As has been remarked by one of the speakers, a great deal might be
said upon the principles of the gospel of the Son of God. The heavens
and the earth are full of intelligence, and God rules over and directs
the affairs of nations as well as those of individuals and people; and
whatever may be our peculiar notions or ideas of other men and their
profession, the time will come, and is not far distant when the
secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and when all of us, Latter-day
Saints and others, Jews and Gentiles, peoples who now live, those that
shall live and those who have lived, will be judged, not according to
their peculiar theories, ideas, or notions, but according to the
principles of eternal truth as it exists in the bosom of God, or is
manifested by his eternal laws.
He has from time to time revealed his will to mankind, and he has in
these last days revealed himself to the human family and the men to
whom he has revealed himself in the different ages, comprehend all the
principle of truth and the laws of God alike, so far as they were
understood by them, having been taught by the same Lord and instructed
from the same source, and had intelligence from the same fountain,
they have comprehended, according to the positions which they have
occupied, and so far as revealed unto them, alike, whether
they were things pertaining to the living, or the dead, or to the
various kingdoms that exist in the eternal worlds, telestial,
terrestrial or celestial as the case might be, and as it may have been
revealed unto them; but no man in any age of the world has understood
anything pertaining to God and godliness only as it has been revealed
unto him by the Lord. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save
by the spirit of a man which is in him: Even so the things of God
knoweth no man, but by the Spirit of God." And hence it is impossible
under certain circumstances, for mankind to judge correctly of these
principles. For although the Lord has given unto every man a portion
of his Spirit to profit withal, no matter who he may be, or what clime
he may live in, yet at the same time, if he does not improve upon this
manifestation of the Spirit of God, and cultivate correct principles,
it would be impossible for him to comprehend the things of God.
Jesus, when upon the earth, said, "My sheep hear my voice and know me
and follow me; but a stranger will they not follow, for they know not
the voice of a stranger." It may appear singular, and it does to the
minds of many when they reflect upon the various dispensations of God
to man, and the position that the various nations of the earth have
occupied in the different ages of time. All men have knowledge, more
or less, and feel a reverence for the Divine Being, which is
manifested in various terms of worship. But there are few men,
comparatively, who have understood correctly the relationship, that
exists between God and man. Such has been the power of the adversary,
and so profound has been the darkness of the human mind, and so great
the disparity between God and his crea tures here upon the earth, that
the light, effulgence, glory and intelligence that exists with him and
with those by whom he is surrounded, has been little understood by man
upon the earth, groveling in the midst of darkness, weakness and
imperfections. Combating continually with evil and with the powers of
the adversary it seems almost impossible for man to foster and
maintain these high aspirations and feelings which the gospel alone
can inspire, placing man in his true position before God, and causing
his anticipations and hopes to ascend to those high, magnificent and
glorious principles that exist in the bosom of God, and in the bosom
of those intelligences with whom he is surrounded. Nothing but light
and revelation, nothing save the manifestations of the Spirit of God,
nothing but communication from him can bring man into relationship
with him. It is impossible. And hence the theories, wild notions,
erratic views and peculiar feelings that prevail among men, yes, among
the wisest of men—among statesmen, and kings, and emperors, and
potentates, and governors, and rulers, as well as among
divines, priests and people; and how different the sentiment! How
widely apart are the religious beliefs, forms of worship and
ordinances of all of them! What peculiar darkness is manifested in
relation to these things, in comparison to many other things with
which we are acquainted!
When we talk about practical matters of fact, the laws of nature and
of matter, the motions of this and other planets; or when we reflect
upon the various organizations of matter, and of man, and of the brute
creation, we see and comprehend in part concerning the laws by which
they are governed. And although we may speak in different languages,
yet at the same time we arrive, in a great measure, at the
same conclusions in regard to most of these prominent facts; we agree
in regard to these matters. But when we come to Jesus and God, we are
altogether dissimilar. What is the matter? We do not comprehend the
law, we have not been taught by the same rules, the principles of
instruction are not within our reach, we wander in the dark and act
foolishly and ignorantly in relation to these matters. But if we were
taught in these schools as we are taught in the schools of science,
and art, and literature, we could comprehend things alike; and not
until we have a teacher, not until we have those who are competent to
teach, who understand the laws of life and the principles of
salvation, can we, no matter what our intelligence otherwise may be.
Until then we shall have to grope in the dark, live in the dark, and
when we leave this world we must, according to the saying of an
eminent philosopher, "take a leap in the dark." We comprehend nothing
of our origin, of the object of our existence, or of our destiny;
neither can we comprehend it unless God reveals it.
He has, as before stated, in different ages of time manifested his
will to certain individuals, and he has sent them forth to make known
his will to the human family. And they declare certain principles,
simple in themselves, yet emanating from God, which are calculated to
enlighten, to impart intelligence; to bring him into relationship with
the Almighty, to give him a knowledge of God, of the Savior, of his
own being and the object of God in creating the earth and man upon it,
and also of the destiny of the earth, the world in which we live, and
all its inhabitants.
These things, however, are almost too simple for the human mind,
mystified and befogged by false theo ries and notions; they are almost
too simple for them to bow unto. What is it? Jesus said to his
disciples in former times, "Go ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." He gave unto them
power to lay their hands upon believers and impart to them the Holy
Ghost, which placed them in communion with God, and whose faith, as we
are told, "entered within the veil, whither Christ their forerunner
had gone." And still the words that these men preached, as Jesus
himself expresses it in referring to the same thing, were not his own,
but the Father that dwelt in him; he did the works. And we are told
that when those ancient men of God preached, their words went with
power and with much assurance, and the Spirit of God and with the
Holy Ghost, to the convincing of those who desired to know the truth
and be governed thereby. What was the result? This confusion
heretofore existing among them departed; they were no longer split up
into sects and parties, but, they had "one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, and one God, the Father; of whom are all things;" precisely
the same as we have in all the works of nature, in all organized
matter. There are certain eternal, unalterable, unchangeable laws by
which it is governed; and no chemist or philosopher can change these
laws; they are eternal, inexorable, and always produce the same
results.
We think these things correct upon natural principles; why not in
regard to these higher principles which God has revealed to the human
family? We read of men in former times who said they gazed upon the
Lord; they saw him, and his train filled the Temple. But says one, "I
do not believe it." Who cares whether you do or not? That does
not invalidate the fact. Your ignorance in regard to these matters
does not affect in the least, the great truths of God. And unless you
yourselves have had some revelation to show you that this statement is
incorrect, it is foolishness in any man to dispute these principles
thus communicated. We understand these things, having obeyed the law.
What do you understand? What does man know? Nothing, only some few
principles pertaining to the laws of nature. Who organized these laws?
That very being whom we affect to despise. Who organized the universe?
Who makes this planet and other planets revolve in their several
orbits, and by what influence and power are they governed? By a power
far greater than we know anything about. What can we do? Where is
there a philosopher that can organize a blade of grass, or a grain of
sand producing the material to make it from? You cannot find them. The
great Creator, who governs and regulates these and other systems, has
given a law to man telling him how to approach him, and showing him
the means whereby he can obtain intelligence from him; and he is able
to carry out that law, for he comprehends it. And what is it? Why,
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost." And
what shall that do for you? It shall take of the things of God and
show them unto you. But you would learn it in some other way, would
you? You cannot do it. That is the way God has appointed, and man may
exert all his influences and bring into requisition all his talents
and powers, but he never can obtain it only in the way which God has
appointed. I have a watch. The man who made it tells me if I would
keep it going, I must wind it up every day. But suppose I should want
it to go in some other way, would it go? No. Should I blame the maker
then? Certainly not; in fact, you might consider me a fool for not
carrying out the maker's instructions. And when God points out a path
whereby we can obtain a knowledge of him and of his laws, that is the
way to receive it, if we receive it at all.
The laws of matter and of mechanism are unchangeable, and so are the
laws pertaining to life, and also the medium of communication between
God and man. And hence Paul, after speaking some time to a
congregation that he was addressing, said the words that we speak unto
you, we speak by the power of God and by the Holy Ghost, and with much
assurance. And then in speaking of these things, he says, Ye are my
witnesses. Who? Those who received his word and obeyed it. You are my
witnesses, as also is the Holy Ghost that bears witness of us. He had
the living witness within him; and they among themselves had this
evidence. And John, in speaking to some of his disciples said, "But ye
have an unction from the holy one, and ye know all things." "Ye need
not that any man teach you; but the same anointing teacheth you all
things, and is truth, and is no lie." And in speaking to the people,
Paul said, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the
forerunner is for us entered."
This, Latter-day Saints, is your privilege. You have embraced the same
Gospel; you have been baptized into the same baptism, have partaken of
the same hope, and are in possession of the same spirit. Do not allow
your feelings to be overturned; do not give way to the follies and
delusions of men, nor to the powers of darkness, but maintain
your integrity before God in all fidelity; and live your religion,
keeping the commandments of God, and your faith will be as the faith
of the just, that shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
God bless you and lead you in the path of life, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.