If the congregation will give me their attention, I will detain them
but a short time. Our history is too well known to render it necessary
for me to enter into particulars on the subject this morning. Suffice
it to say, to this congregation, that we shall attempt to build a
temple to the name of our God. This has been attempted several times,
but we have never yet had the privilege of completing and enjoying
one. Perhaps we may in this place, but if, in the providence of God,
we should not, it is all the same. It is for us to do those things
which the Lord requires at our hands, and leave the result with Him.
It is for us to labor with a cheerful good will; and if we build a
temple that is worth a million of money, and it requires all our time
and means, we should leave it with cheerful hearts, if the Lord in His
providence tells us so to do. If the Lord permits our enemies to drive
us from it, why we should abandon it with as much cheerfulness of
heart as we ever enjoy a blessing. It is no matter to us what the Lord
does, or how He disposes of the labor of His servants. But when He
commands, it is for His people to obey. We should be as cheerful in
building this temple, if we knew beforehand that we should never enter
into it when it was finished, as we would though we knew we were to
live here a thousand years to enjoy it.
If the inquiry is in the hearts of the people—"Does the Lord require
the building of a temple at our hands?" I can say that He requires it
just as much as ever He required one to be built elsewhere. If you
should ask, "Brother Brigham, have you any knowledge concerning this?
Have you ever had a revelation from heaven upon it?" I can answer
truly, it is before me all the time, not only today, but it was
almost five years ago, when we were on this ground, looking for
locations, sending our scouting parties through the country, to the
right and to the left, to the north and the south, to the east and the
west; before we had any returns from any of them, I knew, just as well
as I now know, that this was the ground on which to erect a temple—it
was before me.
The Lord wished us to gather to this place, He wished us to cultivate
the earth, and make these valleys like the Garden of Eden, and make
all the improvements in our power, and build a temple as soon as
circumstances would permit. And further, if the people and the Lord
required it, I would give a written revelation, but let the people do
the things they know to be right. Permit me to ask the question—do you
not know that it is your duty to accumulate your daily bread, to cease
your wickedness? Are not these duties required at your hands? Do you
not know this of yourselves? There is not an individual in this
assembly that does not understand this, that is not as well convinced
of it as I am.
Concerning revelations pertaining to building temples, I will give you the words of our beloved Prophet while he was yet living upon
the earth. Many of us that are here today, were with him from the
commencement of the church. He was frequently speaking upon the
building of temples in Kirtland, Missouri, and Illinois. When the
people refused in Kirtland to build a temple, unless by a special
revelation, it grieved his heart that they should be so penurious in
their feelings as to require the Lord to command them to build a house
to His name. It was not only grievous to him, but to the Holy Spirit
also. He frequently said, that if it were not for the covetousness of
the people, the Lord would not give revelations concerning the
building of temples, for we already knew all about them; the
revelations giving us the order of the Priesthood make known to us
what is wanting in that respect at our hands. If you should go to work
to build a dwelling house, you know you would want a kitchen, a
buttery, sitting rooms, bedrooms, halls, passages, and alleys. He
said, you might as well ask the Lord to give revelation upon the
dimensions and construction of the various apartments of your dwelling
houses, as upon the erection of temples, for we know before hand what
is necessary.
Concerning this house, I wish to say, if we are prospered we will soon
show you the likeness of it, at least upon paper, and then if any man
can make any improvement in it, or if he has faith enough to bring one
of the old Nephites along, or an angel from heaven, and he can
introduce improvements, he is at liberty so to do. But wait until I
dictate, and construct it to the best of my ability, and according to
the knowledge I possess, with the wisdom God shall give me, and with
the assistance of my brethren; when these are exhausted, if any
improvement can be made, all good men upon the earth are at liberty to
intro duce their improvements. But I trust this people do not require
commanding, every day of their lives, to pray, to do unto others as
they would that others should do unto them: I trust they do not want a
special command for this; if not, upon the same principle, they will
not want any commandment upon the subject of building a temple, more
than what is before them.
A few words to this people, upon the principles which were laid before
them yesterday, in the tabernacle. One thing is required at the hands
of this people, and to understand which there is no necessity for
receiving a commandment every year, viz.—to pay their tithing. I do
not suppose for a moment, that there is a person in this Church, who
is unacquainted with the duty of paying tithing, neither is it
necessary to have a revelation every year upon the subject. There is
the law—pay one tenth. I wish to say to you, and I wish you to tell
your neighbors, if there is any man or woman who do not want to pay
their tithing, we do not want they should. It is for your particular
benefit, and that of every individual upon the face of the earth. To
me, as an individual, it is no matter whether you build a temple or
not; I and my brethren have received our endowments, keys,
blessings—all the tokens, signs, and every preparatory ordinance, that
can be given to man, for his entrance into the celestial gate.
The Prophet's feelings were often wounded because he was under the
necessity of giving commandments concerning duties that were already
before the people, until the temple was completed; but had he not done
so, the temple would not have been built; had he waited until
the minds of the people were opened, and they were led to see and do
their duty, without commandment, he would have been slain before the
keys of the Priesthood could have been committed to others,
but the Lord put it into his heart to give this power to his brethren
before his martyrdom.
If the people will pay their tithing, we have all the means we can ask
or wish for. If the tithing is paid, we do not want the brethren and
sisters to give up their surplus property, for there will be a great
surplus in the storehouse of the Lord. This is what is required of
this people, not to give all they have, though it should be constantly
upon the altar, but to be ready, if required; but if the people will
pay their tithing punctually, there will be an abundance, yes, and a
surplus. For me to ask the people if they will give their surplus
property, would be useless. I shall not ask any such question, but I
shall now ask the people to pay their labor tithing, that we may
excavate this foundation, and prepare for the stone work by the 1st of
April. I expect to see a great turn out, no doubt we shall have all
the help we can require.
While the brethren are before me, let me say, that we cannot commence
to lay rock here without time, and we cannot get the stone for the
foundation without the railroad from this place to the quarry is
completed; these two items must be attended to. This is sufficient to
say upon that matter.
Let us revert for a moment to the past, to the
years we have spent in toil and labor, though very agreeably. Seven
years ago tomorrow, about eleven o'clock, I crossed the Mississippi
River, with my brethren, for this place, not knowing, at that time,
whither we were going, but firmly believing that the Lord had in
reserve for us a good place in the mountains, and that He would lead
us directly to it. It is but seven years since we left Nauvoo, and we
are now ready to build another temple. I look back upon our labors
with pleasure. Here are hundreds and thousands of people that have not
had the privileges that some of us have had. Do you ask, what
privileges? Why, of running the gauntlet, of passing through the
narrows. They have not had the privilege of being robbed and plundered
of their property, of being in the midst of mobs and death, as many of
us have.
Only be faithful, brethren and sisters, and I promise that you shall
have all such privileges as shall be for your good. You need not be
discouraged, or mourn, because you were not in Jackson County
persecutions, or were not driven from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois,
and stripped, robbed, and plundered of all your property. Do not mourn
and feel bad, because you were not in Nauvoo; have no fears, for if
the word of the Lord is true, you shall yet be tried in all things, so
rejoice, and pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks,
even if it is in the spoiling of your goods, for it is the hand of God
that leads us, and will continue so to do. Let every man and woman
sanctify themselves before the Lord, and every providence of the
Almighty shall be sanctified for good to them. I will now close my
remarks.