If I can have the ears and attention of the people, I want to preach
to them a short sermon on our present condition and on some
particulars with regard to our customs. We, the Latter-day Saints, as
a people, received a command many years ago to gather out from
the wicked world and to gather ourselves together to stand in holy
places, preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man. We have been
gathered together promiscuously from the nations of the earth, and in
many respects we are like the rest of the world. But I wish to make a
few remarks on some points wherein we differ. We differ from the
infidel world in our belief, and from the vulgar world in regard to
the language we use. It is not common for the Latter-day Saints to
take the name of the Deity in vain, while it is common and quite
fashionable to do so in Christendom. Herein we disagree with the
outside world, or we may call it the vulgar world, for no matter how
high or how low their position may be, or how poor or how wealthy,
when people use language which is unbecoming they descend to a very
low level, and in this respect I am happy to say that the Latter-day
Saints differ from the wicked or vulgar world. I will also put in the
political world. It is a very common practice throughout the
fashionable, political world to gamble; we differ also in this
respect, for the Latter-day Saints are not in the habit of gambling at
any game whatever; neither are they in the habit of drinking
intoxicating liquors, which, throughout the world at large, and
especially the Christian world, is such a prolific source of
wretchedness and misery. In a great degree, I may also say that, as a
people, we are not in the habit of lying and deceiving; but there is
one thing that we are too much guilty of, and that is, evil speaking
of our neighbors—bearing false witness against them. As a people we
are too lavish in our conversation in this respect, our words come too
easy and cheap, and we use them too freely in many instances. This is
one thing in which we do not differ so much from the world as I should
wish. There is another point on which the same remark is true, and
that is fashion in dress. Look over this congregation and we see this
demonstrated before us, and on this particular item I wish to lay my
views before the minds of the people.
To me a desire to follow the ever-varying fashions of the world
manifests a great weakness of mind in either gentleman or lady. We are
too apt to follow the foolish fashions of the world; and if means were
plentiful, I do not think that there are many families among the
Latter-day Saints but what would be up to the highest and latest
fashions of the day. Perhaps there are a great many that would not
follow these fashions had they ever so much means. But too many of
this people follow after the foolish, giddy, vain fashions of the
world. If any persons want proof of this they need only look over this
congregation, and view the bonnets, hats or headdresses of our
fashionable ladies. Do they wear bonnets that will screen their faces
from the sun, or shelter their heads from the rain? Oh, no, it is not
fashionable. Well what do they wear? Just such as the wicked would
wear.
My discourse will have to be brief, and I am going to ask my sisters
in particular to stop following these foolish fashions, and to
introduce fashions of their own. This is the place, and this the time
to make known the word of the Lord to the people.
It is vain and foolish, it does not evince godliness, and is
inconsistent with the spirit of a saint to follow after the fashions
of the world. I wish to impress these remarks especially on the minds
of my young sisters—the daughters of the Elders of Israel. Not but
what our wives as well as daughters follow many fashions that
are uncomely, foolish and vain. What do you say? "Shall we introduce a
fashion of our own, and what shall it be?" Do you want us to answer
and tell you how to make your bonnets? Let me say to you that, in the
works of God, you see an eternal variety, consequently we do not ask
the people to become Quakers, and all the men wear wide-brimmed hats,
and the ladies wear drab or cream-colored silk bonnets projecting in
the front, perhaps six or seven inches, rounded on the corners, with a
cape behind. This is Quakerism, that is, so far as headdresses are
concerned for ladies and gentlemen. But while we do not ask this, we
do ask the sisters to make their bonnets so as to shelter themselves
from the storm and from the rays of the sun. I have heard a saying
that three straws and a ribbon would make a headdress for a
fashionable lady. This was a year or two ago; and the same varying,
fantastic, foolish notions prevail with regard to other portions of a
lady's habiliments as much as with her headdress. A few years ago it
took about sixteen yards of common-width cloth to make a dress for a
lady, for she wanted two or three yards to drag in the streets, to be
smeared by every nuisance she walked over. Now I suppose they make
their dresses out of five yards and a half, and then have abundance
left for an apron. They put me now strongly in mind of the ladies I
used to see in Canada some years ago, who made their dresses out of
two breadths of tow and linen, and when they were in meeting they were
all the time busy pulling them down, for they would draw up. The young
ladies look now as if they needed somebody to walk after them to keep
pulling down their dresses.
How foolish and unwise this is, and how contrary to the spirit of the
Gospel that we have embraced! This Gospel is full of good sense,
judgment, discretion and intelligence. Does this look intelligent?
Suppose the ladies continue the fashion of shortening their dresses,
how long will it be before three-quarters of a yard will be enough for
them? You may say that such extravagant comparisons are ridiculous. I
say, no more than your dresses and many of your habits and fashions
now, only they may be a little exaggerated, that is all. Anything is
ridiculous, more or less, that is not comely. I do beseech my sisters
to stop their foolishness and to go to work and make their own
headdresses. If they will they will be blessed. Do you say, "How shall
we be blessed?" I will tell you—by introducing a spirit of industry
into your families, and a spirit of contentment into your hearts,
which will give you an interest in your domestic cares and affairs
that you have not hitherto enjoyed. Doctor Young says that "Life's
cares are comforts," and they who take an interest in and try to
promote their individual welfare, that of their neighbors or of the
human family, will find a pleasure such as is derived from few other
sources. They derive delight and pleasure from it, and are filled with
peace. But when the eyes of people are like the fool's eyes—wandering
to the ends of the earth, continually wishing, longing for and
desiring that which they have not got, they are never happy. If we
will take the course I have indicated, we shall be benefited in our
spirits, and shall have more of the Spirit of the Lord.
I wish to say to you, and you may read it in the Bible if you wish,
that he who has the love of the world within him hath not the love of
the Father. They who love the things of this world are
destitute of the love of the Gospel of the Son of God. This is my
Scripture: They who long and lust after the fashions of the world are
destitute of the Spirit of God. Every person of experience will
testify that this is the truth. Now, my sisters, let me urge you to
make your own headdresses. You have the material here, and if you wish
to make your hat with a brim six, twelve, twenty, or three inches
wide, we will not quarrel with you; but make your own headdresses, and
do not hunt after the fashions of the wicked world. If you wish to
make a cottage, or a corn-fan bonnet, or a hat, make it to suit
yourselves, but do not run after the fashions of the world. I expect,
by and by, if this taste for fashion be not checked, to see this
house alive, more or less, with what are termed "shoo fly" hats,
bonnets and headdresses, and what else you'll get I do not know. But
no matter what the name nor what the fashion if we do not lust after
the wicked world. And when you buy yourselves dresses do not purchase
one for six or eight dollars, and then want about twenty more for
trimmings. What is the use of it? I asked some of my wives the
other evening, "What is the use of all this velvet ribbon—perhaps ten,
fifteen, twenty, or thirty yards, on a linsey dress?" Said I, "What is
the use of it? Does it do any good?" I was asked, very spiritedly and
promptly, in return, "What good do those buttons do on the back of
your coat?" Said I, "How many have I got?" and turning round I showed
that there were none there.
This reform in fashion and extravagance in dress is needed. God has a
purpose in it, and so have his servants. What is it? If the Lord has
given me means and I spend it needlessly, in rings for my fingers, and
jewelry for adornment, I deprive the Priesthood of that which they
ought to have to gather the poor, to preach the Gospel, to build
temples and to feed the hungry in our midst. I deprive a people, who
will by and by inherit the earth, of so many blessings. Every yard of
ribbon that I buy that is needless, every flounce, and every gewgaw
that is purchased for my family needlessly, robs the Church of God of
just so much. But it seems as though the people do not think of these
things; they do not lay them to heart. Our wives and daughters seem to
forget that they have responsibilities resting upon them in these
respects. The conduct of a great many of them indicates a care for
nothing but, "How much can I get? Can I get everything I want? I wish
I could see something new, I want to pattern after it!" This manifests
the spirit of the world, and a foolish, vain disposition. Not but that
I am guilty myself, perhaps, of using means for my individual person
that is not necessary; but if I do, will some of you kindly tell me? I
recollect once, when preaching in England, that I passed through
Smithfield Market, in Manchester, and I saw some very fine grapes just
arrived from France. I spent a penny for some of them, but I had not
taken half a dozen steps from the stand where I purchased them, before
I saw an old lady passing along who, I could tell by her appearance,
was starving to death. Said I, "I have done wrong in spending that
penny, I should have given it to that old lady." I made it a practice,
before leaving my office, of going to a drawer, taking out a handful
of pence, in order to give to the numerous beggars which everywhere
meet the eye in walking the streets in the large towns in that
country, and in this instance I felt guilty at having spent a penny on grapes, and I thought of it many times after. What else did I
spend needlessly? Not much. "Well," but say some, "Brother Brigham
do
not you have good horses?" Yes, I do. Do you know where I got them?
But some of them were given to me, and I thank God and those who
bestowed them, and I use them prudently. But I would as lief my poor
brethren and sisters would ride in my carriage as to ride in it
myself. Yet in many things I may be to blame, and do wrong, but in
many things I know that we as a people do wrong.
"Well, Brother Brigham, what shall we do?" I say make your own
headdresses; here is abundance of material to do it with, and it is
not right for me to pay out hundreds and perhaps thousands of dollars
annually for needless articles of dress for my family. The same is
true of my brethren. If that means were to go to gather the poor this
season, it would bring many from the old countries. About this,
however, I will say that it is rather discouraging to bring people
here and to put them in situations to live and accumulate, and then
they, as soon as they make a little means, lift their heel against God
and his anointed. Nevertheless it is our duty to feed nine persons who
are unworthy rather than to turn away the tenth, if he be worthy. It
is better to bring ninety-nine persons here who are unworthy than to
leave one that is worthy to perish there, consequently we say we will
do all we can. They, whom we bring here, are agents for themselves
before God, and they act for themselves.
But now, brethren and sisters, let us stop and again consider and
think. Can we not sustain ourselves more than we do? I do not ask my
sisters to make themselves sunbonnets and wear them and nothing else.
I do not say, all of you adopt some particular fashion and stick to
that alone. This is not the question; the question is, will we stop
wearing that that is so useless and needless? If we will, we can have
scores of thousands annually to bestow upon the poor, to rear temples,
to build tabernacles and schoolhouses, to endow schools, to educate
our children, and to aid every charitable institution and every other
purpose that will advance the kingdom of God on the earth.
This would be wisdom in us. What do we think about it? What do you
say, young ladies—I mean all of you this side of a hundred years
old—will you stop following the foolish fashions of the world, and
begin to act like people possessing moral courage and good natural
sense? If this is your mind, brethren and sisters, I ask you, young
and old, to make it manifest, as I do, by raising your right hand. (A
sea of hands was immediately raised.) Some, no doubt, feel ready to
say, "Why, Brother Brigham, do not you know that your family is the
most fashionable in the city?" No, I do not; but I am sure that my
wives and children, in their fashions and gewgaws, cannot beat some of
my neighbors. I will tell you what I have said to my wives and
children; shall I? Shall I expose what I say to them on these points?
Yes, I will. I have said to my wives, "If you will not stop these
foolish fashions and customs I will give you a bill if you want it."
That is what I have said, and that is what I think. "Well, but you
would not part with your wives?" Yes, indeed I would. I am not bound
to wife or child, to house or farm, or anything else on the face of
the earth, but the Gospel of the Son of God. I have enlisted all in
this cause, and in it is my heart, and here is my treasure. Some may
say, "Why, really, Brother Brigham, you almost worship your
family; you think a great deal of your wives." Yes, I do, but, from my
youth up, I never had but one object in taking a wife, and that was to
do her good. The first one I had was the poorest girl I could find in
the town; and my object with the second, and third, and so on to the
last one was to save them. You say," Do I humor them?" Yes I do, and
perhaps too much.
Now, my brethren and sisters, a few words more. We have been striving
for some time to get the people to observe the Word of Wisdom. But why
do they not observe it? Why will they cling to those habits that are
inimical to life and health? "Well," says a sister, "I cannot leave
off my tea, I must have a cup of tea every morning, I feel so sick." I
say then, go to bed, and there lie until you are better. "Oh, but it
will kill me if I quit it." Then die, and die in the faith, instead of
living and breaking the requests of Heaven. That is my mind about the
sisters dying for the want of tea. With regard to drinking liquor, I
am happy to say that we are improving. But there are some of our
Elders who still drink a little liquor occasionally, I think, and use
a little tobacco. They feel as though they would die without it, but I
say they will die with it, and they will die transgressing the
revelations and commands of Heaven, and the wishes of our heavenly
Father, who has said hot drinks are not good.
Now let us observe the Word of Wisdom. Shall I take a vote on it?
Everybody would vote, but who would observe it? A good many, but not
all. I can say that a good many do observe their covenants in this
thing. But who is it that understands wisdom before God? In some
respects we have to define it for ourselves—each for himself—according
to our own views, judgment and faith, and the observance of the Word
of Wisdom, or the interpretation of God's requirements on this
subject, must be left, partially, with the people. We cannot make laws
like the Medes and Persians. We cannot say you shall never drink a cup
of tea, or you shall never taste of this, or you shall never taste of
that; but we can say that Wisdom is justified of her children.
Brethren and sisters, hearken to these things. I do not know that we
shall have much time to talk about them; but take the little counsel
given, and observe it. This is the place to give counsel to the
people. Go home, Bishops and Elders, when the Conference is over, and
observe what has been told you here. If we commence making our own
bonnets, we shall find that we shall increase in other directions
besides making leather for our boots and shoes, and cloth for coats
and pantaloons.
It is very pleasant in passing through the Territory to have brethren
in the various settlements say, "Bro. Brigham, Brother Geo. A., or
Brother Daniel, come and see our store, or our shop; here are boots
and shoes made from leather of our own manufacture;" and some are as
fine looking as you can see anywhere. They are doing a good deal in
this city, and also in other places. Some are making straw hats and
bonnets, and others are endeavoring to promote other branches of home
manufacture. This is very pleasant, but we want to see it more general
in this great community. If it were so this season in the one branch
of straw hat and bonnet manufacture we should not see the scores and
hundreds of five-dollar hats brought here and sold, that are good for
nothing in the world. They have no strength about them. The
manufacturers of these hats pick up old cloth that is rotten and good
for nothing, and make hats of it, and the result is that the
hats brought here have very little wear in them. They may look decent
to begin with, but after being worn a few times they are shapeless and
worthless. Let us go to work and make them for ourselves and save this
expense. If we do this, we are wise; if we do it not, we are foolish.
We heard Brother Taylor's exposition of what is called Socialism this
morning. What can they do? Live on each other and beg. It is a poor,
unwise and very imbecile people who cannot take care of themselves.
Well, we, in the providences of God, are forced to do a great many
things that are very advantageous to us. Let us observe the Word of
Wisdom, and also begin and manufacture our clothing. We are doing a
good deal now, but let us do more. I have learned one fact that is
very gratifying: A few years ago when we commenced our little
factories here we could obtain no wool—the sheep were not taken care
of. As soon as we commenced to manufacture cloth and to distribute it
among the people, taking their wool in exchange, we found that the
wool increased; and this season, if we had had the factory, in course
of construction at Provo, finished, the supply of wool would have been
so great that the factory would have been overstocked. Some idea may
be formed of the great increase in the supply of wool when I state
that the Provo factory, when running, will be capable of making
perhaps ten or twelve hundred yards of cloth per day. This is
pleasing. Let us get factories built. I find they are building South,
and they are preparing to build North; and pretty soon you will see
the brethren, as a general thing, dressed in homemade.
Some here are thinking, probably: "Brigham, why don't you dress in
homemade?" I do. "Well, have you got it on today?" No, but I want
to
wear out, if I can, what I have on hand. I give away a suit every
little while, and I would like to give some more away if I could find
anybody my clothes would fit. I travel in homemade and wear it at
home. As for fashion, it does not trouble me, my fashion is
convenience and comfort. The most comfortable coat that a man can wear
in my opinion is what the old Yankees and Eastern and Southern people
call a "warmus." Some of the people here know what I mean; it is
something between an overshirt and a blouse, buttons round the neck
and wrists. I have worked in one many a day. If I introduce the
fashion of wearing them here who will follow it? I expect a good many
would. I recollect that I wore one when Colonel Kane was here. Said
he, "I am gratified to see that you do not ask any odds about the
fashions, you have one of your own." My feelings then, as now, were,
whatever in Brother Brigham's judgment is comfortable and comely is
the fashion with him, and he cares nothing about the fashions of the
world. There is a style of pantaloons very generally worn, about which
I would say something if there were no ladies here. When I first saw
them I gave them a name. I never wore them; I consider them uncomely
and indecent. But why is it that they are worn so generally by others?
Because they are fashionable. If it were the fashion to go with them
unbuttoned I expect you would see plenty of our Elders wearing them
unbuttoned. This shows the power that fashion exerts over the majority
of minds. You may see it in the theater; if you had attended ours
recently you might have seen that that was not comely; you might have
seen Mazeppa ride, with but a very small amount of clothing on.
In New York I am told it is much worse. I heard a gentleman say that a
full dress for Mazeppa there was one Government stamp. I do not know
whether it is so or not. Fashion has great influence everywhere, Salt
Lake not excepted. No matter how ridiculous, the fashions must be
followed. If it be for the ladies to have their dresses to drag along
the streets, or so short that they show their garters, we see it here;
the same is true if they are sixteen or twenty-four feet round, or so
tight that they can hardly walk. A great many seem to regard and
follow fashion, with all its follies and vagaries, far more fervently
than duty. How foolish is such a course. I have talked long enough.
God bless you.