It rejoices my heart to hear the principles that have been advanced
this day by our President, because they have their foundation in
truth, are based upon the principles of equity, and are calculated to
promote the happiness, well-being, exaltation, and glory of man, in
time, and throughout all eternity. They lead us back into eternity;
they existed with us there, and in all the various stages of man's
existence they are calculated to elevate and ennoble him, and place
him in a proper position before God, angels, and men. They will put
him in possession of his legitimate right, save him from the grasp of
the adversary, from every subtle stratagem of the powers of darkness,
and place him in his proper station in time and in eternity.
I have been much pleased with and edified by the remarks that have
been made upon this stand during the Conference. Wisdom has been
displayed in them; from them the intelligence of heaven has beamed
forth, the mysteries of eternity have been spread before our minds,
and we have had a view of heavenly things, that has filled our hearts
with joy and our mouths with praise. It has made us feel as though we
were upon the threshold of eternity; as though we were eternal beings,
and had to do with eternal things; as though the things of this world
were short, fleeting, and evanescent, not worthy of a thought when
compared with those things that are calculated to exalt and ennoble us
in time and in eternity.
The principles of justice, righteousness, and truth, which have an
endless duration, can alone satisfy the capacious desires of the
immortal soul. We may amuse ourselves like children do at play, or
engage in the frivolities of the dance. We may take our little
enjoyments in our social assemblies, but when the man comes to
reflect, when the Saint of God considers, and the visions of eternity
are open to his view, and the unalterable purposes of God are
developed to his mind—when he contemplates his true position before
God, angels, and men, then he soars above the things of time and
sense, and bursts the cords that bind him to earthly objects; he
contemplates God and his own destiny in the economy of heaven, and
rejoices in a blooming hope of an immortal glory.
Such have been some of our feelings, while our minds have been carried
away from the things of earth to contemplate the things with which
eternal beings are associated, and the glories that await us in the
everlasting mansions of the Gods.
The principles that we have to do with, then, are eternal, and not
simply to play a game upon the checker of mortality, on which people
can win and lose for the time being. We have to do with that which
shall continue,
"While life, and thought, and being last,
Or immortality endures."
We seek not to build our hopes upon things that are evanescent,
fleeting, and transitory.
It is not he that can play the best game at checkers, that can
take the most advantage of his neighbor, that can grasp the most
earthly good, or that can put himself in possession of anything his
heart desires pertaining to time, that is the most happy; but it is he
who does that which will last, live, and continue to abide with him
while "immortality endures," and still be on the increase worlds
without end.
If we can possess principles of this kind, then we are safe,
everything else amounts to an illusion or a delusion, which cannot
satisfy the desires of the mind, but as the Prophet says, it is like a
thirsty man who dreams he is drinking, but when he awakes, he is
faint, and his soul is thirsty; he dreams that he is eating, and when
he awakes his soul is empty. This is the true situation of all men
who are without God in the world; and nothing but a knowledge of
eternal principles, of eternal laws, of eternal governments, of
eternal justice and equity, and of eternal truth, can put us right,
and satiate the appetite of the immortal soul.
If we make not a just estimate of these things, it is in vain that we
attempt to say, "Lord, Lord," because we do not the things which He
says. Everything associated with the Gospel of salvation is eternal,
for it existed before the "morning stars sang together for joy," or
this world rolled into existence. It existed then, just as it now
exists with us, and it will exist the same when time with us is no
more. It is an eternal principle, and everything associated with it
is everlasting. It is like the Priesthood of the Son of God, "without
beginning of days or end of years." It lives and abides forever. If
there is any principle that is not eternal, it is not a principle of
the Gospel of life and salvation.
There are many changes and shifting scenes that may influence the
position of mankind, under different circumstances, in this state of
mortality; but they cannot influence or change the Gospel of the Son
of God, or the eternal truths of heaven; they remain unchangeable; as
it is said very properly by the Church of England, in one of their
homilies, "as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
worlds without end." If nothing else they say is true, that is, and I
can say amen to it, with all my heart. All true principles are right,
and if properly understood and appreciated by the human family, to
them they are a fountain of eternal good.
The principle of "heirship," which President Young preached about
today, is a principle that is founded on eternal justice, equity, and
truth. It is a principle that emanated from God. As was said by some
of our brethren this morning, there may be circumstances arise in this
world to pervert for a season the order of God, to change the designs
of the Most High, apparently, for the time being, yet they will
ultimately roll back into their proper place—justice will have its
place, and so will mercy, and every man and woman will yet stand in
their true position before God. If we understand ourselves correctly,
we must look upon ourselves as eternal beings, and upon God as our
Father, for we have been taught when we prayed to say, "Our Father,
which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." We have fathers in the
flesh, and we do them reverence, how much more shall we be in
subjection to the Father of Spirits and live. I need not enter into
any proof in relation to this; for it is well understood by the
Saints that God is the Father of our spirits, and that when we go back
into His presence, we shall know Him, as we have known our earthly
parents. We are taught to approach Him as we would an earthly parent,
to ask of Him such blessings as we need; and He has said, If
a son ask bread of his father shall he give him a stone, or if he ask
for fish, a scorpion. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give
His holy Spirit to them that ask Him.
We have a Father, then, who is in heaven. He has placed us on this
earth for some purpose. We found ourselves in possession of bodies,
mental faculties, and reasoning powers. In a word, we found ourselves
intelligent beings, with minds capable of recalling the past and
launching into the unborn future with lightning speed; and were it not
for this earthly tabernacle, this tenement of clay, they would soar
aloft and contemplate the unveiled purposes of Jehovah in the mansions
of the redeemed. We found ourselves here with minds capable of all
this and more. God, who has ordained all things from before the
foundation of the world, is our Father. He placed us here to fulfil
His wise and unerring counsels, that we might magnify our calling,
honor our God, obtain an exaltation, and be placed in a more glorious,
exalted, and dignified position than it would have been possible for
us to enjoy if we had never taken upon us these bodies. This is my
faith; it is the faith of this people.
I have no complaints to make about our father Adam eating the
forbidden fruit, as some have, for I do not know but any of us would
have done the same. I find myself here in the midst of the creations
of God, and it is for me to make use of the intelligence God has given
me, and not condescend to anything that is low, mean, groveling, and
degrading—to anything that is calculated to debase the immortal mind
of man, but to follow after things that are in their nature calculated
to exalt, ennoble, and dignify, that I may stand in my true position
before God, angels, and men, and rise to take my seat among the Gods
of eternity.
We will now come to the principle of legitimacy, which was the text
given out this morning—to our rights, privileges, Priesthoods,
authorities, powers, dominions, &c., &c. And as some of us are
Scriptorians, and all profess to believe the Bible, I feel inclined to
quote a text from it. Paul, when speaking of Jesus Christ, gives us to
understand that he is the firstborn of every creature, for by him
were all things made that were made, and to him pertains all things;
he is the head of all things, he created all things, whether visible
or invisible, whether they be principalities, powers, thrones, or
dominions; all things were created by him and for him, and without him
was not anything made that was made. If all things were created by him
and for him, this world on which we stand must have been created by
him and for him; if so, he is its legitimate, its rightful owner and
proprietor; its lawful sovereign and ruler. We will begin with him,
then, in the first place, in treating on the subject of legitimacy.
But has he had the dominion over all nations, kindreds, peoples, and
tongues? Have they bowed to his scepter, and acknowledged his sway?
Have all people rendered obedience to his laws, and submitted to his
guidance? Echo answers "no!" Has there ever been a kingdom, a
government, a nation, a power, or a dominion in this world that has
yielded obedience to him in all things? Can you point out one?
We read of the Jews who were a nation that submitted only in part to
his authority, for they rebelled against his laws, and were placed
under a schoolmaster until the Messiah should come. We read also, in
the Book of Mormon, of some Nephites that dwelt upon this land, who
kept the commandments of God, and perhaps were more pure than
any other nation that history gives any account of. But, with these
exceptions, the nations, kingdoms, powers, and dominions of the world
have not been subject to the law, dominion, rule, or authority of God;
but, as it is expressed by one of the ancients, the prince and power
of the air, the god of this world has ruled in the hearts of the
children of disobedience, and led them captive at his own will. Where
is the historian, the man acquainted with ancient lore, who can point
me out one government, nation, power, or dominion, that has been
subject to the rule of God, to the dominion of Jesus Christ, with the
exception of those Jews and Nephites which I have referred to? If
there has been any such nation, the history of it has escaped my
notice. I have never been able to obtain such information.
What then has been the position of the world for generations past?
They have been governed by rulers not appointed of God; if they were
appointed by Him, it was merely as a scourge to the people for their
wickedness, or for temporary rulers in the absence of those whose
right it was to govern. They had not the legitimate rule, Priesthood,
and authority of God on the earth, to act as His representatives in
regulating and presiding over the affairs of His kingdom.
Perhaps it may be well, at this stage of my remarks, to give you a
short explanation of my ideas on government, legitimacy, or
Priesthood, if you please. The question, "What is Priesthood?" has
often been asked me. I answer, it is the rule and government of God,
whether on earth or in the heavens; and it is the only legitimate
power, the only authority that is acknowledged by Him to rule and
regulate the affairs of His kingdom. When every wrong thing shall be
put right, and all usurpers shall be put down, when he whose right it
is to reign shall take the dominion, then nothing but the Priesthood
will bear rule; it alone will sway the scepter of authority in heaven
and on earth, for this is the legitimacy of God.
In the absence of this, what has been the position of the nations? You
who have made yourselves acquainted with the political structure and
the political intrigues of earthy kingdoms, I ask, from whence did
they obtain their power? Did they get it from God? Go to the history
of Europe, if you please, and examine how the rulers of those nations
obtained their authority. Depending upon history for our information,
we say those nations have been founded by the sword. If we trace the
pages of history still further back to the first nation that existed,
still we find that it was founded upon the same principle. Then follow
the various revolutions and changes that took place among subsequent
nations and powers, from the Babylonians through the Medo-Persians,
Grecians, Romans, and from that power to all the other powers of
Europe, Asia, and Africa, of which we have any knowledge: and if we
look to America from the first discoveries by Columbus to the present
time, where are now the original proprietors of the soil? Go to any
power that has existed upon this earth, and you will find that earthly
government, earthly rule and dominion, have been obtained by the
sword. It was the sword of men that first put them in possession of
this power. They have walked up to their thrones through rivers of
blood, through the clotted gore and the groans of the dying, and
through the tears and lamentations of bereaved widows and helpless
orphans; and hence the common saying is, "Thrones won by blood, by
blood must be maintained." By the same principle that they have been
put in possession of territory, have they sought to sustain
themselves—the same vio lence, the same fraud, and the same
oppression have been made use of to sustain their illegitimacy.
Some of these powers, dominions, governments, and rulers, have had in
their possession the laws of God, and the admonitions of Jesus Christ;
and what have they done to his servants in different ages of the
world, when he has sent them unto them? This question I need not stop
to answer, for you are already made too familiar with it. This, then,
is the position of the world. Authority, dominion, rule, government
has been obtained by fraud, and consequently is not legitimate. They
say much about the ordination of kings, and their being anointed by
the grace of God, &c. What think you of a murderer slaying hundreds
and thousands of his fellow creatures because he has the power, and
while his sword is yet reeking with human blood, having a priest in
sacerdotal robes to anoint him to the kingship? They have done it.
What think you of the cries of the widows, the tears of the orphans,
and the groans of the dying, mingling with the prayers and blessings
of the priest upon the head of the murderer of their husbands and
their fathers?
It is impossible that there can be any legitimate rule, government,
power, or authority, under the face of the heavens, except that which
is connected with the kingdom of God, which is established by new
revelation from heaven.
In a conversation with some of our modern reformers in France, one of
their leaders said, "I think you will not succeed very well in
disseminating the principles of your religion in France." I replied,
"You have been seeking to accomplish something, for generations, with
your philosophy, your philanthropic societies, and your ideas of moral
reform, but have failed; while we have not been seeking to accomplish
the thing that you have, par ticularly, and yet have accomplished it."
We began with the power of God, with the government of heaven, and
with acknowledging His hand in all things; and God has sustained us,
blessed and upheld us to the present time; and it is the only
government, rule, and dominion under the heavens that will acknowledge
His authority.
Brethren, if any of you doubt it, go into some of those nations, and
get yourselves introduced into the presence of their kings and rulers,
and say, "Thus saith the Lord God." They would at once denounce you as
a madman, and straightway order you into prison. What is the matter?
They do not acknowledge the legitimacy, the rule and government of
God, nor will they inquire into them. They receive not their
authority from Him. Nations honor their kings, but they do not honor
the authority of their God in any instance, neither have they from the
first man-made government to the present time. If there has been such
a nation, or if there is at this time such a government, it is a thing
of which I am ignorant.
The kings and potentates of the world profess to be anointed by the
grace of God. But the priests who anoint them have no authority to do
it. No person has authority to anoint a king or administer in one of
the least of God's ordinances, except he is legally called and
ordained of God to that power; and how can a man be called of God to
administer in His name, that does not acknowledge the gift of prophecy
to be the right of the children of God in all ages? It is impossible.
These men have been grasping after power, and for this they have laid
waste nations and destroyed countries. Some of them possessed it for a
while, and others were on the eve of getting it when they were cut
off, and down they went. What became of them afterwards? Isaiah in
vision saw the kings of the earth ga thered together as
prisoners in a pit, and after many days they were to be visited.
Having said so much in relation together governors and governments, we
will now notice the difference between them and Abraham of old.
Abraham was a man who contended for the true and legitimate authority.
God promised to him, and to his seed after him, the land of Canaan for
their possession, "The Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was
separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place
where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward;
for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy
seed forever." What did Stephen say, generations afterwards? That God
"gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot
on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and
to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." Ezekiel's vision
of the dry bones explains this seeming contradiction. The Lord said to
him, "Son of man, can these bones live?" &c. Who are they? We are
told, in the same chapter, they are the whole house of Israel, and
that they shall come out of their graves, bone come to its bone and
sinew to sinew, and flesh come upon them, and they shall become a
living army before God, and they shall inherit the land which was
given to them and their fathers before them. The measuring line shall
again go forth upon those lands, and mark out the possessions
belonging to the tribes of Israel.
Abraham was a man who dared fear God, and do honor to His authority,
which was legitimate. God tried and proved him, the same as He has
tried many of us, and felt after his heartstrings, and twisted them
round. When He had tried him to the utmost, He swore by Himself,
because He could swear by no greater, saying, "That in blessing I will
bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed." "And in thy
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Abraham obtained
his dominion by legitimate authority; his Priesthood was obtained from
God; his authority was that which is associated with the everlasting
Gospel, which was, and is, and is to come, that liveth and abideth
forever. And the promises made to him will rest upon him and his
posterity, through every subsequent period of time, until the final
winding up scene of all things. Will he ever obtain them? Yes. For we
are eternal beings, and I am now talking as though we were in
eternity. We shall wake up in the morning of the resurrection, attain
to all the blessings which have been promised to us, and strike hands
with Abraham, and see him inherit the promises. Abraham and all his
children will then inherit the promises, through the principle of
legitimacy. And there are many of the sons and daughters of Abraham
among us at the present time; these will be baptized for their dead
brethren and sisters, and by this means bring them unto Christ,
beginning on the outside branches of the tree, and so progressing to
the main stock, and from that to the root. And it shall come to pass
that all Israel shall be saved. Why? Because it is their legitimate
right. And they are Israel who do the works of Abraham.
Thus it is, then, with Abraham. The old man feels perfectly easy about
the matter; and if he does see many of his descendants existing as a
cursed race on account of their transgressions, many of them enjoying
no higher avocation than crying "Old clothes," still the time of their
redemption will come, and by means of the eternal Gospel and
Priesthood, they with us will be made perfect, and we with them. While
the faithful are operating in heaven to bring this about, the
Saints are operating on earth; and by faith and works we will
accomplish all things, we will redeem the dead and the living, and all
shall come forth, and Abraham will stand at the head of his seed as
their ruler. This is his legitimate position.
We will now notice those men who are contending for it without any
authority, and make a contrast between the two. We see them gathering
their forces, and using their influence to destroy the poor among men.
How long will the kings and rulers of the earth do this? Until they
are dead and damned. And what then? They will be cast down into a pit.
Isaiah saw them there, along with many other scoundrels, murderers,
and scamps. After many days they will be visited, but they have got to
lie in prison a long time for their transgressions. The one is
legitimacy, and the other is illegitimacy; the one is the order of
God, and the other is the order of the devil.
Such is the position of things in relation to the world, to legitimacy
and illegitimacy, in regard to things that are right and things that
are wrong. Jesus Christ created all things, and for him were they
made, whether it be principalities, powers, thrones, or dominions. Now
the question is, is he going to be dispossessed of his right because
scoundrels exist in the world, and stand in power and dominion;
because his subjects have rebelled against him from time to time, and
usurpers have taken his place, and the dominion is given to another?
Verily, no. But the time will come when the kingdom and the greatness
of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to the Saints of
the Most High, and they will possess it forever and ever.
We will now notice some of the acts of God, and some of the acts of
those who have been under the dominion of Satan, those who have had
dominion over the world—the proud and haughty usurpers, and the
shedders of innocent blood. These are they that have lived in the
world, and possessed all the good things of it. And what has been the
situation of the Saints in every age? All those who dared acknowledge
that God lived, that this kingdom belonged to Him, that it was His
right, and that He would without doubt possess it, have been trodden
under foot, persecuted, cast out, hated, killed; "they wandered about
in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, and
tormented." As one of old says, in speaking of the Jews—Which of the
prophets have not your fathers killed, who testified before of the
coming of the Just One.
This was the case in ancient days, and has been carried on in modern
times. I have, with my own eyes, seen holy Prophets expire, who were
killed by the hands of a murderous gang of bloodthirsty assassins,
because they bore the same testimony that the holy Prophets did in
days of old. How many more of their brethren who dared acknowledge the
truth, have fallen beneath the same influences—have been shot,
whipped, imprisoned, and put to death in a variety of ways, while
hundreds of others, driven from their homes in the winter, have found
their last bed; they were worn out with suffering and fatigue, the
weary wheels of life stood still; they were obliged to forsake the
world, in which they could no longer remain, because of the
persecution heaped upon them by the enemies of the truth.
The reason of all this vile outrage upon innocent men, women, and
children, is because there is no legitimate rule upon the earth. God's
laws and government are not known, and His servants are despised and
cast out.
Legitimacy and right, whether in heaven or on earth cannot mix with anything that is not true, just, and equitable; and truth is
free from oppression and injustice, as is the bosom of Jehovah.
Nothing but that will ultimately stand. What has been the position of
the world generally, among themselves? You see men marshalling armies,
and making war with one another to destroy each other, and take
possession of their territory and wealth. One man who is in possession
of wealth, power, and authority, sees oppression exercised by kings;
so he follows the example, as do rulers who exercise authority under
their sovereign; then others in a still lower degree do the same; thus
oppression treads upon the heels of oppression, and distress follows
distress. You will find this to exist in a great measure through every
grade of society, from the king on his throne, down to the
matchmaker, or the chimney sweep.
To ameliorate the condition of man, there are a great many
institutions introduced into the world in the shape of Tract
Societies, Bible Societies, and many more too numerous for me to name.
Many of them are founded by sincere men, but commencing on the wrong
foundation, they keep wrong all the time, and fail to accomplish the
object desired. If any one of these different institutions were to
carry out their own principles, they would not only fail in
accomplishing the object they have in view, but ultimately destroy
themselves.
There are Peace Societies among the rest; their object is to bring
peace into the world, without the Spirit of God. They see plainly that
peace is desirable, but they wish to graft it onto a rotten stock. In
Europe they had a "Peace Congress," and sent their representatives to
all parts of the world; and of course this "Congress of Peace" wished
to regulate the world, make an end of war, and bring in universal
peace.
Talk about peace, when rancorous discord makes its nest in the
councils and cabinets of all nations, and the hearts of their
statesmen are steeped in hatred one to another. Jealousy, animosity,
and strife, like the influence of a deadly contagion, may be found in
almost every family; brother rising up against sister, sister against
brother, the father against the mother, and the mother against the
father, etc. We can find discord reigning even in the "Peace Society"
itself.
Jesus Christ says, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you," &c. Wherever this peace exists, it leaves an
influence that is comforting and refreshing to the souls of those who
partake of it. It is like the morning dew to the thirsty plant. This
peace is alone the gift of God, and it can only be received from Him
through obedience to His laws. If any man wishes to introduce peace
into his family or among his friends, let him cultivate it in his own
bosom; for sterling peace can only be had according to the legitimate
rule and authority of heaven, and obedience to its laws.
Everything is disordered, and in confusion in the world. The reason
is because no legitimate authority has been known or acknowledged on
the earth. Others have been trying to build up and establish what they
supposed to be the kingdom of God. The socialists of France call
themselves religious people, and they also expect to bring about a
reign of glory through a species of Robespierreism. I was told by a
man well acquainted with matters of fact in relation to these things,
that if they gained the ascendancy in France, their first object would
be to erect a statue to Robespierre. They were going to cut off
thousands of people, to accomplish their designs: and had not Napoleon
taken active measures to head them, bands of men were ready on a
moment's warning to cut off the heads of thousands, and among
these, I was informed, fifty thousand priests were doomed.
These are some of the principles and ideas that exist in the world,
among the various nations and institutions of men, which are framed
according to illegitimate principles. A change of government changes
not the condition of the people, for all are wrong, and acting without
God.
Our ideas are, that the time has come to favor God's people; a time
about which Prophets spoke in pathetic strains, and poets sung. These
men of God looked through the dark vista of future ages, and being
wrapped in prophetic vision, beheld the latter-day glory—the time of
the dispensation of the fulness of times, spoken of by all the holy
Prophets since the world began; for they all looked forward with
joyful anticipations to the things which have commenced with us; they
all had their eye upon the time when legitimacy would obtain its
proper place upon the earth, in the shape of the kingdom of God
established in the world, when all false rule and dominion would be
put down, and the kingdoms of this world would become subject to God
and His Christ. These are the ideas that they had, and these are the
things we are seeking to carry out.
If we look at what illegitimacy has done in former times, we shall see
the absolute necessity of the restitution spoken of by the Prophets,
for it has filled the earth with evil, it has caused the world to
groan in bondage, laid millions in the cold embrace of death, and
caused disease to spread its pestiferous breath among the nations,
leaving ruin, misery,
and desolation in its path, and
made this fair
earth a howling wilderness. And nothing but the wisdom and
intelligence of God can change it. The kingdom of God will establish
truth and correct principles—the principles of truth, equity, and
justice; in short, the principles that emanate from God, principles
that are calculated to elevate man in time and through all eternity.
How shall this be? It will be by a legitimate rule, authority, and
dominion.
Who have we for our ruling power? Where and how did he obtain his
authority? Or how did any in this Church and kingdom obtain it? It was
first obtained by a revelation from the Lord of the Universe, by the
opening of the heavens, by the voice of God, and by the ministering of
holy angels. It is by the voice of God and the voice of the people,
that our present President obtained his authority. Many people in the
world are talking about misrule and misgovernment. If there is any
form of government under the heavens where we can have legitimate rule
and authority, it is among the Saints. In the first place, we have a
man appointed by God, and, in the second place, by the people. This
man is chosen by yourselves, and every person raises his hand to
sanction the choice. Here is our President, Brigham Young, whom we
made choice of yesterday, who is he? He is the legitimate ruler among
this people. Can anybody dispossess him? They cannot, because it is
his legitimate right, and he reigns in the hearts of the people. He
obtains his authority first from God, and secondly from the people;
and if a man possesses five grains of common sense, when he has a
privilege of voting for or against a man, he will not vote for a man
that oppresses the people; he will vote according to the dictates of
his conscience, for this is the right and duty of this people in the
choice of their President, and other leading officers of the kingdom
of God. While this is being done here, it is being done in every part
of the world, wherever the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has a footing. Is there a monarch, potentate, or power under the
heavens that under goes a scrutiny as fine as this? No there is
not; and yet this is done twice a year, before all the Saints in the
world. Here are legitimacy and rule. You place the power in their
hands to govern, dictate, regulate, and put in order the affairs of
the kingdom of God. This is, Vox Dei vox populi. God appoints, the
people sustain. You do this by your own act; very well, then, it is
legitimate, and must stand, and every man is bound to abide it if it
takes the hair off his head. I know there are things sometimes that
are hard, tough, and pinching; but if a man is a man of God, he has
his eyes upon eternal things, and is aiming to accomplish the purposes
of God, and all will be well with him in the end.
What advantage is there, then, between this government and others?
Why, we have peace, and as eternal beings we have a knowledge of
eternal things. While listening to the remarks made on this stand,
what have we not heard—what have we not known? The curtains of heaven
have been withdrawn, and we have gazed as by vision upon eternal
realities. While, in the professing world, doubt and uncertainty throw
their dark mantle over every mind.
Let us now notice our political position in the world. What are we
going to do? We are going to possess the earth. Why? Because it
belongs to Jesus Christ, and he belongs to us, and we to him; we are
all one, and will take the kingdom and possess it under the whole
heavens, and reign over it forever and ever. Now, ye kings and
emperors, help yourselves, if you can. This is the truth, and it may
as well be told at this time as at any other.
" There's a good time coming, Saints,
A good time coming,
There's a good time coming, Saints,
Wait a little longer,"
Having said so much on this point, we will return to the principle of
legitimacy. God is our legitimate Father, and we are His children, and
have a claim upon Him, and He has a claim upon us. We have come into
this world to accomplish a certain purpose, and we have come in the
dispensation of the fulness of times, when God decreed to gather all
things together into one, whether they be things in heaven or on
earth; and everything that has been in existence in any age of the
world, or that is, or will be, which is calculated to benefit and
exalt man, we shall have; consequently it is for us to look after
anything and everything that ever has been true, or that has ever been
developed in any period of the history of man, for it all belongs to
us, and has got to be restored, for restitution means bringing back
that which is lost. If the Antediluvians enjoyed anything that was
good, true, and eternal, which is not yet made known to us, it has to
be restored; or if anything existed among the ancient Patriarchs and
Prophets, that has been lost, it has to be restored. If there are any
people of God upon any detached part of this world, they with it have
got to be restored. God's word will also be gathered into one, and His
people and the Jews will hear the words of the Nephites, and the Ten
Tribes must hear the words of the Jews and Nephites, and God's people
be gathered and be one. All things will be gathered in one, and Zion
be redeemed, the glory of God be revealed, and all flesh see it
together. God's dominion will be established on the earth, the law go
forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, and the
kingdoms of this world will become subject to God and His Christ.
As eternal beings, then, we existed with our Father in the eternal
worlds. We came on to this earth, and obtained tabernacles, that
through taking possession of them, and passing through a scene of
trial, and tribula tion, and suffering, we might be exalted to
more glory, dignity, and power, than would have been possible for us
to obtain had we not been placed in our present position. If any of
you do not believe this, let me refer you to a passage of Scripture or
two. How was man created at first? We are told that God made man a
little lower than the angels; then says Paul, "Know ye not that we
shall judge angels." What through? It is through the atonement of
Jesus Christ, through the taking of our bodies, the powers of the holy
Priesthood, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we shall obtain
a higher exaltation than it would have been possible for us to enjoy,
if we had not fallen. To do right in our present state, then, we must
carry out the principle of legitimacy according to a correct rule,
and, if we profess to be subjects of the kingdom of God, we must be
subject to the dominion, rule, legitimacy, and authority of God. No
person can escape from this, unless he apostatizes, and goes to the
devil, like a fool. He must be a fool who would barter away eternal
life, thrones, principalities, and powers in the eternal world, for
the paltry trash which exists in the shape of wealth and worldly
honor: to let go his chance of heaven and of God, of being a King and
Priest unto Him, of living and reigning forever, and of standing
among the chiefs of Israel. I cannot help calling such men fools, for
they are damned now in making such a choice, and will be hereafter.
I will say a little more on legitimacy and right to rule. What would
be the position of a man who would take a course to rob his neighbor,
or take advantage of him in the case of his legitimacy, which you have
heard of this morning? Such a man must be a greater fool than the
other. For instance, a good man dies, who has served God in
righteousness all his days; the weary wheels of life stand still, and
he goes to the world of spirits. He believed in the principles of
justice, equity, righteousness, and truth, and that his rights would
be held sacred to him by his brethren after he was gone. But some
professed man of God comes to his widow, and wants to steal her away
from him; he would rob the dead with impunity, under the ostensible
garb of justice to her and her dead husband; he will tell her he is
doing it out of pure love to them both, and he is going to exalt them
in the kingdom of God. We read of the kingdom of God suffering
violence; if violence is ever attempted, it is in a case of this kind.
It is bad enough to steal from a man his earthly property, his oxen,
his cow, his horse, his harness, his wagon wheels, and other
paraphernalia; but what think you of a man that would rob the dead of
a treasure which he holds the most dear, and prized as the most
precious thing he possessed on earth—his affectionate wife! Such a
person will assuredly miss his figure.
You will find in the ancient laws of Israel, there were proper rules
in relation to these matters; one was, that if a man died without a
child, his brother or the nearest relation of the husband should take
the widow; and raise up seed to her husband, that his name might be
continued in Israel, and not be blotted out. Where did these laws come
from? We are told they came from God. But instead of doing this,
suppose he should try to steal this woman away, and rob his
brother—how would he get along, I wonder, with such a case against
him, at the bar of justice? The laws and ordinances that exist in the
eternal world have their pattern in the things which are revealed to
the children of men on earth. The Priesthood as it exists on the earth
is a pattern of things in heaven. As I said in a former part of this
discourse, Priesthood is legitimate rule, whether on earth or
or in heaven. When we have the true Priesthood on earth, we take it
with us into the heavens; it changes not, but continues the same in
the eternal world.
There is another feature of that ancient law which I will mention. It
was considered an act of injustice for the nearest relation not to
take the wife of the deceased; if he refused to do it, he was obliged
to go before the Elders of Israel, and his brother's wife shall loose
his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and
say, "So shall it be done unto the man that will not build up his
brother's house; and his name shall be called in Israel, The house of
him who hath his shoe loosed." If the restitution of all things is to
be brought to pass, there must be a restitution of these things;
everything will be put right, and in its proper place.
There is another thing which is most grievous, afflicting, and
distressing to contemplate. When a man takes to himself a woman that
properly belongs to another, and defiles her, it interferes with the
fountain of life, and corrupts the very source of existence. There is
an offspring comes forth as the fruit of that union, and that
offspring is an eternal being—how can it be looked upon? To reflect
upon it, wounds the finest feelings of human nature in time, and will
in eternity. For who can gaze upon the degradation of their wife, and
the corruption of their seed, without peculiar sensations? How much
more is this feeling enhanced when the wronged man considers that he
has been robbed by one who professed to be his friend? This thing is
not to be trifled with, but is of the greatest importance; hence the
necessity of the sealing powers, that all things may be pure, chastity
maintained, and lasciviousness be rooted out from among the Saints.
Why so? That we may have a holy offspring, that shall be great, and
clothed with the mighty power of God, to rule in His kingdom, and
accomplish the work we propose they shall fulfil; and that when we go
to sleep, we may sleep in peace, knowing that justice will be
administered in righteousness. We shall know that we have a claim upon
our own in the first resurrection; we shall know that our wives and
our children will be there to join us, justice will be administered,
and we shall have a claim upon them in the eternal world, and that no
unprincipled scoundrel will be permitted to set his foot on another,
or rob him of his just claims. Why is a woman sealed to a man for time
and all eternity? Because there is legitimate power on earth to do it.
This power will bind on earth and in heaven; it can loose on earth,
and it is loosed in heaven; it can seal on earth, and it is sealed in
heaven. There is a legitimate, authorized agent of God upon earth;
this sealing power is regulated by him; hence what is done by that, is
done right, and is recorded. When the books are opened, everyone will
find his proper mate, and have those that belong to him, and everyone
will be deprived of that which is surreptitiously obtained.
Let us do righteously, and you who would seek to injure another and
take advantage of one who was just and faithful to his God in his day,
how would you like, when you get a few years older and drop into
eternity, for somebody to come and serve you the same? You could not
expect anything else, you could not die without being menaced by this
supposition, and your dying pillow would be made unhappy, you would
know you had done wrong,
and would expect somebody to measure to you
the same measure pressed down, shook together, and running over.
We have been told to preach confidence—correct principles and just
dealings alone will inspire it. If a man speaks that which is
not true about another, can you have confidence in him? No. If a man
defrauds another, can you have confidence in him? No, But if you
would, through a principle of covetousness, seek to sap the foundation
of another's happiness, by trying to wrench from him those sacred
rights which pertain to his interest in the eternal world, how much
greater will be your condemnation? Nothing but truth, integrity,
virtue, honor, and every pure principle, will stand in the great day
of God Almighty. If such a person happens to get through this world,
he will find barriers in the next, and probably miss a chance of
obtaining a place in the first resurrection. Nothing contrary to the
authority, rule, and government of heaven, will stand in time or in
eternity; and if any man wants to be blessed and honored, and to
obtain a high place in the eternal world, let him pursue a course of
honor, righteousness, and virtue before his God; and if he wants to
find himself amongst usurpers, defrauders, oppressors, and those in
possession of illegitimate claims, let him take an opposite course. If
time would permit, much more might be said about social, family, and
individual legitimate rights; but as time hastens, I forbear for the
present.
Well, brethren and sisters, may God bless you. Amen.