There never perhaps was a time since the Church was organized when the
people of God were more prosperous or so numerous as they are today,
notwithstanding all the efforts that our enemies have directed against
us. But while we have triumphed over opposition and all the forces of
the wicked that have been exerted against us by newspaper and pulpit
and the power of Congress, it is meet that we should acknowledge the
hand of God in all our victories. It has certainly not been by the
wisdom, power or intelligence of man, that we have been delivered
until now, but by the favor and blessing of God in our behalf. And we
are today a living monument of God's special mercy, favor and
protection. He has not only blessed us with the privilege of becoming
acquainted with His laws, and with the plan of salvation, but He has
gathered us to a goodly land; and notwithstanding its former
sterility, barrenness and forbidding aspect, He has modified the
elements, blessed the earth, and has made these valleys desirable as a
home for the Saints. And He has blessed us with an abundance of
earthly things besides bestowing upon us the richest of all blessings
that man can enjoy in this life—the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of the
new and everlasting covenant.
We should have the utmost confidence in the power and wisdom of the
Almighty to consummate the work which He has begun, from our
experience and knowledge of the past. This is no day for trembling or
fear; it is not a day for doubt or misgiving; God has demonstrated His
power and superior wisdom in so many ways and at so many times, during
the history of this people, in delivering them from the grasp of their
enemies, that for us now to doubt Him, whatever the position in which
we might be placed, would be an indignity to our Great Preserver, an
insult to God. It seems to me impossible for any Latter-day Saint, in
the face of all the Lord has done for this people, to doubt for a
moment His ability or intention to frustrate the designs of wicked,
ambitious men, and to continue His work in the future to ultimate
victory and triumph over every obstacle or opposing foe.
The only real danger that I foresee in the path of the Latter-day
Saints is in the results which natu rally follow the possession
of wealth—pride and vanity, self-indulgence and forgetfulness of God,
and a disregard of the sacred obligations and duties that we owe to
Him and to one another; and this because of the abundance of earthly
blessings which He in His goodness has bestowed upon us. It is said
that in adversity we are inclined to feel after the Lord, but that in
prosperity we remember Him not. It appears to me that in this lies the
greatest danger that threatens us today. This does not apply to the
whole people perhaps, for we are not all rich in this world's goods,
but to individuals, and they are not a few, but many, who are being
blessed—if it proves a blessing—with an accumulation of wealth, and I
am sorry to say that many seem to be indulging in speculation to that
extent that their whole souls appear to be wrapt up in the love of the
world. It is very evident that some of us are yet "of the world," for
like them, "the more we get of it the more we want;" and it does seem
impossible to satisfy the cravings of such minds for the perishable
things of time. As individuals gather around them riches and become
engrossed with the care that naturally attaches to them, they are
prone to forget the "pit from which they were dug," or the "stone from
which they were hewed" —to forget God upon whom they are quite as
dependent when possessed of wealth as when in the most abject poverty.
For wealth does not make men independent of God, neither does it
relieve them from the obligations that they owe to each other. The
rich are as dependent upon God for the light of His Spirit to guide
them, and for the blessings and ordinances of the holy Priesthood as
are the poorest of the poor. The Lord, in this regard, is "no
respecter of persons." The station or worldly condition of man is not
regarded by the Almighty. It is man's righteousness and humility; it
is the willing mind and the obedient heart that is acceptable to Him,
and unless we are righteous and humble, willing and obedient, He will
withdraw His Spirit from us, and we will be left to ourselves, as
others have been before us, "to reap what we sow." If the time should
ever come (which I do not anticipate), when the majority of this
people will be swallowed up in the cares of the world, I know of no
remedy to check the evil and thus prevent the destruction of the
Church more effectually than to be subjected to the power and
persecutions of our enemies, to be driven and smitten perhaps until we
shall be humbled and brought to a sense of our obligations to the Lord
Almighty, and learn wisdom by the things we have to suffer.
There are blessings which pertain to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to
the world to come, which cannot be secured by personal influence nor
be bought with money, and which no man by his own intelligence or
wisdom can obtain except through compliance with certain ordinances,
laws and commandments which have been given. And it is well, in my
judgment, for the Latter-day Saints to continue to bear in mind that
the inestimable blessings of the Gospel have been bestowed upon them
through their faith, that a remission of sins has been obtained by
baptism and repentance, and that it is only through continuing
faithful that they can retain the gifts and blessings which pertain to
eternal life. There are many blessings, however, which are common to
the human family, which all enjoy, without regard to their
moral status or religious convictions. God has given to all men an
agency, and has granted to us the privilege to serve Him or serve Him
not, to do that which is right or that which is wrong, and this
privilege is given to all men irrespective of creed, color or
condition. The wealthy have this agency, the poor have this agency,
and no man is deprived by any power of God from exercising it in the
fullest and in the freest manner. This agency has been given to all.
This is a blessing that God has bestowed upon the world of mankind,
upon all His children alike. But He will hold us strictly to an
account for the use that we make of this agency, and as it was said of
Cain, so it will be said of us: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be
accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." There
are, however, certain blessings which God bestows upon the children of
men only upon the condition of the rightful exercise of this agency.
For instance, no man can obtain a remission of his sins but by
repentance and baptism by one having authority. If we would be free
from sin, from its effects, from its power, we must obey this law
which God has revealed, or we never can obtain a remission of sins.
Therefore, while God has bestowed upon all men, irrespective of
condition, this agency to choose good or evil, He has not and will not
bestow upon the children of men a remission of sins but by their
obedience to law. Therefore the whole world lies in sin and is under
condemnation, inasmuch as light has come into the world and men will
not avail themselves of that light to put themselves in a proper
position before the Lord. And this condemnation rests with tenfold
force upon all those that have yielded obedience to this law, and have
once received a remission of their sins, but have returned unto sin,
and have forgotten or disregarded the covenants they made in the
waters of baptism. All men are blessed with the strength of their
body, with the use of their mind, and with the right to exercise the
faculties with which they are endowed in a way that seemeth good in
their sight, without regard to religion. But God has not and will not
suffer the gift of the Holy Ghost to be bestowed upon any man or
woman, except through compliance with the laws of God. Therefore, no
man can obtain a remission of sins; no man can obtain the gift of the
Holy Ghost; no man can obtain the revelations of God; no man can
obtain the Priesthood, and the rights, powers and privileges thereof;
no man can become an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ,
except through compliance with the requirements of heaven. These are
universal blessings, they are great and inestimable privileges which
pertain to the Gospel and to the plan of life and salvation, which are
open and free to all on certain conditions, but which no creature
beneath the heavens can enjoy, but through walking in the channel that
God has marked out by which they can obtain them. And these privileges
and blessings when obtained may be forfeited, and perhaps lost for all
eternity, unless we continue steadfast in the course that is marked
out for us to pursue. It is well, in my judgment, that the Latter-day
Saints do not lose sight of the great privilege that has been bestowed
upon them. No man can become a citizen of the Kingdom of God but by
entering in at the door: there are thousands and tens of thousands,
aye millions of people who will never become citizens of the
Kingdom of God in this world, because they fail to exercise the agency
and the power that has been given to them in the right direction.
Nevertheless, they enjoy many of the blessings that are bestowed upon
the world in common. The sun shines upon the evil and the good; but
the Holy Ghost descends only upon the righteous and upon those that
are forgiven of their sins. The rain descends upon the evil and upon
the good; but the rights of the Priesthood are conferred, and the
doctrine of the Priesthood distills as the dews of heaven upon the
souls of those only that receive it in God's own appointed way. The
favor of heaven, the acknowledgment of the Almighty of His children
upon the earth as His sons and His daughters can only be secured
through obedience to the laws which He has revealed. Riches or the
wealth of the world cannot purchase these things. Simon Magus desired
to purchase the power to cast out devils with money, but Peter said
unto him, "Thy money perish with thee." These blessings, powers and
privileges are not to be purchased but by the atonement of Christ;
they are not to be obtained by personal influence, wealth, position or
power, or in any other way but the direct way in which God has decreed
that they should be obtained. Now, so long as the Latter-day Saints
are content to obey the commandments of God, to appreciate the
privileges and blessings which they enjoy in the Church, and will use
their time, their talents, their substance, in honor to the name of
God, to build up Zion, and to establish truth and righteousness in the
earth, so long our heavenly Father is bound by His oath and covenant
to protect them from every opposing foe, and to help them to overcome
every obstacle that can possibly be arrayed against them or thrown in
their pathway; but the moment a community begin to be wrapt up in
themselves, become selfish, become engrossed in the temporalities of
life, and put their faith in riches, that moment the power of God
begins to withdraw from them, and if they repent not the Holy Spirit
will depart from them entirely, and they will be left to themselves.
That which was given them will be taken away, they will lose that
which they had, for they will not be worthy of it. God is just as well
as merciful, and we need not expect favors at the hand of the Almighty
except as we merit them, at least in the honest desires of our hearts,
and the desire and intent will not always avail unless our acts
correspond. For we are engaged in a literal work, a reality; and we
must practice as well as profess. We must be what God requires us to
be, or else we are not His people nor the Zion which He designs to
gather together and to build up in the latter days upon the earth.
I am aware that this is the last day of Conference, that there are
many to speak and much to be done, therefore brevity is desirable. I
find, too, that it is difficult for me to speak loud enough to be
heard by this vast assembly.
I rejoice in the work of God. I have never seen a moment since I
became acquainted with the principles of the Gospel when I had the
least doubt in my mind of their truthfulness. I have never feared, and
do not know what the feeling of fear is as to the result of this work.
I know that God is able to bear it off, and that He will do it. I
fear often for mankind and for myself, knowing my own weaknesses,
better, perhaps, than any living being except God. I often
have fears and trembling for myself when I am made to feel my own
weakness and see myself as I am seen by the Lord. But as to the work
of God, it cannot fail, for God has decreed its consummation; and
whilst man may oppose it and his efforts fail, the work of God will
never fail. Now mark it! As I have often said, the most favorable
opportunity that the adversary of men's souls ever saw to destroy this
work was on or before the 6th day of April, 1830; but failing to
accomplish it then, notwithstanding the efforts that were put forth in
this direction, failure to do so in the future must only be the more
apparent. There is more to grapple with now than then. "The kingdom"
has taken deeper and stronger root in the earth, and its branches have
expanded and spread out into many lands. There are more people to kill
off now than ever before, and we are rapidly increasing. There is no
use of thinking this work will be destroyed by martyring a few of the
people, although they might be our leaders. "Mormonism" is a living
principle in the hearts of all true Saints, every soul of whom must be
destroyed before it can be wiped out. It has been, through the
overruling providences of the Almighty, allowed to grow until it has
attained strength and power in the earth: and thanks be unto God, the
Ruler and Maker of heaven and earth, I feel it in my very bones, that
the Kingdom of God is beyond the reach and power of the devil or his
agents. And in this condition it will remain, ever advancing, inasmuch
as the Saints keep the law of God. If we should become corrupt and
wicked, He has said that we shall be removed out of our place, and
every individual who will not keep His commandments will fail. For no
man can stand in this Church but upon the foundation of righteousness
and truth; and whenever we undertake to build upon the foundation of
error and falsehood, selfishness and sin, that moment our foundation
will crumble beneath our feet; the sands will be washed away, and we
will fall. But so long as this people continue faithful, God will be
their friend, and He, be it remembered, is the Almighty, and this is
His work. The stone representing this latter-day work, has been cut
out of the mountain without hands, and will roll forth according to
the decree, and no power will be able to stop its onward march. I do
not feel to boast, only in the strength of our God; and I do feel from
the inmost recesses of my heart to praise His holy name, and to thank
Him that I have been permitted to see the Kingdom where it is today.
And those who come after will live to see the consummation of the
prophecies that have been uttered concerning it by ancient and modern
Prophets verified and not one word will fall to the ground
unfulfilled. Not one jot or tittle will pass from the law or the
Prophets; but all will be fulfilled, and I am as sure of it as I am
that I live. What would you or I take in exchange for this knowledge,
this witness of the Spirit? Nothing could be offered that would be an
equivalent; it is worth everything else in the world. It is a stay, an
anchor to the soul, a comfort and a joy to the heart forever. It is
with me, as it is with every man and woman that has received the
knowledge of God, through the operations of the Holy Spirit, and that
is true to the same—the kingdom of God or nothing; I have no more interest in the kingdom of God than any individual member of the
Church. In other words, there is not a man in the kingdom of God that
is capable of attaining to the glory of the celestial kingdom but has
as great interest in the welfare of this work, in the consummation of
the purposes of the Almighty, as I have myself, or as Brother Taylor,
Brother Cannon, Brother Woodruff, or any of the members of the Quorum
of the Twelve. We are all interested. Every man should feel that it is
his work, his kingdom, his church, and that the principles of the
Gospel are his principles, for he has embraced them and espoused them,
or at least unless we have embraced the Gospel and received the
principles thereof in our hearts that they have become a part of us,
that we might become identified with the designs and purposes of the
Almighty in the earth, we are not converted, nor are we worthy to be
saved in the kingdom of God. It is written—and it is as true as that
the sun shines—that except a man is willing to sacrifice every earthly
tie or consideration for the Gospel's sake, he is not worthy of the
kingdom, nor of Christ. This is according to the declaration of Jesus
while He was upon the earth. It is the testimony of Joseph Smith, and
that of all the holy Prophets since the world began, who have said
anything upon this subject, that any man who is not willing to
sacrifice everything else for the Gospel's sake is not worthy of it,
and the day will come when he will come short; so that the sooner we
are converted to the truth, the better for us and our posterity. They
will receive inheritances, and the blessings of God will follow upon
them through us, just as they follow upon the seed of Abraham, because
of the blessings and promises bestowed upon their father Abraham. The
promises were made to Abraham, and the blessing followed upon the
heads of his children, and will continue unto the last generation,
because the promise was made to Abraham who was worthy of it, and he
will claim the promise for his posterity. So it will be with you and
me. The blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have been conferred upon
us, and they will be inherited by our posterity if we prove worthy of
the privilege, and live for it.
May God bless and help us to learn the truth and abide in it forever,
is my prayer, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
- Joseph F. Smith