein little children were instructed by good and faithful sisters. The speaker also made mention of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, which he feared, however, were not always made so potent for good as they might be. He meant by this that parents were frequently neglectful in not urging upon their sons and daughters the great importance of joining such associations and being regular in their attendance at the meetings. There was no subject fraught with greater consequences to the Latter-day Saints than that of the conditions now surrounding our children.
The world presumed that "Mormonism" was designed to stultify men and women, and to restrict their liberties; but when people became conversant with the principles of the Gospel which the Latter-day Saints had received, they would soon see the error into which they had fallen.
In conclusion he urged those present to remember the instructions given during Conference, carry these with them to their homes, and seek to profit by the testimonies which had been borne.
Elder Seymour B. Young
addressed the Conference briefly. He referred to the organization of the Church sixty-one years ago today, with six members, and said that the gratitude of the Saints should be great for the blessings they enjoyed. God would not only judge and chastise the Saints for omitting to do His will but would condemn and punish those who oppressed them. The speaker concluded by bearing testimony to the divine inspiration by which the Church had been led from its organization until now, manifested through the chosen servants of the Lord.
The choir sang an anthem, Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Elder C. W. Penrose.
addressed the Conference briefly. He referred to the organization of the Church sixty-one years ago today, with six members, and said that the gratitude of the Saints should be great for the blessings they enjoyed. God would not only judge and chastise the Saints for omitting to do His will but would condemn and punish those who oppressed them. The speaker concluded by bearing testimony to the divine inspiration by which the Church had been led from its organization until now, manifested through the chosen servants of the Lord.
The choir sang an anthem, Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Elder C. W. Penrose.
Afternoon Session.
The choir and congregation sang:
O, ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky
Arches over the vales of the free,
Where the pure breezes blow and the pure streamlets flow
How I’ve longed to your bosom to flee.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
Behold the mountain of the Lord
In latter days shall rise,
On mountain tops, above the hills
And draw the wond’ring eyes,
was sung by the choir.
The choir and congregation sang:
O, ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky
Arches over the vales of the free,
Where the pure breezes blow and the pure streamlets flow
How I’ve longed to your bosom to flee.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
Behold the mountain of the Lord
In latter days shall rise,
On mountain tops, above the hills
And draw the wond’ring eyes,
was sung by the choir.
Elder Jacob Gates
said, substantially: I am glad of the opportunity of bearing testimony to the divinity of the work we are engaged in. I have been much interested in what has been said. I am assured of the great final triumph of this latter day work. I can bear testimony to what Brother Woodruff said this morning regarding the care the Lord has exercised over His Church. It is the work of the Lord, which has been a triumph all the way through. Many of the young never saw the Prophet Joseph. They do not appreciate him as they should. If they would live more closely to his teachings they would value him more. I was present in Zion’s camp in 1834, when the revelation predicting the scourge upon the brethren was received by the Prophet. During that journey I listened to the Prophet, noting carefully his teachings and admonitions. One evening I had occasion to pass his tent, when I heard him say, in conversation, The brethren have not listened to my counsel and the scourge must come. Before we arrived at our destination the scourge appeared and the words of the Prophet were verified. The sympathies of Joseph were wrought upon, and he asked the Lord to take away the affliction, but the Lord said to him, You have predicted the scourge, and if you insist that it be turned away, it will fall upon you. I knew the character of that man. I knew him in life and I saw him in death, and I testify that he was one of the greatest prophets that ever lived on the earth. This is proved by the principles he enunciated and the work he accomplished in a brief space of time. I also testify that the successors of Joseph in presiding over the Church have been and are now led by the same Spirit that directed him.
said, substantially: I am glad of the opportunity of bearing testimony to the divinity of the work we are engaged in. I have been much interested in what has been said. I am assured of the great final triumph of this latter day work. I can bear testimony to what Brother Woodruff said this morning regarding the care the Lord has exercised over His Church. It is the work of the Lord, which has been a triumph all the way through. Many of the young never saw the Prophet Joseph. They do not appreciate him as they should. If they would live more closely to his teachings they would value him more. I was present in Zion’s camp in 1834, when the revelation predicting the scourge upon the brethren was received by the Prophet. During that journey I listened to the Prophet, noting carefully his teachings and admonitions. One evening I had occasion to pass his tent, when I heard him say, in conversation, The brethren have not listened to my counsel and the scourge must come. Before we arrived at our destination the scourge appeared and the words of the Prophet were verified. The sympathies of Joseph were wrought upon, and he asked the Lord to take away the affliction, but the Lord said to him, You have predicted the scourge, and if you insist that it be turned away, it will fall upon you. I knew the character of that man. I knew him in life and I saw him in death, and I testify that he was one of the greatest prophets that ever lived on the earth. This is proved by the principles he enunciated and the work he accomplished in a brief space of time. I also testify that the successors of Joseph in presiding over the Church have been and are now led by the same Spirit that directed him.
Elder John Morgan
said he rejoiced that they had been enabled, through the blessing of God, to meet together at another Conference in peace and quietude, to listen to the words of admonition and counsel of their brethren. He expressed his great satisfaction at the prospects before them, as a Church and people, at the present time, and pointed to the responsibilities resting upon those in positions of authority. Hundreds of our missionaries were today laboring in the mission field, but this portion of the Church’s work would not be finished until the Gospel message was carried to all the nations of the earth.
This was the work of God, and His hand was over it; the course of His Kingdom was onward and upward, and today this work was moving grandly on, as God in the beginning designed that it should.
May God bless Israel and hasten the day when the nations of the earth shall be one, when His Kingdom shall be established in its fulness, when Zion shall arise and shine and become the glory of the whole world.
said he rejoiced that they had been enabled, through the blessing of God, to meet together at another Conference in peace and quietude, to listen to the words of admonition and counsel of their brethren. He expressed his great satisfaction at the prospects before them, as a Church and people, at the present time, and pointed to the responsibilities resting upon those in positions of authority. Hundreds of our missionaries were today laboring in the mission field, but this portion of the Church’s work would not be finished until the Gospel message was carried to all the nations of the earth.
This was the work of God, and His hand was over it; the course of His Kingdom was onward and upward, and today this work was moving grandly on, as God in the beginning designed that it should.
May God bless Israel and hasten the day when the nations of the earth shall be one, when His Kingdom shall be established in its fulness, when Zion shall arise and shine and become the glory of the whole world.
President George Q. Cannon.
There is one thought that has weighed very much upon my mind during our Conference, and probably it is because of the peculiar circumstances and the changed conditions which surround us. It is the supreme importance of members of this Church living in close communion with God—the necessity for a living testimony in the breasts of everyone of us, that each may know for himself or herself that the course which is being pursued is in accordance with the mind and will of God.
If the officers of this Church were dependent upon the people, upon their sustenance, upon their confidence, and the people themselves did not know by any means except that which human wisdom would impart or human judgment justify, that they were taking the right course, we would be in a most unfortunate position, because constant changes are occurring. I need hardly refer to that which took place at our last Conference in order to bring this home to the minds of all. I allude now to the manifesto.
If the Lord were not with this Church, if he were not directing His servants, and the people themselves did not have the testimony of Jesus concerning this work, the issuance of that manifesto would have had a fatal effect upon thousands, perhaps, in the Church, I can say for myself that I never shrunk from anything in my life as I did from that. I know it was God who dictated it—that it was issued in accordance with the requirements of the Spirit of God; and I also know that every member of this Church who is living in close communion with the Lord has had a testimony—notwithstanding their natural feelings with reference thereto, notwithstanding the painful consequences which followed its adoption in relation to existing family relations—that it was the right thing to do. The outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people at the time, upon the people who have come since to this conference—the Spirit which has been bestowed upon us since we assembled, are all evidences to my mind that the Lord has borne a testimony to the Latter-day Saints concerning these matters.
There are many things connected with this subject that no doubt, if time and opportunity afforded, might be talked about to the satisfaction of many present. I was much impressed by the arguments made yesterday as to the duties which we owe to our Government; and the line of distinction was drawn between religious and civil obligations. That distinction was made very plain, I presume, to every mind. While the argument was in progress the idea suggested itself to me that perhaps there might be some who would say, in listening to it and the revelations which God has given to us concerning our duties in regard to civil government, “Why, then, did you as a people place yourselves in an attitude of resistance to the laws which have been enacted?” For it is a well-known fact that many of our people have gone to prison, when by saying they were willing to obey the law—they were told, at least, in some instances—they might have escaped punishment. Now, to some persons there seems to be something irreconcilable, or that needs explanation, in this matter.
You may remember that yesterday afternoon a distinction was drawn—though this was not dwelt upon—particularly in favor of constitutional law. We have held for many years—in fact since 1862—that any law directed against our marriage relations—which we believe to be a part of our religion—was in violation of the first amendment to the Constitution. In that view we have been sustained by very many good judges. There was the law of God on the one hand and the law of the land upon the other, the latter, as we believe, enacted by prejudice and leveled against our religion to destroy us. We considered it necessary, however, that this law should be obeyed to the very uttermost. This was explained to some extent during our last conference. But these are the reasons we have had: we felt as though we would endure all the penalties that could be inflicted upon us legally to vindicate the principle of religious liberty; we felt that our principles were being infringed upon by laws of this description. Whether our fellow citizens appreciate what we have done or not, we certainly feel that we have done a good work in thus standing in passive resistance—not active resistance—to the law which we regarded as an encroachment upon religious freedom. Every patriotic man in this country ought to applaud a people or an individual who stands up in defense of any principle that pertains to human rights. We have done this—we intended to do it—to call attention to what we looked upon as a wrong.
We endeavored by our sacrifice to arrest the progress of this crusade against our religious liberty; we honestly believed that we had a right to act as we did. That we have failed, however, in persuading the nation, that we have failed in making apparent to the people and convincing them of this, is very clear at the present time. We have utterly failed. We have carried this to such an extent that the Lord himself has signified His acceptance of the sacrifices and offerings of the Latter-day Saints. He has said to us, “It is enough now. You having done your duty, this matter must rest with Me;” and we have, in consequence, sustained the issuance of that manifesto, undertaking to comply with the law—that we will do our best to carry it out, having done all in our power up to the present to vindicate our rights. But the day will come—and I am not afraid to risk my reputation, if I have one, as a prophet—when that which we have done will be recorded with admiration and praise. When a people can make a sacrifice such as we have, when by the mere expression of a few words we could have saved ourselves ignominy and pain of imprisonment and the sad consequences involved to the wives and children of those called upon to suffer, it will be written in history that what was offered to us we declined, preferring to endure all these things to vindicate our rights.
Now the question arises, “What is going to be done?” It has seemed to me that a magnanimous Government like ours might cease its operations against those who are involved conscientiously, who believed that they were acting according to the command of God. I have hoped for this. I hoped at one time that our persecutions, and the manner in which the courts were proceeding against us, would have the effect of calling the attention of the nation to those wrongs under which we were suffering. But it is a lesson of history, repeated in our case, that persecutions only increase by the addition of victims. Every victim adds more to the flame of persecution. This is the history of the past; it is illustrated and confirmed in our own history. Every fresh victim, instead of arresting or lightening the persecution, only serves to intensify the feeling of determination that this must be crushed out at all cost and hazard. Every man that went to prison only seemed to be an evidence of our obduracy and our determination to defy the law, and to strengthen the opinion that we must be subdued and broken down.
Well, now, a serious question presents itself before us respecting the present condition of things. Here are women—very many of them—and children placed in a sad position. These women are bound to their husbands by ties that have been considered the most sacred, and among us they have been honored quite as much as though they occupied the position of legal wives. What shall be done in reference to them? It is a serious question—one that comes to us constantly. It is one that I hope will be answered by the action of the Government. When it becomes convinced of our sincerity in issuing this manifesto declaring that plural marriages should cease, let us hope that some favorable action will be taken in regard to existing relations.
I am not certain yet that we shall be disappointed in this. I believe we have already seen, in effect, a great softening of feeling upon these points, and the people must understand—they should understand—that what we do shall be done in good faith; that we do not deal in deception. Each one must seek to accommodate himself to affairs so that we shall not create a feeling that will be a continuation of the antipathy manifested through this doctrine. So far as our sincerity is concerned, I think it is of the utmost importance that the world should know that when we make a promise of this kind we mean exactly what we say—that we are not dealing falsely, that we are treating this matter in good faith, leaving the result with God our Eternal Father; and that we will to the best of our ability accommodate ourselves to the changed condition of affairs. I have no doubt if we do this that, in the end, the result will be all we can desire.
None of us doubt that God is controlling this work to suit His own purposes and to fulfil His own designs. I have been compelled to acknowledge my own blindness; I never had such a feeling concerning my own ignorance and inability to comprehend the plans and purposes of God as I have had of late. But I bow to His Supreme wisdom; it is infinite. He understands the end from the beginning; He has laid the foundation of this work.
I have testified, I might say hundreds of times, before public men, that I believed if I had not done what I did in reference to plural marriage I would have been damned utterly. I have said this before leading men; I have said it before the President of the United States; I have said it wherever I have talked about the subject. I can only speak for myself; but the command came to me in such a form from my God that I believe I would have been damned if I had not obeyed it. Having this belief embedded in my very nature, what could I do but obey? It was either obedience on the right hand or damnation on the left. Yet, notwithstanding this, I obeyed the law; and hence it is, I say, we need the Spirit of God to be with us, because all these things come in conflict with all our pre-conceived ideas and that which we have framed in our own minds. We have to trust to our God for the results. He has laid the foundation of this work; He has carried it forward to the present time, and He will take care of it in the future.
I say now publicly that it is the intention of the Latter-day Saints to obey the law and leave the results with the God of heaven. But some of our brethren have asked this question: “How can you reconcile it with consistency that our brethren who go into court now and say, ‘We will obey the law,’ whereas before all felt this to be wrong?” The conditions are entirely different, as you will see. It needs no deep penetration to perceive how differently we are situated now from what we were then. Our position is not at all what it was. We now say, “We bow in submission to the law.” It would have been almost a betrayal for some of us to have done this before.
Suppose that a number of men were holding a citadel and the enemy on the outside demanded a surrender, the great bulk of those within would perhaps say, “No, we shall not surrender; we will maintain this citadel,” whereas the few would exclaim “Yes, we will surrender it,” and hoist the flag. Now the rest would feel that to be a betrayal on their part. But suppose on the other hand, that the whole body inside had been beleaguered for some time, and, finding it of no use to stand longer on the defensive, agreed to join in the surrender, then it would be no discredit to hoist the flag. This example may not exactly illustrate our position, but to my mind it has some features bearing upon it. Everyone can now join in the surrender honorably. We have made covenants it is true; but each man must arrange his affairs so that he would not violate those covenants, thereby bringing down the displeasure of God. But he must honor the law of the land. I do not know whether it is wise to talk too much upon this question, but I think we had better deal with it plainly and meet is squarely as it presents itself to us rather than dodge it. That is my view.
I want to save this people if possible from distress, from sorrow—to save ourselves from the evils that the enemy would heap upon us if they could take the advantage. This they are trying to do by asserting that we are not honest, and so seeking to get us in continual trouble. This is not all necessary. This people have suffered for several years now as no people ever have before within the confines of the United States. We have suffered quietly, and our grief has not been much known. It has been concealed from the world to a very great extent. The anguish and misery that have been inflicted upon families have been born silently. We have passed through very serious trials, but I believe with all my heart that there is a brighter day dawning upon Zion.
I would like to refer to the remarks made by President Woodruff this morning. He said that a short time ago there were no Apostles upon this stand. I do not know how you felt at that time—I had not the privilege of being and meeting with you; but I know how I and the brethren felt who were deprived of that opportunity. This is changed; glory be to God every day! We have freedom and we can meet with you and speak to you, and give you counsels as the Lord requires of us. We can entreat you so to live as to have a testimony in your hearts concerning this.
I wish to allude to another point; I mentioned it yesterday. Some have said to us they believed that if we had taken the course Daniel did when he was put in the lion’s den, and the three Hebrew children when put in the fiery furnace, perhaps it would have been more heroic and more consistent with our profession as Latter-day Saints. A person looking at this superficially might think there was something in the spirit of it. I have no earthly doubt that if President Woodruff had been required to go into the lions’ den or into the fiery furnace, or to do anything else in the way of sacrificing his life in order to save this people, he would have done it. I have not a shadow of doubt that President Taylor would have done the same. All of us knew his courage and firmness. I will not speak of myself; but I do not believe there is one of these men holding the apostleship who would not gladly, had it been God’s will and the sacrifice would have sufficed, have given up his life to save this people. The three Hebrew children in taking the course they did involve only their own lives; their action did not involve the lives, liberties, and future of a great people. Therefore you can see that the analogy between their case and ours is not a complete one.
When Daniel went into the lions’ den he himself was the sufferer; it was his own life only that was jeopardized. But suppose just for a second that the leaders of this people had said, “We will stand and resist this we will carry out this command of God in the face of the whole world”? What would have been the effect? Why, it would have involved this entire people, every member of this Church, every man and child in it. And how many are there who would have obeyed that doctrine and shown their faith? How many would perhaps have said, “You have no right to drag us into this—to involve us and our lives and our future, and everything that we have on earth in a sacrifice which only you yourselves are concerned in.” Can you not see the difference between the three cases I have quoted? It is as plain as it can be.
God guided those men of old to do as they did. God has guided His Church until now; He guided us to do what we have done, and in the history of His dealings with the children of men it will be recorded that we have made as great or greater sacrifices than any people that ever lived.
Now I wish to say this much because I have heard expressions such as those to which I have referred; I have heard them too many times from those who themselves have shown their faith in the doctrines sufficiently to obey them. Well now, brethren and sisters, this is the great point of all I have said thus far: Each one of us should have the light of the Spirit of God shining in his heart so that he may know for himself that which is right, that when we hear the voice of the true Shepherd we will recognize it. We may not be able to tell all the details, but we will know by the testimony of the Spirit of God within us that which is right. This is the testimony which it gives to the Latter-day Saints. They know when they hear the voice of a servant of god and they understand it. They may not be able to explain all of the reasons connected with this, but they have a living testimony of the truth within them.
God and plead with the Lord; ask Him to remove the darkness from your minds, to give you the light of the Holy Spirit, that it may shine upon your understanding, that you may comprehend it, and you will not wait upon Him in vain. I can assure you that He will hear your prayers and answer them; He will fill you with peace and joy, and you will know for yourselves that this is God’s work; and you will know that all your wisdom, the wisdom of men, of those standing at your head, is not alone sufficient to guide this Church. We may mark out paths for traveling, but the Lord directs our ways, and we cannot walk safely without. We may have our ideas as to how this work is going to be built up and established, but the Lord will show us, as has been quoted in our hearing by Brother Franklin D. Richards, that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than man’s ways.” We would never have reached these valleys had not the Lord guided us; and we can look back and see how wonderfully His promises have been fulfilled in our behalf. Scarcely a step could have been taken of our own choice if we had not been upheld by God and had He not sustained us in all our doings. So it will be to the end, and we will be obliged to confess that his wisdom has done it all.
There is another subject that I would like to mention before we adjourn this Conference. Remarks have been made to us concerning home industries and their importance. Talk about revelation! You go and read the sermons of President Young, and if you do not believe now that he was a prophet, I think after you have read them you will be sure he was, because he talked as a prophet to this people concerning their future, and his words were full of godlike wisdom, and he poured them out in a constant stream during his lifetime. One of his great themes was that we should become a self-sustaining people. our minds have diverted from this to a great extent. I believe, however, that circumstances will be so arranged that we shall be compelled to pay attention to these matters. It should be the aim of every man to try and become self-sustaining, and to have his family self-sustaining. It is my desire to raise everything that is eaten and drunk by myself and my family. I have striven for this. I would like to have it so that I could have everything we wear produced here also. But what I wish to refer to now is this:
We are allowing our young men throughout these valleys, by hundreds, to grow up in ignorance of skilled industries. I was recently at a conference in one of our Stakes—a large Stake, noted for the thrift of its people—and upon inquiry I found that there were only two boys in the settlement in which the conference was held learning trades, and very few anywhere else in the Stake. This to me is ominous of trouble, ominous of poverty—our young men growing up destitute of knowledge concerning skilled branches of business. I am in favor of education. I think no one who knows me will discredit me when I say that. But I am not in favor of book education at the expense of education in skill at manual labor. I have a number of sons, and I would rather they should be destitute of book learning, much as I value it, than be destitute of a knowledge of using their hands and their bodies in earning their living. I believe they would be better citizens if they would learn how to work than they would be, with all the learning that they could get, if they did not possess these other qualities. But there is no necessity that our children should be taught one branch alone. They can be given a good education, and at the same time be taught some skilled branch of labor. I think it is an error for us to send our young men to school till they are eighteen, or nineteen, or twenty years of age without teaching them some industrial occupation, because it is from fifteen to twenty that boys learn to use their muscles and how to toil without it being burdensome to them. But you take a young man after then, if he has learned nothing but what is in books, and put him to hard manual labor, and he shrinks from it. Very few men can stand it. They want to get easy employment. while I do not think it necessary that all should follow manual labor, it is necessary that all should be taught these branches, so that they can be useful. Then if they can make their living by following some lighter occupation that will be more congenial to them, they can do so. But it seems to me, brethren and sisters, that this is a subject that ought to receive our attention. We are importing skilled laborers from abroad—carpenters, brick masons, etc., to supply the demand in this city and Territory. It think this is deplorable. We should be in a different condition.
Pardon me if I allude to my own case in this matter, as I happen to be familiar with it. I have several sons, and I have offered each of them for one year to any of our brethren who would teach them mechanism. I have done this with all the sons that I have grown up, because I thought an education of this kind was very valuable. I would like my boys to learn every kind of trade. I would like them to be skillful. I would like them to use these glorious hands that God has given us, and this glorious brain, in a skilled manner. The man who can do this is a much more useful citizen. It is bad to see so many learning to drive a team and following teaming as an occupation. Almost anybody can learn to drive a team. A girl can learn it. I have seen girls that did it excellently. There is very little skill about that. Of course, a good teamster is a rare article; I am aware of that. Then we have men following farming who do not study farming and make a business of it. If you are going to make your children farmers, give them that knowledge that will qualify them; give them a knowledge of agricultural chemistry, so that they will understand the nature of soils, and how to improve soils, and the best manure for soils, and the best soils to produce certain articles. Give them skill in this direction. Let us take advantage of the opportunities that God has given us. There are no brighter intellects in this world than are to be found among the Latter-day Saints—young men of capability, young men who will make their mark if you will give them any kind of a chance. These young men will grow up and be a mighty race, if we will take the course that we should do with them. I feel that when a child is born the parents are indebted to that child. To bring it into the world as a waif; to launch it upon society without giving it a proper education and proper training and assistance is a great wrong. If we did this we would be like animals. It is the duty of every man and every woman who has a child to do everything in their power for that child, to qualify it to be a useful man or woman, and no pains should be spared in this direction. We live in our children. After we are gone we will live in our offspring, and our good qualities will be perpetuated in them if we will take the right course.
This is a subject that admits of a great deal of talk, and it ought to be spoken about in our settlements and impressed upon the people. We should take pains to teach our boys and our girls everything that will make them useful, and help to give them a knowledge of the principles that God has revealed. In this way we will be a blessing to our children. They will rejoice in us, and they will arise and call us blessed. What a glorious thing it is to think that our posterity will honor us, and that they will say, “I know that my father was a good man; that he did all he could for me.” “I know my mother was a good woman; she loved me and did all in her power to give me a good start and to furnish me with all the knowledge that she could to make me a useful woman,” and to have those children quote the example of their parents to their posterity, and let it go down as a heritage from one generation to another, until we shall arise up in a generation that will be accepted of the Lord, and upon whom His blessing and His power will rest. We will soon enter upon the millennium. God has told us this; and it should be the desire of every man and woman in this Church that their posterity may live, not only for a generation or two, but throughout the entire millennium, and then throughout that period when Satan will be loosed again; that as long as time shall endure some of our posterity may be found among the friends of God, bearing the holy Priesthood, honoring God, keeping His commandments, not only through the millennium, but during that period when Satan will be loosed again to go forth and tempt the nations; that even then some of our descendants will be found numbered among the righteous, and continue to be numbered among them as long as time shall last. I think this is a desirable wish for every man. And let us lay the foundation now. Let us, as parents, influence our children.
Let us make our mark upon our children, and give them a fair start; endow them with all the power that we have, to make them all that we desire them to be. Every parent should have this ambition. Every man and woman ought to live for their children, and not neglect them. I feel condemned sometimes because of public duties I cannot attend to my family as I would like; and my constant prayer to God is that He will give more of His holy Spirit to them, to make up for my lack of time with them. I think this is a good prayer. Let us try to make our children all that we would like them to be, as far as our influence goes. I say to you parents who have children in the covenant, if you will pray for them God will feel after them, and He will save your posterity. He has made promises to this people, and you cling to them, in the meantime doing all you can yourselves to have those promises fulfilled, so that there will be no neglect on your part. Your children may err, and do things that are sinful and are painful and sorrowful to you. But cling to them. Pray for them. Exercise faith in their behalf. Treat them with kindness; not, however, condoning their sins and their transgressions. But be full of charity, full of long-suffering, full of patience, and full of mercy to your children. Don’t drive them away by your severity, or by being too strict. But be kind and merciful to them, correcting their faults when they need correcting, at the same time showing them that your corrections are not prompted by anything but love for them and for their happiness. God bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered.
The closing benediction was pronounced by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
Adjourned till October next.
John Nicholson,
Clerk of Conference.
There is one thought that has weighed very much upon my mind during our Conference, and probably it is because of the peculiar circumstances and the changed conditions which surround us. It is the supreme importance of members of this Church living in close communion with God—the necessity for a living testimony in the breasts of everyone of us, that each may know for himself or herself that the course which is being pursued is in accordance with the mind and will of God.
If the officers of this Church were dependent upon the people, upon their sustenance, upon their confidence, and the people themselves did not know by any means except that which human wisdom would impart or human judgment justify, that they were taking the right course, we would be in a most unfortunate position, because constant changes are occurring. I need hardly refer to that which took place at our last Conference in order to bring this home to the minds of all. I allude now to the manifesto.
If the Lord were not with this Church, if he were not directing His servants, and the people themselves did not have the testimony of Jesus concerning this work, the issuance of that manifesto would have had a fatal effect upon thousands, perhaps, in the Church, I can say for myself that I never shrunk from anything in my life as I did from that. I know it was God who dictated it—that it was issued in accordance with the requirements of the Spirit of God; and I also know that every member of this Church who is living in close communion with the Lord has had a testimony—notwithstanding their natural feelings with reference thereto, notwithstanding the painful consequences which followed its adoption in relation to existing family relations—that it was the right thing to do. The outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people at the time, upon the people who have come since to this conference—the Spirit which has been bestowed upon us since we assembled, are all evidences to my mind that the Lord has borne a testimony to the Latter-day Saints concerning these matters.
There are many things connected with this subject that no doubt, if time and opportunity afforded, might be talked about to the satisfaction of many present. I was much impressed by the arguments made yesterday as to the duties which we owe to our Government; and the line of distinction was drawn between religious and civil obligations. That distinction was made very plain, I presume, to every mind. While the argument was in progress the idea suggested itself to me that perhaps there might be some who would say, in listening to it and the revelations which God has given to us concerning our duties in regard to civil government, “Why, then, did you as a people place yourselves in an attitude of resistance to the laws which have been enacted?” For it is a well-known fact that many of our people have gone to prison, when by saying they were willing to obey the law—they were told, at least, in some instances—they might have escaped punishment. Now, to some persons there seems to be something irreconcilable, or that needs explanation, in this matter.
You may remember that yesterday afternoon a distinction was drawn—though this was not dwelt upon—particularly in favor of constitutional law. We have held for many years—in fact since 1862—that any law directed against our marriage relations—which we believe to be a part of our religion—was in violation of the first amendment to the Constitution. In that view we have been sustained by very many good judges. There was the law of God on the one hand and the law of the land upon the other, the latter, as we believe, enacted by prejudice and leveled against our religion to destroy us. We considered it necessary, however, that this law should be obeyed to the very uttermost. This was explained to some extent during our last conference. But these are the reasons we have had: we felt as though we would endure all the penalties that could be inflicted upon us legally to vindicate the principle of religious liberty; we felt that our principles were being infringed upon by laws of this description. Whether our fellow citizens appreciate what we have done or not, we certainly feel that we have done a good work in thus standing in passive resistance—not active resistance—to the law which we regarded as an encroachment upon religious freedom. Every patriotic man in this country ought to applaud a people or an individual who stands up in defense of any principle that pertains to human rights. We have done this—we intended to do it—to call attention to what we looked upon as a wrong.
We endeavored by our sacrifice to arrest the progress of this crusade against our religious liberty; we honestly believed that we had a right to act as we did. That we have failed, however, in persuading the nation, that we have failed in making apparent to the people and convincing them of this, is very clear at the present time. We have utterly failed. We have carried this to such an extent that the Lord himself has signified His acceptance of the sacrifices and offerings of the Latter-day Saints. He has said to us, “It is enough now. You having done your duty, this matter must rest with Me;” and we have, in consequence, sustained the issuance of that manifesto, undertaking to comply with the law—that we will do our best to carry it out, having done all in our power up to the present to vindicate our rights. But the day will come—and I am not afraid to risk my reputation, if I have one, as a prophet—when that which we have done will be recorded with admiration and praise. When a people can make a sacrifice such as we have, when by the mere expression of a few words we could have saved ourselves ignominy and pain of imprisonment and the sad consequences involved to the wives and children of those called upon to suffer, it will be written in history that what was offered to us we declined, preferring to endure all these things to vindicate our rights.
Now the question arises, “What is going to be done?” It has seemed to me that a magnanimous Government like ours might cease its operations against those who are involved conscientiously, who believed that they were acting according to the command of God. I have hoped for this. I hoped at one time that our persecutions, and the manner in which the courts were proceeding against us, would have the effect of calling the attention of the nation to those wrongs under which we were suffering. But it is a lesson of history, repeated in our case, that persecutions only increase by the addition of victims. Every victim adds more to the flame of persecution. This is the history of the past; it is illustrated and confirmed in our own history. Every fresh victim, instead of arresting or lightening the persecution, only serves to intensify the feeling of determination that this must be crushed out at all cost and hazard. Every man that went to prison only seemed to be an evidence of our obduracy and our determination to defy the law, and to strengthen the opinion that we must be subdued and broken down.
Well, now, a serious question presents itself before us respecting the present condition of things. Here are women—very many of them—and children placed in a sad position. These women are bound to their husbands by ties that have been considered the most sacred, and among us they have been honored quite as much as though they occupied the position of legal wives. What shall be done in reference to them? It is a serious question—one that comes to us constantly. It is one that I hope will be answered by the action of the Government. When it becomes convinced of our sincerity in issuing this manifesto declaring that plural marriages should cease, let us hope that some favorable action will be taken in regard to existing relations.
I am not certain yet that we shall be disappointed in this. I believe we have already seen, in effect, a great softening of feeling upon these points, and the people must understand—they should understand—that what we do shall be done in good faith; that we do not deal in deception. Each one must seek to accommodate himself to affairs so that we shall not create a feeling that will be a continuation of the antipathy manifested through this doctrine. So far as our sincerity is concerned, I think it is of the utmost importance that the world should know that when we make a promise of this kind we mean exactly what we say—that we are not dealing falsely, that we are treating this matter in good faith, leaving the result with God our Eternal Father; and that we will to the best of our ability accommodate ourselves to the changed condition of affairs. I have no doubt if we do this that, in the end, the result will be all we can desire.
None of us doubt that God is controlling this work to suit His own purposes and to fulfil His own designs. I have been compelled to acknowledge my own blindness; I never had such a feeling concerning my own ignorance and inability to comprehend the plans and purposes of God as I have had of late. But I bow to His Supreme wisdom; it is infinite. He understands the end from the beginning; He has laid the foundation of this work.
I have testified, I might say hundreds of times, before public men, that I believed if I had not done what I did in reference to plural marriage I would have been damned utterly. I have said this before leading men; I have said it before the President of the United States; I have said it wherever I have talked about the subject. I can only speak for myself; but the command came to me in such a form from my God that I believe I would have been damned if I had not obeyed it. Having this belief embedded in my very nature, what could I do but obey? It was either obedience on the right hand or damnation on the left. Yet, notwithstanding this, I obeyed the law; and hence it is, I say, we need the Spirit of God to be with us, because all these things come in conflict with all our pre-conceived ideas and that which we have framed in our own minds. We have to trust to our God for the results. He has laid the foundation of this work; He has carried it forward to the present time, and He will take care of it in the future.
I say now publicly that it is the intention of the Latter-day Saints to obey the law and leave the results with the God of heaven. But some of our brethren have asked this question: “How can you reconcile it with consistency that our brethren who go into court now and say, ‘We will obey the law,’ whereas before all felt this to be wrong?” The conditions are entirely different, as you will see. It needs no deep penetration to perceive how differently we are situated now from what we were then. Our position is not at all what it was. We now say, “We bow in submission to the law.” It would have been almost a betrayal for some of us to have done this before.
Suppose that a number of men were holding a citadel and the enemy on the outside demanded a surrender, the great bulk of those within would perhaps say, “No, we shall not surrender; we will maintain this citadel,” whereas the few would exclaim “Yes, we will surrender it,” and hoist the flag. Now the rest would feel that to be a betrayal on their part. But suppose on the other hand, that the whole body inside had been beleaguered for some time, and, finding it of no use to stand longer on the defensive, agreed to join in the surrender, then it would be no discredit to hoist the flag. This example may not exactly illustrate our position, but to my mind it has some features bearing upon it. Everyone can now join in the surrender honorably. We have made covenants it is true; but each man must arrange his affairs so that he would not violate those covenants, thereby bringing down the displeasure of God. But he must honor the law of the land. I do not know whether it is wise to talk too much upon this question, but I think we had better deal with it plainly and meet is squarely as it presents itself to us rather than dodge it. That is my view.
I want to save this people if possible from distress, from sorrow—to save ourselves from the evils that the enemy would heap upon us if they could take the advantage. This they are trying to do by asserting that we are not honest, and so seeking to get us in continual trouble. This is not all necessary. This people have suffered for several years now as no people ever have before within the confines of the United States. We have suffered quietly, and our grief has not been much known. It has been concealed from the world to a very great extent. The anguish and misery that have been inflicted upon families have been born silently. We have passed through very serious trials, but I believe with all my heart that there is a brighter day dawning upon Zion.
I would like to refer to the remarks made by President Woodruff this morning. He said that a short time ago there were no Apostles upon this stand. I do not know how you felt at that time—I had not the privilege of being and meeting with you; but I know how I and the brethren felt who were deprived of that opportunity. This is changed; glory be to God every day! We have freedom and we can meet with you and speak to you, and give you counsels as the Lord requires of us. We can entreat you so to live as to have a testimony in your hearts concerning this.
I wish to allude to another point; I mentioned it yesterday. Some have said to us they believed that if we had taken the course Daniel did when he was put in the lion’s den, and the three Hebrew children when put in the fiery furnace, perhaps it would have been more heroic and more consistent with our profession as Latter-day Saints. A person looking at this superficially might think there was something in the spirit of it. I have no earthly doubt that if President Woodruff had been required to go into the lions’ den or into the fiery furnace, or to do anything else in the way of sacrificing his life in order to save this people, he would have done it. I have not a shadow of doubt that President Taylor would have done the same. All of us knew his courage and firmness. I will not speak of myself; but I do not believe there is one of these men holding the apostleship who would not gladly, had it been God’s will and the sacrifice would have sufficed, have given up his life to save this people. The three Hebrew children in taking the course they did involve only their own lives; their action did not involve the lives, liberties, and future of a great people. Therefore you can see that the analogy between their case and ours is not a complete one.
When Daniel went into the lions’ den he himself was the sufferer; it was his own life only that was jeopardized. But suppose just for a second that the leaders of this people had said, “We will stand and resist this we will carry out this command of God in the face of the whole world”? What would have been the effect? Why, it would have involved this entire people, every member of this Church, every man and child in it. And how many are there who would have obeyed that doctrine and shown their faith? How many would perhaps have said, “You have no right to drag us into this—to involve us and our lives and our future, and everything that we have on earth in a sacrifice which only you yourselves are concerned in.” Can you not see the difference between the three cases I have quoted? It is as plain as it can be.
God guided those men of old to do as they did. God has guided His Church until now; He guided us to do what we have done, and in the history of His dealings with the children of men it will be recorded that we have made as great or greater sacrifices than any people that ever lived.
Now I wish to say this much because I have heard expressions such as those to which I have referred; I have heard them too many times from those who themselves have shown their faith in the doctrines sufficiently to obey them. Well now, brethren and sisters, this is the great point of all I have said thus far: Each one of us should have the light of the Spirit of God shining in his heart so that he may know for himself that which is right, that when we hear the voice of the true Shepherd we will recognize it. We may not be able to tell all the details, but we will know by the testimony of the Spirit of God within us that which is right. This is the testimony which it gives to the Latter-day Saints. They know when they hear the voice of a servant of god and they understand it. They may not be able to explain all of the reasons connected with this, but they have a living testimony of the truth within them.
God and plead with the Lord; ask Him to remove the darkness from your minds, to give you the light of the Holy Spirit, that it may shine upon your understanding, that you may comprehend it, and you will not wait upon Him in vain. I can assure you that He will hear your prayers and answer them; He will fill you with peace and joy, and you will know for yourselves that this is God’s work; and you will know that all your wisdom, the wisdom of men, of those standing at your head, is not alone sufficient to guide this Church. We may mark out paths for traveling, but the Lord directs our ways, and we cannot walk safely without. We may have our ideas as to how this work is going to be built up and established, but the Lord will show us, as has been quoted in our hearing by Brother Franklin D. Richards, that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than man’s ways.” We would never have reached these valleys had not the Lord guided us; and we can look back and see how wonderfully His promises have been fulfilled in our behalf. Scarcely a step could have been taken of our own choice if we had not been upheld by God and had He not sustained us in all our doings. So it will be to the end, and we will be obliged to confess that his wisdom has done it all.
There is another subject that I would like to mention before we adjourn this Conference. Remarks have been made to us concerning home industries and their importance. Talk about revelation! You go and read the sermons of President Young, and if you do not believe now that he was a prophet, I think after you have read them you will be sure he was, because he talked as a prophet to this people concerning their future, and his words were full of godlike wisdom, and he poured them out in a constant stream during his lifetime. One of his great themes was that we should become a self-sustaining people. our minds have diverted from this to a great extent. I believe, however, that circumstances will be so arranged that we shall be compelled to pay attention to these matters. It should be the aim of every man to try and become self-sustaining, and to have his family self-sustaining. It is my desire to raise everything that is eaten and drunk by myself and my family. I have striven for this. I would like to have it so that I could have everything we wear produced here also. But what I wish to refer to now is this:
We are allowing our young men throughout these valleys, by hundreds, to grow up in ignorance of skilled industries. I was recently at a conference in one of our Stakes—a large Stake, noted for the thrift of its people—and upon inquiry I found that there were only two boys in the settlement in which the conference was held learning trades, and very few anywhere else in the Stake. This to me is ominous of trouble, ominous of poverty—our young men growing up destitute of knowledge concerning skilled branches of business. I am in favor of education. I think no one who knows me will discredit me when I say that. But I am not in favor of book education at the expense of education in skill at manual labor. I have a number of sons, and I would rather they should be destitute of book learning, much as I value it, than be destitute of a knowledge of using their hands and their bodies in earning their living. I believe they would be better citizens if they would learn how to work than they would be, with all the learning that they could get, if they did not possess these other qualities. But there is no necessity that our children should be taught one branch alone. They can be given a good education, and at the same time be taught some skilled branch of labor. I think it is an error for us to send our young men to school till they are eighteen, or nineteen, or twenty years of age without teaching them some industrial occupation, because it is from fifteen to twenty that boys learn to use their muscles and how to toil without it being burdensome to them. But you take a young man after then, if he has learned nothing but what is in books, and put him to hard manual labor, and he shrinks from it. Very few men can stand it. They want to get easy employment. while I do not think it necessary that all should follow manual labor, it is necessary that all should be taught these branches, so that they can be useful. Then if they can make their living by following some lighter occupation that will be more congenial to them, they can do so. But it seems to me, brethren and sisters, that this is a subject that ought to receive our attention. We are importing skilled laborers from abroad—carpenters, brick masons, etc., to supply the demand in this city and Territory. It think this is deplorable. We should be in a different condition.
Pardon me if I allude to my own case in this matter, as I happen to be familiar with it. I have several sons, and I have offered each of them for one year to any of our brethren who would teach them mechanism. I have done this with all the sons that I have grown up, because I thought an education of this kind was very valuable. I would like my boys to learn every kind of trade. I would like them to be skillful. I would like them to use these glorious hands that God has given us, and this glorious brain, in a skilled manner. The man who can do this is a much more useful citizen. It is bad to see so many learning to drive a team and following teaming as an occupation. Almost anybody can learn to drive a team. A girl can learn it. I have seen girls that did it excellently. There is very little skill about that. Of course, a good teamster is a rare article; I am aware of that. Then we have men following farming who do not study farming and make a business of it. If you are going to make your children farmers, give them that knowledge that will qualify them; give them a knowledge of agricultural chemistry, so that they will understand the nature of soils, and how to improve soils, and the best manure for soils, and the best soils to produce certain articles. Give them skill in this direction. Let us take advantage of the opportunities that God has given us. There are no brighter intellects in this world than are to be found among the Latter-day Saints—young men of capability, young men who will make their mark if you will give them any kind of a chance. These young men will grow up and be a mighty race, if we will take the course that we should do with them. I feel that when a child is born the parents are indebted to that child. To bring it into the world as a waif; to launch it upon society without giving it a proper education and proper training and assistance is a great wrong. If we did this we would be like animals. It is the duty of every man and every woman who has a child to do everything in their power for that child, to qualify it to be a useful man or woman, and no pains should be spared in this direction. We live in our children. After we are gone we will live in our offspring, and our good qualities will be perpetuated in them if we will take the right course.
This is a subject that admits of a great deal of talk, and it ought to be spoken about in our settlements and impressed upon the people. We should take pains to teach our boys and our girls everything that will make them useful, and help to give them a knowledge of the principles that God has revealed. In this way we will be a blessing to our children. They will rejoice in us, and they will arise and call us blessed. What a glorious thing it is to think that our posterity will honor us, and that they will say, “I know that my father was a good man; that he did all he could for me.” “I know my mother was a good woman; she loved me and did all in her power to give me a good start and to furnish me with all the knowledge that she could to make me a useful woman,” and to have those children quote the example of their parents to their posterity, and let it go down as a heritage from one generation to another, until we shall arise up in a generation that will be accepted of the Lord, and upon whom His blessing and His power will rest. We will soon enter upon the millennium. God has told us this; and it should be the desire of every man and woman in this Church that their posterity may live, not only for a generation or two, but throughout the entire millennium, and then throughout that period when Satan will be loosed again; that as long as time shall endure some of our posterity may be found among the friends of God, bearing the holy Priesthood, honoring God, keeping His commandments, not only through the millennium, but during that period when Satan will be loosed again to go forth and tempt the nations; that even then some of our descendants will be found numbered among the righteous, and continue to be numbered among them as long as time shall last. I think this is a desirable wish for every man. And let us lay the foundation now. Let us, as parents, influence our children.
Let us make our mark upon our children, and give them a fair start; endow them with all the power that we have, to make them all that we desire them to be. Every parent should have this ambition. Every man and woman ought to live for their children, and not neglect them. I feel condemned sometimes because of public duties I cannot attend to my family as I would like; and my constant prayer to God is that He will give more of His holy Spirit to them, to make up for my lack of time with them. I think this is a good prayer. Let us try to make our children all that we would like them to be, as far as our influence goes. I say to you parents who have children in the covenant, if you will pray for them God will feel after them, and He will save your posterity. He has made promises to this people, and you cling to them, in the meantime doing all you can yourselves to have those promises fulfilled, so that there will be no neglect on your part. Your children may err, and do things that are sinful and are painful and sorrowful to you. But cling to them. Pray for them. Exercise faith in their behalf. Treat them with kindness; not, however, condoning their sins and their transgressions. But be full of charity, full of long-suffering, full of patience, and full of mercy to your children. Don’t drive them away by your severity, or by being too strict. But be kind and merciful to them, correcting their faults when they need correcting, at the same time showing them that your corrections are not prompted by anything but love for them and for their happiness. God bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang: Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered.
The closing benediction was pronounced by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
Adjourned till October next.
John Nicholson,
Clerk of Conference.