There are a great many things associated with human existence that
call upon people to reflect. We came into the world, and people are
coming into it in a continuous stream—children are being born as all
of us were in our turn; and whilst some are coming into the world
giving pleasure to their parents and friends, there are trials,
anxieties, cares and perplexities attending the nurture of the babe
and the care of youth until they arrive at years of maturity. Then
comes the struggles of life with all its attendant cares and
responsibilities.
With us particularly the greatest thing that we think of associated
with the welfare of our youth is that they become acquainted with the
principles of truth, with the order and organization of the kingdom of
God, that they comprehend in some measure the laws of life and prepare
to live for the future that is before them.
Brother Huntington has lived a great length of time associated with
this church and kingdom, and has arrived to what is often termed "the
sere and yellow leaf," when it is expected, according to the common
course of humanity, that people must leave and go into another state
of existence. For quite a long time it has been known by his more
intimate friends that he was shortly to leave. I visited him not long
ago myself, and had a very pleasant interview with him, and since then
I never thought of his living long; in fact I expected to attend his
funeral as we are now doing. But there was no compunction of feeling
—no desire to continue to live; but he felt as though he had
accomplished the work that was assigned him. Speaking to him, as I
sometimes do to our aged brethren on some occasions, I said, "Well,
Brother Dimick, you are about leaving, and, when you go carry my best
respects to our friends who are already there, and tell them I will
continue to do the best I can in the hope of by and by meeting with
them." And that is about the way that I look at these things. We have
our entries into the world, our struggles in the world, and when we
get through with these, and the weary wheels of life stand still, then
we pass into another state of existence. The Gospel has revealed to us
some of the most glorious, exalting, ennobling and encouraging
principles; and when we are in possession of these principles and the
feelings they produce, there is no terror in the approach of
death. I have seen the time myself when I could have died just as easy
as not if my time had come, and would just as soon have done so as
not, and I do not feel much otherwise today.
There is something very interesting in all the affairs of human life,
especially is there associated with us as a people. Brother Huntington
has been with us for a great many years, and has passed through many
trying scenes with the church in Missouri and elsewhere, and while
they are not of the most pleasant nature to contemplate, at the same
time they serve to show the faithfulness and integrity of those who
have been associated with them. I see around me a good many of the
brethren who, by experience, know all about these things, and I see
too that their hair, like mine, is getting—I will not call it gray,
but a little white. Some people felt sorry for us when enduring these
things, but we did not feel sorry for ourselves nor do we today. Some
felt as though it was impossible to bear up under the continued
struggles that we had to pass through; but the Latter-day Saints had
no such feelings. They reflected upon the future and upon those great
principles of eternal life which God had given unto them, and these
thoughts stimulate us with hope and joy today; and as the
effervescent affairs of time slide and pass away the Saints of God
rejoice in the knowledge that an inheritance which is incorruptible,
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is reserved in the heavens for
them. And they feel also that they have been called, and chosen, and
elected by the Almighty to help to establish his kingdom on the earth,
to introduce among men those principles that exist in the eternal
worlds and to maintain them by the Spirit, the power and strength of
the living God. They feel that they have a work to perform, and doing
that work they realize that God is with them and that all will be
right, whether it relates to this world or the world to come; that is
the feeling which the Gospel of the Son of God inspires in the hearts
of those who live up to its requirements, obey its demands, and fulfil
the various duties devolving upon them.
It is not with them simply a personal matter. The Latter-day Saints
feel as though they occupy a peculiar position in the world—that God
has selected them from among the nations of the earth and gathered
them together that he might place his name among them; and that in the
coming struggle, in the great revolutions that shall transpire upon
the face of the earth, it will be for them to manage, to direct, to
control and adjust, and under the influence and guidance of the Spirit
of the living God, to promulgate the principles of eternal truth to
all people, that all mankind may have the opportunity of listening to
the great and glorious principles that God has revealed to them, that
they may be inducted into the laws of life and comprehend the
principles of truth as they exist in the bosom of God; and holding the
priesthood in all its various forms, organizations and powers, they
feel that they are associated with the priesthood on the other side of
the veil, who are interested in their welfare, in the progress of the
work in which they are engaged, and in the accomplishment of the
purposes which God has designed from before the commencement of the
world. This is the kind of feeling that the Latter-day Saints are
inspired with who comprehend their true position. And hence there are
organizations of High Priests, Seventies, Elders and others,
whose duty it is to go to the nations of the earth to proclaim to all
peoples the glad tidings of salvation. And whilst men ignorantly, and
without knowledge, seek to persecute, proscribe and interfere with the
rights of Israel, the God of Israel stands forth as their defender and
will protect them under all circumstances, and every arm that is
raised against them will fall, and every power that is marshaled
against them will crumble to pieces, for he will assuredly take care
of his people, and protect them in every emergency.
And when we comprehend these things, we realize that we are here not
to do our will, but the will of the Father who sent us. We are here to
introduce those eternal principles that exist in the bosom of the
Almighty; we are here to build up the Church and kingdom of God upon
the earth, and to form a nucleus through which and by which the God of
heaven can work, operate, lead, dictate, and control the affairs of
all men. He has introduced a little leaven which will by and by leaven
the whole lump. And although wars, commotions, troubles, difficulties,
bloodshed, plagues, pestilence and famine will stalk over the earth,
the nations totter and fall, thrones be cast down and the powers of
the earth be shaken, yet God will protect Israel, he will maintain his
people, if they will cleave to him and obey his laws and keep his
commandments; and we are here to introduce and establish these
heavenly principles that exist with God, and to teach the principles
of life to the people, that all mankind may have the opportunity of
hearing and knowing of the great things that God has revealed for the
salvation of the human family. We are here, then, for the
accomplishment of these things. We are here not only to proclaim
salvation to the living, not only to introduce the principles of law,
and government, and religion, and everything calculated to exalt and
ennoble man upon the earth, until the kingdoms of this earth shall
grow and increase, and become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ,
but we are here also to redeem the dead, to build temples and
administer therein, and to accomplish all the various works that God
requires us as his servants to attend to. And when one after another
of our friends passes away, what of it? It is only the ordinary course
of nature, and it makes very little difference whether a man be on
this side of the veil or on the other. Brother Dimick has gone where
paralysis cannot strike him any more, where sorrow and sighing with
him are passed, and where everything is pleasant, joyous and
happifying, and where he can rejoice with his brethren who have gone
before him. Do we feel to sorrow because of the change? No, not in the
least. We feel about this as you, my brethren and sisters, did in
years gone by, when leaving your friends and, perhaps families, to
gather to Zion, and as your friends did in seeing you take your
departure. They would shake you heartily by the hand and say: "Well, I
am sorry you are going and yet I am glad, and I will try to follow you
as soon as I can." That is about the feeling. It is an ordeal that God
has placed upon all men, and we have got to meet it, and having met
it, like all other things, we are prepared for what follows.
But let us speak of the living, for it is with those actualities we
have now to do in relation to things that are transpiring. Sometimes
people will say, "Don't you feel a little scared about things
now?" referring to inimical legislation. Not much; at least I do not.
I do not know that it makes my knees tremble much. I feel as pleasant,
joyous, comfortable and happy today as at any other time; all is
right. Men cannot do as they please. God rules in the heavens; and the
Prophet has said, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." It is His duty to take care
of His Saints, and why need we trouble much about it? We have
children, and it is our duty to take care of them; and it appears that
they are not much concerned where their dinner or their clothes come
from; they believe that "daddy" will take care of that.
As regards brother Dimick, it is all right with him. I would say to
him, "Peace to his ashes," and I would say to his family and friends,
"Be comforted, peace be multiplied to you, and have confidence in God
and all will be right." And by and by you will pass along, and we will
come and see you if you do not come and see us; that is, we will bury
you if you do not bury us first. And by and by we will all be on the
other side of Jordan, singing "Hallelujah, hallelujah, the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth."
Let us seek to do right. That is the main thing for us Saints to do. I
do not fear the world, nor any of its affairs or influences, or
powers, or any of its intrigues, nor anything it can devise; for God
will take care of his people if they do right. The only fear that I
have is, that people will forsake their God, and lose faith in him and
his promises, and be found serving the evil one instead of serving the
Lord. If we fear God and keep his com mandments, live our religion, and
pursue a proper course, all will be well with us in time and through
eternity.
Brother Huntington for many years was associated with the High
Council; he has gone now to associate with the councils above, and
with the various organizations of priesthood that are eternal, endless
and everlasting. And we, by and by, will follow to join our quorums,
our friends and associates who have gone before.
I am reminded of an item in Brother Dimick's written request, desiring
that only his good deeds should be spoken of at his funeral, and also
of a remark by Brother Taylor, in referring to it, that we should not
speak anything but good of our friends whether living or dead. I am
really astonished sometimes to witness the hard feelings and rancor
that exist among men. They come—I do not know where they come from;
yes, I do too, they come from beneath. The fruits of the Spirit of God
are love, peace, joy, gentleness, long-suffering, kindness, affection,
and everything that is good and amiable. The fruits of the spirit of
the devil are envy, hatred, malice, irritableness, everything that
tends to destroy mankind, and to make them feel uncomfortable and
unhappy. The fruits of the Spirit of God are love, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost; and the man that says he loves God and hateth his
brother, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. I do not care who he
may be, or what his name, or where he lives. This is the way I read
the Scripture, and the way the Gospel teaches me. "By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Even an outside poet has sung:
"Then speak no ill, a kindly word
Can never leave a sting behind," etc.
Let us be governed by these principles, and cleave to everything that
is ennobling, that we may be associated together in the bonds of
fraternity, love and affection, live our religion, keep God's
commandments, and cultivate his holy Spirit, and the spirit of
kindness, affection, love and fraternity among ourselves; so that when
we get through with our affairs on this earth, we may meet with joy
all those with whom we have associated on the earth below.
God bless the family of Brother Huntington—his wives and children and
grandchildren, and all pertaining to him. To his children I would say:
follow the example of your father, and God will bless you and save you
ultimately with him in his kingdom. And may God help us all to be
humble and diligent in keeping his commandments, that we may be saved
in his kingdom, in the name of Jesus. Amen.