I have been interested in listening to the remarks that have been made
by the brethren who have addressed us during this Conference: and I
propose myself to offer a few reflections that have passed through my
mind while listening to the teaching and instruction that has been
presented.
There is a feeling prevailing more or less among all the branches of
the human family, that the nation or people to which they belong is
superior in many respects to others, either in government, in
morals, in science, in manufactures, in the arts or in religion, as
the case may be, and the Latter-day Saints are not without this
sentiment. We feel that God has blessed us more abundantly with wisdom
and knowledge regarding himself, his ways, his laws and in relation to
eternal things, through our obedience to his will than he has others,
and that we are moving in a higher plane than the rest of the sons and
daughters of Adam. Admitting this to be correct, there is nothing
whereof we as individuals or as a people ought to boast. If we have
received any intelligence or knowledge pertaining either to the
present or the future, it has been solely through the communications
that God has been pleased to make known to us. For naturally we are
very like other men—not much taller, not much shorter, not much more
intelligent, not much more ignorant, than they are. There is not so
great a diversity among peoples as some imagine, other things being
equal; it may be well for us to reflect a little on the position we
occupy in relation to others, in relation to our God, in relation to
the world in which we live and the peoples by which we are surrounded;
to reflect upon the past, the present, and the future; and to
comprehend, if possible, our true status before the Almighty and
before all men.
It is indeed true that God has conferred upon us many great and
peculiar blessings for which we are indebted to him; but at the same
the Lord feels interested in the welfare of all men, and all peoples
of all nations, of all creeds and all religions—not in their religions
as religions, but in the people who profess to believe in them; and he
is acquainted with the peculiar ideas, habits, dispositions and
feel ings of men everywhere. One of the old apostles in speaking upon
these things, says, "God hath made of one blood all nations of men for
to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath determined the times
before appointed and the bounds of their habitations; that they should
seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though
he be not far from every one of us." It is further said, "that we are
all his offspring," and again "that he is the God and the Father of
the spirits of all flesh;" and consequently he is interested in the
welfare of all the human family, everywhere—among all peoples, all
nations, all kindreds and all tongues.
Now if this be the case, which we have no reason to doubt—then he is
interested in all the human family, and will try to promote their
welfare and happiness so far as he is capable of doing, according to
certain laws by which he himself is governed, as well as all things in
creation, and the learning we have heard so much about is simply a
knowledge of some principles associated with those laws which are
generally denominated the laws of nature. In relation to the nations
or peoples the Lord will do as well by them as they will let him, and
as far as the laws by which he is governed will permit, just the same
as we would towards our children. We fathers and mothers, have
children; they do not always do as we would like to have them do; but
we wish to look over their frailties and imperfections as much as
possible; but when it comes to certain points, then both father and
mother have to stop. If our children violate the laws of the land,
they have to be judged by those laws and we cannot prevent it,
neither should we try to. Still our feelings are drawn out
towards our families, and it is right and natural they should be, for
these paternal feelings are planted in the human breast by the
Almighty. It is therefore proper that we should have affection and to
manifest kindness, forbearance and long-suffering towards all our
children and all those with whom we are associated. God has this kind
of feeling towards his children; and it is a portion of the spirit
that emanates from him that prompts this affection and regard for our
offspring.
These things are connected also with other matters. We try to look
after the welfare of our children; we try—that is, those who are not
utterly depraved—to lead them in the right paths, and to influence
their minds and their morals and to teach them correctly both in
relation to religion, education and morals, as well as secular
matters, in order that they may become intelligent men and women,
capable of sustaining themselves, that they may improve the talents
God has given them, and that they may be able to comprehend some few
of the laws, at least, by which the creations, the worlds are governed
and the principles by which we are surrounded in this world, as also a
knowledge of the laws of life. This is all very proper; and it is also
proper that men should cultivate pleasant relations and have a good
kind feeling towards others. One of the greatest evils alluded to in
holy writ that, it is said, would develop itself in the last days is
thus delineated: "in the last days perilous times shall come. For men
shall be lovers of their own selves" instead of having that kind,
brotherly, affectionate feeling towards others, they shall be "lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those who are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof." This is spoken of as being one of the greatest evils
that could exist among men.
As I before stated, we have a regard for our children, and God has
also a regard for us. We wish to train our children in the way we wish
them to go; other people wish to do the same. Talk about the
Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and other
denominations, no matter what their ideas or feelings may be, no
matter how inconsistent and foolish we may regard their manner of
worship, yet many of them are quite sincere in trying to benefit their
children. And God is sincere in trying to promote their happiness and
welfare as well as he is ours, both in regard to this world and the
world to come. And hence he will do the best he possibly can with all
peoples. But as I stated before, being governed by law, he can only
treat them "according to the deeds done in the body, whether those
deeds be good or evil." And when that judgment takes place all men
will have to abide its award; there is no appeal from it. No court to
which they can have access whereby they can change the decree of the
Almighty. The Lord knows this and he has prepared certain classes, so
to speak, in his school here upon the earth for his people and for all
the world. And he has provided a means of instruction for the
inhabitants of the earth, looking upon them as eternal, immortal
beings, having to do with time and eternity. But all things, as I
remarked, are under the influence, control and government of law, just as much as the planetary system with which we are connected
is governed by law. It makes no difference what a few of us may do, or
how the world may act, the sun rises and sets regularly, the earth
revolves upon its axis, and so it is with all the planetary systems;
there is no confusion, no disorder in any of the movements of the
heavenly bodies. They are governed by a science and intelligence that
is beyond the reach of men in mortality; yet they move strictly
according to certain laws by which all of them have been, are and will
be governed. And these laws are under the surveillance and control of
the great lawgiver, who manages, controls and directs all these
worlds. If it were not the case they would move through space in wild
confusion, and system would rush against system, and worlds upon
worlds would be destroyed, together with their inhabitants. But they
are governed by a superhuman power, by a spirit and intelligence that
dwells in the bosom of the Gods, about which mankind knows but very
little. It is so with regard to all the forces of nature—the earth on
which we stand, the elements of which it is composed, the air we
breathe, the water we drink and everything in nature is governed
strictly according to immutable, eternal, unchangeable laws,
practical, philosophical, and strictly scientific, if these terms are
preferred; but they are, nevertheless, placed there by the Almighty.
Now, in regard to the world, and the position we occupy in it. There
is something peculiar about the relationship we sustain to the world
of mankind with which we are surrounded. It is not proper for us to be
censorious, to upbraid people for things that they do not comprehend
and that are beyond their ken; we should be courteous and charitable
to all, and not find fault with men because they do not comprehend
things as we understand them. But try to understand our true position
and the relationship we sustain to our heavenly Father, to his laws,
to the peoples with whom we associate, and to the world in which we
live.
We read of many prominent men who have existed in the world in various
ages. For instance, there was Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, Jesus and his disciples, the people who
came to this continent, Ether, and the brother of Jared, Lehi and
Nephi, Alma, Moroni, and many other prominent individuals who held
intercourse with the Almighty, who were placed by the Lord in a
position whereby they could receive communications from him, could
learn his will and teach it to others. We look upon these men as great
men, and justly too, as wise men, as intelligent and philanthropic
men; as men who were interested not only in their welfare, but in the
welfare of the peoples by whom they were surrounded and the world in
which they lived. These men did not come as the censors of the world;
they did not come to aggrandize themselves, to build themselves up,
nor to control or coerce others. What was the great blessing conferred
upon Abraham? "In thee shall all the families of the earth be
blessed;" not cursed, not destroyed, not annihilated; but as a
messenger of God, as the elect of heaven, as a man whom he had chosen
to accomplish his work, and whom he would use through those principles
that existed in eternity to pour blessings upon fallen humanity. That
was the feeling which was manifested, as I understand it. It is true
that Abraham, when a parcel of thieves came along in the shape of a confederation of kings, and took away his nephew and others,
and despoiled them of their goods, that he gathered together his
household, pursued them and smote many of them, and delivered those
they designed to oppress and brought the captives back again to their
own places. And when he had done it, what then? Why, said they,
Abraham you have done a good deed, you have delivered us and brought
back this spoil, take what you please. But he told them that he did
not want any of it: "You were injured, robbed and despoiled, and
carried captive: these men came upon you and fraudulently despoiled
you of your goods; and here is my nephew, Lot, who is an honorable man
and one in whom I am particularly interested, and I was only doing for
you what one man ought to do for another; I will take none of the
spoils. Here are these young men who were with me, you may give them
what you like, but you shall not have cause to say that you made
Abraham rich."
Prominent men who were the descendants of Abraham acted in the same
way; true benevolence makes all cosmopolitans. It has been the
feeling, the design of all good men to benefit their fellow men; and
even the philosophy of the heathen has advocated this to a certain
extent. What was the message of Moses when he was sent as a deliverer
to the children of Israel, whom the ungodly Egyptians had oppressed
and made slaves of? He, as the sent of God, delivered a message, Thus
saith the Lord, let my people Israel go. A message of mercy to Israel,
and not even injurious to the Egyptians, unless opposed by them. Did
he deliver them by any inherent wisdom or intelligence in him? No, but
by the power of the Almighty, by the revelations of God and by the
intelligence that God gave to him. His labor was especially a message
to deliver Israel from bondage and unjust oppression. He brought them
out, and God worked with him. And when their enemies pursued them, he
protected them; he opened the sea and made the waves stand up while
they passed over dry shod. Some of these philosophical people—I do
not call them scientists, but ignoramuses—say, that is contrary to the
laws of nature. But it is not contrary to the laws of God, nor the
power of God, for he can do things just as he pleases, and manage them
according to his own will and purposes; and he is acquainted with
other laws in nature, of which men are ignorant. Moses, we are told,
was a stranger in a strange land, where he saw a bush that burned with
fire and the bush was not consumed (it might be said that this was
contrary to nature's laws also); and a voice spoke to him which
proceeded from the bush, telling him to take the shoes from off his
feet, for the ground whereon he stood was holy; also telling him that
he was a chosen messenger of the Lord to accomplish a certain work.
And the Lord taught and instructed him. And Moses went before the king
of Egypt and the powers thereof, and delivered the message that God
had given unto him. It was not a very agreeable message for them to
hear, nor a very pleasant one for him to communicate. But he was a man
of God and had the fear of God before him; the Lord had selected him
as an instrument, and although comprehending his weaknesses he shrank
not from the responsibility, but went forth in the name of Israel's
God to perform the commission committed to his care, and he delivered
the Israelites. It is true they were rebellious and ignorant,
and it is true they were self-willed, and many of them were very
corrupt; it is true they could not endure the light of the blessings
of the Gospel; and it is also true that when God would have made of
them a kingdom of priests they could not receive that priesthood, nor
be governed by its influence. He then took from them the Melchizedek
Priesthood, leaving them the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood, because
they would not and were not competent to magnify the duties of the
greater, and of that they were necessarily deprived. What then? God
did the best he could with them as he has done with every nation and
every people; he, however, sent prophets among them from time to time.
Now we will pass on. What was the message that Jesus came to proclaim
to the people, a message of destruction? A message of death? A message
of condemnation? No, no; it was a message of glad tidings and great
joy to all peoples. And what did he tell his disciples to go and
preach? Destruction to all people? No; his commission to them was: "Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Where?
To all the world. And what was the nature of that Gospel? Faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins,
and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, which
would place men in a position whereby they could have communication
with God their heavenly Father, having a hope blooming with
immortality and eternal life that entered within the veil, whither
Christ their forerunner had gone. Hence it was a message of mercy,
salvation and exaltation to all people who would receive it. "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." If they were condemned, if they suffered the wrath
of God, it was not because they had not life and salvation held out to
them; it was because they rejected that life and salvation through the
preaching of his word and the atonement of his only begotten Son. Was
there anything injurious in this? No, nothing of the kind. It was in
the interests of humanity; it was for the welfare of the world; it was
to teach man, through those heavenly principles which he had
communicated, the laws of God, to put them in possession of those rich
treasures of eternal life, opening the kingdom of heaven to the
believer who would obey his laws and be governed by them. This is the
message that God has always proclaimed to the people.
When Joseph Smith came, what did he preach? Just the same as all the
others had done. Was it because of any peculiar philosophy, or any
remarkable intelligence that he had in and of himself in the first
place to comprehend those principles that he revealed? No. It is true
that he was a chosen instrument of the Almighty for that purpose; it
is true that being one of the seed of Abraham, that peculiar blessing
belonging to him. It is true that Abraham in former years through his
genealogy was made acquainted with the rights pertaining to the
priesthood, and that Joseph Smith had those rights in common with
Abraham, being one of his seed. And it is true that he was selected
for this purpose; but until the Lord made himself known unto him and
revealed his purposes, he knew nothing about the things of God any more than you or I did. I know this for I have talked with him
upon these subjects. Well what was the nature of his mission? It was
to restore the ancient Gospel; it was to bring forth the record of the
Gospel upon this continent, which the people who lived here in former
years had forfeited, because of their transgressions; it was that the
stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim might be united with the stick
of Judah, in their testimony, evidence, prophecies, doctrines and
ordinances, developing correct principles, that things as they exist
in the heavens might be made more plain to men upon the earth, and
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word should be
established. Was it to condemn the world? Not unless the world
rejected it. What was the Gospel Joseph taught? Just the same as that
which Jesus and his disciples taught. He called upon the people to
repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins,
and they should receive the Holy Ghost. And did he and his brethren go
forth and preach this doctrine? They did. And was the promise they
made fulfilled to those who believed and obeyed? It was; and you are
my witnesses today that these things are true, it having been made
known to us by the Holy Spirit of promise, the Holy Ghost, which takes
of the things of the Father and reveals them unto man. And is anybody
harmed by this? What is injured? Whose rights are interfered with?
Whose principles are trampled under foot. Nobody's! Is anybody forced
to obey this Gospel? No! Has anybody been coerced into any measure
pertaining to these matters? No! It has always been proclaimed and is
today, "It is all free grace, it is all free will." Would you curtail
anybody in their religious rights? Not by any means; I would leave
them with their God. If they cannot comprehend, or comprehending have
not the inclination to obey correct principle, I would leave them with
their God, in whose hands we all are, and in whose hands are the
issues of life and death. If men do not love the truth we cannot help
it; if men become corrupt and unrighteous and full of infidelity we
cannot help it, we did not place them in that position, it is their
own act. Can you find a set of men today in the wide world, men who
are filled with more philanthropy and benevolence, or greater
benefactors to mankind than these Elders who are around me? You cannot
find them on this little earth; you cannot find men anywhere that have
and will make the sacrifices for principle that the Elders of this
Church have done. I see those around me that have traveled hundreds
and thousands of miles without purse or scrip, in the midst of
persecution, contumely and reproach, to deliver the message of life to
the people, because God had commanded it, and because they were
desirous to promote the weal and happiness of the human family. How
have they been treated? Just as Jesus was treated; just as his
Apostles and just as the prophets of old were treated. Men have always
killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent to them. But then
what of that? That is all the worse for those who did this; they have
the hardest row to hoe, for they as well as we have yet to appear
before the Judge of the whole earth, and he will say, I called but you
refused; I stretched out my hand but you heeded it not; hence, "I will
laugh at your calamity; and will mock when your fear cometh."
That is the way he puts it. I offered you light; I offered you truth;
I offered you intelligence; I desired to promote your happiness, your
well being, but you would not have it, and therefore you are left
without excuse. Are they his children? Yes. Does he feel sorry to see
them act that way? Yes; but he cannot help it, he is governed by law,
and those laws are inexorable and just and they cannot be departed from.
What next? As eternal beings we all have to stand before him to be
judged; and he has provided different degrees of glory—the celestial,
the terrestrial, and the telestial glories—which are provided according
to certain unchangeable laws which cannot be controverted. What will
he do with them? For those who are ready to listen to him and be
brought under the influence of the Spirit of God and be led by the
principles of revelation and the light of heaven, and who are willing
to yield obedience to his commands at all times and carry out his
purposes upon the earth, and who are willing to abide a celestial law,
he has prepared for them a celestial glory, that they may be with him
forever and ever. And what about the others? They are not prepared to
go there any more than lead is prepared to stand the same test as gold
or silver; and there they cannot go. And there is a great gulf between
them. But he will do with them just as well as he can. A great many of
these people in the world, thousands and hundreds of millions of them,
will be a great deal better off through the interposition of the
Almighty than they have any idea of. But they cannot enter into the
celestial kingdom of God; where God and Christ are they cannot come.
God has made use of various means, in various ages of the world, to
teach and lead men in the right path. He sent forth his servants in
different ages into the vineyard, and gathered a few here and a few
there who would obey his law, that they might be saved in his kingdom.
And what, let me ask, have the other people of the world to do with
it? They would not listen to the words of life; can the messengers of
God help it? No, they cannot. Theirs is not a very enviable position.
It was not a very pleasant thing for Moses to go to the Egyptian king
to tell him the message he had to bear, nor to see the plagues roll on
one after another. But God set him to work at it, and he did it. It
was the Lord that managed that matter; he was simply the instrument.
Who was it that inspired the prophets to predict many things that were
very unpleasant to the ear? It was God. Could they have helped it? No.
And when Joseph Smith came, for instance, could he help being born?
No. And being born, could he help being called by the Almighty? No. He
had either to do the thing that God required at his hand, or not do
it, and have suffered the consequences; and if he had not done it
others would, for God's work is destined to be performed. But he did
his part of it, and did it well and faithfully, and I know it, for I
was there when he was killed by some of our highly reverend Christian
brethren.
You Elders of Israel who meet together in the capacity of a
Conference, you have had the priesthood conferred upon you. Where did
it come from? From the Lord. The Aaronic Priesthood was delivered by
John the Baptist, who held it in former times upon the earth. He communicated that to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. And then
Peter, James and John, who had operated in the Melchizedek Priesthood
in their day, came and conferred it upon them, then the apostleship
was organized, and then the order of the priesthood was manifested
unto us as it exists in the heavens. Why? That we might be put in
possession of principles that emanate from God, and that we might be
able to act our part in carrying out the purposes of God; not only
pertaining to ourselves, but more especially to the nations of the
earth, and then to operate for the dead as well as the living. Had we
anything to do with it particularly? I did not introduce it, neither
did Brigham Young, nor Parley P. Pratt, nor Orson Hyde, nor Heber C.
Kimball, nor Joseph Smith; no man introduced it only as God gave it.
Joseph Smith was made use of as an instrument in introducing it; and
then having organized the Church in all its various branches, with
Presidents, Apostles, Patriarchs, High Priests, Seventies, Elders,
Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, with Bishops and High Councils, and
all the various organizations of the Church. These things were given
us for what? To gratify our ambition? To enable us to ride over and
trample under foot our fellow creatures? To place power and authority
upon us? No, not for any individual affair, not for any man's
emolument or aggrandizement. Although there is nothing more honorable,
nothing more dignified, nothing which a man ought so much to aspire
to, as to be a servant of the living God, and to be commissioned by
him to do his work upon the earth. And what is it for? To spread
correct principles among men; to combat priestcraft, states-craft,
oppression, fraud and iniquity of all kinds, and to introduce among
men those pure and holy principles by which the Gods are governed in
the eternal worlds. It is not for you and me particularly; the Lord
could get along very well without us, if we could without him. But
God, and the holy priesthood behind the veil, that have lived and
operated upon the earth, and who operate in eternity, felt interested
in regard to the things that we are connected with, and interested in
the welfare of the world. We talk about the wisdom of men. What true
wisdom or intelligence has man that he receives not from the Almighty?
I will tell you what the wisdom of men will come to by and by, and it
is not so far in the future as many people think, "when the wisdom of
the wise shall fail, and the understanding of the prudent shall be
hid," their power and glory will fade, and you will see their thrones
totter to their base; it is not long before you will see war,
desolation, carnage and death run riot through the nations, plagues,
pestilence and famine depopulating the earth. And then where will
their wisdom, philosophy and intelligence be? Men get a little
smattering of knowledge and philosophy, and of some of the lesser laws
that God has planted in nature, and they give glory to themselves, as
did the Babylonish monarch who said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I
have built?" They do not know that they are poor, blind, foolish,
ignorant, naked, destitute, and in the way of death. The nations of
the earth, with their false philosophy, with their wealth, their
corruptions, their power and might, will become, by and by like the
chaff of the summer's threshingfloor before the wind, as
represented by the Prophet Daniel. Why? Because eternal justice cries
to the great God in relation to all the people of the earth. That is
the reason, and because of their own acts and of their own
corruptions. Hear what the Lord has coupled with his commission to his
servants in this our day, and, when he said it, he said that which is
verily true; Go forth and bear your testimony to the world; and after
your testimony cometh the testimony of war and of fire, and of sword
and bloodshed, and the waves of the sea heaving beyond their bounds,
etc. He gives them fair warning, and they heed it not; but these
things must and will most assuredly come.
What next? Does he destroy them for their good sometimes? Yes. After
Noah had preached the Gospel to the antediluvian world, and after
their cup of iniquity was full, and Zion and her cities had fled, then
followed the judgments of God; then came desolation and destruction.
And why this wholesale sweeping out of existence of humanity? To stop
them from propagating a corrupt species. Was not that right? Yes it
was. He said, I will cut them off; I will prepare a prison for them,
in which they shall be confined for generations, where they shall not
have power to propagate their species; for these pure spirits in the
eternal worlds shall not be contaminated with their corruptions: I
will take them off the earth, and I will raise up another people. And
He did do it. What then? He was still merciful. When Jesus was put to
death in the flesh, he remembered them. "He went," says Peter, "and
preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometimes were disobedient,
when once the longsuffer ing of God waited in the days of Noah, etc."
What did he preach? The Gospel. And what is it he has told us to do
today? Not only to preach the Gospel and gather the people, but to
build Temples. What for? To administer in them. Who for? For the dead
who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel, that they might
participate with us in the blessings which they had not the privilege
of enjoying on the earth. We are doing this; hence we are doing more
than preaching the Gospel to the living; we are making preparations
for saving the dead, according to the word of God.
Reference was made this morning to the wisdom and learning of the
world. I don't know where it is. I have traveled quite extensively in
various parts of the earth, and I must say that I have not met with
their intelligence. I tell you what I have met with very frequently;
I have witnessed a great deal of ignorance, superstition and
wickedness, and any amount of corruption, and notwithstanding the
little advancement that some few have made in the true principles of
science, what do they know of things as they exist before God? I told a
few scientific gentlemen whom I happened to meet with a few days ago,
a few things that Joseph Smith, that unlettered, ignorant boy told me
in regard to the heavenly bodies and certain things associated with
them, and when I had done so, one of them said, Mr. Taylor, those are
some of the most comprehensive ideas I ever heard in my life. I said
these ideas are from Joseph Smith, that unlearned man; but God gave
them to him by revelation. Another remarked: I have read a good deal
and studied a good deal; but I have a great deal to learn yet. Was it
anything I knew? No, I simply told them something that Joseph
Smith told me. We have a great many ignorant, learned fools; but when
you meet sensible, intelligent men, as these were, they will
acknowledge principle when it is presented to them. But many men have
not the understanding to do it. Talking about saving themselves, who
among the philosophers can save themselves? Who knows anything of God
or heaven? They know a very little of the earth whereon we dwell, much
less do they know of things pertaining to the heavens or of God or of
eternity. And let me tell them furthermore, that no man knoweth the
things of God, save by the spirit of God—or, to use the text as it is
given: "For what man knoweth the things of man, save by the spirit of
man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of God." And they cannot get that spirit without first obeying
the first principles of the Gospel of Christ. Talk about their
intelligence, it is a curious sort of intelligence to me. What do they
do when they have to grapple with the sting of death, and when it
stares them in the face? Why, they take a leap in the dark. And this
darkness is the end of all their philosophy and all their science. And
the little they do know in divining the laws of God is only with
regard to some very few of the fundamental principles of those laws
that God has planted everywhere throughout the universe and I do
not therefore have that reverence for their theories, notions and
vagaries, nor do I attach that importance to their intelligence that
some people do.
I remember on a certain occasion, while in Paris, France, (I have
referred to this subject before, but it will not hurt to repeat it
again) quite a number of professed philosophers called on me and
presented so many foolish, dreamy, intangible, mysterious,
incomprehensible ideas and visionary theories, that I thought of all
the ignoramuses I ever met with, they beat all. They have a certain
kind of bread in that city, a kind of light cake, which they make
there. It is so light that you could blow it away with a breath, and
you might eat all day of it and not be satisfied. A brother who was
there visiting me asked if I knew the name of that bread. I said I did
not know the French name for it, but could give it a name. What name
would you give it, he asked? Well, I said, you may call it philosophy
or fried froth, just as you please.
Professor Huxley, in visiting Niagara Falls, made some remarks which I
remember were published and copied extensively in the papers, to the
effect that here was another evidence afforded of the many thousands
or millions of years (I forget the number now) that it had taken to
wash away the rocks below these falls. And this evidence was advanced
in support of geological ideas. I thought to myself; yes, professor
Huxley is a very learned man. I wonder if he knew that rock was once
in a friable, plastic condition, when, by the force of the watery
element the soft stratum might be disintegrated, excavated and removed
by the washing process in perhaps a very few days. We have seen large
gaps washed away out of some of our ditches in a few hours. Such are
common occurrences here. If a change were to take place in the
elements comprising such washouts; which might very easily occur here as elsewhere, and they become petrified, the same condition
of things would exist as may be seen at Niagara Falls, and some other
philosopher hereafter might expatiate on the years it took to remove
so much rock. If we have to submit to their theories, we should really
be in a sorry condition. I, for one, will not fall down and worship at
any such shrine.
We talk about our organizations; are they right according to the order
of God? Yes. Will they exist in the heavens? Yes. Are we all
magnifying our calling? No; we are not. We have indeed a sort of
skeleton fixed up; but I think sometimes it needs flesh on the bones
and the breath of life, the spirit of the living God breathed into it.
We need to realize the position we occupy and the duties devolving
upon us. We see this in almost everything around us associated with
the Church and kingdom of God. While many men are diligent and their
whole hearts are engaged in the work of God, there are a great many
astride of the fence, saying Good Lord and Good Devil, not knowing
whose hands they will fall into. And yet they are High Priests, and
Seventies and Elders. What will be the condition of such! We are told
that, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works?" Yet to all such he will say, "I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." You say, that
means the outsiders. No, it does not. Do they do many wonderful works
in the name of Jesus? No; if they do anything, it is done in the name
of themselves or of the Devil. Sometimes they will do things in the
name of God; but it is simply an act of blasphemy. This means you,
Latter-day Saints, who heal the sick, cast out devils, and do many
wonderful things in the name of Jesus. And yet how many we see among
this people of this class, that become careless, and treat lightly the
ordinances of God's house and the priesthood of the Son of God; yet
they think they are going, by and by, to slide into the kingdom of
God. But I tell you unless they are righteous and keep their covenants
they will never go there. Hear it, ye Latter-day Saints! Hear it, ye
Seventies and High Priests! "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting." You have the priesthood, and if you do not magnify
that priesthood God will require it at your hands. He expects us all
to be alive and energetic, honoring our calling, our priesthood and
our God, for he expects it of all of us. Now hear it, for as sure as
God lives it will be so. It will not be "how we apples swim!" You must
swim yourselves; for every man "will be judged according to the deeds
done in the body." If you aim at a celestial glory, you must have a
celestial spirit and be governed by it. You must be honest, virtuous
and benevolent; you must be men full of the Holy Ghost, magnifying
your calling, and honoring your priesthood, if you would obtain an
entrance into the kingdom of God. And so in regard to the sisters,
they stand precisely on the same ground. What are we to do? To listen
to and be guided by the world? No; but to regulate our temporal and
spiritual affairs—things per taining to time and things
pertaining to eternity, according to the influence, the law, and
direction of the Almighty.
Let us come again to this intelligence. Who would know today anywhere
in the world how to build a temple that would be accepted of the Lord?
Nobody. Who would know how to administer in them acceptably to him
when built? Nobody. Let them bring forth their wise men, if they have
any, and tell us how we shall obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of
God. This is something they cannot do. Why? Because they have not the
Gospel; and it is the Gospel that brings life and immortality to
light, and this is the kind of intelligence we are after. To redeem
and save the living and the dead; to build up the Zion of our God,
that a people may be prepared who shall be pure in heart, and prepared
to associate with the intelligences around the throne of God.
These are some things associated with our duties and responsibilities.
Have the apostles duties to perform? Yes. Does God require it at their
hands! Yes. If they do not do it, will he hold them guiltless? No.
Have the Seventies? Yes. What are they? To go to the nations of the
earth as bearers of the Gospel. That is your duty, you Seventies; and
if you do not do it God will remove your candlestick out of its place.
Do you hear it, you Seventies? And you High Priests and Elders, God
has not conferred the priesthood upon you to dream about, to trifle or
tamper with or treat it with contempt: he will spew you out of his
mouth unless you take another course, many of you. God expects his
message to go to all nations, and the priesthood ought to be seeking
after God and to be clothed upon with the power of God and with the
light of revelation, that they may stand forth as his messengers to
the nations: and then by and by, after having cleared their garments
from the blood of this generation, to go and administer for the dead
in the temples of the Lord, and keep laboring and doing until God
shall have accomplished his purposes.
What else are you going to do? To build up the kingdom of heaven upon
the earth, where the voice of God shall rule and where the law of God
shall have the dominion, and where men shall be instructed with laws
of heaven and be taught of God. A great many revelations and changes
have yet to take place, we have got to put ourselves in a position to
be guided and directed of the Lord in temporal as well as spiritual
things, or we will never obtain that glory for which many of us are
looking.
Well, what shall we do? Do right, following the counsels of those who
are placed over us. Follow the counsel of the Twelve, you whose
business it is to do it; follow the counsel of your bishops, you who
live in the wards, and you bishops follow the counsel of the
presidents of Stakes, and you presidents of Stakes seek for and follow
the counsel of the Twelve. And you people, be taught of your teachers;
and you teachers, get the Spirit of the Lord that you may teach
aright, and you Seventies and Elders prepare yourselves to go to the
nations of the earth. Say, here am I, send me; I am on hand, I am
ready to fulfil my duty and to magnify my calling, and with the help
of the Lord I will lift up a warning voice to my fellow men. And as
High Councils to sit in judgment with honesty, truth, fidelity and integrity, without fear or favor of any man to act and
administer in righteousness. And you Bishops, act as fathers over the
flock of Christ, that you may magnify your calling, and that in your
judgment you may seek for the inspiration of the Almighty, that you
may administer justice among the people; that righteousness may
prevail in Zion, and that it may spread and grow and increase, that
the glory of God may rest upon us, and that we may rejoice together in
the fullness of the Gospel of peace. And will it go on? It will. Will
the kingdom spread? It will, "until the kingdoms of this world shall
become the kingdoms of our God, and his Christ; and he will reign
forever and ever." And about the wicked and the ungodly, protect
yourselves against them as well as you can; unite yourselves together
and be one, and never mind their ideas and feelings. God has called us
to be one, to be united; and that man who tampers with the Gentiles
and with their vices and follies will go down to death. We are sent to
teach the principles of life, not to be taught of them; and we are
required to be governed by the principles, laws, intelligence and
truth that come from God, that we may magnify our calling, build up
His kingdom, gather together the elect, save the living and redeem the
dead, and then when we get through, unite with the assembled throng in
the Celestial kingdom of God; and honor and praise and glory and power
and majesty and dominion be ascribed to Him that sits upon the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever. Amen.