There is a little time remaining, and as I have been requested I
desire to make such remarks as may occur to my mind. I have been
pleased and edified during the Conference which is now drawing to a
close. It has been very gratifying to see the large number of people
that has gathered together during the two days that have passed. It is
evident that the Latter-day Saints are interested in the welfare of
Zion, and are prompted to attend to the duties which devolve upon
them, to take that part which belongs to them; in adopting and
sustaining the measures proposed for effectually carrying out the
purposes of the Almighty in relation to the great Latter-day work in
which we are engaged, and in seconding and sustaining those who are
appointed to take the oversight of all the affairs of the Church, by
the voice of the people and by the voice of the Lord. In doing this we
are but doing our duty, still it is ever pleasant to see the people
willing to do their duty, and especially so, to see so many cheerfully
respond to their duty as have done so during this Conference.
It is certainly encouraging to those who stand at our head to see the
people rally around them, manifesting such faith, good feeling and
love for the work of God and for those whom the Lord has inspired with
his good Spirit to lead us. It is an evidence, at least, that in a
great measure, our desires and our hearts are united.
There are a great many things which are necessary for us to consider
and so far as possible thoroughly understand. Not much has been said
during this Conference in relation to our temporal affairs, except so
far as the reports which have been read have shown the financial and
statistical condition of the Latter-day Saints. We belong to a
temporal as well as a spiritual kingdom, and it is very necessary that
we should take a lively interest in whatever tends to build up the
kingdom of God, temporal as well as spiritual, and spiritual as well
as temporal.
I have never yet found anyone who can draw the dividing line between
our spiritual and temporal interests, neither do I expect to. I
believe that it is quite as necessary that we should attend to the
temporal, as it is to attend to the spiritual duties which devolve
upon us, and vice versa. It will not do to devote all our time to the
spiritual part, nor all to the temporal alone. We must not run to
extremes, but we should carry on the work of the Lord committed to us,
in all its parts, or bearings. We should have sufficient of the good
Spirit to make the temporal labors light and easy to bear. I find that
when we have to carry on the temporal labors without the Spirit, or
the life, light, vigor and power of faith, we are apt to feel that it
is burdensome and hard, or difficult to bear; but when we enjoy the
companionship of the Holy Spirit, we can and do joyfully perform all
the temporal duties and labors which may be righteously required of
us. The Lord will not require of his people anything which they are
unable to perform. He will not impose burdens upon his people that
they cannot bear; but if we have not the love of the truth and the
light of the good Spirit to guide us, the most simple duties and the
easiest tasks may seem burdens, too grievous to be borne. I have known
Elders, who, all their lives, have been "minute men;" they have never
stopped a moment to question the calls that have been made upon them,
neither have they stopped to consider their own temporal interests,
they have gone and come at the request of their brethren in the
service of the people and the Lord. They have had their cares and
personal responsibilities, which have not always been of the lightest
character, and which have taxed their energies to the utmost, or at
least equal to many of those brethren who have enjoyed their leisure
at home, spending largely their time and ability in the interests of
themselves and families. They have had perhaps as many in family to
look after, to feed, clothe, and otherwise care for; yet these things
have not been considered, or allowed to stand in the way, when duty
called them to go forth in the interest of the Church. They were on
hand, like the ready watchman, scarcely stopping to think of
themselves or theirs. This they have done with all their hearts, and
their labors have never been regarded as burdensome; but on the
contrary, they afforded them joy, pleasure and constant satisfaction.
They have not grown weary, they do not think that they have done
enough, as some have thought who have performed a short
mission—that it is now time they were beginning to do something for
themselves; they are still ready and willing to go or come, or do
whatever may be required of them, regarding, at all times, their
duties in the priesthood of greater moment than any personal
considerations. The Lord has blessed them in their labors; he has made
their burdens comparatively easy to bear; they have not felt the load,
but they have gone on rejoicing, never failing to accomplish the work
assigned them, to the best of their ability, trusting in the Lord, at
the same time doing all in their power, for the maintenance of
themselves and families.
This is but a sample of what all the people ought to be. We should all
be willing to labor for the welfare and salvation of the people—to
sacrifice our own desires and feelings for the good of the whole,
being perfectly willing to do the bidding of the Almighty, with no
will of our own but to serve the purposes of the Lord. Is this not
consistent with the pattern set us by the Savior? Jesus said, "Father,
not my will, but thy will be done." This was the doctrine he
inculcated among his followers, and commanded them to obey; that their
will should be swallowed up in the will and pleasure of the Almighty,
that they should feel in their hearts that they are willing to serve
God even to the sacrifice of everything, though it should be life
itself, "counting all things but dross in comparison to the excellency
of the knowledge of Jesus Christ." When we possess the spirit of the
Gospel and faith in God, as we should, we will have no burdens that
will be difficult to bear; on the contrary, we will find our "yokes
easy and our burdens light," and it will be a pleasure to do our duty,
whatever that may be. If we should be called to preach the Gospel, we
will find it a pleasure to preach the Gospel, we will find it a
pleasure to respond, for we will feel that we are enlisted in the
service of God, for the salvation of souls, including our own. What is
there to compare with this labor? Can we compare houses and lands,
gold or silver, or the wealth of the earth, to the salvation of the
souls of men? What will a man not give for his own life? And what will
it profit a man though he gain the whole world, if he at last lose his
own soul? These are questions propounded by the Savior who, is "the
author and finisher of our faith." That which is of the earth is
earthy; it belongs here, we cannot carry it away when we leave this
state of existence, we cannot possess it beyond the veil, unless we
live so while here that eventually we shall be numbered with the
Saints of the Most High God—for it is said that unto them shall the
earth be given, but not until they are prepared to "possess it for
ever and ever." And then they must receive it from Him who has the
right to give. If we do right, therefore, in this probation, when "the
earth and the fulness thereof shall be given to the saints of the most
High," we will be numbered among those who will inherit it. But that
time has not yet come. The earth and its fulness are not ours—if they
were we might remain here in peaceful possession; but they are God's,
and we are his, what we have being committed to us, as stewards, for a
little season; therefore, our worldly riches and possessions are but
dross compared with our eternal salvation. We are laboring for the
salvation of souls, and we should feel that this is the greatest duty
devolving upon us. Therefore, we should feel willing to sacrifice everything, if need be, for the love of God, the salvation of
men, and the triumph of the kingdom of God upon the earth, in which we
expect to receive out reward, our exaltation and our crown of life.
These are not mere suppositions, the chimera of men's brains, or the
cunning of man's devices; but things which have been revealed to us
from God, he having spoken and declared these truths unto man in our
day."
I can testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that so far as the
Spirit of God manifests to me, all is well in Zion today. The work of
God is progressing. The interests of the kingdom are carefully and
jealously guarded by those upon whom rests this responsibility. Zion's
welfare is the constant theme, meditation and prayer. They desire that
no interest of Zion shall be allowed to fail, or flag, for the want of
proper care and timely attention. The finances of the Church are
guarded carefully by the Trustee-in-Trust for the Church. This I can
testify to, having been more or less intimately associated with him
for the last six months. I know he has carefully looked after the
financial interest of the Church, as well as the temporal and
spiritual welfare of the people, that the Church might be protected in
its rights as well as individuals and that individuals might also be
protected in their rights as well as the Church, that justice might be
dealt out to all.
There have been some circumstances developed and brought to the notice
of the Trustee-in-Trust and the Auditing Committee, which have been of
a very trying character, both to their feelings and to the feelings of
the other members of the council of Apostles, and no doubt also very
trying to the feelings of some of the brethren who have sup posed they
had claims upon the Trustee-in-Trust, which investigation has proved
they did not have. And in other instances, where it has been shown
that the Trustee-in-Trust has claims upon individuals who supposed
they were not indebted to the Church. But in all of these matters
evenhanded justice has been sought to be dealt out to the individual
and to the Church; but while the Church can afford to be liberal in
its alms to the worthy and needy poor, and to pay all just demands, or
claims upon it, it cannot afford to sanction or allow claims that are
not just. And further, it is but just and fair that individuals should
be as prompt, so far as it is in their power, to meet their
obligations to the Church as it is expected that the Church will be in
meeting its obligations to individuals.
We do not expect that the rights of the Church will be disregarded in
any particular. We do not expect that any person will indulge, or even
admit the feeling that the Church is an institution only to be preyed
upon; but we expect that the people do and will understand that we
cannot afford to deal in any other manner than upon the principles of
the strictest justice, righteousness and equity between man and man,
and between the Church and individual members of the Church, or the
individual members and the Church.
We have had a very excellent discourse from the President of the P. E.
Fund Company, in regard to the duties of those who are indebted to the
company. He has shown the vast amount that is now owing to that
company by individuals who have been assisted to immigrate to this
goodly land by its means; and the ingratitude, want of charity and
dishonor which attaches to individuals who have been so
generously assisted out of poverty and oppression, and placed in
circumstances to become free and independent, and then neglect or fail
to do their duty in these matters.
In some instances individuals who have been assisted to Zion by the P.
E. Fund, have gathered around them of this world's goods until they
have become rich, and still their indebtedness to the "Fund" remains
unsettled.
It is more than probable that these same individuals would always have
remained in poverty had they not been gathered to Zion by the P. E.
Fund: thus, we see, they are doubly indebted to the "fund," first for
their deliverance from Babylon, from poverty and bondage; and secondly
for the wealth and liberty which they now possess.
And again they are manifoldly more guilty of ingratitude to God and
man, because they have withheld from the fund its just dues—which they
were able to pay, and deprived others more worthy than themselves from
receiving assistance in the manner they had been assisted.
Every man that owes the fund a dollar should realize that it is a
just debt, that there are others in the same condition that they were
in when picked up by the P. E. Fund company and brought to this
blessed land, that they are praying and pleading for deliverance also,
and that perhaps they are quite as worthy—if not more so—than many who
have been helped and now owe the "fund" to an amount which, if all was
paid up, would be more than sufficient to immigrate to this country
all the Saints now in Europe.
Men but do their duty when they pay their just debts and to do so in
this case they discharge a triple duty—to the Fund, themselves and to
the ungathered, worthy poor. What honorable person can refuse or
neglect to do such a duty?
We are sending large numbers of Elders from time to time, to preach
the Gospel abroad. It is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to assist
those Elders on their missions when they need assistance, or when they
are unable to fit themselves out. Their families too should be cared
for by the Church, during the absence of the husband and father, so
far as they are needy or unable to provide for themselves. Every man
is in duty bound to do all he reasonably can to roll on the work of
God, to maintain himself and family and assist to build up Zion.
Some times a good man is needed to fill a certain mission, he is well
adapted to the position he is called to fill, or the duty he is
required to perform; but he is poor, he may perhaps have a large
family to maintain, which would require his whole time if devoted
wholly to that end, yet his ability, faith, integrity and other
qualifications peculiarly fit him for the duty required, and he is the
most available man to be found. Now what is to be done? Are we to
excuse him because his family is large and require his services, or
because of his poverty. Certainly not.
If the interest of Zion requires his services, in that direction lies
his legitimate path of duty. Then it becomes the duty of the Saints to
provide for his family and see that they do not lack the necessaries
of life; and it would not hurt us to see that they enjoyed some of the
comforts.
If there is no excuse for the poor, certainly there can be none for
the wealthy, nevertheless the rich are often so engrossed in their
business so bound up in worldly affairs, that they are but
poorly qualified for missionary service; the greater the reason why
they should freely impart of their abundance in aid of those who are
better fitted for the ministry when such are called into the
missionary field. It is true the tithings of the people are for these
and other purposes, and no doubt when all the rich and poor with one
accord honestly obey the law of tithing there will be plenty in the
store house of the Lord, to build temples and houses of worship, to
feed and clothe the hungry and naked to provide for the aged, infirm
and poor, to gather the Saints, to send the Elders to the nations of
the earth and maintain their families while they are gone, and also to
purchase the land of Zion and redeem the Center Stake and obtain
possession of our inheritances, or do any other thing which may be
needed, although in the beginning God gave a more perfect law than
that of tithing by which to accomplish all these things, but the
Saints were not able to abide the higher law—and it was temporarily
suspended, therefore until we know how, and will do better than we now
do, our tithings and our offerings are necessary to carry on the work
of God.
These duties should not be considered a hardship by the Saints. The
law of tithing is a commandment with promise of reward for obedience.
No man ever observed this law but he was blessed in so doing, for God
is both able and willing to fulfill all his promises when the
conditions are complied with on our part. Those duties which God
requires may seem a burden to the disobedient and unfaithful, but to
the willing and obedient they are sources of blessing, pleasure and
delight and are no burden at all. Our burdens become lighter in
propor tion to our increasing faithfulness. Our enjoyment of the gifts
and blessings of the Holy Spirit will increase as we become more
diligent and so will our knowledge extend and our title to exaltation
and eternal life become more and more sure.
The sending of Elders from year to year, and thousands of dollars
annually to gather the poor is not all we have to do. We have home
industries to look after. We must provide employment for our people,
that when they are gathered home they may not be idle for want of
remunerative labor. We should establish branches of industry from
which we could at least provide for our own necessities and as soon as
possible be able to export our home productions, and thus give
employment to every faithful Latter-day Saint who is gathered to Zion,
that individuals may not only become self sustaining but contribute
their proportion to the general good.
Our manufactories should be fostered, patronized and protected, and
their staple wares sought after and preferred by the people, even
though they were more costly at first. It needs no argument to prove
to the sagacious and far seeing that this policy will pay the best in
the end.
While we continue to be purchasers and importers only, we will remain
dependent to, and at the mercy of manufacturers and exporters from
abroad; but when we can produce what we need by our own industry and
skill, from the elements which so abundantly surround us, we cease to
import, to be dependent upon Babylon, or the world, we approach
independence, and begin to assume the position in the earth which God
has designed we should, to lead and not be led, to teach and not be
taught, to be the "head and not the tail."
Every Latter-day Saint should be proud to wear homemade
clothes, from head to foot, and when we begin to study our best
interests, and the interest of Zion we will do so though it costs us
more now than to wear the stuffed, starched, glossed and glittering
shoddy of the world, or even the best the world affords. Money spent
in home manufactures, is money saved to the community, it is money
laid up for future use and benefit at home, while money sent abroad
builds up New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Lowell, and the world
generally all of whom are opposed to the people and the work of God
and will only return evil to us for the patronage we bestow upon them.
We should be prepared, not only to manufacture our own wearing
apparel, but also to make all our mechanical and agricultural
implements, our household furniture, our building materials, our
wagons, carriages and equipment, with all that is necessary for the
righteous and legitimate use of man, that when Babylon shall fall we
may be prepared for it, and not be found among those who shall wail
and lament because "no man buyeth her merchandise any more."
I see some of the sisters wearing fine hats trimmed with silk ribbon,
also silk shawls, dresses, neckties, etc., which are of their own
production and make. This is as it should be—"the beauty of the work
of their own hands."
Perhaps no country in the world abounds more profusely than ours, with
the real elements of wealth, and none better adapted to the raising of
silk, which enters so largely into, and is so eagerly sought for
female apparel, and there are thousands of men, women and children in
Utah, who could as well as not devote a portion of their time to its
culture, say a month or six weeks in the proper season of the year,
both to their pleasure and profit, if they would, and the result would
be the production in vast quantities of the much coveted article of
silk, and an increase of profitable labor.
Sister Zina Young, Father Graves and a few others are interesting
themselves in this industry and are trying to awaken an interest
therein in the minds of the industrial classes, that silk may
eventually become a staple product of Utah. So far, I fear, they have
found it rather uphill work. The people seem to be eager for immediate
profit, for present gain, which in too many cases is exceedingly
detrimental to the individual as well as to the public good. It is
difficult to get people to look forward, or labor for the future; we
are all so terribly wrapped up and engrossed in the present and in
self. But the culture of silk is gradually being extended, I am told,
and by and by it will, unquestionably, become one of our flourishing
industries. A little child is capable of attending to a large part of
the labor involved in the production of raw silk, and children a
little farther advanced can prepare it for the loom.
May the Lord bless the people. May the Spirit of the Lord abide in the
hearts of the Latter-day Saints, and lead them continually, is my
prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
- Joseph F. Smith