April 1897
Cannon, George Q. "Discourse." The Deseret Weekly, May 15, 1897: pg. 673-676.
Cannon, George Q. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, April 24, 1897: pg. 577-578.
Lyman, Francis M. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, May 8, 1897: pg. 641-643.
Richards, Franklin D. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, May 29, 1897: pg. 737-739.
Smith, Joseph F. "Discourse." The Deseret Weekly, May 1, 1897: pg. 609-612.
The Deseret Weekly. "General Conference." April 10, 1897: pg. 526-531.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President George Q. Cannon
Remarks
President Joseph F. Smith
Discourse
Afternoon Session
Elder Lorenzo Snow
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Remarks
Elder Francis M. Lyman
Remarks
Overflow Meeting. Sunday Afternoon, April 4
Elder Anthon H. Lund
Elder Marriner W. Merrill
Elder George Teasdale
Elder Seymour B. Young
At the Tabernacle. Second Day, April 5th—Morning Session
Elder John Henry Smith
Elder George Teasdale
Elder Heber J. Grant
Afternoon Session
Elder John W. Taylor
President George Q. Cannon
Discourse
Third Day, April 6th
President Wilford Woodruff
Elder Marriner W. Merrill
President Joseph F. Smith
Elder Anthon H. Lund
Afternoon Session
Reports for 1896
The General Authorities
Elder B. H. Roberts
Elder Samuel W. Richards
President George Q. Cannon
President Wilford Woodruff
Cannon, George Q. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, April 24, 1897: pg. 577-578.
Lyman, Francis M. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, May 8, 1897: pg. 641-643.
Richards, Franklin D. "Remarks." The Deseret Weekly, May 29, 1897: pg. 737-739.
Smith, Joseph F. "Discourse." The Deseret Weekly, May 1, 1897: pg. 609-612.
The Deseret Weekly. "General Conference." April 10, 1897: pg. 526-531.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
President George Q. Cannon
Remarks
President Joseph F. Smith
Discourse
Afternoon Session
Elder Lorenzo Snow
Elder Franklin D. Richards
Remarks
Elder Francis M. Lyman
Remarks
Overflow Meeting. Sunday Afternoon, April 4
Elder Anthon H. Lund
Elder Marriner W. Merrill
Elder George Teasdale
Elder Seymour B. Young
At the Tabernacle. Second Day, April 5th—Morning Session
Elder John Henry Smith
Elder George Teasdale
Elder Heber J. Grant
Afternoon Session
Elder John W. Taylor
President George Q. Cannon
Discourse
Third Day, April 6th
President Wilford Woodruff
Elder Marriner W. Merrill
President Joseph F. Smith
Elder Anthon H. Lund
Afternoon Session
Reports for 1896
The General Authorities
Elder B. H. Roberts
Elder Samuel W. Richards
President George Q. Cannon
President Wilford Woodruff
GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Sixty-seventh Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Sunday, April 4, 1897. President George Q. Cannon presiding, President Wilford Woodruff being absent on account of sickness. Elder Brigham Young of the Quorum of the Twelve, was not present for the same reason.
Of the general authorities present on the stand there were of the First Presidency—George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith;
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anton H. Lund;
Patriarch John Smith;
of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies—Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjelsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds;
of the Presiding Bishopric—Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
The first meeting of Conference was largely attended, many of the people being compelled to stand during the services.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn which begins:
Our God, we raise to Thee
Thanks for thy blessings free,
We here enjoy.
Opening prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Softly beams the Sacred dawning
Of the great millennial morn.
The Sixty-seventh Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Sunday, April 4, 1897. President George Q. Cannon presiding, President Wilford Woodruff being absent on account of sickness. Elder Brigham Young of the Quorum of the Twelve, was not present for the same reason.
Of the general authorities present on the stand there were of the First Presidency—George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith;
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anton H. Lund;
Patriarch John Smith;
of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies—Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjelsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds;
of the Presiding Bishopric—Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
The first meeting of Conference was largely attended, many of the people being compelled to stand during the services.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn which begins:
Our God, we raise to Thee
Thanks for thy blessings free,
We here enjoy.
Opening prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Softly beams the Sacred dawning
Of the great millennial morn.
President Geo. Q. Cannon
said, “President Woodruff desired me to bear his love to the Conference. He has been indisposed for a few days, but is much better, though scarcely strong enough to come to meeting this morning. He hopes, however, to be with us at some time during the Conference. In order that there may be no concern relating to his health, I wish to say that he is much better than he has been. He is somewhat weak, but feeling very well otherwise. He has been troubled for some little time back, with insomnia, that is, sleeplessness, and this has worn on him, but he has been sleeping very well for the last two or three days and nights. I thought that this announcement to the Conference would satisfy the inquiries of a good many who have heard that he was not well.
The speaker then directed the attention of the general assembly to the prosperous condition of the work of the Lord, indicating that He was looking upon His people with favor. Reports from all parts of the world showed unreal success resulting from the efforts of the Elders abroad. Eleven hundred souls had been added to the Church in the Southern States alone. In that field it was expected that by the end of the present year the number of Sunday schools organized would reach 150. Elder Elias S. Kimball presides there. In the Eastern and Middle States prospects were flattering, this being the report brought by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who had presided there for over two years. He had been succeeded in that position by Elder Alonzo Kesler. Brother Kelob presided in the Northwestern States. He was located and laboring in Chicago. Much good was being done, and new openings being made for the spread of the Gospel in that section. Elder Nye had charge of the California mission. A most encouraging feature of present missionary labors was the increase of faith among the Elders, indicated by many of them travelling without purse or scrip. They had been greatly blessed in complying with this requirement; their wants had been supplied, the Lord having operated upon the people, opening their hearts to receive the servants of God. Even in Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe numbers of Elders were trying to travel in this way, although it was difficult to do this completely on account of the fear existing in relation to nihilism and socialism; men without money were liable to be arrested and imprisoned. In Europe the work was prospering, especially in norther Sweden, and in Holland, Elder Spencer who recently returned from the latter country gave a most flattering account of the results following the preaching of the Gospel there. In Germany the missionaries were being given larger liberty than heretofore, and some men of prominence were inclined to investigate the Gospel. For the present the Elders had, owing to the Armenian difficulties, been withdrawn from Turkey, and the work there left to the management of local Saints. An encouraging aspect was presented by the Polynesian Islands, and indeed the whole situation of the work abroad was prosperous. God had wrought a wonderful change upon the minds of the peoples of the earth. The deadly hatred toward the Saints which had existed at times had disappeared. Thirteen hundred Elders were in the field and calls for more laborers were coming from every direction. Altogether the work of the Lord was never more prosperous than now. President Cannon directed attention to the fact that a mighty field had scarcely been touched—the peoples of the southern portion of this continent, where there were millions of Lamanites to whom the Gospel had yet to be carried. The speaker then mentioned the fact that operations were in progress in fields nearer home. Elders Edward Stevenson and Matthias F. Cowley had visited the north, Idaho and Montana, where they had been warmly received, and their efforts attended with success. The same could be said in relation to recent labors in Idaho by Elders Jonathan G. Kimball and Henry W. Naisbitt, while Elder John W. Taylor, of the quorum of the Twelve had opened up a mission in Colorado.
Reference was made by the speaker to a recent probability of division in the Church at home, on account of erroneous doctrine having been promulgated and false statements made. A reaction had set in, however. Reports from all the Stakes were to the effect that those who had been misled were having their minds enlightened. All signs indicated that the Saints were growing in an understanding of the duties of the Priesthood. God had sustained His servants and people in every dark hour and would continue to do so.
President Cannon briefly reviewed the condition of the various auxiliary organizations of the Church—notably the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement association. He mentioned that the Sunday school membership had increased nearly 6,000 during the past year, and the total of officers and members was now about 105,000. There had been a considerable increase in the membership of the children’s Primary associations, the report showing an enrollment of 33,600, besides 2,770 officers, and if every Stake had reported the probably aggregate would be shown to be about 38,000. There had also been a gratifying increase of religion classes, the object of which was to provide religious instruction for children of the Saints who attended the public schools.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 4th, 1897, by President George Q. Cannon
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
In commencing the sixty-seventh annual conference of the Church, we have great reason to be thankful to the Lord for the favor that He has shown unto us, and for the prospects that we have concerning the growth of His work. There is everything to encourage us as a people. There is every reason to believe that the Lord is with us, and that He looks with favor upon Zion. I think it is scarcely too much to say that the work of God was never in a more prosperous condition in many respects, than it is as present. From all parts of the world, where the Elders are laboring, good reports come of their success. From the imperfect statistics that we have (and we are trying to improve these all the time), we learn that upwards of ten thousand souls have been added to the Church during the year. In the United States the work has gone forward with considerable rapidity. It is claimed that in the Southern States alone there have been more souls added to the Church than in all the European missions. But Elder Anthon H. Lund, who has recently returned from presiding over the European mission, will not admit that the Elders have been more successful in the Southern States than they have in Europe; for, in proportion to the number of Elders engaged in the ministry, they have baptized more to the Elder in Europe than in the United States. I mention this because it is worth of mention, and shows that the Elders in Europe are industrious and successful also. Before the close of the present year it is expected that in the Southern States 150 Sunday schools will be organized; there are nearly 100 already in operation, and by means of these a great work is being done, and many are being indoctrinated with the principles of the Gospel.
The Eastern States mission, as reported by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who has just returned, is a very promising mission, and the probability is that many souls will be added to the Church there during this coming season. A disposition is manifested on the part of a great many to investigate, and the cry from that mission, as from all the missions, is, “We want more help. Send us more Elders. We cannot fill the calls that we have for Elders.” Brother Richards has been laboring in that mission now for upwards of two years, and has been quite successful in gaining access to the public prints, getting our views published in newspapers, and in removing prejudice from the minds of public men. Brother Alonzo P. Kesler has been sent to take the place of Brother Richards.
Brother Lewis A. Kelsch is laboring as president of the Northern States mission. Brother Elias S. Kimball is still laboring in the Southern States mission. Brother Ephraim Nye is laboring in California; and all these Elders and their co-laborers are performing their duties with great success.
Elder Andrew Kimball is about to be succeeded by Elder William T. Jack in the presidency of the Indian Territory mission, which is also rapidly increasing. In Colorado, Elder John W. Taylor and his associates have, within the last few months, opened the Gospel in a number of towns and cities in that state with gratifying prospects for success. Elder B. H. Roberts and a few other Elders have been visiting many of the large cities of the East and holding meetings therein that have attracted widespread attention. Nearer home, Elders J. Golden Kimball, Henry W. Naisbitt and others have been laboring in Idaho. Still other brethren have been ministering in Montana. In both of these and the neighboring states there appears to be a bright prospect for doing good, many scattered Saints, who at different time have wandered off from the main body of the Church, being found in these regions, many of whom are anxious to renew their fellowship with God’s people.
There is this noticeable feature at the present time in the preaching of the Gospel all through the various missions: it is the faith of the Elders to travel without purse and scrip. There has been a time when the faith of the Elders did not appear to be sufficient to enable them to travel in this manner, and some have said that missionary labors would have to cease in some parts if the Elders had to cease in some parts if the Elders had to depend upon the people to sustain them; but from all the missions where the Elders have pursued this plan of traveling without purse and script, they have reported that the Lord has blessed them as never before, and there is a disposition on the part of the people to entertain them and to supply their wants. The letters that come from the Elders are exceedingly encouraging. They show the faith of the Elders, and also the power of God moving upon the hearts of the people. In Great Britain and on the continent of Europe the Elders are struggling to do this. Of course, in some countries it is an exceedingly difficult thing, because of the fear there is of socialism, anarchism and nihilism; and if a man be found in some places without money in his pocket he is in danger of being put in prison as a vagabond. Hence, in those countries great care has to be taken that the Elders do not expose themselves to imprisonment. Still the spirit in the Elders is to carry out the word of the Lord in regard to traveling without purse and scrip.
In Europe the work is progressing, particularly in northern Sweden, where a great many converts are being made, and also in Holland. The Saints who live in this city, no doubt, heard the report of Elder G. S. Spencer, who returned a few weeks ago from presiding over the Netherlands mission. I suppose that in that mission there are more people being added to the Church than in any of the European countries, and the Elders feel exceedingly encouraged in their labors and believe there is a great work to be done in that land.
In Germany the Elders are laboring with zeal and with a large degree of success, and leading men are more disposed to investigate the principles of the Gospel than they have heretofore been inclined to do. There is also a disposition in Berlin and other cities to grant larger liberty. The police are not so rigid and so disposed to interfere with the meetings; in fact, where they have attended the meetings, as they have done in some instances to get an idea of the nation of our teachings, they have been almost converted,--at least, their prejudices have been, to a great extent, removed. At the city of Breslau, the police commissioner has granted the Elders perfect liberty to preach. So it may be said wherever the Elders have gone the Lord has opened their way and has raised up friends to them and has blessed them in their labors.
From Turkey, we have deemed it wise to withdraw the Elders for the time being, in consequence of the Armenian troubles, it being thought that it was dangerous for our brethren to be there when there was rioting and so many collisions between the Turks and the Armenians.
Looking, therefore, at all the field—the Polynesian Islands, the United States and Europe—there is reason to be thankful to God for the blessings that He has vouchsafed to us, for the softening of the hearts of the people, and for the pouring out of His holy spirit upon them to prompt them to seek to understand the principles of the Gospel. Everyone who is at all acquainted with our history for the past few years can see the great change that has been wrought out in this direction, how wonderfully the Lord has operated, the large liberty He has brought to His people, the removal of prejudice and of that deadly animosity that was so severely directed against us a few years ago. God can do a wonderful work when He pours out His Spirit upon the people. He can soften the hearts of the hardest hearted men and women, and He can remove blindness from their eyes and cause them to see the truth. The Elders are feeling the benefit of this. When we think that there are 1,300 Elders sent out from this land to these various countries, laboring indefatigably, without purse and scrip, and testing the world, we can form some idea of how great the work of God is and how it is spreading. And we have scarcely touched the Indian races. There is an immense field spreading out before the Elders of the Church in the redemption of these poor remnants of the house of Israel. The Elders now are laboring among nations of our own blood, excepting the Polynesian Islands. But here stretches out before us this immense continent on the south, people with descendants of the house of Israel, and there is scarcely an Elder among them. When we think of these millions of people who are awaiting the glad tidings of salvation, and concerning whom so many precious promises have been made, we can imagine what an immense labor devolves upon us as the servants of God. This should incite us to renewed diligence. It should fill the hearts of our young men with burning zeal and a determination to qualify themselves for the great work of redeeming the human family which rests upon us as the people of God.
So far as our own surroundings are concerned, we have every reason to be thankful for that which the Lord has done and is doing. There was a probability that we should have division in the church at home, in consequence of false doctrine that was taught and false statements that were made. It looked for a while as though a great many of our people would be misled and come to wrong conclusions concerning the authority and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. But from all parts of the Church in these mountains the intelligence comes that the members of the Church are having their minds enlightened, and error is being removed, and misconceptions which have been industriously propagated are now being understood in their true light. This is the representation that comes from all the Stakes of Zion, and it is most gratifying, because the Church of Christ cannot prosper on the earth unless there is union. If there be divisions, or schisms, if error prevail, if false doctrine be believed, they will inevitably retard the progress of the work of God. I am thankful myself that the issue has been raised among us. Some have found fault with the Declaration that was made here a year ago. Some have thought it unnecessary, and that it was framed for the purpose of entrapping somebody. Now I wish to say to this Conference that no such purpose ever entered into the hearts of the men who signed that. There was no snare, nor trap prepared; but it was felt that there should be a declaration of principle made at that time in consequence of the statements which had been made concerning these matters, and the misconceptions and division of sentiment which had arisen therefrom—so that our views concerning the Church of Christ and its government might be thoroughly understood. Every man that signed that paper felt that it was opportune, and that it was needed. The very fact that there should be differences of views on such important questions furnishes all the proof necessary that it was an appropriate and necessary document to issue to the Church, and all Latter-day Saints will see how appropriate it is if they will read it in the light of the Spirit of God. It was not issued for the purpose of encroaching upon the privileges or liberty of the Latter-day Saints. I have said it, and I repeat it here, that there is no freer people upon the face of the earth than the Latter-day Saints. There is no people that enjoys fuller liberty than we do. There is no people who are interfered with less by their religious teachers than are the Latter-day Saints. I am willing to risk that statement and have it examined in the light of that which has been and is being done among us. There has been no interference with human rights. In fact, we have refrained from saying and doing that which I have sometimes thought we ought to do; but in our anxiety to avoid giving the least color to the charges that have been made against us, we have refrained from expressing ourselves when it was really needed. The leading men of this Church—and I speak this without boasting—are the men who have helped lay the foundation of this commonwealth. All there is that it looked upon as admirable in our State is due, in part at least, to them.
But I need not dwell on this. I need only announce to you that to-day all the signs are favorable to a correct comprehension of the duties of the Priesthood and of the members of the Church in all parts of the land. I am happy to be able to say this. I know that God our Eternal Father will enlighten the minds of this people; I know He will pour out His Spirit upon us, when we seek for it. He will dissipate darkness, and will show us the truth. He will give us strength in temptation and trial, and He will deliver us from snares. If we are true to Him, and put our trust in Him, He will not suffer us to be led astray by false and delusive spirits. I look back to the years of trial through which we have passed, and I recall with great satisfaction and pleasure how the Lord assisted and sustained His servants and people. When everything was dark, and it looked as though the powers of darkness would prevail over the Church of Christ, He sustained His servants and His people. Through the blessing of the Lord our sisters were filled with a strength that was almost superhuman, and the whole people felt the sustaining hand of our God. And He will continue to do this for us if we will put our trust in Him. When we pass through the deep waters, He will be there to guide and sustain us; when we go through the fiery furnace, He will be with us as He was with the three Hebrew children.
The Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations have received quite an impetus of late, and increased interest is being manifested in them. The prospect is that they will do a great amount of good among the people. We have not the statistics at hand concerning them as we have of other institutions.
I find that the Sunday schools are growing. There has been an increase of nearly six thousand during the past year. We number now in our Sunday schools about one hundred and five thousand, officers, teachers and pupils. This is an exceedingly gratifying showing. In the missions abroad, where there is opportunity, Sunday schools are established, and many people who are not members of the Church send their children to them, because they see that they are taught the word of God and the principles of righteousness and true morality. It is very encouraging to know that through this humble instrumentality so much good is being done. We ought to be diligent in like manner at home, and seek after the souls of our own offspring, who certainly ought to be as dear to us and as worthy of sacrifice on our part as the offspring of strangers.
There has also been a great increase in the Primary associations. They show a membership of 33,600. Besides these, there are 2770 officers. No doubt, if every Stake reported with care, there would be found to be a much larger number. It is estimated that there are at least 38,000.
Then there are the religion classes. You are aware, no doubt, that it was deemed proper to have religion classes established in some settlements, so that if there should be any tendency on the part of some of the pupils of the district schools to drift into unbelief, these classes would have the effect to check that tendency. We do not want to say one word disrespectful to the district schools. We have excellent schools in our State. But there appears to be a natural tendency in the human heart towards unbelief. I remember when I was Chancellor of the Deseret University, the charge was made several times that the teachers of that institutions were disposed to implant skeptical thoughts and suggestions in the minds of the students. We investigated the matter, and we found that this was not correct. We learned, however, that the text books and the general drift in such an institution, where not counteracted by religious teaching, was in favor of unbelief. The text books in all our universities and colleges have a tendency to unsettle faith in the Bible. To counteract this tendency in our district schools, it was redeemed wise to establish religion classes. The statement is made that there are at least seventy classes now in operation, with over three hundred instructors, and an estimated attendance of nearly four thousand pupils. These classes should increase. There are places, no doubt, where they are needed, and they should receive attention, because it is when the children are young, and when their minds are plastic, that lasting impressions can be made upon them.
I pray God to bless us in our Conference, and that His Holy Spirit may be poured out in power upon all who shall speak. That this may be the case, we all should pray in our hearts for the Elders who shall address this Conference, that they may be inspired, and that each of us may be filled with the Spirit to receive their instructions and to be profited by attending this Conference. God bless you. Amen.
At the close of President Cannon’s discourse Sister Mable Cooper sang: “Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I Lift my Soul.”
said, “President Woodruff desired me to bear his love to the Conference. He has been indisposed for a few days, but is much better, though scarcely strong enough to come to meeting this morning. He hopes, however, to be with us at some time during the Conference. In order that there may be no concern relating to his health, I wish to say that he is much better than he has been. He is somewhat weak, but feeling very well otherwise. He has been troubled for some little time back, with insomnia, that is, sleeplessness, and this has worn on him, but he has been sleeping very well for the last two or three days and nights. I thought that this announcement to the Conference would satisfy the inquiries of a good many who have heard that he was not well.
The speaker then directed the attention of the general assembly to the prosperous condition of the work of the Lord, indicating that He was looking upon His people with favor. Reports from all parts of the world showed unreal success resulting from the efforts of the Elders abroad. Eleven hundred souls had been added to the Church in the Southern States alone. In that field it was expected that by the end of the present year the number of Sunday schools organized would reach 150. Elder Elias S. Kimball presides there. In the Eastern and Middle States prospects were flattering, this being the report brought by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who had presided there for over two years. He had been succeeded in that position by Elder Alonzo Kesler. Brother Kelob presided in the Northwestern States. He was located and laboring in Chicago. Much good was being done, and new openings being made for the spread of the Gospel in that section. Elder Nye had charge of the California mission. A most encouraging feature of present missionary labors was the increase of faith among the Elders, indicated by many of them travelling without purse or scrip. They had been greatly blessed in complying with this requirement; their wants had been supplied, the Lord having operated upon the people, opening their hearts to receive the servants of God. Even in Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe numbers of Elders were trying to travel in this way, although it was difficult to do this completely on account of the fear existing in relation to nihilism and socialism; men without money were liable to be arrested and imprisoned. In Europe the work was prospering, especially in norther Sweden, and in Holland, Elder Spencer who recently returned from the latter country gave a most flattering account of the results following the preaching of the Gospel there. In Germany the missionaries were being given larger liberty than heretofore, and some men of prominence were inclined to investigate the Gospel. For the present the Elders had, owing to the Armenian difficulties, been withdrawn from Turkey, and the work there left to the management of local Saints. An encouraging aspect was presented by the Polynesian Islands, and indeed the whole situation of the work abroad was prosperous. God had wrought a wonderful change upon the minds of the peoples of the earth. The deadly hatred toward the Saints which had existed at times had disappeared. Thirteen hundred Elders were in the field and calls for more laborers were coming from every direction. Altogether the work of the Lord was never more prosperous than now. President Cannon directed attention to the fact that a mighty field had scarcely been touched—the peoples of the southern portion of this continent, where there were millions of Lamanites to whom the Gospel had yet to be carried. The speaker then mentioned the fact that operations were in progress in fields nearer home. Elders Edward Stevenson and Matthias F. Cowley had visited the north, Idaho and Montana, where they had been warmly received, and their efforts attended with success. The same could be said in relation to recent labors in Idaho by Elders Jonathan G. Kimball and Henry W. Naisbitt, while Elder John W. Taylor, of the quorum of the Twelve had opened up a mission in Colorado.
Reference was made by the speaker to a recent probability of division in the Church at home, on account of erroneous doctrine having been promulgated and false statements made. A reaction had set in, however. Reports from all the Stakes were to the effect that those who had been misled were having their minds enlightened. All signs indicated that the Saints were growing in an understanding of the duties of the Priesthood. God had sustained His servants and people in every dark hour and would continue to do so.
President Cannon briefly reviewed the condition of the various auxiliary organizations of the Church—notably the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement association. He mentioned that the Sunday school membership had increased nearly 6,000 during the past year, and the total of officers and members was now about 105,000. There had been a considerable increase in the membership of the children’s Primary associations, the report showing an enrollment of 33,600, besides 2,770 officers, and if every Stake had reported the probably aggregate would be shown to be about 38,000. There had also been a gratifying increase of religion classes, the object of which was to provide religious instruction for children of the Saints who attended the public schools.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 4th, 1897, by President George Q. Cannon
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
In commencing the sixty-seventh annual conference of the Church, we have great reason to be thankful to the Lord for the favor that He has shown unto us, and for the prospects that we have concerning the growth of His work. There is everything to encourage us as a people. There is every reason to believe that the Lord is with us, and that He looks with favor upon Zion. I think it is scarcely too much to say that the work of God was never in a more prosperous condition in many respects, than it is as present. From all parts of the world, where the Elders are laboring, good reports come of their success. From the imperfect statistics that we have (and we are trying to improve these all the time), we learn that upwards of ten thousand souls have been added to the Church during the year. In the United States the work has gone forward with considerable rapidity. It is claimed that in the Southern States alone there have been more souls added to the Church than in all the European missions. But Elder Anthon H. Lund, who has recently returned from presiding over the European mission, will not admit that the Elders have been more successful in the Southern States than they have in Europe; for, in proportion to the number of Elders engaged in the ministry, they have baptized more to the Elder in Europe than in the United States. I mention this because it is worth of mention, and shows that the Elders in Europe are industrious and successful also. Before the close of the present year it is expected that in the Southern States 150 Sunday schools will be organized; there are nearly 100 already in operation, and by means of these a great work is being done, and many are being indoctrinated with the principles of the Gospel.
The Eastern States mission, as reported by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who has just returned, is a very promising mission, and the probability is that many souls will be added to the Church there during this coming season. A disposition is manifested on the part of a great many to investigate, and the cry from that mission, as from all the missions, is, “We want more help. Send us more Elders. We cannot fill the calls that we have for Elders.” Brother Richards has been laboring in that mission now for upwards of two years, and has been quite successful in gaining access to the public prints, getting our views published in newspapers, and in removing prejudice from the minds of public men. Brother Alonzo P. Kesler has been sent to take the place of Brother Richards.
Brother Lewis A. Kelsch is laboring as president of the Northern States mission. Brother Elias S. Kimball is still laboring in the Southern States mission. Brother Ephraim Nye is laboring in California; and all these Elders and their co-laborers are performing their duties with great success.
Elder Andrew Kimball is about to be succeeded by Elder William T. Jack in the presidency of the Indian Territory mission, which is also rapidly increasing. In Colorado, Elder John W. Taylor and his associates have, within the last few months, opened the Gospel in a number of towns and cities in that state with gratifying prospects for success. Elder B. H. Roberts and a few other Elders have been visiting many of the large cities of the East and holding meetings therein that have attracted widespread attention. Nearer home, Elders J. Golden Kimball, Henry W. Naisbitt and others have been laboring in Idaho. Still other brethren have been ministering in Montana. In both of these and the neighboring states there appears to be a bright prospect for doing good, many scattered Saints, who at different time have wandered off from the main body of the Church, being found in these regions, many of whom are anxious to renew their fellowship with God’s people.
There is this noticeable feature at the present time in the preaching of the Gospel all through the various missions: it is the faith of the Elders to travel without purse and scrip. There has been a time when the faith of the Elders did not appear to be sufficient to enable them to travel in this manner, and some have said that missionary labors would have to cease in some parts if the Elders had to cease in some parts if the Elders had to depend upon the people to sustain them; but from all the missions where the Elders have pursued this plan of traveling without purse and script, they have reported that the Lord has blessed them as never before, and there is a disposition on the part of the people to entertain them and to supply their wants. The letters that come from the Elders are exceedingly encouraging. They show the faith of the Elders, and also the power of God moving upon the hearts of the people. In Great Britain and on the continent of Europe the Elders are struggling to do this. Of course, in some countries it is an exceedingly difficult thing, because of the fear there is of socialism, anarchism and nihilism; and if a man be found in some places without money in his pocket he is in danger of being put in prison as a vagabond. Hence, in those countries great care has to be taken that the Elders do not expose themselves to imprisonment. Still the spirit in the Elders is to carry out the word of the Lord in regard to traveling without purse and scrip.
In Europe the work is progressing, particularly in northern Sweden, where a great many converts are being made, and also in Holland. The Saints who live in this city, no doubt, heard the report of Elder G. S. Spencer, who returned a few weeks ago from presiding over the Netherlands mission. I suppose that in that mission there are more people being added to the Church than in any of the European countries, and the Elders feel exceedingly encouraged in their labors and believe there is a great work to be done in that land.
In Germany the Elders are laboring with zeal and with a large degree of success, and leading men are more disposed to investigate the principles of the Gospel than they have heretofore been inclined to do. There is also a disposition in Berlin and other cities to grant larger liberty. The police are not so rigid and so disposed to interfere with the meetings; in fact, where they have attended the meetings, as they have done in some instances to get an idea of the nation of our teachings, they have been almost converted,--at least, their prejudices have been, to a great extent, removed. At the city of Breslau, the police commissioner has granted the Elders perfect liberty to preach. So it may be said wherever the Elders have gone the Lord has opened their way and has raised up friends to them and has blessed them in their labors.
From Turkey, we have deemed it wise to withdraw the Elders for the time being, in consequence of the Armenian troubles, it being thought that it was dangerous for our brethren to be there when there was rioting and so many collisions between the Turks and the Armenians.
Looking, therefore, at all the field—the Polynesian Islands, the United States and Europe—there is reason to be thankful to God for the blessings that He has vouchsafed to us, for the softening of the hearts of the people, and for the pouring out of His holy spirit upon them to prompt them to seek to understand the principles of the Gospel. Everyone who is at all acquainted with our history for the past few years can see the great change that has been wrought out in this direction, how wonderfully the Lord has operated, the large liberty He has brought to His people, the removal of prejudice and of that deadly animosity that was so severely directed against us a few years ago. God can do a wonderful work when He pours out His Spirit upon the people. He can soften the hearts of the hardest hearted men and women, and He can remove blindness from their eyes and cause them to see the truth. The Elders are feeling the benefit of this. When we think that there are 1,300 Elders sent out from this land to these various countries, laboring indefatigably, without purse and scrip, and testing the world, we can form some idea of how great the work of God is and how it is spreading. And we have scarcely touched the Indian races. There is an immense field spreading out before the Elders of the Church in the redemption of these poor remnants of the house of Israel. The Elders now are laboring among nations of our own blood, excepting the Polynesian Islands. But here stretches out before us this immense continent on the south, people with descendants of the house of Israel, and there is scarcely an Elder among them. When we think of these millions of people who are awaiting the glad tidings of salvation, and concerning whom so many precious promises have been made, we can imagine what an immense labor devolves upon us as the servants of God. This should incite us to renewed diligence. It should fill the hearts of our young men with burning zeal and a determination to qualify themselves for the great work of redeeming the human family which rests upon us as the people of God.
So far as our own surroundings are concerned, we have every reason to be thankful for that which the Lord has done and is doing. There was a probability that we should have division in the church at home, in consequence of false doctrine that was taught and false statements that were made. It looked for a while as though a great many of our people would be misled and come to wrong conclusions concerning the authority and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. But from all parts of the Church in these mountains the intelligence comes that the members of the Church are having their minds enlightened, and error is being removed, and misconceptions which have been industriously propagated are now being understood in their true light. This is the representation that comes from all the Stakes of Zion, and it is most gratifying, because the Church of Christ cannot prosper on the earth unless there is union. If there be divisions, or schisms, if error prevail, if false doctrine be believed, they will inevitably retard the progress of the work of God. I am thankful myself that the issue has been raised among us. Some have found fault with the Declaration that was made here a year ago. Some have thought it unnecessary, and that it was framed for the purpose of entrapping somebody. Now I wish to say to this Conference that no such purpose ever entered into the hearts of the men who signed that. There was no snare, nor trap prepared; but it was felt that there should be a declaration of principle made at that time in consequence of the statements which had been made concerning these matters, and the misconceptions and division of sentiment which had arisen therefrom—so that our views concerning the Church of Christ and its government might be thoroughly understood. Every man that signed that paper felt that it was opportune, and that it was needed. The very fact that there should be differences of views on such important questions furnishes all the proof necessary that it was an appropriate and necessary document to issue to the Church, and all Latter-day Saints will see how appropriate it is if they will read it in the light of the Spirit of God. It was not issued for the purpose of encroaching upon the privileges or liberty of the Latter-day Saints. I have said it, and I repeat it here, that there is no freer people upon the face of the earth than the Latter-day Saints. There is no people that enjoys fuller liberty than we do. There is no people who are interfered with less by their religious teachers than are the Latter-day Saints. I am willing to risk that statement and have it examined in the light of that which has been and is being done among us. There has been no interference with human rights. In fact, we have refrained from saying and doing that which I have sometimes thought we ought to do; but in our anxiety to avoid giving the least color to the charges that have been made against us, we have refrained from expressing ourselves when it was really needed. The leading men of this Church—and I speak this without boasting—are the men who have helped lay the foundation of this commonwealth. All there is that it looked upon as admirable in our State is due, in part at least, to them.
But I need not dwell on this. I need only announce to you that to-day all the signs are favorable to a correct comprehension of the duties of the Priesthood and of the members of the Church in all parts of the land. I am happy to be able to say this. I know that God our Eternal Father will enlighten the minds of this people; I know He will pour out His Spirit upon us, when we seek for it. He will dissipate darkness, and will show us the truth. He will give us strength in temptation and trial, and He will deliver us from snares. If we are true to Him, and put our trust in Him, He will not suffer us to be led astray by false and delusive spirits. I look back to the years of trial through which we have passed, and I recall with great satisfaction and pleasure how the Lord assisted and sustained His servants and people. When everything was dark, and it looked as though the powers of darkness would prevail over the Church of Christ, He sustained His servants and His people. Through the blessing of the Lord our sisters were filled with a strength that was almost superhuman, and the whole people felt the sustaining hand of our God. And He will continue to do this for us if we will put our trust in Him. When we pass through the deep waters, He will be there to guide and sustain us; when we go through the fiery furnace, He will be with us as He was with the three Hebrew children.
The Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations have received quite an impetus of late, and increased interest is being manifested in them. The prospect is that they will do a great amount of good among the people. We have not the statistics at hand concerning them as we have of other institutions.
I find that the Sunday schools are growing. There has been an increase of nearly six thousand during the past year. We number now in our Sunday schools about one hundred and five thousand, officers, teachers and pupils. This is an exceedingly gratifying showing. In the missions abroad, where there is opportunity, Sunday schools are established, and many people who are not members of the Church send their children to them, because they see that they are taught the word of God and the principles of righteousness and true morality. It is very encouraging to know that through this humble instrumentality so much good is being done. We ought to be diligent in like manner at home, and seek after the souls of our own offspring, who certainly ought to be as dear to us and as worthy of sacrifice on our part as the offspring of strangers.
There has also been a great increase in the Primary associations. They show a membership of 33,600. Besides these, there are 2770 officers. No doubt, if every Stake reported with care, there would be found to be a much larger number. It is estimated that there are at least 38,000.
Then there are the religion classes. You are aware, no doubt, that it was deemed proper to have religion classes established in some settlements, so that if there should be any tendency on the part of some of the pupils of the district schools to drift into unbelief, these classes would have the effect to check that tendency. We do not want to say one word disrespectful to the district schools. We have excellent schools in our State. But there appears to be a natural tendency in the human heart towards unbelief. I remember when I was Chancellor of the Deseret University, the charge was made several times that the teachers of that institutions were disposed to implant skeptical thoughts and suggestions in the minds of the students. We investigated the matter, and we found that this was not correct. We learned, however, that the text books and the general drift in such an institution, where not counteracted by religious teaching, was in favor of unbelief. The text books in all our universities and colleges have a tendency to unsettle faith in the Bible. To counteract this tendency in our district schools, it was redeemed wise to establish religion classes. The statement is made that there are at least seventy classes now in operation, with over three hundred instructors, and an estimated attendance of nearly four thousand pupils. These classes should increase. There are places, no doubt, where they are needed, and they should receive attention, because it is when the children are young, and when their minds are plastic, that lasting impressions can be made upon them.
I pray God to bless us in our Conference, and that His Holy Spirit may be poured out in power upon all who shall speak. That this may be the case, we all should pray in our hearts for the Elders who shall address this Conference, that they may be inspired, and that each of us may be filled with the Spirit to receive their instructions and to be profited by attending this Conference. God bless you. Amen.
At the close of President Cannon’s discourse Sister Mable Cooper sang: “Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I Lift my Soul.”
President Joseph F. Smith
was the next speaker. He referred with gratification to the preaching of the Gospel without purse or scrip, credit for this condition being due in great measure, to Elder Elias S. Kimball, president of the Southern States mission. He advised all parents whose sons were on mission, to exhort them to trust in the Lord, instead of furnishing them with an abundance of means. He showed that the excellent qualities of faith and trustfulness were developed by adherence to these and other principles of self-sacrifice. Men and women thus grounded in the faith were seldom moved by trial or difficulty.
Referring to a letter he had received, complaining of the existence of the First Presidency, of the Church, President Smith read from Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the quorums and duties of the two great divisions of the Priesthood are defined. One who had been high in authority had even advocated that the First Presidency should not have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but the presiding authority should have been left with the Apostles, with an executive committee appointed from that body to take the active management of affairs. That this idea was contrary to the order of the Priesthood was proved by the further reading of the section above referred to.
Reading concerning the conferring of the power of presiding over the whole Church upon the First Presidency, who were name in the revelation perused, he said the law of God, therefore, was to the effect that the Church should not exist for any great length of time without the three presiding officers, to represent God on the earth. The further description of the Church organization was read, to show how exact the pattern was, and how literally it must be adhered to, in order that the Church might be perfect in its organization and its workings.
Discourse
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by
President Joseph F. Smith.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
I have been invited by President George Q. Cannon to occupy a portion of the time this morning. There are many things which deserve the attention of the Elders, and which might be spoken upon during the Conference and will be probably, to the edification of the Saints and in the interest of the advancement of the work of the Lord. It is very gratifying to hear the report which has been given this morning by President Cannon concerning the labor of the Elders that are preaching the Gospel in the nations of the earth, and especially to notice the one leading feature to which reference has been made, namely, the mode of preaching the Gospel by the elders in the United States and in some other parts of the world without purse and scrip.
The idea has prevailed for some time past, to a certain extent, until a little while ago, that it was necessary that the Elders should, in going out to preach the Gospel, provide themselves with money, in order that they might not suffer for the necessaries of life. In consequence of the prevalence of this idea, for many years past the Elders generally have provided themselves with means as far as they could, and then their kindred and friends and the various quorums of the Seventies have furnished them means, to enable them to prosecute their missionaries labors. To Brother Elias S. Kimball, now presiding over the Southern States Mission, is due the credit perhaps, as much or more than to any of the Elders who are presiding over missionary fields, for re-inaugurating the former practice of preaching the Gospel among the people without purse or script. It is gratifying to know that in the Southern States, in the Northern States, in the Eastern States, and in the California Missions, and upon the islands of the sea—in fact, wherever this practice is observed, the work of the Lord is more prosperous, if possible, than it is anywhere else. The hearts of the people are reached their sympathy is aroused, and the receive the Elders with greater kindness, and administer to them more liberally than they were wont to do when the Elders were depending for their support upon the means in their own pockets. I have always advocated the principle of preaching the Gospel “without purse or script.” I recollect making some remarks on this subject several years ago in this house, when my words seemed to recoil on my own head, for they did not meet with favor. In the course of my remarks at that time I advanced the idea that those men who possessed wealth whose sons were called out into the missionary field, and who were furnishing them abundance of means, were doing their sons irreparable wrong. We have evidences that the young men whose parents furnished them all the mans they needed while they were out attempting to preach the Gospel are to-day without the testimony of the truth, and some of them have fallen away; whereas those who have gone out depending upon the Lord, having faith in the providences of the Almighty, have had developed within them a testimony of the truth and a knowledge of the principles o the Gospel which will enable them to stand firm and faithful in the Gospel so long as they continue to do their duty as members of the Church. I have a son on a mission, and I have advised him to put his trust in the Lord, as far as possible exert an influence with his associates to do the same, and not to depend upon me for means, and not to depend upon me for means, but to depend upon the Lord and the people among whom he labors. I would advise all those who have sons out in the world preaching the Gospel to exhort them not to put their trust in money, but rather in the Lord, and thereby prove the world, and labor wholly and solely for the salvation of men having that thought uppermost in their minds, and not the thought that they have been sent out into the world to see the sights. I have labored in England on missions, and my experience while abroad proved to me that among the most useless missionaries sent out into the field were those who depended upon the means in their pockets for their support. They did not feel humble; they did not seem to put their trust in the Lord; they did not seek unto Him earnestly and diligently to obtain His Spirit; they did not feel in their hearts that burning desire for the salvation of the children of men that those did who were wholly dependent upon the Lord. I attribute the improvement that is observed in the various missionary fields to the spirit that has been awakened in the minds of the Elders to put their trust in the Lord, and to rely upon His kindness and providence while they are in the world. I have heard words of criticism, amounting almost to censure, of the rigid way in which Brother Elias S. Kimball had required Elders to put their money away and to put their trust in the Lord, and I have not felt to endorse that sentiment, for I have believed it was right. I do not believe there is any great blessing without some sacrifice—not the sacrifice of principle, but the sacrifice of our own desires. It is a comparatively easy thing for a man with his pockets full of money to travel in the world. It requires no sacrifice to do this, no exercise of thought, no faith, no earnestness of purpose, no ardent desire in the soul for the salvation of mankind. But to go out among strangers, without means, dependent only upon the Lord, requires faith, humility, perseverance, and earnest desire in man, and it has a tendency to develop in them all these noble and excellent qualities which are essential to stability in the kingdom of God.
In conversation last evening with some brethren, some remarks were made respecting those who came in early days to this country pulling and pushing the handcart, and a comparison was drawn between that mode of immigration to Zion and the manner in which our people are gathered today. Did you ever hear of a man or a woman apostatizing that pushed or pulled a handcart across the plains? Did you ever hear of them becoming dissatisfied soon after they got here, and at once expressing their desire and intention to go back to the old country? If you have, it has been a rare exception to the rule. As a rule, and almost the universal rule, those who tramped the plains with the handcarts, and next those who came with the ox-teams, have been rooted and grounded in the faith. They had occasion to put their trust in God, and their faith was developed, their love for the truth was brought out, and they have been, as a rule, stable and steadfast in the Gospel of Christ. While today many who come from distant lands by steamship and by railroad, soon after they got to Zion become dissatisfied and discontented and they long for the leeks and onions and the flesh-pots of Egypt; and frequently people who have emigrated here in that way have within a week from the time they landed in this city, or in other places, wanted to return, and some of them have returned. They came too easy; they did not gain experience in coming; their faith was not tried; they had nothing to develop within them the principle of integrity to the truth, and they were discouraged and wanted to go back at the least difficulty. Now, the Lord has said that he would have a tried people; and it is stated in the scriptures that the Lord chasteneth every son and daughter whom he receiveth. It is also said, in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that God will try His people unto death, to see if they are worthy of the blessings of the Gospel of the Son of God. (Section 98:14.) I contend that a man is in a poor condition to endure the trials and temptations in the world who is not tried in his feelings and proven to the uttermost, to see if he loves the truth more than he loves himself or the world; and I believe that it will be most difficult for any man to stand firm in the Gospel who is not thus put to the test. My prayer has been constantly, not that I might be spared trials, but that I might have wisdom and judgment, patience and endurance given unto me, to bear the trials that I might be called to pass through. While I cannot say truthfully that I have been tried in my faith in the Gospel of Christ, yet I can say truthfully that I have been tried in many ways. My patience has been tried, my love has been tried, my integrity has been tried; but my faith in the Gospel, in the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the organization of the Church of Christ in these latter days, has never yet been sorely tried. I have never experienced anything calculated to try my faith seriously in regard to these matters, for I have grown up, I believe, in them. I have been taught from my childhood that Mormonism was true, that Joseph was a prophet, that Brigham Young was his lawful successor, that John Taylor was the lawful successor of President Young, and that President Woodruff is the lawful successor of John Taylor in the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and what intelligence I possess convinces me that these things are not only essential, but that they are true. So that, however much men may have tried me, or however much I may have been tried by circumstances in which I have been placed, wherein my love for my brethren and my integrity to them has been tested. I have never yet had a doubt cross my mind that Mormonism was true, or that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was properly organized and recognized of God. These things seem to have been made clear to my understanding, and they have been engrafted into my heart, until my whole being is saturated with them. I know that God will no more leave His work unto another people, and that it shall continue until His purposes shall be completed in the earth.
This brings me to a thought awakened in my mind by a letter which I received yesterday, complaining of me because I occupied the position that I hold in the Presidency of the Church; not simply because I occupied that position, but the writer found fault with the existence of the First Presidency of the Church, and claimed that it should not exist; that there never had been a successor appointed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that therefore my presence in that quorum was a wrong to him and to the whole Church. Now I wish to read a few words from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord, in a revelation, says:
There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek, and—Aaronic, including the Levitical priesthood.
Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest.
Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God;
But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to this Priesthood.
But there are two divisions or grand heads—one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic, or Levitical priesthood.
The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek.
The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.—Sec. cvii, 1-8.
The Lord further says:
Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding officers growing out of, or appointed, of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two Priesthoods.
Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, from a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.—Sec. cviii., 21-22.
This is the law, and, do what we will, we cannot set it aside, nor can we adopt any other plan or method and still be in harmony with the glorious and perfect order of this Holy Priesthood which God has revealed from the heavens in the dispensation of the fullness of times.
The Lord continues:
The twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.
And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned.—Sec. cvii, 23, 24.
Let me call your attention to this principle. The Lord has not established in the Church two heads, two presiding quorums to run parallel with each other. He has established an order in this Priesthood, which is absolutely indestructible so long as there is a single man holding this Priesthood and exercising the rights and functions thereof in righteousness. The meaning of this passage is simply this. When, from death or any cause, there is no First Presidency, then the authority of presidency rests upon the Twelve Apostles. It does not mean that their authority is equal to the authority of the First Presidency while there is a First Presidency. Such would breed confusion and disorder. There could be no presidency under circumstances of this kind.
Therefore, the equality of the authority of the Twelve Apostles with that of the First Presidency manifests itself when they are called to exercise that authority in the absence of the First Presidency. Yet it has been contended, so we have been credibly informed, that it was wrong to organize the First Presidency after the death of the Prophet Joseph; that the Twelve Apostles should have been the presiding council of the Church, and that there should have been an executive committee appointed out of the Twelve to conduct the affairs of the Church. I suppose it is upon this idea that this brother—whom I have known from childhood—claims he is injured and wronged, and that the whole Church is wronged, because of the existence of the First Presidency, which, nevertheless, must exist in order to complete the pattern which God has given for the guidance and government of His Church.
This revelation goes on:
The seventy are also called to preach the Gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other offices in the Church in the duties of their calling;
And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses of Apostles just named.—Sec. cvii, 25, 26.
Would anybody think for a moment of contending that, because the authority of the First Presidency, the authority of the Twelve Apostles, and the authority of the Seventy was equal, therefore there was a triple-headed presidency of the Church, and that it was necessary that all three of these councils of the Priesthood should exercise in equal power and authority the presidency at one and the same time? Why, that would be nonsense, and would absolutely destroy the principle of government. It would be only in case of the destruction of the Presidency of the Church and of the Twelve Apostles that the Seventy could come forth and exercise authority equal with that of the Twelve in the absence of the First Presidency, and of the First Presidency when the Church is fully organized.
And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
(A majority may form a quorum, when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three Presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchisedek, and were righteous and holy men.—Sec. cvii, 27-29.
What does this mean? Simply this: When the decision of three presidents, who are called to the presiding position in the Church, is a united decision, each president agreeing with the other, it is valid, and equal to any decision that was ever rendered by any presiding authority in the Church of God. It means that in the absence of the First Presidency, and the Twelve Apostles being called upon to exercise the functions of presidency in the Church, a decision on their part must be a unanimous decision to make it equal with a decision of the three Presidents of the Church. It further means, that in the event of the non-existence of the First Presidency and the Twelve, then the Seventy being called upon to exercise the presiding function, a decision rendered by them must be a unanimous decision, in order to make it equal with a decision of the Twelve or of the First Presidency render a decision, on which they are agreed, the Twelve Apostles can rise up and render another decision on which they are united, and their decision be equal with that of the First Presidency. That would result in confusion, and would be destructive of the organization of the Church. Nor can the Seventies rise up, while the Presidency and Twelve live, and render a decision which would be equal before the Church with that of the First Presidency, or with that of the First Presidency, or with that of the Twelve, in case they were presiding.
The Lord further says:
The decision of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;
Because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decisions.—Sec. cvii, 30-32.
In other words, there can be no appeal from the decision of the First Presidency of the Church, except their decision be rendered in unrighteousness, and without love, and charity, etc., and in that case the appeal would have to be taken to the assembled bodies of the Priesthood. It means that when the Twelve Apostles are acting as Presidents of the Church, and they render a decision affecting the welfare of the Church, or on doctrine, there is absolutely no appeal from their decision, excepting it is rendered in unrighteousness. And the same would apply, of necessity, to a decision rendered by the Seventy in the absence of the First Presidency and Twelve,--if such a thing could be thought of at all. Thus how glorious and how perfect is the organization of the Priesthood which God Almighty has established in the earth for the last time. And it is the duty of men who bear this Priesthood to study it, and to learn the principle of government, and each to understand his duty and his place, and keep himself in his place and in the line of duty. Then there will be no clashing, no contention, and no disorder in the house of God; for the house of God is a house of order.
There is much more that might be said on this subject; but I want to refer to just one other passage of Scripture. Speaking to the whole Church, the Lord, in a revelation given in 1841, says:
Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchisedek, which is after the order of my Only Begotten Son.
First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.
I give unto you my servant Joseph, to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.
I give unto him for counselors, my servant Sidney Rigdon, and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church.—Sec. cxxiv, 123-126.
This is the pattern; this is the law; this is the way the Church is organized; this is the way the Priesthood is to be governed. The Lord has not only commanded it, but has set the example by naming the three Presidents of the Church. And I tell you that this order of the Priesthood cannot be done away. It is now lawful or right for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to exist any great length of time without an organization of three First Presidents of the Church; for that is the order of the Priesthood. It is their right to receive the gifts of revelation and inspiration, and of blessing upon all the Church; and the First President is the mouthpiece of God, the revelator, the translator, the seer, and the Prophet of God to the whole Church. It is he who holds the keys of this Holy Priesthood—the keys which unlock the doors of the Temples of God and of the ordinances of His house for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead. It is he who hold the sealing power, by which man may bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven, and by which men duly authorized and appointed of him who holds the keys may loose on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. This is the order of the Holy Priesthood, and any departure from it is a crime against the law of God, a crime against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those men who would do away with the Presidency of the Church, would commit a crime against God, and would do a grievous and irreparable wrong to the Church and to all those who were seeking life eternal through the preaching of the Gospel. They would shut up the doors of the Temples, and shut up the heavens, that there should be no power among men. They would stop the carrying out of the pattern that God has given, by which His work is to be perpetuated in the earth and the Gospel carried to every creature.
The Lord goes on with this pattern:
I give unto you my servant Brigham Young, to be a President over the Twelve traveling Council, which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature;
They are—Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith;
David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his Priesthood no man taketh from him, but, verily I say unto you, another may be appointed unto the same calling.
And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a High Council, for the corner stone of Zion.—Sec. cxxiv, 127-131.
And so the Lord gives to the Church, not only the pattern, but He names the officers who were chosen of Him to fill these various quorums of the Priesthood at that time. There is not one iota of the plan which He instituted that can be dispensed with. Every quorum must be kept in existence, and be kept alive. They must be entrusted with the responsibility of their various callings and duties in the Church, in order that the Church may be blameless int he sight of God, perfect in its organization, and full of light, and inspiration, and power from the Almighty. When these things are not done, there is a blemish, there is something lacking. So, when there is a vacancy in a council of the Priesthood, we should hasten, with wisdom and prudence, and with prayerfulness of heart,--not in too much haste,--to fill the vacancy, that every quorum of the Priesthood may be perfect in its organization, and the Church be properly organized. No man can put too much stress upon these things. Without them there is no government. Without obedience to these rules and patterns that God has given the Church is not perfect; but, with these quorums organized and this authority diffused among the body, down to the very teachers that visit you in your homes, then the Church is organized after the pattern and plan that God has instituted, and it is perfect in itself, like a perfect man, even like Christ Jesus, who was perfect,--with head, with eyes, and ears, and mouth, arms, legs and trunk, and with every part perfect in itself, performing the duties belonging to it, so that there may be no inefficiency in the work of the ministry or in the edifying of the body of Christ. You lop off one of these quorums, and you lop off the head, perhaps, or the legs, or the arms, or the feet, or you put out the eyes, or you shut the mouth. In this way you maim the Priesthood of God, and you bring confusion and discord into its ranks, followed by disorganization and disintegration. I want to say to this congregation that while we live to whom God has entrusted the watchcare of this people, there shall be no defect in these organizations, so long as He shall give us power to maintain them in their perfect condition and order. We will see to it, by the help of God, and we will not shrink from our duties. Though men get into the dark, and accuse and upbraid us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely, we care not for that; for the work of God is resting upon us, and upon all the people. Every man and woman who is a member bears, and legitimately should bear, a portion of the responsibility of carrying on this great and glorious latter-day work.
May God bless you, and may He bless all those who bless Zion, and all those who sustain in their hearts and faith, the constituted authorities of the Church, and hold them up before the Lord in righteousness, and pray for them. Pray for the remission of their sins, if they have sinned. Pray that God will not suffer them to be led into temptation. Pray that they may be strong in their callings. Pray that God may not withdraw His hand from them to leave them to themselves, but that He may have His hand stretched over them day by day, and hour by hour, for their guidance, prosperity, and success in administering the ordinances of the Gospel, and the word of the Lord, and the principles and rights of government in the midst of the Saints, that the Church may be kept intact, and that the people of God may grow and advance until the perfect day. This is our work and our mission, and we are doing the best we can, with our imperfections. For we are weak men. We have not the honor, nor the glory. It is God’s. He has chosen the weak, in order that the glory may be His, to whom it rightfully belongs. It is God’s work, and not man’s. I want to say to this body of Priesthood here, learn your duty, learn to sustain the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And if one of the Twelve Apostles, or one of the First Presidency, or anybody claiming authority to guide or direct the people comes out in opposition to the united counsel of the Priesthood of God, set him down as a deceiver and a fraud, and one that you cannot afford to follow; for if you do follow him, you will go astray. God’s work is established; it is built upon a solid foundation—the foundation of the Gospel and the eternal Priesthood, which is without beginning of days or end of years, without father or mother, and without descent from everlasting to everlasting. It is the power of God delegated to men; and they that exercise it in righteousness will stand, while they that exercise it in unrighteousness will fall, no matter who they may be.
God bless Israel. God bless our venerable and venerated President Wilford Woodruff; keep him from sickness, pain and suffering, give to him brightness of mind and power of intellect; give to him strength of body and of mind, and inspiration from God, that he may be a prophet, a seer, and a revelator in very deed to the body of the Church and to all the Priesthood of the Son of God upon the earth; that his days may be prolonged; that he may live until he shall finish his work. It is impossible for the Saints to become weary or dissatisfied with him, so long as God approves and sustains him, and manifests His power and wisdom through him. And when men set themselves up to judge him, and to judge his associates, and the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, upon whom rests the responsibility of bearing witness of Jesus Christ unto all the world—when men set themselves up in judgment against these men, and condemn them, they that condemn will be condemned. The measure they mete out will be measured back unto them, heaped up, shaken together, pressed down and running over, until they shall be destroyed, root and branch, unless they repent. This is my testimony to you, and I bear it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. I have told you but the truth. It is here recorded in the word of God, and we cannot depart from it. I am a stickler for the word of God; I am a stickler for the law of Christ. I believe in it, and I do not believe we can depart from it and be safe. Here is the temporal guide for us—the means of instruction, counsel and admonition; but the spiritual guide is the Holy Ghost. men must have the Holy Spirit, that they may understand the truth, and that they may withstand the temptations of the adversary when they come upon them. Therefore, let us be humble; let us sustain the organization of the Church as God has established it, and not depart from it in the least degree. Pray for those that need your prayers, that they may be sustained; that Zion may prosper, this Gospel be carried to the ends of the earth, and every honest soul under heaven have the privilege of hearing the sound thereof and being gathered into the fold of Christ, and of being saved eventually with everlasting salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God, which is my prayer. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the fact of Him that bringeth good tidings,
the solo of which was rendered by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
was the next speaker. He referred with gratification to the preaching of the Gospel without purse or scrip, credit for this condition being due in great measure, to Elder Elias S. Kimball, president of the Southern States mission. He advised all parents whose sons were on mission, to exhort them to trust in the Lord, instead of furnishing them with an abundance of means. He showed that the excellent qualities of faith and trustfulness were developed by adherence to these and other principles of self-sacrifice. Men and women thus grounded in the faith were seldom moved by trial or difficulty.
Referring to a letter he had received, complaining of the existence of the First Presidency, of the Church, President Smith read from Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the quorums and duties of the two great divisions of the Priesthood are defined. One who had been high in authority had even advocated that the First Presidency should not have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but the presiding authority should have been left with the Apostles, with an executive committee appointed from that body to take the active management of affairs. That this idea was contrary to the order of the Priesthood was proved by the further reading of the section above referred to.
Reading concerning the conferring of the power of presiding over the whole Church upon the First Presidency, who were name in the revelation perused, he said the law of God, therefore, was to the effect that the Church should not exist for any great length of time without the three presiding officers, to represent God on the earth. The further description of the Church organization was read, to show how exact the pattern was, and how literally it must be adhered to, in order that the Church might be perfect in its organization and its workings.
Discourse
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by
President Joseph F. Smith.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
I have been invited by President George Q. Cannon to occupy a portion of the time this morning. There are many things which deserve the attention of the Elders, and which might be spoken upon during the Conference and will be probably, to the edification of the Saints and in the interest of the advancement of the work of the Lord. It is very gratifying to hear the report which has been given this morning by President Cannon concerning the labor of the Elders that are preaching the Gospel in the nations of the earth, and especially to notice the one leading feature to which reference has been made, namely, the mode of preaching the Gospel by the elders in the United States and in some other parts of the world without purse and scrip.
The idea has prevailed for some time past, to a certain extent, until a little while ago, that it was necessary that the Elders should, in going out to preach the Gospel, provide themselves with money, in order that they might not suffer for the necessaries of life. In consequence of the prevalence of this idea, for many years past the Elders generally have provided themselves with means as far as they could, and then their kindred and friends and the various quorums of the Seventies have furnished them means, to enable them to prosecute their missionaries labors. To Brother Elias S. Kimball, now presiding over the Southern States Mission, is due the credit perhaps, as much or more than to any of the Elders who are presiding over missionary fields, for re-inaugurating the former practice of preaching the Gospel among the people without purse or script. It is gratifying to know that in the Southern States, in the Northern States, in the Eastern States, and in the California Missions, and upon the islands of the sea—in fact, wherever this practice is observed, the work of the Lord is more prosperous, if possible, than it is anywhere else. The hearts of the people are reached their sympathy is aroused, and the receive the Elders with greater kindness, and administer to them more liberally than they were wont to do when the Elders were depending for their support upon the means in their own pockets. I have always advocated the principle of preaching the Gospel “without purse or script.” I recollect making some remarks on this subject several years ago in this house, when my words seemed to recoil on my own head, for they did not meet with favor. In the course of my remarks at that time I advanced the idea that those men who possessed wealth whose sons were called out into the missionary field, and who were furnishing them abundance of means, were doing their sons irreparable wrong. We have evidences that the young men whose parents furnished them all the mans they needed while they were out attempting to preach the Gospel are to-day without the testimony of the truth, and some of them have fallen away; whereas those who have gone out depending upon the Lord, having faith in the providences of the Almighty, have had developed within them a testimony of the truth and a knowledge of the principles o the Gospel which will enable them to stand firm and faithful in the Gospel so long as they continue to do their duty as members of the Church. I have a son on a mission, and I have advised him to put his trust in the Lord, as far as possible exert an influence with his associates to do the same, and not to depend upon me for means, and not to depend upon me for means, but to depend upon the Lord and the people among whom he labors. I would advise all those who have sons out in the world preaching the Gospel to exhort them not to put their trust in money, but rather in the Lord, and thereby prove the world, and labor wholly and solely for the salvation of men having that thought uppermost in their minds, and not the thought that they have been sent out into the world to see the sights. I have labored in England on missions, and my experience while abroad proved to me that among the most useless missionaries sent out into the field were those who depended upon the means in their pockets for their support. They did not feel humble; they did not seem to put their trust in the Lord; they did not seek unto Him earnestly and diligently to obtain His Spirit; they did not feel in their hearts that burning desire for the salvation of the children of men that those did who were wholly dependent upon the Lord. I attribute the improvement that is observed in the various missionary fields to the spirit that has been awakened in the minds of the Elders to put their trust in the Lord, and to rely upon His kindness and providence while they are in the world. I have heard words of criticism, amounting almost to censure, of the rigid way in which Brother Elias S. Kimball had required Elders to put their money away and to put their trust in the Lord, and I have not felt to endorse that sentiment, for I have believed it was right. I do not believe there is any great blessing without some sacrifice—not the sacrifice of principle, but the sacrifice of our own desires. It is a comparatively easy thing for a man with his pockets full of money to travel in the world. It requires no sacrifice to do this, no exercise of thought, no faith, no earnestness of purpose, no ardent desire in the soul for the salvation of mankind. But to go out among strangers, without means, dependent only upon the Lord, requires faith, humility, perseverance, and earnest desire in man, and it has a tendency to develop in them all these noble and excellent qualities which are essential to stability in the kingdom of God.
In conversation last evening with some brethren, some remarks were made respecting those who came in early days to this country pulling and pushing the handcart, and a comparison was drawn between that mode of immigration to Zion and the manner in which our people are gathered today. Did you ever hear of a man or a woman apostatizing that pushed or pulled a handcart across the plains? Did you ever hear of them becoming dissatisfied soon after they got here, and at once expressing their desire and intention to go back to the old country? If you have, it has been a rare exception to the rule. As a rule, and almost the universal rule, those who tramped the plains with the handcarts, and next those who came with the ox-teams, have been rooted and grounded in the faith. They had occasion to put their trust in God, and their faith was developed, their love for the truth was brought out, and they have been, as a rule, stable and steadfast in the Gospel of Christ. While today many who come from distant lands by steamship and by railroad, soon after they got to Zion become dissatisfied and discontented and they long for the leeks and onions and the flesh-pots of Egypt; and frequently people who have emigrated here in that way have within a week from the time they landed in this city, or in other places, wanted to return, and some of them have returned. They came too easy; they did not gain experience in coming; their faith was not tried; they had nothing to develop within them the principle of integrity to the truth, and they were discouraged and wanted to go back at the least difficulty. Now, the Lord has said that he would have a tried people; and it is stated in the scriptures that the Lord chasteneth every son and daughter whom he receiveth. It is also said, in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that God will try His people unto death, to see if they are worthy of the blessings of the Gospel of the Son of God. (Section 98:14.) I contend that a man is in a poor condition to endure the trials and temptations in the world who is not tried in his feelings and proven to the uttermost, to see if he loves the truth more than he loves himself or the world; and I believe that it will be most difficult for any man to stand firm in the Gospel who is not thus put to the test. My prayer has been constantly, not that I might be spared trials, but that I might have wisdom and judgment, patience and endurance given unto me, to bear the trials that I might be called to pass through. While I cannot say truthfully that I have been tried in my faith in the Gospel of Christ, yet I can say truthfully that I have been tried in many ways. My patience has been tried, my love has been tried, my integrity has been tried; but my faith in the Gospel, in the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the organization of the Church of Christ in these latter days, has never yet been sorely tried. I have never experienced anything calculated to try my faith seriously in regard to these matters, for I have grown up, I believe, in them. I have been taught from my childhood that Mormonism was true, that Joseph was a prophet, that Brigham Young was his lawful successor, that John Taylor was the lawful successor of President Young, and that President Woodruff is the lawful successor of John Taylor in the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and what intelligence I possess convinces me that these things are not only essential, but that they are true. So that, however much men may have tried me, or however much I may have been tried by circumstances in which I have been placed, wherein my love for my brethren and my integrity to them has been tested. I have never yet had a doubt cross my mind that Mormonism was true, or that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was properly organized and recognized of God. These things seem to have been made clear to my understanding, and they have been engrafted into my heart, until my whole being is saturated with them. I know that God will no more leave His work unto another people, and that it shall continue until His purposes shall be completed in the earth.
This brings me to a thought awakened in my mind by a letter which I received yesterday, complaining of me because I occupied the position that I hold in the Presidency of the Church; not simply because I occupied that position, but the writer found fault with the existence of the First Presidency of the Church, and claimed that it should not exist; that there never had been a successor appointed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that therefore my presence in that quorum was a wrong to him and to the whole Church. Now I wish to read a few words from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord, in a revelation, says:
There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek, and—Aaronic, including the Levitical priesthood.
Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest.
Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God;
But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to this Priesthood.
But there are two divisions or grand heads—one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic, or Levitical priesthood.
The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek.
The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.—Sec. cvii, 1-8.
The Lord further says:
Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding officers growing out of, or appointed, of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two Priesthoods.
Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, from a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.—Sec. cviii., 21-22.
This is the law, and, do what we will, we cannot set it aside, nor can we adopt any other plan or method and still be in harmony with the glorious and perfect order of this Holy Priesthood which God has revealed from the heavens in the dispensation of the fullness of times.
The Lord continues:
The twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.
And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned.—Sec. cvii, 23, 24.
Let me call your attention to this principle. The Lord has not established in the Church two heads, two presiding quorums to run parallel with each other. He has established an order in this Priesthood, which is absolutely indestructible so long as there is a single man holding this Priesthood and exercising the rights and functions thereof in righteousness. The meaning of this passage is simply this. When, from death or any cause, there is no First Presidency, then the authority of presidency rests upon the Twelve Apostles. It does not mean that their authority is equal to the authority of the First Presidency while there is a First Presidency. Such would breed confusion and disorder. There could be no presidency under circumstances of this kind.
Therefore, the equality of the authority of the Twelve Apostles with that of the First Presidency manifests itself when they are called to exercise that authority in the absence of the First Presidency. Yet it has been contended, so we have been credibly informed, that it was wrong to organize the First Presidency after the death of the Prophet Joseph; that the Twelve Apostles should have been the presiding council of the Church, and that there should have been an executive committee appointed out of the Twelve to conduct the affairs of the Church. I suppose it is upon this idea that this brother—whom I have known from childhood—claims he is injured and wronged, and that the whole Church is wronged, because of the existence of the First Presidency, which, nevertheless, must exist in order to complete the pattern which God has given for the guidance and government of His Church.
This revelation goes on:
The seventy are also called to preach the Gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other offices in the Church in the duties of their calling;
And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses of Apostles just named.—Sec. cvii, 25, 26.
Would anybody think for a moment of contending that, because the authority of the First Presidency, the authority of the Twelve Apostles, and the authority of the Seventy was equal, therefore there was a triple-headed presidency of the Church, and that it was necessary that all three of these councils of the Priesthood should exercise in equal power and authority the presidency at one and the same time? Why, that would be nonsense, and would absolutely destroy the principle of government. It would be only in case of the destruction of the Presidency of the Church and of the Twelve Apostles that the Seventy could come forth and exercise authority equal with that of the Twelve in the absence of the First Presidency, and of the First Presidency when the Church is fully organized.
And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
(A majority may form a quorum, when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three Presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchisedek, and were righteous and holy men.—Sec. cvii, 27-29.
What does this mean? Simply this: When the decision of three presidents, who are called to the presiding position in the Church, is a united decision, each president agreeing with the other, it is valid, and equal to any decision that was ever rendered by any presiding authority in the Church of God. It means that in the absence of the First Presidency, and the Twelve Apostles being called upon to exercise the functions of presidency in the Church, a decision on their part must be a unanimous decision to make it equal with a decision of the three Presidents of the Church. It further means, that in the event of the non-existence of the First Presidency and the Twelve, then the Seventy being called upon to exercise the presiding function, a decision rendered by them must be a unanimous decision, in order to make it equal with a decision of the Twelve or of the First Presidency render a decision, on which they are agreed, the Twelve Apostles can rise up and render another decision on which they are united, and their decision be equal with that of the First Presidency. That would result in confusion, and would be destructive of the organization of the Church. Nor can the Seventies rise up, while the Presidency and Twelve live, and render a decision which would be equal before the Church with that of the First Presidency, or with that of the First Presidency, or with that of the Twelve, in case they were presiding.
The Lord further says:
The decision of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;
Because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decisions.—Sec. cvii, 30-32.
In other words, there can be no appeal from the decision of the First Presidency of the Church, except their decision be rendered in unrighteousness, and without love, and charity, etc., and in that case the appeal would have to be taken to the assembled bodies of the Priesthood. It means that when the Twelve Apostles are acting as Presidents of the Church, and they render a decision affecting the welfare of the Church, or on doctrine, there is absolutely no appeal from their decision, excepting it is rendered in unrighteousness. And the same would apply, of necessity, to a decision rendered by the Seventy in the absence of the First Presidency and Twelve,--if such a thing could be thought of at all. Thus how glorious and how perfect is the organization of the Priesthood which God Almighty has established in the earth for the last time. And it is the duty of men who bear this Priesthood to study it, and to learn the principle of government, and each to understand his duty and his place, and keep himself in his place and in the line of duty. Then there will be no clashing, no contention, and no disorder in the house of God; for the house of God is a house of order.
There is much more that might be said on this subject; but I want to refer to just one other passage of Scripture. Speaking to the whole Church, the Lord, in a revelation given in 1841, says:
Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchisedek, which is after the order of my Only Begotten Son.
First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.
I give unto you my servant Joseph, to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.
I give unto him for counselors, my servant Sidney Rigdon, and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church.—Sec. cxxiv, 123-126.
This is the pattern; this is the law; this is the way the Church is organized; this is the way the Priesthood is to be governed. The Lord has not only commanded it, but has set the example by naming the three Presidents of the Church. And I tell you that this order of the Priesthood cannot be done away. It is now lawful or right for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to exist any great length of time without an organization of three First Presidents of the Church; for that is the order of the Priesthood. It is their right to receive the gifts of revelation and inspiration, and of blessing upon all the Church; and the First President is the mouthpiece of God, the revelator, the translator, the seer, and the Prophet of God to the whole Church. It is he who holds the keys of this Holy Priesthood—the keys which unlock the doors of the Temples of God and of the ordinances of His house for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead. It is he who hold the sealing power, by which man may bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven, and by which men duly authorized and appointed of him who holds the keys may loose on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. This is the order of the Holy Priesthood, and any departure from it is a crime against the law of God, a crime against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those men who would do away with the Presidency of the Church, would commit a crime against God, and would do a grievous and irreparable wrong to the Church and to all those who were seeking life eternal through the preaching of the Gospel. They would shut up the doors of the Temples, and shut up the heavens, that there should be no power among men. They would stop the carrying out of the pattern that God has given, by which His work is to be perpetuated in the earth and the Gospel carried to every creature.
The Lord goes on with this pattern:
I give unto you my servant Brigham Young, to be a President over the Twelve traveling Council, which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature;
They are—Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith;
David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his Priesthood no man taketh from him, but, verily I say unto you, another may be appointed unto the same calling.
And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a High Council, for the corner stone of Zion.—Sec. cxxiv, 127-131.
And so the Lord gives to the Church, not only the pattern, but He names the officers who were chosen of Him to fill these various quorums of the Priesthood at that time. There is not one iota of the plan which He instituted that can be dispensed with. Every quorum must be kept in existence, and be kept alive. They must be entrusted with the responsibility of their various callings and duties in the Church, in order that the Church may be blameless int he sight of God, perfect in its organization, and full of light, and inspiration, and power from the Almighty. When these things are not done, there is a blemish, there is something lacking. So, when there is a vacancy in a council of the Priesthood, we should hasten, with wisdom and prudence, and with prayerfulness of heart,--not in too much haste,--to fill the vacancy, that every quorum of the Priesthood may be perfect in its organization, and the Church be properly organized. No man can put too much stress upon these things. Without them there is no government. Without obedience to these rules and patterns that God has given the Church is not perfect; but, with these quorums organized and this authority diffused among the body, down to the very teachers that visit you in your homes, then the Church is organized after the pattern and plan that God has instituted, and it is perfect in itself, like a perfect man, even like Christ Jesus, who was perfect,--with head, with eyes, and ears, and mouth, arms, legs and trunk, and with every part perfect in itself, performing the duties belonging to it, so that there may be no inefficiency in the work of the ministry or in the edifying of the body of Christ. You lop off one of these quorums, and you lop off the head, perhaps, or the legs, or the arms, or the feet, or you put out the eyes, or you shut the mouth. In this way you maim the Priesthood of God, and you bring confusion and discord into its ranks, followed by disorganization and disintegration. I want to say to this congregation that while we live to whom God has entrusted the watchcare of this people, there shall be no defect in these organizations, so long as He shall give us power to maintain them in their perfect condition and order. We will see to it, by the help of God, and we will not shrink from our duties. Though men get into the dark, and accuse and upbraid us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely, we care not for that; for the work of God is resting upon us, and upon all the people. Every man and woman who is a member bears, and legitimately should bear, a portion of the responsibility of carrying on this great and glorious latter-day work.
May God bless you, and may He bless all those who bless Zion, and all those who sustain in their hearts and faith, the constituted authorities of the Church, and hold them up before the Lord in righteousness, and pray for them. Pray for the remission of their sins, if they have sinned. Pray that God will not suffer them to be led into temptation. Pray that they may be strong in their callings. Pray that God may not withdraw His hand from them to leave them to themselves, but that He may have His hand stretched over them day by day, and hour by hour, for their guidance, prosperity, and success in administering the ordinances of the Gospel, and the word of the Lord, and the principles and rights of government in the midst of the Saints, that the Church may be kept intact, and that the people of God may grow and advance until the perfect day. This is our work and our mission, and we are doing the best we can, with our imperfections. For we are weak men. We have not the honor, nor the glory. It is God’s. He has chosen the weak, in order that the glory may be His, to whom it rightfully belongs. It is God’s work, and not man’s. I want to say to this body of Priesthood here, learn your duty, learn to sustain the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And if one of the Twelve Apostles, or one of the First Presidency, or anybody claiming authority to guide or direct the people comes out in opposition to the united counsel of the Priesthood of God, set him down as a deceiver and a fraud, and one that you cannot afford to follow; for if you do follow him, you will go astray. God’s work is established; it is built upon a solid foundation—the foundation of the Gospel and the eternal Priesthood, which is without beginning of days or end of years, without father or mother, and without descent from everlasting to everlasting. It is the power of God delegated to men; and they that exercise it in righteousness will stand, while they that exercise it in unrighteousness will fall, no matter who they may be.
God bless Israel. God bless our venerable and venerated President Wilford Woodruff; keep him from sickness, pain and suffering, give to him brightness of mind and power of intellect; give to him strength of body and of mind, and inspiration from God, that he may be a prophet, a seer, and a revelator in very deed to the body of the Church and to all the Priesthood of the Son of God upon the earth; that his days may be prolonged; that he may live until he shall finish his work. It is impossible for the Saints to become weary or dissatisfied with him, so long as God approves and sustains him, and manifests His power and wisdom through him. And when men set themselves up to judge him, and to judge his associates, and the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, upon whom rests the responsibility of bearing witness of Jesus Christ unto all the world—when men set themselves up in judgment against these men, and condemn them, they that condemn will be condemned. The measure they mete out will be measured back unto them, heaped up, shaken together, pressed down and running over, until they shall be destroyed, root and branch, unless they repent. This is my testimony to you, and I bear it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. I have told you but the truth. It is here recorded in the word of God, and we cannot depart from it. I am a stickler for the word of God; I am a stickler for the law of Christ. I believe in it, and I do not believe we can depart from it and be safe. Here is the temporal guide for us—the means of instruction, counsel and admonition; but the spiritual guide is the Holy Ghost. men must have the Holy Spirit, that they may understand the truth, and that they may withstand the temptations of the adversary when they come upon them. Therefore, let us be humble; let us sustain the organization of the Church as God has established it, and not depart from it in the least degree. Pray for those that need your prayers, that they may be sustained; that Zion may prosper, this Gospel be carried to the ends of the earth, and every honest soul under heaven have the privilege of hearing the sound thereof and being gathered into the fold of Christ, and of being saved eventually with everlasting salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God, which is my prayer. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the fact of Him that bringeth good tidings,
the solo of which was rendered by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
Afternoon Session.
Singing by the choir and congregation of
God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
The choir sang the anthem: When thou comest to judgment.
The solo being rendered by sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
Singing by the choir and congregation of
God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
The choir sang the anthem: When thou comest to judgment.
The solo being rendered by sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
Elder Lorenzo Snow
addressed the conference. He read from a revelation (section 110 of the Doctrine and Covenants) given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, with whom the speaker was acquainted. It was given in the Kirtland Temple, and described the visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ to those to whom it was communicated, and told of the great promises made by the Savior on the condition of faithfulness. He advised the Saints to read the whole of the section at their homes. The acquaintance of the speaker with Joseph the Prophet was quite extensive and he had opportunities of becoming aware of his sterling uprightness and honesty.
Elder Snow then treated upon the necessity of the Saints building upon the foundation of truth. Ordinary wisdom of God was not sufficient for that purpose. The possession of wisdom direct from God was essential. This was conveyed by the principle of revelation, of which every honest man might become possessed. He then showed the processes by which revelation could be secured, and delineated the operation of faith and its confirmation upon the human mind. With the Latter-day Saints there was a spirit which enable them to understand what they read about until the truths they thus imbibed became a part of their beings. The speaker related some of his early experiences under the operation of this power, which opened up his mind to a clearer comprehension of the Scriptures and enabled him to take a wider range than ever before concerning the things of God. He had received, by revelation, a complete understanding of the divinity of the principles he had espoused. We ought to congratulate ourselves, as Latter-day Saints, on the glorious prospects which had opened up to us. While in ignorance of the Gospel, when we received our wives and children we looked forward to a permanent separation at death. Now, however, we anticipated with a perfect hope, an eternal union with them in the world to come. The speaker then treated the subject of laboring in the Temples in behalf of our dear kindred, that they might, with us, he redeemed and saved. He exhorted the Saints to give this department of the work of God special attention. There was nothing we could do that afforded more happiness and satisfaction.
addressed the conference. He read from a revelation (section 110 of the Doctrine and Covenants) given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, with whom the speaker was acquainted. It was given in the Kirtland Temple, and described the visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ to those to whom it was communicated, and told of the great promises made by the Savior on the condition of faithfulness. He advised the Saints to read the whole of the section at their homes. The acquaintance of the speaker with Joseph the Prophet was quite extensive and he had opportunities of becoming aware of his sterling uprightness and honesty.
Elder Snow then treated upon the necessity of the Saints building upon the foundation of truth. Ordinary wisdom of God was not sufficient for that purpose. The possession of wisdom direct from God was essential. This was conveyed by the principle of revelation, of which every honest man might become possessed. He then showed the processes by which revelation could be secured, and delineated the operation of faith and its confirmation upon the human mind. With the Latter-day Saints there was a spirit which enable them to understand what they read about until the truths they thus imbibed became a part of their beings. The speaker related some of his early experiences under the operation of this power, which opened up his mind to a clearer comprehension of the Scriptures and enabled him to take a wider range than ever before concerning the things of God. He had received, by revelation, a complete understanding of the divinity of the principles he had espoused. We ought to congratulate ourselves, as Latter-day Saints, on the glorious prospects which had opened up to us. While in ignorance of the Gospel, when we received our wives and children we looked forward to a permanent separation at death. Now, however, we anticipated with a perfect hope, an eternal union with them in the world to come. The speaker then treated the subject of laboring in the Temples in behalf of our dear kindred, that they might, with us, he redeemed and saved. He exhorted the Saints to give this department of the work of God special attention. There was nothing we could do that afforded more happiness and satisfaction.
Elder Franklin D. Richards
of the quorum of Apostles, followed. He said in substance: Much gratification could be felt at the progress of the work of God in the world, which was a continuation of the work done by the ancient Apostles. Men holding the Priesthood should bear in mind that they were fulfilling the prophetic assurances of the prophets of old. It was a wonderful thing that of the reformers, who had succeeded so well in introducing true principles into the world, it should remain for the Prophet Joseph Smith to receive the authority of the Priesthood by which the ordinances of the Gospel could be performed and its promises fulfilled. John the Baptist introduced the authority the method, and the law pertaining to baptism, which, according to the law announced to Nicodemus by Jesus, must be administered to or for all, living and dead, before they could be received into the kingdom of heaven. The Melchizedek Priesthood, with its power of preaching the Gospel to the living and the dead, and the ministration of the Holy Ghost, was given by Peter, James and John, by which all things could be gathered into one, whether in heaven or on earth. All these gifts and blessings were introduced through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates, who were now engaged in the administration of those blessings to the spirits of the dead. In the temples of the Saints, work was being done, under the approval of Christ, to bring into proper effect the preaching to the spirits in prison. Thus was being fulfilled the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 28, regarding the gathering of scattered Israel under the law of God, looking forward to the personal reign of Christ upon the earth.
The Saints should keep these great principles in mind, and leave petty contentions and strife, turning their attention to the confirmation of the blessings promised to the seed of Abraham. Excessive worldly-mindedness was deplored, especially in the direction of speculation; but good advice was given with reference to extracting strength from the soil for the sustenance of man. Elder Richards rejoiced in the work of God, so promisingly instituted, and bore his testimony to its truth, declaring that in the mouths of two or three witnesses these words of testimony were established. Strangers and Saints were advised to investigate in full the principles of the Gospel, in order to find justification for them. Unity and fellowship were commended for the enlargement of the understanding and of faithfulness in the performance of the work of God. It should progress in the world, the bonds and prohibitions now checking its spread, being removed to admit of its spread. Apparent sacrifices would be found like the sowing of the seed, producing a hundred fold to the glory of God and the salvation of man. Prayer, diligence and increased faithfulness were strongly urged, for bringing about of immortality and eternal life.
Brother Richards stated that the call for missionaries was increasing, and great faithfulness was being manifested in performance of the labors of the ministry, to the development of strength in the ministers and of joy in the hearts of those to whom the message of salvation was being carried.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by Elder Franklin D. Richards.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
Beloved hearers, I have great joy in being in the midst of the congregation of God’s people. We were greatly comforted and encouraged by the report given unto us this morning of the work which has been going on and which is in progress, I may say, throughout the world, as far as the Gospel has been carried to the various nations. Everyone who understands the Scriptures and who has studied the Gospel according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and His prophets Joseph, Brigham, John, and Wilford, knows and understands that the ancient prophets and apostles all concurred with us, or, rather, we concur with them, in their views of the great works which they did in their day, and of the vastly greater work that remains to be performed in the last days. We should keep in mind, as heads of families, as men of Israel, as Apostles, High Priests, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, that we are but carrying out that which has been revealed unto them, which their faith rested upon, and which they beheld by the Spirit of prophesy in the great future. We, looking back upon their words, their promises and prophecies, have continually increasing most wonderful assurances of the work in which we are engaged. I speak conscious of the fact that the truths which we have embraced, and which we are teaching to the inhabitants of the earth, are truths concerning which the most of this congregation are not only conversant with, but have had testimonies of the Holy Ghost. This is a great and grand feature in our work. We have been commanded to teach the people to repent of their sins, and to promise them the Holy Ghost, to guide them into truth, to witness unto them the forgiveness of their sins, and to lead them on in the way of life and salvation.
It is indeed a wonderful thing, that in the age in which our great reformers lived, such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, and others who have lived since them, none of them were able to restore to the people the original and true principles of faith. Mr. Alexander Campbell got the nearest to it of any of them that we know of. He came to believe in faith, repentance, and in baptism for the remission of sins; but he had not authority even to administer baptism for the remission of sins, and, knowing he had not authority, he had not the audacity to promise the human family that they should receive the Holy Ghost. No man ever had the authority to do that, except he bore some portion of that Holy Priesthood which President Smith was speaking of this morning. But when the Gospel came to us in these latter times through the Prophet Joseph Smith, it came to us, not only in word, but in Spirit and in power. Think of the man, John the Baptist, who, nearly two thousand years ago, baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, and the people of Judea and Jerusalem by the hundreds and thousands in Jordan—think of this same man coming and ordaining Joseph and Oliver to be priests after the order of Aaron! Think you he did not know how to baptize correctly? He knew whether they were to be sprinkled, or poured upon, or baptized face downward or face upward. He had learned how. He had administered to the Son of God, who instituted this plan of salvation for the whole human family. He could teach this correctly, and he taught Joseph and Oliver, after he had conferred upon them the authority, how to baptized. Hence we have the most implicit confidence that our mode of baptism is the only true mode of baptism ever instituted by the Savior, or else He would not have had it practiced upon Himself. This principle has come down to us with a confidence and an assurance, and with a Priesthood that is continuous and eternal. The work that is upon us today is in continuation of that principle upon which the Savior said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This is a fixed rule, not only for people while they dwell in the flesh, to be baptized for themselves, but it is just as fixed a principle for all those who are dead. Hence it is that Paul says concerning the great work of the Lord: “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” Our Gospel, our mission and our ministry is not only to the living, but it is to the dead also. Our Savior, the apostle says, died and rose again, that He might become the Lord of the dead as well as of the living.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit;
By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing.
He went and preached to those spirits in prison, broke off their bonds and proclaimed deliverance to the captives, who had suffered the wrath of God from the days of the flood. Now, inasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ went and opened the prison doors in His day and gave to the prisoners the blessings of life and salvation, and as His apostles and those who labored with Him went yonder and taught these principles to their kindred dead. (Peter said, “for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead,”) so then in these latter days our Prophet Joseph, who held such a sweet convers and received such mighty power from men like John the Baptist, also Peter, James and John, when he finished up his work, gave his life—no manacled and fettered, but of his own volition—and sealed his testimony, by which he proclaimed to the world that he was willing to give all there was of him as testimony to the truth of the things which he taught; and he has gone yonder, having given his life that he may be the Prophet of this last dispensation, not only to the living, but to those that are dead—to our fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and kindred, back as far as we can get any records of them here in the flesh, and then back as far as they had an earthly existence. This is what is meant by in the last days gathering together all things which are in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are upon the earth; that they who have not had the Gospel preached to them in the flesh, must have it preached to them in the spirit.
The great Prophet Joseph—a greater than whom has not lived, except the Lord Jesus, on the earth—has gone there to labor, with his brother Hyrum, and he has with him a council of Twelve Apostles that have been ordained to the apostleship here in the flesh, besides the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, and the multitude of the faithful that have died within the past sixty-seven years, since the Church was organized, the authority of the Priesthood restored, and the blessings of the kingdom multiplied upon God’s people. They are gone there and are busy at work ministering the Gospel to the spirits that have passed beyond mortality, who, as well as we who live in the flesh, can in no wise enter into the kingdom of God and the blessings of the holy resurrection without being baptized—not baptized themselves, but by proxy of their kindred or friends. This need not be an astonishing feature in our Gospel, since our Savior did for all of us that which none of us could do for ourselves, by the shedding of His blood for the sins of the whole world. The Lord has blessed us through this knowledge and inspiration by the Prophet Joseph. Think what a work he did while here. He, with his brethren, built a Temple and dedicated it, and received the personal approval of the Lord within its walls, and the promise that His name should be there, and that the Gospel should go from that house to the people in foreign lands. That is the work that is upon us, and it has come to us with a responsibility and power beyond that of any former dispensations of the Gospel, to labor for the gathering together of all things which are in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth. This is also according to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses. Away back in his day, he had a glimpse of this. Read in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy, where he read to Israel the law, and got their vote that they would keep it; he then went on to tell them that if they would keep it, so and so would be their blessed future; and if they transgressed the laws, he told them of the terrible affliction that should come upon them. He says:
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon them, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee.
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee,
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee.
That is the promise; that is what this work of the last days is adapted to, what is being carried on, and what it will accomplish. While the Church on the earth outwardly numbers only about three hundred thousand, there have been already nearly one million of baptisms performed in the Temples for the deliverance of those that are dead. Thus the work is going on; and by and by, when the Kingdom of God is established in the earth, and the Savior reigns here upon the earth in person, and when His great work is such that He will have a multitude of those that sleep in Jesus to come with Him, as well as the righteous on the earth that are prepared for Him, then will come to pass that glorious saying, that “if any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee.” This is the purpose of that work of which the Apostle Paul also spoke when he said “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.”
Latter-day Saints, this is the glorious work in which you are engaged in these latter days. Do not forget it. Keep these great and glorious truths before your minds; let your attention be absorbed by these things, instead of going into contention and strife, envying and jealousy, folly and nonsense, with distraction, discord and unbelief. remember that this is the work of the Lord entrusted to you, and that you are called to perform it. The Priesthood that is put upon you is not for to curse, nor to create discord, contention or strife; it is put upon you to bless the people, to bless each other, to bless the human family, to bless the dead, and to labor for them, seeing “that they without us shall not be made perfect,” that by and by we and they may together enter into the fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers, even the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We want to live so as to inherit and receive them in their fulness; so that when the time comes that Abraham, our father, shall come upon the earth to receive that inheritance that has been promised him, they who are the children of Abraham will be blessed with faithful Abraham.
We are only just getting this vast labor started, the work of those in the heavens and the work of those on the earth; and while we seem already to be considerable of a people, we are but infantile compared with what we shall become. I testify that these principles of the Gospel are true. If there are any in our midst this day who do not believe the Gospel, I want to tell them that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established, and you are having it established here. You may think perhaps there is not much significance to the testimony of two or three, but you will see the time when it will be very important to you. The Lord established that rule under the Mosaic law, and it is a rule that has come down in the jurisprudence of the ages, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. They who hear these things taught by those who have experienced and know them to be true, will have to answer for the fact that they heard and might have received a knowledge of these things themselves if they would. When a man is brought into court and convicted of a crime by the mouth of two or three witnesses, he finds that the testimonies of those witnesses are very powerful. Many a man has been made to swing on the gallows, or has been shot, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, whose testimonies were unimpeachable. So when we come into the court of heaven, they who are hearing the word of the Lord and living amongst us in the daylight of the Gospel, and hearken not unto its ways, but rather persecute God’s people, by and by they will be liable to feel the force of two or three witnesses in their case. You had better look into it yourselves, and all of us had better find the means of self-justification and live so that we can be above conviction of the law in any sense. It is one thing to live so that we can be justified individually, or before our families. It is comparatively an easy matter to preserve union and fellowship with those of our household and those who are of kindred faith with us; but when we come as members of a ward, or of a stake, there is where we are required to carry the union and fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our labors, that will united, cement, bind together and make strong, instead of taking a course that will divide and render discordant, impotent and unprofitable. We ought to study these principles, and seek to enlarge our understandings and views of the things of God and of His character, that we may be able to take a more comprehensive view of His work, the nature and extent of our acts and the consequences thereof, so that we may be more useful and more influential for good in the earth, as we have opportunity, both for the living and for the dead.
It is the duty of the Apostles to see to it that the Gospel is sent into all the world. We have not been able yet to send the Gospel into all the nations. Some nations are so bound up that they will not admit the preaching of this Gospel among them. They cannot believe it, because they entertain their old and venerated faiths. But the time is coming when they will. The Lord will open the way by and by that they who are worthy shall have their bonds loosened till they can be gathered out. It was very much so in Germany not many years ago. I recollect when I went over into Dresden, the capital of Saxony, and hunted out a few of the faithful there, among whom was our beloved brother, Doctor Karl G. Maeser, who has made himself known to all Israel by his faithful labors. We had to go by night to baptize him, lest we should be taken up by the officers of the law; and he soon after had to make his escape from the country. So the work is moving and gradually dispelled by the rising light of the sun. The Lord will bring these things to pass as fast as He shall see fit. We want to be continually increasing, growing in the grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and to live our religion at home righteously and faithfully, so that we may be able to administer in all things as we may have occasion hereafter.
This is a wonderfully great and glorious Gospel. It holds up before us grand inviting conditions and rewards, which will make us rejoice in all that we have suffered; and instead of our calling it sacrifice as we now do, we shall feel that it is only like the sowing of the seed of the husbandman. He might call sowing his seed a sacrifice; but it is not, because he gets thirty, forty, sixty, and a hundred fold in return for it. So we, in all that we are called to deny ourselves of in these latter times, shall realized by and by a reward for it all, and more than all, and we shall rejoice and thank God we had the opportunity to pass through this experience. Everyone of us ought to treasure up these experiences with the greatest interest, and realize that it is more to us than all the gold of Ophir to know the truth and to abide in it and be sanctified by it unto Eternal Life.
Brethren and sisters, I did not expect to speak but a few minutes, but these things have come to mind, and I have spoken impromptu, having nothing premeditated. I rejoice with you in the work of the Lord. The more I see of it, the more thankful and gladsome I feel concerning it. I beseech you, read the Scriptures more. There are a great many things hidden up that if we would take time to read and hunt out would make us to feel our own insignificance and unworthiness in the sight of God, except for Him to work within us by His Spirit, to will and to do His good pleasure. We should pray much, that we may not be overcome by temptation, and that we may have power to contend against every principle in the earth that is not ordained of God. We ought to seek for strength and ability to live and prevail against every evil, in order that the truth may triumph, and salvation, immortality and Eternal Life be brought to light through our efforts and labors, as they were through the efforts and labors of the Savior and His early disciples.
I pray the Lord to bless each and all of the interests of Zion, at home and abroad; that the Elders in distant parts of the earth may be strengthened and refreshed as with wine, when they shall read, hear and feel, the spirit of this conference, and they may be blessed of the Lord to find access to the honest in heart—the elect of God; that they may realize that the Lord has sent His angels before them, and give them dreams, and manifestations, to prepare them to know the elders when they see them. I remember well when I first went to England. Wherever I went almost we were told by the people that they had seen us in their dreams, and knew as soon as we arrived; knew our names as well. If the Lord goes with us in this way, and labors with us to bring to pass His purposes, there is a potency in it, there is a testimony in it, there is a witness to it that it is the work of the Lord. We ought to be glad and praise Himself. he will make us His instruments in bringing to pass His purposes and doing His holy will. The great demand for missionaries has not diminished; but it is increasing continually. I want to have the brethren and sisters realize that while they are sustaining the affairs of each other and assisting so many brethren go into the ministry, though seemingly your interests may be affected here, there is wherein you are sowing to reap an excellent and a precious harvest. when the Elders come back, with redoubled Spirit the Elders come back with redoubled sprit and power in the Gospel, let them continue to labor in your wards and your associations and keeping that the gift of your associations, and keep that gift that is within them by their laying on of the hands, stirred up, they may be active members, and grow and increase and your wards will be benefitted and strengthened thereby, your families will be refreshed, the work of the Lord will be increased, and Zion will be purified. Then the more of you that can go to the Temple, in fulfillment of the suggestions of President Snow, will carry home the rich fragrance of heaven, and you will increase in faith and humility, and rejoice greatly in the things of God continually. We want to get this more and more, that we may get nearer to the Lord and sanctify ourselves before him by working of the Spirit and he belief of the truth. I pray the Lord that He will send forth laborers until His word has gone to the uttermost part of the earth, and until the great pleasure of the Lord has brought to pass here in our midst with the living and the dead. So, as Paul has said, shall all Israel be saved. The Lord help us to contribute, each and all of us, our mite in this great work, to help to bring to pass the will of God and established righteousness in the earth, is my prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
of the quorum of Apostles, followed. He said in substance: Much gratification could be felt at the progress of the work of God in the world, which was a continuation of the work done by the ancient Apostles. Men holding the Priesthood should bear in mind that they were fulfilling the prophetic assurances of the prophets of old. It was a wonderful thing that of the reformers, who had succeeded so well in introducing true principles into the world, it should remain for the Prophet Joseph Smith to receive the authority of the Priesthood by which the ordinances of the Gospel could be performed and its promises fulfilled. John the Baptist introduced the authority the method, and the law pertaining to baptism, which, according to the law announced to Nicodemus by Jesus, must be administered to or for all, living and dead, before they could be received into the kingdom of heaven. The Melchizedek Priesthood, with its power of preaching the Gospel to the living and the dead, and the ministration of the Holy Ghost, was given by Peter, James and John, by which all things could be gathered into one, whether in heaven or on earth. All these gifts and blessings were introduced through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates, who were now engaged in the administration of those blessings to the spirits of the dead. In the temples of the Saints, work was being done, under the approval of Christ, to bring into proper effect the preaching to the spirits in prison. Thus was being fulfilled the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 28, regarding the gathering of scattered Israel under the law of God, looking forward to the personal reign of Christ upon the earth.
The Saints should keep these great principles in mind, and leave petty contentions and strife, turning their attention to the confirmation of the blessings promised to the seed of Abraham. Excessive worldly-mindedness was deplored, especially in the direction of speculation; but good advice was given with reference to extracting strength from the soil for the sustenance of man. Elder Richards rejoiced in the work of God, so promisingly instituted, and bore his testimony to its truth, declaring that in the mouths of two or three witnesses these words of testimony were established. Strangers and Saints were advised to investigate in full the principles of the Gospel, in order to find justification for them. Unity and fellowship were commended for the enlargement of the understanding and of faithfulness in the performance of the work of God. It should progress in the world, the bonds and prohibitions now checking its spread, being removed to admit of its spread. Apparent sacrifices would be found like the sowing of the seed, producing a hundred fold to the glory of God and the salvation of man. Prayer, diligence and increased faithfulness were strongly urged, for bringing about of immortality and eternal life.
Brother Richards stated that the call for missionaries was increasing, and great faithfulness was being manifested in performance of the labors of the ministry, to the development of strength in the ministers and of joy in the hearts of those to whom the message of salvation was being carried.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by Elder Franklin D. Richards.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
Beloved hearers, I have great joy in being in the midst of the congregation of God’s people. We were greatly comforted and encouraged by the report given unto us this morning of the work which has been going on and which is in progress, I may say, throughout the world, as far as the Gospel has been carried to the various nations. Everyone who understands the Scriptures and who has studied the Gospel according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and His prophets Joseph, Brigham, John, and Wilford, knows and understands that the ancient prophets and apostles all concurred with us, or, rather, we concur with them, in their views of the great works which they did in their day, and of the vastly greater work that remains to be performed in the last days. We should keep in mind, as heads of families, as men of Israel, as Apostles, High Priests, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, that we are but carrying out that which has been revealed unto them, which their faith rested upon, and which they beheld by the Spirit of prophesy in the great future. We, looking back upon their words, their promises and prophecies, have continually increasing most wonderful assurances of the work in which we are engaged. I speak conscious of the fact that the truths which we have embraced, and which we are teaching to the inhabitants of the earth, are truths concerning which the most of this congregation are not only conversant with, but have had testimonies of the Holy Ghost. This is a great and grand feature in our work. We have been commanded to teach the people to repent of their sins, and to promise them the Holy Ghost, to guide them into truth, to witness unto them the forgiveness of their sins, and to lead them on in the way of life and salvation.
It is indeed a wonderful thing, that in the age in which our great reformers lived, such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, and others who have lived since them, none of them were able to restore to the people the original and true principles of faith. Mr. Alexander Campbell got the nearest to it of any of them that we know of. He came to believe in faith, repentance, and in baptism for the remission of sins; but he had not authority even to administer baptism for the remission of sins, and, knowing he had not authority, he had not the audacity to promise the human family that they should receive the Holy Ghost. No man ever had the authority to do that, except he bore some portion of that Holy Priesthood which President Smith was speaking of this morning. But when the Gospel came to us in these latter times through the Prophet Joseph Smith, it came to us, not only in word, but in Spirit and in power. Think of the man, John the Baptist, who, nearly two thousand years ago, baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, and the people of Judea and Jerusalem by the hundreds and thousands in Jordan—think of this same man coming and ordaining Joseph and Oliver to be priests after the order of Aaron! Think you he did not know how to baptize correctly? He knew whether they were to be sprinkled, or poured upon, or baptized face downward or face upward. He had learned how. He had administered to the Son of God, who instituted this plan of salvation for the whole human family. He could teach this correctly, and he taught Joseph and Oliver, after he had conferred upon them the authority, how to baptized. Hence we have the most implicit confidence that our mode of baptism is the only true mode of baptism ever instituted by the Savior, or else He would not have had it practiced upon Himself. This principle has come down to us with a confidence and an assurance, and with a Priesthood that is continuous and eternal. The work that is upon us today is in continuation of that principle upon which the Savior said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This is a fixed rule, not only for people while they dwell in the flesh, to be baptized for themselves, but it is just as fixed a principle for all those who are dead. Hence it is that Paul says concerning the great work of the Lord: “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” Our Gospel, our mission and our ministry is not only to the living, but it is to the dead also. Our Savior, the apostle says, died and rose again, that He might become the Lord of the dead as well as of the living.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit;
By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing.
He went and preached to those spirits in prison, broke off their bonds and proclaimed deliverance to the captives, who had suffered the wrath of God from the days of the flood. Now, inasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ went and opened the prison doors in His day and gave to the prisoners the blessings of life and salvation, and as His apostles and those who labored with Him went yonder and taught these principles to their kindred dead. (Peter said, “for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead,”) so then in these latter days our Prophet Joseph, who held such a sweet convers and received such mighty power from men like John the Baptist, also Peter, James and John, when he finished up his work, gave his life—no manacled and fettered, but of his own volition—and sealed his testimony, by which he proclaimed to the world that he was willing to give all there was of him as testimony to the truth of the things which he taught; and he has gone yonder, having given his life that he may be the Prophet of this last dispensation, not only to the living, but to those that are dead—to our fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and kindred, back as far as we can get any records of them here in the flesh, and then back as far as they had an earthly existence. This is what is meant by in the last days gathering together all things which are in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are upon the earth; that they who have not had the Gospel preached to them in the flesh, must have it preached to them in the spirit.
The great Prophet Joseph—a greater than whom has not lived, except the Lord Jesus, on the earth—has gone there to labor, with his brother Hyrum, and he has with him a council of Twelve Apostles that have been ordained to the apostleship here in the flesh, besides the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, and the multitude of the faithful that have died within the past sixty-seven years, since the Church was organized, the authority of the Priesthood restored, and the blessings of the kingdom multiplied upon God’s people. They are gone there and are busy at work ministering the Gospel to the spirits that have passed beyond mortality, who, as well as we who live in the flesh, can in no wise enter into the kingdom of God and the blessings of the holy resurrection without being baptized—not baptized themselves, but by proxy of their kindred or friends. This need not be an astonishing feature in our Gospel, since our Savior did for all of us that which none of us could do for ourselves, by the shedding of His blood for the sins of the whole world. The Lord has blessed us through this knowledge and inspiration by the Prophet Joseph. Think what a work he did while here. He, with his brethren, built a Temple and dedicated it, and received the personal approval of the Lord within its walls, and the promise that His name should be there, and that the Gospel should go from that house to the people in foreign lands. That is the work that is upon us, and it has come to us with a responsibility and power beyond that of any former dispensations of the Gospel, to labor for the gathering together of all things which are in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth. This is also according to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses. Away back in his day, he had a glimpse of this. Read in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy, where he read to Israel the law, and got their vote that they would keep it; he then went on to tell them that if they would keep it, so and so would be their blessed future; and if they transgressed the laws, he told them of the terrible affliction that should come upon them. He says:
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon them, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee.
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee,
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee.
That is the promise; that is what this work of the last days is adapted to, what is being carried on, and what it will accomplish. While the Church on the earth outwardly numbers only about three hundred thousand, there have been already nearly one million of baptisms performed in the Temples for the deliverance of those that are dead. Thus the work is going on; and by and by, when the Kingdom of God is established in the earth, and the Savior reigns here upon the earth in person, and when His great work is such that He will have a multitude of those that sleep in Jesus to come with Him, as well as the righteous on the earth that are prepared for Him, then will come to pass that glorious saying, that “if any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee.” This is the purpose of that work of which the Apostle Paul also spoke when he said “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.”
Latter-day Saints, this is the glorious work in which you are engaged in these latter days. Do not forget it. Keep these great and glorious truths before your minds; let your attention be absorbed by these things, instead of going into contention and strife, envying and jealousy, folly and nonsense, with distraction, discord and unbelief. remember that this is the work of the Lord entrusted to you, and that you are called to perform it. The Priesthood that is put upon you is not for to curse, nor to create discord, contention or strife; it is put upon you to bless the people, to bless each other, to bless the human family, to bless the dead, and to labor for them, seeing “that they without us shall not be made perfect,” that by and by we and they may together enter into the fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers, even the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We want to live so as to inherit and receive them in their fulness; so that when the time comes that Abraham, our father, shall come upon the earth to receive that inheritance that has been promised him, they who are the children of Abraham will be blessed with faithful Abraham.
We are only just getting this vast labor started, the work of those in the heavens and the work of those on the earth; and while we seem already to be considerable of a people, we are but infantile compared with what we shall become. I testify that these principles of the Gospel are true. If there are any in our midst this day who do not believe the Gospel, I want to tell them that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established, and you are having it established here. You may think perhaps there is not much significance to the testimony of two or three, but you will see the time when it will be very important to you. The Lord established that rule under the Mosaic law, and it is a rule that has come down in the jurisprudence of the ages, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. They who hear these things taught by those who have experienced and know them to be true, will have to answer for the fact that they heard and might have received a knowledge of these things themselves if they would. When a man is brought into court and convicted of a crime by the mouth of two or three witnesses, he finds that the testimonies of those witnesses are very powerful. Many a man has been made to swing on the gallows, or has been shot, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, whose testimonies were unimpeachable. So when we come into the court of heaven, they who are hearing the word of the Lord and living amongst us in the daylight of the Gospel, and hearken not unto its ways, but rather persecute God’s people, by and by they will be liable to feel the force of two or three witnesses in their case. You had better look into it yourselves, and all of us had better find the means of self-justification and live so that we can be above conviction of the law in any sense. It is one thing to live so that we can be justified individually, or before our families. It is comparatively an easy matter to preserve union and fellowship with those of our household and those who are of kindred faith with us; but when we come as members of a ward, or of a stake, there is where we are required to carry the union and fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our labors, that will united, cement, bind together and make strong, instead of taking a course that will divide and render discordant, impotent and unprofitable. We ought to study these principles, and seek to enlarge our understandings and views of the things of God and of His character, that we may be able to take a more comprehensive view of His work, the nature and extent of our acts and the consequences thereof, so that we may be more useful and more influential for good in the earth, as we have opportunity, both for the living and for the dead.
It is the duty of the Apostles to see to it that the Gospel is sent into all the world. We have not been able yet to send the Gospel into all the nations. Some nations are so bound up that they will not admit the preaching of this Gospel among them. They cannot believe it, because they entertain their old and venerated faiths. But the time is coming when they will. The Lord will open the way by and by that they who are worthy shall have their bonds loosened till they can be gathered out. It was very much so in Germany not many years ago. I recollect when I went over into Dresden, the capital of Saxony, and hunted out a few of the faithful there, among whom was our beloved brother, Doctor Karl G. Maeser, who has made himself known to all Israel by his faithful labors. We had to go by night to baptize him, lest we should be taken up by the officers of the law; and he soon after had to make his escape from the country. So the work is moving and gradually dispelled by the rising light of the sun. The Lord will bring these things to pass as fast as He shall see fit. We want to be continually increasing, growing in the grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and to live our religion at home righteously and faithfully, so that we may be able to administer in all things as we may have occasion hereafter.
This is a wonderfully great and glorious Gospel. It holds up before us grand inviting conditions and rewards, which will make us rejoice in all that we have suffered; and instead of our calling it sacrifice as we now do, we shall feel that it is only like the sowing of the seed of the husbandman. He might call sowing his seed a sacrifice; but it is not, because he gets thirty, forty, sixty, and a hundred fold in return for it. So we, in all that we are called to deny ourselves of in these latter times, shall realized by and by a reward for it all, and more than all, and we shall rejoice and thank God we had the opportunity to pass through this experience. Everyone of us ought to treasure up these experiences with the greatest interest, and realize that it is more to us than all the gold of Ophir to know the truth and to abide in it and be sanctified by it unto Eternal Life.
Brethren and sisters, I did not expect to speak but a few minutes, but these things have come to mind, and I have spoken impromptu, having nothing premeditated. I rejoice with you in the work of the Lord. The more I see of it, the more thankful and gladsome I feel concerning it. I beseech you, read the Scriptures more. There are a great many things hidden up that if we would take time to read and hunt out would make us to feel our own insignificance and unworthiness in the sight of God, except for Him to work within us by His Spirit, to will and to do His good pleasure. We should pray much, that we may not be overcome by temptation, and that we may have power to contend against every principle in the earth that is not ordained of God. We ought to seek for strength and ability to live and prevail against every evil, in order that the truth may triumph, and salvation, immortality and Eternal Life be brought to light through our efforts and labors, as they were through the efforts and labors of the Savior and His early disciples.
I pray the Lord to bless each and all of the interests of Zion, at home and abroad; that the Elders in distant parts of the earth may be strengthened and refreshed as with wine, when they shall read, hear and feel, the spirit of this conference, and they may be blessed of the Lord to find access to the honest in heart—the elect of God; that they may realize that the Lord has sent His angels before them, and give them dreams, and manifestations, to prepare them to know the elders when they see them. I remember well when I first went to England. Wherever I went almost we were told by the people that they had seen us in their dreams, and knew as soon as we arrived; knew our names as well. If the Lord goes with us in this way, and labors with us to bring to pass His purposes, there is a potency in it, there is a testimony in it, there is a witness to it that it is the work of the Lord. We ought to be glad and praise Himself. he will make us His instruments in bringing to pass His purposes and doing His holy will. The great demand for missionaries has not diminished; but it is increasing continually. I want to have the brethren and sisters realize that while they are sustaining the affairs of each other and assisting so many brethren go into the ministry, though seemingly your interests may be affected here, there is wherein you are sowing to reap an excellent and a precious harvest. when the Elders come back, with redoubled Spirit the Elders come back with redoubled sprit and power in the Gospel, let them continue to labor in your wards and your associations and keeping that the gift of your associations, and keep that gift that is within them by their laying on of the hands, stirred up, they may be active members, and grow and increase and your wards will be benefitted and strengthened thereby, your families will be refreshed, the work of the Lord will be increased, and Zion will be purified. Then the more of you that can go to the Temple, in fulfillment of the suggestions of President Snow, will carry home the rich fragrance of heaven, and you will increase in faith and humility, and rejoice greatly in the things of God continually. We want to get this more and more, that we may get nearer to the Lord and sanctify ourselves before him by working of the Spirit and he belief of the truth. I pray the Lord that He will send forth laborers until His word has gone to the uttermost part of the earth, and until the great pleasure of the Lord has brought to pass here in our midst with the living and the dead. So, as Paul has said, shall all Israel be saved. The Lord help us to contribute, each and all of us, our mite in this great work, to help to bring to pass the will of God and established righteousness in the earth, is my prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Francis M. Lyman,
of the quorum of the Apostles, said in substance: He desired the spirit of the Lord to assist him, as had been the case with the previous speakers. When he listened to the report made by President Cannon in relation to the missionary work abroad, the field seemed greater to him than it had heretofore. Every man who had a desire to labor in the vineyard was called of God. Those who went to the nations in that spirit were blessed. We should be grateful that we were associated with the work of God, which had been revealed to us through the Prophet Joseph. It was, as shown by President Smith this morning, indestructible. Its organization was beautiful, and no power arrayed against it, whether the attack came from without or within, could hinder its growth. The Eternal Father maintained the Church in completeness. Vacancies were not filled by the will of man, but of God. In the selection of Elders to go abroad to preach the Gospel, the will of the spirit of the Lord was sought after. So with the filling of positions in any of the quorums. whenever it was requisite for any man to be the mouthpiece of God, it was not brought about by the scheming of men, but by the direction of the Almighty. During the three years immediately succeeding the death of the Prophet Joseph, the Twelve presided over the Church, and when the First Presidency was organized it was done because God directed that it be done. So was it when there was a vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve or of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. God announced it. There was always a class who rejoiced when they saw a prospect of a disruption of the Church, but they were invariably disappointed and always would be, and the work would go forward. Where there were 1,300 Elders in the missionary field now there would come a time when there would be 13,000. Those who created and rejoiced to see disunion among the people were built on the sand and not on the rock of truth. When anything was announced to the people to guide them, it came at the right time, because it emanated from the Lord. If there were any who had failed to recognize the voice of the true shepherd they had need to repent. There was a reaction outside the church as well as within, and a new interest in the things of God had been awakened. Men were readily deceived, and it seemed that in the past this deception was more easily imbibed on religion than any other subject, but light had come into the world and was attracting the honest in heart. The Kingdom of God was worth everything, and he who would finally possess all things else must be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of that which would ultimately bring them into his permanent possession. Our first attention should be given to God, and other matters could be attended to as subsidiary considerations. He spoke of the magnitude of the field abroad; there was another of equal importance at home among our children, and all should labor for the development of Zion. Our neighbors here should be instructed and warned. The responsibility of this labor was upon us. It was an important duty and ought to be discharged.
Why was it that our prayers were not always answered? Because we had not done our full duty and had not prayed aright. Some of the young Elders who had gone abroad were receiving abundant answers to their prayers. This had not been the case as a rule when they were at home. This was because they were not energetically in the line of their duty, in full activity in the work of the Lord, who responds to their faith and efforts combined.
Elder Lyman then dwelt upon the harmony of the operations of the order of the Priesthood, with special reference to the functions of the First Presidency to preside over the Twelve, who labored under the direction of the three. He invoked the blessing of God upon the people.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, int he Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by Elder Francis M. Lyman.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
My brethren and sisters, I desire the Spirit of the Lord to assist me, so that we may be edified. I know that all who were present this morning would feel a testimony in their hearts in regard to the truths that were uttered by President George Q. Cannon and President Joseph F. Smith, and those present this afternoon will no doubt have the same testimony concerning the remarks of President Snow and President Richards; for the Spirit of the Lord bears testimony to the hearts of all Latter-day Saints that we have listened to the truth. When I listened to the report of President Cannon in regard to the work throughout the earth, although I have had in my mind vividly what is being accomplished, it seemed to me that it was much more important than I had thought. The field is wide, and the harvest is great and ready for the gathering. The great call that is made for missionaries reminds me of the suggestion in the revelations, that he that hath a desire in his heart for that labor is called of God; and every man who has that desire in his heart, who is thus called and goes into the field, will find that the Lord will work with him, and that He is working with those who are in the field today, and is ready to labor with thousands that must yet be called into the field. How grateful we ought to be who have received the truth, who have been blessed of the Lord with faith, with repentance, and with the spirit of humility and obedience; how grateful the Latter-day Saints ought to be to know that we are associated with the work of God which He has established in the earth and which brings to our understanding a knowledge of the plan of life and salvation. For this has been revealed to us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the Prophet Joseph. We are entitled to have a knowledge; to not be left in doubt, but to have a knowledge of the principles of life, and to appreciate the privilege that is given to us in this last dispensation.
This great and important work that the Lord has established, as we were shown so beautifully this morning by President Cannon, is indestructible. It is not to be left to other people, but is to remain with us, and with our posterity and successors. It is to endure in the earth, and no power is to prevail against it. What blessed information for the Latter-day Saints to possess, that they are thus connected with the work which the Great Father of all has established in the earth! The beauty of its organization, the certainty of its perpetuity,--that it is to endure, and that there is no power that can prevail against it, whether on the inside or the outside, are things that fill us with joy. Of course, dangers always seem to be greater from the troubles we experience on the inside than from those that attack us from without. But this work is kept in perfect condition. The quorums of Priesthood, as we learned this morning, from the First Presidency down, are kept intact. And they are so kept by the Lord, not by any quorum, nor by the people of the Church. When vacancies occur in the Presidency, or in the Twelve, or among the Seventies, or in the Stakes of Zion, or in the missions abroad, the Lord arranges for the filling of those vacancies. The principle upon which this Church was established and is perpetuated is not the same principle that operates among men. These vacancies are not filled according to the will and choice of men. They are filled by our Heavenly Father. He has direct control and care over the various departments of this important work. In the preaching of the Gospel abroad, in the establishment of missions abroad, and in supplying the demand for Elders, these are all sought out by the inspiration of the Lord, and they are called of God. The Presidency of the Church and the Twelve, who are entrusted with the care of the Church, do not officiate by the spirit of man; they do not exercise their own judgment along, and select according to their preferences; but the Lord manifests His care for this work. Whenever a man comes to be the President of the Church, the representative of God, and His mouthpiece to His children on the earth, it comes about to order of the Father. It is not by caucusing, and scheming, and the planning of men; it is not by the judgment and wisdom of the Twelve Apostles as men. President Smith referred this morning to some person who contended that the Presidency of the Church ought not to have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph. The Presidency was organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph, by the direction of God. The Twelve Apostles presided over the Church during the three years that followed the death of the Prophet Joseph, under the direction of God the Eternal Father; and if the Father had not designated and appointed that the First Presidency should be formed, it would never have been formed. But it is in harmony with the will of God and the order of His great work in the last days, that the Presidency of this Church should be perpetuated; and the interim between the death of one President and the formation of a new Presidency, is just in accordance with the mind and will of God. It has been in the past, and will be in the future. Whenever the Presidency is to be organized hereafter, it will be done by the announcement of the mind and will of God; and whenever the vacancy which now exists in the Twelve Apostles is to be filled, or in the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, it will be done when God announces it, and not before. We wait, we listen for the counsels of the Lord. We do in regard to the organization of Stakes, in the organization of quorums, and in all the various details of organization in this Church—we listen to the counsels and inspiration of the Lord. The Lord doeth it. When He speaks and gives direction to His servants, they have always the courage to perform that duty. We labor faithfully; we give careful attention to the responsibilities that rest upon us as prominent Elders in the Church; we try to live squarely up to our duties, and the Lord is always ready to come to the rescue and to support and sustain us.
This work is most secure and most thoroughly established, and is never to be broken down. There is not any power inside or outside of the Church, and there never will be, to disrupt this Church and to break it in pieces. The enemies of this Church have always watched, and when there has been a riffle on the surface that would indicated there was trouble within, they have grasped at it with avidity, and they have enjoyed the prospect of the breaking to pieces of this work. They thought, when the Prophet Joseph’s life was taken, that that was the end. Why, if there were a thousand prophets to die, it would not interrupt this work; for the Lord has established His Church upon the earth and will maintain it. Has it not grown steadily from the beginning? Has it ever been interrupted for one moment? We have had all kinds of experience; we have been attacked by those who have turned away from us, as well as those who have opposed us from the outside; but the work has moved steadily and regularly forward; and where there are now 1300 Elders in the field, there will be 13,000 in the field yet, preaching the Gospel. We are only just beginning the work; for it is a work that is to spread throughout the earth. The whole world is to be embraced in this missionary labor. The experience of the world today, in their religious and other organizations, is indicative of unrest. They begin to find that they are not built upon the rock, but that their foundations are sandy. That is the beauty of this work: when a man embraces it, he finds that he is built upon the rock and cannot be shaken if he is faithful. The reason that there are those among us who are shaken from time to time, when troubles come upon us, is because men are faulty. There are reasons in the heart of every man who is shaken and disturbed. As was intimated this morning by President Cannon, when there is put forth a Church order or rule, it is announced when God would have it announced when God would have it announced; it is published and given to the people at the proper time, just when it should be. The Lord is the judge. We would not do unless He directed us; we would not speak and give counsel unless the Lord directed. And when He speaks through His servants, all who are in harmony and have the proper spirit, having done the mind and will of God, know the voice of the true Shepherd. If any of you have mistaken the voice of the true Shepherd, you want to repent. Let all Israel know that if they have not understood the voice of the true Shepherd when it has been uttered, they have occasion for repentance, and they ought to repent. It is necessary that we should live as close and as careful to the line as possible, and to exert every power within us for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord. There is a reaction setting in Israel to-day, as there is throughout the world in regard to this important work. We are now finding, and we will more abundantly in the future, that our kindred are enquiring after us. They want to know something about this work; they are enquiring after the Gospel; for they begin to feel that there is a religious body in the earth that has some light that is superior to the light which they possess. The world wants something that they can rely upon, that will satisfy their souls, and this is not to be found outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is God’s work, and He has found a few honest in heart, who have gathered together, and He would have found more if they had not been blinded by the deceptions of men. You know how easily men are deceived in this world. They are cheated in regard to religion as well as in regard to other matters, and I have thought they were more easily gulled in regard to religion than anything else. It is quite a difficult matter for people to be Saints of God. It is not something that is offered to you as easy to accomplish; but it is a difficult, trying matter for human nature. It requires the very first and the whole attention of every human being. Has not Jesus said: “If any man come to me, and forsake not his father and mother, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple?” I believe this is true doctrine. This being the work of God, it is worth everything.
If a man would have all things else, he must first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This work is more valuable and precious to us than all other things; for it embraces life eternal, happiness here and hereafter; it embraces the riches of this world, and everything that we can desire that is proper. We must prize the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, above all things else. A man must not so love his father, or his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers, his sisters, or his own life—he must not love these so well that he would forsake God for them. But if we love God and keep His commandments, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers and sisters, and our own lives, shall then be made secure to us. This is the philosophy of it. We are engaged in this labor, and it will be profitable to us to give it our first attention. At the same time it is not necessary that we should neglect everything else; but the very first attention should be given to God and to His cause. We may engage in all other righteous things, and bring to pass what the Lord designs for us to do in the earth.
In the order of the Priesthood, the filling of vacancies, and the keeping of our quorums completely organized, how perfect is the design of the Lord. You cannot find an imperfection in the design of our Heavenly Father and the work that He has established among us. He has provided for every emergency. If every individual would only perform his duty faithfully, as all ought to do, what a blessed condition we would be in! I thought this morning, when the field abroad was spoken of, what an immense field there is here at home! All our own children, all our neighbor’s children, and all the strangers that are within our gates (for we are quire mixed now)—what a field of labor there is for every man who bears the Priesthood. Do you not feel that the Lord has bestowed this Priesthood upon the male members of the Church in order that every one should be a teacher, a laborer, a faithful advocate of the doctrines of the Gospel, a defender of the faith? I believe that was the design. I believe the Lord understood thoroughly that it would be necessary for every man among us to bear the Priesthood and to be a laborer; not waiting to be called abroad, but having experience right here at home in the preaching of the Gospel; for it is a reproach to us to have people around us so plentifully and they not being taught the Gospel. I hold that within the radius of our movements every family should be advised in regard to the doctrines of the Gospel. If they will not come to meetings, they ought to be taught in private, and thoroughly warned at home, as the people are being warned in the world. The Elders are going out without purse and scrip. They did it in the days of the Prophet Joseph, of the Prophet Brigham, and the early days. In that way mankind are proven and tried. It is laid down as a rule that those who feed and clothe you, and furnish you lodgings and places in which to preach the Gospel, are the disciples of Christ and are of Israel. The labors of the Elders abroad are very successful. Go into the families of the people who have representatives in the field, and they receive remarkable letters concerning the labors of these Elders—how they are being received and made welcome, and how they cannot accomplish all that is required of them in the preaching of the Gospel, the calls are so numerous. These words are coming from abroad all the time; and yet a great many of the 1300 Elders are men who no doubt had very little experience at home, who had not been schooled very thoroughly in the doctrines of the Gospel, and had not understood the operations of the Gospel, and had not understood the operations of the Spirit of the Lord upon them, nor had they learned the efficacy of prayer. Why is it that our prayers are not more fully and perfectly answered than they are? This is a subject that has been brought to my mind latterly in a remarkable degree. Because we have not prayed properly. We have not been in the proper spirit for praying. We have not been in the proper condition to obtain answers from the Lord, because we have not done our duty. God has announced that every one is endowed with power to accomplish great good and to bring to pass much righteousness, and that men ought to be anxiously engaged in a good cause. We ought to be anxiously engaged in this good cause in which we have enlisted. And when we have worked up to the point of all that we can possibly do, God always comes to the rescue and helps us out. The reason our young Elders’ prayers are heard in the field is because they are working for and waiting upon the Lord, and laboring faithfully every moment of their lives, and the Lord knows it. They scarcely ask for anything but it is granted them. Now, if we would be just as faithful and devoted at home in the performance of our duties as we are when we go abroad, the Lord would be at our service in a moment, for He is bound, when we do our duty, to come to our assistance. When the Presidency of this Church have need of counsel from the Lord, he is always ready to give them his word; for they are attending upon His labor and the responsibilities that He has placed upon them. So with the Twelve. Hence their prayers are answered upon their heads and they receive the necessary counsel. The Presidents of Stakes, the High Councilors, the Bishops and their Counselors, the presidents of quorums, and all those who preside over the various associations of the Latter-day Saints are entitled to the mind and will of God. So that every department is well provided for, and thus the work is to be perpetuated from this time henceforth. The remarks of President Smith upon the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventies, beautifully illustrated the harmony which exists with these three quorums, though apparently equal. He explained that in the absence of the Presidency the Twelve presided over the Church. That is made a part of their mission and responsibility by the Father. But they are not the Presidency of the Church; for is it not definitely laid down in that same revelation from which Brother Smith quoted that the Twelve labor always under the direction of the Presidency? We are directed and counseled by them; we do not direct the Presidency. The Seventy do not direct the Twelve; the Twelve direct the Seventy. Yet it is declared that they are quorums of like authority one with the other. When the emergency arises, they are equal, and have the power and authority to meet the emergency; but that power is in abeyance and is not exercised while the Presidency endure. The Twelve are not to rise up against the Presidency. There are twelve against three; but the three are authorized to preside over the twelve, as well as over the rest of the Church, and to direct the twelve and the whole church. We cannot reject the Presidency. The Twelve cannot do it, for God would reject them. He controls the Presidency; He chooses them; He determines who they shall be, and the time of their office, in life or in death, and He maintains them. He also determines the position of every Apostle. There never has been an Apostle in this Church that has not been chosen by the direct inspiration of God the Eternal Father. There may not have been a written revelation in every instance; but I say that every Apostle and every man chosen to preside over the Seventies has been selected by the power and inspiration of the Almighty. They are men chosen of God, and trusted with His authority, and He will arrange in regard to their term of office. He has done it from the day of the Prophet Joseph to the present, and He will do it to the end.
God bless Israel. May the Lord bless our President, and Elder Brigham Young also, that they may be healed. I humbly ask this, with all the blessings that we require as the Israel of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The anthem: Grant us peace, O Lord, was sung by the choir, the duet part being rendered by Brother Thomas Ashworth and Sister Mabel Cooper.
Benediction by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
of the quorum of the Apostles, said in substance: He desired the spirit of the Lord to assist him, as had been the case with the previous speakers. When he listened to the report made by President Cannon in relation to the missionary work abroad, the field seemed greater to him than it had heretofore. Every man who had a desire to labor in the vineyard was called of God. Those who went to the nations in that spirit were blessed. We should be grateful that we were associated with the work of God, which had been revealed to us through the Prophet Joseph. It was, as shown by President Smith this morning, indestructible. Its organization was beautiful, and no power arrayed against it, whether the attack came from without or within, could hinder its growth. The Eternal Father maintained the Church in completeness. Vacancies were not filled by the will of man, but of God. In the selection of Elders to go abroad to preach the Gospel, the will of the spirit of the Lord was sought after. So with the filling of positions in any of the quorums. whenever it was requisite for any man to be the mouthpiece of God, it was not brought about by the scheming of men, but by the direction of the Almighty. During the three years immediately succeeding the death of the Prophet Joseph, the Twelve presided over the Church, and when the First Presidency was organized it was done because God directed that it be done. So was it when there was a vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve or of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. God announced it. There was always a class who rejoiced when they saw a prospect of a disruption of the Church, but they were invariably disappointed and always would be, and the work would go forward. Where there were 1,300 Elders in the missionary field now there would come a time when there would be 13,000. Those who created and rejoiced to see disunion among the people were built on the sand and not on the rock of truth. When anything was announced to the people to guide them, it came at the right time, because it emanated from the Lord. If there were any who had failed to recognize the voice of the true shepherd they had need to repent. There was a reaction outside the church as well as within, and a new interest in the things of God had been awakened. Men were readily deceived, and it seemed that in the past this deception was more easily imbibed on religion than any other subject, but light had come into the world and was attracting the honest in heart. The Kingdom of God was worth everything, and he who would finally possess all things else must be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of that which would ultimately bring them into his permanent possession. Our first attention should be given to God, and other matters could be attended to as subsidiary considerations. He spoke of the magnitude of the field abroad; there was another of equal importance at home among our children, and all should labor for the development of Zion. Our neighbors here should be instructed and warned. The responsibility of this labor was upon us. It was an important duty and ought to be discharged.
Why was it that our prayers were not always answered? Because we had not done our full duty and had not prayed aright. Some of the young Elders who had gone abroad were receiving abundant answers to their prayers. This had not been the case as a rule when they were at home. This was because they were not energetically in the line of their duty, in full activity in the work of the Lord, who responds to their faith and efforts combined.
Elder Lyman then dwelt upon the harmony of the operations of the order of the Priesthood, with special reference to the functions of the First Presidency to preside over the Twelve, who labored under the direction of the three. He invoked the blessing of God upon the people.
Remarks
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, int he Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by Elder Francis M. Lyman.
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
My brethren and sisters, I desire the Spirit of the Lord to assist me, so that we may be edified. I know that all who were present this morning would feel a testimony in their hearts in regard to the truths that were uttered by President George Q. Cannon and President Joseph F. Smith, and those present this afternoon will no doubt have the same testimony concerning the remarks of President Snow and President Richards; for the Spirit of the Lord bears testimony to the hearts of all Latter-day Saints that we have listened to the truth. When I listened to the report of President Cannon in regard to the work throughout the earth, although I have had in my mind vividly what is being accomplished, it seemed to me that it was much more important than I had thought. The field is wide, and the harvest is great and ready for the gathering. The great call that is made for missionaries reminds me of the suggestion in the revelations, that he that hath a desire in his heart for that labor is called of God; and every man who has that desire in his heart, who is thus called and goes into the field, will find that the Lord will work with him, and that He is working with those who are in the field today, and is ready to labor with thousands that must yet be called into the field. How grateful we ought to be who have received the truth, who have been blessed of the Lord with faith, with repentance, and with the spirit of humility and obedience; how grateful the Latter-day Saints ought to be to know that we are associated with the work of God which He has established in the earth and which brings to our understanding a knowledge of the plan of life and salvation. For this has been revealed to us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the Prophet Joseph. We are entitled to have a knowledge; to not be left in doubt, but to have a knowledge of the principles of life, and to appreciate the privilege that is given to us in this last dispensation.
This great and important work that the Lord has established, as we were shown so beautifully this morning by President Cannon, is indestructible. It is not to be left to other people, but is to remain with us, and with our posterity and successors. It is to endure in the earth, and no power is to prevail against it. What blessed information for the Latter-day Saints to possess, that they are thus connected with the work which the Great Father of all has established in the earth! The beauty of its organization, the certainty of its perpetuity,--that it is to endure, and that there is no power that can prevail against it, whether on the inside or the outside, are things that fill us with joy. Of course, dangers always seem to be greater from the troubles we experience on the inside than from those that attack us from without. But this work is kept in perfect condition. The quorums of Priesthood, as we learned this morning, from the First Presidency down, are kept intact. And they are so kept by the Lord, not by any quorum, nor by the people of the Church. When vacancies occur in the Presidency, or in the Twelve, or among the Seventies, or in the Stakes of Zion, or in the missions abroad, the Lord arranges for the filling of those vacancies. The principle upon which this Church was established and is perpetuated is not the same principle that operates among men. These vacancies are not filled according to the will and choice of men. They are filled by our Heavenly Father. He has direct control and care over the various departments of this important work. In the preaching of the Gospel abroad, in the establishment of missions abroad, and in supplying the demand for Elders, these are all sought out by the inspiration of the Lord, and they are called of God. The Presidency of the Church and the Twelve, who are entrusted with the care of the Church, do not officiate by the spirit of man; they do not exercise their own judgment along, and select according to their preferences; but the Lord manifests His care for this work. Whenever a man comes to be the President of the Church, the representative of God, and His mouthpiece to His children on the earth, it comes about to order of the Father. It is not by caucusing, and scheming, and the planning of men; it is not by the judgment and wisdom of the Twelve Apostles as men. President Smith referred this morning to some person who contended that the Presidency of the Church ought not to have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph. The Presidency was organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph, by the direction of God. The Twelve Apostles presided over the Church during the three years that followed the death of the Prophet Joseph, under the direction of God the Eternal Father; and if the Father had not designated and appointed that the First Presidency should be formed, it would never have been formed. But it is in harmony with the will of God and the order of His great work in the last days, that the Presidency of this Church should be perpetuated; and the interim between the death of one President and the formation of a new Presidency, is just in accordance with the mind and will of God. It has been in the past, and will be in the future. Whenever the Presidency is to be organized hereafter, it will be done by the announcement of the mind and will of God; and whenever the vacancy which now exists in the Twelve Apostles is to be filled, or in the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, it will be done when God announces it, and not before. We wait, we listen for the counsels of the Lord. We do in regard to the organization of Stakes, in the organization of quorums, and in all the various details of organization in this Church—we listen to the counsels and inspiration of the Lord. The Lord doeth it. When He speaks and gives direction to His servants, they have always the courage to perform that duty. We labor faithfully; we give careful attention to the responsibilities that rest upon us as prominent Elders in the Church; we try to live squarely up to our duties, and the Lord is always ready to come to the rescue and to support and sustain us.
This work is most secure and most thoroughly established, and is never to be broken down. There is not any power inside or outside of the Church, and there never will be, to disrupt this Church and to break it in pieces. The enemies of this Church have always watched, and when there has been a riffle on the surface that would indicated there was trouble within, they have grasped at it with avidity, and they have enjoyed the prospect of the breaking to pieces of this work. They thought, when the Prophet Joseph’s life was taken, that that was the end. Why, if there were a thousand prophets to die, it would not interrupt this work; for the Lord has established His Church upon the earth and will maintain it. Has it not grown steadily from the beginning? Has it ever been interrupted for one moment? We have had all kinds of experience; we have been attacked by those who have turned away from us, as well as those who have opposed us from the outside; but the work has moved steadily and regularly forward; and where there are now 1300 Elders in the field, there will be 13,000 in the field yet, preaching the Gospel. We are only just beginning the work; for it is a work that is to spread throughout the earth. The whole world is to be embraced in this missionary labor. The experience of the world today, in their religious and other organizations, is indicative of unrest. They begin to find that they are not built upon the rock, but that their foundations are sandy. That is the beauty of this work: when a man embraces it, he finds that he is built upon the rock and cannot be shaken if he is faithful. The reason that there are those among us who are shaken from time to time, when troubles come upon us, is because men are faulty. There are reasons in the heart of every man who is shaken and disturbed. As was intimated this morning by President Cannon, when there is put forth a Church order or rule, it is announced when God would have it announced when God would have it announced; it is published and given to the people at the proper time, just when it should be. The Lord is the judge. We would not do unless He directed us; we would not speak and give counsel unless the Lord directed. And when He speaks through His servants, all who are in harmony and have the proper spirit, having done the mind and will of God, know the voice of the true Shepherd. If any of you have mistaken the voice of the true Shepherd, you want to repent. Let all Israel know that if they have not understood the voice of the true Shepherd when it has been uttered, they have occasion for repentance, and they ought to repent. It is necessary that we should live as close and as careful to the line as possible, and to exert every power within us for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord. There is a reaction setting in Israel to-day, as there is throughout the world in regard to this important work. We are now finding, and we will more abundantly in the future, that our kindred are enquiring after us. They want to know something about this work; they are enquiring after the Gospel; for they begin to feel that there is a religious body in the earth that has some light that is superior to the light which they possess. The world wants something that they can rely upon, that will satisfy their souls, and this is not to be found outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is God’s work, and He has found a few honest in heart, who have gathered together, and He would have found more if they had not been blinded by the deceptions of men. You know how easily men are deceived in this world. They are cheated in regard to religion as well as in regard to other matters, and I have thought they were more easily gulled in regard to religion than anything else. It is quite a difficult matter for people to be Saints of God. It is not something that is offered to you as easy to accomplish; but it is a difficult, trying matter for human nature. It requires the very first and the whole attention of every human being. Has not Jesus said: “If any man come to me, and forsake not his father and mother, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple?” I believe this is true doctrine. This being the work of God, it is worth everything.
If a man would have all things else, he must first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This work is more valuable and precious to us than all other things; for it embraces life eternal, happiness here and hereafter; it embraces the riches of this world, and everything that we can desire that is proper. We must prize the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, above all things else. A man must not so love his father, or his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers, his sisters, or his own life—he must not love these so well that he would forsake God for them. But if we love God and keep His commandments, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers and sisters, and our own lives, shall then be made secure to us. This is the philosophy of it. We are engaged in this labor, and it will be profitable to us to give it our first attention. At the same time it is not necessary that we should neglect everything else; but the very first attention should be given to God and to His cause. We may engage in all other righteous things, and bring to pass what the Lord designs for us to do in the earth.
In the order of the Priesthood, the filling of vacancies, and the keeping of our quorums completely organized, how perfect is the design of the Lord. You cannot find an imperfection in the design of our Heavenly Father and the work that He has established among us. He has provided for every emergency. If every individual would only perform his duty faithfully, as all ought to do, what a blessed condition we would be in! I thought this morning, when the field abroad was spoken of, what an immense field there is here at home! All our own children, all our neighbor’s children, and all the strangers that are within our gates (for we are quire mixed now)—what a field of labor there is for every man who bears the Priesthood. Do you not feel that the Lord has bestowed this Priesthood upon the male members of the Church in order that every one should be a teacher, a laborer, a faithful advocate of the doctrines of the Gospel, a defender of the faith? I believe that was the design. I believe the Lord understood thoroughly that it would be necessary for every man among us to bear the Priesthood and to be a laborer; not waiting to be called abroad, but having experience right here at home in the preaching of the Gospel; for it is a reproach to us to have people around us so plentifully and they not being taught the Gospel. I hold that within the radius of our movements every family should be advised in regard to the doctrines of the Gospel. If they will not come to meetings, they ought to be taught in private, and thoroughly warned at home, as the people are being warned in the world. The Elders are going out without purse and scrip. They did it in the days of the Prophet Joseph, of the Prophet Brigham, and the early days. In that way mankind are proven and tried. It is laid down as a rule that those who feed and clothe you, and furnish you lodgings and places in which to preach the Gospel, are the disciples of Christ and are of Israel. The labors of the Elders abroad are very successful. Go into the families of the people who have representatives in the field, and they receive remarkable letters concerning the labors of these Elders—how they are being received and made welcome, and how they cannot accomplish all that is required of them in the preaching of the Gospel, the calls are so numerous. These words are coming from abroad all the time; and yet a great many of the 1300 Elders are men who no doubt had very little experience at home, who had not been schooled very thoroughly in the doctrines of the Gospel, and had not understood the operations of the Gospel, and had not understood the operations of the Spirit of the Lord upon them, nor had they learned the efficacy of prayer. Why is it that our prayers are not more fully and perfectly answered than they are? This is a subject that has been brought to my mind latterly in a remarkable degree. Because we have not prayed properly. We have not been in the proper spirit for praying. We have not been in the proper condition to obtain answers from the Lord, because we have not done our duty. God has announced that every one is endowed with power to accomplish great good and to bring to pass much righteousness, and that men ought to be anxiously engaged in a good cause. We ought to be anxiously engaged in this good cause in which we have enlisted. And when we have worked up to the point of all that we can possibly do, God always comes to the rescue and helps us out. The reason our young Elders’ prayers are heard in the field is because they are working for and waiting upon the Lord, and laboring faithfully every moment of their lives, and the Lord knows it. They scarcely ask for anything but it is granted them. Now, if we would be just as faithful and devoted at home in the performance of our duties as we are when we go abroad, the Lord would be at our service in a moment, for He is bound, when we do our duty, to come to our assistance. When the Presidency of this Church have need of counsel from the Lord, he is always ready to give them his word; for they are attending upon His labor and the responsibilities that He has placed upon them. So with the Twelve. Hence their prayers are answered upon their heads and they receive the necessary counsel. The Presidents of Stakes, the High Councilors, the Bishops and their Counselors, the presidents of quorums, and all those who preside over the various associations of the Latter-day Saints are entitled to the mind and will of God. So that every department is well provided for, and thus the work is to be perpetuated from this time henceforth. The remarks of President Smith upon the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventies, beautifully illustrated the harmony which exists with these three quorums, though apparently equal. He explained that in the absence of the Presidency the Twelve presided over the Church. That is made a part of their mission and responsibility by the Father. But they are not the Presidency of the Church; for is it not definitely laid down in that same revelation from which Brother Smith quoted that the Twelve labor always under the direction of the Presidency? We are directed and counseled by them; we do not direct the Presidency. The Seventy do not direct the Twelve; the Twelve direct the Seventy. Yet it is declared that they are quorums of like authority one with the other. When the emergency arises, they are equal, and have the power and authority to meet the emergency; but that power is in abeyance and is not exercised while the Presidency endure. The Twelve are not to rise up against the Presidency. There are twelve against three; but the three are authorized to preside over the twelve, as well as over the rest of the Church, and to direct the twelve and the whole church. We cannot reject the Presidency. The Twelve cannot do it, for God would reject them. He controls the Presidency; He chooses them; He determines who they shall be, and the time of their office, in life or in death, and He maintains them. He also determines the position of every Apostle. There never has been an Apostle in this Church that has not been chosen by the direct inspiration of God the Eternal Father. There may not have been a written revelation in every instance; but I say that every Apostle and every man chosen to preside over the Seventies has been selected by the power and inspiration of the Almighty. They are men chosen of God, and trusted with His authority, and He will arrange in regard to their term of office. He has done it from the day of the Prophet Joseph to the present, and He will do it to the end.
God bless Israel. May the Lord bless our President, and Elder Brigham Young also, that they may be healed. I humbly ask this, with all the blessings that we require as the Israel of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The anthem: Grant us peace, O Lord, was sung by the choir, the duet part being rendered by Brother Thomas Ashworth and Sister Mabel Cooper.
Benediction by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
Overflow Meeting. Sunday Afternoon, April 4.
Elder George Teasdale presiding.
Opening hymn by the Temple choir:
Come, come ye Saints,
No toil nor labor fear.
Prayer by Elder Abraham Hatch:
Singing: Hark the song of jubilee.
Elder George Teasdale presiding.
Opening hymn by the Temple choir:
Come, come ye Saints,
No toil nor labor fear.
Prayer by Elder Abraham Hatch:
Singing: Hark the song of jubilee.
Elder Anthon H. Lund
of the quorum of Apostles was the first speaker. He began by referring to the remarks made at the morning session of the Conference and stated that it was gratifying to hear how the work of the Lord was progressing in the earth. He touched upon the observances of Fast Day and showed the blessings to be derived from obedience to that law. In closing the speaker expressed his pleasure at being privileged to meet with the Saints in annual conference and asked God to bless all.
of the quorum of Apostles was the first speaker. He began by referring to the remarks made at the morning session of the Conference and stated that it was gratifying to hear how the work of the Lord was progressing in the earth. He touched upon the observances of Fast Day and showed the blessings to be derived from obedience to that law. In closing the speaker expressed his pleasure at being privileged to meet with the Saints in annual conference and asked God to bless all.
Elder M. W. Merrill
made a few remarks. He spoke of the great importance of all the Saints having a testimony of the truth of the work in which they were engaged. It was something that all who did not have should strive for in order that their faith might be strong. In this connection prayer was an essential feature, for without it the Saints could not remain in communion with Deity. Concluding Elder Fjelsted bore his testimony to the truthfulness of the latter-day work, at the same time urging all to get the spirit of their respective callings, referring particularly to the calling of a teacher.
Solo and chorus, Come all ye sons of Zion, by William Pardoe and choir.
made a few remarks. He spoke of the great importance of all the Saints having a testimony of the truth of the work in which they were engaged. It was something that all who did not have should strive for in order that their faith might be strong. In this connection prayer was an essential feature, for without it the Saints could not remain in communion with Deity. Concluding Elder Fjelsted bore his testimony to the truthfulness of the latter-day work, at the same time urging all to get the spirit of their respective callings, referring particularly to the calling of a teacher.
Solo and chorus, Come all ye sons of Zion, by William Pardoe and choir.
Elder George Teasdale
of the Council of Apostles addressed the congregation. His remarks dealt with the blessings bestowed upon the Saints from time to time, and the appreciation that should be felt by the recipients of those blessings. Scriptural evidence was cited to show the second coming of Christ and also that many would shut themselves out of his presence, because of their wicked acts. The neglect of the people to reverence Deity as they should was referred to, the speaker showing the disaster which would follow such a course.
of the Council of Apostles addressed the congregation. His remarks dealt with the blessings bestowed upon the Saints from time to time, and the appreciation that should be felt by the recipients of those blessings. Scriptural evidence was cited to show the second coming of Christ and also that many would shut themselves out of his presence, because of their wicked acts. The neglect of the people to reverence Deity as they should was referred to, the speaker showing the disaster which would follow such a course.
Elder Seymour B. Young
was the closing speaker. He referred to President Woodruff’s favorite hymn, “God moves in a mysterious way,” and cited in support of the words thereof, the condition in which the Elders of the Church went out to preach the Gospel, and the success attending their labors. A few incidents connected with the life of President Woodruff were read by the speaker, the same having been written on the occasion of the celebration of the subject’s ninetieth birthday. It showed the success attending President Woodruff’s labors in the ministry, he at the time traveling without purse and scrip. The verses recited upon the presentation of a bouquet of ninety roses to President Woodruff, were also read to the congregation, the speaker concluding by hearing his testimony and urging all to be faithful as the leaders of the Church were faithful.
The choir sang: I know that my Redeemer lives.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Alonzo H. Raleigh.
was the closing speaker. He referred to President Woodruff’s favorite hymn, “God moves in a mysterious way,” and cited in support of the words thereof, the condition in which the Elders of the Church went out to preach the Gospel, and the success attending their labors. A few incidents connected with the life of President Woodruff were read by the speaker, the same having been written on the occasion of the celebration of the subject’s ninetieth birthday. It showed the success attending President Woodruff’s labors in the ministry, he at the time traveling without purse and scrip. The verses recited upon the presentation of a bouquet of ninety roses to President Woodruff, were also read to the congregation, the speaker concluding by hearing his testimony and urging all to be faithful as the leaders of the Church were faithful.
The choir sang: I know that my Redeemer lives.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Alonzo H. Raleigh.
At the Tabernacle. Second Day, April 5th—Morning Session.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
Hark! listen to the trumpeters!
They sound for volunteers.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
Singing by the choir of the hymn which begins:
Glorious things are sung of Zion,
Enoch’s city soon of old.--
Where the righteous, being perfect.
Walked with God on streets of gold.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
Hark! listen to the trumpeters!
They sound for volunteers.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
Singing by the choir of the hymn which begins:
Glorious things are sung of Zion,
Enoch’s city soon of old.--
Where the righteous, being perfect.
Walked with God on streets of gold.
Elder John Henry Smith,
of the Council of the Apostles, was the first speaker. He hoped that the feeling prevalent at the close of each conference, that it had been the best ever held, would prevail at the close of the present one, and that the people could carry with them to their homes the true spirit of the latter-day work. He referred to the honor felt and shown toward President Woodruff, by all classes of people on account of sturdy integrity for the cause he had espoused, and said that this was the just mind of all who had manifested such noble characteristics. Many great characters were in existence at the present time, some of whom were past the time of great activity, but who had won for themselves a fame which would increase with the lapse of time. Justice was rarely done such persons by their contemporaries, on account of their failings being so manifest during their lives, and no doubt such would be the case with the venerable leader of the Church. His life had been an example of earnest, humble self-devotion, every energy being directed to the advancement of the cause of truth; an inspiration to the youth in all laudable efforts. Patient industry, determination, indomitable will, simple habits, and many other noble elements had characterized his life. Called from the humble pursuits of life to his great and exalted labor, he had cheerfully assumed its responsibilities and earnestly borne them to the present, building solidly and well. In the opinion of the speaker no man can be found who had excelled President Woodruff in the sturdy qualities above referred to.
He deprecated the tendency so manifest at present, to show a lack of proper regard for the aged and faithful, but thought that this would be partially overcome by the life and example of President Woodruff, which could scarcely fail to inspire proper respect. The schools also should inculcate such reverence, the absence of which boded no good. There was a danger that the peculiarities of age would be allowed to prevent the manifestation of respect for the aged in the home circle, and such a condition should be carefully avoided, in order that the unity of the home circle might not be broken. The completion of the chain of relationship from generation to generation, could be accomplished only through the feelings of love and veneration of the children for the fathers, of which every faithful parent was worth. Instruction of the children in this direction would bear proper fruit, in the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children, to the unification of all the families of men. The speaker paid a glowing tribute to President Wilford Woodruff for his loyalty and generous justice, commending his example to the Saints. He closed with a strong testimony to the Gospel and saving power.
of the Council of the Apostles, was the first speaker. He hoped that the feeling prevalent at the close of each conference, that it had been the best ever held, would prevail at the close of the present one, and that the people could carry with them to their homes the true spirit of the latter-day work. He referred to the honor felt and shown toward President Woodruff, by all classes of people on account of sturdy integrity for the cause he had espoused, and said that this was the just mind of all who had manifested such noble characteristics. Many great characters were in existence at the present time, some of whom were past the time of great activity, but who had won for themselves a fame which would increase with the lapse of time. Justice was rarely done such persons by their contemporaries, on account of their failings being so manifest during their lives, and no doubt such would be the case with the venerable leader of the Church. His life had been an example of earnest, humble self-devotion, every energy being directed to the advancement of the cause of truth; an inspiration to the youth in all laudable efforts. Patient industry, determination, indomitable will, simple habits, and many other noble elements had characterized his life. Called from the humble pursuits of life to his great and exalted labor, he had cheerfully assumed its responsibilities and earnestly borne them to the present, building solidly and well. In the opinion of the speaker no man can be found who had excelled President Woodruff in the sturdy qualities above referred to.
He deprecated the tendency so manifest at present, to show a lack of proper regard for the aged and faithful, but thought that this would be partially overcome by the life and example of President Woodruff, which could scarcely fail to inspire proper respect. The schools also should inculcate such reverence, the absence of which boded no good. There was a danger that the peculiarities of age would be allowed to prevent the manifestation of respect for the aged in the home circle, and such a condition should be carefully avoided, in order that the unity of the home circle might not be broken. The completion of the chain of relationship from generation to generation, could be accomplished only through the feelings of love and veneration of the children for the fathers, of which every faithful parent was worth. Instruction of the children in this direction would bear proper fruit, in the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children, to the unification of all the families of men. The speaker paid a glowing tribute to President Wilford Woodruff for his loyalty and generous justice, commending his example to the Saints. He closed with a strong testimony to the Gospel and saving power.
Elder George Teasdale
of the quorum of the Twelve was the next speaker. He advocated the study of the Scriptures and fidelity in prayer as a means of exercising a righteous influence over our children. All our disasters were attributable to our disobedience. This disposition was common in the world. The speaker here read from the 5th chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews. It specially refers to the way to which men are called by God to positions in the Priesthood. The first requirement made of the child was to honor its father and mother. How necessary was compliance with this commandment. Witness the anxiety, labor and toil of the parents for their offspring. how natural it was that their affection and care should be rewarded by the love of their children. This reciprocal affection was indispensable to peace in the family relation. The speaker then treated upon some of the higher precepts of the Gospel taught by the Savior; also upon the relationship that existed between humanity and God, who was the Father of the spirits of all. When this connection was comprehended it ought to attract our love toward our Eternal Parent, and render us firm in our loyalty to Him. He also made reference to the atonement of Christ, through which the resurrection was brought about. A consideration of these principles, he said, superinduced to an appreciation of what God had done for His children, and led to obedience and noble humility. To place ourselves in such a position was the only means by which we could learn of God, receiving from Him light and truth. In this way we received a living testimony for ourselves. The speaker delineated the first principles of the Gospel—faith, repentance, baptism (immersion) in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of men called of God to the ministry. The discourse throughout was devoted to showing the necessity of obedience to God and loyalty in all the relations of life, and exhorting the people the righteousness. He concluded by bearing testimony that the Gospel in its fullness had been revealed anew through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
of the quorum of the Twelve was the next speaker. He advocated the study of the Scriptures and fidelity in prayer as a means of exercising a righteous influence over our children. All our disasters were attributable to our disobedience. This disposition was common in the world. The speaker here read from the 5th chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews. It specially refers to the way to which men are called by God to positions in the Priesthood. The first requirement made of the child was to honor its father and mother. How necessary was compliance with this commandment. Witness the anxiety, labor and toil of the parents for their offspring. how natural it was that their affection and care should be rewarded by the love of their children. This reciprocal affection was indispensable to peace in the family relation. The speaker then treated upon some of the higher precepts of the Gospel taught by the Savior; also upon the relationship that existed between humanity and God, who was the Father of the spirits of all. When this connection was comprehended it ought to attract our love toward our Eternal Parent, and render us firm in our loyalty to Him. He also made reference to the atonement of Christ, through which the resurrection was brought about. A consideration of these principles, he said, superinduced to an appreciation of what God had done for His children, and led to obedience and noble humility. To place ourselves in such a position was the only means by which we could learn of God, receiving from Him light and truth. In this way we received a living testimony for ourselves. The speaker delineated the first principles of the Gospel—faith, repentance, baptism (immersion) in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of men called of God to the ministry. The discourse throughout was devoted to showing the necessity of obedience to God and loyalty in all the relations of life, and exhorting the people the righteousness. He concluded by bearing testimony that the Gospel in its fullness had been revealed anew through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Elder Heber J. Grant
of the same quorum, followed. Gratification was expressed with the encouraging reports received from various departments of the work of God, these being a fulfillment of President Woodruff’s prediction at the dedication of the Temple, that the hearts of the people of the world would be softened toward the Latter-day Saints. Each faithful Saint was entitled to a testimony to the truth of the work of God, every faculty of the mind being convinced of this truth. All knowledge was obtained through the exercise of the faculties of the mind, and the knowledge of the Gospel was to be gained through obedience to its laws, according to the promise of Christ. If men would investigate this work as earnestly as they studied the sciences, they could not fail to discover its truth. On August 6, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that the Saints would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, where they would become a mighty people, notwithstanding the forbidding nature of the country characterized by Daniel Webster as useless on account of its barrenness. The Saints today were living witnesses of the fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy. While not deprecating secular instruction, the speaker felt that a larger proportion of attention should be paid to the acquirement of a more complete knowledge of the principles of the Gospel. Worthy children of worthy sires were wanted today, men and women willing to obey in righteousness, and not inclined to condemn the Priesthood for their devotion to the work entrusted to them, for such a spirit would tend to the condemnation of those encouraging it.
An extract from a revelation contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, was read to prove that the exercise of the Priesthood must be according to the principles of righteousness and long-suffering. This disproved the assertion of the enemies of the work, to the effect that the people were priest-ridden. Another extract was read, pronouncing woes upon those who, through their own unrighteousness, were led to lift up the heel against the Priesthood of God. He closed with a testimony to the power of God resting with those who exercised their Priesthood on the principles of righteousness, and in exhortation to renewed faithfulness and diligence on the part of the Saints.
The choir sang: From whence come all these people whom I face?
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
of the same quorum, followed. Gratification was expressed with the encouraging reports received from various departments of the work of God, these being a fulfillment of President Woodruff’s prediction at the dedication of the Temple, that the hearts of the people of the world would be softened toward the Latter-day Saints. Each faithful Saint was entitled to a testimony to the truth of the work of God, every faculty of the mind being convinced of this truth. All knowledge was obtained through the exercise of the faculties of the mind, and the knowledge of the Gospel was to be gained through obedience to its laws, according to the promise of Christ. If men would investigate this work as earnestly as they studied the sciences, they could not fail to discover its truth. On August 6, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that the Saints would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, where they would become a mighty people, notwithstanding the forbidding nature of the country characterized by Daniel Webster as useless on account of its barrenness. The Saints today were living witnesses of the fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy. While not deprecating secular instruction, the speaker felt that a larger proportion of attention should be paid to the acquirement of a more complete knowledge of the principles of the Gospel. Worthy children of worthy sires were wanted today, men and women willing to obey in righteousness, and not inclined to condemn the Priesthood for their devotion to the work entrusted to them, for such a spirit would tend to the condemnation of those encouraging it.
An extract from a revelation contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, was read to prove that the exercise of the Priesthood must be according to the principles of righteousness and long-suffering. This disproved the assertion of the enemies of the work, to the effect that the people were priest-ridden. Another extract was read, pronouncing woes upon those who, through their own unrighteousness, were led to lift up the heel against the Priesthood of God. He closed with a testimony to the power of God resting with those who exercised their Priesthood on the principles of righteousness, and in exhortation to renewed faithfulness and diligence on the part of the Saints.
The choir sang: From whence come all these people whom I face?
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
Afternoon Session.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
We’re not ashamed to own our Lord
And worship Him on earth.
Prayer by Elder Reed Smoot.
Singing by the choir of the hymn commencing:
Though deep’ning trials throng your way
Press on, press on, ye Saints of God.
Ere long the resurrection day
Will spread its light and truth abroad.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
We’re not ashamed to own our Lord
And worship Him on earth.
Prayer by Elder Reed Smoot.
Singing by the choir of the hymn commencing:
Though deep’ning trials throng your way
Press on, press on, ye Saints of God.
Ere long the resurrection day
Will spread its light and truth abroad.
Elder John W. Taylor
of the council of Apostles, addressed the Conference. Speaking of the gathered Saints, he said that Isaiah had predicted, in his second chapter, the establishment of the Lord’s house in the tops of the mountains, and the flowing of people of all nations toward it; the fulfillment of this prophecy constituting one of the most remarkable signs of the times. These people had been gathered in accordance with the prophecy of Jeremiah, that hunters and fishers should be sent forth to gather the honest in heart from all nations. The speaker had done a little in this direction during the last few months. He urged the people to consider the signs of the times, in order to understand their significance. One of these was the preaching of the Gospel to all nations, preparatory to the coming of Christ in clouds of heaven and the end of the world. This message included the call to repentance and the forsaking of evil, and the proclamation of the establishment of the Church of Christ with all its officers and ordinances. The unity of the faith predicted by Paul was being departed from by the various sects of the world, in that they rejected certain officers and principles which Jesus declared were necessary. The messengers of the Church proclaimed to these people the fulness of the Gospel, and the complete organization of the Church with all its officers intact, and with all the gifts of the Holy Ghost, including the spirit of prophecy, by which spirit all the great predictions of the past were made. The sealing power and the other blessings promised by Christ to Peter and the other Apostles, were in the Church today, and were offered freely to the world for their belief and practice. He bore a strong testimony to the power of God as manifested through his Prophet Wilford Woodruff for the advancement of God’s purposes.
of the council of Apostles, addressed the Conference. Speaking of the gathered Saints, he said that Isaiah had predicted, in his second chapter, the establishment of the Lord’s house in the tops of the mountains, and the flowing of people of all nations toward it; the fulfillment of this prophecy constituting one of the most remarkable signs of the times. These people had been gathered in accordance with the prophecy of Jeremiah, that hunters and fishers should be sent forth to gather the honest in heart from all nations. The speaker had done a little in this direction during the last few months. He urged the people to consider the signs of the times, in order to understand their significance. One of these was the preaching of the Gospel to all nations, preparatory to the coming of Christ in clouds of heaven and the end of the world. This message included the call to repentance and the forsaking of evil, and the proclamation of the establishment of the Church of Christ with all its officers and ordinances. The unity of the faith predicted by Paul was being departed from by the various sects of the world, in that they rejected certain officers and principles which Jesus declared were necessary. The messengers of the Church proclaimed to these people the fulness of the Gospel, and the complete organization of the Church with all its officers intact, and with all the gifts of the Holy Ghost, including the spirit of prophecy, by which spirit all the great predictions of the past were made. The sealing power and the other blessings promised by Christ to Peter and the other Apostles, were in the Church today, and were offered freely to the world for their belief and practice. He bore a strong testimony to the power of God as manifested through his Prophet Wilford Woodruff for the advancement of God’s purposes.
President George Q. Cannon
delivered a discourse upon the proper training of our children, and the great importance of the faithful being represented in the future generations of the people of God by a righteous posterity bearing the everlasting Priesthood. In connection with this theme he spoke at some length upon the gathering of the Saints, characterizing it as a most marvelous movement, which had no parallel in history, and the development of the purposes of the Lord in our day. He also spoke with great power upon the stability of the Priesthood of the Son of God and the utter folly of those who imagined it would go wrong.
Discourse
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Monday, April 5th, 1897, by President George Q. Cannon
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
During our Conference there have been a number of allusions to our rising generation and the importance of training them. Probably there can be no subject mentioned to us that possesses greater interest, because our future as a Church and as families depends upon our children being trained in righteousness. It is one of the saddest things to contemplate, in connection with the history of our people, that families which have been prominent in the Church, or whose head has been a prominent man in the Church, have now no representative among us. Among the highest and most glorious promises that the Lord has made to His faithful servants it that their posterity shall be numbered among His people, and that they shall be blessed of Him. All the records that have come to us from righteous men convey with plainness the great importance of having a faithful posterity. You remember the case of Rechab that is recorded by Jeremiah. Because of the faithfulness of this man’s posterity, the Lord told Jeremiah that he should never be without a man to stand before him. We find that men of God have always endeavored to exercise faith in behalf of their posterity. The Lord made covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the sons of Jacob, concerning their posterity, and these covenants the Lord holds in great esteem, and has promised that in the last days they shall be fulfilled. It is the same in our day, the posterity of faithful men may stray from the Church, but the Lord will feel after some branch of their family and bring it back in days to come to the covenant people.
At times it has been a matter of surprise to some individuals that they have been enabled to join the Church and receive the truth while so many around them have turned deaf ears to it. But if we understood the past as we do the present, we would doubtless see that there are reasons for this, which have existed long before we were born. There is no doubt in my mind that the gathering together of this people from the various nations of the earth, and the manner in which they have received the Gospel, is due to the promises made to their fathers.
It is our duty now, enjoined upon us by the Lord, to bring up our children properly, and to see that everything is done to preserve them in the faith. Every sort of appeal is being resorted to in order to captivate and lead astray the rising generation of this people. And as modern education spreads, and the theories of men and the sciences are taught in their present form, so the danger of the loss of faith on the part of our children increases, because in all the teachings of the educational institutions of the day there are conveyed doubts and unbelief concerning principles contained in the records that have come down to us from the Lord through His servants. We have seen this proved, from the fact that many of our young men who have gone away to institutions of learning have lost their faith in the Gospel. It seems to be dangerous for young men and young women to go east to graduate at some university or college, because of this tendency to unbelief. Then there are the sinful influences that surround them there, and here also, and the constant danger they are in of doing something that will grieve the Spirit of the Lord and cause it to be withdrawn from them. I believe there is a great responsibility resting upon us in this respect, and concerning which we are too forgetful. It is pleasing, however, to see the care that is being taken by the Mutual Improvement Associations, by the Sunday schools, by the Primaries, and by the quorums of the Priesthood, in behalf of the young people. These influences are having a good effect, and no doubt the sending of missionaries abroad as we do has a good effect also, to arouse faith in the hearts of those who go, giving them a testimony concerning the work of God. They come back having a knowledge, proved by experience; and if they continue to labor diligently at home in their callings, the Lord blesses them and increases their faith. On this account we have great cause to rejoice.
But, brethren and sisters, it is of the highest importance that we, as parents and as members of the Church, should comprehend the purposes of our God concerning us as a people. On this point I think there is not the light and the comprehension in the minds of the people that there should be. It seems to me that we all need instruction in this direction. In our eagerness to make a living, and especially in view of the new conditions that surround us politically, our minds are, to some extent, diverted from the great purpose that God has had in view in founding Zion. We have a grand mission entrusted to us. The Lord has assigned to us a wonderful amount of important work to perform; and in order to prepare us for this, He has poured out His Spirit upon this people in their scattered condition, and has impressed them with the necessity of gathering together as we are in these valleys at the present time. Allusion was made by Brother John W. Taylor of the gathering of the people and to the fulfillment of the prediction of Isaiah and other prophets concerning their gathering. The gathering of this people from the nations of the earth appears to be the most miraculous work that has ever been performed. There is nothing in history, sacred or profane, that comes anywhere near being so wonderful in all its details as this gathering. God has poured out His Spirit upon us, and upon our fathers and mothers, and has impelled them to leave the lands of their birth and come together as we are today.
Now, there is a great end to be accomplished by this mighty work of gathering. It is the power of God manifesting itself among men. A new era is dawning upon mankind. It is true that the Latter-day Saints are but a small people numerically; but when we are united and obedient to the voice of God, there is no people, no matter how numerous they may be, that attract attention to their movements and operations as the Latter-day Saints do. It is astonishing the interest there is felt in the movements of this people. We have been opposed all the time; we have had difficulties of an almost inseparable character to contend with; and yet there has been a power accompanying this people and impelling them forward and sustaining them that has been miraculous in its operations. We have only to review the history of the Church during the past few years to be conscious of this. We need not go back to the days of New York, nor to the days of Kirtland, of Jackson County, Clay County or Caldwell County, or Nauvoo, nor to the beginning of our settlement here; we have only to go back a few years to see how wonderfully God has wrought in behalf of His people. We have had almost every kind of opposition to contend with, yet that opposition has been overcome. The Lord’s providence has been over this people, and they have been delivered in the most unexpected manner. It can be said of us that which was said of Mordecai, as recorded in the book of Esther. When Haman’s friends found that Mordecai and Haman were opposed, they said:
If Mordecai be of the see of the Jews, before whom thou has begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
So it is with the Latter-day Saints. There is no power on earth, no matter how formidable and threatening it may be, that can stand in opposition to this work, and every plan that is framed for its overthrow will fall to the ground. Nothing will ever succeed against this Church so long as the Latter-day Saints are united. We shall triumph. Our trials will probably be severe, and we will have to pass through ordeals that will test us to the very centre; but we shall emerge from them victorious in every instance, if we are faithful to the truth which God has revealed to us. The Lord will have a tried people. We shall have dark hours; we shall have times when it will seem as though the Lord had apparently forsaken us; when the whole heavens will be covered with clouds, and it will seem as though we cannot escape; but if we are faithful to the Lord He will bring us through, and after testing our faith He will crown us with success and triumph. He has done it in the past; He will do it in the future. But if any Latter-day Saint thinks he can get through without being tested, then he makes a sad mistake.
We have had tests here of late. As I said in my remarks yesterday morning, we have been threatened with division. Men have become unsettled in their views; darkness has taken possession of many, minds, and they have doubt about that concerning which there ought never to be any doubt, namely, the Priesthood of the Son of God. When you doubt that, where are you? What are you to rely upon? Why we had better distrust the solid earth itself on which we stand and think it trembling and unreliable, than to think that the Priesthood cannot be relied upon—that Priesthood which God Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, came to earth to prepare the way for its restoration. I would just as soon think of the starry heavens falling into chaos; I would just as soon think that the throne of our Father in heaven was in danger of being shaken to its foundations, as I would think that the Priesthood of God, through which all this wealth of blessing which God has bestowed upon us has come, would be permitted by the Lord to mislead this people. Never! Never! The Father did not come down from heaven Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, for any such purpose as this. The Lord did not pour out His Spirit as He has done upon the honest in heart wherever the Elders have gone, to leave this work alone, to be mismanaged, and the people to be led astray. The Lord has not led us to these mountains and blessed us as He has done for this purpose. No, no! Though impenetrable darkness should surround us, we ought, as a people and as individuals, to cling to that truth which the Lord has revealed concerning this work; cling to the Priesthood; cling to the “rod of iron,” which is the word of God, and the word of God comes through the Priesthood. Let each one say: “I will serve God, no matter what happens; I will cling to His Priesthood, which God has put in His Church to govern it, no matter what the consequences may be.” That is the integrity we should cherish, and which we should teach to our children. Unless we do, we will never accomplish that which God designs for us.
I feel, to some extent, keenly upon this point, because I love the Latter-day Saints. No heaven would be heaven to me unless the Latter-day Saints were there. I would rather die any time than to see this people turned away from the truth. I love the Latter-day Saints better than I can express, and I desire exceedingly to see them do right. I have, therefore, felt grieved to the bottom of my soul when I have seen them wavering, and I have asked myself, Has it come to this, that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a prophet of God will not be listened to? that a prophet of God shall be limited in his authority, and shall not counsel the Latter-day Saints as God shall inspire him? To me the thought of this has been terrible. And yet men who bear the Priesthood have manifested that spirit in Zion. They did not want to listen to the voice of God through His prophets. They did not want the First Presidency, nor the Twelve, to counsel them. In effect, they said: “Keep off. There is a limit to your authority. We do not want you to exercise it beyond certain limits.” It is awful to think of, but that has been the condition. Would you have believed it if you had not seen it? Why, things have come to our ears of the most shocking character concerning the exercise of the authority of the Priesthood. It has been plainly and publicly stated that the men who lead the people were exceeding their powers and were putting fetters on the people; and one man has risen up and denounced the servants of God, untruthfully, and there have been those who have felt to sustain him and to justify him in it. I say that unless they repent in the name of the Lord Jesus, God will withdraw His Spirit from the, and they will go down into darkness. It is a serious think to fight against the Priesthood of the Son of God, no matter who holds it. The men who do bear it are fallible men, and when they bear it properly, are conscious of their own weaknesses and infirmities. They feel not only as if they were utterly unworthy of the authority the Lord has placed upon them, but incapable of exercising it. But they have been chosen by the Lord, and He will sustain them and bear them off triumphant always, as He has done thus far. And no man can lift his heel against the Priesthood of the Son of God without the curse of Almighty God coming upon him, unless he repents. Why, ye Latter-day Saints, what blessing is it that you enjoy of a spiritual nature, aye, and of a temporal nature, too, I may say, that has not come to you through the Priesthood. Can you think of any? I am sure you cannot. Its fruits comprise the whole of our lives, our interests, our prosperity, individually, and as a people.
I feel to say to the Latter-day Saints who have been guilty of indulging in this spirit, that they must repent, if they want to regain the favor of God; for I tell you it is a dreadful sin to fight against or in any manner oppose the Priesthood of the Son of God, and everyone of us should repent of such opposition with all our hearts.
Some men imagine, that God having restored His authority to the earth, there is danger of it being exercised in an improper manner. That is the charge which our enemies frame against us. They say we are a pretty good people, but there is danger in men having the authority which we claim to have—danger of it being exercised in some manner to injure the community. Now, I say, and say it boldly, that no such instance can be found in our history. When men have attempted to exercise the authority of the Priesthood in an improper manner, the Lord has withdrawn His Spirit from the, as Brother Grant read this morning from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that the Lord would do. He will have a pure people, and He will have a people who will be led by His servants. When a man ceases to be a true servant of the Lord, the Lord withdraws His Spirit from him, and leaves him to himself. Happy would that man be if he should die before he did this. But men have seen priestcraft in the world, and they confound that with Priesthood; but I want you to understand that there is a wide distinction between Priesthood and priestcraft. Men who exercise priestcraft become wrong-doers and oppressors, and commit great sins under the guise of religion, while trying to appear in the eyes of the world as being in the service of God. But the Priesthood is not of that character. It is beneficent in its operations. It blesses, it upholds, it strengthens, it diffuses love, union, peace, and every godlike quality among mankind. Has not that been its operation among us? I leave it to you to say. Has not the influence and labor of the Priesthood among the Latter-day Saints been of a beneficent character? (Cries of “Yes.”) Undoubtedly it has. I have no doubt that this whole congregation would say with one voice, “Yes, we know its operation have been beneficial.” You never heard the Prophet Joseph Smith say a thing that would in the least degree be oppressive to any human being. He was a friend of liberty. Of all men, I think, that ever lived, Joseph Smith was the strongest advocate of human liberty and giving every human being his full rights. He contended for this continually. He believed in the exercise of man’s agency. President Brigham Young had the same spirit. His labors are before us in these mountains to show the spirit that he was of. No man could love his fellow man seemingly more than he did, or be more willing to have the people exercise their agency to the fullest extent. So it has been with President Taylor and President Woodruff, and throughout the Church in all its ramifications. Of course, there have been men who have abused their privileges and their power; but they have not lasted long; they have lost their influence and their positions in the Church of Christ. But, take it as a whole, the influence of the Priesthood has been most beneficent in behalf of the children of men. Any attempt to show anything contrary to this must fail. Of course, we are, as I have said, fallible men. We are yet in a state of probation, subject to the fall. We have not overcome the consequences of this yet. But, taking this into consideration, the exercise of the Priesthood has been kindly, loving, diffusing peace, encouraging union, and making the people better all the time.
There are, of course, as you can well understand, very great reasons why Satan should seek to curtain the influence of the Priesthood. Satan does not want this power and authority perpetuated, because it is a menace to his kingdom and dominion. It was this that prompted him to seek the life of the Son of God, and the lives of His apostles and inspired servants in ancient days. He did not want the Priesthood to be on the earth. He stirred up men to hate it, and to hate the men that exercised it, and the bearers of this power were slain. It has been the same ever since this Church was organized. The men that bear the Priesthood are hated by Satan. They are hated by those who are under his influence. They would have destroyed this Church long ago if it had not been for the promises of God concerning it. I do not believe that the men bearing the Priesthood could have escaped the snares and plots of the evil one if it had not been for the promise that God has made concerning this dispensation, that it should not be given into the hands of another people, and that Satan should not prevail over it. Had it not been for this, I say, the bearers of the Priesthood in this day would have been destroyed as their predecessors were in the ancient days. But God has made this promise; and notwithstanding the hatred, notwithstanding the blood that has been and may yet be shed, the work will roll forth and will accomplish the end that the Father has in view. At the same time you can see why Satan should be angry. He has had undisputed sway, it may be said, in the earth until the late years. Now when he sees his work being undone; when he sees the spread of truth, the increase of righteousness, is it nay wonder that he hates it and all people who are seeking to practice righteousness? Is it any wonder that he seeks to decoy and lead astray our children? No, it is not. That is part of his plan. If he can be successful int his, then he will triumph.
But the duty and the mission is entrusted to us to seek to make a better condition. And it will have to be done by the influence of the Priesthood. We cannot get away from that. Now, I do not mean by this that the Church will interfere with the State. That is the constant cry, you know, that is being raised to frighten us and to make us afraid to do things, lest we shall be open to the charge of interfering with the State. It is a stale cry. There is nothing in it, and it should not intimidate a people like the Latter-day Saints. We have not interfered with the State. We have built the State. The influence of the Priesthood in the Church of Christ has made this country what it is. It has transformed it from a desert into its present fruitfulness. Do you think that if the men who bear the Priesthood could have their way they would oppress anybody in this country? They would not. It is a truth that we may as well recognize, that because a man bears the Priesthood it does not necessarily follow that he must abstain from all participation in state affairs. This would be a terrible condition for this people, because every reputable man in our Church is bearer of the Priesthood; and if this rule were to operate, it would exclude the entire Mormon male population from all participation in the affairs of the State. But, we have endeavored to concede everything that we could to meet these attacks; we have done everything in our power, without sacrificing our rights and liberties. At the same time there is no reason why a man that bears the Priesthood should not act in any capacity int he State. His bearing the Priesthood should not preclude him in the least degree from that. He can be as true to the State and to all its obligations as if he were a private citizen. One does not interfere with the other.
We have been taught from the beginning this important principle, that the Church of God is distinct from the kingdom of God. Joseph gave us the pattern before he died. He gave his brethren an example that has not been forgotten up to this day. He impressed it upon them, that men, not members of the Church, could be members of the kingdom that the Lord will set up when He reigns. He picked out the youngest among them, and told them to be sure and remember this. In the minds of all of us who understand this matter there is a clear distinction between the Church in its ecclesiastical capacity and that which may be termed the government of God in its political capacity. No people are less open to the charge of mingling the two and seeking to destroy the distinctions between church and state than the Latter-day Saints, and especially the leading men of this Church; and any attempt on the part of anyone to say that we have any such designs, is the attack of an enemy and is untrue. But no matter how scrupulously we walk, or how many declarations we may make of our intentions, or how many pledges we give, there is a class of men, and probably will be for years, who are always ready to misinterpret and to make false charges against us concerning these things. And many of our own people have been as much to blame for this as those not of us; they have drunk into the same spirit, and they have yielded to the influence of it, thus strengthening the hands of those who have attacked us from this standpoint. Many of our people have helped them, and yet they have called themselves Latter-day Saints! They have been untrue to the people, untrue to their fellowship, and to the covenants which we make with one another. We have never made a covenant that will not bear exposure, that we would not be willing that the whole world should know. We have made no secret covenants and oaths to prevent us from loving mankind and treating them as our brothers and sisters. But we do covenant to love one another and to love the Lord; we do covenant to build up righteousness in the earth, to be the children of God, the servants of Jesus Christ. We make covenants of that kind when we go into the waters of baptism. But men have broken those covenants, and unwittingly, perhaps, in many instances, they have injured in the work of God. Therefore, I say that they must repent, no matter who they are, and turn away from these things, or the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from them, as well as His gifts and blessings. We may as well understand this first as last. I cannot lift my hand against this people and be prospered in it, nor can any other man. No man can join with the enemies of this people and hope to succeed; for God will desert him, no matter how high his standing may be, and all who follow in his footsteps will find themselves dreadfully deceived. We may as well warn you of this, and tell you the truth, whatever may be said about it. We do not want any of your blood clinging to our garments. We do not want to stand in the positions we do and hold our peace and see the people misled and going astray. God has placed us as shepherds over His flock, and if we do not look out for the flock He will smite us and remove us. We are placed as watchmen upon the walls of Zion, and if we do not give warning when we see danger, then we are culpable and will be condemned of God. Now, if you want to know why we talk this way, understand that this is the reason: We are responsible to the Lord for you, and we cannot shirt that responsibility. Our opponents may be offended at these remarks, and misquote them; but that does not make a particle of difference. Must we stand and let the people go astray, and not lift up our voices in warning? Why, we might as well die today and be done with it, and let somebody else come and take our places and do the work. What is the use of our being in this position unless we are men and have the willingness to declare the whole counsel of God as it comes to us?
I have been delighted at seeing the gathering of the people at this conference and the spirit of union that prevails. My brethren and sisters, let us seek more and more for this spirit. If you are in doubt concerning anything, go to the Lord. Oh! if the people would only go to the Lord, how easy it would be to govern them. Go to the Lord, humble yourselves before Him, and ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to give His Holy Spirit to you. We pray constantly that it may be poured out upon you; that your hearts may be softened, and that the scales of darkness may fall from all our eyes—priest and people; for we are all blind to a certain extent; but we want to see and understand the purposes of God and that which He is striving to accomplish in the earth. He is building a place of refuge in these mountains. He wants us to be a united people, and to make this a place of refuge, so that the eyes of mankind will turn to these mountains, that they may say, “Why, there I see a people living at peace and in harmony, undivided, loving one another, and seeking the welfare of their fellow men.” This is the object for which we gathered. When you divide and split up, and join factions, and seek to destroy the influence of the Priesthood of God, you defeat, so far as your action is concerned, the design of God. God wants us to be a united people. I do not mean by this that we must all vote one ticket. But we can vote without quarreling and getting into a bad spirit. We should love the Lord, and be willing to be guided by Him, and we should listen to the voice of the Lord. What a power then the people would be! The Lord would come in a very little while; for the earth would be prepared for His coming. This is what we want; not for the Latter-day Saints alone, but for this whole nation, which God loves, and which He established and made a free nation—the best, the strongest, and the most liberty-loving nation upon the face of the earth. And we love it because God has founded it. He raised up men to found it, and He gave it those forms of liberty which permitted this Church to be organized. This Church could not have been organized in any other land, or under any other form of government. Therefore, we love this land, we love this government, and we love the Constitution and the institutions of the land. We believe in the Constitutions more than any other people, because we know it has been inspired of the Lord. Let not our people, therefore, divide, or go hither and thither after every will-o’-the-wisp there is in the land. The Lord wants us to be united, and wants the influence of this Church to be increased by the union of the people. He wants the influence of the Priesthood of the Son of God elevated and strengthened in these mountains and among the nations. I tell it in great plainness, for it is the truth of heaven. And the possibilities that will result from this you cannot conceive of. God has chosen us expressly for this purpose and to do this work, and we cannot get out of it. Personally, I tried to get out of this responsibility. The Lord revealed to me in my youth that I was to be an Apostle. In after years I besought Him that He would not choose me to hold this office, for I had seen what I would have to go through, and I shrunk from it. But we are chosen, and we cannot get out of it honorably. No matter what the consequences may be, we have to magnify this Priesthood in the midst of His people and in the earth. Every one of us have had a charge of this kind given to us.
Brethren and sisters, ask the Lord about these things. Go to Him and beseech Him, in the name of Jesus, to enlighten your minds and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, that you may see and understand, and soften your hearts, and then strive to live the principles of the Gospel that Jesus taught, and that we in our humble capacity have been endeavoring to teach to you, so that when men come into our midst they will see a people who will excite their admiration; for just as sure as we live and as the Lord ha spoken, this people will at some time—and the distance of that time depends upon our faithfulness—be sought after, their counsels will be sought for, and men will say: “Those Latter-day Saints are capable of governing themselves, and of maintaining good government; they love their fellow men, and respect their rights, and we want to live among them, or we want to have their influence among us.” The time will come in this land—I tell you now, ye faint-hearted ones, the time will come when the counsels of the servants of God will be sought for in our own land and in all the states where our people live, because our conduct and our management will stand out in such bold relief in comparison with the management and conduct of others, that they will want to get our counsel and our help in their extremity. This will be the case, not only right here, but elsewhere. And today, let me say to you, if our people were united, we would hold the key. we occupy a position where our influence, if we were united as we should be, would be more potent than that of any other state or community in these United States. I do not overstate this in the least. I know what I am talking about, and it is the truth. But our divisions, our partisanship, our loss of the Spirit, our quarreling one with another, our upbraiding one of another, weakens us and takes away the strength and the power that God has placed within our reach.
I pray God to bless us during the remainder of this conference; to pour out His Spirit in power upon His servants and upon all, that our hearts may be filled with the light of truth, and with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost. Oh! that we could understand how willing the Lord is to bless us; how his arms are stretched out filled with blessings for this people if we will prepare to receive them. He will save us; He will deliver us from our enemies; He will make our path plain; and if we die—why, what is death? It is only a change from this condition into a better one. We of all people should be the least afraid of death, because God has made the greatest of promises to us. If we are valiant in His cause, He will reward us and crown us with glory; for He loves valor. The Lord loves a people of integrity, a people who will not betray one another, or fight against one another. He loves men and women of this kind. And He loves the women of this Church, because of their integrity. No women have ever shown greater heroism and more integrity than the women of this Church have done. They have been superior to the men in many respects. Fewer of them have shown cowardice or unwillingness to face and bear all the consequences of their acts. I know the Lord loves the women of this Church, and He loves the men, too, who are humble. There are thousands of them who are humble and obscure men; their names do not appear prominently; we do not hear their sermons; they are not famous among us; but the Lord looks upon them and loves them, because of the integrity of their hearts and their valor in His cause. There are thousands of men and women in this Church who would gladly, if it were necessary, lay down their lives for the truth.
Well, the Lord bless us all; bless His servant, our President, and grant that he may be strengthened and made able to perform the duties that devolve upon him. The Lord has wonderfully blessed him, and we feel that He will continue His blessing—in fact, we know He will, whether in life or in death; but we want him to live. Our prayers are for that, and your prayers, too. I know that President Woodruff feels that your prayers have prolonged his life, and that he would have gone away from us four years ago, if it had not been for the prayers of the Saints and the administration of the servants of God. He knows now that the people are praying for him, and it gives him confidence, comfort and strength. The Lord bless us in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The anthem, The Nations Bow to Satan’s Thrall, was sung by the choir, solo part by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edwards.
Benediction by Elder Chas. W. Penrose.
delivered a discourse upon the proper training of our children, and the great importance of the faithful being represented in the future generations of the people of God by a righteous posterity bearing the everlasting Priesthood. In connection with this theme he spoke at some length upon the gathering of the Saints, characterizing it as a most marvelous movement, which had no parallel in history, and the development of the purposes of the Lord in our day. He also spoke with great power upon the stability of the Priesthood of the Son of God and the utter folly of those who imagined it would go wrong.
Discourse
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Monday, April 5th, 1897, by President George Q. Cannon
[Reported by Arthur Winter.]
During our Conference there have been a number of allusions to our rising generation and the importance of training them. Probably there can be no subject mentioned to us that possesses greater interest, because our future as a Church and as families depends upon our children being trained in righteousness. It is one of the saddest things to contemplate, in connection with the history of our people, that families which have been prominent in the Church, or whose head has been a prominent man in the Church, have now no representative among us. Among the highest and most glorious promises that the Lord has made to His faithful servants it that their posterity shall be numbered among His people, and that they shall be blessed of Him. All the records that have come to us from righteous men convey with plainness the great importance of having a faithful posterity. You remember the case of Rechab that is recorded by Jeremiah. Because of the faithfulness of this man’s posterity, the Lord told Jeremiah that he should never be without a man to stand before him. We find that men of God have always endeavored to exercise faith in behalf of their posterity. The Lord made covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the sons of Jacob, concerning their posterity, and these covenants the Lord holds in great esteem, and has promised that in the last days they shall be fulfilled. It is the same in our day, the posterity of faithful men may stray from the Church, but the Lord will feel after some branch of their family and bring it back in days to come to the covenant people.
At times it has been a matter of surprise to some individuals that they have been enabled to join the Church and receive the truth while so many around them have turned deaf ears to it. But if we understood the past as we do the present, we would doubtless see that there are reasons for this, which have existed long before we were born. There is no doubt in my mind that the gathering together of this people from the various nations of the earth, and the manner in which they have received the Gospel, is due to the promises made to their fathers.
It is our duty now, enjoined upon us by the Lord, to bring up our children properly, and to see that everything is done to preserve them in the faith. Every sort of appeal is being resorted to in order to captivate and lead astray the rising generation of this people. And as modern education spreads, and the theories of men and the sciences are taught in their present form, so the danger of the loss of faith on the part of our children increases, because in all the teachings of the educational institutions of the day there are conveyed doubts and unbelief concerning principles contained in the records that have come down to us from the Lord through His servants. We have seen this proved, from the fact that many of our young men who have gone away to institutions of learning have lost their faith in the Gospel. It seems to be dangerous for young men and young women to go east to graduate at some university or college, because of this tendency to unbelief. Then there are the sinful influences that surround them there, and here also, and the constant danger they are in of doing something that will grieve the Spirit of the Lord and cause it to be withdrawn from them. I believe there is a great responsibility resting upon us in this respect, and concerning which we are too forgetful. It is pleasing, however, to see the care that is being taken by the Mutual Improvement Associations, by the Sunday schools, by the Primaries, and by the quorums of the Priesthood, in behalf of the young people. These influences are having a good effect, and no doubt the sending of missionaries abroad as we do has a good effect also, to arouse faith in the hearts of those who go, giving them a testimony concerning the work of God. They come back having a knowledge, proved by experience; and if they continue to labor diligently at home in their callings, the Lord blesses them and increases their faith. On this account we have great cause to rejoice.
But, brethren and sisters, it is of the highest importance that we, as parents and as members of the Church, should comprehend the purposes of our God concerning us as a people. On this point I think there is not the light and the comprehension in the minds of the people that there should be. It seems to me that we all need instruction in this direction. In our eagerness to make a living, and especially in view of the new conditions that surround us politically, our minds are, to some extent, diverted from the great purpose that God has had in view in founding Zion. We have a grand mission entrusted to us. The Lord has assigned to us a wonderful amount of important work to perform; and in order to prepare us for this, He has poured out His Spirit upon this people in their scattered condition, and has impressed them with the necessity of gathering together as we are in these valleys at the present time. Allusion was made by Brother John W. Taylor of the gathering of the people and to the fulfillment of the prediction of Isaiah and other prophets concerning their gathering. The gathering of this people from the nations of the earth appears to be the most miraculous work that has ever been performed. There is nothing in history, sacred or profane, that comes anywhere near being so wonderful in all its details as this gathering. God has poured out His Spirit upon us, and upon our fathers and mothers, and has impelled them to leave the lands of their birth and come together as we are today.
Now, there is a great end to be accomplished by this mighty work of gathering. It is the power of God manifesting itself among men. A new era is dawning upon mankind. It is true that the Latter-day Saints are but a small people numerically; but when we are united and obedient to the voice of God, there is no people, no matter how numerous they may be, that attract attention to their movements and operations as the Latter-day Saints do. It is astonishing the interest there is felt in the movements of this people. We have been opposed all the time; we have had difficulties of an almost inseparable character to contend with; and yet there has been a power accompanying this people and impelling them forward and sustaining them that has been miraculous in its operations. We have only to review the history of the Church during the past few years to be conscious of this. We need not go back to the days of New York, nor to the days of Kirtland, of Jackson County, Clay County or Caldwell County, or Nauvoo, nor to the beginning of our settlement here; we have only to go back a few years to see how wonderfully God has wrought in behalf of His people. We have had almost every kind of opposition to contend with, yet that opposition has been overcome. The Lord’s providence has been over this people, and they have been delivered in the most unexpected manner. It can be said of us that which was said of Mordecai, as recorded in the book of Esther. When Haman’s friends found that Mordecai and Haman were opposed, they said:
If Mordecai be of the see of the Jews, before whom thou has begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
So it is with the Latter-day Saints. There is no power on earth, no matter how formidable and threatening it may be, that can stand in opposition to this work, and every plan that is framed for its overthrow will fall to the ground. Nothing will ever succeed against this Church so long as the Latter-day Saints are united. We shall triumph. Our trials will probably be severe, and we will have to pass through ordeals that will test us to the very centre; but we shall emerge from them victorious in every instance, if we are faithful to the truth which God has revealed to us. The Lord will have a tried people. We shall have dark hours; we shall have times when it will seem as though the Lord had apparently forsaken us; when the whole heavens will be covered with clouds, and it will seem as though we cannot escape; but if we are faithful to the Lord He will bring us through, and after testing our faith He will crown us with success and triumph. He has done it in the past; He will do it in the future. But if any Latter-day Saint thinks he can get through without being tested, then he makes a sad mistake.
We have had tests here of late. As I said in my remarks yesterday morning, we have been threatened with division. Men have become unsettled in their views; darkness has taken possession of many, minds, and they have doubt about that concerning which there ought never to be any doubt, namely, the Priesthood of the Son of God. When you doubt that, where are you? What are you to rely upon? Why we had better distrust the solid earth itself on which we stand and think it trembling and unreliable, than to think that the Priesthood cannot be relied upon—that Priesthood which God Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, came to earth to prepare the way for its restoration. I would just as soon think of the starry heavens falling into chaos; I would just as soon think that the throne of our Father in heaven was in danger of being shaken to its foundations, as I would think that the Priesthood of God, through which all this wealth of blessing which God has bestowed upon us has come, would be permitted by the Lord to mislead this people. Never! Never! The Father did not come down from heaven Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, for any such purpose as this. The Lord did not pour out His Spirit as He has done upon the honest in heart wherever the Elders have gone, to leave this work alone, to be mismanaged, and the people to be led astray. The Lord has not led us to these mountains and blessed us as He has done for this purpose. No, no! Though impenetrable darkness should surround us, we ought, as a people and as individuals, to cling to that truth which the Lord has revealed concerning this work; cling to the Priesthood; cling to the “rod of iron,” which is the word of God, and the word of God comes through the Priesthood. Let each one say: “I will serve God, no matter what happens; I will cling to His Priesthood, which God has put in His Church to govern it, no matter what the consequences may be.” That is the integrity we should cherish, and which we should teach to our children. Unless we do, we will never accomplish that which God designs for us.
I feel, to some extent, keenly upon this point, because I love the Latter-day Saints. No heaven would be heaven to me unless the Latter-day Saints were there. I would rather die any time than to see this people turned away from the truth. I love the Latter-day Saints better than I can express, and I desire exceedingly to see them do right. I have, therefore, felt grieved to the bottom of my soul when I have seen them wavering, and I have asked myself, Has it come to this, that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a prophet of God will not be listened to? that a prophet of God shall be limited in his authority, and shall not counsel the Latter-day Saints as God shall inspire him? To me the thought of this has been terrible. And yet men who bear the Priesthood have manifested that spirit in Zion. They did not want to listen to the voice of God through His prophets. They did not want the First Presidency, nor the Twelve, to counsel them. In effect, they said: “Keep off. There is a limit to your authority. We do not want you to exercise it beyond certain limits.” It is awful to think of, but that has been the condition. Would you have believed it if you had not seen it? Why, things have come to our ears of the most shocking character concerning the exercise of the authority of the Priesthood. It has been plainly and publicly stated that the men who lead the people were exceeding their powers and were putting fetters on the people; and one man has risen up and denounced the servants of God, untruthfully, and there have been those who have felt to sustain him and to justify him in it. I say that unless they repent in the name of the Lord Jesus, God will withdraw His Spirit from the, and they will go down into darkness. It is a serious think to fight against the Priesthood of the Son of God, no matter who holds it. The men who do bear it are fallible men, and when they bear it properly, are conscious of their own weaknesses and infirmities. They feel not only as if they were utterly unworthy of the authority the Lord has placed upon them, but incapable of exercising it. But they have been chosen by the Lord, and He will sustain them and bear them off triumphant always, as He has done thus far. And no man can lift his heel against the Priesthood of the Son of God without the curse of Almighty God coming upon him, unless he repents. Why, ye Latter-day Saints, what blessing is it that you enjoy of a spiritual nature, aye, and of a temporal nature, too, I may say, that has not come to you through the Priesthood. Can you think of any? I am sure you cannot. Its fruits comprise the whole of our lives, our interests, our prosperity, individually, and as a people.
I feel to say to the Latter-day Saints who have been guilty of indulging in this spirit, that they must repent, if they want to regain the favor of God; for I tell you it is a dreadful sin to fight against or in any manner oppose the Priesthood of the Son of God, and everyone of us should repent of such opposition with all our hearts.
Some men imagine, that God having restored His authority to the earth, there is danger of it being exercised in an improper manner. That is the charge which our enemies frame against us. They say we are a pretty good people, but there is danger in men having the authority which we claim to have—danger of it being exercised in some manner to injure the community. Now, I say, and say it boldly, that no such instance can be found in our history. When men have attempted to exercise the authority of the Priesthood in an improper manner, the Lord has withdrawn His Spirit from the, as Brother Grant read this morning from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that the Lord would do. He will have a pure people, and He will have a people who will be led by His servants. When a man ceases to be a true servant of the Lord, the Lord withdraws His Spirit from him, and leaves him to himself. Happy would that man be if he should die before he did this. But men have seen priestcraft in the world, and they confound that with Priesthood; but I want you to understand that there is a wide distinction between Priesthood and priestcraft. Men who exercise priestcraft become wrong-doers and oppressors, and commit great sins under the guise of religion, while trying to appear in the eyes of the world as being in the service of God. But the Priesthood is not of that character. It is beneficent in its operations. It blesses, it upholds, it strengthens, it diffuses love, union, peace, and every godlike quality among mankind. Has not that been its operation among us? I leave it to you to say. Has not the influence and labor of the Priesthood among the Latter-day Saints been of a beneficent character? (Cries of “Yes.”) Undoubtedly it has. I have no doubt that this whole congregation would say with one voice, “Yes, we know its operation have been beneficial.” You never heard the Prophet Joseph Smith say a thing that would in the least degree be oppressive to any human being. He was a friend of liberty. Of all men, I think, that ever lived, Joseph Smith was the strongest advocate of human liberty and giving every human being his full rights. He contended for this continually. He believed in the exercise of man’s agency. President Brigham Young had the same spirit. His labors are before us in these mountains to show the spirit that he was of. No man could love his fellow man seemingly more than he did, or be more willing to have the people exercise their agency to the fullest extent. So it has been with President Taylor and President Woodruff, and throughout the Church in all its ramifications. Of course, there have been men who have abused their privileges and their power; but they have not lasted long; they have lost their influence and their positions in the Church of Christ. But, take it as a whole, the influence of the Priesthood has been most beneficent in behalf of the children of men. Any attempt to show anything contrary to this must fail. Of course, we are, as I have said, fallible men. We are yet in a state of probation, subject to the fall. We have not overcome the consequences of this yet. But, taking this into consideration, the exercise of the Priesthood has been kindly, loving, diffusing peace, encouraging union, and making the people better all the time.
There are, of course, as you can well understand, very great reasons why Satan should seek to curtain the influence of the Priesthood. Satan does not want this power and authority perpetuated, because it is a menace to his kingdom and dominion. It was this that prompted him to seek the life of the Son of God, and the lives of His apostles and inspired servants in ancient days. He did not want the Priesthood to be on the earth. He stirred up men to hate it, and to hate the men that exercised it, and the bearers of this power were slain. It has been the same ever since this Church was organized. The men that bear the Priesthood are hated by Satan. They are hated by those who are under his influence. They would have destroyed this Church long ago if it had not been for the promises of God concerning it. I do not believe that the men bearing the Priesthood could have escaped the snares and plots of the evil one if it had not been for the promise that God has made concerning this dispensation, that it should not be given into the hands of another people, and that Satan should not prevail over it. Had it not been for this, I say, the bearers of the Priesthood in this day would have been destroyed as their predecessors were in the ancient days. But God has made this promise; and notwithstanding the hatred, notwithstanding the blood that has been and may yet be shed, the work will roll forth and will accomplish the end that the Father has in view. At the same time you can see why Satan should be angry. He has had undisputed sway, it may be said, in the earth until the late years. Now when he sees his work being undone; when he sees the spread of truth, the increase of righteousness, is it nay wonder that he hates it and all people who are seeking to practice righteousness? Is it any wonder that he seeks to decoy and lead astray our children? No, it is not. That is part of his plan. If he can be successful int his, then he will triumph.
But the duty and the mission is entrusted to us to seek to make a better condition. And it will have to be done by the influence of the Priesthood. We cannot get away from that. Now, I do not mean by this that the Church will interfere with the State. That is the constant cry, you know, that is being raised to frighten us and to make us afraid to do things, lest we shall be open to the charge of interfering with the State. It is a stale cry. There is nothing in it, and it should not intimidate a people like the Latter-day Saints. We have not interfered with the State. We have built the State. The influence of the Priesthood in the Church of Christ has made this country what it is. It has transformed it from a desert into its present fruitfulness. Do you think that if the men who bear the Priesthood could have their way they would oppress anybody in this country? They would not. It is a truth that we may as well recognize, that because a man bears the Priesthood it does not necessarily follow that he must abstain from all participation in state affairs. This would be a terrible condition for this people, because every reputable man in our Church is bearer of the Priesthood; and if this rule were to operate, it would exclude the entire Mormon male population from all participation in the affairs of the State. But, we have endeavored to concede everything that we could to meet these attacks; we have done everything in our power, without sacrificing our rights and liberties. At the same time there is no reason why a man that bears the Priesthood should not act in any capacity int he State. His bearing the Priesthood should not preclude him in the least degree from that. He can be as true to the State and to all its obligations as if he were a private citizen. One does not interfere with the other.
We have been taught from the beginning this important principle, that the Church of God is distinct from the kingdom of God. Joseph gave us the pattern before he died. He gave his brethren an example that has not been forgotten up to this day. He impressed it upon them, that men, not members of the Church, could be members of the kingdom that the Lord will set up when He reigns. He picked out the youngest among them, and told them to be sure and remember this. In the minds of all of us who understand this matter there is a clear distinction between the Church in its ecclesiastical capacity and that which may be termed the government of God in its political capacity. No people are less open to the charge of mingling the two and seeking to destroy the distinctions between church and state than the Latter-day Saints, and especially the leading men of this Church; and any attempt on the part of anyone to say that we have any such designs, is the attack of an enemy and is untrue. But no matter how scrupulously we walk, or how many declarations we may make of our intentions, or how many pledges we give, there is a class of men, and probably will be for years, who are always ready to misinterpret and to make false charges against us concerning these things. And many of our own people have been as much to blame for this as those not of us; they have drunk into the same spirit, and they have yielded to the influence of it, thus strengthening the hands of those who have attacked us from this standpoint. Many of our people have helped them, and yet they have called themselves Latter-day Saints! They have been untrue to the people, untrue to their fellowship, and to the covenants which we make with one another. We have never made a covenant that will not bear exposure, that we would not be willing that the whole world should know. We have made no secret covenants and oaths to prevent us from loving mankind and treating them as our brothers and sisters. But we do covenant to love one another and to love the Lord; we do covenant to build up righteousness in the earth, to be the children of God, the servants of Jesus Christ. We make covenants of that kind when we go into the waters of baptism. But men have broken those covenants, and unwittingly, perhaps, in many instances, they have injured in the work of God. Therefore, I say that they must repent, no matter who they are, and turn away from these things, or the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from them, as well as His gifts and blessings. We may as well understand this first as last. I cannot lift my hand against this people and be prospered in it, nor can any other man. No man can join with the enemies of this people and hope to succeed; for God will desert him, no matter how high his standing may be, and all who follow in his footsteps will find themselves dreadfully deceived. We may as well warn you of this, and tell you the truth, whatever may be said about it. We do not want any of your blood clinging to our garments. We do not want to stand in the positions we do and hold our peace and see the people misled and going astray. God has placed us as shepherds over His flock, and if we do not look out for the flock He will smite us and remove us. We are placed as watchmen upon the walls of Zion, and if we do not give warning when we see danger, then we are culpable and will be condemned of God. Now, if you want to know why we talk this way, understand that this is the reason: We are responsible to the Lord for you, and we cannot shirt that responsibility. Our opponents may be offended at these remarks, and misquote them; but that does not make a particle of difference. Must we stand and let the people go astray, and not lift up our voices in warning? Why, we might as well die today and be done with it, and let somebody else come and take our places and do the work. What is the use of our being in this position unless we are men and have the willingness to declare the whole counsel of God as it comes to us?
I have been delighted at seeing the gathering of the people at this conference and the spirit of union that prevails. My brethren and sisters, let us seek more and more for this spirit. If you are in doubt concerning anything, go to the Lord. Oh! if the people would only go to the Lord, how easy it would be to govern them. Go to the Lord, humble yourselves before Him, and ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to give His Holy Spirit to you. We pray constantly that it may be poured out upon you; that your hearts may be softened, and that the scales of darkness may fall from all our eyes—priest and people; for we are all blind to a certain extent; but we want to see and understand the purposes of God and that which He is striving to accomplish in the earth. He is building a place of refuge in these mountains. He wants us to be a united people, and to make this a place of refuge, so that the eyes of mankind will turn to these mountains, that they may say, “Why, there I see a people living at peace and in harmony, undivided, loving one another, and seeking the welfare of their fellow men.” This is the object for which we gathered. When you divide and split up, and join factions, and seek to destroy the influence of the Priesthood of God, you defeat, so far as your action is concerned, the design of God. God wants us to be a united people. I do not mean by this that we must all vote one ticket. But we can vote without quarreling and getting into a bad spirit. We should love the Lord, and be willing to be guided by Him, and we should listen to the voice of the Lord. What a power then the people would be! The Lord would come in a very little while; for the earth would be prepared for His coming. This is what we want; not for the Latter-day Saints alone, but for this whole nation, which God loves, and which He established and made a free nation—the best, the strongest, and the most liberty-loving nation upon the face of the earth. And we love it because God has founded it. He raised up men to found it, and He gave it those forms of liberty which permitted this Church to be organized. This Church could not have been organized in any other land, or under any other form of government. Therefore, we love this land, we love this government, and we love the Constitution and the institutions of the land. We believe in the Constitutions more than any other people, because we know it has been inspired of the Lord. Let not our people, therefore, divide, or go hither and thither after every will-o’-the-wisp there is in the land. The Lord wants us to be united, and wants the influence of this Church to be increased by the union of the people. He wants the influence of the Priesthood of the Son of God elevated and strengthened in these mountains and among the nations. I tell it in great plainness, for it is the truth of heaven. And the possibilities that will result from this you cannot conceive of. God has chosen us expressly for this purpose and to do this work, and we cannot get out of it. Personally, I tried to get out of this responsibility. The Lord revealed to me in my youth that I was to be an Apostle. In after years I besought Him that He would not choose me to hold this office, for I had seen what I would have to go through, and I shrunk from it. But we are chosen, and we cannot get out of it honorably. No matter what the consequences may be, we have to magnify this Priesthood in the midst of His people and in the earth. Every one of us have had a charge of this kind given to us.
Brethren and sisters, ask the Lord about these things. Go to Him and beseech Him, in the name of Jesus, to enlighten your minds and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, that you may see and understand, and soften your hearts, and then strive to live the principles of the Gospel that Jesus taught, and that we in our humble capacity have been endeavoring to teach to you, so that when men come into our midst they will see a people who will excite their admiration; for just as sure as we live and as the Lord ha spoken, this people will at some time—and the distance of that time depends upon our faithfulness—be sought after, their counsels will be sought for, and men will say: “Those Latter-day Saints are capable of governing themselves, and of maintaining good government; they love their fellow men, and respect their rights, and we want to live among them, or we want to have their influence among us.” The time will come in this land—I tell you now, ye faint-hearted ones, the time will come when the counsels of the servants of God will be sought for in our own land and in all the states where our people live, because our conduct and our management will stand out in such bold relief in comparison with the management and conduct of others, that they will want to get our counsel and our help in their extremity. This will be the case, not only right here, but elsewhere. And today, let me say to you, if our people were united, we would hold the key. we occupy a position where our influence, if we were united as we should be, would be more potent than that of any other state or community in these United States. I do not overstate this in the least. I know what I am talking about, and it is the truth. But our divisions, our partisanship, our loss of the Spirit, our quarreling one with another, our upbraiding one of another, weakens us and takes away the strength and the power that God has placed within our reach.
I pray God to bless us during the remainder of this conference; to pour out His Spirit in power upon His servants and upon all, that our hearts may be filled with the light of truth, and with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost. Oh! that we could understand how willing the Lord is to bless us; how his arms are stretched out filled with blessings for this people if we will prepare to receive them. He will save us; He will deliver us from our enemies; He will make our path plain; and if we die—why, what is death? It is only a change from this condition into a better one. We of all people should be the least afraid of death, because God has made the greatest of promises to us. If we are valiant in His cause, He will reward us and crown us with glory; for He loves valor. The Lord loves a people of integrity, a people who will not betray one another, or fight against one another. He loves men and women of this kind. And He loves the women of this Church, because of their integrity. No women have ever shown greater heroism and more integrity than the women of this Church have done. They have been superior to the men in many respects. Fewer of them have shown cowardice or unwillingness to face and bear all the consequences of their acts. I know the Lord loves the women of this Church, and He loves the men, too, who are humble. There are thousands of them who are humble and obscure men; their names do not appear prominently; we do not hear their sermons; they are not famous among us; but the Lord looks upon them and loves them, because of the integrity of their hearts and their valor in His cause. There are thousands of men and women in this Church who would gladly, if it were necessary, lay down their lives for the truth.
Well, the Lord bless us all; bless His servant, our President, and grant that he may be strengthened and made able to perform the duties that devolve upon him. The Lord has wonderfully blessed him, and we feel that He will continue His blessing—in fact, we know He will, whether in life or in death; but we want him to live. Our prayers are for that, and your prayers, too. I know that President Woodruff feels that your prayers have prolonged his life, and that he would have gone away from us four years ago, if it had not been for the prayers of the Saints and the administration of the servants of God. He knows now that the people are praying for him, and it gives him confidence, comfort and strength. The Lord bless us in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The anthem, The Nations Bow to Satan’s Thrall, was sung by the choir, solo part by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edwards.
Benediction by Elder Chas. W. Penrose.
Third Day, April 6th.
This morning, President Wilford Woodruff appeared on the stand. Immediately he was recognized by the people the immense audience arose and greeted him by the waving of handkerchiefs. The President responded to the salutation by saying, “God bless you all.”
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighten our minds with its rays,
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations now look up,
It waves to all the world.
This morning, President Wilford Woodruff appeared on the stand. Immediately he was recognized by the people the immense audience arose and greeted him by the waving of handkerchiefs. The President responded to the salutation by saying, “God bless you all.”
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighten our minds with its rays,
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations now look up,
It waves to all the world.
President Woodruff
was the first speaker. His remarks were as follows:
I want to say to my brethren and sisters and friends that through your prayers and faith I am here this morning. I have been considerably under the weather, as the saying is, for a little time past, but I am glad to meet with you and feel to say a few words to you this morning. I know it would not be wisdom for me to attempt to occupy a great deal of time or say a great deal. First, I will say that I have followed the reports and sayings the Apostles and Elders from the commencement of this Conference until this morning: what I have not read myself has been read to me, and it has been a great deal of consolation to me. I want to say to the Latter-day Saints, the God of heaven is at work carrying out His purposes in fulfillment of revelation and prophecy and inspiration, which He has given through His Prophets and Apostles and Patriarchs from the creation of the world until this hour. And the Lord is not going to fail on His part in any of these things. It is for us as a people to do our duty, to labor for ourselves and for our fellowmen; to occupy the time that we have here, to the best advantage we can, in trying to honor the Priesthood and people, to build up the kingdom of God, to set a good example, and to establish righteousness. And I want to say to the young men and maidens, my young brethren and sisters, who may be present here this morning, I want you to make your aim high and realize that you have your times granted in connection with your fathers and mothers in the building up of the kingdom of God. Do not spend your time in the follies and frivolities of this world, but try to improve your time. You occupy one of the most important dispensations and generations God has ever given to men, and I have a great interest for the rising generation. I know for myself, and not for another, that the Lord has raised up our children, our sons and our daughters, to stand in the footsteps of their fathers in the winding-up scene of the great work of the Zion of our God. I realize that they do not comprehend, in fact there are very few who comprehend today the position we occupy, and the responsibility we are under to God and the Holy Priesthood, who have raised us up and placed us here in the midst of a generation of men and women, children of men, upon whose heads are going to rest great responsibilities, in the great events which are to follow each other in quick succession in the day in which we live.
As far as I am concerned, I do not know, it has never been revealed to me, why my life has been preserved, while the Lord has taken away Prophets and Apostles and other men of God, who have spent three or four, ten or twelve, fourteen or fifteen years in the capacity of the building up of the kingdom of God. Our Savior Himself was only three years and a half in passing through His experiences of teaching the people, the organization of the kingdom of God, the choosing of the Twelve Apostles, His crucifixion, His death and His resurrection. The Prophet Joseph spent about fourteen years in translating the Book of Mormon, the history of the Jews, the Honor of Israel on this continent, and the dealings of God with that people. He performed that work, and brought forth the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a code of revelations as great in language and principles, and the account of as great and important events as have ever occurred on the earth. He performed all this work in about fourteen years and a half. My brethren, the Apostles, two or three quorums, have passed away since my ordination; nearly all but myself up to a certain period, have passed. I am not speaking these things boastfully, but I am here, and it is my duty while I remain here, to try to say something that will be of interest to the Latter-day Saints. I am interested in our welfare, in the welfare of Zion. It is the Zion of God, planted here by the hand of God, and the Lord has guided and directed it, and will continue to do so.
You have Apostles with you, you have High Priests, and Seventies, and the other bodies of Priesthood, and they have a great responsibility resting upon them in the capacity in which they labor. I have a great desire, what time I do live, to see the people progress, to become united, to comprehend and to understand the spirit and power of God and their calling; you should do this, and you have got to do something of this kind, in order to carry out the purposes of the Lord. You stand here in the mountains of Israel, raised up by the Lord. You have done a great work here, and there is a great deal more to do. You are redeeming the dead and the living, and sending abroad thousands of the Elders to warn the nations of the earth of those events which are to come upon them and upon us. Therefore, the Elders should try to be faithful, and we should watch over our sons and daughters, give them good advice, and set them a good example that we may have no regrets of their falling into principles and practices which are not right and righteous before God, on account of our example.
I say, God bless you; labor for the Holy Spirit, labor for light and truth, for revelation and inspiration, learn the mind and will of God concerning yourselves and the truth of the work of God on the earth. Keep your eyes open to see, your ears to hear, and your hearts to understand the truth, and that you may see the hand of God visible throughout this land and throughout this nation, and throughout the world, which will be more and more visible from this time to the winding-up scene. God bless you, amen.
was the first speaker. His remarks were as follows:
I want to say to my brethren and sisters and friends that through your prayers and faith I am here this morning. I have been considerably under the weather, as the saying is, for a little time past, but I am glad to meet with you and feel to say a few words to you this morning. I know it would not be wisdom for me to attempt to occupy a great deal of time or say a great deal. First, I will say that I have followed the reports and sayings the Apostles and Elders from the commencement of this Conference until this morning: what I have not read myself has been read to me, and it has been a great deal of consolation to me. I want to say to the Latter-day Saints, the God of heaven is at work carrying out His purposes in fulfillment of revelation and prophecy and inspiration, which He has given through His Prophets and Apostles and Patriarchs from the creation of the world until this hour. And the Lord is not going to fail on His part in any of these things. It is for us as a people to do our duty, to labor for ourselves and for our fellowmen; to occupy the time that we have here, to the best advantage we can, in trying to honor the Priesthood and people, to build up the kingdom of God, to set a good example, and to establish righteousness. And I want to say to the young men and maidens, my young brethren and sisters, who may be present here this morning, I want you to make your aim high and realize that you have your times granted in connection with your fathers and mothers in the building up of the kingdom of God. Do not spend your time in the follies and frivolities of this world, but try to improve your time. You occupy one of the most important dispensations and generations God has ever given to men, and I have a great interest for the rising generation. I know for myself, and not for another, that the Lord has raised up our children, our sons and our daughters, to stand in the footsteps of their fathers in the winding-up scene of the great work of the Zion of our God. I realize that they do not comprehend, in fact there are very few who comprehend today the position we occupy, and the responsibility we are under to God and the Holy Priesthood, who have raised us up and placed us here in the midst of a generation of men and women, children of men, upon whose heads are going to rest great responsibilities, in the great events which are to follow each other in quick succession in the day in which we live.
As far as I am concerned, I do not know, it has never been revealed to me, why my life has been preserved, while the Lord has taken away Prophets and Apostles and other men of God, who have spent three or four, ten or twelve, fourteen or fifteen years in the capacity of the building up of the kingdom of God. Our Savior Himself was only three years and a half in passing through His experiences of teaching the people, the organization of the kingdom of God, the choosing of the Twelve Apostles, His crucifixion, His death and His resurrection. The Prophet Joseph spent about fourteen years in translating the Book of Mormon, the history of the Jews, the Honor of Israel on this continent, and the dealings of God with that people. He performed that work, and brought forth the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a code of revelations as great in language and principles, and the account of as great and important events as have ever occurred on the earth. He performed all this work in about fourteen years and a half. My brethren, the Apostles, two or three quorums, have passed away since my ordination; nearly all but myself up to a certain period, have passed. I am not speaking these things boastfully, but I am here, and it is my duty while I remain here, to try to say something that will be of interest to the Latter-day Saints. I am interested in our welfare, in the welfare of Zion. It is the Zion of God, planted here by the hand of God, and the Lord has guided and directed it, and will continue to do so.
You have Apostles with you, you have High Priests, and Seventies, and the other bodies of Priesthood, and they have a great responsibility resting upon them in the capacity in which they labor. I have a great desire, what time I do live, to see the people progress, to become united, to comprehend and to understand the spirit and power of God and their calling; you should do this, and you have got to do something of this kind, in order to carry out the purposes of the Lord. You stand here in the mountains of Israel, raised up by the Lord. You have done a great work here, and there is a great deal more to do. You are redeeming the dead and the living, and sending abroad thousands of the Elders to warn the nations of the earth of those events which are to come upon them and upon us. Therefore, the Elders should try to be faithful, and we should watch over our sons and daughters, give them good advice, and set them a good example that we may have no regrets of their falling into principles and practices which are not right and righteous before God, on account of our example.
I say, God bless you; labor for the Holy Spirit, labor for light and truth, for revelation and inspiration, learn the mind and will of God concerning yourselves and the truth of the work of God on the earth. Keep your eyes open to see, your ears to hear, and your hearts to understand the truth, and that you may see the hand of God visible throughout this land and throughout this nation, and throughout the world, which will be more and more visible from this time to the winding-up scene. God bless you, amen.
Elder Marriner W. Merrill
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker this morning. Following is a brief summary of his remarks. He said we had great joy in having President Woodruff with us. Our prayers that he might be permitted to be present have been answered. He had bee led to reflect upon the instructions already given by the brethren, especially where they read the scriptures, ancient and modern, and commented upon them. These books were very valuable, but not so much so as the living oracles. The two, however, made a complete guide. We could get along better without the Bible and Book of Mormon than be deprived of the living Priesthood, God’s oracles associated with us. There had been evidences of a lack of appreciation of the leading officials of the Church. No one of the latter could be designated who had ever sought for office. They had never asked the people to vote for them, and when they were sustained by the Church the voting was done voluntarily. The address which was presented to the general Conference one year ago was scripture for the government of the Church. It was sustained by the great body of the people, both in a general and local capacity. Numbers, however, had absented themselves from meetings where it was presented, because they were opposed to it. Every one of such would sooner or later apostatize from the Church unless they repented God would not fellowship those who would not draw near unto Him and be in harmony with the authorities and councils of the Church unless they repented. The overwhelming majority did, however, sustain the servants of God. There was no half-way position, no neutral zone. God knew the secrets of our hearts and would in time manifest them. All those not in harmony with the Church should speedily repent. Some men who held positions of importance were under this need, yet they wished to retain their offices as teachers of the people. All should examine that was just upon themselves.
Elder Merrill now devoted attention to financial matters. He drew attention to the public indebtedness that existed in consequences of a tendency to bonding. This was, in his opinion, a disastrous policy, as the people were thus placed under bondage, and had to pay tribute to foreign capital. How many of the Saints were under the bondage of mortgages upon their homes, and how many had, from this cause, already lost their homes? Speaking again of public indebtedness, he remarked that some took the ground that our children would be benefited by the expenditure of borrowed funds, and that they would redeem the bonds. It was the opinion of the speaker that our posterity would have enough to do without being placed under these huge obligations.
Some had been prudent and had accumulated means by a wise financial course. When this was the case why not hand some of their surplus over to the Church to invest it. It would be perfectly safe, and would aid in increasing the material welfare of the people. It need not necessarily be given as a gift, but as a loan. It would be a good thing, however, to make gifts to the Church, to aid in the building up of Zion. Elder Merrill also spoke of the fund for the erection of a statue to Brigham Young, contributions to which had dragged somewhat slowly, and this should not be the case. He was of opinion that the memento of a great man ought to be completed at an early date and the necessary funds for the purpose be forthcoming.
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker this morning. Following is a brief summary of his remarks. He said we had great joy in having President Woodruff with us. Our prayers that he might be permitted to be present have been answered. He had bee led to reflect upon the instructions already given by the brethren, especially where they read the scriptures, ancient and modern, and commented upon them. These books were very valuable, but not so much so as the living oracles. The two, however, made a complete guide. We could get along better without the Bible and Book of Mormon than be deprived of the living Priesthood, God’s oracles associated with us. There had been evidences of a lack of appreciation of the leading officials of the Church. No one of the latter could be designated who had ever sought for office. They had never asked the people to vote for them, and when they were sustained by the Church the voting was done voluntarily. The address which was presented to the general Conference one year ago was scripture for the government of the Church. It was sustained by the great body of the people, both in a general and local capacity. Numbers, however, had absented themselves from meetings where it was presented, because they were opposed to it. Every one of such would sooner or later apostatize from the Church unless they repented God would not fellowship those who would not draw near unto Him and be in harmony with the authorities and councils of the Church unless they repented. The overwhelming majority did, however, sustain the servants of God. There was no half-way position, no neutral zone. God knew the secrets of our hearts and would in time manifest them. All those not in harmony with the Church should speedily repent. Some men who held positions of importance were under this need, yet they wished to retain their offices as teachers of the people. All should examine that was just upon themselves.
Elder Merrill now devoted attention to financial matters. He drew attention to the public indebtedness that existed in consequences of a tendency to bonding. This was, in his opinion, a disastrous policy, as the people were thus placed under bondage, and had to pay tribute to foreign capital. How many of the Saints were under the bondage of mortgages upon their homes, and how many had, from this cause, already lost their homes? Speaking again of public indebtedness, he remarked that some took the ground that our children would be benefited by the expenditure of borrowed funds, and that they would redeem the bonds. It was the opinion of the speaker that our posterity would have enough to do without being placed under these huge obligations.
Some had been prudent and had accumulated means by a wise financial course. When this was the case why not hand some of their surplus over to the Church to invest it. It would be perfectly safe, and would aid in increasing the material welfare of the people. It need not necessarily be given as a gift, but as a loan. It would be a good thing, however, to make gifts to the Church, to aid in the building up of Zion. Elder Merrill also spoke of the fund for the erection of a statue to Brigham Young, contributions to which had dragged somewhat slowly, and this should not be the case. He was of opinion that the memento of a great man ought to be completed at an early date and the necessary funds for the purpose be forthcoming.
President Joseph F. Smith
delivered a brief discourse upon the rights of the Priesthood. He explained that there could not be two parallel heads of the Church. The President of the organization was its head, and his oversight included its temporal as well as its spiritual affairs. Hence when any of the Saints aided the work of God by voluntary loans or gifts, they should be tendered the trustee-in-trust. President Smith likewise advised the people against incurring indebtedness, especially of that character that would jeopardize their retaining possession of their homes.
delivered a brief discourse upon the rights of the Priesthood. He explained that there could not be two parallel heads of the Church. The President of the organization was its head, and his oversight included its temporal as well as its spiritual affairs. Hence when any of the Saints aided the work of God by voluntary loans or gifts, they should be tendered the trustee-in-trust. President Smith likewise advised the people against incurring indebtedness, especially of that character that would jeopardize their retaining possession of their homes.
Elder Anthon H. Lund,
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker. His opening remarks were devoted to the necessity of religion classes, which had already been spoken upon by President Cannon. He read from a revelation on page 250 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which treats upon the obligation of parents to teach their children the principles of the Gospel and to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord. This revelation was given as early as 1831. He characterized as fallacious the idea that some men had on this subject. They had considered it better not to teach their children religion but to allow them to grow up without such instruction and at a later stage let them choose for themselves. No child could grow up without being impressed in some direction, and if they were not inclined to God by proper training they were likely to be godless in later life. If parents did not do their duty, according to the law laid down by the Lord, and their children drifted away from the moorings of the Gospel, the responsibility for their condition would lie at the door of their parents—the sin would rest upon their heads. The training obtained by the children in the Sunday schools and Primary associations was not sufficient; the fundamental part of it must be laid in the home. Continuing in this line of thought, the speaker stated that the young men who had been educated in Church schools were prepared when they went on missions abroad to enter immediately upon their ministerial duties. We were not able at present, however, to maintain an extensive Church school system, and this made the religion classes all the more necessary. The closing portion of the discourse was devoted to showing that education, in order to be full and well-balanced, must include moral, physical and theological as well as the usual intellectual training.
The choir sang the anthem, Let the mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Elder Angus M. Cannon.
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker. His opening remarks were devoted to the necessity of religion classes, which had already been spoken upon by President Cannon. He read from a revelation on page 250 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which treats upon the obligation of parents to teach their children the principles of the Gospel and to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord. This revelation was given as early as 1831. He characterized as fallacious the idea that some men had on this subject. They had considered it better not to teach their children religion but to allow them to grow up without such instruction and at a later stage let them choose for themselves. No child could grow up without being impressed in some direction, and if they were not inclined to God by proper training they were likely to be godless in later life. If parents did not do their duty, according to the law laid down by the Lord, and their children drifted away from the moorings of the Gospel, the responsibility for their condition would lie at the door of their parents—the sin would rest upon their heads. The training obtained by the children in the Sunday schools and Primary associations was not sufficient; the fundamental part of it must be laid in the home. Continuing in this line of thought, the speaker stated that the young men who had been educated in Church schools were prepared when they went on missions abroad to enter immediately upon their ministerial duties. We were not able at present, however, to maintain an extensive Church school system, and this made the religion classes all the more necessary. The closing portion of the discourse was devoted to showing that education, in order to be full and well-balanced, must include moral, physical and theological as well as the usual intellectual training.
The choir sang the anthem, Let the mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Elder Angus M. Cannon.
Afternoon Session.
Singing by the choir of the hymn which commences,
What was witnessed in the heavens?
Why, an angel, earthward bound.
Had he something with him bringing?
Yes—the Gospel joyful sound.
Opening prayer by Elder John W. Hess.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
O my Father, Thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence
And again behold Thy face?
Singing by the choir of the hymn which commences,
What was witnessed in the heavens?
Why, an angel, earthward bound.
Had he something with him bringing?
Yes—the Gospel joyful sound.
Opening prayer by Elder John W. Hess.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
O my Father, Thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence
And again behold Thy face?
President Joseph F. Smith read the following reports for 1896, which made the following exhibit:
Relief societies, membership, 24,473; meetings held, 5,119; increase, 3,700.
Y. L. M. I. A., membership, 15,567; associations, 423; increase, 683; meetings held, 15,200.
Primary Associations. Number of associations, 484.
Officers and members, 36,500.
Meetings held, 14,500.
Brigham Young Academy board:
Geo. Q. Cannon, Salt Lake City.
David John, Provo.
Reed Smoot, Provo.
W. H. Dusenberry, Provo.
Brigham Young, Salt Lake City.
Don Carlos Young, Salt Lake City.
Susa Y. Gates, Provo.
Stephen L. Chipman, American Fork.
Wm. H. Seegmiller, Richfield.
Karl G. Maeser, Salt Lake City.
Thos. R. Cutler, Lehi.
Edwin Partridge, Provo.
These members of the Brigham Young Academy board were sustained by unanimous vote of the Conference, a provision of the new charter of the institution requiring that the names of the members be presented to the General Conference.
Relief societies, membership, 24,473; meetings held, 5,119; increase, 3,700.
Y. L. M. I. A., membership, 15,567; associations, 423; increase, 683; meetings held, 15,200.
Primary Associations. Number of associations, 484.
Officers and members, 36,500.
Meetings held, 14,500.
Brigham Young Academy board:
Geo. Q. Cannon, Salt Lake City.
David John, Provo.
Reed Smoot, Provo.
W. H. Dusenberry, Provo.
Brigham Young, Salt Lake City.
Don Carlos Young, Salt Lake City.
Susa Y. Gates, Provo.
Stephen L. Chipman, American Fork.
Wm. H. Seegmiller, Richfield.
Karl G. Maeser, Salt Lake City.
Thos. R. Cutler, Lehi.
Edwin Partridge, Provo.
These members of the Brigham Young Academy board were sustained by unanimous vote of the Conference, a provision of the new charter of the institution requiring that the names of the members be presented to the General Conference.
The General Authorities
were presented to the Conference by President Joseph F. Smith, 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 quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anthon H. Lund.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church—John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Seymour B. Young, D. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
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, with John Jaques and Charles W. Penrose as his assistants.
As the General Church Board of Education—Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp, Joseph F. Smith and John Nicholson.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All of the voting to sustain the authorities was unanimous.
were presented to the Conference by President Joseph F. Smith, 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 quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anthon H. Lund.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church—John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies—Seymour B. Young, D. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
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, with John Jaques and Charles W. Penrose as his assistants.
As the General Church Board of Education—Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp, Joseph F. Smith and John Nicholson.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All of the voting to sustain the authorities was unanimous.
Elder B. H. Roberts.
of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, addressed the Conference. He said he did not recollect having attended a general assembly of the Saints when his joy was as full as it was now. He rejoiced that he was a Latter-day Saint. Such a privilege as that now enjoyed was intensified by the sojourn in the world, in the midst of conflicting opinions, religious and otherwise. It had been his privilege to travel and preach the Gospel in some of the leading cities of the United States. He had been accompanied by Elders Geo. D. Pyper, Melvin Ballard and Edward J. Midgley. He wished to bear testimony to the statements made regarding the Lord softening the hearts of the people causing them to receive the servants of God and ministering to their wants. The Almighty was doing this to a great extent, the opposition so manifest in the past the speaker had witnessed the vain efforts of faithful and efficient Elders to impress the truths of the Gospel upon the minds of the people; now equally efficient labors were meeting with success and approbation, not only among the people, but also in the commendation of the press. The change manifested in the attitude of the press toward the work was most striking, reporters being sent to the meetings during Elder Roberts’ recent missionary work, and fairly accurate reports of meetings, articles of faith, etc., being published. This situation was referred to as an occasion for joy, not only on account of the new opportunities offered, but also because of the hand of God being so manifest in it. While in many respects this full in opposition to the Church was promising, the speaker thought that fresh opposition might arise in the future attempts being made to overthrow the doctrines of the Gospel by arguments. But the present widening of opportunities showed the necessity of sending more laborers into the fields now opened.
Brother Roberts spoke with reference to the mission in the cities he had visited, stating that while conditions in the Southern States were improving, in comparison with the violence shown to the Elders there in years past, this improved condition being due to the faithful labors of the Elders who accompanied and succeeded that father of the Southern States mission, Elder John Morgan, yet the labor in other portions of the United States was opening up just as faithfully. Elders Samuel Spencer and Samuel W. Richards had done much, under God, to bring about this improved condition. The speaker believed there was no better mission than the ones referred to. The speaker closed with an expression of gratitude for these improved conditions and a prayer for a continuance of advancement.
of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, addressed the Conference. He said he did not recollect having attended a general assembly of the Saints when his joy was as full as it was now. He rejoiced that he was a Latter-day Saint. Such a privilege as that now enjoyed was intensified by the sojourn in the world, in the midst of conflicting opinions, religious and otherwise. It had been his privilege to travel and preach the Gospel in some of the leading cities of the United States. He had been accompanied by Elders Geo. D. Pyper, Melvin Ballard and Edward J. Midgley. He wished to bear testimony to the statements made regarding the Lord softening the hearts of the people causing them to receive the servants of God and ministering to their wants. The Almighty was doing this to a great extent, the opposition so manifest in the past the speaker had witnessed the vain efforts of faithful and efficient Elders to impress the truths of the Gospel upon the minds of the people; now equally efficient labors were meeting with success and approbation, not only among the people, but also in the commendation of the press. The change manifested in the attitude of the press toward the work was most striking, reporters being sent to the meetings during Elder Roberts’ recent missionary work, and fairly accurate reports of meetings, articles of faith, etc., being published. This situation was referred to as an occasion for joy, not only on account of the new opportunities offered, but also because of the hand of God being so manifest in it. While in many respects this full in opposition to the Church was promising, the speaker thought that fresh opposition might arise in the future attempts being made to overthrow the doctrines of the Gospel by arguments. But the present widening of opportunities showed the necessity of sending more laborers into the fields now opened.
Brother Roberts spoke with reference to the mission in the cities he had visited, stating that while conditions in the Southern States were improving, in comparison with the violence shown to the Elders there in years past, this improved condition being due to the faithful labors of the Elders who accompanied and succeeded that father of the Southern States mission, Elder John Morgan, yet the labor in other portions of the United States was opening up just as faithfully. Elders Samuel Spencer and Samuel W. Richards had done much, under God, to bring about this improved condition. The speaker believed there was no better mission than the ones referred to. The speaker closed with an expression of gratitude for these improved conditions and a prayer for a continuance of advancement.
Elder Samuel W. Richards,
lately president of the Eastern States mission, was the next speaker. He was called from his labors in the Temple two years and four months ago to fill the appointment to the Eastern States, and though he arrived there a stranger to the people, he soon found friends, their hearts being opened to the acceptance of the truth. Much was done through the papers and by personal visits to the people. By the various jubilee journals, his labors had been spread in many languages throughout the world, even Jewish and Greek editors manifesting interest in the work. The liberality of the Brooklyn press was spoken of in terms of praise, and Brother Richards expressed gratitude for the inspiration and success that had attended him in his missionary labors. He anticipated a great harvest in that mission in the early spring, and hoped a greater number of Elders would be sent to assist in gathering it. Elder Richards had done much also in the way of correspondence, etc., in answering questions and expounding doctrine, a work which he expected to continue.
lately president of the Eastern States mission, was the next speaker. He was called from his labors in the Temple two years and four months ago to fill the appointment to the Eastern States, and though he arrived there a stranger to the people, he soon found friends, their hearts being opened to the acceptance of the truth. Much was done through the papers and by personal visits to the people. By the various jubilee journals, his labors had been spread in many languages throughout the world, even Jewish and Greek editors manifesting interest in the work. The liberality of the Brooklyn press was spoken of in terms of praise, and Brother Richards expressed gratitude for the inspiration and success that had attended him in his missionary labors. He anticipated a great harvest in that mission in the early spring, and hoped a greater number of Elders would be sent to assist in gathering it. Elder Richards had done much also in the way of correspondence, etc., in answering questions and expounding doctrine, a work which he expected to continue.
President George Q. Cannon
made some remarks in relation to the Brigham Young statue. Additional funds were needed to forward it as far as practicable by the time of the approaching semi-centennial Pioneer Jubilee. The statue association was anxious upon this subject, and it was desirable that contributions be forthcoming to carry out this project. The leading officers of the Church in every locality were requested to bring this subject to the attention of the people.
President Cannon then spoke upon the numerous delusive influences that were being multiplied by Satan for the purpose of deceiving the Saints and drawing them away from the Gospel of the Son of God. He warned the people as they valued the salvation of their souls, to avoid them. He classed among these false doctrines, those of what is called Christian science; also the fallacious theory of reincarnation.
made some remarks in relation to the Brigham Young statue. Additional funds were needed to forward it as far as practicable by the time of the approaching semi-centennial Pioneer Jubilee. The statue association was anxious upon this subject, and it was desirable that contributions be forthcoming to carry out this project. The leading officers of the Church in every locality were requested to bring this subject to the attention of the people.
President Cannon then spoke upon the numerous delusive influences that were being multiplied by Satan for the purpose of deceiving the Saints and drawing them away from the Gospel of the Son of God. He warned the people as they valued the salvation of their souls, to avoid them. He classed among these false doctrines, those of what is called Christian science; also the fallacious theory of reincarnation.
President Woodruff
spoke briefly on the subject treated by President Cannon, regarding seducing spirits and delusive doctrines and characterized them as false, deceptive and of a nature to lead those who imbibed them to destruction.
The choir sang the anthem, Glory be to the Lord, our Deliverer.
Conference adjourned for six months.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
spoke briefly on the subject treated by President Cannon, regarding seducing spirits and delusive doctrines and characterized them as false, deceptive and of a nature to lead those who imbibed them to destruction.
The choir sang the anthem, Glory be to the Lord, our Deliverer.
Conference adjourned for six months.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.