I will, in the commencement of my remarks, take up a subject upon
which much has been said in the pulpit and in the chimney corner. It
is regarding the Spirit of the Lord manifesting His will to His
children. There is no doubt, if a person lives according to the
revelations given to God's people, he may have the Spirit of the Lord
to signify to him His will, and to guide and to direct him in the
discharge of his duties, in his temporal as well as his spiritual
exercises. I am satisfied, however, that in this respect, we live far
beneath our privileges. If this is true, it is necessary that we
become more fervent in the service of God—in living our religion—and
more truthful and honest with one another, that we be not slack in the
performance of any duty, but labor with a right good will for God and
truth. If this people, called Latter-day Saints, live beneath their
privileges in the holy gospel of the Son of God, are they justified in
every respect before Him? They are not. If we do not live in the
lively exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus, possessing His Spirit
always, how can we know when He speaks to us through His servants whom
He has placed to lead us? It was observed here this morning, by one of
the brethren, that he never attempted to perform a duty required of
him unless the Spirit manifested to him beforehand that he would be
justified in doing it. Now, let me ask, how many of you know, by the
manifestation of the Spirit of revelation, that the Lord has whispered
to His servants the necessity of this people observing the Word of
Wisdom? Some submit to it, and say that it is right, because their
President says so; but, how many of the Saints have received the
manifestations of the Spirit to themselves that this is the will of
God? Again, how many know by the Spirit of revelation that they should
contribute of the substance the Lord has given to them to gather home
the poor Latter-day Saints from Europe? Many may have received a
testimony from the Holy Spirit that this is their duty, but there may
be one-half of the community who have not received such a
manifestation. Now, is it the duty of those who have not lived so as
to enjoy the Spirit of revelation, as others do, to perform this
labor of love and charity, the same as those who have received the
Spirit of revelation, to witness to them that it is right? We think
that it is. I can call to mind revelations which the Lord delivered to
His servant Joseph, that when they were written and given to the
people there would not be one in fifty of the members of the Church
who could say that they knew, by the revela tions of the Lord
Jesus, that they were of the Lord; but they would have to pray and
exercise faith to be able to receive them, and in some instances some
apostatized in consequence of revelations that had been given. This
was the case when the "Vision" was given through Joseph Smith and
Sidney Rigdon.
At that time there was not as many in the whole Church as there is in
this congregation. Yes, many forsook the faith when the Lord revealed
the fact to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, as He did to His ancient
Apostles, that all would receive a salvation except those who had
sinned a sin unto death, of which the Apostle John said—"I do not say
that ye shall pray for it." I prayed and reflected about it, and so
did others. I became satisfied that, when a revelation came to Joseph
for the people to perform any labor or duty, it was their privilege to
go to with their might and do it collectively and individually, not
waiting for the manifestations of the Spirit to me, but believing that
the Prophet knew more than I knew, that the Lord spoke through him,
and that He could do as He pleased about speaking to me. This is a
close point; but I will tell you what is right, what is the duty of
the Latter-day Saints, unless they can, by undeniable proof, show that
the word of the Lord has not come through the President, they have no
right to hesitate one moment in performing the duties required of
them. This is the way I understand revelation. It is the privilege of
the Latter-day Saints to know and understand the mind and will of God
concerning them; yea, it is even the privilege of the wicked world to
know this. The Spirit of the Lord bears witness to all people
according to the faith, honesty, and humility which dwell in the
individual who hears and in those who administer the word. In a great
measure it depends upon this with regard to the witness of God to
them. It is hard, however, for people to understand these things. The
intelligence we possess is from our Father and our God. Every
attribute that is in His character is in His children in embryo. It is
their duty to improve and develop those attributes; and it is,
consequently, necessary to pay strict attention to every requirement
of Heaven, that we may better understand the mind and will of God
concerning us and our duty. If we will live so as to enjoy the Spirit
of revelation, we may know concerning ourselves and those we preside
over.
If the people are ready and prepared to receive the word of the Lord
continually, it can be given to them. An elder may declare the truth
philosophically, and the light of Christ may kindle up the candle of
the Lord within those who hear him, and they see, understand, and are
convicted of its truth, although the elder who preaches it to them may
himself be void of the Spirit of revelation. Again, a man may preach
to a people whose ears are closed, and their hearts hardened against
conviction, they will not believe the gospel, yet the man who
testifies to them may be full of the power of God. For example, we
will say, here is a man on the right or the left, who declares that he
cannot perform this or that duty unless he receives a witness to
himself, direct from the Lord, that He requires the duty at his hands.
Upon what principle has he the right to question any requirement made
by the constituted authority of God on the earth? Is he entitled to
any such right? He is not. He is not entitled to the right of bringing
up any argument in his own mind, as to the right or wrong of
it, or to in any way remonstrate against any requirement the Lord has
made of him through His servants. He is under obligation to obey,
whether the Spirit of the Lord gives him a manifestation or not. When
the authorities call for so many loads of rock to be hauled for the
Temple, should every man wait to know by direct revelation to himself
whether he should draw rock or not? Or should all acknowledge the call
as the word of the Lord to us, and promptly and willingly obey? When
we asked the brethren to build this New Tabernacle, did they wait to
get a revelation to themselves before they commenced the work? No;
but while they were engaged in that work, when they knelt down to pray
before the Lord, His Spirit was with them, and it justified the act.
And so will it be with every duty that is required of this people, if
they perform the same in faith before God. Our beloved brother did not
speak as he meant. He will be understood to mean simply this: If a
requirement is made of this people, it is their privilege to have a
testimony that it is of God. This is what I mean, and it is what my
brother meant who spoke this morning. I wish now to say a few words to
the Bishops. It is a common saying, "as with the priest so with the
people." I will change that a little, and say as are our bishops so
are the people. We have said much to the people with regard to laying
up provisions to last them a few years. This is our duty now; it has
been our duty for years. How many of our bishops have provisions laid
up for one year, two years, or seven years? There may be a few bishops
who have got their grain laid away to last their families a year, but
the great majority of them have not. The people do, or should look to
their bishops for example. Each bishop should be an example to his
ward. If the bishop of a ward lays up wheat to last his family a year,
two years, or seven years, as the case may be, his neighbors on the
right and on the left will be very apt to do the same; they will very
likely build good bins and try to fill them. But I need not talk much
about this. Do you ask me if I have wheat laid up? Yes, I have it all
the time. I have been furnishing this tithing office in part with my
own flour for the building of the New Tabernacle, and I calculate to
furnish it still. I have so many hundreds of people to feed, it cannot
be expected that I can save much; yet I have enough laid by to last my
family for years.
I wish now to refer to what was said this afternoon regarding this
people's knowledge. I think of this frequently. It is said by our
enemies that the Latter-day Saints are an ignorant people. I ask all
the nations of Christendom if they can produce a people, considering
all the circumstances, who are better educated in all the great
branches of learning than this people, as a people. Many of them have
been brought from poverty, and have been placed in comfortable
circumstances in these mountains, where they have been taught how to
get their living from the elements, and to become partially
self-sustaining. How much do you know among the nations? Can you make
an axe helve? "Yes," and so can we, and make an axe to fit it, and
then we know how to use it. We can make a hoe handle and a hoe to fit
it, and then we know how to hoe the ground with it. Can we make a
plough? Yes, and know how to use it as well as any people on the
earth. We can make every agricultural implement, and can use it. We can make a cambric needle; and we can make the steam engine and
vessel to carry it. We can direct the lightning, and make it our
servant, after Franklin showed us how; and the philosophers of the day
are as dependent on his discoveries as we are. We have all the
improvements that have been made in the arts and sciences, and know
how to use them to our advantage. We can make boots and shoes for the
sturdy, plodding agriculturist in the field, and for the delicate lady
in the parlor, and we know how to make the leather as well as others
do. We can read the Bible and understand it, and our lexicographers
can make dictionaries. Wherein, then, are we more ignorant than
others? We have good mechanics, good philosophers, good astronomers,
good mathematicians, good architects, good theologians, good
historians, good orators, good statesmen, good school teachers, and we
can make a good prayer and preach a good sermon. I heard a very
sensible prayer the other day at camp Wasatch. In the prayer were
these words—that "the militia might be enabled to keep their guns
bright and their powder dry." We know how to make cloth, how to make
it into garments, and wear it; we know how to provide for ourselves,
how to protect ourselves, and we ask nobody to help us but God our
heavenly Father. Then, wherein are we so woefully ignorant as some
people make us out to be? We know how to build houses, and can make
the furniture to furnish them; we know how to plant gardens, set out
orchards, and plant vineyards. We know how to raise all kinds of
vegetables, fruit, and grain, and everything else that will flourish
in this latitude. Wherein are we ignorant?
We may not be able to get out a great burst of words, which mean
nothing, as many of the preachers and reverend divines abroad can.
They speculate a great deal about walking the golden streets of the
New Jerusalem, and about going into the presence of God to sing psalms
forevermore, but when they are asked seriously where they are going
when they leave this earth, they are unable to tell you. If you ask
them what they are going to do in the next existence, when the labors
of this word are ended, they are still in the dark. You may ask them
where God lives, and they do not know—they say in heaven; but where is
heaven? They do not know. If you ask them what He looks like, still
they do not know. Some have gone so far as to say that He dwells
beyond the bounds of time and space, and is seated on a topless
throne, being Himself without body, parts, and passions. Numerous are
the wild speculations of religionists regarding God and His
habitation. We can instruct the world on these matters; wherein are
we ignorant? We know and read history; we understand the geography of
the world, the manners, customs, and laws of nations. Our astronomers
describe to us the geography of the heavens, measure the distances
between the earth and the sun, moon, and planets. We have learning to
speculate on all these works of God, and revelation unfolding reliable
knowledge on many of the wonders of the heavens. Now, wherein are we
more ignorant than other people? Is it because we believe the Bible,
which declares that man is made in the likeness and image of God, that
He has ears to hear our prayers, eyes to see His handiwork, a
stretched-out arm to defend His people, and to make bare to punish the
wicked nations of the earth? Wherein are we ignorant? We understand the laws of domestic and civil government; we know how to
conduct ourselves like men of sense, like gentlemen and Christians; we
understand natural philosophy and medicine; and are satisfied of the
emptiness of the vain philosophy of the world. If believing and
knowing what we do constitute ignorance, then let us be ignorant
still, and con tinue in the way which will lead us to the perfection of
knowledge which the world call ignorance.
Now, let me say to you, it is our imperative duty to use a portion of
our substance to send for our poor brethren and sisters who are still
back in the old countries. May the Lord bless you. Amen.