This is one of the greatest days that Israel has ever seen in this
dispensation, and one of the largest congregations that ever assembled
in the capacity of a Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. The cause which we have espoused possesses,
probably, today, a greater degree of prosperity than it has ever done
from its commencement. Thus may it ever be from this time henceforth
and forever! From the commencement of this work until the present
time we have continually increased in power and numbers, and in
blessings from the Lord our God; and I believe that, today, a greater
degree of unity dwells in the hearts of the people called Latter-day
Saints than ever before.
When we look back on the past history of this people, and see the
difficulties they have had to encounter and have overcome, our hearts
should swell with joy and gratitude to the benign Providence which has
brought us to the position that we now enjoy. As we have been blessed
and preserved in the past, so it will ever be with us, if we will only
be true to ourselves and walk in the ways of truth and righteousness.
Has not our experience been sufficient in the past to give us
confidence in the future? Has not our faith been increased by the
multiplicity of blessings and favors which we have received at the
hands of our heavenly Father? Inasmuch as we have asked in faith for
blessings, and have had our prayers answered upon our heads, have we
not faith and confidence to approach our heavenly Father again and
again to supplicate for blessings? Most assuredly this is the
experience of every faithful Saint. Then let us continue to improve,
and endeavor to weed from our hearts every evil influence and strive
to overcome every besetting sin. Let this be among our labors in the
future, beginning with ourselves and then with our families.
Upon this latter point, especially, let me say a word. Let us provide
schools, competent teachers, and good books for our children, and let
us pay our teachers. I would have no objection to seeing the standard
works of the Church introduced into our schools, that our children may
be taught more pertaining to the principles of the gospel in the
future than they are at present. And let one test of fitness on the
part of those who teach be a thorough acquaintance with and love for
the principles of the gospel which we have received, that our children
may be taught the principles of truth and righteousness, and be
trained from their youth in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Let this course be taken in our schools, and let us pay our teachers.
We have those among us who are well qualified for teachers if we will only pay them; but the great cry now is—"We cannot afford to
teach school, for the wages is too low, and low as it is we cannot get
it when it is earned." This is the great difficulty among us in this
matter, and it has always been a crying evil. It has no need to be so;
we should pay our school bills among the first things we pay.
If we wish to have teachers for our children let us sustain them. And
we should sustain our own publications, which inculcate the principles
of truth and righteousness, in preference to any others which may be
brought into our midst. There are other works that are good, against
which I do not wish to say anything; but let us first sustain our own
works, which are exclusively devoted to the spread of the principles
of truth. The Lord has undertaken to raise the standard of truth in
the earth through the instrumentality of His servants, and it is the
duty of the Saints to sustain those works which have the dissemination
of truth for their only object. We send forth Elders to the nations of
the earth, as messengers of salvation to the people; and while we
sustain those who go to proclaim the gospel, let us also sustain the
printed word.
Enough has been said on this subject, and I do not wish to
recapitulate. Let us pay our tithing, and do all we can to sustain the
servants of God. And in paying our tithing we should not forget our
money tithing. We hear considerable about hard times, so far as money
is concerned; they who are endeavoring to sustain the work of God
feel the pressure as much as anybody else. Let us contribute our mites
to assist; if we have not much let us give a portion for that
purpose—be free and liberal. What have we to do but to accomplish our
mission in building up the Kingdom of God? I know of nothing else that
is worth the attention of the Latter-day Saints. Then let us do this
with all our faith, might, and means, and be united as the heart of
one man in sustaining whatever is brought before us by those who are
placed over us to lead, guide, and direct our labors.
Has not the Lord the right to dictate the earth and its inhabitants?
Most assuredly, He has; and it would be a great blessing for the
people if they would allow Him to do so. We who have come here have
said we are willing to be dictated by the Lord through His servants;
then let us make it our business to be so as long as we dwell in the
flesh, the more especially as we expect to reap the rewards and
benefits that will result from such a course. If we expect the
blessings of heaven we should take a course that will draw them down
upon us, for they will most assuredly be ours as fast as we can make
good use of them. If we are only true to ourselves, and are faithful
to the end, our reward will be such that we will have no need to
complain of it. And even while we pass along through life, the course
of the Latter-day Saint is more conducive to happiness and peace than
that of any other individual on the face of the earth.
Let us not be disheartened nor discouraged, but press onward in the
good work which we have espoused. Our minds have been lit up with the
principles of life and salvation and the truths of heaven; then let us
cleave to those principles with full purpose of heart, keeping God's
commands, and walking blamelessly before him in all things every day
of our lives. We shall thus accomplish our mission in the Kingdom of
God, and eventually be welcomed into the presence of our Redeemer,
which, I hope, will be the lot of every Latter day Saint, and of
every honest soul in the world.
These are some of my feelings. I hope and pray that we will all attend
to the teachings which we receive from time to time, for it is God in
His mercy who deals them out to us, and it is for us to treasure them
up in good and honest hearts, to carry them out in our lives, and to
shun all things that are offensive in His sight. This is the mission
of the Saints. Every man can be useful in his day and generation in
promoting these principles; and if we will be united in so doing,
truth will triumph in the hearts of the Saints, and a power for good,
such as we have never yet seen, will soon be developed, and will
increase until finally the earth will be redeemed from the thralldom of
sin, and the power of the wicked be forever broken.
That our labors may speedily bring about this desirable consummation
is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
- Daniel H. Wells