I have been very much interested in the remarks of Brother Orson Pratt.
I wish during the short time that I occupy the stand to make a few
observations in reference to the foundation upon which we have
established our faith and belief in the principles of the everlasting
Gospel which we have espoused, and to see what means the elders of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints employ in establishing
these principles in the hearts of the people in the various nations
where they are proclaiming the fulness of the Gospel. It is well
perhaps in view of the surrounding circumstances, and in consideration
of the difficulties that arise in our midst—and which may possibly try
our faith—to examine occasionally more closely into the foundation
upon which we ground our hopes—our hopes in regard to our property and
in regard to our ability to accomplish the commandments of God and
withstand the temptations that will be presented to try our faith, and
overcome the difficulties that may come in our way in the path of our
progress. In preaching the Gospel in the days of the apostles there
were certain things that followed their labors, that inspired
individuals that received the doctrine from their hands that filled
them with great confidence in regard to those principles as is shown
on a certain occasion where one of the Apostles uses language like
this: "Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The people who
had received the Gospel were reminded of the peculiar blessings and
powers that attended it in its administration. When the disciples were
ordained by the Savior and sent forth to proclaim the Gospel to the
world, they were told that certain blessings and assurances should
follow its administration. On another occasion it was said by the
Savior, when people were anxious to know in regard to the divinity of
his mission, he told them that if they would do the will of God they
should know of the doctrine. And again, on a certain time when his
disciples came together, he asked them what the people said in
relation to him, the character that they gave him, and the feeling he
had produced among them in regard to the divinity of his character. He
was informed that the people had various ideas and views in relation
to it. Some thought that he was one of the prophets that had risen,
that he was Elias or Jeremiah, or John the Baptist that had been
beheaded. In the midst of this confusion of ideas, however, there was
one individual that had obtained correct information on the subject,
and from a quarter that every person that receives the fulness of the
Gospel is privileged to obtain a perfect knowledge of its divinity.
Turning to the disciples he said, "But whom say ye that I am," and
Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God." Now, he had obtained a revelation in regard to the
character of the Son of God. He had not obtained it through the
observance of the miracles that Jesus had performed. He had not
obtained it from any other quarter or source save from God the Eternal
Father. Jesus told him that "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto
thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee that thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it." That is, upon the rock of
revelation, for the nature of the Gospel is such, that when it is
proclaimed and honestly obeyed, individuals receive a testimony in
regard to the divinity of the doctrine. This was confirmed on the day
of Pentecost. Peter in preaching to the people said, "Repent and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For this promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This gift of
the Holy Ghost is a different principle from anything that we see
manifested in the sectarian world. It is a principle of intelligence,
and revelation. It is a principle that reveals things past, present
and to come, and these gifts of the Holy Ghost were to be received
through obedience to the requirements of the Gospel as proclaimed by
the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in these
days. It was upon this rock that their faith should be grounded; from
this quarter they should receive a knowledge of the doctrine they had
espoused, and we are told by the Savior "that the gates of hell should
not prevail against them." Thus the Church was organized upon the
principle of revelation. In it were placed "first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." Thus
God placed in his kingdom and in his Church those things that were
according to the mind and will of heaven, according to the laws of the
celestial world. In another place we are told that God gave gifts
unto, men. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Now for what purpose
were they given? We are told that they were given "for the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ." How long were these gifts to continue? We are told
they were to continue "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." These were the
principles taught by the apostles, and when they went forth among
strangers they could say, "We have authority to administer in the
ordinances of the Gospel; but you cannot know these things except you
receive this knowledge from the eternal world. We profess to have this
authority, but you are not acquainted with us, you do not know our
character. We require you to repent of your sins and to be baptized
for a remission of the same, and then you shall have a knowledge of
the truth." These are the declarations of our Elders in these days; it
is by this means that the people are gathered here from the various
nations of the earth. Here we have a people from England, Denmark,
Sweden, France and from almost all the nations of the earth. Why are
we gathered into these mountain valleys? Why have we left our homes in
distant lands? Because we realize the truth of the gospel as
proclaimed by the Elders. We have received the gift of the Holy Ghost,
which has revealed to us this knowledge; and it is because of this
knowledge that we are here today. Where in all the world can you find
a class of ministers that dare take the position our elders do? Where
is the man or the set of men that can be found that dare to present
themselves before the world and say that they have been authorized of
God to administer certain ordinances to the people through which they
may receive revelation from God? Anyone announcing a doctrine of this
kind would soon be found out if he were an impostor—he would place
himself in a very dangerous position, and would soon be discovered if
he held no such authority. Our elders, however, dare take this
position. We have taken this position for nearly fifty years. God has
sent his holy angels from heaven and restored the authority to man to
administer the ordinances of the Gospel, and through these the gift of
the Holy Ghost now confers upon man a knowledge in regard to the
divinity of this work. Now, we talk about people succumbing because of
their inferiority in numbers or because they are partly in the
minority. That may be all very well providing it is simply man's work.
We can very well see that in such case 150,000 could not expect to
prosper or succeed in opposition, or in holding principles that are in
conflict to those of 45,000,000 of people. Noah could not expect to
succeed against a whole generation while his doctrine was accepted
only by seven individuals, providing it had been only man's work.
Neither could Moses when he proclaimed his message expect to have
succeeded against the Egyptian government and its influence had he not
been inspired and had authority from God. It is not that one man or
set of men should proclaim principles as divine and demand their
acceptance unless he have authority beyond that of man. If, therefore,
the elders of Israel have been authorized, if they have received
authority from the Almighty to proclaim these principles, then it will
be very easy to understand who will succumb in the end. If it
is the work of God we may expect very well what will be the result. There
was a law in the days of king Nebuchadnezzar that all nations should
bow to the golden image which he set up; it was made obligatory upon
every individual that he should not offer prayer to the God of heaven.
Well, what were the results? It is very easy to see; it is very easy
to see what will be the results at all times when God has a work to
accomplish in the midst of a people. When men of integrity, men of
honesty, receive a knowledge of any principle, divine principle, when
they receive a manifestation of the Almighty concerning the truth of
any work or any doctrine, it is a very difficult matter to destroy or
force that knowledge from them. You cannot do it by imprisonment, you
cannot by any method of torture. So in regard to the people called
Latter-day Saints. Inasmuch as they have received these doctrines in
various nations where the Gospel has been proclaimed, and inasmuch as
they have received a divine manifestation of the truth of these
principles, we do not expect when they come here to these mountain
valleys that they are to be frightened out of these things, because a
man's religion is more dear to him than life. Has anybody received a
revelation to the contrary? Has anybody received a revelation that
Joseph Smith was not endowed with power from on high, or that the
Elders of Israel have not been authorized to preach this Gospel? No;
but we can bring thousands of individuals that have received
revelation that these things are true; thousands upon thousands. Well,
then, the foundation upon which the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is built is the rock of revelation—upon the rock
that Jesus said He would build His church, and the gates of hell
should not prevail against it. We have not received this knowledge
through flesh and blood, we have not received this testimony from man,
we have not received it through the reading of the Bible, New
Testament or Book of Mormon, but we have received it through the
operations of the Holy Ghost, that teaches of the things of God,
things past, present and to come, and that takes of the things of God,
making them clearly manifest unto us. You cannot take this knowledge
from us by imprisonment or any kind of persecution. We will stand by
it unto death.
And now all the Latter-day Saints have to do, all that is required of
us to make us perfectly safe under all circumstances of trouble or
persecution, is to do the will of God, to be honest, faithful and to
keep ourselves devoted to the principles that we have received; do
right one by another; trespass upon no man's rights; live by every
word that proceedeth from the mouth of God and his Holy Spirit will
aid and assist us under all circumstances, and we will come out of the
midst of it all abundantly blessed in our houses, in our families, in
our flocks, in our fields—and in every way God will bless us. He will
give us knowledge upon knowledge, intelligence upon intelligence,
wisdom upon wisdom.
May God add his blessing upon this people. May we be faithful to
ourselves, faithful to all the principles we have received, seeking
one another's interests with all our heart, and God will pour out his
Spirit upon us, and we will come off victorious in the end, which I
ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.