While I was sitting here today, a portion of the record of Alma
suggested itself to my mind, which I will read, as found recorded in
the 4th chapter of the Book of Alma—(new edition).
[The speaker then read the greater portion of the 4th chap.]
Continuing he said:
I should not attempt to get on my feet to speak to you my own
thoughts, or my own feelings, or that which my own spirit would
suggest. I have had sufficient experience in my life to know that for a
man to impart profitable instruction unto his fellow creatures in the
capacity of a teacher of the things of God, he must have the aid of
the Spirit of God. Without that he cannot impart that which will be of
permanent profit to anyone. I know it is the privilege of a people
situated as we are to know the mind and will of the Lord concerning
us, and also when we come into an assemblage of this character to
receive the instruction which is adapted to the circumstances of each
particular individual, and that is the office of the spirit. I cannot
tell your feelings. I do not know your hearts. There may be secret
sorrows, there may be griefs, there may be doubts, there may be many
things that oppress you in your feelings, of which I am entirely
ignorant. But the Spirit knoweth the things of God. God knoweth our
hearts and his all-piercing eye can penetrate the inmost recesses of
our hearts, and every thought, every secret is known to him, and he
can, through the aid of his Holy Spirit, impart to each one that
portion of strength, of comfort, of light which each soul may need to
strengthen it on its onward journey in the path which God our Father
has marked out for us to pursue, and unless a meeting of this kind is
attended, with these effects, to me it is exceedingly unsatisfactory.
When I go as a listener, I desire to go to meeting to be fed, to go
away from the meeting with a feeling that I have received that which
will be a benefit to me in my life, in the acts of my life, and so
also if I speak.
The position of the Latter-day Saints in this respect is different
from that of every other people which I know of on the face of
the earth. We profess to serve God. We profess to have received from
him blessings as the result of our obedience to his commandments. We
profess to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God,
and we believe that this is a time when God speaks in various ways to
his children, manifesting his mind and will to them, and that it is
not with us as with other people who are dependent upon that which is
written, dependent upon the Bible for the food and nutriment necessary
to strengthen them. We depend upon the revelations of God to us. In
this respect our position is different from that of every other people
which I am acquainted with, and of course, this being our position, it
is of the utmost importance to carry out the principles which we
believe in, that we should live in such a manner as to have the mind
and will of the Lord made manifest to us. How is this mind and will
communicated? By what means is the mind and will of the Father made
manifest unto the children of men? There are various ways. One is—he
has placed in his Church officers whose duty it is to instruct the
Church. Yet this does not relieve the members of the Church from their
responsibility. It is for the members of the Church also to so live
that when they are taught and counseled, when instruction is given
unto them, that they shall be able to know whether that instruction
and counsel be from God or not. This is the privilege of every
individual, and there is no person, however humble, who is a member of
the Church, who should be destitute of this spirit of which I speak,
this light and this intelligence. God our Eternal Father is the Father
of us all. The relationship which exists between us and him is not
confined to a small portion of the human family, but it is the same
with all of us; every individual who is within the walls of this house
tonight, occupies I may say precisely the same relationship to our
Father in one sense. Not that all have the same responsibility, not
that all are required to perform the same duties; but all occupy the
same position of children, and our Father in heaven is our father, the
Being whom we worship. As God is the father of us all, we trace our
descent from him, our children trace their descent from him, they are
as much his children as we are his children, and I often think in my
association with my own children that I would just as soon hurt the
feelings of a grown person as I would one of my children. I think in
one respect they are my equal, though I occupy the relationship of
father to them; and so I feel towards all. Now, the Gospel produces
this sense of equality. There could be no slavery where the Gospel is
taught in its fullness and in its perfection. There could be no
distinction where the Gospel is practiced. You read here—or rather I
have read for you—in this record which has come down to us, that when
the principles of the Gospel were practiced among the people of this
land, they were equal to a very great extent; but when they began to
violate the principles of the Gospel, their inequality manifested
itself. Some were lifted up in pride, some looked with scorn upon
their poor brethren and sisters. Classifications arose in society
which had their origin not in virtue, not in holiness, not in purity,
not in any superiority arising from intelligence, but because some
were richer than others, some could dress better than others, some
could have better surroundings than others, doubtless dwelt in
finer houses, better furnished, and they were better clad, and had
probably finer and nicer food. Distinctions of this kind grew up not
out of the Gospel, but out of the violation of the principles of the
Gospel. Wherever the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is taught, it
produces, as I have said, this sense of equality, it makes the man who
may know and understand the things of God feel that he is no better
than his fellow man, and the woman who understands the things of God
feel that she is no better than her sister. If this sentiment were
practiced among us, it would produce the results we find that Alma
sought to produce among the people, and which he did produce by the
preaching of the word, as recorded in the subsequent verses to those
which I read. He went forth preaching the word as he found it the most
effectual means, as described by the historian, of checking the evils
that were growing among the people. It would be so among us in a while
if it were not for the preaching of the word of God, and with the
preaching of the word, with all the faith, all the zeal, and all the
power which our leaders are capable of exercising, it needs it all to
repress these inclinations and these tendencies. There is something in
the human heart of that character that when human beings are
prospering they are apt to be lifted up in pride and to forget the
cause or the source of their prosperity; they are apt to forget God,
who is the fountain of all their blessings, and to give glory to
themselves. It requires a constant preaching of the word of God, a
constant pleading with the people, a constant outpouring of the Spirit
of God upon the people to bring them to a true sense of their real
condition. With all the experience the Latter-day Saints have had, who
is there among us that cannot perceive this tendency? Why, it is
constantly bringing itself into notice. It becomes in some instances
quite offensive, because those who are humble feel the effects of it.
Those who are poor, needy and destitute, not gifted with ability to
accumulate the things of this world, feel it, and very frequently
their hearts are grieved because of it. There is this tendency we have
to contend with as a people and as individuals, and it is something we
should constantly bear in mind, that God has sent us here and given
unto us a mission on the earth, not to accumulate riches, not to
become worldly-minded, not to pile up the things of this world which
are perishable, to the injury of ourselves or to our detriment in our
progress in the things of the kingdom of God. Is it right that we
should take care of ourselves as a people and as individuals?
Certainly. Is it right that we should be prudent, that we should take
care of those gifts and blessings which God has given unto us, that we
should husband our resources, that we should be economical, and not
extravagant? Certainly; this is right, this is proper, we should be
culpable if we were not so. But with this there is also something else
required, and that is, to keep constantly in view that the management
and care of these things is not the object that God had in sending us
here, that is not the object of our probation. God has shown unto this
people repeatedly—and there is scarcely an individual member of the
Church who has not had experience in it—that he can give and he can
take away. I have in my mind now many instances where men of wealth —comparatively wealthy at least—have joined this Church, and it
seemed as though there was a succession of events after they joined
the Church, to deprive them of all they had, to test their faith
apparently, but to show them that God did not give men means for the
purpose of placing their affections upon them, and then, after they
were stripped, he has, in many instances, begun to bless them again,
and allowed them to have means in greater abundance than ever they had
before. He has done so with this people. We have been stripped of our
property, reduced to the last extremity for food and for other
necessary comforts, and yet God has multiplied upon us these blessings
when he has sent us food, and we have had abundance. But the happiness
of a people does not consist in the abundance of worldly things, that
is, the abundance of food or of raiment, or of houses, carriages,
horses, and costly apparel. It is true that if we are relieved from
the pressure of want, if we have the wherewith to supply our
necessities, we feel better, we feel a relief that we do not feel when
ground down by poverty. But happiness is not entirely dependent upon
these circumstances, as doubtless many of my brethren and sisters have
proved. I have proved it myself to my entire satisfaction. I have been
in reduced circumstances; been on missions when I did not know where
to get a mouthful to eat; turned away by the people who dare not
entertain me because of the anger that was kindled against us. I could
stand by and weep, being a boy and away from all my friends. But I,
nevertheless, was happy. I never enjoyed myself in my life as I did
then. I know that happiness does not consist in the possession of
worldly things. Still it is a great relief when people can have the
means necessary for the support of themselves and families. If they
possess these things and the Spirit of God with them, they are
blessed. But the Lord requires of us different things in this day to
what he did in ancient days. I often think of it.
There is a great deal of inequality among us as a people, not so great
as described by the writer in the book of Alma, but still there is a
great deal of inequality among us, a great deal of pride and more
disunion than there should be. This people are not united as they
should be. There are many things existing among us that should be
uprooted and not have an existence in our midst. And what is the
reason that these things exist? The reason is to be found in our
neglect of the principles we have espoused. The Lord requires all his
people in these days to bring unto him a sacrifice. In olden times,
before the coming of the Lord Jesus, we read in the Bible that the
people brought their offerings of oxen, of sheep, of fowls of various
kinds. These were burnt offerings, they were sacrifices, the blood of
animals flowed, and the sins of the people apparently were remitted by
their obedience to these requirements. But the Lord has said
respecting us, that the offering he requires at our hands is a broken
heart and a contrite spirit. Let me ask you—and in asking you—I ask
myself—do you, when you go unto the Lord, bring this offering, or do
you go to God without asking him in this spirit and in this manner? If
you go to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, he will
show to you all your faults, and all your weaknesses, he will bring
plainly before you wherein you have come short in doing his will, and when you see yourself in the light of that spirit instead
of being filled with pride, you will feel to abase yourselves and
bring yourselves down in the very dust of humility; your own
unworthiness will be so plain before you, that if pride should come
into your heart at any time, you will almost be shocked at it, and you
will feel to put it away from you. It is in this way that we as
Latter-day Saints should live. There is enough taught to us in the
Bible, in the Book of Mormon, in the Doctrine and Covenants, and by
our leaders from time to time, to guide us into the presence of God
Our Heavenly Father. We should be the most humble people on the face
of the earth. Why? Because God in communicating to us the knowledge of
our weakness and faults, will give us humility. We should be the most
thankful people upon the earth. Why? Because owing to the abundance of
God's goodness and mercy to us, and realizing it as we should do, it
will fill us with a thankfulness that words could not express; our
hearts would overflow with extreme gratitude to the Lord our God for
the blessings that we enjoy. Under these circumstances should there be
any murmuring? Not any. Should we find fault with our condition and
our circumstances? Certainly not, if we are living the religion which
God has revealed to us. Should there be any quarrelling or
faultfinding? No; because where the Spirit of God exists there is no
disposition of this character. There is a manifestation to suffer
wrong rather than to do wrong; not to revile, not to prosecute, not to
assail back when we are assailed. If a brother comes up to me, he is
in a bad temper, he says something that is annoying, and I lose my
temper and reply in the same spirit, do I do right? Certainly not.
However much the provocation may be, it is not my duty as a Latter-day
Saint, as a professed follower of Jesus Christ, to indulge in any such
feeling or expression. Well, but one may ask, have we to submit to
abuse? Yes, that is one of the requirements of the Gospel, that you
shall submit to abuse. Have we to submit to wrong? Yes, if somebody
attempts to wrong you, it is your duty as professed followers of Jesus
Christ to submit to that. Supposing I am struck, must I submit to a
blow? Yes, I must, or else I am not carrying out the principles of my
religion. Well, but suppose a person tells falsehoods concerning me,
assails me and reviles me, must I submit to this? Yes. Why? Because
the requirements of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ are that we
should do so, that we should not quarrel, that we should suffer evil
and wrong and pray for the person who does these things to us. This is
a hard lesson I know. Some men would think their children cowards
unless they would fight when they were struck. They teach their
children to strike back when struck, to resent attacks upon them.
Then, again, if one man calls another a liar, the first thing we know
the man is knocked down, and as a result of training he would be
considered unmanly if he did not resent the insult in this way. I am
very glad, however, that a change has taken place in this respect.
There must be changes of this kind among us. If a man forgets himself
so far as to call his brother a liar, or any other offensive name,
there should be enough of the Spirit of God and the spirit of
patience and the spirit of self-respect left in the brother to bear
the insult without resenting in the same spirit. Would this
make us pusillanimous? Would this make us a people devoid of spirit?
Certainly not; there is plenty of room for the exercising of all the
spirit we have in coping with the difficulties we have in life without
exercising it in that manner, without expending it in senseless
quarrels. If we have this spirit to which I have alluded, this meek,
humble, broken and contrite spirit, will it not produce union? Yes,
it will, it will produce union and love, and I wish to say to all who
are here tonight, that it is the duty of every man and woman in this
Church to live at peace with him and herself, and then to live at
peace with everybody else, husbands with wives, wives with husbands,
parents with children, children with parents, brothers with sisters
and sisters with brothers; this is the duty that God requires at our
hands. I am speaking now of something which is not an abstract theory,
that cannot be carried out; I am speaking of that which can be carried
out, which every one of us can carry out, and of results which can be
accomplished in the midst of this people.
The feeling has grown upon me, and is growing upon me every day, that
as a people we do not live up to our privileges. We do not have the
knowledge of the things of God that we should have. There is not that
amount of revelation enjoyed by us which there should be. The gifts of
the spirit are not manifest to the extent they should be. Is there
revelation? Yes, I know that and can testify of it. Are there gifts,
are there blessings enjoyed by the people? Yes, I am convinced of it.
Are there manifestations of the goodness and the power of God among
this people? I am satisfied that there are manifestations of this
kind. The sick are healed. The mind and will of the Lord is
communicated to the people, but it is not to that extent that it
should be considering our circumstances, and considering the length of
time the Church has been organized. Who is there that is not conscious
of this. Ask yourselves, each of you, "Have I the knowledge of the
things of God that I should have? Does the Spirit of God bear
testimony to me and warn me and teach me as it should do?" Let each
one ask himself and herself this question. Now, if we live as we
should, there is no event of any importance that could occur but we
would have some intimation respecting it; we would be prepared for it,
we would be prepared for every public event that affected us, every
private event, everything of this character that could occur to us
that would affect us in the least degree would be known by us at the
very time. The Spirit of God with its monitions would say to us, "If
you pursue that path there is danger, you may lose your life, you may
meet with some accident." Mothers would have the teachings of the
spirit respecting their children, and how to take care of them, and
fathers also respecting their families. I am not talking about
something which is entirely beyond our reach and is impossible for us
to receive. I am speaking of something which is within the reach of
all of us to a greater or less extent. Some are gifted in one
direction and some in another. But all who belong to this Church and
have taken the course which God has pointed out, and have humbled
themselves in obedience to the commandments of God, and endeavored to
carry out these commandments, have this promise made unto them, that
they will be taught of the Lord.
If there is one desire that I have as an individual greater than ano ther, it is that I may so live as to have the blessing, and
next that you, this Church, this people, may so live as to have the
same. I would not have those gifts unless somebody else had them, for
I have learned in my life that when one man is blessed more than his
fellows, temptation comes in, prides comes in, and the adversary is
apt to suggest to him that he is so much better than his fellow men.
Therefore, if I wanted to have any great gifts from the Lord, I never
have felt—and I do not think I ever shall, I certainly will not with
my present state of feeling—to have these myself, I would like
somebody else to have them also. I would not want to be the richest
man in the community; I would not want to be the most gifted, the most
prominent or the most honored in any respect. I would want others to
share in these blessings. Then I would have less fear concerning the
effect of them upon myself. When I am blessed I want to see the
Latter-day Saints blessed, I want to see the people of God receive the
gifts of God, and enjoy them so that we shall all grow, increase and
develop together.
I noticed when I was very young in the Church, that men who were
greatly gifted of the Lord and had many manifestations, were the men
who apostatized; with the exception of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
nearly every one was overthrown. I suppose the reason of it was that
they were lifted up in pride and allowed the adversary to take
advantage of them. I would like well enough to see these gifts and
blessings multiplied among us and upon us, that as a people we should
have dreams and visions and manifestations of the Spirit; but there is
one thing that we have all got to be very careful about, and that is
this: I have seen Elders in my experience that when they got their own
spirit moved very much they imagined that it was the Spirit of God,
and it was difficult in some instances to tell the difference between
the suggestions of their own spirit and the voice of the spirit of
God. This is a gift of itself, to be able to distinguish that which
suggests itself to our own hearts and that which comes from God. And
we are misled sometimes by our own feeling, because of our inability
to distinguish between the voice of the Spirit of God and the
suggestions of our own spirit. There is a still, small voice in the
heart of every human being. There is an influence comes with every son
and daughter of Adam that is born into the world. What! Outside of the
Latter-day Saints? Certainly, I told you in the beginning that we are
all the children of God. There is an influence born with every person
that to a certain extent is a spirit of revelation. Hence you will
frequently find it the case—probably some of you adults have
experienced it, when you joined the Church, that this influence told
you what proved to be true. Brother Woodruff, here, I have heard him
tell, in his experience, how he was led before he joined the Church by
this influence, how it operated upon his mind until it was brought in
contact with the truth. I have heard a number of others relate the
same thing, and if they received the truth this influence increased
with them, but if they rejected the truth, if they refused to receive
the testimony of the servants of God, the light that was in them
became darkness, and as the Savior said, how great is that darkness! I
proclaim it as a truth, that when a man or a woman enters into this
Church and is baptized, repents of his or her sins, humbles
himself and herself in the depth of humility before the Lord,
determined with His help to forsake their sins, to put them away from
them, I say, when a man or a woman comes to the Lord in that spirit
and lives so that the Holy Ghost will rest upon them, that there will
be no event of any importance from that time forward but what they
will have some intimation respecting it, some premonition, and they
will walk in the light, some to a greater extent than others, because
some are more gifted than others, some live in such a manner as to
have this developed within them to a greater extent. But if they
continue to cultivate this spirit, to live in the light of it, it will
become a principle of unfailing revelation to them.
Is this your privilege? Certainly it is. It is also the privilege of
children, boys and girls, young men and young women, middle-aged and
aged to enjoy this. It is not confined to anyone in particular, to
any sex, to any particular position in life, but it is extended to all.
It is the design of God that it should be so. But it is dim within us
because of the generations of unbelief and wickedness of heart which
have existed. We have inherited a great amount of unbelief from our
fathers; it has come down to us. The heavens have been as brass over
the heads of the people, and there has been a spirit of unbelief which
has excluded the revelations of Jesus and the manifestations of the
Spirit of God.
Fifty years ago this Church was organized. There are men and women who
have been fifty years in the Church, some who have been forty years, a
great many thirty years, a still greater number twenty years. Is it
not time, then, after all we have heard, and all we know concerning
these things, that some of this unbelief should disappear and more of
that love be exhibited which draws us nearer to God and places us in
closer communion with Him? Is it not time that this should be the case
with our children? Why, it seems to me so, and I have no doubt it is
so. And yet there is much room for improvement in these things.
There is one thing above all others which strikes me with astonishment
when I think about it among our people. A great many years ago, the
Lord gave what is called the "Word of Wisdom" to us as a people. It is
a thing I very rarely allude to. I never drank tea or coffee in my
life, I never drank liquor, I never used tobacco, and I have
endeavored to keep the Word of Wisdom. It is no credit to me, my
parents instilled it into me. I never allude to it in public speaking.
I never allude to it in my family. I have set the example and allowed
them to follow it, and they have done so, most of them. But when I
think about it, when I see our people, after what God has said upon
this subject, after the plain manner in which he has spoken to us and
told us what would be the result of the observance of certain laws,
deliberately day after day flying in the face of the counsel which God
has given unto us in that Word of Wisdom, I get exceedingly amazed and
I wonder how it is that God bears with us. It is a grievous thing to
trifle with that promise, and with the many promises which are
connected with that promise and with the many promises which are
connected with the Word of Wisdom. We see young men learning to drink
liquor, to smoke and chew tobacco, and acquiring this habit
and the other habit which is expressly forbidden, or at least that
counsel is given respecting, which ought to be more binding because it
comes with an appeal to us—it appeals to our sense of right that a
commandment does not, because a commandment comes with strict
injunctions which leaves no alternative but to obey; but this is a word
of counsel by a kind father, and He tells us that if we will observe
it, we shall have health, the destroyer shall not have power over us,
nor over our families, and that we shall have treasures of knowledge
and wisdom given to us. Supposing here are a good many young men that
belong to this Church, some of whom are very eager for
knowledge—reading books, studying, going to the University, imagining
that is the most direct and easy way to obtain it, and at the same
time these same young men, members of the Church, drinking their tea
and coffee and smoking their cigarettes. Does it not seem like a great
inconsistency for men and women to do these things? I proclaim to you
Latter-day Saints, that the Word of Wisdom is the word of God, that
those who obey it will receive every blessing which is promised in the
revelation, that they will have health, and that they will have power
and blessings which they cannot conceive of until they try it. It is a
simple thing, yet it shows how neglectful we are as a people. I
believe the time is not far distant when we shall have to be very
different from what we are in these respects. I with tell you what I
have sometimes thought: that the Lord is going to deal with us as he
did with the Israelites. They hardened their hearts against the Lord,
became careless and disobedient, and finally the Lord, in His wrath,
decreed that none of them, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua,
should enter the promised land. The words that are used are very
expressive. Their carcasses were to fall in the wilderness, all over a
certain age. But the Lord spared the little ones. He raised up a new
generation and led them to the promised land. We have the same promise
that some will be left to go back to the promised land, and I feel
satisfied it will be fulfilled. But would it not be better for us all
to exercise faith and do right, that we might all receive the
fulfillment of this promise? Certainly. There were times in our lives
when we felt that we would do anything for the sake of the spirit we
had received. Is there any person in this Church, in this room
tonight who has not seen the time in his or her life—if they have had
any experience—when they would sacrifice anything to be in possession
of the Spirit of God. Every one who has joined this Church of any age
and experience knows this to be the case. There is a sweetness to be
experienced in receiving the Spirit of God, that is preferable to
everything else in life. Everyone should be in possession of this
spirit. If you do not have it, let me say to you, do not rest till you
get it. I do not believe in the sectarian style of doing things,
neither do you; but there are some things exceedingly necessary for
all to do whether they belong to this Church or not, and that is to
look at their lives and examine and see wherein they have come short,
and repent and humble themselves before the Lord, and get a renewal
of His Holy Spirit. Of course people who do not belong to this Church
are not likely to take this course; yet in the sectarian world they
feel the necessity of revival. As a people we should live day
by day so as to have the spirit of God resting upon us.
I have great pleasure in testifying to you of my own experience in
these matters. I have been away now for some eight or ten years, more
than half of my time from the Church; alone, so to speak; I have not
had the advantages of other Elders, because they are visiting among
the various branches. I therefore can appreciate these things which I
perhaps would not appreciate if I had been constantly in the society
of the Saints. I sometimes regret this; I feel that I have not the
advantages my brethren have; but I have no doubt the Lord makes up for
it in other ways. I have proved to my entire satisfaction, that God is
willing to reveal Himself to His servants under all circumstances, to
make his mind and will plain to them, and I have had to live in that
way while I have been gone. Circumstances have sometimes been of such
a nature that I could not see what to do by my own wisdom; but I have
never yet—and I do not say this from vanity at all, I say it to
encourage you; I do not say it because I consider myself blessed above
you, but I say it because it is your privilege and because I would
like to stir you up to faith that you may receive those blessings of
God—I say there never has been a moment when I have been absent, but
what I have had shown to me what to do, what steps to take, what to
say and what not to say. It gives me great joy to bear testimony to
these things; and if there is one thing that I feel more thankful for
than another, it is that God has restored His Church, and that I have
the privilege of being a member of it. When Brother Erastus Snow was
speaking today, and when Brother Woodruff was speaking yesterday, I
could scarcely control myself. You heard how the Lord led the brethren
across these plains, and how when President Young saw this valley, he
said to Brother Woodruff, and afterwards to the brethren of the camp:
"Here is the place." Was there any doubt in his mind? No; the Lord had
revealed the place to him, he knew it for himself. I remember on one
occasion telling President Young, the first year we were here—I was
then quite a boy—that if we could only get bread and water I should
feel satisfied if we could only have peace. Well, we had peace. We
were not harassed; indeed a more peaceful time than we had when we
came into these valleys never was enjoyed by any people on the face of
the earth. President Young knew what the Lord would do. The Lord had
revealed it to him, and described many things which have not yet
occurred. Is not this precious?—to have the word of the Lord, to know
we are led by the inspiration of the Almighty. It is one of the
greatest blessings that a people can enjoy. Ever since the Church was
organized, we have been led by revelation. And who has been misled by
it? People have always prospered who have listened to the voice of the
Shepherd. It was so in the days of Joseph, it was so in the days of
President Young, it is so today under President Taylor, and it will
be so to the end. The Lord has stretched forth his hand to accomplish
his purposes, and it will not be withdrawn until all is fulfilled. We
shall not be destitute of the voice of revelation. We may do a great
many things contrary to the mind and will of God, for which he will chastise us and scourge us, if necessary; but he will not
withdraw His Priesthood from us, and his voice will not cease to be
heard; it will be given unto those of his servants who live for it,
and they will know the mind and will of God for this people.
Persecution may go on. People may say we have not the gifts; but the
Lord will not leave us; he has not left us; he will make of this
people a great nation; and there is no power upon the face of the
earth that can arrest the progress of "Mormonism," as it is called by
the world, but which is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will
grow, increase and spread abroad as the Prophet Daniel saw it, until
it fills the whole earth. Some of you may get discouraged and say the
Lord delayeth His coming, and begin to get weak in faith because of
drunkenness and gambling in our midst, and say Zion is not going to be
redeemed because our enemies have got such power. But will that
prevent the redemption of Zion? No. The Lord is bringing us through
these circumstances. There was a time when we were driven by mobs, and
our faith was tried in various ways. It is necessary that there should
still be trials to test the faith of this people. There are no mobs
now, we do not have our houses burnt down now, or our cattle shot
down. But shall we be without trials? No. Why? Because it is
necessary—at least I accept it as necessary in the providence of
God—that there should be liquor saloons, etc., so that Latter-day
Saints who make so many professions can, if they want to drink beer
and get drunk, or go in and play billiards and gamble, or go to other
places that are worse—can do so. "But," says one, "I thought in
coming
to Zion I was coming to a place of purity where none of these things
existed." If that had been the case how would you have been tried? It
is necessary you should be tried for a while in order to develop your
strength. We have to be brought in contact with the world, and we have
to show the world that there is something connected with our religion
which is enduring. Yet all these things have been a source of strength
to us. Why, says one, how can that be? Well, now, I am in a position
to know the feeling towards us. Our enemies have been trying to get
legislation against us. But some say, "what is the use of legislating
against the Mormons? If you will only let them alone, it will come all
right. The Catholics, the Episcopalians, the Methodists, the Baptists,
the infidels, have their meetinghouses, schoolhouses, and
newspapers, and have brothels, gambling houses, drinking saloons, and
milliner's shops, and you cannot imagine what a great work these
things are doing among the Mormons! The young people are growing up
and they do not want more wives than one. Why, it is as much as they
can do to keep one. The girls want fine millinery, fine dresses, fine
furniture. What is the use of resorting to unjust legislation when
these things are going on? When they get rid of their polygamy they
will be a good people." I have sometimes thought that in the
providence of God he suffers such things. At the same time it is
operating upon our own people. Our young men are led on to smoke, to
drink, and to do wrong. At the same time, trials are necessary; we
must be tested, and when we emerge from these trials we will feel
better and stronger. Has the Lord forgotten Zion? Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can you mothers forget your nursing babies?
When you do, which is not very likely, then the Lord may forget Zion.
His eye is upon Zion. His hand is over this people. His hand has
overruled all things for the good of this people and their salvation.
Will Zion be redeemed? Yes. Will you be redeemed? That is for you to
say. Will I be redeemed? That is for me to say. We need have no fear
about the welfare of this work; we need not tremble and think there is
danger. Congress may pass laws, attempts may be made to overthrow this
work; but we need have no fears: Zion will be redeemed. Many will fall
by the wayside, many will lose their faith, many will be led away by
false and seducing spirits; but there will be those who will be saved
and exalted, and all of us who are here tonight have this privilege
if we will accept of it; we can be saved each of us and crowned with
glory in the presence of God and the Lamb. There is no provision to
exclude us; we are not predestined for damnation; we are predestined
to be saved if we will accept of the salvation offered. Therefore, in
the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, if we are not saved we cannot look
up and charge God with having done anything to prevent us, we will
have no one to blame but ourselves, and that will be our hell.
I pray the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, that we may all be saved
and exalted in the celestial kingdom. Let us live our religion, this
precious and holy religion, and let me say to you that if you have not
had the happiness of it lately, get the happiness that it produces,
and you will not exchange it for anything else in the world. It ought
to be a pearl of great price to all of us, and we ought to cherish it
more than we do our lives. Amen.
- George Q. Cannon