This morning we have heard a number of things, in which we are
individually and collectively interested as a people. It is difficult,
however, for us to comprehend our true interests and the things that
that would be for our best good; this arises frequently from want of a
correct understanding of matters that are laid before us, from which
cause we arrive at wrong conclusions. I do not know of any way whereby
we can be taught, instructed and be made to comprehend our true
position, only by being under the influence of the Spirit of the
living God. A man may speak by the Spirit of God, but it requires a
portion of that Spirit also in those who hear, to enable them to
comprehend correctly the importance of the things that are delivered
to them and hence the difficulty the Lord and his Saints have always
had in making the people comprehend the things that are especially for
their interests. We all consider that if we could be taught of God it
would be very well; I suppose the world generally would consider it to
be a great blessing. Then the question arises in their minds, whether
the teachings they receive come from God or not. How are they to know
that? I know of no other way than that which is spoken in the
Scriptures, "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the
Almighty giveth it understanding." And, again, we are told in the New
Testament, that, "No man knoweth the things of God, but by the Spirit
of God." Hence all the wisdom, all the intelligence, all the
reasoning, all the philosophy and all the arguments that could be
brought to bear on the human mind would be of no avail unless the mind
of man is prepared to receive this teaching—prepared by the Spirit of
the Lord, the same Spirit which conveys the intelligence. Hence
we frequently make a very great mistake in relation to our duties, in
relation to our responsibilities, in relation to the obligations that
rest upon us, in relation to the Church and kingdom of God upon the
earth and its government, its laws, its influence and the bearing of
those laws and their influence upon us, and what part we have to act
in relation to these matters. But if we had the Spirit of God, and
walked in the light of revelation, and were guided by the principles
of truth, and were in possession ourselves of the same Spirit by which
the truths of God are communicated, then it would be plain and
comprehensive to our understanding, and everything we try to
accomplish would be easy, pleasant, comfortable, and joyous, and we
should all of us feel that; we are the children of the living God,
that we are basking, as it were, in the sunbeams of heaven, that God
is our friend, that we are his friends and are ready to unite with him
in the accomplishment of his Work under any and all circumstances
whatever; and I frequently consider that it is in consequence of the
ignorance and darkness and shortsightedness of the Saints of God,
that we do not walk up more readily to enjoy our privileges and fulfil
the various obligations that devolve on us to attain to.
Now, ask yourselves, when you have been living up to your privileges,
and the Spirit of God has beamed upon your minds, and your souls have
been enlightened with the candle of the Lord, with the intelligence of
heaven, and you have walked according to the light of eternal truth,
if in these moments you have not always felt ready to fulfil any
obligations that were required of you, and whether you have not always
performed your duties with pleasantness and satisfaction to
yourselves. But when our minds are car ried away with the things of
this world, when we lose sight of the kingdom of God and its
interests, its glory, the happiness and well-being of the human
family, and the events that we are expecting to transpire on the
earth, and the part that we are to take in them; when we lose sight of
our various duties as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and children,
and get carried away with our own notions, ideas, and selfishness, and
we become involved in evil, it is then that it is difficult for us to
comprehend the things of God. We say that we are the Saints of God, so
we are. We have repented of our sins, we have been baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, we have received the
laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost: we have become a
part and parcel of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth. We
have believed that we were forsaking the world and its devices, evils,
corruptions, frauds, and vanity; and we have possessed and do possess
the principles of eternal life. We have believed and do believe that
God has spoken, that angels have appeared and that God has opened a
communication between the heavens and the earth. This is a part of our
faith and creed. We believe that God is going to revolutionize the
earth, to purge it from iniquity of every kind, and to introduce
righteousness of every kind, until the great Millennium is fully
introduced. We believe, moreover, that God, having commenced his Work,
will continue to reveal and make manifest his will to his Priesthood, to
his Church and kingdom on the earth, and that among this people there
will be an embodiment of virtue, of truth, of holiness, of integrity,
of fidelity, of wisdom, and of the knowledge of God. We believe that
there will be a temporal kingdom of God organized that will be
under the direction and auspices of the Lord of Hosts, and that in all
our affairs, whether they relate to things temporal or things
spiritual, as we have been in the habit of calling them, we shall be
under the direction of the Lord, as the Scriptures say, "It shall come
to pass that all the people shall be taught of the Lord." This is part
and parcel of our creed. We believe that we shall rear splendid
edifices, magnificent temples and beautiful cities that shall become
the pride, praise and glory of the whole earth. We believe that this
people will excel in literature, in science and the arts and in
manufactures. In fact, there will be a concentration of wisdom, not
only of the combined wisdom of the world as it now exists, but men
will be inspired in regard to all these matters in a manner and to an
extent that they never have been before, and we shall have eventually,
when the Lord's purposes are carried out, the most magnificent
buildings, the most pleasant and beautiful gardens, the richest and
most costly clothing, and be the most healthy and the most
intellectual people that will reside upon the earth. This is part and
parcel of our faith; in fact, Zion will become the praise of the whole
earth; and as the Queen of Sheba said anciently, touching the glory of
Solomon, the half of it had not been told her, so it will be in regard
to Israel in their dwelling places. In fact, if there is anything
great, noble, dignified, exalted, anything pure, or holy, or virtuous,
or lovely, anything that is calculated to exalt or ennoble the human
mind, to dignify and elevate the people, it will be found among the
people of the Saints of the Most High God. This is only a faint
outline of some of our views in relation to these things, and hence we
talk of returning to Jackson County to build the most magnificent
temple that ever was formed on the earth and the most splendid city
that was ever erected; yea, cities, if you please. The architectural
designs of those splendid edifices, cities, walls, gardens, bowers,
streets, &c., will be under the direction of the Lord, who will
control and manage all these matters; and the people, from the
President down, will all be under the guidance and direction of the
Lord in all the pursuits of human life, until eventually they will be
enabled to erect cities that will be fit to be caught up—that when
Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath, and be
prepared to associate with those from above. The people will be so
perfected and purified, ennobled, exalted, and dignified in their
feelings and so truly humble and most worthy, virtuous and intelligent
that they will be fit, when caught up, to associate with that Zion
that shall come down from God out of heaven. This is the idea, in
brief, that we have entertained in relation to many of these things.
If we could keep our eyes upon this a little while, and then look back
to where we came from, examine our present position and see the
depravity, ignorance and corruption that exists where we have come
from and that yet exists among us, it is evident that some great
revolution, some mighty change has got to transpire to revolutionize
our minds, our feelings and judgment, our pursuits and action, and, in
fact, to control and influence us throughout, before anything of this
kind can take place, and hence it is when the light of heaven comes
to reflect upon the human mind, when we can see ourselves as God sees
us and comprehend ourselves as he comprehends us, and understand our
position as he understands it, we should have different views of
ourselves than we have when unenlightened by the Spirit. No wonder that Joseph Smith should say that he felt himself shut up in a
nutshell, there was no power of expansion, it was difficult for him to
reveal and communicate the things of God, because there was no place
to receive them. What he had to communicate was so much more
comprehensive, enlightened and dignified than that which the people
generally knew and comprehended, it was difficult for him to speak; he
felt fettered and bound, so to speak, in every move he made, and so it
is to the present time. Yet this being a fact and these being part of
the things we expect to accomplish, there must be a beginning
somewhere; and if the chips do fly once in a while when the hewer
begins to hew, and if we do squirm once in a while it is not strange,
because it is so difficult for the people to comprehend the things
which are for their benefit. We have been brought up so ignorantly and
our ideas and views are so contracted it is scarcely possible to
receive the things of God as they exist in his bosom.
It is easy for us to talk about heaven, and about going to Jackson
County, and about building up the kingdom of God, &c.; it is easy to
sing about it and pray about it, but it is another thing to do it; and
hence the difficulty the servants of God labor under all the day long
is in consequence of the ignorance, weakness, and infirmities of those
they have to do with, and yet we are more enlightened in regard to
these things than any other people and have made more progress; yet
how far we come short. What does it necessarily resolve itself into?
We are Saints of the Most High, and we actually, all of us, believe in
those doctrines embraced in our creed. I question whether I could find
a dozen here but what believe in those things I have spoken of. Who
does it affect? The kingdom of God has to be built up, and a
revolution must necessarily take place, not only here but throughout
the world. We expect we are going to accomplish the things of which I
have spoken, for they are a part and parcel of our religious faith.
How shall we do it? Who will do it? Do we expect the folks in the
States will do it, or do we expect the Government of England to
establish the kingdom of God, or the people and nations of any other
part of the world? I could not get five men in this congregation that
would believe this. We suppose that the honest-in-heart from different
nations will be gathered together for the accomplishment of these
purposes, but we do not believe the other nations will do it. In fact,
it is as much as a bargain to get them to believe some of the first
principles of the doctrines of Christ; then, when they have made out
to do that and have arrived here, it is a little more than a bargain
to get them to believe other things as they are revealed, notwithstanding
we all believe somebody has got to do this Work, that it
has to be done somehow and somewhere. Then, if they won't do it in any
other nation, who has to do it? We are the only people under the
heavens that are making an attempt at it, and a blundering one it is,
no doubt. The majority of this people really do feel in their hearts a
strong desire to keep the commandment of God and help to establish his
kingdom when they can comprehend correctly. How shall these things be
accomplished? The nations of the world will not do it, for they are
opposed to God and his kingdom. If ever the latter-day glory, which we
have so often spoken of, sang of, prayed about, and about which the
ancient Prophets have prophesied, is brought about, it will be done by
this people, for there is not another people under the heavens that will listen to it. Then it is a matter that attaches itself to
every one of us, from the President down. We are bound to the Lord by
a covenant to help to build up his kingdom upon the earth. How shall
we do it? Shall we do it by every one of us having our own way? No; we
had that where we came from as much as they would let us. We hear
people say sometimes that things are not done here exactly as they are
done in England and in the United States; of course they are not; we
do not expect it—we do not look for it.
We are associated with the Church and kingdom of God, we are
individual members of that Church and kingdom, and individually we are
under responsibilities in that kingdom. Taking this view of the
matter, have we joined this great interest and come to this country to
build up ourselves, to seek our own will and pursue our own plans, and
let our children grow up in the same way we have grown up, in the same
ignorance and darkness, folly, weakness and imbecility, or shall we
try to lead out in another path, seek the guidance and direction of
the Most High God, lead out in the paths of righteousness ourselves,
and let our wives and children follow our example and learn to be
better and more intelligent and wise than we are. If it is only to
live that we have embraced this Gospel, we could have lived somewhere
else—if it is barely to exist, that we could have done in another
place; but if it is to build up the kingdom of God upon the earth,
then there is a great work devolving upon us to attend to individually
and collectively, and that is whatever the Lord reveals to us. For
instance, there are ordinances to attend to of what has been termed of
a spiritual nature; we are required to build a Temple, this labor we
have got to perform. It has always been a maxim with the Lord that "To
obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Here, then, is a Temple to be built, the foundation of which is laid,
and considerable rock has been hauled for the walls, and large amounts
of hewing done. This work must be consummated, and in doing that, we
are learning to listen to the word of the Lord to us and becoming used
to the harness. It is a nice thing to get our endowments, and there is
something yet to be got which we have not yet received. The Scripture
says, "First temporal and then spiritual," and the temporal things are
mixed up with spiritual tidings; but before we are worthy of the one
we must take hold of the other.
One plain matter of fact connected with that Temple is, somebody will
have to go to quarrying rock, to breaking up rock, others have got to
take Buck and Bright and hitch them on to a wagon, and feed and take
care of the cattle, and drive them, and bring the rock safely, without
breaking things, where it can be prepared for the wall. It does not
show a man smart because he can break a wagon, for any fool can do
that. It is generally fools that break wagons. And suppose you do not
get everything you want while you are building this Temple. You would
like to have better clothing and better food; do the best you can and
let everybody do the same, and when you have done that thank God for
it, and thank God that you have the privilege to help to build up a
Temple unto the Most High. By and by you will go into that Temple,
and when you have received your endowments in it and the spiritual
blessings that you can get, you will learn more about building another
Temple, and then will come temporal things again. The Temple we are
now building, in com parison, is no more than a little
plaything, but in doing it we shall learn better how to perform
temporal things and spiritual things.
Then the Saints have to be gathered; it is the Lord's work and it is
our work. The Lord will influence his people to help him to gather his
poor from the four quarters of the globe, and the Lord puts it into
the hearts of his servants to call for five hundred teams to help in
this work. This is the greatest honor that could be conferred on us—to
build a Temple to the name of the Most High God, and your children
after you will be proud that their fathers were engaged in such a
work, in building a Temple wherein thousands can receive their
endowments. The adverse circumstances in which this work was done will
not be thought of. The young man takes his ox goad in his hand, and
becomes a Missionary to redeem the poor from bondage and bring them
here to participate with us in the blessings of Zion; he goes with his
heart vibrating with the love of God, and he brings the poor Saints
over the Plains, who look upon their temporal deliverers as saviors;
in after time, when the kingdom of God has become powerful and mighty
on the earth, as it will be, these young men will say with pride, "I
participated in the labor of laying the foundation of this great Work,
and my fathers and brothers all helped." I do not say that this people
are not forward in doing these things; from what I have heard I
believe they are. There is a general desire to turn out teams, and
they are not backward in going themselves or in sending. I think this
is much to the praise of the Saints of God in the mountains. There may
be a few who will not aid in this Work; those who do will receive the
blessing, and there are plenty who have the means and the disposition.
Then, here is a Tabernacle to be built; we want a building of this
kind to convene the people, to protect the people from the wind, sun,
and rain while they are worshiping God. Then, the President is
continually preaching to us to make good improvements, good buildings,
good gardens, and make ourselves more comfortable, to elevate
ourselves in the scale of existence, that our children after us may
become more elevated also in their sentiments and ideas, and learn to
comprehend their position in the land of Zion and magnify it. If we
understand ourselves and our position, it ought to be with us, The
kingdom of God first and ourselves afterwards. If we can learn to
accomplish a little thing the Lord will probably tell us to do a
greater, because we are prepared to do it. If we were to build a very
nice house nobody would be troubled about it, or if we were to make a
pretty garden and cultivate good taste; or if we could educate
ourselves and our children in the arts and sciences and in everything
that is calculated to extend our search after intelligence. In this
manner we can do ourselves and children great good, and aid much in
building up the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth. If we are
the people of God, and he is trusting to us to accomplish these great
purposes, we have got to do a little more than we have done, and we
have got to be willing and obedient to the dictation of the Spirit of
the Lord and his servants whom he has placed over us. If we do this,
every labor we engage in will be joyous and pleasant to us, peace will
reign in our bosoms and the peace of God will abide in our
habitations, the Spirit of the Lord will brood over us, and we shall
be full of joy and rejoicing all the day long, and so it will be to
the end of the chapter. I know of no other way to accomplish all this
Work only to be taught of the Lord, and for that purpose he
has organized his holy Priesthood. We all pray for President Young
continually, that God would inspire his heart and the hearts of his
counsel, that he may be able to lead Israel in the path they should
go. Let us add another prayer to that, that the Lord our God would
inspire our hearts to receive their teachings when they come through
them from the Lord of Hosts; then all things will move on well and no
power under the heavens will be enabled to injure the Saints, but they
will go on increasing from strength to strength, until the kingdom of
God shall be established and all nations bow to its scepter.
God bless you, in the name of Jesus: Amen.