I do not know that I have ever seen a better time to preach the gospel
than the present since I have been in the Church. I have not come to
this Conference to preach, particularly, but to hear and to learn,
yet, as I have the privilege given me to speak, I am very thankful to
bear my testimony to the truth, as it has been revealed from the
heavens. I have had many reflections since attending Conference, upon
the text given to the Elders of Israel to preach from. It is before me
all the time. It is a common custom with some to criticize the remarks
made by the brethren while speaking. Some will think a speaker has
been interesting, while others will consider that his remarks were
well enough but without point. I am happy to say that the "point" is
already made so far as I am concerned. It is "to be one" in everything
that pertains to the building up of the Kingdom of God. And if we are
to believe what we have heard during this Conference it is to be one
in keeping the Word of Wisdom, and in living by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of the Almighty through His servants. It is
true that we have heard this for years, and it will have to be sounded
in our ears until we are one in Christ as He is one with the Father.
We have been taught during this Conference to dispense with everything
in eating, drinking, and wearing that is not in accordance with the
will of God; and I do not know what greater things could be taught to
the Latter-day Saints. We all know that there are a great many things
that we now eat, drink, and wear, with which we could dispense to our
own advantage, but because one has a thing another must have it too,
and there is no peace until all these wants are supplied.
Talking about happiness, I told a lady today at noon that we,
generally, are very ignorant of it. We think that a good bonnet, hat,
a fine coat, a good cup of tea, or a pipe of tobacco to smoke will
make us happy, but it is a mistaken notion. God never ordained such
things for that purpose. We can be happy only in keeping the
commandments of God and in being wholly devoted to the things of His
Kingdom. Some of our Elders think if they were sent on a mission it would make them happy, but I have been told that there is
no better field for missionary labor than here in the mountains; and
every man here, bearing the Priesthood, has got a mission to preach
the gospel at home, where his labors are most needed, and where he can
do the most good. At this Conference every presiding officer, Bishop,
Elder, Priest, Teacher, Deacon, and member of the Church has got a
text to preach from in his future ministrations; to bring this people
to a oneness in all things is, henceforth, the object of our labors.
We are already united on many points; for instance, we are one here
today in partaking of the Sacrament in remembrance of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. But there are other things that require our
attention. We should be one in all our movements in sustaining
ourselves.
This is a portion of the text that has been given to us, and I feel
that much good will result from the counsel we have had on this
subject, and I intend to lay hold of it with all my might. And let us
all endeavor by the help of God to leave off our tea, coffee, liquor,
and other things, that are neither good for the body nor for the
belly. We can overcome, for God will not require more of us than we
can do. He has borne with us these many years; but, if I can discern
the signs of the times, He is now going to require these things at our
hands. Supposing He had given the Word of Wisdom as a command, how
many of us would have been here? I do not know; but He gave this
without command or restraint, observing that it would be pleasing in
His sight for His people to obey its precepts. Ought we not to try to
please our Heavenly Father, and to please His servants who are paving
the way for us into the Kingdom of God? Can we get there without them?
No; we cannot, and we need not try. God had appointed these prophets
and apostles to lead and guide us into His Kingdom, and I do not
expect to get there without them, and I am not going to try. If I can
get there with them I shall be very thankful. How many blessings have
you received in this kingdom without them? I do not know of any. If we
have blessings we have received them through their counsel and
guidance.
I am thankful that we, today, have the privilege of beholding the
faces of our brethren who have borne the burden and heat of the day,
and who are still ready and willing to administer for our benefit. I
think that we, above all people, ought to be willing to retrace our
steps in a great many things, that we may obtain the blessings that we
are seeking and not be cut short. I tell you the kingdom is rolling;
and as for the nations of the earth, we need not be troubled about
them, the Lord and the devil will take care of them. They are wasting
away, and they will go to their own place, and Israel will be gathered
out, and the faithful will be saved in the Kingdom of God. This is my
testimony. You need not have any doubts or fears from this time forth;
if you are faithful and live your religion you are safe, and you will
land safe in the Kingdom of God. I have no dubiety on my mind with
regard to these things, and it is my study to know how to live so that
I may enjoy the Holy Ghost—the Spirit of this gospel; and it cheers
and comforts my heart when I hear the Elders talking about the good
things of the Kingdom of God.
I have come nearly a hundred miles through the mud and snow to visit
and hear the voices of my brethren and to listen to their coun sels. Not but what we have some good folks where I live; at any
rate, we have some good preachers among us occasionally. Only a few
days ago we had brothers Musser and Stenhouse. They preached good
things to us, and cheered and comforted our hearts. Some of the
brethren remarked to me that "they preached splendidly, and really
enjoyed the spirit of the gospel." Said I, "Of course they did; they
are from the fountain head—from the droppings of the sanctuary—and
they possess the spirit of our President and Prophet and of the
Apostles with whom they associate." It is to be expected that men who
come from the head here will have something new to tell to cheer the
hearts of those who live isolated and far away. It proved to me,
however, that we in Cache possess a little of the spirit enjoyed here,
or we should not have received and been comforted by the teachings of
our brethren. And we have come down to partake of the feeling and to
share in the blessings of this great annual Conference, held by the
Latter-day Saints in the tops of the mountains, in peace, and with
none to molest or to make us afraid.
There is a little grumbling sometimes on the outside, a little showing
me the teeth, but no biting, and no harm, done. The Saints are still
living their religion—persevering, going ahead, striving to do the
will of God, that they may eventually take the Kingdom; not the
kingdoms of this world, for we do not want them. A great many men in
the world are afraid that we are striving to take their kingdoms. We
are not after the kingdoms of the world but it is the Kingdom of
God—the Kingdom of life and peace—that the Latter-day Saints are
after, and we expect to have it.
Short sermons are the order of the day, and I do not wish to occupy
the time. I am thankful to my brethren for the opportunity of bearing
testimony to the truth. I have all the preaching I can attend to when
I am at home—which is, wherever I am called to labor. I feel free and
easy in talking anywhere, where I am required so to do. I feel free in
the spirit of the gospel and in the midst of my brethren. This is the
place I like to visit, and I would spend all my time here if duty did
not call me elsewhere. Here in the mountains is our field of labor,
and nowhere else, unless we are sent. If we receive a mission to the
various nations of the earth, let us go and do the best we can. Until
then let us take a course to be one: one in dollars and cents, one in
obtaining woollen factories and machinery, one in keeping the Word of
Wisdom, and in everything else that will tend to bring about good
results and increase good feelings in the minds of the Saints. Unless
we keep the commands of God we cannot attain to this. It is no use for
anybody to say—"I shall be happy if I can have everything to gratify
my taste." It is perfect nonsense, and the individual who entertains
such a notion is deceiving himself. Nothing short of the bread of
life, that comes down from God out of heaven, can supply the wants and
satisfy the feelings of the Latter-day Saints and those who love
truth.
May God bless us, brethren and sisters, is my prayer, in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
- Ezra T. Benson