It is very gratifying to my feelings this morning, my brethren and
sisters, to have the privilege of meeting with you in the capacity of
a General Conference. I have not spoken much in public of late, in
consequence of being, for the last six weeks, considerably afflicted,
and confined to my room, and a good portion of the time to my bed. I
do not feel like entering into any special or particular subject; but
I rejoice in the opportunity of mingling and associating with my
friends. We are separated for some six months in the year, and when we
come toge ther and meet with our co-laborers, it is joyful to look upon
their countenances. I rejoice in this opportunity of meeting with my
brethren of the Twelve and the First Presidency, and beholding them
mostly in the enjoyment of good health.
We have been endeavoring now, for more than forty years, to establish
the kingdom of God and bearing our testimony to the nations of the
earth. I, for one, do not know how much longer my voice may be heard
among the living, but I rejoice in the opportunity of bearing
testimony to the truth whenever strength will permit and
opportunity offer. I take occasion to say to my brethren and sisters,
this morning, that as the time is drawing near the cause seems more
and more precious to me. It is part of myself, and myself, I trust, a
part of it. I rejoice in saying that I know this is the everlasting
Gospel, the truth of Heaven. Having experienced it for more than forty
years, I know it is true and faithful, and no man can impeach my
testimony. Not because there is so much sterling worth in me, as there
is in the cause that I feebly advocate. It is true I lived in the days
of the martyred Prophet. I was associated with him, and bore my
testimony with him, and I feel no less like bearing my testimony this
morning.
I want to say a few words in relation to the place whence I came, and
where I mostly labor. We have had some affliction there, in the shape
of small pox. There have been many cases of that disease, but it was
of a mild type, and I am happy to say that it has nearly left us, and
we are again comparatively free. But we have been afflicted with a
disease that is much more to be dreaded than the small pox, and which
we have generally called "spotted fever." The small pox is no more to
be compared to that disease than the bite of a flea or mosquito is to
the bite of a rattlesnake. There have been about sixteen deaths,
mostly children, from spotted fever, and there are some half dozen
cases yet remaining, but no new ones. They have lingered for ten or
twelve weeks, and they, apparently, can neither live nor die, and are
mere skeletons. I feel sorry to see children, who should grow up and
develop an intellect and a power equal if not superior to any that now
live, thus afflicted; and to see them cut down in the morning of their
ex istence grieves me very much. But the word of the Lord unto us has
declared that scourges in the shape of sickness shall be sent forth,
beginning first at his house, and from thence they shall spread and
make the nations quake.
We are living, my brethren and sisters, in an important period of
time, and when I read over the testimony of the martyred Prophet, and
the word of the Lord through him, it seems that in comparing the signs
of the times at present with his testimony, there would be ample
evidence to convince any rational being that God, our heavenly Father,
sent him. I read of disasters by sea and by land. I read of a receding
from the principles of honesty, and that great men go into wild
speculations and dishonesty, and involve the country in ruin unless
there be a speedy arresting of their course. The murders that are
committed at the present time, show to me that the word of the Lord is
true where he declares through the Prophet, "My Spirit shall not
always strive with man." As the Spirit of the Lord forsakes the
people, bloodshed, corruption, confusion and anarchy must follow, and
all these are increasing in our country. I cannot take up a paper
without seeing the fulfillment of some of the sayings of our martyred
Prophet, and of our brethren who are sitting behind me, on this stand.
And what power is there that can arrest the course of evil? There is
nothing but genuine repentance and obeying the everlasting Gospel.
That is the only remedy that Heaven has provided; the only fountain of
life and salvation for the nations exists among these poor, despised
Mormons, and I know it. Brethren and sisters, I rejoice in the Lord
our God, that he has moved graciously in favor of the Latter-day Saints; and inasmuch as we will forsake all evil and cleave
unto him we shall find that his words unto us will be fulfilled, where
he declares, "I will fight your battles." I would rather live near to
God and serve him with all my heart and soul, might, mind and
strength, than fight my own battles. If the Lord will fight our
battles there can be no treason in that, he is too high for treason to
attach to him. He is beyond the reach of the power of this world and
he can hurl his storms and blast the prospects of the most sanguine,
and accomplish wonders, and none can stay his hand or say—"What doest
thou?" The increase, in a thousand forms, of evils, accidents, and
calamities through our land and the nations of the earth should
admonish us to live near to the Lord our God, to remember our prayers,
and the obligations we are under to the Most High, and to seek with
all our hearts to discharge them with fidelity. Those who have held
fast to the iron rod, and have remembered their God, Savior and
prayers, feel to thank God, and to praise his holy name that they have
endured. Let that feeling ever fill your hearts, and may the peace of
God rest upon Israel, and confusion come upon them that seek to
destroy the best and choicest principles that heaven ever revealed to
man.
I was thankful to hear the definition and distinction, given yesterday
by the President, of the words "enemies" and "friends" of mankind. It
was true and faithful. He is my friend who is the friend of truth and
humanity; he is my enemy who seeks to trample under foot the truth of
heaven and those who are striving earnestly to serve the Lord.
Brethren and sisters, be faith ful to him who has called you and from
whom you have derived every blessing you possess today. Remember our
brethren and sisters who are scattered and are anxious for
deliverance. Strikes have been inaugurated in various portions of the
old world, and thousands of people are out of employment in
consequence thereof. Similar operations are threatened in our own
country, and they are likely to seriously affect the welfare and
interest of the nation. In what shape troubles may come I do not know,
but it will be a wonder to me if bloodshed does not result. Well did
the angel say, forty-five years ago, "Come out of her, my people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues." This is the reason why the Saints are gathering from the
countries of their nativity. Yet when the people see the Saints
gathering they frequently say, "What folly, what folly!" Go to the
fowls of heaven and learn a lesson. When you see the fowls, in the
fall of the year, going to the south, creeping as they go, you say
that winter is nigh; so when you see the Saints gathering together,
remember that disaster awaits the countries they are leaving. God has
declared it, and his arm is sufficiently potent to fulfill his words.
I rejoice in the truth, and I bear my testimony, today, before you,
that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the true and living God. I bear my
testimony that brother Brigham Young, the President of the Church here
in Zion, is a man of God, and that he is carrying on the work that
Joseph Smith began. When we came here how was it with us? We had
nothing but a few worn-down teams and a few old wagons, very much
demoralized. They were so in the start, because we could not
get any other kind. But when we got through here, having brought seed,
provisions, and implements such as we could command, our case was a
pitiful one. But the Lord has had mercy on us and he has blessed us,
and now we are beyond the reach of present want. I am thankful that
all this has been brought about under the administration of our
present honored President, and the world is trying to kill him and
those who sustain and uphold him. It is a great warfare, it is a great
wrestling; but I am aware how it will come out. It will be with the
enemies and opposers of God and truth as it was with the Irishman who,
as he was crossing over a bridge, saw the moon in the stream, and
believing it to be a cheese, he said to his companion—"Let us go down
and get that cheese." Well, one held on to the railing of the bridge
and the other slipped down and hung to his heels, thinking that he
would reach down and obtain the cheese. By and by, says the one that
was holding to the bridge to his friend below—"Pat, hold fast below
till I spit in my hands above," and down they went. That is the way
the contest between the world and "Mormonism" will terminate—while
they are saying, "Hold fast below till I spit in my hands above,"
crash goes the whole concern.
Brethren and sisters, God bless you, Amen.