Brethren and sisters, I feel thankful for this opportunity of speaking
to you for a short time. I feel under obligation for this privilege of
speaking a second time before an assembly like this, and I will try
not to infringe upon the time of the brethren who have not yet spoken
to you, but who I know are anxious to do so. To this end, I will
endeavor to confine myself to matters that are directly before us and
to present them as they appear to me.
I may refer to some things that are a little foreign to the texts we
have had given to us, but I hope I shall not be tedious.
We discover that the nation and people from whom we have come are
engaged to the utmost of their ability in waging war upon each other.
In consequence of this, there is tax upon tax, or rather I should say
one tax levied after another to pay the enormous cost of this
fratricidal war. One draft after another is being made to bring into
the field as many men as possible, the best and those that will be the
most efficient to fight the battles of the nation. It is also
perceivable, by reading the late dispatches, that there are
apprehensions of a serious war with the Indians and a partial
squinting at a foreign war with England and possibly with some other
power. How this may be and how it may turn out, it is not necessary
for me to predict, but as the life springs to these deliberations and
to these transactions that are now going on, I refer you to the
predictions and revelations given of the Lord through Joseph Smith.
Brethren and sisters, the nation of them that afflicted Israel have
now found a way to use all their muscular power, and have they not use
for all their beef cattle, for all their horses and for all the mules
and wagons that they can muster into service? The nation go to war for
the purpose of saving themselves, for the purpose of protecting
themselves in their nationality, and they intend to make the banner of
the nation universal, swayed without let or hindrance. Well, now the
question is, How will these things result? What will be the result of
them? They saw fit to decline the offer that Heaven made to them when
it presented to them the scepter of peace through the everlasting
Gospel. The means used was by many considered to be too insignificant
to bring down the high and lofty, to bring them to consider the
diminutive things of Mormonism. No, the Gospel came under a name that
was too insignificant and too degrading; but I have seen a something
before now wrapped up in a very ordinary style that has presented a
somewhat rough exterior, but inside the cover there has been contained
true, genuine wealth, and when it became visible it astonished its
beholders, and it is and will be so with "Mormonism." It was wrapped
up by circumstances in the beginning, and, in fact, it is
still out of sight in the estimation of the world. It was wrapped
up—in what shall I say? In swaddling clothes, arrayed in a very
unseemly garb; but those that have unrolled it have discovered the
valuable treasure, and some few of them can appreciate it, for they
have learned that it is the gift of heaven, given to the earth, born
upon the earth and cradled there. Much too low a region to secure the
privilege of the society and consideration of the great and noble.
Those few that have looked to the healing balm, to the merits of the
thing itself, instead of to the misrepresentation of its enemies, have
not only been healed, but healed and saved by it, and some of them are
now basking in heavenly realms of light; for despite of all the
disadvatageous circumstances by which they were surrounded in this
life, there were a host of friends ready to hail them in that blessed
world, where they are beyond the reach of mortal foe and all the
powers of darkness.
The nation of which I was speaking is employing all these means to
which I alluded with a view to safety; but the question is, whether
infinite wisdom and the economy of God will not cause these means to
prove their ruin and to produce ends and results the very opposite to
what they anticipate. My opinion is, that the results will show that
the wisdom of the wise shall perish and the understanding of the
prudent be hid. Now, if the nation employ all these means to make
their own breastworks and bulwarks, secure themselves against an
outward enemy and against a day of famine, they would do well. In
their own estimation and feeling they are displaying superlative
wisdom, but in the estimation of the Almighty they are destroying all
their vitality and power. If this be the design as a chastisement from
the Almighty for the transgressions of the people, then they will
weaken and waste away each other until retributive justice is
satisfied. While they will make such efforts and exertions for their
kingdom and government, which is but one of time, what should we do
and what exertions should we make to build up a kingdom in which there
is life, exaltation and glory for evermore? Should we not labor to
clear away and to demolish the great Babylon of corruption that has
afflicted the human race with increasing strength from the fall of
man? This great fabric will be destroyed in this generation. And I
ask, How much exertion should we make towards building up the kingdom
of God, which is destined to fill the whole earth?
I can tell you that this nation is going to be furnished with all the
business they can attend to, and I expect when they have issued their
last dollar in specie they will then issue, their scrip by tens and by
hundreds of millions. While this is going on, we shall have all the
business that we can attend to, and we shall see more than ever the
necessity of faithfulness and fidelity to the kingdom of God.
We have heard some good remarks about this Tabernacle; we have also
had some good instruction relative to the building of the Temple, the
emigration of the poor, the sending out of missionaries to preach the
Gospel of life to the nations, and to this end we have been called
upon to provide a fund for their assistance, and also for the
assistance of their families during their absence from home, that is,
such of them as have families who will be dependent upon the fund.
This is an important call, and one that should be attended to as far
as we have the means to comply with the requisition. Not only has this matter been laid before us, but we must remember George A.'s
sermon, in which he was so emphatic in regard to raising hemp and
making ourselves hemp coats to prevent our being placed in as bad, if
not a worse condition than our natives are at the present time in
these mountains.
With all these matters before us, it really seems as if there would be
plenty of business for us all, that is, if we are attentive to the
requirements of the Priesthood. Let me say further, that if we task
our energies to the utmost of our capacity, there will then be no
troubles from without. It does seem that every nerve has got to be
stretched and every possible means within our power used for the
building up of the kingdom of God. We shall be required to employ
ourselves indefatigably for the promotion of truth, for the
strengthening of the stakes of Zion; and then if there be no more
strength remaining for us to defend ourselves against the pitiless
foe, then, I say, if all our means, ability, and powers are exerted to
build up the kingdom which the Almighty has established, he will say,
"Let them alone, they have enough to bear; their sacrifices and labors
are accepted." If we do not do this and neglect to comply with the
requirements made of us, perhaps the surplus strength which we possess
may be called into requisition by an enemy from without. This is an
item worth remembering by all Saints.
Now, here is a Tabernacle to be built, and what argument shall I need
to urge in its favor. Here are today I do not know how many thousands
of people exposed to the wind and dust under this Bowery, and at this
early season of the year we are very liable to have rain or snow. Not
only so, but the winter, although only just passed, may be said to be
again approaching, and in that season of the year we have
representatives coming from all parts of the Territory to legislate
for the good of the community, and to have their feelings cemented
together by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be instructed themselves
in the important duties of their callings, then to return to their
several and respective localities and labor to edify the Saints and to
keep them posted up with regard to the things required of them.
It is important that we have a comfortable place to meet in, and I
hope the brethren will bear in mind the necessity there is for having
this building erected. Now, here with us there is everything to be
considered that is requisite to make life comfortable; and while upon
this point let me ask you one thing, or, in other words, present a
figure to you. I will suppose that we are standing by a large dock,
and while there we see a ship out at sea, and she has sprung a leak,
and the pumps are playing to endeavor to keep her afloat, but she is
going down, and there are lots of women and children, and they are
crying out, "For Heaven's sake, save us, we are going down." Now, if
those on shore would not fly to the rescue, but would allow that ship,
with her passengers and crew, to go down, their cries unheard, what
would all the world say of such inhumanity? They would say, "You are a
set of unfeeling wretches." Well, now, on the other hand, supposing
that we should employ every means in our power and get all the help we
could, and thereby save those unfortunate creatures and bring them
safely to shore, what would they say? Why, they would say, "You have
done well, you have done nobly in rescuing falling and sinking
humanity and bringing them to land." What is that sinking ship of
which I figuratively speak? Why, it is old Babylon, and she is fast
sinking through the leak, and the parties interested may rig
all the pumps and employ all the hands they can to work them, but she
is sinking, sinking; and who are those that are crying for
deliverance, who are chained by afflictions, bound by poverty and
confined to the sinking ship, and whose cries are ascending up to God
for their deliverance? Well, it says in the old Prophets, "There shall
be saviors come up upon mount Zion;" and if this be so, we have to
save the world, for we have the character and reputation of professing
to be those saviors spoken of.
Babylon the Great is that ship of distress of which I have been
speaking, and many of the passengers thereon are crying, "For God's
sake, deliver us." and if we can supply the place of boats with wagons
and teams, the passengers can be brought home in security. Then,
instead of applying the oar, let the teamsters be in readiness with
the necessary fit-out; let the wagons be in order, and, to the best of
our ability, let us supply those who are going on this mission with
the necessary comforts of life. If we cannot do this as well as we
would, let us do the best we can. Our business is to build up the
kingdom of God, and we should each do what we can for its
accomplishment. I have been on board of ships a great deal, and
probably I feel the weight of this figure more than those who have not
had this experience.
I will suppose an individual case; for instance, here is a man, his
wife, and three children on board a vessel that has sprung a leak. This
man has a good deal of money and other property on board, and he
discovers that the vessel is fast letting in water, and the man says,
"O, my wife; O, my children: my wife and children and my money will
all go down together;" with such a family, under such circumstances,
such an ordeal is terrible. Now, in such a case as this, a man
loses all that he has got; his money, his wife, his children, and his all.
Now, we will try this case on the other hand. Supposing the ship to be
in a dangerous condition, and the man, with thought as quick as
lightning, says, "Money, take care of thyself; wife and children, let
us do the best we can to save ourselves." With this he pulls off his
coat and stuffs it into the hole where the leakage is, and by this and
other means does all he can to stop the ship from sinking. By taking
this course he manifests an independence of character, a fortitude and
a determination to live, and thereby saves the ship and many of its
passengers. The ship is hauled into port, and the man says, "I have
lost all, but I have saved all."
In regard to building up and embellishing the kingdom of God and
preparing the way for the coming of the Son of Man, let me ask is
there anything we will not be willing to sacrifice for its
accomplishment? I believe not, for those that make the sacrifice will
be crowned with laurels of honor, they will be sanctified among the
angels, and be pointed at as the ones that have held out the hand of
deliverance to the poor and oppressed Saints. But says one, "I
withheld my cattle and my means when called upon; they dwindled, they
pined away, others were stolen, and thus I lost them all. I wish I had
them now; I wish I could have done something that would have been
spoken of as honorable by the sanctified ones; but now, poor,
penurious, wretched soul that I am, I have wasted my substance; I have
wasted it and lavished it upon the pleasures of life, and, alas! I
have no inheritance in the kingdom of God."
Brethren and sisters, let us build a Temple, let us build the
Tabernacle, and then we shall feel as comfortable as I anticipated we should when I heard George A. speaking of it.
I feel thankful for the privilege and honor of standing before you. I
know that our religion is true; I know that it came from heaven, and I
know that in these days it is as it was spoken by the Prophets of old,
"Touch not mine anointed, neither do my prophets any harm." Why not?
it may be asked. Simply because they will have the management of your
affairs by and by, and they will bring the blush upon your face,
should any of you interfere with them now. Be wise, therefore, and be
instructed, ye judges of the earth; "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
with thee, and thou perish on the way."
I would merely add that we have the mouthpiece of the Almighty with
us, and it speaks to the nations and to the people of the whole world.
Go where you will to find the word of God, circumscribe the universe,
and where will you find a man that can stand up and say, "Thus saith
the Lord God Almighty?" You may search the world over, and you will
not find one; but here are men having responsibility pertaining to the
kingdom of God. In the world you may find men of eloquence, strength,
and refinement; but can you find that peculiar leaven of righteousness
that is here? No, gentlemen; corruption stalks abroad in the land, and
the tempter stands forth presenting to the unwary all the allurements
which lead to the abominations of Great Babylon. Could I speak with
the voice of an angel, I would say that God has spoken from the
heavens through his servants in the last days, and that here is the
mouthpiece of the Most High, ready to instruct, to correct, and to
impart the principles of eternal life to every inquiring soul.
Inquire, then, for it is not too late yet; to obey is life
everlasting; in this Church is peace and happiness, and out of it
misery and woe.
God bless the Saints forever, and God bless all that bless them and
all that feel to sustain the servants of the living God. Let the
blessings of everlasting peace be with them, which is my prayer in the
name of Jesus: Amen.