It is extremely difficult to speak to a congregation so large as this,
and I therefore request that as good order as possible may be
maintained, because it is almost impossible for the human voice to
encompass so large a congregation as the one assembled here today.
We all of us have an object in assembling together as we have done on
this conference occasion. I speak now to Latter-day Saints, as it is
to them I purpose to address my remarks this afternoon. We do not
always understand the influences by which we are operated upon; but
nevertheless there are certain principles at work in this generation
which move upon the minds of the human family, and which lead them to
reflect and study more or less, according to the circumstances
surrounding them and the positions they occupy. We, the Latter-day
Saints, stand in a different relationship to the Almighty from any
other people that exist on the face of the earth. The principles that
we have received emanated not from man, nor from the wisdom,
intelligence or philosophy of man; we believe that they proceeded from
God. That is our universal belief; it is the faith of every good
Latter-day Saint. None of us, previous to the Lord manifesting his
will, knew anything about the laws of God. We did not know anything
about God; we were not acquainted with anybody who could give us
information in relation to him, and we are indebted to revelation from
him for all the intelligence that we have that is true in regard to
ourselves, the world in which we live, the people who have lived
before us, and those who will live after us; also in regard to God the
Father, and Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant. We had certain
vague, indistinct ideas about these things before, but we had nothing
real, tangible or reliable. Nor is it out of any consideration,
particularly, to ourselves personally, that these things are made
manifest. God has certain purposes to accomplish, pertaining to the
world in which we live, in which the interests and happiness of the
human family are concerned, to those who live in the world today, to
those who have lived in other ages and dispensations, back to the time of Adam, and also forward, to the latest generation of time,
to the last man who shall be born upon earth. The ancient Patriarchs
and Prophets, men of God who basked in the light of revelation, and
comprehended the mind of Jehovah, and who held the everlasting
Priesthood and enjoyed the Gospel as we enjoy it; all these together
with God our heavenly Father and all the angelic hosts, are interested
in the work that the Father has commenced in these last days; and
hence a revelation was made unto Joseph Smith. Holy angels of God
appeared to him and communicated to him the mind and will of Jehovah,
as a chosen messenger to introduce the dispensation of the fullness of
times, wherein all heaven and all that have ever dwelt on the earth
are concerned and interested. He did not reveal himself, particularly,
because of Joseph Smith, individually, nor because of any other
individual man, nor for the peculiar interest, emolument or
aggrandizement of any set of men; but for the purpose of introducing
certain principles that it was necessary that the world of mankind
should be made acquainted with; in fact, it was for the purpose of
introducing what we call the Church and kingdom of God on the earth,
in which all who have ever lived or who ever will live upon this globe
are interested.
The Gospel that we talk of, although it may be a personal thing, yet
at the same time is as high as the heavens, wide as the universe and
deep as hell. It permeates through all time, and extends to all
people, both living and dead. We talk sometimes about the Church of
God, and why? We talk about the kingdom of God, and why? Because,
before there could be a kingdom of God, there must be a Church of God,
and hence the first principles of the Gospel were needed to be
preached to all nations, as they were formerly when the Lord Jesus
Christ and others made their appearance on the earth. And why so?
Because of the impossibility of introducing the law of God among a
people who would not be subject to and be guided by the spirit of
revelation. Hence the world have generally made great mistakes upon
these points. They have started various projects to try to unite and
cement the people together without God; but they could not do it.
Fourierism, Communism—another branch of the same thing—and many other
principles of the same kind have been introduced to try and cement the
human family together. And then we have had peace societies, based
upon the same principles; but all these things have failed, and they
will fail, because, however philanthropic, humanitarian, benevolent,
or cosmopolitan our ideas, it is impossible to produce a true and
correct union without the Spirit of the living God, and that Spirit
can only be imparted through the ordinances of the Gospel; and hence
Jesus told his disciples to go and preach the Gospel to every
creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, and said he—"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end." It was
by this cementing, uniting spirit, that true sympathetic, fraternal
relations could be introduced and enjoyed.
When John was on the Isle of Patmos he had a remarkable vision
pertaining to many things, and said he—"I saw a mighty angel flying in
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those
who dwell on the earth, to every nation and kindred and people and
tongue, crying with a loud voice—'Fear God, and give glory to
him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him who
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'"
Joseph Smith had this communication made to him, together with the
light of the Gospel, and had conferred upon him the keys of the holy
Priesthood, with power to administer therein and to ordain others to
the same ministry. And he, himself, was baptized as Jesus was
baptized, and he baptized others, and they others, and they then laid
their hands upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and they
received it. And then, by the inspiration of the Almighty, they were
directed to gather together, which they have done. And how many of you
who are hearing me today hardly knew the reason why you gathered
together? But you had a feeling, a burning desire in your hearts to
mingle with the Saints of God. The Scriptures say—"I will take them
one of a city and two of a family and bring them to Zion; and I will
give them pastors after my own heart, that shall feed them with
knowledge and with understanding."
In accordance with these principles the Elders of Israel went forth,
as you have heard here during this Conference, not in their own name,
nor in their own strength, nor by their own wisdom; but in the name
and strength and power of Jehovah, and as his chosen messengers to
administer life and salvation to a fallen world. And God went with
them, and his holy angels accompanied them; and the Spirit and power
of God were with them; and the words that they spake they spake not of
themselves but as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And God
worked with them and the truth came to your hearts and you received it
and rejoiced therein. God had a people scattered abroad among the
nations of the earth, and his Priesthood were instrumental in his
hands in gathering that people together; and in these days as in days
of old, Jesus said—"My sheep hear my voice, and know it and follow me,
and a stranger will they not follow, because they know not the voice
of a stranger."
Here then, God was desirous of introducing his kingdom upon the earth,
and he had in the first place, to organize his Church, to organize the
people that he had scattered among the nations and to bring them
together, that there might be one fold and one shepherd, and one Lord,
one faith and one baptism, and one God, who should be in all and
through all, and by which all should be governed. To facilitate this
object he organized his holy Priesthood as it existed in the heavens,
and he gave a pattern of these things, just as much as he did in the
days of Moses, only more so. God said to Moses—"See that thou make all
things according to the pattern that I showed thee in the mount." God
said to Joseph—"See that thou organize this Church according to the
pattern that I have showed thee." And he placed in his Church
Presidents, Apostles, Patriarchs, Seventies, High Priests, Bishops,
Priests, Teachers, Deacons, Bishops' Councils and High Councils, and
other organizations which God had developed and given to his
Priesthood; and hence, when the angel came which is mentioned by John
on Patmos, he restored the Gospel as it existed with Adam, and with
Enoch, and with Seth, and with Methuselah, and with Noah and
Melchizedek, and with Abraham, with the Prophets, and with the
Apostles and Jesus, whether on the Continent of Asia, on this
continent, or anywhere else; and this people who possess this
Priesthood and the authority from God to administer therein,
when they get behind the veil they will enter again into the office of
their calling and will be united with their several Priesthoods there,
for the Priesthood on this and on the other side of the veil are parts
of the same eternal system; and hence with a people like this in
possession of the Priesthood, and enjoying the revelations of heaven,
God could communicate and, through them, could reveal his will to the
human family, but not to a people who would not listen to his laws and
obey his precepts.
This Priesthood was held by John the revelator, by Peter, by Moroni,
one of the Prophets of God on this continent. Nephi, another of the
servants of God on this continent, had the Gospel with its keys and
powers revealed unto him. We know that these things were so, and we do
not profess to argue them, for we all know it. We read that Moses and
Elias appeared to Jesus and his disciples on the mount, and Jesus was
transfigured before them. Who were Moses and Elias? They were Prophets
of the living God who held the Gospel and the Priesthood in former
days, and they were sent to administer to Jesus and to Peter, James
and John on the mount.
We also learn that when John was upon the Isle of Patmos, the visions
of heaven were unfolded to his view, and a great and mighty angel
stood before him and showed to him many great and important things
pertaining to the future; and John fell down to worship him. But said
he—"Hold! Do not worship me." "Why? Who are you?"
"I am one of thy
fellowservants the Prophets, who kept the testimony of Jesus and the
word of God. Do not worship me, I am one of those who held the
Priesthood in time and now I am administering in eternity, and have
come forth as a messenger of the Lord to thee."
It was precisely in this way that Joseph Smith was administered unto,
and by the same kind of messengers, who held the same kind of
authority; and they came to introduce and usher in the dispensation of
the fullness of times, that all things that are in Christ might be
gathered together in one, whether they be things in the earth or
things in the heavens. This was done that God's people might be
gathered in one, that God's word might be gathered in one, that's
God's Priesthood might be gathered in one, and that all in Christ on
earth might be united by indissoluble ties with the Priesthood that
exists in heaven, that they all might operate together for the
accomplishment of the purposes of God on the earth. Hence it is said
that "we without them cannot be made perfect, and that they without
us cannot be made perfect;" a perfect union between heaven and earth
was needed. Under such circumstances what did we do? What could we do?
What intelligence were we in possession of, in and of ourselves? Who
among us knew the first principles of the doctrine of Christ? Not a
man living understood them correctly, and we are indebted to God for
our intelligence in relation to these things. Who knew anything about
the organization of the Church of God? Nobody. Was there any such
thing in existence on the face of the earth? You might have searched
for it, but it would have been in vain, it could not have been found.
There were the systems, creeds and notions of men, but nobody to say,
"Thus saith the Lord." No prophecy, no inspiration, no manifestations
of the power of God. Who knew anything about the necessity of
Presidents or Apostles? Nobody. Who knew what an Apostle was?
Nobody. Who knew what a High Priest or a Seventy was? Nobody. Who knew
what an Elder was in the true acceptation of the term? Nobody; neither
was there anybody who knew anything about the office of a Bishop,
Priest, Teacher or Deacon, or about the functions of a High Council or
a Bishop's Council, or any of the ordinances of the Church of God. Who
knew anything about the relation of man to man or of man to woman?
Nobody. Who knew anything about the relationship that exists between
man and God? Nobody. Who knew anything about the eternities that are
to come? Nobody. It was God who revealed these things. Joseph Smith
did not know them, neither did Brigham Young, the Apostles, nor
anybody else until God revealed them, and we are indebted to him for
all the light, knowledge and intelligence that we possess in regard to
the heavens and the earth, in regard to the God who made us and the
mode of worshiping him acceptably.
Now then, we are here; we have these various organizations. The
Twelve, for instance, have various duties and responsibilities
devolving upon them under the direction of the First Presidency. Then
there are the Seventies, who are to be special messengers to the
nations of the earth, to go forth in the name of Israel's God, clothed
upon with his power to administer life and salvation, and to teach the
people the principles of truth under the direction of the Twelve,
whose duty it is also to administer these principles, and see that
this Gospel is sent to all peoples; and hence the necessity that is
felt by them and by the First Presidency in relation to carrying these
things out.
And let me say a little farther on a subject that I before referred
to, that is, that God could not build up a kingdom on the earth unless
he had a Church, and a people who had submitted to his law and were
willing to submit to it; and with an organization of such a people,
gathered from among the nations of the earth under the direction of a
man inspired of God, the mouthpiece of Jehovah to his people; I say
that, with such an organization, there is a chance for the Lord God to
be revealed, there is an opportunity for the laws of life to be made
manifest, there is a chance for God to introduce the principles of
heaven upon the earth and for the will of God to be done upon earth as
it is done in heaven. God could never establish his kingdom upon the
earth unless he had a people who would submit themselves to his laws
and government; but with such a people he could communicate, to such a
people the heavens could be opened; to such a people the angels of God
could administer; and among them the will of God could be done upon
earth as it is done in heaven, and among no others, and that is why we
are here. Says the Prophet—"I will take them one of a city and two of
a family and bring them to Zion." What will you do with them? "I will
give them pastors after my own heart, that shall feed them with
knowledge and understanding;" that they may be acquainted with each
other and with their various duties and responsibilities; that they
may be instructed in the laws of the holy priesthood, and be prepared,
eventually, to join their quorums in the celestial kingdom of God, and
that the people may be instructed in the laws of life. Hence our
marriage ceremonies, relationships and covenants are among the
principles of the Gospel, and they are eternal; they existed with God
in eternity, and will exist throughout all the eter nities that
are to come. God has shown us, in regard to our marital relations,
that our wives are to be sealed to us for time and eternity. By what
authority? By the authority of that holy Priesthood that administers
on the earth and in heaven, and of which Jesus said that whatever they
should bind on earth should be bound in heaven, and whatsoever they
should loose on earth should be loosed in heaven; and these
relationships that exist among us here are calculated to be
consummated there, and men and women who understand their true
position expect to enjoy each other's society and association there,
as much as they do in their own homes here, just the same. And though
they may sleep in the dust, yet, by the power of the resurrection,
which you have heard of at this Conference, when the trump shall sound
and the dead in Christ shall rise, they will burst the barriers of the
tomb and come forth, each and all claiming their proper mates—those
with whom they were associated on the earth—through eternity. This is
the way we regard our marriage covenants, no matter what other people
say about it, this is our business, and we shall do it and keep on
doing forever and ever while God lets us live, because it is the word
of God to us, and in spite of all the powers of earth and hell we
shall never give way in regard to our marriage principles, for they
are eternal; and so with regard to every other principle of the
Gospel. This is why we have come together to help to build up the
kingdom and government of God upon the earth. An earthly government if
you please, and a heavenly government if you please. But no man nor
set of men are capable of introducing principles of this kind unless
God is with them and stands by them; and the first Elders of this
Church never could have done what they did without the power of God
being with them and accompanying them, and God's mercy being extended
to them. And they could not today.
Men have strange ideas about the Mormons. Why? Because unless they are
born of water they cannot see the kingdom of God; that is what Jesus
said, and that is why people fail to understand us. But we, who have
been baptized and enlightened by the Spirit of God, can see his
kingdom. We know it, we comprehend it in part, but only in part. What
is the result of all this Priesthood—the First Presidency, the Twelve,
the Seventies, the High Priests, Elders, Bishops, Priests, Teachers
and Deacons? All of them profess to be under the direction of the
Almighty, and if they are not, they are living hypocrites before God
and holy angels; for these are the covenants they have entered into,
and these are the ordinations they have received.
We see something strange in connection with us as a people—the world
follows us, and too many of us follow after the world. Can the world
give you the light that you have received, and the Gospel and the
hopes of heaven you have received, and the Priesthood you have
received? And will you barter these things for a mess of pottage, and
wallow in the filth, corruption, iniquity, and evils which abound in
the world? What have we come here for? To worship God and to keep his
commandments. And how is it with many of us? We forget, in many
instances, our high calling's glorious hope, and we give way to
follies, foibles, weakness, and iniquity, and we are governed more or
less by covetousness, drunkenness, Sabbath breaking, and evils of
various kinds. I sometimes see Elders of Israel bringing in
loads of wood and loads of hay on the Sabbath day. Why, it is a
burning shame in the eyes of God, holy angels, and all other
intelligent beings. If such men had lived under the law of ancient
Israel, they would have been put to death. Do you know that? Go and
read it in your Bibles. What do you think about a lying Elder, a
swearing High Priest, a Sabbath-breaking Seventy, and a covetous
Saint? The souls of such men ought to be inspired with the light of
revelation, and they ought to be living witnesses, epistles known and
read of all men! Do you think you can live your religion, have the
Spirit of God and obtain eternal life, and follow after these things?
I tell you nay. It was said of olden time—"Love not the world, nor the
things that are in the world; for if any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him." That is as true today as it was
eighteen hundred years ago. It is proper that we, as Elders of Israel,
and as heads of families, should reflect upon these things, for in
many instances we are setting examples before our children that will
tend to plunge them to perdition. Is this what we are gathered here
for? I tell you nay, we are gathered here to serve God and keep his
commandments, and to build up his Zion upon the earth.
After praying for years that God would inspire his servant Brigham
with the Spirit of revelation, that he might be able to lead forth
Israel in the path in which they should go, he tells us to be one, as
Jesus told his disciples; he tells us to enter into a united order,
that God has revealed it, that we are to be one in spiritual things,
and one in temporal things, to be united together in all principles,
as the Saints of God have been wherever they have existed. But our
Elders can't see it, and many of our Bishop's can't see it, and many
High Priests and Seventies can't see it. Why? Because the Bridegroom
has tarried, and we have all slumbered and slept, and in many
instances we have sinned against God, and our lamps have gone out,
that is the matter, and we have lost the light, and intelligence, and
revelation, and quickening influence of the living God. If we were
living our religion and keeping the commandments of God, we should
feel and act differently; we should then know of the doctrine. Jesus
said—"If any man does my will he shall know of the doctrine, whether
it be of God or whether I speak of myself."
What is the matter, you High Priests, you Seventies, you Bishops and
others? You are not doing the will of God, and you do not know of the
doctrine, that is the matter; and yet we are living in the blaze of
Gospel day, surrounded by Prophets, Apostles, Patriarchs, and men of
God. Is it not time that we humbled ourselves? Is it not time that we
repented of our sins? Is it not time that we forsook our iniquities?
Is it not time that we went back to the first principles, and began to
consider our ways, and to walk in the light of truth? That is the way
that I understand it, and hence the necessity of the Elders of Israel,
the President of the Church, of the Twelve, and of all men who are
inspired by the light of truth and the light of revelation, to stir up
the members of the Church generally to good works. They see Israel
wandering away after strange gods, forsaking the fountain of living
water, and "hewing out to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that
can hold no water;" and hence the necessity of Apostles and Prophets
for the per fecting of the Saints and the work of the ministry,
and the edifying of the body of Christ. How is it among many of our
quorums? Perfectly dead, dumb, and lifeless, without the light, and
life, and power of the living God among them; and Elders of Israel,
clothed upon with the Holy Priesthood, expect when they get through,
to associate with the Gods in the eternal worlds. How is it? It is
time for us to reflect and to think upon our situation, and to
consider our ways and be wise. What do you want to do? Do you want to
get up some excitement? No, we want to bring you back to the first
principles of the Gospel of Christ. Do you want us to be baptized? Not
particularly, unless, as stated by President Young, you repent of your
sins and your iniquities and your lying, and your deceiving and your
Sabbath breaking, and your covetousness and your hypocrisy, and repent
of your speaking against the anointed of God; not unless you are
willing to be governed by the Holy Priesthood in all things pertaining
to this world and the next, pertaining to time and eternity. If you
can't do this, don't be baptized; it will be better for you not to be.
Well, are all in this condition? No, no, there are more than "seven
thousand who have not yet bowed the knee to Baal;" there are more than
seven thousand who are seeking to do right, to live their religion,
and to keep the commandments of God. I say, then, repent of your
iniquities, do your first works, live your religion, keep the
commandments of God; let every man do right and depart from evil. If
any man has sinned against his brother, let him make it right
honestly, and squarely, and truly, and not hypocritically; and let us
do everything with honesty of heart, and seek to God, and humble
ourselves before him, and live our religion, and God will pour
blessings upon us that we shall not find room to contain. His Zion
will rise and shine, and the glory of God will rest upon her, the
principles of truth will spread on the right hand and on the left, and
the mercy of God will be extended unto his people.
May God help us to fear him and keep his commandments, in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.