Previous to attending to the business to be presented to the
congregation this afternoon, I feel to exhort the Latter-day Saints
before me to try to realize the sacredness of the ordinance that is
now being administered to them, which was introduced by our Savior,
that his disciples might witness to the Father that they were truly
his followers. On the last time that our Lord met with his disciples,
previous to his being betrayed, he administered to them the sacrament.
Instead of eating as at other times, he took the bread and blessed and
brake it and gave to his disciples, saying to them that he should
require of them to meet together to break bread in remembrance of his
body, that would suffer for them and for the sins of the world. So
when he had blessed and broken the bread, he administered the same to
them, saying, "take, eat; this is my body." When his disciples had
eaten, he then took the cup of wine and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New
Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." He came
here to redeem fallen man, he being the heir of the family that
receive bodies on this earth, that they, through obedience to his
requirements and commandments and the ordinances of his house; may be
sanctified and prepared to return unto the presence of the Father and
there sit down with Jesus, where he will administer to them again in
fulfillment of his saying to them, "I will not drink, henceforth of
this fruit of the vine, until the day when I drink it anew, with you,
in my Father's kingdom."
I would exhort my brethren and sisters to receive this ordinance every
Sabbath, when they meet together, as is our practice; not following
the customs of others, for with some denominations this is
administered once a month, with others once in three months, with
others never, they not believing in outward ordinances. This is the
way with the Christian sects; they teach that portion of the Bible
which seemeth right unto them and add such doctrines, views and
opinions as suit their own creeds.
We are in the habit of partaking of the contents of the cup each
Sabbath when we meet together, and I do pray you my brethren and
sisters to contemplate this ordinance thoroughly, and seek unto the
Lord with all your hearts that you may obtain the promised blessings by obedience to it. Teach its observance to your children;
impress upon them its necessity. Its observance is as necessary to our
salvation as any other of the ordinances and commandments that have
been instituted in order that the people may be sanctified, that Jesus
may bless them and give unto them his spirit, and guide and direct
them that they may secure unto themselves life eternal. Impress the
sacredness of this important ordinance upon the minds of your
children. Many of you who are aged, have witnessed the strength and
power of tradition, whether it be correct or false. The power of
tradition upon the minds of the inhabitants of the earth is most
potent, I might say it is almost almighty. We know the way of life, we
have the keys of life in our possession; and if we do not take the
pains to train our children, to teach and instruct them concerning
these revealed truths, the condemnation will be upon us, as parents,
or at least in a great measure. We do not want this sin to rest upon
us; we want the people, each and every one to understand their duty
and then discharge that duty fearlessly, without favor or hope of
earthly reward, having in view the doing of the Father's will alone
and the receiving of the heavenly reward.
Let me here call the special attention of the mothers to what I am
going to say: If you mothers will live your religion, then in the love
and fear of God teach your children constantly and thoroughly in the
way of life and salvation, training them up in the way they should go,
when they are old they will not depart from it. I promise you this, it
is as true as the shining sun, it is an eternal truth. In this duty we
fail; we do not bring up our children in the way they should go, or
there would be no turning away, wandering here and there from the
society of the Saints. We let our children do too much as they have a
mind to; if they want this or that their wishes must be gratified; if
they want to go here or there, the mother, in very many instances, is
too ready to urge upon the father directly or indirectly, the
necessity of accommodating the young mind to the path of folly.
By some it is very well understood that in the days of ancient Israel
while in the land of Palestine they were not blessed so profusely as
we are with the crystal streams from the mountains. They were in the
habit of drinking a great deal of wine, and among the few who have
continued to inhabit that land, this habit I believe has been kept up
to the present time. It is a wine country. But the Lord has said to us
it mattereth not what we partake of when we administer the cup to the
people, inasmuch as we do it with an eye single to the glory of God;
it is then acceptable to him. Consequently we use water as though it
were wine; for we are commanded to drink not of wine for this sacred
purpose except it be made by our own hands.
In some of our wards and settlements the administering of the
sacrament has been introduced in the Sunday schools. It is very
pleasing and gratifying to the spirit that I possess, for the parents
to see that their children attend Sunday school and receive the proper
instruction with regard to their faith. After the Sunday school is
over, let the parents take the pains to bring their children to
meeting. This would be very pleasing to me. An idea seems to have gone
abroad among the parents, and consequently descends to the children,
that when the little ones have been to Sunday school, the remainder of
the day is for them to enjoy themselves the best way they can.
No more duties, no more obligations to attend meeting. They have been
to the Sunday school and the mothers and probably the fathers think
this is sufficient. But if we do our duty, each and every one of us,
and as communities, and perform the duties required of us, we will see
that our children attended all the preaching meetings and meetings for
instruction, which it is proper for them to attend, where they, as
well as the parents can be taught pertaining to God and to his
religion on the earth, for the salvation of the human family. If my
brethren and sisters will accept of this exhortation and try to carry
it out in their lives, my heart will say to them, "God bless you,
peace be with you, love be multiplied upon you."
We will now attend to the business before us pertaining to the
organization of this Stake of Zion in this county of Box Elder. When
the people are fully organized we shall expect them strictly to attend
to the duties devolving upon them. Brother Franklin D. Richards, in
his remarks has drawn out the thread of the organization of the
Priesthood and the duties devolving upon the Bishops and upon the
Priests, Teachers and Deacons in advancing the faith of the Gospel and
seeing that there is no iniquity among the people. We expect this will
be carried out. There are many things wherein the people will need
instructing, they will receive these instructions from time to time,
adding instruction to instruction with regard to the faith, ordinances
and commandments of the house of God; our faith in the religion we
possess or hope to possess, and in the faith we should possess in the
name of our Savior and through him in the Father. And we expect to see
an exhibition thereof that will be brighter, that will be more
beautiful, more permanent and lasting throughout all the organizations
of the Stakes of Zion, than we have heretofore seen. We have a
multitude of traditions to overcome, and when this people called
Latter-day Saints will be free from these traditions, so that they can
take hold of the Gospel and build up the kingdom according to the
pattern, I am not able to say; but I hope the time will soon come. I
can say I am encouraged, I think there is an improvement, I can
perceive a growth in the knowledge of God among the Latter-day Saints.
And yet I see many old members of the Church, fathers in the Church
and kingdom of God, of long standing, who have been teachers and have
been taught, and have exercised themselves in the different duties of
the Priesthood, and also in municipal affairs among this people, to
direct, to counsel; and yet they seem to have no brightness within
them concerning the Priesthood; no knowledge with regard to the
dealings of God with his children. We see this; but still on the whole
there is an increase of faith, of knowledge, of wisdom, of
understanding. When we get to understand all knowledge, all wisdom,
that it is necessary for us to understand in the flesh, we will be
like clay in the hands of the potter, willing to be molded and
fashioned according to the will of him who has called us to this great
and glorious work, of purifying ourselves and our fellow beings, and
of preparing the nations of the earth for the glory that awaits them
through obedience. Here is mystery, here are the hidden mysteries that
God has reserved for the latter times, and they are coming forth; the
work we have upon us is an immense one, it is great, powerful and
divine; it is an almighty work. And with regard to the conduct
of this people—if an angel should come here and speak his feelings as
plainly as I do, I think he would say, "O, Latter-day Saints! Why
don't you see, why don't you open your eyes and behold the great work
resting upon you and that you have entered into? You are blind, you
are stupid, you are in the dark, in the mist and fog, wandering to and
fro like the boat upon the water without sail, rudder or oar; and you
know not whither you are going." But we run first this way, and then
that way, turning here and turning there, strewing our ways to
strangers and doing that which we should not do. I will refer to a
little incident.
I used to travel this road running through here several times during
the season. I recollect, not many years ago, there was a little gold
found in Montana. The inhabitants of Utah, called Latter-day Saints,
took everything that the Lord caused the earth to bring forth that
they could pack in their wagons, and carried it away to those who
would not even speak a good word for them. Brother Staines referred to
and related facts to us yesterday. He told us that there were a great
many people in these mountains, and a great many had been here, who
had become acquainted with this people, whom they acknowledged to be
an industrious and honest people; that some had said to him they would
rather trust themselves with the people of Utah than any other
community, feeling safer with them. But when the hue and cry was
raised that the "Mormons" were rising against the law, and against the
rules and regulations and all that is good pertaining to the society
of this great republic and were in open rebellion, where could be
found the man to open his mouth or to write a word saying, "This is
false, it is not true." Did you find or hear of any such men? But very
few, and they will be blessed for so doing. Are we at all astonished
at the silence of the great majority under such circumstances? No. It
has always been so; it is so now, and will continue to be so; for
there is no union, no affiliation, no fellowship between Christ and
Baal. Baal will fight the Savior, the enemy will fight against the law
of God, and he will never give up the contest until he is taken and
bound and cast into "the bottomless pit." And these honorable men,
these good men who with their families have received the blessings
from the hands of this people; those to whom we have given our
substance, our flour and breadstuffs, our money and whatever we had,
were there any of them who opened their mouths in justification of the
innocent, the pure and good, and denounced the falsehoods and the
slanders of those that raised the cry against us? If there were any I
do not know it. But they say to the liars, "Lie on about those
'Mormons,' we like to hear it." Whilst on the other hand these
Latter-day Saints are giving everything that the Lord bestows upon
them just as fast as they receive it; not resting satisfied until they
hand everything over to the laps and hands of our enemies. A great
many will say, "But we are not your enemies." Why then do you not speak
out and tell the truth about us?
Regarding the brethren carrying their substance north to Montana, I
will say I knew a man who undertook to head off all this, by trying to
organize the Elders of Israel into a society to raise an influence by
which they might control the northern market; but no, they rebelled
against it. But what I was going to mention, go into the northern
settlements, and you would see the wagons by hundreds and
thousands hauling off the provisions to those who would never speak a
word in our favor. Yes, we are generous enough to feed them, and
clothe them, and give them money. And then, when the enemy would raise
persecution against the Latter-day Saints, they can sit and laugh at
it. All the merchants among us we have made rich. Do you know of any
that brought money here? If you do, you know more than I do, and I
think I am as well acquainted with them as anyone. Who brought
capital here and spent that capital? They came here poor, and made
their capital, but they never lifted their voice in behalf of anyone;
but they laugh and sheer around the corner and in their sleeve when
they see the storm of trouble coming upon the Latter-day Saints. I
will not tell their doom, they will find it out quick enough; a good
many have found it already. Our persecutors too who die, and they keep
dying, their end is sorrow, both priests and people.
There is a good deal of money spent. I know of one man who spent many
thousands of dollars trying to organize the Elders in such a manner
that they could hold the control of the market. But no. Wild as the
deer upon the mountains, running by day and by night, ofttimes under
the shades of night, to get away from this and other towns, lugging
off the blessings that God had poured into their laps. We have
counseled the people to save their grain. Supposing we had a few
million bushels of grain on hand, would it do us any hurt? To say the
least, we certainly might as well have kept it, for we got nothing for
it; we did not even pay for the transportation of our substance.
Will famine come? Yes! Will plagues come? Yes! Will distress come upon
the nations? Yes, and upon this nation, and that, too, before a great
while. When they made war upon us some eighteen years ago, how it
pleased and tickled the masses who thought that now destruction was to
overtake the Latter-day Saints. I told many, and sent word to Congress
saying, that it would prove the opening wedge for the struggle of war
between the North and South. But some gentlemen took the liberty of
saying, time after time, "No, no, that cannot be." Said I, "It will be
so, and I tell it to you in the name of Israel's God." And when the
press delight in publishing such falsehoods about the Latter-day
Saints as they have done, and the people delight to read them, you
will see real trouble crop out in and among themselves. Is there power
enough in the Federal Government to put down mobocracy. No! And it is
a truth that they whom the Lord makes weak are weak indeed; and those
whom the Lord makes strong are strong indeed. Strength was given to
the North in the last struggle, and the South suffered extremely. But
the time will come when the North will be weaker than the South was,
and they will have no power to muster their forces against the tide of
folly that will come upon them, that they bring upon themselves, and
they themselves must receive the results.
But say the Latter-day Saints, "How are we living?" If you were to
hear an angel talk to you, and tell just what he sees and understands,
you would say, that is as sharp preaching as brother Brigham's; his
words are sharper than brother Brigham's. And they would be. And still
we are improving a little; but oh! what improvement we have yet
to make in order to acquire such victory over ourselves as to bring
ourselves into perfect subjection to the law of Christ. Let us take
heed, and teach our children by precept and example to love and serve
the Lord. What a glorious sight was presented to us yesterday on our
arrival at your depot, to witness the hosts of children that lined the
sidewalks. You have here in this little city the buds, the beginning
of a nation. Be careful my brethren and my sisters how you conduct
yourselves. See that you bring yourselves in subjection to the law of
Christ, and then teach your children in the spirit of love and
affection the way of life, so that they will not stray away from you,
becoming heady and high-minded, wandering after the foolish fashions
of the world, the pleasures of the world; but let them make their
delight in that which is virtuous and true, for this is more
pleasurable than all the vanities of the world. Real wisdom is real
pleasure; real wisdom, prudence, and understanding, is real comfort.
(The Presidency of the Stake were then unanimously elected—namely,
Oliver G. Snow as President, and Elijah A. Box and Isaac Smith as his
counselors, who also received their ordinations. Elder William Box was
ordained a Patriarch. The names of the members of the High Council
were presented, and that of the President of the High Priests' Quorum,
together with the names of the Bishops of the several Wards, all of
which were unanimously sustained. The President then continued:)
I have a few words to say to the Latter-day Saints concerning these
young men we have called to preside over the people of this Stake of
Zion. They are young—they have not the experience that older men have;
but if they do not possess more wisdom than a good many of our old
experienced men, I am sorry. There are a good many that do not profit
by the experience they have got, they do not know how to do so. I want
to tell you the reason why we have made the selection of brother
Oliver G. Snow to preside here. He is the son of brother Lorenzo Snow,
who has hitherto presided here. By appointing brother Oliver to this
position, I think he will be under his father's care, and where he can
get the wisdom his father possesses. And I will say to the credit of
the people here, they have done well. And brother Lorenzo Snow, who
has had charge of you, has set the best example for the literal
building up of the kingdom of God of any of our presiding Elders.
There is one man in the South who I think will come up to this
standard, and continue on. But brother Snow has led the people and
guided them and counseled them in the way that they should go,
apparently without their knowing anything about it, until he got them
into the harness; and I like this very much.
Our motive is to make every man and woman to know just as much as we
do; this is the plan of the Gospel, and this is what I would like to
do. I would like all the Latter-day Saints to come up to this
standard, and know as much as I do, and then just as much more as they
can learn, and if they can get ahead of me, all right. I can then have
the privilege of following after them. If they keep up close to me, so
that they will understand as I do the workings of the Spirit, they
will do a good deal better than they do now. But the beauty and
excellency of the wisdom that God has revealed to us is to fill
everybody with wisdom, bringing them up to the highest standard of
knowledge and wisdom, purifying us and preparing us to enter into the
highest state of glory, knowledge and power, that we may become fit
associates of the Gods and be prepared to dwell with them. This I say
is the beauty and glory of the great knowledge that God has revealed
unto the Latter-day Saints. You may ask in what particular? In every
particular. For the knowledge men possess of every science, every art,
every study there is, and every branch of mechanism known to men, they
are indebted to the Lord. True men may have been taught it by his
fellow man and he may have discovered much himself; but all originated
with God our Heavenly Father, through his agents to the children of
men. The faith and philosophy of our religion comprehends all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, and I wish I was able to say a
little better than I am, endures all things. But we must endure all
things that we cannot help, enduring patiently until we are counted
worthy to be free.
I want to say this with regard to brother Oliver G. Snow; virtually we
leave brother Lorenzo to overlook you. Can you understand this? If you
cannot you cannot see as I do. Brother Snow has exhibited splendid
talent in what he has done towards making this people self-sustaining.
Shall I give you my ideas in brief with regard to business and
business transactions. Here for instance is a businessman, a
merchant, comes to our neighborhood, with a stock of goods; he sells
them at from two to ten hundred percent above what they cost. As a
matter of course he soon becomes wealthy, and after a time he will be
called a millionaire, when perhaps he was not worth a dollar when he
commenced to trade. You will hear many say of such a person, what a
nice man he is, and what a great financier he is! My feeling of such a
man is he is a great cheat, a deceiver, a liar! He imposes on the
people, he takes that which does not belong to him, and is a living
monument of falsehood. Such a man is not a financier! The financier is
he that brings the lumber from the Canyons and shapes it for the use
of his fellow man, employing mechanics and laborers to produce from
the elements and the crude material everything necessary for the
sustenance and comfort of man; one who builds tanneries to work up the
hides instead of letting them rot and waste or be sent out of the
country to be made into leather and then brought back in the shape of
boots and shoes; and that can take the wool, the furs and straw and
convert the same into cloth, into hats and bonnets, and that will
plant out mulberry trees and raise the silk, and thus give employment
to men, women and children, as you have commenced to do here, bringing
the elements into successful use for the benefit of man, and
reclaiming a barren wilderness, converting it into a fruitful field,
making it to blossom as the rose; such a man I would call a financier,
a benefactor of his fellow man. But the great majority of men who have
amassed great wealth have done it at the expense of their fellows, on
the principle that the doctors, the lawyers and the merchants acquire
theirs. Such men are impositions on the community, and they ought to
be taken and put to some honorable labor such as raising potatoes,
raising grain, cattle and sheep, and performing other useful and
necessary labors for the good of mankind. Amen.