I thought I would come down and talk with you a little this morning. I
am pleased to hear the remarks made by Brother Joseph F.; they are
very well worthy of all acceptation by all good men. We indeed, as he
said, are engaged in a great work the ushering in of the dispensation
of the fulness of times, wherein it has been decreed thousands of
years ago, that God would "gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in
him." And for this purpose he has manifested himself; for this purpose
the Son of God has manifested himself; for this purpose those holy
prophets, referred to in the revelation read to you by Brother Joseph,
manifested themselves; for this purpose the heavens and the
intelligences around the throne of God are united; for this purpose
the Holy Priesthood that have existed in the various dispensations of
time are interested, and for this purpose those who held the keys of
the several dispensations that have passed, have brought those keys
and conferred them upon the Church of the latter days, through the
medium of Joseph Smith. The work that we are engaged in is associated
with the interest of all humanity—all men that have ever lived, those
that now live, and those that will live, and the salvation of the
living and the dead is mixed up with these matters.
We are not here for the purpose of looking after our own individual
affairs and interests, or to carry out our own peculiar notions or
feelings associated with any of our interests or the interest of any
particular party or clique, or anything of that kind. But the
Priesthood of the Son of God has been manifested in the interests of
God, in the interests of the heavens, and in the interest of all
humanity; embracing all people and extending to all nations and
tongues. The Lord has gathered us together for the express purpose of
forming a nucleus, an organism, a people to whom he could communicate
and reveal his will, and to whom he could make known his designs, and
among whom he could establish the principles of eternal truth and the
light, intelligence, rule and law of God, as they exist in the eternal worlds. This is why we are gathered here today, if we can
comprehend it.
Jesus, when here upon the earth, had a people and called them his
sheep. Said he, "My sheep hear my voice, and they know me and they
follow me, and a stranger will they not follow, for they know not the
voice of a stranger." And again he says while supplicating the Father,
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou
hast given me; for they are thine. Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me," that they may have evidence of a union that exists nowhere else
in the world of the love and affection of those godly principles that
cement and bind men together, which nothing but the power and spirit
of revelation can do; that they may have evidence of something more
exalting, more ennobling, and which will unite and associate men
together in indissoluble bonds of eternal truth according to the laws
of God; that there may be evidence in existence in the world that thou
hast sent me, and that the principles that thou hast given me have
been revealed to them and that they are to be governed by them: "thine
they were, and thou hast given them me."
That was the feeling that existed in former times among the Saints of
God, and these were some of the teachings unto them. The sheep have
been scattered abroad among the nations of the earth to whom this
communication has been sent and thousands have heard and obeyed the
voice of the good Shepherd and have gathered themselves together, as
we are here and as they are over this Territory, according to the
impulses originating from the Spirit of God, which has operated and
worked upon our minds and brought us together as we are here today.
Now then, what was this for? To preach first the Gospel of repentance
and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for
the reception of the Holy Ghost, to be followed by the gathering
together, etc. And what was it for? That we all might be baptized into
one baptism, that we all might partake of the same spirit, that we all
might be brought into communication with the Almighty and derive
wisdom and intelligence from the same fountain, having "One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, through all, and in you
all." When Jesus sent forth his servants formerly he sent them to
preach this Gospel. When the Father and the Son and Moroni and others
came to Joseph Smith, he had a priesthood conferred upon him which he
conferred upon others for the purpose of manifesting the laws of life,
the Gospel of the Son of God, by direct authority, that light and
truth might be spread forth among all nations. There was a number of
men selected by the Savior anciently, to whom he said: "Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you." What to do? To do
the things you have seen me do, as I have come to do what I have seen
my Father do. The words which I speak, I speak not of myself; but the
Father who dwells in me, he doeth the works.
Now then, we have got a priesthood organized here upon the earth, as
there was one organized in the days of Jesus, only with this
distinctive difference—that that was a dispensation of God to
them; this we live in is the dispensation of the fulness of times,
embracing all other dispensations and times and powers and authorities
that have existed upon the face of the earth, in the various ages,
from the commencement to the present time. Herein it differs from
others. Hence we are requested to gather together, something which
they were not commanded to do. We are told to build Temples: they were
not. We are told to administer for the living and the dead, which
ordinances were only performed then to a very limited extent. We are
called upon to build up not only the Church, but the kingdom of God,
and to introduce the rule and government of God upon the earth. We are
here just as Jesus was, not to do our own will, not for the purpose of
carrying out our own ideas or theories, but to do the will of God who
sent us. That is the way Jesus preached: "For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Sometimes
it was trying and perplexing, sometimes it was hard to endure; but he
did endure and suffer it, and he accomplished the work he was sent to
do. But sometimes when struggling with the powers of darkness, and
environed with the corrupt and ungodly, he gazed upon and comprehended
the gravity of the situation and things before him, it so operated
upon him, that in mortal agony he sweat great drops of blood. "For it
became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings." "For we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one who was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." He endured
everything possible for mortal to endure on the earth. Finally, when
the last struggle came, said he, "Father," if thou art willing, "if it
be possible, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done." What were his feelings in the midst of all this
sorrow? Did he give railing for railing, contumely for contumely? No,
he did not. David, you know, prayed that God would send his enemies to
hell quickly. He was quite in a hurry about it, as we are sometimes.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do;"
they are ignorant, they are foolish, and blinded through superstition;
they comprehend not thy laws, they know nothing of my mission. Father,
forgive them. I admire the sentiments and feelings of the Savior under
such circumstances, very much more than those of David.
As I understand it we are called upon to be saviors. And as saviors of
men, endowed with the holy priesthood, we should, with one feeling and
spirit, operate together in the interests of Zion; we ought to humble
ourselves before God and seek for His Holy Spirit to lead us in the
right path, that all may comprehend His law, and that we may operate
together in the interests of Israel, and in the building up of the
Kingdom of God upon the earth; and every other feeling and idea ought
to be esteemed subservient to that, and that ought to be the first,
leading, guiding, and controlling sentiment of all the elders of
Israel, and especially of those who take the lead in Israel.
We get tried sometimes, and we sometimes try one another; and we
sometimes feel as David did on a certain occasion, when he exclaimed: "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have
borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself
against me; then I could have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a
man mine equal, my guide, and my acquaintance."
Did you ever know it is necessary that we should be tried in all
things? If you do not, you will find it out before you get through, and
we are not through yet quite. In this connection, I am reminded of
what I heard the Prophet Joseph say, speaking more particularly with
reference to the Twelve, "The Lord will feel after your heartstrings,
and will wrench them and twist them around, and you will have to learn
to rely upon God and upon God alone." Has he done it? I think he has
pretty thoroughly. The Prophet himself was tried about as much as
anybody I know of, and his Brother Hyrum had his full share, the
Twelve also have been tried as much as any men that I know of, and a
great deal more than you know anything about. He furthermore said, "If
God could in any other way more keenly have tried Abraham than by
calling upon him to offer up his son Isaac, he would have done it."
And as I have said, Jesus himself sweat great drops of blood, and in
the agony of his suffering cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?" And why is it thus? We are told by one of old, "For it
became him, for whom are all things, and by whom all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings." For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Oh, what a happy thing it
would be if we could follow in his footsteps in that particular! But
we have our weaknesses and infirmities in common with all men. It is
incident to humanity, and the devourer is at work seeking to destroy,
to contaminate, to corrupt and defile, and to lead men down to
perdition, to produce discord and envy, hatred and strife, and every
evil that proceeds from that source. Shall I tell you its fruits? Envy
is one; hatred is another; malice is another; uncharitableness is
another; evil speaking is another; and so on—all these things proceed
from an evil spirit; and it is said, "That to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin
unto death, or obedience unto righteousness." Men sometimes falter?
Yes, sometimes they think they are strong; but no man is strong unless
he be strong in the Lord. No man is sustained only as God sustains
him; and if he do not sustain him, I would not give much for his ideas
or position. We sometimes think we are strong and that we can do a
great deal. So thought Peter on a certain occasion—at the time when
Christ said to his disciples, "All ye shall be offended because of me
this night." But Peter answered him, saying, "Though all men shall be
offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." The Savior
doubtless appreciated his feelings, but knowing better than he the
frailty of humanity, he said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, That
this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Did he
do it? Yes he did; but Jesus did not get angry with him, nor begin to
upbraid him and speak angry words to him. He knew too well the
weakness of mortal man, and he knew it before that time. But
he says, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." If you love
me, if you are my friend and my disciple, "Feed my Lambs." That was
not very hard to do; he had been called for that purpose. "He saith to
him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto
him, Feed my Sheep." And the third time the Savior put the same
question to Peter, and which on being answered as before, he said to
him, "Feed my Sheep." What is the duty of the Apostles, the Presidents
of Stakes, the High Priests, and Seventies, especially of those that
are generally presiding? If Jesus was here, he would tell you to lay
aside your nonsense, your follies and weaknesses, and act more like
men and Saints, and go to work and "Feed my Sheep." Said he, "If I be
lifted up, I will draw all men to me," not that I will rule with an
iron hand, not that I will trample upon them, not that I will let you
see that I possess power and authority; but "I will draw all men to
me." That will not be accomplished until the time spoken of when every
knee shall bow, and every tongue shall be heard to say, "Glory, honor,
majesty and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and to the
Lamb forever;" but it will be done through the influence of the
Gospel, through its cementing and harmonizing influences, through the
aid of the Almighty and the operations of the holy priesthood combined
together, united as the heart of one man in the accomplishment of the
purposes of God; with kindness and brotherly affections, with long
suffering and with every principle of righteousness that is calculated
to draw the feelings and affections of men, that they may see the
truth and know it for themselves, and that they may know also that we
are their friends, acting for the welfare of all men, living and dead,
and in the interest of the Church and Kingdom of God upon the earth.
And where this principle does not exist, there is something wrong, the
principles of the Gospel are not lived up to. For God is love, and
they that dwell in God, dwell in love; and "If a man say, I love God,
and hateth his brother, he is a liar," so said the word of God
formerly, and it says today. God is love, and they that dwell in God,
dwell in love. They are surrounded by that element, it is the fountain
of life within them. Jesus said to the woman of Samaria, whom he asked
to give him drink, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst
again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up unto everlasting life." If we will live so as to be
entitled to drink of the well streams that flow from the fountain of
all light, all these little, narrow, contracted, bygone influences,
will vanish like the dew before the rising sun, and the light, the
Spirit and revelations of God, will rest upon the priesthood, and
Israel will be one and his priesthood one, and they will fight side by
side in the defense of truth, and in the maintenance of those
principles calculated to exalt men through all time and all eternity.
These things referred to by Brother Joseph F. are too small for men to
have anything to do with. It might be excusable in babies, but for men to be engaged in such things is a shame upon the
priesthood, and an outrage upon the holy principles that God has been
pleased to reveal to us. That is the way I look at these things. And
it is a trick of the devil to decoy and destroy, to divide and
disrupt, and to lead men down to perdition. What would be the result
if these things are carried out a little further? The whole head would
be sick and the whole heart faint. I say, shame on the Elders of
Israel! Shame on men holding the holy priesthood that cannot be united
and operate together in the interest of the Church and the Kingdom of
God, but must drag in their mean, low, contemptible ideas and notions,
forgetting the high calling with which they are called.
What shall we do? Why, lay them aside and repent of your foolishness,
and forgive one another of your hard speeches and words, and your rash
and hard treatment made use of to produce stings, trouble and
annoyance among men; and study from this time henceforth one another's
feelings, and act the part of a brother and friend one towards
another, live your religion and keep the commandments of God. How did
Jesus teach his disciples to pray? When you pray, say, "Our Father
which art in heaven." What? I must tell a little story here. There was
a poor man once called upon a minister for assistance; the minister
tried to cheat him, and would not give him what he had agreed to for
some labor performed by him; the man was not very well suited about
it. The minister, it would seem, was one of those fellows who, if he
could squeeze a little out of the poor man, was quite willing to do
it. "Well," said the man, "I will take what you offer me, although it
is not what you agreed to give me, providing you will teach me the
Lord's prayer." To this the minister agreed and said, "Repeat after me
and say, 'Our Father which art in heaven—'"What!" says the man,
"is God
your Father and my Father, too?" "You must repeat what I say," said
the minister, "Our Father," etc. "What," said the man,
"my father and
your Father?" "Yes, yes." "Then," broke in the man
again, "is he
indeed my Father as well as your Father?" "Yes," replied the minister,
but you must repeat my words." "Well, what a rascal you must be to try
to cheat your poor brother in this way?" We should all feel that God
is our Father, and that we are all brethren and sisters. There are
none of us very big; in fact we are all very little when you come to
know all about us. None of us can do anything except the Lord helps
us, and if he does not help us, we, as a certain lady said, are "all
poor, miserable, independent sinners." There is none of the "big I and
little you" amongst us. We should have a common sympathy one for
another, and feel a kindly regard for the lowest of God's creations,
and especially for the Saints of God, no matter what position they
occupy. If any are in error, try to reclaim them by kindness; if they
have a bad spirit, show them a better one; if any do not do right,
do right yourselves and say, "Come follow me, as I follow Christ."
Would not that be the right course to pursue? I think it would; that
is the way I understand the Gospel. We do not, any of us, have the
priesthood for self aggrandizement, or to be used to oppress, or take
advantage of anybody, or to use improper language; but with all
kindness and long-suffering and forbearance and with love unfeigned. I
will read from the Doctrine and Covenants something bearing on
this, from page 386.
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they
not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of
this world, and aspire to the honors of men, and they do not learn
this one lesson" —just the very thing I have been talking
about—"That
the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers
of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor
handled only upon the principles of righteousness." Do you think that
God will give power to any man only to carry out his own contracted or
selfish purposes? I tell you he never will, never, no never. "That
they may be conferred on us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover
our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise
control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of
men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is
withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."
We think sometimes, we are standing in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus; and so we are. But there is no priesthood of the Son of God
that authorizes one man to oppress another or to intrude upon his
rights in any way. There is no such thing in the category; it does not
exist; as it is said—"Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto
himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to
fight against God. We have learned by sad experience that it is the
nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little
authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise
unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. No
power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the
priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and
meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge,
which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without
guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy
Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward
him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That
he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men," not of envy,
not of hate, not of faultfinding, but "be full of charity towards all
men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts
unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of
God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as
the dews from heaven." Then shall you feel the power of the Holy Ghost
resting upon you and its influence penetrating your soul, and then it
will grow and spread until its influence extends everywhere; and then
will men respect, esteem, and venerate you for your fidelity and for
your adherence to the truth. "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant
companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and
truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without
compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
These are great truths for us to reflect upon. And in connection with
this I wish to say, we not only need to have confidence in men, but
we must exhibit that confidence. "Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another,"
not preferring ourselves, but "in honor preferring one another." This
may be a hard lesson for some to learn, but we have got it to learn,
or we never shall be fitted to hold any important position in carrying
out the designs of God, in building up His Church and Kingdom on the
earth. We want to feel a free interchange of that union one with
another, not for one man to stand up among his fellows as though he
were unapproachable, and say to others, "Stand off, I am holier than
thou." Nothing of this kind; but entertain a kindness, a sympathy and
a desire to promote the happiness and welfare of all men, just as God
does. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and he
sends his rain on the just and on the unjust.
There is something I thought I would refer to in order that it might
be known and properly understood. There is a feeling generally
entertained that President Young, in his lifetime, got possession of a
certain square here in Ogden wrongfully. Certain things are
continually being originated by certain minds, and rumors get
circulated, and it is too often the case that people do not stop to
consider as to their truthfulness and in many instances conclusions
are formed, and I would venture to say that in nine cases out of every
ten such conclusions are wrong. Brother Lorin Farr is present: he was
Mayor at the time this land in question was transferred to President
Young, and is conversant with the whole transaction. I will therefore
call upon Brother Farr to come forward and relate the same fully, yet
concisely, that you may be apprized of the facts.
Elder Lorin Farr then made the following statement:
President Young spoke to me, as Mayor, either once or twice—I think it
was twice—wishing to know if Ogden City would let him have the "Union
Square" for the purpose of making a Utah Central Railroad Passenger
Depot, saying that if he could obtain it for this purpose he would
also make of it an ornamental square, suitable for a summer resort;
which I believe he fully contemplated doing, and would have done, or
have made the necessary provisions for it to be done, had he known he
was so soon to leave us. I have no doubt in my mind but what he
intended to make a very nice public resort of it, and believing so, I
laid the matter before the City Council, informing that body that
President Young had a claim on this city which arose in this way: when
he located Ogden City, between the forks of the two rivers, there was
then a very desirable farm here which was owned by Father Bingham,
containing 160 acres more or less. The President intimated to Father
Bingham his design of locating a city hereabouts, and that he knew of
no situation so good and suitable as that commanded by his farm and
proposed to purchase his farm for that purpose. Father Bingham
consented to the proposition, the purchase was affected, President
Young paying for the land out of his own pocket, and turned it over to
the city. I supposed, as one of the members of the City Council, that
that piece of land belonged to the city and belonged to the Church, as
President Young belonged to the Church. I thought so, and we all
thought so, and there was no thought given to it. It passed along for
about twenty years in that way. It is true, I sent down to President
Young at one time the sum of sixty dollars of City money to
apply on the interest then due on the money he advanced for the
purchase of the land—the money we sent to him was the proceeds of
City lots which we sold at five dollars each, which about paid the
expense of surveying and recording, leaving a small part of pay for
President Young. It was understood that he was to have his pay
sometime. I think I sent down a small amount of money another time,
but the amount I do not now remember. I laid this matter before the
City Council, stating to that body how President Young looked at it,
and I told them I thought it quite right and proper that President
Young should have his pay, but that I disliked very much to give up
the square; but, I said, seeing that President Young intended to make
of it an ornamental square, I would consent; without the other
consideration I was in favor of sending a committee to wait on
President Young to ascertain how much he paid for the land previously
owned by Father Bingham, and refund him the money with ten percent
interest. I requested the Council to appoint such a committee; but
some differed from me, while a few, I believe, favored my suggestion.
We agreed, however, seeing that President Young had advanced the means
to buy the location of our city, and actually purchased and possessed
it, which probably no other man but he could have done, and that he
had requested the City to deed him the square in payment of his claim,
and that he had proposed to beautify it for the benefit of the public,
we concluded to deed him the square; and when the time of filing the
land came, which was shortly afterwards, President Young filed upon
the square and got his deed for it.
I will here take occasion to remark that when I gave this explanation
at our Caucus meeting lately held in Ogden, that a gentleman, an
editor from the East, afterwards spoke to me about it, and in telling
you what he thought about the matter will illustrate my feelings in
regard to it. He said—that is before this land jumping—I think that
you did nothing more than right, I think President Young has done
enough for this people, and he richly deserved that square, and you
would not have exceeded fairness to have given him more than that ten
acres for the 160 acres which you say he purchased and turned over to
the city for city purposes.
President Taylor then resumed, the stand. Some people will say "Oh,
don't talk about it." I think a full, free talk is frequently of great
use; we want nothing secret nor underhanded, and for one I want no
association with things that cannot be talked about and will not bear
investigation. I wanted to hear Brother Farr's statement about this
affair, and I wanted you to hear it, because out of such things,
unless properly understood, a great many misunderstandings arise. I
have heard it stated that President Young had exacted too much in
getting possession of this ten acre square; I wonder now if any of you
speculating men had owned this 160 acres of land in this locality if
you would have been satisfied to take ten acres of this swampy land
for it? There is no decent man anywhere that would object to anything
of that kind, neither Jew, Gentile, or Mormon, and such unpleasantness
frequently arises from a miscomprehension of affairs. Had President
Young, because he was President of the Church, no right to have pay
for that which belonged to him? And if he furnished 160 acres
of land and got sixty dollars for it, I think nobody was injured very
seriously in giving him ten acres in lieu of it. Some of you would
have thought your toes were trodden on pretty heavily had you been
required to trade on any such terms. I heard a man say not long ago,
when something perplexing occurred, he did not know what excuse, to
make about it. I said to him, a right needs no excuse, and an excuse
will not make a wrong right. We want facts, and when we get them let
us appreciate them, and lay aside our nonsense which so frequently
arises from our misconception of things.
There is another thing I wish to refer to pertaining to your local
officers. I have heard it said that the City Council was in trouble
about the land on which the Tabernacle stands, because it was thought
the Church would get the benefit of it. Why? Because they have
occupied it so long. Who for? For the Church generally? No; but for
the local church in this place. The Church, as a Church, has bought a
part of that square above referred to, and has paid the estate for it.
Brother Joseph F. Smith and Brother F. Richards here are cognizant of
the fact, as auditors. I refer to the land where our Tithing Office
stands; but this other matter is something that pertains to yourselves
and not to the Church. You have had this for upwards of twenty years.
(Brother Joseph F., addressing himself to President Taylor, said:
"This place was designated by President Young, when the city was first
laid out, as a place to build a meetinghouse." ) I am informed that
this place was designated by President Young, when the city was laid
out, as a place for Church purposes. (A voice from the stand—"That's
cor rect, and Brother D. H. Wells carried the flag when it was
surveyed." ) Brother Herrick testifies to its correctness. (Brother
Wells said, "I am also conversant with the fact; I carried the
flag-pole when this square was laid out." Brother Wells also bears
testimony to the same thing, he carried the flag-pole when the Square
was surveyed. I want these matters understood, open and above board;
we have nothing to conceal from anybody. But there was some
inattention manifested by your local authorities—for the general
authorities of the Church have nothing to do with it; this place
through neglect, was not entered at the time the city entries were
made, and because of this technicality some of the City Councilors
seemed to object to the Church having two-and-half acres of the ten
acres, which was all they asked for, and that, too, on behalf of the
citizens of Ogden, by paying for it what it had cost the city, the
same as they have done with private individuals, I believe as provided
by law. But somebody seems to think that somebody is injured. Who is
injured? If the Church had ten acres and only desired two-and-half
acres, or if they desired the whole of it, I don't think it any great
stretch of liberality of anybody, and I do not see why anyone should
be at all exercised about it. They will say, What will the Gentiles
say? No honorable Gentile would say it is wrong, or take any exception
to it, and as for those who are not so, we do not care anything at all
about them. That is my idea. Somebody said the City Council had given
two-and-half acres to some outside religious sect. Well, if they had
it to spare, who cares? We do not want to be pinched up in a nutshell.
But then, I think the Latter-day Saints have just as much
right to lands surveyed and owned by them upwards of twenty years ago,
as the Gentiles to receive a free gift. I do not know why this kind of
feeling should exist, and therefore I speak of it. We are all one, or
ought to be; and therefore I speak of these things as they have been
presented to me. Is there anything wrong in that? Again, here the
Seventies, I understand, have given a large hall over to the city.
Anything wrong in that? No, not if they felt able to do so. I would
not think it very good policy, however, to give such a hall away and
then be left without any place to meet in. But then it belonged to
them and they have done it, and who cares? I don't. But if the city
has got things of that kind from the Seventies, if they have done an
act of that kind, why not the city turn around and be a little
generous? Can't the city be as generous and kind? Who are the city? I
suppose you are, along with a few outsiders. Brother Richards
mentioned to me, as Trustee-in-Trust, that there were five acres of
land here, joining the schoolhouse, in the lane, saying, "We would
like to get it, for we wish to use it for the purposes of a high
school or academy." I said, "I will mention it to the brethren of the
Council." We have since turned it over. Whose business is it? The city
is not injured, and the Church is not. I mention these things that we
may have a proper understanding of them, and not be found talking
about things we do not understand. I feel very liberal towards the
liberal class of Gentiles; but do I feel liberal in my feelings to
every miserable "unprincipled man?" No. But to the good, and virtuous,
and upright everywhere.
What was our message to the world? Salvation. What was the promise to
Abraham? "In thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth
be blessed," not cursed. The priesthood of God was not given to curse
men or destroy them, but to bless them.
Again, we are told to go and preach the Gospel to every creature; and
there is a great deal of pains being taken to do this. What is it? The
Gospel of life and salvation. Is it free to all? Yes, free as the
streams that pass your city, and all are invited. Some do not like it.
What of that? We cannot help that; we are going to perform the work
that God has set us at, and we will treat all men right. When they
come here, as strangers in our midst, will we treat them right? Yes.
Do they treat us right? Not quite. Will we be liberal and generous
and kind? Yes; I would give to every man of whatever name, or creed,
or color, all his rights without his ever asking for them; we need no
plot, or intrigue, or anything of that kind. We expect to build up and
establish the kingdom of God, that will contain in it, admiration,
protection of the virtuous and good among all nations. The time will
yet come when he that will not take up his sword to fight against his
neighbor, must needs flee to Zion for safety. All those who are not
fond of blood and carnage and desolation, if they want to be preserved
will flee to Zion. Have we not got to have a Zion for them to flee to?
Yes. And what is Zion? The pure in heart. We want to organize in such
a way, and advocate and maintain such correct principles, that they
will become the admiration of all honest men, who will feel that they
can be protected and find safety and an asylum in Zion. What of that?
Are we going to follow them then? No, no, no, we are not. Are
we going to be governed by their notions? No, we are not. Are we going
to mix up with their Babylonish ideas? No, we are not; we are going in
for Israel and for the Church and kingdom of God, but we will protect
every man in his rights so far as God gives us power to do so, but we
will not mix up with their iniquities, their frauds and corruptions,
that they are seeking in many instances to crowd in upon us; we want
to be free from these evils, and put our trust in the living God and
cleave to the right and the truth. If a man is a good man, won't I
treat him right? Yes; but at the same time, our moral and social ideas
are very different, and while I accord to them all the civil liberties
that any reasonable men should want, I do not wish to be governed by
his standard of morality, nor do I wish him to teach my children. Why?
Simply because I do not wish them perverted. No Gentile or reasonable
man would find fault with me for that. He does not want me to teach
his children my faith. All right, he can keep them away, and I want to
keep mine from his influences. Why? Because we are associated with
things that are eternal in their consequences. We are aiming at the
celestial glory. We believe they will get as big a glory as they are
looking for, but it will not be that which we anticipate; therefore we
don't want them to train our children and lead them down to death. We
want to manage these things ourselves, but injure nobody. Is anybody
injured by it? No. "I cannot see as you see," say some. All right, we
cannot help that. Would I find fault with the City Council because
they give a burying ground to some who prefer to have their dead by
themselves? No, not if you have it to spare; but on the other hand,
don't let us shut out our own people and our own interests, but
maintain every right wisely, to the building up of the kingdom of God.
We will be as generous as the world dare to be; and we expect the
principles of the everlasting Gospel will go on and increase until the
kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ.
I say to those men who may have any differences, settle them like men
and don't act the baby any more, but conduct yourselves as servants of
the Most High God. And may he enable you to do so and bless us all and
lead us in the paths of life, is my prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.