Brethren and sisters, my heart almost falters at the idea of
attempting to make you all distinctly hear me, but by the aid of the
Spirit of the Lord, in answer to your good wishes and prayers, I will
do my best to make you hear such things as it may suggest to me. I am
thankful for this opportunity of meeting the Saints from different
parts of the Territory, of beholding their friendly faces, and
of greeting them with a cordial "How do you do?" and "God bless
you."
It really fills me with joy and gladness, and I am thankful that I
have the privilege of meeting with my brethren who bear the
Priesthood, and of mingling my testimony with theirs, to establish the
truths of heaven long since revealed by the Lord to His people—the
Latter-day Saints. Brethren and sisters, I know that the cause in
which we are engaged is the cause of God. I know that Joseph Smith was
a true and faithful Prophet of the Most High God. I know that he
sealed his testimony with his blood, and though he is invisible to our
natural eyes at the present time, he is moving the cause of Zion by an
influence which we can better feel than see. I feel thankful that I
have the privilege of bearing this testimony; and not only do I bear
it in behalf of the martyred Prophet, but I bear the same testimony in
behalf of him whom God has placed to lead, guide and govern the
affairs of His kingdom on the earth—namely, President Brigham Young.
You can all behold the "Twin Peaks" down here, when you are out in the
open air, towering aloft towards heaven. You have seen the clouds
gather around their brow, you have heard the thunders roll and seen
the lightnings flash as if they would demolish those proud monuments
of nature, and the elements have expended upon them their fury, yet
after all, the clouds retired, the thunders ceased to roll, the
lightnings to flash, and the sky became clearer; and there stand
today those proud monuments, unscathed and unmoved. Why? Because God
Almighty's hand reared them and placed them there. And the elements by
which we are more or less surrounded may gather around our President,
Brigham Young, until his name is almost obscured for the time being;
the thunders may roll over his head, the lightnings may flash or the
clouds gather; is he affected? Is he not the same identical pillar,
leading, guiding and sustaining the cause of God? Most assuredly he
is. And remember that, although the elements are lively and they play
around the "Twin Peaks" with a great deal of force and fury, they can
have but very little effect upon them; and so it is with the man whom
God has ordained and placed to guide His Saints. Apostates may cause
the clouds to gather, and they may thunder and they may lighten, and
they may do this, that and the other, but at last they must yield and
give place to the monument that God has erected; and he will stand
forth in bold relief, towering to heaven and pointing the way to
eternal life.
This is my testimony. This is the way my heart feels today; and it is
the way it has ever felt towards that individual; it is the way that I
am inclined to think that it ever will feel. It is my determination.
Why? Because I have had evidence that is unmistakable that I am
occupying grounds that are correct, that are true and faithful, and I
cannot forget it. I pray the Lord that He may always lead me to keep
the truth in mind, vivid and clear as the sun at noonday.
Brethren and sisters, if we will be united in keeping the commandments
of God, in observing and cleaving to the Word of Wisdom, not for the
time being only, but always while life shall last; if we will remember
our prayers and be faithful in the discharge of our duties, I will
tell you that any measure, inimical to our welfare and interests it
may seem, that may be sought to be carried against us, will utterly
fail. We have the means within ourselves to defeat almost
anything that is intended for our destruction and overthrow. However I
want to talk but little about this. I have endeavored to instruct the
brethren and sisters where I have labored in relation to this matter,
and if I shall repeat here today some things that I have said
heretofore, do not think that it is because Brother Hyde lacks a
subject; but he is happy to have the opportunity of declaring the
truth; and truth never becomes stale because of being often repeated.
We are a commercial and trading people, although far inland, and hence
we buy and sell. Now the question is, are we always punctual to pay
according to promise and agreement? I am sorry to say that in too many
instances we are careless and indifferent with regard to fulfilling
our word and agreement. We are told in the good Book that we should
owe no man anything but love and good will; and if every man that
hears the sound of my voice today could stand out like an angel of
God and say, "I owe no man anything but love and good will," what
missile from the enemies' ranks could be successfully hurled against
us? I say not one. We have paid that which we owe, and no man can say
aught in complaint against us because we are delinquents; and every
one that knows us will be ready to say, "God bless you, you are
punctual and faithful." Do we all desire, brethren and sisters, to
maintain this character and stand upon this ground? I know that cases
will arise, and almost unavoidably, in which we may be indebted to our
brethren; but how is it with some of us when those to whom we are
indebted apply for payment? I am afraid that such creditors, instead
of receiving that which is their due, are sometimes turned away with
an excuse; when, if the debtor would exert himself, he might pay about
as well then as at any other time. But though we may turn away a
brother with an excuse, does that turn away the demands of justice and
right? I tell you no. I have seen individuals who would contract a
debt, apparently regardless whether they paid or not. I do not know
that there are any here, but if there are I hope they will heed the
words which I speak. Let me say that I very much question whether, if
we have contracted debts and do not pay them, nor manifest any desire
to do so, we shall go into the celestial kingdom. I cannot tell how
this will be, but I should rather fear that, instead of going into the
celestial kingdom, we should go down to that prison that is spoken of
in the Scriptures. Hence we are exhorted to "agree with thine
adversary quickly whilst thou art in the way with him, lest at any
time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver
thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison: verily,
verily, I say unto thee that thou shalt not come out thence until thou
hast paid the uttermost farthing." Whether this Scripture legitimately
applies in this case, I will not say; but to my mind it has a strong
beginning in that direction. Well, if I have to go to prison and there
work to pay the uttermost farthing, heaven nerve my arm so that I may
meet and pay my obligations while I am in the flesh. I know that in
relation to these matters some of us have been in the habit of
considering, "Well, it is a brother to whom I owe this debt, and I can
put him off, he will bear with me, and if he begins to make any
particular demonstration towards collecting it, I will twine around
him, and say, 'Bear with me a little, and I will pay you,'" when perhaps we have no real, firm and fixed determination to pay
that debt at all.
Will the Lord hear and answer our prayers if this be our condition? I
cannot say, but I will tell you I would rather be clear of any
obligation except those of love and good will. I would rather risk
prayer offered under these circumstances than when offered while the
suppliant is involved in debts and obligations he has failed to
discharge.
Now, brethren and sisters, if we will train ourselves never to
contract a debt, unless we feel sure, and not only feel sure, but
determined, to pay according to promise, we shall not have the burdens
on our shoulders that we otherwise shall have. Times are changing.
Sometimes we are tempted by the allurements of the world, by the flow
of money and by the abundance of everything, to go beyond the mark,
and we contract debts; then perhaps there is a shutdown on the sources
of prosperity, and a dark, dull time, financially, may set in, and
everything we have got is at stake. Which, then, is the better way?
The better way, in my opinion, is to keep clear of debt; whether times
are prosperous or tight, keep clear of debt if possible.
Some will run into debt to gratify pride, and they will really rob
themselves and their creditors just to keep up with this fanciful
thing called fashion. Brother or sister So and So says, "I must have
this or that, because somebody else has it;" or somebody has got such
a thing, and I feel that I am as much entitled to it as he or she. I
say let somebody else have as many fashions as they like, but let us
abide by what God has given us and be content therewith; and if we
really want more, let us make a little extra exertion, and before we
spend money let us earn it. I know men who will actually go to work
and sell the crop, that they are perhaps planting now, to merchants;
and when they irrigate those crops it is not for themselves, but for
them to whom they have sold it. The same is true when the grain is
harvested and when it is threshed. There is no liberty, independence
or nobility in this; but they who take this course are bound down and
are slaves to somebody else. I feel that a little economy and
self-denial would relieve us very much from this embarrassment and
encumbrance. I believe the good Book says, "Except a man deny himself,
take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple." Do we seek
to deny ourselves or to gratify ourselves? Which is the greater labor,
to gratify or to deny ourselves? I will tell you that if we would
bestow as much labor in denying ourselves as we do in gratifying
ourselves, we should feel better and should be happier, and the
heavens would plead our cause more effectually. How comfortable a man
feels when he can say to himself, "Though I have but little, thank God
I do not owe anybody anything." I have paid up my tithing, my
emigration indebtedness, I have paid for my newspaper, and done the
best I could to keep the hearts of my brethren whole by paying
promptly, according to promise, so that the great machine of progress
may move without obstruction and hindrance? I believe that if we will
all turn in from this time and be honest, and really pay our debts and
obligations, we have no great reason to fear anything injurious
proceeding from any quarter.
Suppose now, brethren and sisters, that we should be united in this
one thing, and should actually go to and pay our debts and
obligations. Let me suggest to you one thing. Says one, "Really, I
would very much like if I had the assurance that God heard my
prayers." Now, when you go home, just think of them to whom you are
indebted and who is in most need among your creditors, and then go
right to that individual and bless him with an installment of what you
owe him, and I tell you that will aid very much the acceptance of your
offering unto God; it will induce Him to hear your prayer and to
answer it. If you don't believe it, try it, and instead of putting off
your brother, to whom you are indebted, and making a thousand excuses
and apologies, and trying to get out of his road, go right to him, be
honest, lay your heart open to him, and say, "My brother, I will do
all I can for you. I will bless you by paying you what I owe, or a
portion of it, and I will pay you the remainder as fast as I possibly
can." Let this course be taken throughout Israel, and see if the
tables will not turn in favor of Zion. I feel that they will; let us
all take this course and see.
I intend, if the Lord will let me live, and I believe He will, to work
just as hard as I can to pay every just obligation that I owe, and I
believe I shall accomplish it. I pray the Lord to let me live until I
can say, boldly and honestly and truly, that I owe no man anything but
love and goodwill; and then as much longer as He pleases. That is what
I desire and intend. And I believe that if we, as a people, do this,
remember our prayers, and keep the words of wisdom, the Lord will not
suffer the enemy to prevail against us.
Now I look around this congregation, and contemplate that there are,
perhaps, some ten or twelve thousand persons, and it may be more, I do
not know, there is a very large number; then when I think that
numerous as we are here we are but the representatives—not more than a
tithing of those left behind, of the same stripe, iy reminds me of the
words of Joseph the Prophet, when he said, "Brethren, remember that
the majority of this people will never go astray; and as long as you
keep with the majority you are sure to enter the celestial kingdom." I
am satisfied, brethren, that if we will go to with our might and
strength and pay our debts and liabilities the blessing of God will
attend us, and that too in the eyes of all the world.
I will tell you what I expect. I expect to live to see the day when
those in our midst, who have sought our injury and ruin, will stand
the same as men do, when discovered, that I read of in the papers, who
rob henroosts or steal sheep. You know how they feel—they feel
"cheap," they would feel very mean in the presence of honorable men. I
expect to live to see the day, brethren, when those who have sought
our injury will quail in our presence.
Well, this is no time for long sermons. There are my brethren of the
Twelve here, besides many others, who want to speak; and I presume to
say that I have occupied my share of the time. One thing more,
however, I will say. You who have money owing to you, do not, from my
remarks, go to him who owes you and take him by the throat and say,
"Pay me that which thou owest." Do not do that. No, let your debtor
remain undisturbed by you; you be silent, and see whether that man's
conscience will operate upon him so as to induce him to come and make
reasonable and proper satisfaction to you; and if he will not when
this subject is fully laid before him you may begin to think that he
is not as honest as he should be, and by and by he will work himself
out of the kingdom.
I feel, brethren and sisters, that I am in the right company.
If I can only manage to keep right myself, if I can only manage to be
true and faithful to my God and myself, while I am in the midst of
this assembly—the representatives of a host of Latter-day Saints—their
hearts beating in unison with my words, and my words with their
hearts, I feel that I am not following the few who break off, but that
I am with the majority, and we are bound for the celestial kingdom.
God defend His people and their rights, is my prayer in the name of
Jesus. Amen.