The Gospel of salvation is interesting to me, to you, and should be to
all the world, for by it we are to be judged. This test will be put to
all. The principles of life and salvation the Gospel offers to us,
which if we neglect will be brought up against us in a day to come.
The light of truth has been revealed by the Savior, and through the
mercy of the Lord he has sent forth his servants to proclaim this
Gospel to all nations. What for? To injure them? No; but to bless
them. The time has come in this age of the world when God has set
himself to take the rule and the power of the earth into his own
hands. He has sent forth Joseph, and Hyrum, and Brigham, and Heber,
and Jedediah, and Willard, and Daniel, and the Twelve Apostles and the
other authorities of the Holy Priesthood which is established upon the
earth. The communication has been opened up between the heavens and
the earth. He has sent forth a message to all nations, saying, "Fear
God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come." It
has been proclaimed to the world by faithful men for many years—it has
been sounded in the by-ways and highways, in city and hamlet, and in
the nooks and corners of the earth; and, in a coming day the people
will be judged by it, because it has been sent forth by the direct
counsel of Heaven.
It is our duty to sustain the principles of truth, virtue, and
integrity, and every principle that has been revealed from the
Almighty to his children on the earth. If it is the duty of one man to
do this, it is the duty of every man to do the same; and every man
will be found wanting unless he obeys this Heavenly message. How shall
we do it when we are compassed about by all the powers of earth and
hell to overcome, overthrow and destroy us? By cleaving to the Lord of
hosts, who is mighty to save, and by cleaving to those holy principles
of life and power which he has revealed. The more the floods of
iniquity surge up against us, the closer let us cling to those
principles, for they will bear us off victoriously to exaltation and
glory in this world and in the worlds to come. The same principles
have exalted our Father and our God to his present state of glory and
power, and they will exalt you and me and all who will abide them in
the scale of human existence and eternal progression. They are the
same principles which have been revealed in the latter days for the
salvation of mankind, and for their exaltation to the presence of God
the Father in heaven. They have always existed, and always will
continue to exist. They will abide after the refuge of lies has been
swept away. It is not now as it has been in days and years gone by.
The kingdom is now established; it is upon the earth never again to be
prevailed against or to be overcome by sin and iniquity.
All men have their volition, and are responsible to God alone
for it. As the kingdom of God grows and becomes mighty upon the earth,
laws will be given suited to the condition of the children of men, in
their respective governments and nationalities, according to their
views and principles. The supreme law of the world will be the law of
God, and all people will choose to obey or disobey as they list. All
will be governed according to their circumstances and the principles
which will be revealed from time to time for their best good. This is
not the work of a day, but of eternity—it is without beginning of days
or end of years.
I feel gratified that I live in this day and age of the world; I am
thankful for this privilege. "Would you not have preferred to live in
the days of Jesus?" says one. No, nor in the days of Moses, nor in the
days of Noah. Had I lived in Noah's days I might have been drowned in
the great flood. I prefer to live now—today—in the days of Brigham
and Heber, and in the days of the great Prophet Joseph and Hyrum,
although they did not stay long with us. They are not far away from
us, neither is the Lord. Brigham is here, Heber and Daniel are here,
and the Twelve Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ are here, and the
organization of the Church and kingdom of God is here, with the Holy
Priesthood which is after the order of the Son of God; and this is the
great chain which opens up a communication between the heavens and the
earth, and in it there is safety; and through it truth will prevail
over the face of the whole earth, and by its power the kingdom of God
will be established upon the earth no more to be prevailed against.
What matters it to us who speaks in anger against it? The truth is all
the same, no matter who walks it under their feet. The eternal
principles of salvation and exaltation are the same, no matter who
does despite to them.
In trying to injure the truth, and impede it in its progress, they
only injure themselves, and will bring upon themselves swift
destruction and a righteous judgment according as it shall be ordered
by our Father in heaven. God is merciful and forbearing. Can we
forbear as well as he can? We can, although we are far from being as
good as he is. If he can forbear many years with a man who will not
say grace over his meat, or bend his knee to his God in acknowledgment
of his mercy, we surely can bear a little with the infirmities of our
brethren, and the ignorance of the ungodly world.
As a people and community we have borne much; and all we have ever
asked of any people or government has been our rights in common with
the rest of mankind; but these they seek to withhold from us, which
they have no right to do, hence they are under condemnation, and we
shall go free. We believe and worship as we choose, and live under a
Government that guarantees unto us that right. Inasmuch as they do not
give us those rights, they violate one of the holiest and most sacred
provisions of the Constitution of our country, and destruction will be
the consequence. The fathers of the revolution fought and bled to
secure this holy right to their children so long as the world should
last or the Government continue. We are therefore bold in declaring
our principles, and in defending our rights. There are countries in
the world where imprisonment would be the penalty of the free
expression of principles and rights; but they do not live under and
enjoy the blessings of the Constitution which we live under. Yet even
in this free country some have sought to deprive us of the free
enjoyment of the privileges granted unto us in the Consti tution of our country, and they will have to pay the penalty for so doing,
for they trample under foot the Constitution that grants to them their
own liberties, and thus subvert their own liberties, which it becomes
them as well as us to preserve inviolate. It becomes us to cleave to
God and our holy religion, trusting in him because in him there is
power—in him there is strength; and if we remain faithful, we shall
come off victorious, and walk under our feet every principle that is
calculated to destroy, and rear the standard of truth and
righteousness in the world in spite of hell and all the hosts thereof.
Let us be encouraged, and go steadily on in the performance of our
duties, cultivating the earth, and bringing from the elements all we
need for our sustenance that we may be free and independent, so far as
we can, by depending on our own resources with which the Lord has
abundantly blessed us. We are greatly blessed in that the Lord has
planted our feet in these quiet valleys from those who sought our
destruction; while he has brought an overwhelming destruction on them,
he has brought safety to us. We can see his wisdom, and his mighty
hand manifested in this. Let us henceforth put our trust in that arm
which has been so prominently made bare in saving the righteous. May
God add his blessing. Amen.
- Daniel H. Wells