As I have frequently remarked, it seems that the people need a great
deal of preaching; they require to be preached to continually to put
them in mind of their duties, and to stir them up to perform the works
which they know that they ought to do. This at first appears strange,
and then again it is not so strange. Our organization is such we are
subject to so many spirits and influences that are in the world, that
it is not strange that our minds require stirring up to remembrance,
and our physical powers to diligence.
As Saints in the last days we have much to learn; there is an eternity
of knowledge before us; at most we receive but very little in this
stage of our progression.
The most learned men that have ever lived on the earth have only been
able to obtain a small amount of knowledge, in comparison to the vast
store of information that exists for the faithful Saints.
It cannot be understandingly exhibited by any individual, not even by
an angel, to the people any further than they are able to receive and
comprehend it; consequently the Lord has to descend to our capacities
and give us a little here and a little there, line upon line, and
precept upon precept, as the Prophet has said.
But we are so organized, and it is so ordained, that we can receive
that little, and still continue to receive a little and a little more,
and treasure up and retain in our memories that which we have
received, so that it will be ready when it is necessary to bring it
forth. What we learn today does not prevent our learning more
tomorrow, and so on.
This principle is inherent in the organization of all intelligent
beings, so that we are capable of receiving, and receiving, and
receiving from the inexhaustible fountain of knowledge and truth.
It has been frequently stated to us, and is a doctrine we understand,
that this people have got to become of one heart and one mind. They
have to know the will of God and do it, for to know the will of God is
one thing, and to bring our wills, our dispositions, into
subjection to that which we do understand to be the will of God is
another.
We might say that this is the first lesson we have to learn and one of
the easiest, one that is calculated and adapted to the capacity of the
child, to learn to be submissive to our Father in heaven. Parents
require this duty of their children, when they have become intelligent
enough to understand that the parent is superior in point of
government, and strict obedience is required by that authority. That
the parent is his superior is one of the first lessons that the child
learns—that he is his dictator to measure and guide his steps, as soon
as he comes to an understanding of what is required.
If we are obedient to the will of our Father in heaven it accomplishes
one grand object, namely, our being the disciples of Christ, for he
observed to his disciples, "Except ye are one ye are not mine." "I am
in my Father and ye in me, and I in you," one eternal principle
governing and controlling the intelligence that dwells in the persons
of the Father and the Son. I have these principles within me, Jesus
has them within him, and you have them within you. I am governed and
controlled by them, my elder brother, Jesus, is governed and
controlled by them, and his Father is governed and controlled by them.
He learned them, Jesus learned them, and we must learn them in order
to receive crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives.
The principle of eternal life that sustains all intelligent beings,
that governs and controls all things in eternity, the principle by
which matter does exist, the principle by which it is organized, by
which it is redeemed and brought into celestial glory, is the
principle that is in you and me, that is in our heavenly Father.
It is life, it is the life of Christ and of every Saint; in this
capacity they are in us and we in them. We must be possessed of the
spirit that governs and controls the angels, we must have the same
spirit within us that our Father in heaven is in possession of.
That spirit must rule you and me, it must control our actions and
dictate us in life, we must cling to it and imbibe it until it becomes
a second nature to us. We are accustomed to saying second nature, but
in reality it is the first nature that we had, though sin has
perverted it. God planted it there as the predominant principle, but
our giving way to temptation has frustrated the plan and driven it
from us.
How easy it is for people to understand and do the will of God, if
they will throw off their unrighteous traditions and let truth stand
for truth, light for light, and let that which is of God be received
as such.
When truth comes, receive it as from the Lord, and let everything be
simplified to us as unto children, for the Lord has ordained that we
may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth, and be able to
receive more knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, and it is not
possible for us to receive it any other way, only as we apply our
hearts strictly to overcome every evil and cleave to that which is
pleasing to the Lord—to that which tends to life and salvation. This
is the only channel in which we can become of one heart and of one
mind.
This has been the burden of our exhortations, prayers, and pleadings.
It was the burden of the exhortations, prayers, and pleadings of the
servants of God who lived in ancient days, as much as it is of those
who live now. No good person has ever lived on the earth—one who
understood the principles of life—but what he has desired to see the
time when the people would be governed by other principles
than those of sin and selfishness.
All the righteous have desired to see the people governed by
principles that will endure, and that will give durability to all who
obey them. Their bowels of compassion yearned continually after the
sons of men, and they labored to bring them under the control and
government of the principles of eternal life, and to cut them loose
from the little, selfish, frivolous, trifling, deathly principles that
pertain to this flesh.
What would be the result of this effort and desire, if accomplished
among us? We should be of one heart and of one mind; we should cease
to play the hypocrite; we should cease to be slothful servants; we
should cease to do evil and do good continually.
The reflections of many are that they cannot govern and control
themselves. And should we ask some whether their memory is good,
whether they can recollect certain transactions which have transpired
thus and so, they would reply, "No, our memory is very treacherous."
That is true, but in different degrees, with all people.
We may ask one person, can you remember anything you wish to, and the
reply may be, "It is with difficulty that we remember anything." This
lack of mental force is found in a large class of mankind, but to
search into the causes of this would take us far back, for they
pertain to parents as well as to children, to the ancient as well as
to the modern inhabitants of this globe.
Another peculiarity of memory is, the stronger recollection of an
injury than a favor; for instance, take a person of the most
treacherous memory and apply a little cayenne pepper to his eyes, and
he will remember that act as long as he lives.
It is an old saying, "That we can forgive (it is man's privilege) but
we cannot forget." Can you forget an injury? No, you will always
remember it. But on the other hand, suppose that a friend should come,
in the hour of your distress, to relieve you from pain and suffering,
and by laying his hands upon you your pain is gone; or furnish you
food when you have none, and administer to your wants in everything
calculated to make you happy and comfortable in body and mind, you
will forget those kind acts many times quicker than the act of
throwing a little cayenne pepper in your eyes.
Think of that and ask yourselves the cause; reason as to why it is
that you can remember an injury better than a kindness; why you can
retain hatred longer than love. Is it through your fallen nature? Is
it because you were begotten and born in sin? Or is it not rather
because the power of the tempter has control over you, and because the
world is full of evil principles, and you have adhered to them? Yes,
this is the cause, and you must acknowledge it. The whole world is
contaminated with a spirit to remember evil and forget the good.
Mankind are organized of element designed to endure to all eternity;
it never had a beginning and never can have an end. There never was a
time when this matter, of which you and I are composed, was not in
existence, and there never can be a time when it will pass out of
existence; it cannot be annihilated.
It is brought together, organized, and capacitated to receive
knowledge and intelligence, to be enthroned in glory, to be made
angels, Gods—beings who will hold control over the elements, and have
power by their word to command the creation and redemption of worlds,
or to extinguish suns by their breath, and disorganize worlds, hurling
them back into their chaotic state. This is what you and I are
created for.
But in view of all this, what can we discover in ourselves? As an
instance, A has a favorite dog, which B discovers doing mischief on
his grounds, and kills, whereupon A, who was fond of his dog for
serving him so well, and guarding his house and children so long and
faithfully, becomes highly enraged, and says, "I tell you I cannot
stand it, I am so angry, that I feel as though I should fly all to
pieces, and I have almost a mind to take my rifle and shoot you."
What, for a dog?
Let a man or woman come forward that can say they have not had such
feelings, to a certain degree. Yes, you have similar feelings in
consequence of someone's abusing your dog, but when you enter into
the holy city (should you be so happy as to get there), you will learn
that the dogs will all be on the outside of the walls with the
murderers, adulterers, fornicators, liars, and those who take the name
of God in vain. "For your conduct towards my dog, I am almost ready to
kill you, neighbor."
Do you hear such language used? Yes, right in our midst. Kill almost
any person's favorite animal, and he is ready to draw the rifle to his
eye, in a moment, to shed the blood of his neighbor. This is the
passion of the animal organization that the devil has power over.
When such feelings assail you, stop and reflect, and let the spirit
within you reason, and it would say, "Shame on you, Brigham, John,
Mary, or Jane." Grant that an individual has done wrong, should we be
so provoked about it?
We are organized for the express purpose of controlling the elements
of organizing and disorganizing, of ruling over kingdoms,
principalities, and powers, and yet our affections are often too
highly placed upon paltry, perishable objects. We love houses, gold,
silver, and various kinds of property, and all who unduly prize any
object there is beneath the celestial world are idolaters.
Some say, "We are placed here, the devils were here, the world is full
of wickedness, and we are subjected to all this without any agency on
our part," but this assertion does not prove such to be the case. Will
you subject your children to wickedness when it is in your power to
deliver them from it? We are measurably subjected to it because of the
sin that was in our parents, but have we now the knowledge to deliver
our children from this power? We have. Then let us begin and do it,
and cast off your unrighteous traditions, as I have often taught and
counseled you. Let every man and woman bring up their children
according to the law of heaven. Teach your children from their youth,
never to set their hearts immoderately upon an object of this world.
Should you train yourselves? Yes, you should. Can you remember to do
good instead of evil? Do you watch the operations of the spirits upon
the people, upon their affections, upon their hearts? Can you not hear
some of this congregation, as they leave the meeting, and afterwards,
begin to find fault and complain on this wise? "Well, I do not like
this, and I do not like that, and I think I shall go back to the
States. I wish I was back in England. I will not pay my money for
flour, but I will beg it, and send my children to beg it, and spend my
money to get away from here."
Have I done you any harm since you have been here? Did my brothers who
proclaimed the Gospel to you, do you anything but good? "No, O, no."
If they have done the least thing to injure you, why will you not tell
of it before you leave? But no, you will not, and as soon as you go
away your testimony will be, "Brothers Brigham, and Heber, and
Jedediah, and the Twelve, and all the brethren at Great Salt
Lake are the worst people we ever saw." Can you tell of one thing
wherein they have wronged you? They may have fed you, you may have
lived here on their bounty and kindness, but as soon as you go away,
you partake of the spirit of the world, which I am trying to contrast
with the spirit of the Gospel.
As soon as you are overcome by the spirit of the world, you forget
every good deed and kindness that has been extended to you, and you
only remember the transpiring and infliction of what you deemed to be
evil. You imagine a thousand things to be evil that would have
resulted in good, had you done right. Can you believe that? "O, yes."
Those who have apostatized and left, cannot recollect a kindness that
I have done them, but I can say to the praise of a few Gentiles, who
have passed through here, they have recollected the kindnesses done to
them by this people. Almost universally, after having received the
greatest kindnesses they ever received, apostates and some Gentiles
after they leave these valleys, vividly remember and proclaim, from
Dan to Beersheba, every fancied injury.
Brother Tobin lately arrived from the army in Oregon; he there became
acquainted with a part of Colonel Steptoe's command. Yesterday, as we
were walking about, I told him that the Indians who were tried for the
murder of Captain Gunnison were confined within the walls of the
Penitentiary. He said that he thought they had made their escape;
that he had been informed that the lock was broken, the gate opened,
and the Indians sent off.
I informed him that it was true that the Indian prisoners escaped, but
that I soon recovered them, placed them in charge of the Warden, and
wrote to Colonel Steptoe, who was at Bear River en route for
California, acquaint ing him with the circumstances. The Colonel
replied, and thanked me in his note. I asked brother Tobin whether the
Colonel did not tell him that those Indians were recovered. He
replied, "No, but it has appeared in nearly all, if not all, the
western papers, that the "Mormons" let the Indians out of prison."
They could publish that the Indians escaped, but they would not
proclaim that the "Mormons" speedily recovered them, and that they are
still safely lodged in prison.
Those who love righteousness and possess the Spirit of God, those who
delight to do good can remember good. They can remember every good
principle and every good act; and when they read the Bible, the
sayings of the Prophets and Apostles will be as near their hearts as
lies are to the hearts of the wicked. By this you may know whether you
are Saints or not. Can you remember good? If you forget good and
remember evil, you may lay it down as a positive fact that you are on
the highway to destruction. If you love the truth you can remember it.
One may here inquire, "Can I strengthen my memory and bring it into
lively exercise?" Yes, by applying your mind to the point you wish to
improve upon, and you can learn and remember righteous deeds if you
are full of integrity.
The Gospel of salvation has been revealed unto us expressly to teach
our hearts understanding, and when I learn the principles of charity
or righteousness I will adhere to them, and say to selfishness, you
must not have that which you want, and when it urges that I have no
more flour than I shall need until harvest, and that I must not give
any away, not even a pound, I say, get out of my door. And when it
argues that a brother will not be profited by our endeavors to
benefit him, that you had better keep your money to yourselves
and not let him have this ox, that farm or cow, &c., and strives to
persuade you not to feed such a poor person, not to do anything for
the P. E. F. Company, that you have not any more than you need, just
do as the man did in Vermont, for by the report we would judge him to
be a pretty good man. He had a farm, raised a large quantity of grain,
and usually had some to spare. It so happened one season that a poor
neighbor thrashed out his rye, and was to receive his pay in grain.
The poor man came; the farmer told him to leave his bags and he would
measure up the amount and have it ready when again called for. He was
alone when measuring the grain, and as he put into the measure,
something whispered to him, "Pour it in lightly," but instead of doing
this, he gave the measure a kick. When he put on the strike something
said to him, "When you take that off, take a little out, the poor man
will know nothing about it." At last the farmer said, "Mr. Devil, walk
out of my barn, or I will heap every half bushel I measure for the
poor man."
When you are tempted to do wrong, do not stop one moment to argue, but
tell Mr. Devil to walk out of your barn, or you will heap up every
half bushel; you can do that I know. A drunkard can walk by a tavern,
though I have heard it said that some men cannot go by, or if they do
manage to get by, that they say, "Now I know I am the master, and I
will go back and treat resolution."
I am aware that some will argue that they cannot do good without evil
being present with them; that has nothing to do with the case. Though
it may be present with them, as it was with Paul, there is no
necessity for any man's giving way to that evil. If we should do good,
do it, and tell the evil to stand out of the way. You are privileged
to be masters of yourselves; you can strengthen your memories, and by
a close application you can train yourselves to remember the good
instead of the evil. If anybody has injured you, forget it. Can you do
so? I know you can.
Forget the imperfections of your brethren; for often the injuries
which you imagine to have been done, arise through the weakness of the
flesh, and without the individual's being aware that he has done you
an injury, and when no evil was designed. Judge not according to the
outward appearance, but according to the intentions of the heart. If
they designed to injure you, they sinned; if they have injured you
without design, you are bound to forgive. Remember good principles,
and when you hear the truth, if you have a love for it, you will
remember it.
It is frequently said by mothers, and is a universal characteristic of
the rising generation, "How easy it is for children to learn mischief;
I do not like to have my children associated with such and such
children, or go to this or that school." Do they learn any good?
Perhaps they do a little, and a great deal of evil. It is natural for
children to learn that which they should not, and to do that which
they should not, but no more so than it is for you and me. There are
many now before me who desire something put in their possession which
would be injurious to them, therefore do not blame the children so
much for desiring to handle that which is not meet for them to handle,
and to possess that which they cannot take care of.
What shall we do? We will cut off every avenue of evil, as fast and as
far as may lay in our power. You can stop those evil communications
that corrupt good manners in yourselves first, and then keep your
children as strictly from evil as possible, and not many
generations will pass away ere the heavens will acknowledge that there
is a reformation among the Latter-day Saints. How many generations we
do not know, but I sometimes think that the Lamanites will become a
white and delightsome people about as quick. It belongs to us to
commence the work of reformation, and in the first place to set the
example of good works before our children, and when they grow up they
will say, these are the traditions of my fathers. They will thus
improve a little, and the next generation will improve a little more,
until the traditions of the children are in accordance with the
principles of the eternal Priesthood, which will produce life and
salvation.
I will speak a little more upon placing your affections on beings who
are not worthy of them. Take a Prophet, an Apostle, a man of God, one
who is just as good in his calling and capacity as Jesus Christ was in
his, a man who has adorned the doctrine of his profession, until he is
sealed up unto eternal lives by the power of the Priesthood, one who
is sure of a glorious resurrection, and let him desire to have a wife.
Now suppose that he gains the affection of a lovely woman and marries
her, how much shall that righteous man love that woman? Shall he say,
"I love this woman to such a degree that I will go to hell rather than
not have her, I will do even this rather than lose my wife?" No, for
you ought to love a woman only so far as she adorns the doctrine you
profess; so far as she adorns that doctrine, just so far let your love
extend to her. When will she be worthy of the full extent of your
affection? When she has lived long enough to secure to herself a
glorious resurrection and an eternal exaltation as your companion, and
never until then.
Elders, never love your wives one hair's breadth further than they
adorn the Gospel, never love them so but that you can leave them at a
moment's warning without shedding a tear. Should you love a child any
more than this? No. Here are Apostles and Prophets who are destined to
be exalted with the Gods, to become rulers in the kingdoms of our
Father, to become equal with the Father and the Son, and will you let
your affections be unduly placed on anything this side that kingdom
and glory? If you do, you disgrace your calling and Priesthood. The
very moment that persons in this Church suffer their affections to be
immoderately placed upon an object this side the celestial kingdom,
they disgrace their profession and calling. When you love your wives
and children, are fond of your horses, your carriages, your fine
houses, your goods and chattels, or anything of an earthly nature,
before your affections become too strong, wait until you and your
family are sealed up unto eternal lives, and you know they are yours
from that time henceforth and forever.
I will now ask the sisters, do you believe that you are worthy of any
greater love than you bestow upon your children? Do you believe that
you should be beloved by your husbands and parents any further than
you acknowledge and practice the principle of eternal lives? Every
person who understands this principle would answer in a moment, "Let
no being's affections be placed upon me any further than mine are on
eternal principles—principles that are calculated to endure and exalt
me, and bring me up to be an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus
Christ." This is what every person who has a correct understanding
would say.
Owing to the weaknesses of human nature you often see a mother mourn
upon the death of her child, the tears of bitterness are found upon
her cheeks, her pillow is wet with the dews of sorrow,
anguish, and mourning for her child, and she exclaims, "O that my
infant were restored to me," and weeps day and night. To me such
conduct is unwise, for until that child returned to its Father, was it
worthy of your fullest love? No, for it was imperfect, but now it is
secure in the bosom of the Father, to dwell there to all eternity; now
it is in a condition where it is worthy of your perfect love, and your
anxiety and effort should be that you may enter at the same gate to
immortality.
When the wife secures to herself a glorious resurrection, she is
worthy of the full measure of the love of the faithful husband, but
never before. And when a man has passed through the veil, and secured
to himself an eternal exaltation, he is then worthy of the love of his
wife and children, and not until then, unless he has received the
promise of and is sealed up unto eternal lives. Then he may be an
object fully worthy of their affections and love on the earth, and not
before.
I will now briefly call your minds to the principle of being one. Do
you not comprehend that you ought to have your affections concentrated
in the kingdom of God on the earth? As I observed here last Sabbath, I
do not reflect much whether I have friends or foes, or care one groat
about it. I do not care whether you take my counsel or not, provided
you take the counsel of the Almighty. I do not care what the people
do, if they will only serve God and build up this kingdom. I do not
care what be come of the things of this world, of the gold, of the
silver, of the houses and of the lands, so we have power to gather the
house of Israel, redeem Zion, and establish the kingdom of God on the
earth. I would not give a cent for all the rest. True, these things
which the Lord bestows upon us are for our comfort, for our happiness
and convenience, but everything must be devoted to the building up of
the kingdom of God on the earth. I may say that this Gospel is to
spread to the nations of the earth, Israel is to be gathered, Zion
redeemed, and the land of Joseph, which is the land of Zion, is to be
in the possession of the Saints, if the Lord Almighty lets me live;
and if I go behind the veil somebody else must see to it. My brethren
must bear it off shoulder to shoulder. We must be of one heart and one
mind and roll forth this kingdom; and when we get the first
Presidency, the Twelve, and so on, shoulder to shoulder to forward the
kingdom, wives and children, what are you going to do? Will you pull
another way? No, but let your affections, faith, and all your works be
with your husbands, and be obedient to them as unto the Lord. And
husbands, serve the Lord with all your hearts, and then we shall be a
blessed people, and be of one heart and mind, and the Lord will
withhold no good thing from us, but we shall put down the power of
Satan, walk triumphantly through the world, preach the Gospel and
gather the Saints. I say then, let us be faithful, and may God bless
you. Amen.