I wonder if there is a person in this vast congregation today but
what feels that all those instructions given apply to himself. I feel
disposed for one to take what has been said to myself, and I do not
think there is a man here who is so righteous that he cannot apply the
greater portion of what brother Brigham has said to himself. I know it
is very common for us to make observations like this when any of the
brethren have been chastised: Well, I guess some of the brethren have
received a pretty good chastisement today, but it don't touch me.
Don't you know that this is very common? That jacket does not suit me,
says one. Why did it not suit you? Because you did not put it on. If
you had put it on, it would have been like a piece of raw hide or a
piece of India-rubber, then it would have pinched when it became dry.
Now I do not believe that there is a person here who might not be
benefited by these lessons of correction and instructions, for we can
all make improvement in ourselves, in our daily walk and conversation.
I know that I can cultivate myself and improve in many ways,
and I feel that I am improving and advancing in the things of God.
Some will say, are you not too old to learn? I say no, for I consider
if I am too old to improve, I am too old to live. When a man has done
learning, he had better leave and go hence.
I think I understand correctly what President Young has been talking
about, and he wishes every one of us to accept of it and put it in
practice.
In regard to those independent companies alluded to, I really do not
know whether I would lead them or not. I know that the first company
that I was gathered with, of which President Young has spoken today,
and which embraced nearly all the male members there were in the
Church, brother Joseph said, come brethren, bring your money with you
and bring all you have. We gathered brethren from Nova Scotia and from
all the States where we had any, and then we traveled forty miles in
an independent condition, that is, every man had his money in his
pocket and was calculating to have, but when we got to Portage, Joseph
called upon that independent company and organized it with captains of
hundreds, of fifties, and tens, with officers to lead and control them.
Then he nominated and we accepted a paymaster and treasurer, and
every officer necessary to a permanent organization. Then he said,
Brethren, I want you to come together, and bring your money with you.
I do not want any donations, but I want everyone to bring every cent
he has got. Some had not any, some had a hundred dollars; some had a
shilling, and the brethren handed over what they had to the
paymaster. We were then taught that we should be subject to the law
and government of God.
It is an important thing for a man to lead the people of God, and
unless they will subject themselves to him and to the officers of the
Church a Prophet cannot lead them; it is an impossibility. This course
of obedience is the one we have to take. Talk about building up the
kingdom of God on the earth, how can you do it except you go to work
with your might to practice as well as preach, and labor and toil with
all your might by day and by night, and by this means every man in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will become independent. I
was reflecting upon these things when brother Joseph brought things to
terms. Then if we are ready to do as we are told, to follow the
counsel of the servants of God, won't our offerings be accepted? I say
they will.
When we went on that journey, Joseph told us there was an endowment
laid up for us; for what? Because we had done just as we were told;
and I can bear testimony that we received that endowment. Have we got
through with our endowments? No, we have not; we have only just
commenced, merely received the initiative ordinances, and we are only
children in these things yet, but if we are faithful, we shall receive
all that our hearts can desire, for the Almighty will withhold no good
thing from them that love him and keep his commandments.
You will doubtless recollect reading of a certain woman in the
Scriptures who was rather ambitious, and therefore wished to have her
sons occupy a conspicuous place about the Savior's person. The account
of the circumstance is related by St. Matthew in the following
language—"Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her
sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said
unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant these my two sons
may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left,
in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask.
Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? But to sit on my
right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given
to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." —Matt. xx. 20—23.
Here we find set forth by the Savior the doctrine that it belongs to
the Father to give each one his place in that kingdom, hereafter to be
inherited by the faithful Saints. Now let me ask, can we walk with
Jesus in the regeneration that is spoken of? But before I proceed
further, let me ask, what is the regeneration? I should call it an
improvement, or an advancement in the things of God. By some it is
said to be the change and renovation of the soul by the Spirit and
grace of God. Then again, it is called the new birth. Titus is
somewhat more explicit upon the subject. He says, "But after that the
kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy
Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life." And our Savior speaking to
Nicodemus, says, "Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God." In another place Jesus
says—"Verily I say unto you, That ye which followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of his
glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel." —Matt. xix. 28.
Many other passages might be quoted to show how the doctrine of
regeneration was taught by Christ and his Apostles, but these will be
sufficient for my purpose at the present. I know that we, the Elders
of Israel, are walking with Jesus in the regeneration, and we are
becoming regenerated in Christ Jesus, and the blessings of the kingdom
are being multiplied unto us day by day, and we shall continue to be
enriched forever and forever. What! In property? Yes, and in
everything that is good. If it were not so, how could you possess all
things, which are certainly promised through progression and
faithfulness.
I suppose I felt as the Apostles did anciently, when I went with the
Elders into the State of Ohio, and through the New England States to
the State of Maine. We called the people together and organized them
into Conferences, and we went to work and selected wise men to receive
and take the moneys of the brethren and purchase lands in Missouri. We
performed our duties and were faithful unto the Lord, and if all the
people had been as faithful as we were we should have gained an
advantage; but as it is, I know that the day will come when we shall
possess that land, and I can tell you that I expect to have and
possess all that I merit, in the own due time of the Lord. When the
kingdom triumphs, every man will be rewarded according to his works,
and will receive that which is designed for him, and in all things be
blessed according to his merits. By merit I mean that which a man
earns, and you will see the day when you will get nothing but what you
earn by your works and your integrity to God and your brethren.
I recollect when we returned from our mission to Missouri, Joseph
said, "Now, brethren, it is a good time to get property; now is the
time for you to get rich." Well, it was one of the most trying
times the Church ever saw. Most of the Twelve went into speculation,
and half of them turned away. I went to Joseph and asked what I had
best do, and he replied that it was a good time to get an education,
or, said he, you may go a preaching, just as you please, and God will
bless you in either. I went out preaching, and also some others and
some went to speculating, and we have never seen them since, excepting
one or two of them. It was so with the ancient Apostles. When Jesus
was crucified his disciples said, "Come, brethren, let us go a
fishing," and off they went fishing. But they did not make much till
Jesus came along by the seaside, made a fire and broiled some fish,
and when he asked them if they had any meat, they answered him, No.
Then he said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship,
and ye shall find.
In regard to this work, I know that it will roll on, and the kingdom
will be built up, the elect gathered, and the chosen ones go back to
the Center Stake of Zion. There are a great many that are remaining in
the States till we go back, but I can tell them they will have to come
here, for this is the only way there is for the true Saints to get to
Jackson County, and they will find it out to be so in due time. Let us
serve God, brethren and sisters, with all our hearts, minds, might,
souls, and strength, and all will go well and we shall triumph. As it
was anciently, so it is in this age, the Saints must come to the
mountains, the depot of the kingdom of God to get their blessings and
prepare them for the future glory of Zion.
Let us take that course which will make us independent of all other
people upon the earth; I know that this is the course for us to take
all the time. Then we should put our minds together, and our mites
also, to build up the kingdom of God; and if we will do this, being of
one spirit, we shall prosper in all things. I know of no other way for
us to become of one heart and one mind in regard to the things of the
kingdom of God. By pursuing this course we shall increase in the
knowledge of the truth, and ere long the angels will come to visit us,
and Father will talk to us in relation to his purposes and the
introduction of his government. Let us endeavor to attain these
blessings, for they are ours through faithfulness and diligence in
welldoing.
No good man wishes to force anybody into heaven, but it is for every
one of us to strive and labor in righteousness to secure an interest
there for ourselves. The righteous have no reason to fear, though all
the combined powers of the wicked, visible and invisible, be arrayed
against them; faithfulness will preserve them.
Brethren and sisters, we should all be like clay in the hands of the
potter, and I want the people to learn that we shall all be rewarded
according to the amount of our works, just as the potter is paid for
his labors, in proportion to what he does.
God bless this people forever. Amen.
- Heber C. Kimball