We have heard a good many great and important truths uttered by those
who have addressed us since the commencement of this conference. We
have these conferences appointed for the purpose of adjusting and
regulating any matters that may arise in the several Stakes, and for
teaching and instructing the people on all matters pertaining to their
welfare relative to this world as well as the world to come.
My brethren of the Twelve and myself have been traveling around
considerably lately among the people. We have visited some of the most
prominent Stakes and attended their conferences; among which are the
Stakes of Sanpete and Cache Valley—two of the most prominent of the
Territory—in which temples are being built. We thought we would like
to visit them and see the condition of affairs; how they were
progressing, what advancement they were making in these important
labors, and then if they needed assistance of any kind we could render
it intelligently after enquiring into their position. We found in both
of these places that the people had been very faithful, diligent and
liberal in the prosecution of this work, that is, in building temples
to the name of the Lord, that they may go and administer therein and
attend to the ordinances of God's house for themselves, and receive
those blessings which God has to confer upon His people, and
administer not only for themselves, the living, but also for the dead.
We found that a very large amount of means had been used in both of
these valleys, including the districts around, appointed to assist
them in the erection of these temples, and they are building up
splendid edifices in both places. The one in Cache Valley is built of
hard rock, a species of marble, that will make a very strong wall.
There is, however, mixed up with it in different places, some very
fine sandstone, which they have to bring from quite a distance. They
have raised the walls of that Temple about fifty-five feet and are
still persevering. We found also that they were pro secuting
their work very assiduously in Sanpete. They have beautiful sandstone
there of a light color, easy to hew, which will make a beautiful
structure when completed, almost equal to ours in Salt Lake City, with
this difference, it is simply dressed outside. Hence things are
progressing rapidly, which evinces a good desire among the Saints to
carry out the purposes which God has designed and which they have
engaged along with us to perform.
In visiting these places we felt a desire to see the people that lived
in the settlements around. We made an attempt to this end before, but
could not accomplish it because of the pressure of circumstances that
required our attention in the city; but this time, being at liberty,
we visited all the principal settlements in Sanpete and Cache Valley,
which are quite numerous. We thought it was proper, seeing they have
as good meetinghouses as you have here. They have a much larger
meetinghouse in Cache valley than you have here, and I think the one
in Ephraim, Sanpete, is larger than this—yet they could neither
accommodate all the people, nor get them together, and you could not
here. We could take some of the houses in which we have attended
meetings, and put most of the people who are seated in the body of
this tabernacle into them. If the Saints wanted to attend conference
they could not find room, and consequently we thought it better to
visit them at their homes, see how they were situated, feel after
their spirits and let them feel ours; converse with them, preach to
them and see what they were doing.
We found that in these temple districts, whilst they had been very
energetic and very generous in their feelings in contributing to the
work, they needed some considerable assistance, and we felt it to be
our duty to assist them out of the general fund of the Church, the
same as we do in Salt Lake City; but of course not to the same extent.
They were working in union in a kind of united order; but not of
course fixed up in that order. But as we are operating together in the
interests of the Church and Kingdom of God, we deemed it quite proper
that those places should receive the necessary assistance; and we
thought also that that kind of feeling and spirit would also be
satisfactory to our brethren of the priesthood and to the Saints
generally throughout the Territory, for we are one, or ought to be one
in our endeavors to build up the Church and Kingdom of God. Having
enjoyed ourselves very much in preaching and in mingling among the
Saints in the places where we have visited, we thought we would come
to you and do likewise—not particularly to talk to you, because you
doubtless have enough of preaching, and perhaps a little more than you
can attend to; but in some places the people do not have the same
opportunity that you do here in Provo, for we sometimes slide by many
settlements on the road, and it appears in some instances as though
they were neglected. We thought in coming among you we would bring our
own carriages as we used to in former years, and go by the highway and
visit the folks at their own homes, go into the highways and byways
and try to meet with all the Saints, for we are all one, all having
been baptized into the one baptism and ought to partake of the same
spirit and be governed by those glorious principles which God has
revealed for the teaching and exaltation of the human family. Be sides there are a great many circumstances, transpiring from time to
time, which render it necessary that we should be conversant with one
another's feelings; that we should understand the mind and will of
the Lord, and that, we should be prepared to operate with Him in the
interests of the human family, in the establishment of Zion and in the
building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth. I always take pleasure
in preaching the Gospel—I have done a great deal of it—and my brethren
of the Twelve feel the same. There is nothing I take greater pleasure
in than in proclaiming the Gospel to the nations of the earth, and in
mingling among and preaching to the Saints of God. Although I cannot
now go abroad, yet I can, and so can my brethren of the Twelve,
associate with you—for they feel as I do in relation to this matter;
we can visit the Saints at home and talk to them on the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God.
There are a great many things associated also with this Kingdom that
it is proper should be presented to us from time to time, that we may
be enabled to act and to operate together and be one in our feelings
religious, one in our feelings social, and one in our feelings
political; for all these things are mixed up and intimately connected
with the position we occupy as the Saints of the Most High God in the
building up of His Zion here upon the earth. There are things
spiritual, there are things denominated temporal, there are things
also spoken of as being eternal in their nature, and all these
subjects, in all their various ramifications, demand more or less of
our attention. For instance, we are gathered together here as a
peculiar people in these valleys of the mountains. We are gathered
here because we embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because of
the revealing of that Gospel to Joseph Smith, and because after having
embraced it, we partook of its spirit, and because there was
associated therewith the principle of gathering. We are gathered here
under peculiar circumstances. But our first object was simple
obedience to the Gospel. There are circumstances growing out of this,
over which we seem to have very little control, by being gathered
together in the position we now occupy, and composing part of this
nation, there are certain political duties that seem to force
themselves upon us. We came here simply on religious principles to
start with, because we had faith in God, because we had faith in the
restoration of the everlasting Gospel; because we had faith in the
gathering together of the people; because we had faith in the
ordinances of the Gospel of the Son of God; because we had faith in
the organization of the Church and Kingdom of God, and the various
offices pertaining thereunto throughout all the ramifications of the
Church. We came together therefore in a Church capacity: but being
gathered together as a people, we brought our bodies with us, that is
we brought our souls, if you please, for the spirit and the body, we
are told, is the soul of man. We brought ourselves here and being here
we naturally form an integral part of the United States, and have
become part of what is termed the body politic of the government. But
we could not help that, and I do not know that we want to help it.
We became then organized in a territorial capacity and part and par cel of the government of the United States; this follows as
a natural consequence.
There are a great many Saints here gathered together. I do not know
the number; it is estimated by some to be from 150,000 to 200, 000.
How many there are I am not prepared to say. No matter, however, about
that: but we have gathered ourselves here. Now, then, it is necessary
we should be under some government. Being here in the United States,
we, of course, became part of that government, and, as a necessary
consequence, according to the customs and usages of this government,
we were admitted as a Territory. Under these circumstances, the
government send out certain officers; for instance, a governor is
appointed and selected by the President of the United States, and then
sanctioned by the Senate, and he receives his commission from the
administration of the government of the United States, and he comes
here as their representative. Then we have U.S. judges, a secretary, a
marshal and civil officers, according to the usages that exist among
people situated as we are in the Territories of the United States.
There are so many representatives of the government who are properly
appointed and authorized according to the form and usage that obtain
generally in the country and in the administration of the affairs of
this nation. We therefore come under this government and are subject
to its laws and receive its officers. They come among us, which is
very right they should do, according to the forms and usages that
exist in the United States; and it is our duty to treat them properly,
as it is their duty to treat us properly; the duty in this regard is
reciprocal. We need the protection of law wherever we are, or under
whatsoever circumstances we may be placed; and in placing ourselves in
this position we are only doing just the same as others of our fellow
citizens similarly situated are doing. This is a matter which has
grown out of our religious ideas. Our religion prompted us to come
together; and being together we have become a body of men, and being
on territory belonging to the United States, it becomes necessary that
we should be subject to its laws and usages, according to the
provisions made and stipulations entered into under its jurisdiction
and government. These things are all plain matters of fact, there is
nothing extraneous or uncommon about them. Further, as American
citizens we have certain rights, and others have certain rights. All
men in the United States possess certain rights which are guaranteed
to them by its Constitution. Again we have our legislative officers,
provided for by act of Congress and passed by the general government
of the United States. We have our probate courts, also our justices of
the peace, our selectmen and the various organizations and laws
pertaining to education, to public schools, and all things as they
exist in other Territories. But notwithstanding all this there is one
thing wherein we are very unpleasantly situated, which difficulty
arises from the peculiar position we occupy in regard to our religion.
There is nothing else that I know of. I have been in this Church a
great many years, and lived in this nation a great many years, and
have been a citizen for a great many years; but there is nothing that
I know of excepting that one thing, that could in any wise be
considered objectionable, and that is in relation to our views
pertaining to plural marriage; there is nothing else in all our acts
that any man in any part of world can or would attempt to find fault
with. No man can justly say this people have been disloyal to the
Government of the United States, if they say so they say something
that is not true, and a great many of them when they do say it know
they are telling falsehoods. We are not turbulent, we do not create
any difficulty, we do not get up mobs, we do not interfere with
anybody's rights, socially, religiously, politically or any other way.
We do not interfere with a man because his religious views are not as
ours; but on the other hand, so far as we have the authority we
protect all men. But there are some things we have occasion to find
fault with because of men wishing to trespass upon our rights. We
think this wrong, contrary to comity, good faith and correct
principles, and consequently we speak about it, and that is right, we
have the right to do that. If any man, either in a religious,
political or social capacity, trespass upon the rights of common
humanity, we have as much right to express our feelings and to defend
our rights as any other set of men have under the same circumstances,
and no just man would seek to deprive us of this liberty.
Now then, so far so good. While we would respect all honorable men,
and would treat them justly and equitably, we do not, we cannot
respect these miserable men who respect no man's rights, who would
turn and give you evil for good, traduce your character and circulate
falsehoods about you and seek to injure you—we cannot look upon them
as honorable men. They are not so treated among any people; especially
those miserable sneaks who would go round our houses and take
advantage of certain circumstances and become informers and implicate
you in crime under guise of friendship. All such men in any country
are despised, and would be looked upon as scoundrels not fit to
associate with honorable people. There is no one more contemptible
than a spy. He is looked upon as the scum of society and the filthiest
dregs of a community anywhere. We do not want to associate with such,
we cannot, our natural feelings revolt at it, and while we respect
honorable men everywhere, we say to such characters, "O my soul, come
not thou into their secret, unto their assembly, mine honor be not
thou united!" These are our feelings about such individuals.
In regard to our religious matters wherein our social relations are
concerned—for these are as much religious matters with us as anything
instituted among men. Our marriage system is one of the greatest
principles that God ever developed to the human family, whether men
believe it or not. But there are many who are not acquainted with
these things as we are; they do not understand God nor his
revelations; and they really, if it came to the point, should have
nothing to say against us in relation to these matters. But they do
not understand it, neither do they wish to understand it; because
there are a great many very corrupt men devoid of principle, and they
care not what becomes of their future if they can only accomplish
their present objects.
Now then, did we seek this principle? No, we did not. Did we ask God
that we might have a plurality of wives? No, we did not. Was it a
matter of our choice? No. The same God that revealed to Joseph Smith
the first principles of the Gospel also revealed unto him the
doctrine of plural marriage; it was presented to us as a doctrine to
be believed in and be governed by. Could we help it? What had we to do
with it? It is a command of God; and the question is, Shall I, after
having embraced the Gospel of the Son of God, and entered into
covenant with Him to observe His laws and be governed by the
revelations of His will; shall I, because of something that is
distasteful to me, set up my will and judgment against His, and say,
"Why, I shall be despised, I shall be hated;" shall I, because of a
feeling of that kind violate the laws of God? No, I cannot do it;
neither can you who believe in the revelation. God gave it to His
servant Joseph Smith and he declared it unto us. Now, how was it? The
first thing that was done, when the word of God came to us to do
it—for there was a time after this revelation was given when we were
not permitted to teach this doctrine publicly; but as soon as we
were instructed to do so, Prof. Orson Pratt was sent to Washington to
publish a paper, at the seat of government, and there proclaim our
sentiments on plural marriage to this nation and to the world. This
mission he fulfilled—publishing a paper called the Seer, and lecturing
in a hall hired for that purpose, several times a week. Was there
anything underhanded about this, or low, or anything antagonistic to
the interest of this nation or any other nation? It was merely
proclaiming certain principles pertaining to eternal lives and
covenants that should exist through eternity, in our sexual relations
pertaining to our association in this world and the world to come. Did
we interfere with the rights of others? No; and if we had any
revelations, it was not for us to oppose them. But others do not know
anything about these things, consequently they cannot comprehend our
position. Have we done anything covertly? Not until we were forced to.
Some few years ago, I remember being brought before a court to give
evidence in a case. I was asked if I believed in keeping the laws of
the United States. I answered, "Yes, I believe in keeping them all but
one." "What one is that?" "It is that one in relation to plurality of
wives." "Why don't you believe in keeping that?" "Because I believe it is
at variance with the genius and spirit of our institutions—it is a
violation of the Constitution of the United States, and it is contrary
to the law of God.? Now this is plain. You could not tell your feelings
much plainer. This was before the Supreme Court affirmed the
constitutionality of that law. "Well," said a man to me, "Are you
prepared to abide the consequences." "Always," said I,
"everywhere."
That is straightforward, and in saying this, I only expressed the
feelings of thousands of my brethren and sisters. Well, then, whose
business is it? If I do a thing and am prepared to abide the penalty,
whose business is it? Do I interfere with the friends or government of
the United States? No. They have passed a law for political effect
which is really intended as a trap for us. One would think that a
great and magnanimous nation of fifty millions, could afford to allow
a few thousand people to work out a social problem, without fear of
contamination. They do not understand us, we wish them no harm. Many
of them know this; but they cannot always control circumstances, and
many of the members of Congress who were not willing to do anything of
this sort, were crowded on by religious bigotry that
prevailed among their people, just the same as others were in the days
of Jesus. In his day he and his followers were maligned as we are. If
he ever did any good, how was it represented? "Give God the praise: we
know that this man is a sinner." And if we do any good somebody else
must have the praise instead of us; but if there is any harm done, as,
for instance, the trouble among the Indians, "it is the Mormons that
do it!" I suppose if there are any storms, shipwrecks, wars or
bloodshed, in Timbuctoo, among the Zulus, Chinese, Japanese, or
Europeans, the Mormons will be represented as having had a hand in
them. What position does this place us in? Do we wish to be governed
by the laws of the United States and sustain its institutions? Yes, we
do. But while we are doing this, many infamous men are misrepresenting
us. But there are many honorable men who have other feelings. I have
seen many of them not only in this nation but other nations, who
possess more liberal and generous feelings, men of position and of all
conditions in life. And among the honorable men of earth I find there
are a great many who look upon us as having been cruelly treated by
those who ought to be our friends. Well, now what shall we do under
those circumstances? Having passed a law on purpose to entrap us they
would now complain because we do not run right into the trap and say
"take us and put us in prison." We are not such big fools yet, we have
very different ideas to those. If they are ignoring principles that
God has revealed to us we cannot help it. If they do not believe our
statements we cannot have confidence in theirs; but one thing we do
know, we are a thousand times more virtuous, a thousand times more
pure, in our actions than they are in theirs. There is not a country
in the world today where virtue and the rights, privileges, honor and
chastity of the female portion of the community are more strongly
protected than in this Territory. Now, that is a fact.
The question then arises what shall we do? We are under the painful
necessity of protecting ourselves as best we may. How did they do in
other times—how did they do in Rome? We are not so badly off as some
people were in former ages. It is said that Christians had to dwell in
caves, and that they were hunted and dragged from these places of
concealment by government spies and put into the arena, where
thousands and tens of thousands of people would go to see them
devoured by wild beasts, and I have no doubt that many of our pious
Christians would like to see a scene of that kind. What shall we do?
God has given unto us a law. Shall we obey it? We are placed—not by
acts of our own—in a position where we cannot help ourselves. We are
between the hands of God and the hands of the Government of the United
States. God has laid upon us a command for us to keep, He has
commanded us to enter into these covenants with each other pertaining
to time and eternity, and has revealed this law through the holy
priesthood and the regularly constituted channels which He has
appointed for conveying this information, and we, having been baptized
into one baptism and partaken of the same spirit, know for ourselves
that these things are true. I know they are true, if nobody else does.
I know it myself. I cannot help knowing it, and all the edicts and
laws of Congress and legislators and decisions of courts could not change my opinion. I know that it is from God, and therefore
bear testimony of it. Now, can I help it? No. The question resolves
itself into this: having received a command from God to do a certain
thing and a command from the State not to do it, the question is what
shall we do? Daniel had a political trap set for him, as we have had
for us. An edict was passed forbidding him to pray to his God under
penalty of death; he went and opened his window and prayed in the
sight of the community, hence he violated that decree with death
staring him in the face. He knew this law was irrevocable, but he was
determined to obey the commandment of God and he did. They cast him
into a den of lions, and he played with them as a child would play
with kittens. There was something to try Daniel's faith in this but
God took care of him.
But there is another feature manifested in this. We notice that King
Darius, the victim of a political plot, was very solicitous for the
welfare of Daniel, for early in the morning he went to the lion's cave
and cried, "O Daniel, is the God in whom thou trusteth able to deliver
thee?" When Daniel replied, "O King, live forever, the God in whom I
trust has sent his angel and has delivered me from the jaws of the
lions," etc. I do not think from the reading of the President's
message, that if any of us were cast into the lion's den or into
prison, that Mr. Hayes would manifest the interest about us that
Darius did about Daniel; but then we must remember this difference,
that the first of these is a Christian; the latter was a heathen. But
outside of these things, I feel to proclaim against the vices of the
age, whether in this nation or others; for we as a nation are fast
descending as low as the most degenerate and corrupt nations of
Europe, and are practicing infamies which have been the overthrow and
ruin of many mighty cities, nations and empires, and which are now the
loathsome, unnatural, disgusting, damning sins of Christendom. The
standing law of God is, be fruitful and multiply; but these reformers
are "swift to shed blood," even the blood of innocence; and with their
prenatal murders and other crimes, are slaying their thousands and
tens of thousands with impunity, to say nothing of that other
loathsome, disgusting, filthy institution of modern Christendom "the
social evil," as well as other infamous practices. We must protest
against feticide, infanticide, and other abominable practices of
Christendom being forced upon us, either in the shape of legislative
enactment, judicial decision or any other adjunct of so called
civilization. We are American citizens and are not yet deprived of the
inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Men
express surprise sometimes at the action of the grand jury who sat
upon, as I am informed, about 200 cases of polygamy and only found
bills against three. Why, human nature with all its infirmities is not
sunk so low as at the bidding of an official satrap to find
indictments to order, without evidence and testimony, and there are
very few, in view of the above facts, who are sunk so low as to
condemn men for marrying wives and supporting their children, while at
the same time they know that their accusers and persecutors are
violating every principle of chastity, and murdering their own
offspring. Many men may be very corrupt, and indulge in the vices and
crimes of the age; but all are not hypocrites. Despotic laws require a
despot, and not even packed juries will always carry them out. Now, it becomes a question for us to decide whether we shall
observe the laws of God or the commands of men. If I had to answer I
would answer as I did before the court. When I made that answer this
question had not then been decided by the Supreme Court of the United
States. Since then they have sanctioned that law, hence we are placed
in a position a good deal like the Christians were in the days of
Rome, and the Christians now assume the position of the then heathen.
What shall we do? Shall we trust in God or in the arm of flesh? Shall
we give up our religion and our God and be governed by the practices
that exist in the nation which are contrary to the laws of God? All
who are in favor of abiding by the laws of God hold up their right
hand (The congregation voted unanimously). We find the same feeling
throughout the Territory.
We wish no disrespect to the government, for after all I do not
suppose we could get any better treatment from any other Christian
nation than we do from our own, but this is not saying much for them.
It is a poor thing when so great and magnanimous a nation cannot
afford to allow 200,000 people to worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences.
But have we resisted anything else? No. Have I? No. Have you? I
presume not. I expect these kind of things—the opposition and
corruption of men and the world, under the instigation of the devil,
who is the enemy of the Saints. What then? Do I expect to give up my
religion to the devil? I think not. What shall we do then? Shall we
abuse the people of the United States? No. Shall we abuse the
President of the United States? No. Yet I am sorry that he is not a
little more magnanimous; I am sorry he does not possess a little more
of these feelings that actuated the founders of this government; I am
not sorry for the Saints, for it is quite necessary that we should
have to pass through a variety of things in order that, like ancient
Saints, we may be made perfect through suffering. "For it became him,
for whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." "He was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Shall we forsake the
institutions of this country because of the acts of those men? No, we
will cleave to them and sustain them. Shall we deprive other men of
their political rights? No, we will not. Shall we deprive any man of
his social rights? No, we will not. Shall we deprive any men of their
religious rights? No, we will not. They may do as they please in
Washington and other places; but we will do right towards all men. Our
motto is, Freedom, Liberty and Rights of Conscience to all people; as
Brother Parley P. Pratt has it in one of his poems:
"Indian, Muslim, Greek or Jew,
Freedom's banner waves for you."
This is the kind of feeling we entertain in regard to this subject. We
all have faults, and perhaps this government is one of the best
governments we could have in the world; and we will sustain it. And
then, we will contend for our rights legally, properly, orderly and
constitutionally. And then, we will watch those miserable hounds that
come sneaking into our midst, and tell them to leave; we do not want
a lot of dogs among us. Honorable and decent men, men that will do right we will maintain all the time. But this nation is laying
the axe at the root of the tree and they then will crumble to pieces
by and by. If they can stand it we can. If they can afford to treat us
in this way, they will soon treat others in the same way. And they
will tear away one plank of liberty after another, until the whole,
fabric will totter and fall; and many other nations will be cast down
and empires destroyed; and this nation will have to suffer as others
will. And it will be as Joseph Smith once said, "When all others
forsake the Constitution, the Elders of this Church will rally around
the standard and save its tattered shreds." We will come to its rescue
and proclaim liberty to all men.
What shall we do about many other things? Let them alone; "Let the
potsherds of the earth contend with the potsherds of the earth." The
God who rules in the heavens is watching over their movements as well
as ours, they are in his hands as we are—he will put a hook in their
jaws and lead them in the way they dreamed not of. He will say to them
as he did to the proud waves of the surging ocean—"hither shalt thou
come, and no farther: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." But
it is for us to cleave to God and observe his laws and keep his
commandments; and then we need fear no evil that may come upon us,
"for God will make the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder
he will restrain." And God will bless and protect Israel; he will lead
us forth in the paths of life—not all of us, for as we have heard, we
are not all of us doing just right. But he will accomplish his
purposes and roll forth his work and build up his kingdom and
establish Zion, and bring to pass all the things spoken of by the holy
prophets since the world began.
Now then, having talked a little upon this principle, I will speak
about some other things associated with our affairs here, in a Stake
capacity, or as Saints, say, for I generally talk more to the whole
people than I do to the people of a Stake. There are a few things that
I wish to draw your attention to. You have got a Stake organization,
you have a president and his counselors, who stand in the same
position to you as the First Presidency to the Church. I think you
heard something about that this morning. Pray for them. Have they
weaknesses? Yes. Have you? Yes. Have I Yes. We are in possession of a
rich and glorious treasure; but it is contained in earthen vessels. We
all have our weaknesses and infirmities; but we will pray for those
that are appointed to preside over us, that God may bless them. And
when we bow with our family, with our wives and children around us we
will ask God to bless them and inspire them with wisdom, that they may
manage well all things committed to their care. We will not find fault
with them, but ask God, if we think a false step has been made, to
lead them in the right path. And we will make things right if we do
this, whether they want them or not, for God will control them by His
Spirit for our good.
And then, we have bishops among us. We will treat them courteously.
Have they weaknesses? Yes, they are men just like we are. "What," say
you, "have you weaknesses?" Yes, lots of them. I wish I had not
sometimes, and then again I don't wish so. "Do you ask the people to
pray for you? Yes, and pray also for my brethren of the Twelve that
they may be guided by the inspirations of the Most High, and be led and that they may lead others in the paths of life; that we
may magnify the calling God has given unto us and honor it and do good
among men, and help to build up His Zion. This work devolves upon you
in your sphere as much as upon President Smoot and his counselors and
the several bishops. Everyone has his duties to perform; and if we
all do them we will do pretty well. Listen then, to their counsels.
You have a High Council, sustain them in like manner, that in all
their judgments and counsels they may do right. And I would say both
to the Bishops in their capacity, as common judges in Israel, and to
the High Council as a High Council, deal justly in the sight of God;
do not bring into deliberations any of your own private notions or
feelings. Do not, in the name of God, seek to pervert judgment or
justice. I would not give five straws for a man—he is not fit to be a
high councilor—if he would not apply the same judgment to his own
brother or son as he would to anybody else. We need to ask God to give
us wisdom in the management and direction of these affairs, and then
we ought to have another principle more thoroughly enforced than it is
among us. We have people going to law one with another sometimes, and
that before the ungodly, and the Elders of Israel sanction it. God
will hold you to an account, I tell you, and He will bring you up
standing when you don't dream of it, and all they that like to go to
law, in the name of God they shall have enough of it until they are
sick and weary—for it will bring them down to poverty, ruin, misery
and death, unless they turn around speedily and repent. Let us honor
the institutions that God has given unto us, honor the Priesthood,
honor our own courts of justice, and treat all men everywhere with
proper respect, but we do not want to go to law with the ungodly.
There are other things I wish to speak about pertaining to the
interests of this community. We should educate our children properly.
I am very glad to find you have one very good institution in this
place. You have got those at the head of it that know God, and who
instill into the minds of their pupils correct principles and the
fear of the Lord, and teach them the principles of life; that they,
when they go forth to teach others, may teach them the same principles
that these our brethren teach them—that correct principles may spread,
grow and increase, and that while they are obtaining an education in
regard to science and the various branches of secular education, they
may always have before their minds the fear of God. Well, would you
seek for knowledge? Yes, as I would for a hidden treasure. Would you
like the people to be acquainted with the arts and sciences, etc.?
Yes. We want to so educate our children, and if necessary make
sacrifices ourselves for that purpose, in order that they may be men
and women capable of coping intellectually with any persons that live
upon the earth. We are seeking after these things, we are anxious to
promote the welfare of all people in regard to these matters,
especially those associated with us, that our children may grow up not
only in the fear of God, but possess intelligence of every kind. Now,
these are our feelings in relation to these matters, and by-and-by,
if we do this and keep doing it, how will it be? It will not be long
before we will be as far ahead of the world in regard to the arts,
sciences, mechanism and every principle of intelligence that exists
upon the face of the earth, as we are in religious matters
today. Some of our little boys five and six, seven and eight years
old know very well how to cope with men that profess generally to be
wise men on religious subjects. Some few days ago I attended a Sabbath
School exhibition in the 17th Ward of Salt Lake City, and witnessed
there more intelligence displayed by the children, male and female, in
regard to religious matters, than I have ever seen exhibited anywhere
in the whole Gentile world wherever I have traveled. I was reminded of
a saying of the Savior's that "Out of the mouths of babes and
sucklings thou hast perfected praise." Let us train up our children in
the right way. That reminds me of another thing, that is our Sabbath
Schools. You have them here, how extensively you are engaged in them I
am not prepared to say, but it is a good institution worthy of our
best efforts, and I would say let us encourage them, let our young and
middle aged men that are talented engage in them, that our children
may be brought up in the fear of God. The school that Brother Maeser
and Brother Hardy are engaged in, in this place, I consider a model
institution, and I say God bless them and let the blessing and Spirit
of God be with them. Continue in your labors as you are doing, and
your names will be known in Israel and be handed down to posterity as
some of the great men of Zion. Let our brethren, too, be interested in
these Sunday Schools, and let us get men that fear God—you young men
and Elders of Israel who have the Spirit of the Lord—teach the
children and instill the principles of life and salvation into their
minds. And then there are other things that are very praiseworthy
institutions, one of which is the Female Relief Societies. Our Sisters
are engaged with us in trying to do a good work. Shall we despise them
in their labors? No. Who are they? Part of ourselves. Do they hold the
priesthood? Yes, in connection with their husbands and they are one
with their husbands, but the husband is the head. And women are so
constituted that they are much better prepared to feel after the
welfare of families than men are. They can sympathize with the
sisters, for they are one with them. I remember a certain lady said to
me in talking about some things, "You never was a grandmother."
"No."
said I, "I never was. I never had that experience." "Well, then, you
cannot enter into the feelings of a grandmother." No, and I never was
a wife, and therefore I could not enter into the feelings of a wife.
But a wife can enter into a wife's feelings and into a mother's
feelings and they can sympathize with the sisters, and pour in the oil
and wine and they can teach the sisters correct principles, teach them
cleanliness, kindness and sisterly sympathetic feelings. They are
doing this to a great extent, therefore I say God bless the sisters.
They are one with us in seeking to promote the welfare of Israel. They
tell me I was chairman when the first Ladies' Relief Society was
organized in Nauvoo; perhaps I was, I do not remember, however, but I
am pleased to cooperate with the sisters. I desire to see them
prosecute their labors and try to train up young women to be good
mothers, good housekeepers good wives, and to cultivate the fear of
God and to teach their own children to walk in the paths of life.
Then we have our Young Men and Young Womens' Mutual Improvement
Associations. These are very good institutions. How much better it is
to see our youth engaged in the fear of God, meeting together
and talking over the things of God, meditating upon them, teaching one
another good, virtuous, holy principles, than to see them associated
with corruptions and treading in the paths that leads down to death.
How much better to teach purity, holiness, virtue, and intelligence,
making them honorable men and women, than to see them take a different
course. I have been asked sometimes if there was the priesthood
associated with this. No; not particularly; but it is one of those
helps spoken of in the Scriptures. A bishop will not object to being
helped by the Relief Societies. Will he object to them visiting the
poor? Will he object to any man or any woman seeking to promote peace,
order, virtue, and righteousness? No. Who are they? Some are Elders,
some are Seventies, some High Priests, and all belong to the several
quorums of the priesthood. These associations are a very creditable
thing, in advance, say of our Sunday school operations. It is leading
on to knowledge, or what we term theology and science, and every
principle of intelligence. We have a great many good, highminded,
honorable young men and women, and I say God bless you in your labors.
You, bishops, I say to you, encourage all these things among you,
sanction and protect them, and do all you can to foster them.
With regard to our political organization, I would say, we must be
united. Who, I ask, should dictate us? If I was here in Provo, and had
to do with such matters, the first thing I would do would be to confer
with President Smoot to ascertain whom he would recommend for such and
such offices.
"But," say some, that would in terfere with my freedom. I think Watts says:
"I would be walking with the wise.
That I may wiser grow."
Well then,
I would not be walking with the fools,
Lest I a fool should grow.
But I would seek from men of experience and judgment advice as to the
best course to pursue. And as to your freedom have as much as you
please, that is, freedom to do right, not wrong. It is very necessary
that we be united; and anybody that seeks to divide the people is not
the friend of God or man, neither is God his friend; and if he
continue to interfere with the happiness and union of the people of
God, He will not hold him guiltless; but He will remove him out of his
place. There is a providence in many of these things. People wonder
sometimes why we have sickness amongst us. The Apostle Paul in writing
to the Corinthians, in referring to divisions that existed among them,
together with their unworthiness, when partaking of the Lord's supper,
says, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many
sleep." Do you believe a principle of that kind? I do. Let us fear God
then, honor Him, and keep His commandments.
Another thing, we want the brethren to do, and that is to cultivate a
right feeling towards the sisters, and towards their wives especially.
God has given them to us; treat them well and kindly. If they have
weaknesses—which doubtless they have—we should bear with them, they
are the weaker vessel, and we ought to be strong, and a strong man
ought not to be much afraid of a weak woman. We ought to have them in
our affections, and instead of returning evil for evil, be
kind to them; and if your wives chide you, render to them kindness in
return and love them, and say, this is not exactly right; let us be
friends. And they will turn round and reciprocate that kind of
feeling. And then make their homes as comfortable as you can, and
lighten their household duties as far as it may be in your power to do
so; and do all you can to unite your efforts together as families. And
wives, comfort your husbands; speak kind words, and make their homes a
heaven. And neighbors, don't bite and devour one another, don't tear
in pieces one another's character, but be united in all things.
"Nay, speak no ill, a kindly world
Can never leave a sting behind."
Let us learn to speak kindly of each other, and if we cannot say
something good of our brother or our sister, let us hold our tongue.
And if our brother sin against us, tell him of his fault when you and
he are alone; and then when you are made acquainted with your wrong,
confess it and repent, and try to do better. And let us live together
as brethren and sisters and as Saints of God. And do not forget to
call upon the Lord in your family circles, dedicating yourselves and
all you have to God every day of your lives; and seek to do right, and
cultivate the spirit of union and love, and the peace and blessing of
the Living God will be with us, and He will lead us in the paths of
life; and we shall be sustained and upheld by all the holy angels and
the ancient patriarchs and men of God, and the veil will become
thinner between us and our God, and we will approach nearer to him,
and our souls will magnify the Lord of hosts.
Brethren and sisters, God bless you, and lead you in the paths of
life, in the name of Jesus. Amen.