I cannot consent in my feelings to retire from this house without
exercising my strength, the strength of my lungs, stomach and speaking
organs, in speaking to this people. I hardly dare say what is in my
heart to say to this people. Perhaps it would not be prudent, but I
will say a few encouraging things to the Latter-day Saints, that is,
they ought to be encouraging. We that are here are enjoying a
privilege that we have no knowledge of any other people enjoying since
the days of Adam, that is, to have a Temple completed, wherein all the
ordinance of the house of God can be bestowed upon his people.
Brethren and sisters, do you understand this? It seems that a great
many of the people know nothing about it. It is true that Solomon
built a Temple for the purpose of giving endowments, but from what we
can learn of the history of that time they gave very few if any
endowments, and one of the high priests was murdered by wicked and
corrupt men, who had already begun to apostatize, because he would not
reveal those things appertaining to the Priesthood that were forbidden
him to reveal until he came to the proper place. I will not say but
what Enoch had Temples and officiated therein, but we have no account
of it. We know that he raised up a people so pure and holy that they
were not permitted to remain with the wicked inhabitants of the earth,
but were taken to another place. We as Latter-day Saints have been
laboring for over forty years, and the revelations given us in the
first were to establish the kingdom by gathering the Saints, building
Temples, and organizing the people as the family of heaven here on the
earth. We reared up a Temple in Kirtland, but we had no basement in
it, nor a font, nor preparations to give endowments for the living or
the dead. It was left by the Saints before it was completed, they
going to Missouri. Joseph located the site for the Temple Block in
Jackson County, Missouri, and pointed out the southeast corner of the
Temple in the year 1831—also laid the cornerstone for a Temple in
Far West, Caldwell County, Mo. These Temples were not built. We built
one in Nauvoo. I could pick out several before me now that
were there when it was built, and know just how much was finished and
what was done. It is true we left brethren there with instructions to
finish it, and they got it nearly completed before it was burned, but
the Saints did not enjoy it. Now we have a Temple which will all be
finished in a few days, and of which there is enough completed to
commence work therein which has not been done since the days of Adam,
that we have any knowledge of. Now those that can see the spiritual
atmosphere can see that many of the Saints are still glued to this
earth and lusting and longing after the things of this world, in which
there is no profit. It is true, we should look after the things of
this world and devote all to the building up of the kingdom of God.
According to the present feelings of many of our brethren, they would
arrogate to themselves this world and all that pertains to it, and
cease not day nor night to see that it was devoted to the building up
of the kingdom of the devil, and if they had the power they would
build a railroad to carry it to hell and establish themselves
there. Where are the eyes and the hearts of this people? Where is
their interest for their own salvation and that of their forefathers?
We enjoy privileges that are enjoyed by no one else on the face of the
earth. Suppose we were awake to this thing, namely, the salvation of
the human family, this house would be crowded, as we hope it will be,
from Monday morning until Saturday night. This house was built here in
this place purposely, where it is warm and pleasant in the winter
time, and comfortable to work, also for the Lamanites, and also those
coming from the south, and other places to receive their endowments,
and other blessings. What do you suppose the fathers would say if they
could speak from the dead? Would they not say, "We have lain here
thousands of years, here in this prison house, waiting for this
dispensation to come? Here we are, bound and fettered, in the
association of those who are filthy?" What would they whisper in our
ears? Why, if they had the power the very thunders of heaven would be
in our ears, if we could but realize the importance of the work we are
engaged in. All the angels in heaven are looking at this little
handful of people, and stimulating them to the salvation of the human
family. So also are the devils in hell looking at this people, too,
and trying to overthrow us, and the people are still shaking hands
with the servants of the devil, instead of sanctifying themselves and
calling upon the Lord and doing the work which he has commanded us and
put into our hands to do. When I think upon this subject, I want the
tongues of seven thunders to wake up the people. Can the fathers be
saved without us? No. Can we be saved without them? No, and if we do
not wake up and cease to long after the things of this earth, we will
find that we as individuals will go down to hell, although the Lord
will preserve a people unto himself. Now we are ready to give
endowments, do you have any feelings for those who have died without
having the Gospel? The spirit was awakened in the people in the north
when we gave the word that we should do no more work in the Endowment
House—they came to us crying and pleading to be baptized for their
dead. What else could they do? They can come here and do the work for
their dead, and put these poor prisoners on the ground where they will
be free. Do we realize this? As long as we tarry here, we are sub ject to the world. But now go to, like men and women, and say, we
will embrace the truth and enter into the covenants of God and carry
them out. Then the bonds are broken, and the hearts of the people are
united in the Father. Perhaps, brethren and sisters, you will not get
my meaning, but now go to work and let these holes in the ground
alone, and let the Gentiles alone, who would destroy us if they had
the power. You are running after them, and some of our brethren are
putting their wives and daughters into their society, and will go to
the devil with them too, if they do not look out. I would not have a
dollar on the earth if I had to get it there. It has been the kingdom
of God with me. What I have, I have got in this kingdom. Well, now,
some of the Elders are running after these holes in the ground, and I
see men before me, in this house that have no right to be here. They
are as corrupt in their hearts as they can be, and we take them by the
hand and call them brother. You will go to hell, lots of you, unless
you repent. You may think this is plain talk, it is not as plain as
you will find by and by. If you should ever go to the gates of heaven,
Jesus will say he never knew you. While you have been saying your
prayers and going to your meetings and are as corrupt in your hearts
as men can be. You had better stop now and repent of your sins and sin
no more, while there is yet time, and before the doors are closed
against you. I want to wake you up, and if I had the power to lift the
veil from your eyes and let you see things as they are, you would be
astonished. Not but what there are a great majority of the people as
good as they know how to be. Now I will say, bless the people, that
they may do better, but show some of the Elders of Israel according to
their present conduct a dollar on one side and eternal life on the
other, and I fear they would choose the dollar.
We are now prepared to attend to baptizing and giving endowments, and
shall appoint Tuesdays and Wednesdays for baptisms, and Thursdays and
Fridays for endowments and sealings, as a standing appointment for the
present.
God bless you. Amen.