Twenty-five years ago today this Church was organized with six
members. More had been baptized by brother Joseph, but he having
received a revelation to organize the Church, and only six members
being present, they were all that were then incorporated. Many of the
faithful brethren and sisters, who embraced the Gospel of salvation in
the early days of the history of this work, have no doubt often looked
over the ground this Church has traversed, and have been enabled to
discern the invisible hand of the Lord in the preservation of this
people in the various scenes they have passed through.
Many times, to all human appearance, there was no temporal salvation
for the Saints. Again, those who were not faithful, beholding things
as the natural man beholds them, have left the Church; yes, scores of
them, hundreds of them, thousands of them, both male and female. They
looked at this kingdom, and, considering its progress upon seemingly
natural principles, discovered it was best for them to leave it, and
if possible save their lives. Those who have been faithful can witness
this day, that those who have sought to save their lives have lost
them, while those who have sought diligently to build up the kingdom
of God, who have clung to the commandments of the Lord, who have not
counted their lives dear to them, have saved their lives.
It is marvelous, it is marvelously strange, and truly it is a
marvelous work and a wonder, to those destitute of the revelations of
Jesus Christ, when they reflect upon the history of this people, in
their travels and progress; and it has been a wonder to all who have
been acquainted with it.
Those who were acquainted with the rise of this Church, with the lives
and acts of the few who then believed the Gospel, and with the lives
and acts of many who surrounded them, discovered then that the powers
of darkness, the powers of the enemies of all righteousness, were
leveled against the few who believed in the Book of Mormon, and who
believed that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. Whether they were six in
number, or six times six, or whether there was but one, it made no
difference. Just as soon as the Book of Mormon was declared to the
people, or to a neighborhood, and pro claimed to be the history
of the aborigines of our country, and to contain the will of God to
the people formerly, and that the Lord Jesus appeared to the
inhabitants of this continent and revealed to them the Gospel; that
the kingdom of God was built up here; that the Lamanites were a
remnant of the house of Israel; and that the set time had come for the
Lord to favor Zion and gather Israel; at that very time, on that very
day, the powers of darkness were arrayed against the Prophet, against
the Book of Mormon, and those who believed it to be what it purported
to be.
Has this spirit of persecution ceased? No, not in the least, but it
has steadily increased. I was somewhat acquainted with the coming
forth of the Book of Mormon, not only through what I read in the
newspapers, but I also heard a great many stories and reports which
were circulated as quick as the Book of Mormon was printed, and began
to be scattered abroad. Then the spirit of persecution, the spirit of
death, the spirit of destruction immediately seemed to enter the
hearts of the pious priests more particularly than any other portion
of the people; they could not bear it. Among those who professed great
faith and great piety, and believed in the blessings of
sanctification, and professedly believed in the ministering of angels,
and in the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that it was the privilege of
Christians to enjoy the gifts and graces of the Spirit now, as well as
in ancient times, as quick as the Book of Mormon was introduced into
conversation, a spirit would rise in them causing them to wish to
destroy that book and every person who believed in it. They would say,
"It is from hell, it is from the bottomless pit, it is of the devil;
and those who believe in it ought to go to hell; it is a pity that
such a delusion should be permitted to rise in our Christian country."
Such expressions came from the mouths of religious priests, from the
mouths of leading characters in society, from those who professed to
hold the keys of salvation, and to teach the people the way of life.
Has this spirit ceased? No, it has not, but it has constantly
increased. And to my certain knowledge, through the visions of the
spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, I did know, I did see, I did
understand, before I went into the waters of baptism, that this spirit
of persecution would increase. As the kingdom of God increased upon
the earth, so would the power of the enemy increase in like manner, to
keep pace with it; and there never would be a time, except for a short
period, that this people would have rest, until Israel was fully
gathered, was redeemed and built up, and the Lord had drawn the
dividing line between the righteous and the wicked.
This Church has lived twenty-five years and is not dead yet,
although a great many of its members have gone behind the veil. Those
who were first baptized into the Church have almost entirely left this
stage of action. I presume there is not a single person in this
congregation who embraced the Book of Mormon in the fall of 1829, or
in the fore part of the year 1830. The Prophet, his father, and his
brothers, except one, are gone behind the veil. I suppose that Martin
Harris and Joseph's mother are living, but Oliver Cowdery has gone to
his long home, and most of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon have
died; and I know of but very few in these valleys who embraced the
faith of the Gospel in the early days of the rise of this Church. When
I call to mind the multitudes with whom I have been acquainted in this
kingdom, and reflect how few there are who have stood firm, and how
many have apostatized, I often at first think it is strange, but
again, it is no mar vel, realizing as I do that every person
who lives in this Church must be faithful. They cannot run by sight,
but must actually exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to
enjoy the light of the Holy Ghost. When they neglect this, the spirit
of the world takes possession of them, and they become cold and
fruitless, and pine away into darkness and spiritual death, and
finally leave us. Will this continue? Yes.
Perhaps there are many who are astonished to see people apostatize,
but it really is no marvel, it is no astonishment at all. If you wish
to know the reason why they apostatize, it is because they neglect
their duty, lose the Spirit of the Lord, and the spirit of the holy
Gospel that they received when they first embraced it. Many receive
the Gospel because they know it is true; they are convinced in their
judgment that it is true; strong argument overpowers them, and they
are rationally compelled to admit the Gospel to be true upon fair
reasoning. They yield to it, and obey its first principles, but never
seek to be enlightened by the power of the Holy Ghost; such ones
frequently step out of the way.
Say they, "Mormonism is true, but I am not going to stand it; I am not
going to abide this severe temporal loss; I am not going to stay here
and have my rights trampled upon; I am not going to be checked in my
career; I do not wish to be trammeled in my doings, but I want my
liberty perfectly; still I believe it to be true with all my heart."
Well, right upon these statements, if such men only believe
"Mormonism" to be true, and that too no stronger than they do, they
are not so far ahead in this particular as the devils in hell, for
they both believe and know that the Gospel is true. They believe and
know that Jesus is the Christ; they believe in the Old and New
Testament, and in the Book of Mormon, and know that they are true.
They know when a true Prophet comes forth upon the earth; if they did
not they would not raise up persecution against him. Not only
believing, but knowing that the Gospel is true, they are arrayed in
opposition to the truth, and lay every plan and scheme, that it is
possible for devils to invent, to overthrow the kingdom of God on
earth, that they may retain possession of the world still longer.
Will there still be apostasy? Yes, brethren and sisters, you may
expect that people will come into the Church, and then apostatize. You
may expect that some people will run well for a season, and then fall
out by the way. For example, take the parable of the sower that went
out to sow, "And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and
the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places,
where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because
they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some
fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But
other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an
hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."
When the seed falls into good ground it takes root, and brings forth
fruit; such individuals will be faithful to the end. The seed that
falls by the way side, for want of root cannot endure the scorching
sun of persecution. Those who are represented by the seed among thorns
cannot endure because of the cares of the world and the pride of life.
The influence and power of the world, and of the adversary,
surrounding such individuals, they are by and by turned away, and
cease to be Saints, cease to serve the Lord, and turn every
one to his own way. Is this strange to you? Yes, for a moment, you say
it is very strange. What did you embrace "Mormonism" for? Some have
embraced it for the truth's sake; some love the Gospel because it is
the Gospel—because it is based upon true principles, and because it is
the only system of doctrine revealed to the children of men, that is
built upon a sure foundation. They love truth because it is truth,
because it is light, and there is no darkness in it; and they fear not
to come to the light that their deeds may be reproved, for they wish
to get rid of their evil deeds. They love virtue because it is a holy
principle by which the angels live; they love all the Gospel
principles because they are connected with eternity, and are the
foundation of eternal lives, and will exalt the faithful to happiness
and felicity, to kingdoms of glory, power, and immortality, and to all
the knowledge and happiness that can be enjoyed by the intelligent
beings who inherit eternity.
It is not for me to say how many embrace the Gospel for the sake of
the loaves and fishes; but I really think, from their conduct, that
many have embraced the Gospel to see if they cannot make gain of it;
to see if there is any temporal advantage in it. Let this kingdom or
this people prosper, let them be free from persecution at this day,
let our friends, our relatives, our former neighbors speak well of us
and tell the truth with regard to our temporal prosperity, as they
would of other people, and what would be the result? Thousands would
professedly embrace the Gospel for the advantages to be derived
therefrom, to get a good name, and to obtain the riches which are of
this world, and to be perfectly free from restraint. Let this kingdom
prosper in a manner that all men will speak well of it, and let there
be no trials, no threatenings, none to say, "You shall be killed, you
shall be destroyed," but let all say "Peace shall be with you, we will
bless you, we will neighbor with you, and hail you as our friends and
brethren;" under such a state of things, thousands would professedly
embrace the Gospel for the sake of living in peace, and to obtain the
riches of this world; thousands would professedly embrace the Book of
Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants for political
advantages, for a great name, and to obtain what they are seeking
after continually. What is that? To be spoken well of by everybody, to
obtain power and great influence among men. Were I to give my own
private opinion concerning the matter, I cannot say that a great many
have come into this Church solely for the worldly advantages which
they would derive therefrom. On the other hand, do all people join
this Church with a pure intention? A great many embrace the Gospel to
be free from the iron hand of oppression; under which they are
laboring continually, from year to year, in servile chains, toiling
to get a morsel of bread to subsist upon. They are ground down and
afflicted; their wages are cut down to the last penny they can live
upon, when they know that they must labor or die.
Thousands are in this pitiable condition, and would embrace anything,
I do not care what under the heavens was preached to them. You may go
and preach the doctrines of Universalism, of Infidelity, or of any
other belief in the world, you may boil them down and get their very
essence, and with it tell those who are oppressed and borne down by
the rich and the great, "You shall be delivered from your factories,
you shall make your escape from your shops of toil; we are preaching
this to the poor; now embrace our system and our doctrine, and you
shall be delivered from this iron hand of oppression. We will
take you to a land of plenty, to a land of freedom, where you can
enjoy your rights and be blessed, and have the privilege of obtaining,
with comparative ease like other men, all the comforts of this life."
What is their reply? "O, we will embrace your religion, if you will
only take us away from these toils and this starvation." Many embrace
the Gospel, actuated by no other motive than to have the privilege of
being removed from their oppressed condition to where they will not
suffer. They will embrace any doctrine under the heavens, if you will
only take them from their present condition.
Are there any with us who act upon the same principle? O yes, you may,
once in a while, see one who is acting upon that principle. Let
persecution be heaped upon this people as it has been heretofore, even
let the persecutors threaten, at the great distance from us that they
are now, and those who have embraced the Gospel with motives that are
not in every sense pure, will say, "I am for embracing something else
to get rid of persecution; I am for leaving these Latter-day Saints,
lest affliction, trouble, and persecution come upon me and I be
killed, or be made to suffer in the flesh. I am going to leave for
California, or for the United States, or I am going to do something; I
want to do that which will free me from all earthly suffering and
trouble." Do these considerations touch one who has embraced the
Gospel because of its principles? No. Those who feel like forsaking
the religion of Jesus Christ for such considerations, embraced it at
first to better their temporal position in life, and for nothing else.
This has always been the case with many, and when persecution has
come, men and women have said, "I cannot bear it, I thought I was
going to have happiness, and to enjoy life; I really supposed that my
sorrows were all ended."
A great many have embraced the Gospel, believing that their sorrows
would come to an end, at a certain period in this Church and kingdom,
on the earth, and that too, speedily. I am a witness to this in my own
experience and feelings. When I yielded obedience to the commandments
of the Lord, the brethren were preparing to gather to a place that was
called Zion, in Jackson County, on the western borders of the State of
Missouri. I then actually had faith and the spirit of Zion to such a
degree, that I supposed that if we got to Zion our worldly sorrows and
afflictions would cease. I had not however a disposition to go there
myself, for I wanted to go to the world and proclaim the word of the
Lord that was revealed to me, and on that account I never had the
privilege of settling in that county. The spirit of Zion which I then
possessed is the spirit that inhabits the heavens and fills them, it
is in and round about all heavenly beings.
When that spirit is imparted to individuals they realize it as it is
in its purity, and are not mindful, at all times, that they are still
embodied in a tabernacle of clay that is subject to the power of the
devil, and that is liable to be afflicted at any moment, and to have
severe trials, and be opposed and persecuted as long as they are in
the flesh. But when the spirit that fills eternity is breathed into a
person everything else is dispersed in a moment, and he sees Zion as
it is in its purity, he then enjoys the spirit of Zion.
A great many people imbibed the same idea which I did in the
beginning, and really believed that in Jackson County all the earthly
sorrows, afflictions, disappointments, and weaknesses pertaining to
the flesh would be at an end, and that everyone would be sanctified before the Lord, and all would be peace and joy from morning
until evening, and from year to year, until the Savior should come.
The brethren who went then found themselves mistaken, in a very short
time. Those who went there, and those who were acquainted with their
going and coming, found the world, the flesh, and the devil there,
just as much as anywhere else, unless they had faith to turn every
spirit of the world out of doors, that is, out of their hearts. They
found the same tempter, the same covetous feelings, and the same
allurements there, as in other places.
When our Elders go out to preach the Gospel, they tell the people to
gather to Zion. Where is it? It is at the City of the Great Salt Lake
in the Valleys of the Mountains, in the settlements of Utah
Territory—there is Zion now. But you perceive when you come here the
same covetous feelings imbibed in the hearts of many, as in other
places, the same tempter is here, and there are plenty of allurements;
and unless the people live before the Lord in the obedience of His
commandments, they cannot have Zion within them. They must carry it
with them, if they expect to live in it, to enjoy it, and increase in
it. If they do not do this, they are as much destitute of Zion here as
they are in other places. Some inquire, "Why cannot we serve God in
other countries as well as here?" You can just as well in England, in
France, in Germany, in Italy, on the Islands of the Sea, in the United
States, in California, or anywhere else, as you can here. "Well, then,
let us go," say they. But hold on, you can serve Him just as well
anywhere else, when it is your duty to be there. If it is not your
duty to be anywhere else, if you would serve him acceptably, it must
be where He calls you. To what part of the earth is the Lord now
call ing His Saints? He has opened up their way far into the interior
of North America, they are widely removed from all surrounding civilization.
If you will examine the map you will find that we are located in an
isolated portion of what? Of Zion. And what is Zion? In one sense Zion
is the pure in heart. But is there a land that ever will be called
Zion? Yes, brethren. What land is it? It is the land that the Lord
gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph, and his posterity,
and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. That is
Zion as to land, as to Territory, and location. The children of Zion
have not yet much in their possession, but their territory is North
and South America to begin with. As to the spirit of Zion, it is in
the hearts of the Saints, of those who love and serve the Lord with
all their might, mind, and strength. We have opened up the way, and
come here, and what will you see? Just as much weakness and trouble as
in any other place, if you have a mind to make it—which you will if
you do wickedly, and perform that which is derogatory to the
principles of righteousness. We can make the Territory of Utah one of
greatest sinks of iniquity upon the face of the whole earth, and
exceed the abominations of the ancient Sodomites, if we are so
disposed.
The first founders of this Territory, those who dug their way through
the mountains, cut the sage brush, killed the snakes, made the roads,
built bridges and houses, opened farms, laid out and built cities
where no white man ever thought that civilized people could subsist,
unless they brought provisions from a distant country, can now
assemble together surrounded with the comforts and many of the
luxuries of this life. No white man whoever passed through this
country believed that a settle ment could he made in these
mountains, and prosper in cultivating the earth. The Lord has brought
us here, and what have we brought? Most certainly ourselves, and after
we get here some want to go away, and say that the place is not holy
enough for them, that they will not endure it, but will withdraw from
this society, until we are pure enough, and then they will come back
again. Such persons are like those who stayed in Jackson County, they
are too pure and holy for themselves. But if they stay, they stay with
themselves, and if they go, they take themselves with them, and that
is their great difficulty. If they could leave themselves behind, we
might succeed in cleansing them from sin; but no, they go and have to
take themselves with them.
The Saints who first came into these valleys necessarily brought their
tabernacles with them, but we endeavored not to bring any selfishness
with us, any erroneous prepossessed notions, any feelings, laws,
rules, or acts pertaining to ourselves, except such as the Lord should
dictate day by day.
Suppose that every person who comes into these valleys should come
with a determination to be led by the Lord, from day to day; suppose
they should say, "I will serve my God and keep His commandments; I
will not set a stake here, or there, or anywhere else; I will not say
that I will rise up tomorrow, and go to this city, or to that town,
to exchange and trade to get gain, only as the Lord will say, and this
will I do from this time, henceforth and forever;" and then let each
one faithfully maintain such a determination, and we could truly say
that we have the Territory of Zion, and the spirit, light, glory, and
power thereof, and that the God of Zion dwells with this people.
But if we bring our old traditions with us, our prepossessed feelings
and notions of this, that, and the other; and set our stakes, build
our habitations, and locate our position in accordance therewith, and
say, "I will do so and so, this is the path I will pursue, and I am
determined to walk in it, regardless of everything else," then we may
expect to be overthrown, and the spirit of the holy Gospel will depart
from us. Then you would soon learn that there was no temporal, no
natural prospect for this people to escape from utter destruction; and
you would rise up and say, "I am off to California to save my life."
But those who try to save their lives by their skill and craftiness,
will lose them, both temporally and spiritually.
A great many say, "I believe the Gospel," but continue to act
wickedly, to do that which they know to be wrong. I wish you to fully
understand that merely believing the Gospel, that Jesus is the Christ,
in the Old and New Testaments, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet sent of
God, and that the Book of Mormon is true, does not prepare you to
become angels of light, sons and daughters of God, and joint heirs
with Jesus Christ to a divine inheritance. Nor does mere belief
entitle you to the possession of the crowns and thrones that you are
anticipating. No, such preparation can be made, and such objects
attained only by doing the work required of us by our Father in
heaven, by obeying Him in all things, letting our will, dispositions,
and feelings fall to our feet, to rise no more, from this time
henceforth, and actually operating upon the principle that we will do
the will of our Father in heaven, no matter what comes upon us. Then,
if you are going to be killed by your enemies, or destroyed by the
adversary, you can say, "Kill away, destroy away."
True, the enemy of all righteousness, Lucifer, the son of the morning,
the devil, is in possession of the world, and of nearly all
that is in it, and says, "I am determined to destroy every man, woman,
and child that will not yield to my kingdom, obey my mandates, and
renounce the Lord Jesus Christ." But my determination is, not to
renounce the Lord Jesus Christ and his commandments, but to keep his
commandments faithfully, and let this people pursue the same course,
and wait until the final issue, and see who will come off victorious
in the great contest.
At present the enemies of all righteousness have the lead, and say,
"Now you poor Mormons, are you not afraid that we can muster our
thousands, and destroy every one of you?" "Go to hell," say I,
"and
be damned; for you will go there, and you are damned already." I can
prove from the Scriptures that they are in hell, though sanctimonious
persons consider it wicked to make such remarks. I also say, "Stay in
the hell you are in, if you choose, or go to another if you can."
Are the people going to fear? If fear is in the hearts of any of you,
it is because you do not pray often enough; or when you do pray you
are not sufficiently humble before the Lord. You do not plead with Him
until your will is swallowed up in His. If every one of the Latter-day
Saints lived up to their privileges, they would not fear the world, and
all that they can do, any more than they fear that the cranes, that
fly croaking three quarters of a mile above them, will drop their eggs
upon them to dash their brains out. You might as well fear that event,
as to fear all the forces of hell, if the people were sanctified
before the Lord, and would do His will every day.
Are these ideas strange to you? Read and learn how the Lord protected
the children of Israel in former days, even during their wickedness,
and rebellion against Him.
Whenever a good man would say, "Cease your wickedness, turn from your
idols, and seek to the Lord," and they hearkened to his counsel, then
the Lord would fight their battles, and kill their enemies by scores
and hundreds of thousands. And on one occasion the angel of the Lord
slew one hundred and eighty-five thousand of those who came against
His people to destroy them, "and when they arose early in the morning,
behold, they were all dead corpses." So reads the Bible. The Lord
fought their battles.
Again, Elisha's servant saw that there was more for them than all who
were against them; he saw that the sides of the mountains were covered
with "chariots of fire."
When the Lord commands those invisible beings, shall I say, those who
have had their resurrection? Yes, millions and millions more than the
inhabitants of this earth, they can fight your battles.
Now, since one angel could fight their battles in former times, and
overcome the enemies of the people of God, whom shall we fear? Shall
we fear those who can kill the body, and then have no more that they
can do? No, but we will fear Him who is able not only to destroy the
body but has power to cast both soul and body into hell fire.
There is an item of doctrine that I will now present just as it occurs
to me. You are aware that many think that the devil has rule and power
over both body and spirit. Now, I want to tell you that he does not
hold any power over man, only so far as the body overcomes the spirit
that is in a man, through yielding to the spirit of evil. The spirit
that the Lord puts into a tabernacle of flesh, is under the dictation
of the Lord Almighty; but the spirit and body are united in order that
the spirit may have a tabernacle, and be exalted; and the spirit is influenced by the body, and the body by the spirit.
In the first place the spirit is pure, and under the special control
and influence of the Lord, but the body is of the earth, and is
subject to the power of the devil, and is under the mighty influence
of that fallen nature that is of the earth. If the spirit yields to
the body, the devil then has power to overcome both the body and
spirit of that man, and he loses both.
Recollect, brethren and sisters, every one of you, that when evil is
suggested to you, when it arises in your hearts, it is through the
temporal organization. When you are tempted, buffeted, and step out
of the way inadvertently; when you are overtaken in a fault, or commit
an overt act unthinkingly; when you are full of evil passion, and
wish to yield to it, then stop and let the spirit, which God has put
into your tabernacles, take the lead. If you do that, I will promise
that you will overcome all evil, and obtain eternal lives. But many,
very many, let the spirit yield to the body, and are overcome and
destroyed.
The influence of the enemy has power over all such. Those who overcome
every passion, and every evil, will be sanctified, and be prepared to
enjoy eternity with the blessed. If you have never thought of this
before, try to realize it now. Let it rest upon your minds, and see if
you can discover in yourselves the operations of the spirit and the
body, which constitute the man. Continually and righteously watch the
spirit that the Lord has put in you, and I will promise you to be led
into righteousness, holiness, peace, and good order.
But let the body rise up with its passions, with the fallen nature
pertaining to it, and let the spirit yield to it, your destruction is
sure. On the other hand, let the spirit take the lead, and bring the
body and its passions into subjection, and you are safe.
It is instructive to reflect upon the acts of men, to observe what
prompts them to action, and to see how liable they are to get out of
the way, how weak they are, how shortcoming, how failing in their
spirits to do the will of the Lord, and how fearful they are. Afraid
of what? Do you reflect and realize that your fear is all pertaining
to your bodies, that it is not pertaining to your spirits? Let me tell
you, when the spirit is once separated from the body, it is one of the
most beautiful and delightful objects that you could contemplate, and
there is nothing that can give a pure spirit so much joy as to have
the privilege of being separated from the body and of going back to
its Father in heaven, to await the morning of the resurrection.
Remember this when you are afflicted with fear and trembling, and are
exclaiming, "Oh what shall we do?" Do you recollect what has been said
here? I recollect that when I chastised certain individuals who were
really not worth anybody's notice, the cry of some was, "O, dear! We
are all going to be destroyed, where shall I go to save my life, to
the north, south, east or west?" That fear arose from the organization
of the tabernacle, and not from the spirit within it.
The fear and trembling, the misgivings and wavering arise from the
anxiety we have to know how to save ourselves pertaining to the flesh.
That weakness is not exhibited in the spirit.
I am afflicted with it just as you are, but what do my judgment, the
revelations of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, and the spirit of the
Gospel teach me? That my tabernacle is of comparatively small value,
although it is a pretty fair one, and one that I am willing to take in
the morning of the resurrection. The Lord gave it to me, and I am
thankful for it. When it is the will of my Father that my spirit
should return to Him, what do I care about the moldering
tabernacle, so that the spirit is unlocked, and set free from its
prison house of clay? It can go to the Father who gave it, until the
body is resurrected, when the spirit will again be reunited with the
tabernacle, to be exalted to thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and
powers, and spread abroad, and to the increase there shall be no end.
Fears arise from the weaknesses of the flesh, over which the devil has
power. We should care, comparatively, but little about it; let it
crumble, let it fall, and go back to its mother earth, and be reserved
to the morning of the resurrection. I shall have this body again, then
what need we care how quickly our bodies dissolve? All I care for it,
in my spirit, in my judgment, and in my moments of reflection and
revelation, is merely that I wish it to endure here to fight the
tabernacles which devils dwell in, until the last one is driven from
the earth. Then let my tabernacle stay here and contend with the
fallen nature that it is heir to, and let my spirit rise triumphant
over it, until every passion, feeling, and appetite is brought in
subjection to the will of God. Let me stay here until I have
accomplished this, and have done the work I was designed for in this
my probation, then my spirit will be free from mobs and strife, and I
can soar far above those who have power over them, even death, hell,
and the grave.
I say to the Latter-day Saints, who are coming here by thousands and
thousands, and who are coming into the Church by tens of thousands,
begin to think, especially some of you first Elders, and ask
yourselves how many you can bring to mind of those who are now in good
faith in the Church, in proportion to the number that you have known
to have come into it, and you will find that there are only a very
few.
If you should hunt up many of those who have been baptized for some
time, but have not yet gathered, and ask them if they believe that
Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, and that the Book of Mormon is
true, several of them will reply, "O yes." "Then why don't you
gather
with the Saints?" "O, I don't know; I am poor now; but I would very
much like to gather with them." At the same time, I know that their
feelings are, "If I go there I shall be persecuted, but if I live here
I shall have peace with my neighbors, so long as I let religious
matters alone, and here I can live without persecution, until my
tabernacle is ready to return to the earth." What makes them have that
fear of trials and persecutions? It is on account of their
tabernacles. The spirit is not afraid. If it was free of the
encumbrances of the tabernacle, no such fear would be manifested; and
while we are in the flesh the Gospel is calculated to deliver those
who live by its principles from all those fears.
I recollect many times when brother Joseph, reflecting upon how many
would come into the Kingdom of God and go out again, would say,
"Brethren, I have not apostatized yet, and don't feel like doing so."
Many of you, no doubt, can call to mind his words. Joseph had to pray
all the time, exercise faith, live his religion, and magnify his
calling, to obtain the manifestations of the Lord, and to keep him
steadfast in the faith.
Do you not know others who had manifestations almost equal to those
Joseph had, but who have gone by the board? Martin Harris declared,
before God and angels, that he had seen angels. Did he apostatize?
Yes, though he says that the Book of Mormon is true. Oliver Cowdery
also left the Church, though he never denied the Book of Mormon, not
even in the wickedest days he ever saw, and came back into the
Church before he died. A gentleman in Michigan said to him, when he
was pleading law, "Mr. Cowdery, I see your name attached to this book;
if you believe it to be true, why are you in Michigan?" The gentleman
read over the names of the witnesses, and said, "Mr. Cowdery, do you
believe this book?" "No, sir," replied Oliver Cowdery. "That is
very
well, but your name is attached to it, and you say here that you saw
an angel, and the plates from which this book is said to be
translated, and now you say that you do not believe it. Which time was
you right?" Mr. Cowdery replied, "There is my name attached to that
book, and what I have there said that I saw, I know that I saw, and
belief has nothing to do with it, for knowledge has swallowed up the
belief that I had in the work, since I know it is true." He gave this
testimony when he was pleading law in Michigan. After he had left the
Church he still believed "Mormonism;" and so it is with hundreds and
thousands of others, and yet they do not live it.
If the Saints in the midst of these mountains would live their
religion according to the best of their knowledge, according to what
they see, feel, and hear, there is no power that could move them out
of their place.
A great many of the newcomers have been in the Church but a short
time, but you may take the Saints as a body, from those who have been
in the Kingdom twenty, and twenty-two years, to those who have
embraced it but a few years past, and, according to my feelings and
faith, and I will call upon every man and woman, who has got the Holy
Ghost, to say whether I am right, faith and good works are rapidly
increasing among this people. You know whether I tell the truth, or
not. If they have not increased, for heaven's sake, for God's sake,
for your own soul's sake, for Zion's sake, for Jerusalem's sake, and
for the sake of scattered Israel, let them increase from this time
henceforth. Let "Mormonism," the faith of the Gospel, which is
"Mormonism," continue to increase, and cease all your evil deeds, and
return to the Lord, and be honest and true. I tell you that a man
cannot believe "Mormonism" as I do, and be a bad man.
You will find in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and in
the other revelations of God, that there is a clear distinction made
between the sinner and the ungodly. A person to be ungodly must have
known godliness, and must have a knowledge of what the Lord requires
concerning him. There are many in the midst of this people who believe
the Gospel with all their hearts, but yet do wickedly; this makes them
ungodly. Do wickedly no more, but follow good works, and cherish faith
and benevolence one to another.