The Latter-day Saints have very great reason to rejoice and to be
exceedingly glad before our Father who is in heaven and before the
people here on the earth. If we take a look at our condition, and
consider the same carefully—whether it be in temporal matters or in
spiritual concerns—we are better and more comfortably situated today
than any other people of the same number anywhere on God's footstool. If we take into consideration our present condition as to
the comforts of life, we are better situated today with grain in our
granaries and food in our houses, than any other people of the same
number upon the face of the earth, or that can be found located
together upon the same extent of territory anywhere. If we take into
consideration our condition as to homes, there is a greater proportion
of this people today who have comfortable homes of their own than can
be found anywhere else; more of them have no need to strive for the
privilege of earning a living, as a great many of our people had to do
before they were gathered when they often found it difficult to obtain
employment, and even if successful were obliged to work by the piece
or by the day, receiving their pay regularly at the end of the week,
and in this way measuring the conditions of their living by the amount
of means which they were permitted to earn. In this manner life or
existence and its comforts were measured out to them. There was
comparatively no room for the exercise of enterprise, of skill, of
native wit, and those qualities which God has placed in their nature,
and which He designed they should practice and thus become wise and
skilled by their own ingenuity.
We sometimes feel that we are oppressed, that we are pinched and
persecuted by the people who are intruding upon our rights, and
trampling upon our liberties, but as yet we know but little,
comparatively speaking about oppression. The people of the countries
of Asia and of Europe, with all of the liberty that they enjoy, are
under the most severe daily oppression, continued dependence and
subordination to those that are over them. In those countries there is
a feeling of fear—fear of their rulers, terror in their minds caused
by the dread of threatening war which is liable at any time to come
upon them with all its horrors. In every national dispute that arises
they see and feel at once the liability that their sons, fathers,
neighbors and kinsmen may be drafted and sent off to the war, perhaps
never to return. And their hearts are filled with fear and anxiety
over this and other similar things.
We see in newspapers that in Egypt, China, Central America, and almost
everywhere else the air is thick with the mists and clouds of war.
Where is the mother or sister, father or son among us that is today
away from one of their kindred on account of war? The worst you have
to dread is a short imprisonment and a few hundred dollars fine; that
is the worst thing you can find to mourn and worry over. Why, bless
your dear souls, there is not another community of the same number
anywhere on the whole earth in which there is to be found such settled
peace as right here among this very people that are before me, and the
people that fill this territory all around us. And yet you think the
times are terribly hard with your granaries full of wheat that you
cannot sell, with large quantities of potatoes and vegetables that you
cannot dispose of, with flocks and herds about you; because you cannot
sell your products and get as good prices as you would like, some of
you think you are in a terribly distressed condition (Laughter).
I wish the Saints would put away these foolish ideas. I want to have
you realize that you are in a condition of peace and plenty, with
liberty, too, for God has made you free. God has made His
people free from the bondage of sin and death; we are at liberty, and
there is no power on the earth that has the ability to fasten the
shackles of sin and Satan upon us. It all depends upon our own
conduct, as to whether we are and shall continue free.
In almost all of the countries from which you came and in the nations
that surrounded you in your former homes, people are taxed with a
taxation that is oppressive. On the green Isle of Ireland, where the
poor and afflicted are numerous there are people who have to pay a
rent of five pounds an acre for land, and they must raise sufficient
off it to support their families, and raise the money to pay the rent.
But here we can buy or take up land, and have it, too, for the taking,
but some of us consider it an awful job to fence it (Laughter). No,
we don't know anything about oppression, as compared with the Jews,
the Poles and the Irish. In older portions of the United States, we
never could have enjoyed the blessings we enjoy here; we never could
have located and built up our towns and cities; as it was the mobs
plundered us of our homes and drove us out here to this part of the
earth. It was like a new world; it looked so entirely new, that it
seemed as if the work of creation was scarcely finished. By the
blessing of God we brought life with us and life came from heaven;
life that animated the soil under our feet; that tempered and
controlled the elements over our heads; so that in these high valleys
and canyons, where it was thought no grain or fruit could be raised,
with snow and frost every month in the year—now we raise good crops
and varieties of fruits. A few years ago it was a problem whether an
apple or a peach could be raised here in Cache valley; but it is not
long since her enterprising fruit growers took the premium in the
Territorial Fair for the best collection of apples to be found in the
Territory.
Who has done this for us? It is the Lord our God. He brought us to
this land as He brought the children of Israel to the land of Judea,
which He gave to them and to their children after them, to be their
inheritance forever.
I want to have us consider these things; and instead of being anxious
and worried, troubled and filled with fear, learn to rely upon the arm
of the Lord and trust Him for His goodness; cultivate the peace of
heaven and let the love of God dwell in our hearts. Though our enemies
may harass, trouble, and disturb us; the trouble that they will bring
upon us will be but as a drop in the bucket compared with what will
come upon them by and by. They cannot stop the work of God. His decree
has established it. We have the promise that it never shall be
overthrown or given to another people. Understand it. This form of
government which the Lord has given to us, is the strongest form of
government that was ever revealed to man. The governments of the world
have power to oppress, annoy, make war upon and destroy men from the
face of the earth. But this Kingdom that God has given to His people
is to be a kingdom of peace, a kingdom of righteousness, and its
righteousness is going to exalt His people, to make them become the
greatest people on the face of the earth, filled with power, wisdom
and intelligence that all the surrounding nations will look up to.
The people that are around us in our midst, and who wish to dictate to us; those who sit in the council chambers to make laws
against us and our holy faith, and thereby make us offenders—are
themselves filled with fear and anxiety at what is taking place in
this and other nations. This spirit of fear will increase upon them.
Look at the dread they experienced at the work of the dynamiters in
the old country, and that is but a beginning of what is to come. These
secret societies will work great mischief and death, with frequent
assassinations, and by and by these things will come so thick and fast
that people will not know what way to escape. The Lord is gathering
His people together that He may deal with them by themselves. The
great trouble is, that we have too many among us who are careless and
indifferent; that are wicked and sinful; that ought to be dealt with
and cut off the Church. There are plenty who are ready to sell their
brethren into the hands of their enemies, but the day will come, when
they will realize the awful consequence of their acts. We have not
much to fear unless we offend the God whom we agreed to serve.
Brethren and sisters, let not your hearts be troubled. Obey the
commandments of God, keep your covenants inviolate and learn to live
by every word that proceeds from Him and the constituted authorities
of His Church—and if you find trials in your pathway you will find
help to endure them. Parents, cultivate affection toward each other,
toward your children and toward all included in your households; do
right by your wives, your husband, your children and your God. You
will find that all the rest will come right in its own due time. The
Lord will bring it about in so strange and simple a manner that it
will be astonishing to us when we find out how He has done it. We
cannot go to the Bible, Book of Mormon or the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, to be informed how this, that and the other thing will be
solved and arranged. We can read how He did anciently according to the
circumstances that surrounded His people then; but we cannot find out
His methods and plans of today only as He manifests them to us by the
spirit of revelation. His ways are past finding out. He tells us that
Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with
righteousness. We must remember this. If we would have power with God
and with the angels, it must be because of our diligent attention to
God, to the work He has called us to do, and we must see that we
establish it in the earth. Every man should warn his neighbor; should
teach his children and his family, and establish righteousness in his
household. Presidents and Bishops should deal with transgressors in
the Church, that they may repent, or be cut off. It is that
righteousness may be established in the earth that the Lord has
commenced His work again, that it may be established not in a little
place, but in all the land, and it shall spread until His righteous
word and work shall fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the
mighty deep.
Do not let anything divert you from the path of duty; let nothing
cause you to commit an overt act. Honor and respect the laws of the
land as far as possible, consistent with the laws and commandments of
God. Observe and obey every constitutional law. When our enemies place
us in violation of a law of the land, it is painful to us, and it is
our trial, but the respon sibility of it rests with them. Let
us make up our minds to bear this crusade of legal persecution with
fortitude as Saints have had to do in all ages of Gospel reform,
because they believed in the revelations of Jesus Christ. We have not
revolted against any law of the land; we have not contended against
any constitutional principle, law or doctrine that could benefit,
improve or exalt the human family, nor anything that could promote the
pursuit of happiness—we seek after all these things. But, our
Congressmen, Governors and Judges, in the supreme wisdom with which
they imagine they are endowed, impose penalties upon God's people for
keeping His commandments. Thus we see that when the wicked rule, the
people mourn.
We ought to gain by all this experience valuable knowledge. We want to
profit by it. Let every man question himself: "Can I stand this or
that without getting angry!" Or can we be righteously angry and sin
not? If not we should go into our closets and ask God for that measure
of His spirit that is necessary to sustain us in a proper frame of
mind. This is the kind of experience, the very kind of discipline that
is necessary for us, to make us find out whether we will draw near to
Him and have fellowship, and communion with Him. These things are all
for our experience, for our profit. The Lord has made known to us that
the days we live in are dark with threatenings of war. The hour of his
judgment is nigh at hand. We have seen one terrible war in our
land—and it is well that we should take heed to His counsels. Wars and
rumors of wars are spreading abroad upon the face of the earth, and it
will come to pass before a great while that people will be so far from
having peace that they must either take up the sword to contend
against their neighbor, or flee to Zion and gather with God's people.
You will see this come to pass. Mark my words. All kinds and
conditions of people will desire to come here and make homes with us.
You will see the day when it will be as hard to keep the wicked away
from us as it ever has been to get people to join us. Mark that, too. I
tell you that a people with full granaries, a people of peace and
prosperity, is a people that will be sought after by the peoples of
the nations of the earth, and things cannot always go on in the way
they are going with us, without bringing down upon our oppressors the
retribution of an offended God. We ought to rely upon His promises.
These experiences are well calculated to do us good, and teach us to
trust in the Lord.
Nor should we forget that when a governor of unsavory memory forbade
the use of the militia alike for defense against Indian depredations,
as well as for Fourth of July celebrations; that since that date, no
single predatory excursion of the red man has been experienced by any
one of our settlements. On the contrary it would seem that all use of
firearms for any kind of military defense had become entirely
obsolete—gone into utter desuetude—so entirely at peace have the
Lamanites become, that instead of either noise of war, or even the
apprehension thereof, there is given us of God to enjoy the most
settled peace from the red man on all our borders round; and now
having assisted to build our temples, they are enjoying with us the
heavenly blessing bestowed therein. Instead of roaming wild and
lawlessly over the plains, numbers have renounced their tribal relations, sworn allegiance to government, have preempted or
homesteaded lands of the public domain, are raising crops,
cultivating their flocks and herds, are building and occupying
comfortable dwellings, as good neighbors among their white brethren,
as is evidenced at Washakie in Oneida Stake, and at Indianola in the
San Pete Stake. Their schools are turning out scholars in the
elementary branches of good common school education.
Not only has the need of firearms been done away as between us and the
natives, but we have very great reason to be thankful that in the
present unholy crusade against the Church the onslaught has not been
with fire and the sword as in former times, but with mind and moral
suasion in the application of the law by a perversion of many of its
well-settled methods of interpretation, construction and application.
These conclusions have been the implements and the tactics of the
present warfare.
It is devoutly to be hoped that no one with a zeal which is not
according to knowledge shall commit an overt act that shall
precipitate a conflict with carnal weapons and give the enemy an
occasion or opportunity to shed the blood of the Saints or to increase
their unhallowed oppressions upon us.
Since, then, the weapons of our warfare are not powder, lead and fine
steel; let us put on the whole armor of God; banish unrighteousness
from our midst, and we or our children shall see the governments of
this world become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ in His own
due time, for which all Saints should ever labor and pray.
We have had a great deal of good instruction during this conference. I
have been much edified myself in hearing my brethren talk, and I am
sure you all have. The teachings which have been given are of a
character to promote good feelings between brethren and sisters,
fathers and mothers, parents and children, and it is pleasant to hear
of each other's welfare.
When we go to our respective homes let us go with the determination to
stand steadfast in the faith. I am sure that after such a conference
as this every honest soul who has met with us, if he wanted a portion
of the bread of life, has received that portion, has received
something which he can take home for his own use—some words of
encouragement, some strengthening exhortation, some good words that
will help to put away weakness and enable the feeble to say I am
strong in the Lord.
I pray God to bless you, to comfort your hearts; to increase your
faith towards Him; to strengthen you that you may not be overcome of
sin, and that you may seek in all things to overcome evil with good.
Remember and pray for the brethren—our leaders. We do not know what
awaits us; we care but little. The main thing devolving upon us is to
do our duty acceptably day by day. We will trust in God and go
forward. What if it were necessary that some of our lives should be
taken? There is no need for fear or worriment about it. It has always
been so when God had a people on the earth. Some of the best lives
have been taken—taken as witnesses in yonder heavens to testify to
facts as they exist here. Do you understand this? It is in accordance
with the great principles of eternal justice which rule and regulate
in heaven with a great deal more precision and certainty than here on
the earth. The Lord has told us how He does business in some
of these matters before the councils of the Church, namely by the
voice of two or three witnesses every word is to be established, and
so it has to be up yonder. Perhaps it is necessary once in a while
to have some go in that kind of a way. Well don't get scared about
that. We have all to die some day. It will be all right whether it
shall be tomorrow or next week, if we keep the commandments of God in
all matters. Choose the wise and the perfect way, and if we are right
we will be willing to say, "O Lord, thy will be done." If when we
embraced the Gospel we placed our all upon the altar, it is of very
little consequence about all these things. For if we seek to save our
lives we may lose them, but if we lose them in the service of God, we
shall find life eternal.
I pray that God may bless us all; you who are parents, should bless
your children—that they may render more loving obedience to you, that
you may be more affectionate to them, remembering the union in which
you have been united and in which you have been sealed; that you may
be strengthened of the Holy Ghost, and be enabled to go into the holy
temples and set yourselves in order before the Lord; that you may
obtain those eternal gifts that shall bring an eternal weight of glory
to your household, families, friends and kindred; that you may have
the full assurance of the promises of God, and have joy to animate,
stimulate and sustain you through every trying circumstance in life,
and bring you safely back into the presence of our heavenly Father.
Amen.
- Franklin D. Richards