I would like to say a great deal during this Conference to the
Latter-day Saints, but I shall be able to talk but little, and
therefore when I do speak I wish you to listen, and this I believe all
of you will do.
I think that, as a people, we are nearer alike in the sentiments and
feelings of our hearts, than in our words. From the most excellent
discourse which we have heard this morning from brother Cannon, I
believe that the people might gather the idea that we shall be
expected to divide our property equally one with another, and that
this will constitute the United Order. I will give you my view, in as
few words as possible with regard to this subject, which I will
promise you are correct.
The Lord wishes and requires us to develop the ability within us, and
to utilize the ability of these men, women and children called
Latter-day Saints.
The most of the inhabitants of the earth are incapable of dictating
and devising for themselves. In many instances there is reason for
this, for they are opposed to that degree that for the lack of
opportunity they are not able to develop the talents and ability that
are within them. This is the condition of the people of most of the
nations of the earth. All those who come out from the world, espousing
the Gospel of Jesus, place themselves in a condition to be taught of
him, but instead of teaching them personally, he has raised up his
authorized teachers to do this work, and what does he expect of us to
do? He requires, absolutely requires, of us to take these people who
have named his name through baptism, and teach them how to live, and
how to become healthy, wealthy and wise. This is our duty.
Supposing that the property of the whole community were divided today
equally amongst all, what might we expect? Why a year from today we
should need another division, for some would waste and squander it
away, while others would add to their portion. The skill of building
up and establishing the Zion of our God on the earth is to take the
people and teach them how to take care of themselves and that which
the Lord has entrusted to their care, and to use all that we command
to glorify his holy name. This is the work of regenerating, of
elevating mankind to the higher plane of the Gospel; in other words,
of simply teaching them their duty.
With regard to our property, as I have told you many times, the
pro perty which we inherit from our Heavenly Father is our time, and
the power to choose in the disposition of the same. This is the real
capital that is bequeathed unto us by our Heavenly Father; all the
rest is what he may be pleased to add unto us. To direct, to counsel
and to advise in the disposition of our time, pertains to our calling
as God's servants, according to the wisdom which he has given and will
continue to give unto us as we seek it
Now, if we could take this people, in their present condition, and
teach them how to sustain and maintain themselves and a little more,
we would add to that which we already have; but to take what we have
and divide amongst or give to people, without teaching them how to
earn and produce, would be no more nor less than to introduce the
means of reducing them to a state of poverty.
I do not wish for one moment to recognize the idea that in order to
establish the United Order our property has to be divided equally
among the people, to let them do what they please with it. But the
idea is to get the people into the same state of unity in all things
temporal, that we find ourselves in with regard to things spiritual.
Then let those who possess the ability and wisdom direct the labors of
those not so endowed, until they too develop the talents within them
and in time acquire the same degree of ability.
What do you say to this doctrine? Is it right or wrong? [The
congregation answered, "It is right."]
We want to get at a correct understanding respecting all these matters
which so materially concern us. What would be the first lesson
necessary to teach the people, were we to commence to direct their labors to the great end of becoming of one heart and one mind in
the Lord, of establishing Zion and being filled with the power of God?
It would be to stop expending and lavishing upon our dear selves all
needless adornments and to stop purchasing the importations of
Babylon. We can ourselves produce everything necessary for our
consumption, our wear, our convenience and comfort, right here at
home. We can produce and manufacture the material necessary to
beautify our lands, gardens and orchards; to beautify and furnish our
houses, and to adorn the beautiful bodies which we inhabit without
sending our means to France, to England and other countries for things
which can a little better be made at home among ourselves. The
material of which these cushions were made, which adorn the pulpits,
were produced here. After it was taken from the sheep, it was
manufactured at our Provo factory into the cloth you now see; and the
material of which the silk trimmings were made, was raised, spun, and
made up by some of our sisters in this Territory. We might exhibit to
you handkerchiefs, dress patterns, and shawls, all of silk, made by
our sisters out of the raw material produced here through the
enterprise and industry of a few. These are only simple specimens of
what can be done. Suppose I were to say, "Ladies, how do you like
them?" Do you not think they would say, "Pretty well?" We can improve
on what has been done, and we want you to do so. Plant out the
mulberry tree, and raise the silk, and let your dresses, your shawls,
your bonnets and your ribbons, and everything you use to clothe and
adorn your bodies, be the workmanship of your own hands. Let the
brethren take hold and carry out in every department the same
principle of home manufacture until we shall be able to produce the
materials, and make up every article necessary to clothe and adorn the
body, from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. Then we
shall become a self-sustaining and growing people, and we shall have
to do it. All this is in the elements in which we live, and we need
the skill to utilize the elements to our growth and wealth, and this
is true financiering.
We can now see the growth of the Latter-day Saints, and it is
marvelous to us to see the multitude of little towns springing up here
and there, and we are under the necessity of saying, Give us more
room, for the older settlements are thickening up, and the people are
spreading out and filling up new valleys continually. You can see the
shoots putting forth and taking root; still the old stock is good, is
alive and rapidly increasing.
It has been asked if we intend to settle more valleys. Why certainly
we expect to fill the next valley and then the next, and the next, and
so on. It has been the cry of late, through the columns of the
newspapers, that the "Mormons" are going into Mexico! That is quite
right, we calculate to go there. Are we going back to Jackson County?
Yes. When? As soon as the way opens up. Are we all going? O no! Of
course not. The country is not large enough to hold our present
numbers. When we do return there, will there be any less remaining in
these mountains than we number today? No, there may be a hundred then
for every single one that there is now. It is folly in men to suppose
that we are going to break up these our hard earned homes to
make others in a new country. We intend to hold our own here, and also
penetrate the north and the south, the east and the west, there to
make others and to raise the ensign of truth. This is the work of God,
that marvelous work and a wonder referred to by ancient men of God,
who saw it in its incipiency, as a stone cut out of the mountains
without hands, but which rolled and gathered strength and magnitude
until it filled the whole earth. We will continue to grow, to increase
and spread abroad, and the powers of earth and hell combined cannot
hinder it. All who are found opposing God and his people will be swept
away and their names be forgotten in the earth. As the Prophets Joseph
and Hyrum were murdered, and as they massacred our brethren and
sisters in Missouri, so they would have served us years and years ago,
if they had had the power to do so. But the Lord Almighty has said,
Thus far thou shalt go and no farther, and hence we are spared to
carry on his work. We are in his hands, the nations of the earth are
in his hands; he rules in the midst of the armies of heaven and
executes his pleasure on the earth. The hearts of all living are in
his hands and he turns them as the rivers of water are turned.
We have no business here other than to build up and establish the Zion
of God. It must be done according to the will and law of God after
that pattern and order by which Enoch built up and perfected the
former-day Zion, which was taken away to heaven, hence the saying went
abroad that Zion had fled. By and by it will come back again, and as
Enoch prepared his people to be worthy of translation, so we through
our faithfulness must prepare ourselves to meet Zion from above when
it shall return to earth, and to abide the brightness and glory of its
coming.
My brethren and sisters, I do really delight in hearing our brethren
speak on this holy order of heaven. Unity of purpose and action, in
carrying out the will of our Father, has been my theme all the day
long; but I have continually plead with the Saints not to waste their
substance upon the lust of the eye and the flesh, for that is contrary
to the will and commandments of God. I wish to say that whoever have
faith enough to inherit the celestial kingdom will find that their
inheritances will be upon this earth. This earth is our home; by and
by it will be sanctified and glorified, and become a fit dwelling
place for the sanctified, and they will dwell upon it forever and
ever. I will further say I labor for the earth, I never mean to be
satisfied until the whole earth is yielded to Christ and his people.
When brother George Q. tells us we should not labor for the earth and
the things of this world, he means we should not labor with sinful
motives, and to gratify the lusts of the flesh. But if we possessed
the treasure of the Gentile world, could we not send our Elders to the
ends of the earth, bearing the precious Gospel to all living? Could we
not sustain their families during their absence? Could we not build
Temple after Temple and otherwise hasten on the work of redemption?
Yes. But keep the people in poverty and how are we to accomplish this
great work? I say, let us gather and accumulate the things of the
earth in the manner indicated by the Lord, and then devote it to God
and the building up of his kingdom. What do you say to this doctrine,
is it right or wrong? [The congregation said, "It is right."] What
little property I have I wish it to be devoted to the building
up of Zion, and I suppose I have as much as any other man in the
Church. I am always ready to receive and take care of the blessings
that God showers upon me, and am always ready and willing to devote
the same to the building up of his kingdom.
Many of you may have heard what certain journalists have had to say
about Brigham Young being opposed to free schools. I am opposed to
free education as much as I am opposed to taking away property from
one man and giving it to another who knows not how to take care of it.
But when you come to the fact, I will venture to say that I school ten
children to every one that those do who complain so much of me. I now
pay the school fees of a number of children who are either orphans or
sons and daughters of poor people. But in aiding and blessing the poor
I do not believe in allowing my charities to go through the hands of a
set of robbers who pocket nine-tenths themselves, and give one-tenth
to the poor. Therein is the difference between us; I am for the real
act of
doing and not saying. Would I encourage free schools by
taxation? No! That is not in keeping with the nature of our work; we
should be as one family, our hearts and hands united in the bonds of
the everlasting covenant; our interests alike, our children receiving
equal opportunities in the schoolroom and the college.
We have today, more children between the ages of 5 and 20 years, who
can read and write, than any State or Territory of the Union of a
corresponding number of inhabitants. This is not exactly sustained by
the statistics published of a few of the States, but from what we know
of them we believe it to be the fact.
On the whole we have as good schoolhouses as can be found, and it is
our right to have better ones, and to excel in everything that is
good.
As to my health I feel many times that I could not live an hour
longer, but I mean to live just as long as I can. I know not how soon
the messenger will call for me, but I calculate to die in the harness.
Amen.