In relation to the great principles of eternal life, as developed to us
in the word of God, and through the various revelations that he
continues to give unto us, there are many things that are of great
importance to the human family. In regard to the ideas, theories and
notions of men, it would seem that they, in former ages, have been of
very little avail in thwarting or overturning the purposes of the
Almighty, nor will they be in these days any more efficacious then
they have been in the days that have past and gone. Before this world
rolled into existence, or the morning stars sang for joy, He purposed,
in his own mind, to accomplish certain objects that he had designed in
relation to the world in which we live, and the inhabitants that dwell
thereon. He has never swerved, changed or altered his views or
opinions in relation to this, no matter what our feelings, ideas and
theories may be concerning these matters. In the organization of the
world and all creation as it now exists in the various dispensations
of his providence that have been inducted in the different ages, in
the manifestation of his will to the human family, he has had one
design, one purpose, and one set of ideas to accomplish pertaining to
the whole matter, and everything he intended concerning these things
will all be accomplished, whether it relates to the early history of
man, to the middle ages, or, to the ages in which we live. There are
eternal principles associated with God, with his laws, with his Priest hood that are as unchanging as the eternal heavens; yea, more
so, for the heavens may pass away, but the Scriptures say, "His word
shall not fall to the ground." There is something great and
comprehensive associated with the plans and purposes of Jehovah in
connection with the human family, which very few men care to take the
trouble to investigate or reflect upon; and, as "No man can know the
things of God, but by the Spirit of God;" and as very few place
themselves in a position to obtain this spirit, the result necessarily
is, that there is a large amount of ignorance in relation to the
things of God and consequently a large amount of evil prevailing
everywhere and which has existed in every age. I suppose, associated
with these matters, there is a grand overruling destiny, and that it
was necessary that this set of things should exist. There have always
been two grand powers in juxtaposition, or rather in opposition to
each other. There was in the heavens a conflict, and one-third of the
angels, we are told, were cast out of there. That conflict has existed
here upon the earth, and will continue to exist for a length of time
yet to come, until, as we are told, Satan shall be bound. The conflict
is between right and wrong, between truth and error, between God and
the spirit of darkness, and the powers of evil that are opposed to
Him; and these principles have existed in the various ages. No sooner
was man placed upon the earth, than Satan commenced his work and his
operations. God, it is true, created the world; God, it is true, is
the Father and Spirit of all flesh; God, it is true, has a right to
demand obedience from his children, and the observance of the laws he
has given unto them; but that right has been contested from the very
first. Satan placed a demurrer in the way immediately, and from the
two sons of Adam, one of which feared God and the other did not, the
wicked one killed the righteous, who himself appeared to be master of
the field under the guidance and direction of Satan, and he held this
position and this influence for a length of time upon the earth, until
Seth was introduced to represent Abel, to represent God, and also to
represent all the principles of truth and righteousness; and Satan
with his influence and those that yielded to him, under the influence
of Cain and others associated with them that had wrought wickedness,
bore sway; and iniquity of every kind prevailed, they fought against
God and the principles of truth and righteousness, and it was then as
it is today, and as it was in the days of Jesus. Says he: "Strait
is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be
that find it; while broad is the gate and wide is the way that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat." It would have
seemed, at some time, as though the purposes of God were thwarted in
relation to the organization of the earth and the salvation and
exaltation of the human family, and it was necessary, as has been
referred to, on a certain occasion, to sweep off the inhabitants of
the earth and start anew. "For the imagination of the thoughts of the
hearts of the people, was only evil, and that continually," and they
were raising up a people that were prepared for wrath and destruction,
having power to propagate their own species, they were doing it and
teaching them the laws of death instead of the laws of life. God in
his mercy to those spirits yet unborn, thought proper to sweep them from the earth and then commence another state of things under
the direction of Noah. It was necessary that these opposing
influences, these contending powers, should be in existence; that this
antagonism should prevail; that there should be a devil, that there
should be all the influences associated therewith. There was a degree
or design of God in relation to the human family from the
commencement, to save all that were capable of it, in the celestial
glory. All that were not capable of this, in a terrestrial glory, and
all that were not capable of receiving that, or prepared for it, in a
telestial glory. It was necessary, according to certain unchangeable
and eternal laws, that existed with Christ in the eternal world, that
man possessing any of these glories should be prepared to receive
them, or they could not inherit them, therefore, it was necessary that
man should be placed in a state of trial or probation, having to
contend with evil that he might, through the power of God, and the
strength that he would give to him, if he was sought unto, that he
might, through that power, overcome and inherit a celestial glory, and
dwell with God in his celestial kingdom. For this purpose, he gave the
Priesthood, which is spoken of as being after the order of
Melchizedek, after the order of the Son of God, and after the powers
of an endless life; which is the power that exists in the heavens, and
the wisdom and intelligence that dwell with the Gods; and is the
principle by which the Gods in the heavens and men who are under its
influence upon the earth are governed. It is called in the Scriptures,
the "everlasting priesthood, without beginning of days or end of
years," and that those who have it, administer not only in this world,
but in the world which is to come; and it is the privilege of those
who have it, to come, as the Scriptures say, "to the general assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, to God the
judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, unto Jesus
the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that
speaketh better things than that of Abel." It is this principle spoken
of in the Scriptures that brings life and immortality to light, that
enables mankind, when living according to its laws, to overcome the
powers of darkness, to combat successfully with the errors of the
world, to triumph over evil of every kind, to subdue the world, the
flesh and the devil, through the aid, guidance, power and spirit of
God; to come out triumphant and obtain an inheritance which is
incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in the
heavens for those that are obedient thereto, and live according to its
requirements. It is in view of this, and of the strength and power and
communication with God that the Priesthood is imparted to man, and it
is that which, according to the Scriptures, "brings life and
immortality to light;" and men in the possession of these principles
know and understand their relationship to God, unto the eternities
that were and unto the eternities that are to come, bringing life and
immortality to light; it chaseth away darkness, confusion, mystery
and doubt and uncertainty; it draws aside the veil of the eternal
world, enabling men, who are in possession of it to comprehend their
standing and relationship to God, to each other, to the past, present
and future, and to all intelligent beings that ever have existed,
that now exist, or that will exist; hence this principle is
given to men to lead them in the paths of life, to instruct and
prepare them for that celestial glory where God the Father dwells, and
Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and those of the holy
Priesthood who have lived before in different ages, who exist now and
who will exist throughout the eternities that are to come. It places
us in relationship to all these beings, and we feel that we are one
with God, one with Jesus, one with the ancient Apostles, Prophets and
Patriarchs, one with the men of God that have had the holy Priesthood
in the different ages of time, and expect to be one with them in the
eternal worlds. We should also be one in accomplishing the purposes of
God pertaining to the earth whereon we live. It is not easy for men,
without a knowledge of these principles, to comprehend those things of
which I speak, for as I said before, and so say the Scriptures—"No man
knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God;" and the Lord has
revealed unto us, through very simple methods, the way whereby we can
approach unto him. Who is there among men, with all their wisdom and
intelligence, that can comprehend God? Who understands his laws and
his doctrines? Who knows anything about his purposes and designs? Why,
it is as high as the heavens, it is deeper than hell, it is as wide as
the expanse of the universe, it circumscribes all subjects, and
comprehends all intelligence. Who knows it? Nobody, but those who are
enlightened by the spirit of revelation that proceeds from God. How
did men in former times obtain a knowledge of these things? By
obedience to the laws of God, by submitting to his authority, by
taking up their cross and following him, and by searching diligently
to obtain a knowledge of his laws.
We read a little about Abraham, as given to us in his history. What
does he say about himself? "I, Abraham, having been myself a follower of
righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge,
and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a
greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of
peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the
commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding
the right belonging to the fathers. It was conferred upon me from the
fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before
the foundations of the earth, to the present time, even the right of
the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father,
through the fathers unto me. I sought for mine appointment unto the
Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers
concerning the seed."
We read in the revelations given unto us by Joseph Smith, that he was
ordained by Melchizedek, and the Bible tells us that he was blessed
of Melchizedek; and Paul in speaking of Abraham and Melchizedek,
says: "The less is blessed of the greater," and that, although Abraham
was a great man, and had great intelligence, great knowledge and many
communications from God, that Melchizedek was yet greater than he,
and had more intelligence, and knew more of God. What is the result?
Why, the Lord gave to him the Urim and Thummim, whereby he was enabled
to inquire of the law of God. What law? The same principles that
existed in that day were the same that existed in the days when Jesus
came upon the earth.
Jesus says, that "Abraham saw my day, and was glad." The Apostle tells
us that "God foresaw that he would justify the heathen through faith,
and preached before the Gospel unto Abraham." Then Abraham had the
Gospel, and a knowledge of the laws of God. Life and immortality are
brought to light where the Gospel exists, and he had it; hence it
brought him to God, and the Lord revealed himself unto him and told
him, that in blessing, he would bless him, and in multiplying, he
would multiply him, and in him and in his seed all the families of the
earth should be blessed. There was something very remarkable about
these things, something that shows a determination on his part to do
the will of God, to obey his laws and keep his commandments, and to
carry out his purposes and designs, so far as he was able to do it.
Among other things he said: "I desire to be a follower of
righteousness, and to have more righteousness. Then I desire that I
may be a prince of peace and a father of nations." He sought this at
the hand of God, and God promised him that in him and in his seed all
the families of the earth should be blessed. But did he give it to
him? He did. Did he fulfil his word to him? He did. Who were Moses and
Aaron? Moses led the children of Israel, under the guidance and
direction of the Almighty, with a mighty hand and stretched-out arm,
and delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians. Who were they?
They were the descendants of Abraham. Who were the old Prophets we
read of in the Bible here? They were the descendants of Abraham. Who
was Jesus? A descendant of Abraham. Who were the Twelve Apostles? They
were the descendants of Abraham. Who were the Seventy that existed in
those days? They were the descendants of Abraham. What were they told
to do? To damn mankind? No. What? To go and preach the Gospel to all
the world, to lift up a banner of life and salvation to the nations,
and call upon them to repent. Who were the Nephites that came to this
continent? Lehi, Lemuel, Nephi, etc. Who were they? They were
descendants of Abraham. Who were the Twelve Apostles that were on this
continent? They were descendants of Abraham. What was their mission?
It was to preach the glad tidings of salvation to the people, which
they did. Who was Joseph Smith? We are told in a revelation in
relation to him, that his name should be Joseph, and that he should be
the son of Joseph, who was a descendant of that Joseph who went into
Egypt. God saw proper to reveal unto him the ancient records of the
people that lived on this continent, as a descendant of Abraham, and
what was his message to the people? "Go ye unto all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." Has this
message been communicated? It has to a very great extent. There are
around me and before me, men who have traveled thousands and hundreds
of thousands of miles, without purse or scrip, as they did formerly,
trusting to the help of the Lord, in the midst of contumely and
reproach, to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to a fallen world.
Have they done it? They have so far as it was in their power, and they
have continued to do it up to the present day. Will they accomplish
the work that was designed of the Almighty? They will. Will the Zion
of our God be built up? It will, and I prophesy it in the name
of Jesus Christ. Will the kingdom of God roll on? It will. No power on
this side of hell or in hell can stop it. God is at the helm, and I
know it, and his work will roll forth and continue to roll until the
kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our God and his
Christ, and he will reign forever and forever. The Priesthood in this
day are assisted by the Priesthood that existed in former days, who
lived and operated and withdrew, and are operating with Him. These are
things that many people reflect very little upon, but they are
nevertheless true.
Who was it that appeared with Jesus when he was transfigured upon the
Mount with Peter, James, and John? Moses and Elias. Who were Moses and
Elias? Prophets who had existed before, and still continue to exist,
and to administer on the earth as well as in the heavens. How was it
of John the Baptist? I speak of these things particularly for the
information of those who may be present who are not acquainted with
our revelations, and, perhaps, in many instances not much acquainted
with the Bible. But John, we are told, when on the Isle of Patmos, had
great, important, and glorious visions presented to him. There was a
glorious personage who stood before him, and he was about to fall down
and worship him. But says he, do not worship me. Why! Who are you? I
am one of thy fellowservants, the Prophets that have kept the
testimony of Jesus Christ, and the word of God; worship God, says he,
do not worship me. I am one of those that, perhaps, wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins, dwelling in deserts and dens and caves of
the earth, of whom the world is not worthy; but I have been exalted,
and glorified as you now see me, and I have come to administer to you.
Who was it that administered to Joseph Smith? Moroni and Nephi, men
who had lived upon this continent. Who from the other continent? John
the Baptist for one; Peter, James, and John for others; Moses and
Elias again for others, who revealed certain principles that God
designed they should reveal, and imparted unto him the powers of the
Priesthood which existed in the heavens, that it might be again
conferred upon men on the earth, and that the blessings of the
everlasting Gospel might be again restored.
We have been organizing Stakes of Zion for a length of time, and
placing things in order under the direction of President Young and
Council. What order is that? The order given by the revelations of God
for the guidance of his people, not of man nor by men, but by the will
of God: a pattern of things in the heavenly world. That is the thing
that is now being introduced here among the Saints. Why are we
building Temples here? Because it is part of our mission. Elijah was to
come to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts
of the children to the fathers, lest, say the Scriptures, I come and
smite the earth with a curse. In this is the wisdom of God made
manifest, and the power of God displayed. In this he shows as he has
represented in the revelations that he would show, that the wisdom of
God was greater than the cunning of the Devil, for those that Satan
thought he had destroyed, that were cast into prison, Jesus went and
delivered, and preached unto those spirits in prison who sometime were
disobedient in the days of Noah. Again, in relation to the position
that we occupy here upon the earth. We are gathered to Mount Zion. We
are spoken of as being saviors. "Saviors shall stand upon Mount
Zion, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." How can men be saviors
unless they save somebody? That would be a matter of impossibility;
hence we go to work and build our Temples. Why? That we may carry out
that mission that Elijah came about, to turn the hearts of the fathers
to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers; that
our fathers, who have lived without the Gospel, and without the light
of truth thereof, that we may administer for them in these Temples,
and be baptized for them, as the Scriptures say: "If the dead rise
not, why are ye baptized for the dead?" and "Why," says the Apostle,
"stand ye in jeopardy every hour?" We go to work then and build
Temples, and is this message that we have come upon a message of
terror, trouble, misery, and confusion? No. It is a message of life to
the people.
God told his disciples to go to the ends of the earth; and, says he,
"I will go with you, and mine angels shall go before you, and my
spirit shall accompany you." Has it been so? It has. It has. Whence
comes our gathering? Because we are introduced into a Gospel of
gathering, because we are living in a gathering dispensation, because
that is one of the dispensations that existed in former days, and has
been restored in the latter days wherever this Gospel is preached,
that spirit accompanies it. You cannot prevent it. Go and preach to
the people, baptize them, lay hands upon them for the reception of the
Holy Ghost, and the first thing that exists among the people is the
feeling to go to Zion. A feeling of that kind universally prevails.
Where did it come from? It comes through the administering of Elijah
to Joseph Smith, and through the things that he imparted to him, and
is one of the dispensations which is embodied in the dispensation of
the fullness of times; hence, say the Scriptures, "I will take them,
one of a city and two of a family, and bring them to Zion." What do
you do with them there? "I will give them pastors after my own heart, and
shall feed them with knowledge and understanding." Our mission is not
a mission of death, it is a mission of mercy and salvation.
As has been remarked, whom have we injured? Whose life or liberties
have we interfered with? Are we the enemies of mankind because we tell
them the truth? If God has spoken, and has certain purposes to
accomplish, can we hinder him? No. If we obey his will, we must be
subject to the inconveniences resulting therefrom. We go forth in the
name of Israel's God, trusting in him, "bearing precious seed, and
returning again bringing our sheaves with us." Well, what then? Those
who are being taught and instructed, are sent out again. To whom? Why,
as saviors to their own people, and then our nation, as elders in
Israel, to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ unto the
nations, and gather out all who are honest and willing to obey the
truth. What then? Then they return again. Then go to work and build
Temples, and then administer in them. "I will take them," say the
Scriptures, "one of a city and two of a family, and bring them to
Zion, and they shall be saviors there;" hence we have representatives
here from among the different nations of the earth. We are building
Temples. What for? For ourselves? Yes, for our fathers, mothers,
uncles, aunts, friends, associates, and ancestry. Yes, for thousands
and tens of thousands of others. That is what we are doing. We have
built one Temple down at St. George; we are building another here; we
are building another in Sanpete, and another in Cache Valley.
Well now then, how do we act as saviors? We first build Temples; we
then go in and administer in them, and do for others what they cannot
do for themselves. We become, then, saviors in that respect here upon
Mount Zion; and hence the nations of the earth have their
representatives here, who are representing those different nations in
the Temples of the Lord of Lords. Well, what next? How are we assisted
in this? By all the intelligences that have lived before us. Could we
have stemmed the amount of opposition and overcome the evils with
which we have been surrounded if there had not been an invisible power
sustaining us? We could not. But all the Priesthood that have existed
before, with God and Jesus at the head, are on our side and assisting
us; and he is all the time crying, "Touch not mine anointed, do my
prophets no harm." He still cries the same. They are operating in the
heavens while we are operating on the earth; "They without us cannot
be made perfect, and we without them cannot be made perfect." It needs
a grand controlling power associating and uniting the heavens with the
earth; uniting them together in indissoluble bonds that cannot be
broken. Uniting them together in one grand phalanx for the
accomplishment of the purposes of God. When Satan thought he had got
the inhabitants of the whole world, did God give them up? No! No!!
When Jesus "Was put to death in the flesh, he was quickened by the
spirit, by which he went and preached to the spirits in prison that
were sometime disobedient in the days of Noah." When men have been
destroyed and nations led into iniquity and overcome, are all going to
be lost and destroyed? No. God has introduced a plan whereby all that
have lived upon the earth, that are worthy in any respect or
honorable, and all that have desired to do right, who have lived
without the Gospel, shall yet have the privilege of it, and they shall
be baptized for, according to a certain order that God has indicated
in relation to these matters to his Priesthood here upon this earth;
and will God be thwarted? No. He will accomplish his designs, and the
earth, by and by, will be purged from iniquity; and Zion will grow and
increase and spread, and no power can hinder it, for God is at the
helm, and he will guide and direct all things according to the counsel
of his own will.
Are we the enemies of mankind? No. We are their friends. No men living
ever exhibited more friendship to the world than we have. I have
traveled thousands of miles, and hundreds of thousands, as President
Young and many brethren around me have, thousands and thousands of
miles without purse or scrip, without hope of earthly reward, to carry
forth those principles that we knew God had revealed for the salvation
of the human family, and we know it today. I know these things are
true. I know that God has spoken. I know that the heavens have been
opened. I know that the truth of God has been revealed, and I bear
record of it before this people, before God, angels, and men. I know
of what I speak, and therefore testify of it in the name of Israel's
God. I call upon men everywhere to repent and be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and they shall receive the
Holy Ghost. I call upon the Latter-day Saints to be one, and to be
united in temporal and spiritual things, to seek after God that they
may learn of Him and His laws; then shall your light shine like the
sun, and then shall Zion rise and shine, and the glory of God rest
upon her, and the power of God be made manifest among his people. Amen.