I have been pleased and interested by the remarks of brother Staines.
He has been very diligent and indefatigable in looking after the
interests of the Saints who have been emigrating to this place for
many years. I pray that God will continue to bless him, that he yet
may be made instrumental in guarding the interests and cheering the
hearts of the Saints of God for years to come. This gathering is part
of the work we Saints are engaged in. There are associated with this
labor some ideas that are rather peculiar. There are many things in
the Scriptures very strange and remarkable to men who are not inspired
with the spirit by which these principles were inculcated.
The Lord in one place says by his Prophet, "Gather my Saints together,
those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." There is
another passage of a similar kind, spoken by another Prophet, "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 will feed them
with knowledge and understanding." There are many similar prophecies
in the Scriptures, pointing out the day in which we live. But men pass
lightly over them, as they do over many other things of great
importance to the human family.
But there certainly is a significance in these expressions. If these
events have not already transpired, they certainly will yet come to
pass. If God has said he would take one of a city and two of a family
and gather them to Zion and give them pastors to feed them, there must
be a time when these things will be accomplished. Among other things
communicated to Joseph Smith was that the people were to gather
together, and there is a general impulse and feeling of this kind
prevalent among this people. They scarcely know by what influence they
are dictated and controlled, nevertheless this feeling is among the
Saints in foreign lands as well as here. The feeling there is a strong
impulse and desire to come here, while in this place there is a desire
to help them to come. Hence the feeling is reciprocal and a part of
the Gospel, a little of that leaven which Jesus referred to in his
day, which "leaveneth the whole lump." As regards the ideas men may
entertain about this thing it is a matter of very little
importance to us. It is sufficient for us to know the principles which
God has revealed. The world has no means of knowing this, and the
Saints only know by obedience to the Gospel. Brother Staines referred
to the time when it first became a matter of concern to him to know
whether the principles of the Gospel were true or not. This same
feeling has been experienced by many of the Latter-day Saints, and
they solved the question by a doctrine of Christ, which the world
never seem to reflect upon. Jesus said, "If any man will do his will
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I
speak of myself." There is something so broad and comprehensive, yet
so individually personal, in the principle here involved, that though
this mode of knowing is open to all, yet each individual must feel and
realize for himself. There is another scripture bearing on this point,
"He that believeth hath the witness in himself," and another says,
"The Spirit of God takes of the things of the Father, and shows them
unto us." Again, another says, We have a hope that enters behind the
veil, where Christ, our forerunner, has gone. Another, "We know," not
we think we know, "if the earthly house of this tabernacle be
destroyed, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens." There is something so definite to all men who
are in possession of these principles of the Gospel, that it may well
be said, "Life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel."
I might go on quoting Scripture, but this is the Gospel Jesus taught
his disciples, and when he was on this continent he taught the same
doctrines and principles and put the believers in possession of the
same certainty. There is something very satisfying in relation to
these matters. It is not with the faithful Saint a matter of any
importance what man may think about him; his religion is to him a
personal matter in which he is individually interested. No philosophy,
no worldly wisdom can impart a knowledge of the plan of salvation.
This knowledge is not to be obtained except through obedience to the
principles which God has revealed. But having partaken of the light
and intelligence communicated by the Almighty through obedience to the
Gospel of the Son of God, the result is the same now as in former
times. Such a man has the witness planted in himself, as Paul said,
"Now we are sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be,
but, when he who is our life shall appear, then we shall be like unto
him, for we shall see him as he is." We shall "be transformed to his
glorious image." This, then, is the hope and certainty of the Gospel,
the reward of every true believer, and hence it is a personal thing.
It is no use presenting to men of this kind the nonsense comprising
the religions of the day; it is lost labor to try and turn a body of
men from principles like those, such as God revealed personally to
them, their souls have been lit up and fired by eternal intelligence,
and it is impossible to eradicate this evidence and certainty from a
body of men thus led and directed. God knew this when he commenced
this work.
Men have had their varied social communities, religious and other
theories; but they do not know the secret springs of the human heart.
They do not know the operations of the spirit of the living God. They
cannot bind a conglomerate mass of men sufficiently together, they
will not where they cannot amalgamate them. Nothing less than
the inspiration of the Almighty will do it. They have tried it in
various nations with varied success, but they never have accomplished
it and they never will. Hence we are brought back to where we started,
the necessity of sending forth the Gospel. Jesus said, "My sheep hear
my voice and know me and follow me. A stranger they will not follow,
for they know not the voice of a stranger." In the commencement of
this work the Lord, knowing the material required, raised up his
servant Joseph Smith, inspired by his spirit, power and authority, to
proclaim the Gospel of the Son of God, to administer in the ordinances
thereof, and unite those that were willing to make covenant with the
Lord by sacrifice, those that would lay aside their traditions and
keep his commandments. This was what the Lord wished; not to gather up
a promiscuous crowd, but those who would receive the Gospel. "I will
take them one of a city and two of a family and bring them to Zion,"
says the Lord, and give them pastors after my own heart, that will
feed them with knowledge and understanding, not with false philosophy,
but with knowledge emanating from God; men who will manifest the will
of God and carry out his designs, teaching the people his law.
The world think they can learn the law and will of God at the
theological and other schools, and seminaries; but they never did and
they never will learn God or his purposes in this way. God wishes to
establish his kingdom in our day, and he will establish it by his own
power, in his own way.
The Prophet speaks of a stone that should be cut out of the mountain
without hands, which will roll forth and smite the great image, become
a mountain and fill the whole earth. This will be done by Israel's
God, and no power or government, not all the power of earth and hell
combined, can stay its progress. This is the work of God, not of man.
It is not by this man nor that man that this will be brought about. It
is by the power of Jehovah. No other power can accomplish these
things. He makes use of men to accomplish certain objects he has in
view, and will bring about his purposes in his own way and when it
pleases him. But we talk sometimes a good deal about Joseph Smith. Who
was Joseph Smith? An unlettered youth. Could he do anything to
accomplish these things? Not unless God had revealed it to him. He
asked wisdom of God and received it. Till that time he knew no more
about these things than you or I. It was God and God alone that did
these things. "He can take the weak things of this earth, the base
things and the things that are not, to bring to naught the things that
are, that no flesh may glory in his presence." He took Joseph. Why?
Because the time had come to begin a work, in which all the holy
Priesthood of God that had lived in former ages were concerned. Joseph
was the honored instrument chosen to take the initiative. Who knew
that this time had come? No one. The religious world were as divided
then as they are today. All kinds of opposing doctrines and dogmas
were promulgated. "When the Lord shall bring again Zion, the watchmen
shall see eye to eye." But when men are governed by their own notions,
what do they see of the things of God? Nothing. Who originated the
doctrines of this Latter-day work? Who organized this Church? I have
read that in former times. God placed in the Church, first Apostles,
secondarily Prophets, afterwards Pastors, Teachers,
Evangelists, for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Who knew anything of
this? God told Joseph to organize a Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and he
did it. He told him how to organize a First Presidency, and he did
it. God told him how to organize the Aaronic and Melchizedek
Priesthood, and he did it. Who knew anything of this? No one. They had
a Babel of confusion everywhere, without certainty or true
intelligence. We read that there were Seventies. Who knew anything
what a Seventy was? Joseph was told to organize Quorums of Seventy,
and he did it. He was told to organize a High Priests' Quorum. He was
told what their duties were. Did Joseph himself know anything of all
this? Not till he was told. He was told to ordain Bishops. All kinds
of notions were entertained about the position and duties of a Bishop.
I remember talking to an English nobleman, I think it was Earl
Roseberry. Said I to him, "Allow me to introduce to your lordship
Edward Hunter, our presiding Bishop. You have your Bishops in England,
and they are called lords spiritual; this is our lord temporal, and
looks after our bread and cheese." What did anyone know of the office
and duties of Deacon, Teacher, Priest, or Elder? Nothing. Who knows
anything about the building of Temples? No one, not even the Jews;
they do not know fully what they were for. God has revealed it to his
Priesthood. The relationship of man and wife—who knows anything about
this? No one. The sectarian priest will get up with a solemn visage
and pronounce a pair to be husband and wife till death. I say from
such folly good Lord deliver me; but the Lord has delivered me through
the Gospel. God raised up Joseph, and made use of him to reveal this
knowledge, and we have to be directed by God alone. He placed in his
Church in days of old Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, etc., for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of Christ's body, till we all come
to the unity of the faith, to the knowledge of the Son of God. All
those officers disappeared years and years ago, but God has restored
the ancient organizations of his Priesthood on earth—Apostles, High
Priests, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons. He has
restored Bishops and their councils, and high councils, for the
accomplishment of his purposes. He first institutes baptism for the
remission of sins, then the laying on of hands for the gift of the
Holy Ghost, the gathering of the people, then the building of Temples.
Witness our Temple here, and the one at St. George; and many others.
God must dictate. We must be willing to carry out his instructions,
united as one body, with feelings of sympathetic kindness and
brotherhood, associated in our family capacities, our quorum
capacities, associated with the Church triumphant, with the men of God
who have lived in former years, without whom we cannot be made
perfect, nor they without us. If diligent and faithful in these
things, it will be well with us. Eternal life is within our reach, and
it is for Apostles, High Priests, Seventies, Bishops, and all that
pertain to the Church of God to rise up and do their duty, perform
their obligations to the Most High; and I pray that our path may be
like that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter till the
perfect day.