The brethren who have spoken have been disposed to speak concerning
the testimony they have within themselves of the truth of this Work.
It made me think of a circumstance in the history of Joseph Smith, in
which I was an actor, relating to a few men in Nauvoo who sought to
make it appear that the printed word was all in all, and immensely
superior to the living testimony of the Holy Ghost in the believer,
and to the power of the living Priesthood. I attended one of their
meetings, which was held in Joseph's house, arose to speak, and took
for my text, "ye Saints of Latter days, I would not give you the ashes
of a rye straw for every word that is contained in the Bible, Book of
Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, so far as their efficacy is
concerned to save any man, independent of the living Priesthood of the
Son of God, and the testimony of the Holy Ghost in the heart of the
believer."
I have never particularly desired any man to testify publicly that I
am a Prophet; nevertheless, if any man feels joy in doing this, he
shall be blest in it. I have never said that I am not a Prophet; but,
if I am not, one thing is certain, I have been very profitable to this
people. In the providence of God he has placed me to take charge of
his flock, and they have been abundantly blessed under my
administration. I did not desire to be their shepherd; but the great
Shepherd of all the sheep placed me in this position, and there is no
man on earth can truthfully say aught against the dealings of the
leaders of this people with the Latter-day Saints. We have blessed
them with the blessings of life and salvation—the blessings of this
life, and of that life which is to come, for the Kingdom and the
greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heavens must, sooner or later
pass into the hands of God's people. We are trying to prepare the
minds of the Saints for the reception of this great power, that they
may prove themselves competent and worthy to hold it. There is not a
faithful Elder who does not daily pray earnestly for the redemption of
the Center Stake of Zion; but how seldom we inquire of ourselves if we
are prepared to enter upon that work. The Lord is very merciful to us,
and more willing to bestow his bounties upon us than we are to receive
them, or prepared to appreciate them; for if we were now prepared to
receive the fulness of his Kingdom, we would be far advanced in the
knowledge of God to what we are. I have often remarked that in spiritual things we are one; and we have also got to become one in
temporal things as we are one in spiritual things. Brother Kimball has
told you that the Lord does not mean that we shall be one in property,
in the height of our persons, color of our hair and eyes, in the size
and expression of our features, or in the acuteness and vigor of our
senses. Being thus physically one would not make us one as the Lord
wishes us to be one. He wishes us to be one in our efforts to advance
his Kingdom. He wishes every man, every woman, and every child that
has attained to years of discretion to be one in putting forth their
hands, their means and their influence to bring about this desired
object. I could give you, thus saith the Lord; but the faith we have
embraced is so reasonable, rational, and consistent, and so easily
proved, that I am not under the necessity of saying, thus saith the
Lord. If I wanted you to believe a mass of folly and nonsense, such as
others wish you to believe, then it would be necessary to say, thus
saith the Lord, to operate upon the fears of the more ignorant and
superstitious of mankind. The truth always stands upon its own
foundation, and speaks for itself; for, at this time, every Elder and
Saint should so live, that the Spirit of the Lord will witness unto
them the truth of my words, and the words of the Apostles, without my
being under the necessity of saying, thus saith the Lord to enforce
it. I now say to the brethren and sisters, be ye blessed in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ: Amen.