Since we assembled in this place we have had a very interesting time.
It has been our desire that all who could be properly recommended by
their Bishops should have an opportunity to visit the Temple, whether
it be the residents of this Stake, and the Stakes of this Temple
district, or the residents of other Stakes, because we have felt that
it is due to those who have assisted so liberally in building the
Temple in this place, that they should have a full and fair
opportunity of seeing it. For that purpose we have already had two
dedication services, and we intend to have another in the Temple,
commencing at half-past ten o'clock tomorrow morning, tickets
for which can be obtained from President Geo. Q. Cannon, at the close
of this meeting.
We are living in a very important day and age of the world, in a time
which is pregnant with greater events than any other period that we
know of, or any other dispensation that has existed upon the earth. It
is called "the dispensation of the fulness of times," when God "will
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth;" for the heavens, the Gods in the eternal
worlds, the Holy Priesthood that have existed upon the earth, the
living that live upon the face of the earth, and the dead that have
departed this life, are all interested in the work in which we are
engaged. Consequently, it is of the greatest importance that
everything we do, that every ordinance we administer, that every
principle we believe in, should be strictly in accordance with the
mind and word, the will and law of God.
I have heard some remarks in the Temple pertaining to these matters,
and also here, and it has been thought, as has been expressed by some,
that we ought to look for some peculiar manifestations. The question
is, What do we want to see? Some peculiar power, some remarkable
manifestations? All these things are very proper in their place; all
these things we have a right to look for; but we must only look for
such manifestations as are requisite for our circumstances, and as God
shall see fit to impart them. Certain manifestations have already
occurred. When our Heavenly Father appeared unto Joseph Smith, the
Prophet, He pointed to the Savior who was with him (and who, it is
said, is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of
His person) and said: "This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!" So that
there was an evidence manifested through His servant to the world,
that God lived, that the Redeemer, who was crucified and put to death
to atone for the sins of the world, also lived, and that there was a
message which had to be communicated to the human family, and that the
Son was the personage through which it should be communicated. The key
thus being turned, authority given by the highest source in the
heavens in relation to the purposes of God on the earth, the Holy
Priesthood began to be developed. Why? Because there was no Priesthood
on the earth; there was nobody who was authorized to operate and
officiate in the name of the Lord, therefore John the Baptist came
as the representative of the Aaronic Priesthood, having held the keys
thereof in his day; and he placed his hands upon the heads of Joseph
Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and said: "Upon you, my fellow servants, in
the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the
keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance,
and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall
never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer
again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." John the Baptist
having thus come and imparted the Aaronic Priesthood, which like the
Melchizedek Priesthood is an eternal Priesthood—it being already
conferred it is not now necessary that John the Baptist should return
for the accomplishment of that purpose. He had delivered his
testimony, he had turned the key, he had introduced the power and
authority to administration in that Priesthood, so that those upon
whom it was conferred were able to perform the several duties
associated therewith.
Then Peter, James and John appeared and conferred upon Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery the Melchizedek Priesthood, which, as you all know,
differs from that of the Aaronic. The Melchizedek Priesthood,
according to the Scriptures, is after the order of the Son of God,
and after the power of an endless life. It places men in communication
with God our Heavenly Father, whereby through its influence,
ordinances, powers and blessings, they can approach the presence of
God, the Eternal Father, and come, as it was said by one of old, "To
the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written
in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just
men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and
to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of
Abel." It is that Priesthood through the Gospel, that brings life and
immortality to light, that places man in a position whereby he can
obtain, through faithfulness and adherence to the laws of God, all the
rich blessings associated with the eternal worlds, of which we are
allowed to partake while we dwell here upon the earth, or hereafter in
the heavens. It is not necessary that Peter, James and John should
come again to do the thing that is already done. The Priesthood has
been restored, with which is connected all the blessings that ever
were associated with any people upon the face of the earth; and if we
know today so little in regard to the things of God, and the
principles associated with eternity, with the heavens and with the
angels, it is because we have not improved our privileges as we might,
nor lived up to those principles which God has revealed unto us, and
because we are not yet prepared for further advancement.
Jesus in His day, said to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. * * * * Let not
your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." What did He
mean? Just what he said, precisely. If He went away He would send them
another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, which should abide with them
forever, and teach them all things, and bring all things pertaining to
the past to their remembrance; the Comforter was also to lead them
into all truth, and show them things to come.
This same Comforter has been given, in connection with the Gospel in
these days, for our enlightenment, for our instruction, for our
guidance, that we may have a knowledge of things that are past, of the
dealings of God with the human family, of the principles of truth that
have been developed in the different ages, of the position of the
world and its relationship to God in those different ages, of its
position in years that are past and gone, and of its present status.
It is also given for our enlightenment, that we may be enabled to
conduct all things according to the mind and will of God, and in
accordance with His eternal laws and those principles which exist in
the heavens, and which have been provided by God for the
salvation and exaltation of a fallen world; also for the manifestation
of principles which have been and will be developed in the interest of
man, not only pertaining to this world, but also to that which is to
come; through which medium the Lord will make known His plans and
designs to His Priesthood and His people in His own due time.
After these things had been introduced, the people in Kirtland, Ohio,
by the command of God, through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, some 49
years ago (without being particular as to dates), commenced to build a
house unto the Lord wherein certain preliminary ordinances were
introduced, and that house was built under very trying circumstances
to the Saints, but they accomplished it. Most of the Saints then
devoted all the time they could possibly spare for the accomplishment
of that object; it was not in little donations, but they had to exert
their undivided energies and means to its accomplishment. When they
had finished it, it was dedicated to the Lord, God accepted their
sacrifice, and Jesus appeared in that Temple, of which appearance you
will find a description in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants
(Section 110). Before this they had had the Aaronic and the
Melchizedek Priesthoods presented to them, and Moroni, and other
personages had appeared unto Joseph Smith. When this Temple was
erected for preparatory ordinances—for it was not like the Temples we
now have, nor like the Temple that was in Nauvoo, the Lord appeared,
and then Moses appeared. They had already the keys of the Aaronic
Priesthood, and of the Melchizedek; and as Moses had held the keys and
authority of the gathering of the children of Israel, from the land of
Egypt, in a former dispensation, so he was now sent to confer these
said keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. It is said, that after
this vision closed—that is the vision of the Savior manifested to
Joseph and Oliver in the Kirtland Temple—that:
"The heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us,
and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the
four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the
land of the north."
Here then were the keys committed associated with the gathering. Why
is it that you are here today? And what brought you here? Because the
keys of the gathering of Israel from the four quarters of the earth
have been committed to Joseph Smith, and he has conferred those keys
upon others that the gathering of Israel may be accomplished, and in
due time the same thing will be performed to the tribes in the land of
the north. It is on this account, and through the unlocking of this
principle, and through those means, that you are brought together as
you are today. I have heretofore mentioned a circumstance, and I will
mention it again here, as there are so many present to show you how
those things operate. What I refer to is this: Soon after we were
driven from Missouri, the Twelve were sent to England. There was no
place then for the Saints to gather to; the Prophet therefore said to
the Twelve: "When you go to England, until you get further
information, do not say anything about the gathering." Consequently we
did not; but we could not keep the spirit of it from the people. Why?
Because we had the Gospel, and the Gospel brings life and immortality
to light, and those that receive the Gospel receive the Holy
Ghost, and a knowledge of the things associated with the Gospel. And
hence I remember a sister coming to me in Liverpool, England, where I
had raised up a church, and says she, "Brother Taylor, I had a very
remarkable dream or vision, I don't know which, and it was something
like this: I thought that the Saints were gathered together on the
Pier Head [that is the place where the vessels then used to sail
from], and there was a ship about to sail. The people said they were
going to Zion, and they were singing what they called the songs of
Zion, and rejoicing exceedingly; you were among them, and you were
going also. Now I want to know if you can tell me what it means."
"Yes," said I, "I know what it means, and I will tell you when the
time comes" —just the same as I have to say today that there are many
things that I know of which I can only tell you when the time comes.
By and by, Joseph Smith sent word that the Saints were to gather to
Nauvoo; that they had a gathering place there, and the Saints were to
be directed to that land. I then went and told this sister the
interpretation of her dream or vision. I mention this to show that you
cannot prevent these manifestations: they are associated with the
Gospel. If men and women receive the Spirit of God and the gift of the
Holy Ghost, it reveals those things unto them. It was said by one of
old, that through its influence "your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams;" and although Joseph had told us not to say anything
about the gathering, yet he could not prevent the Lord from revealing
it to the people. He did reveal it, and a great many, as well as the
sister referred to, had a knowledge of it.
That is the principle which brought you here. If that key had not been
turned; if Moses had not come to introduce it, you would not have been
here, and Joseph Smith would not have known anything about it, nor
anybody else until God revealed it in His own appointed way.
But as I stated before, the Father said, "This is My Beloved Son, Hear
Him!" He manipulates the Priesthood in the heavens and on the earth.
He manages the affairs associated with the redemption of the human
family. "Hear Him!" And when He was prepared to send forth these
messengers, as we send forth messengers to accomplish certain
purposes—when He saw that the time had come, He said, "Go Moses, and attend to
this matter. They have built a Temple; from now they will begin to
gather the Saints, and it is necessary that they should have proper
instructions and information relating to these matters." And Moses
came.
Now, that was one thing. Then we read that:
"After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations
after us should be blessed."
That was the promise made to Abraham some 3,500 years ago. It was not a
promise made to Abraham alone, but through him to others. He and his
seed were to be the instrumentality, the media through which mankind
should be blessed; they were to be the special instruments in the
hands of God for the accomplishment of these purposes. Hence the
Priesthood began to be organized—the Bishopric and all pertaining to
the Aaronic Priesthood including Priests, Teachers and
Deacons; and associated with the Melchizedek Priesthood, the First
Presidency, the Twelve, the High Council, High Priests, Seventies and
Elders, and all those occupying their own particular place; and hence
in that small Temple, as we should now call it, that was erected in
Kirtland, they had the same organization of the Priesthood, and the
same arrangements of the stands for the seating of the Priesthood as
we have here. Why? Because the Priesthood had been introduced after
the order of Aaron, and after the order of Melchizedek, which is after
the order of the Son of God, and after the power of an endless life,
and that officiates and operates in time and in eternity, and by which
Priesthood and through which authority the worlds were framed by the
power of God. Things as they existed in the heavens again began to be
introduced upon the earth. Hence, that His servants might be properly
instructed and comprehend correctly the great principles which He
designed to unfold to the human family, He sent those several
messengers holding those various keys that they might unlock the doors
and place His servants in communication with the heavenly Priesthood
in the eternal worlds.
Do you want anything more than this, you Latter-day Saints? This was
the position in which they were placed, and the position in which we
find ourselves today.
Then we are told that another personage appeared, as stated:
"After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst
upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without
tasting death, stood before us, and said:
"Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of
Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great
and dreadful day of the Lord come—
"To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children
to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
"Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your
hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the
Lord is near, even at the doors."
What means this? What means this Temple that you have built here on
the hill? Why have you built it? Why have you expressed such anxiety
in the erection of that Temple? Why have such crowds of our brethren
and sisters from distant places come here to the dedication of this
Temple? Why is it? It is because those keys were turned of which I
have just read in your hearing.
"Behold the time has fully come * * * to turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the
whole earth be smitten with a curse—
"Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your
hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the
Lord is near, even at the doors."
What does this mean? It means that there was a great and comprehensive
plan designed by the Almighty in his economy connected with the
salvation of the human family who are His children; for He is the God
and the Father of the spirits of all flesh. It means that He is
interested in their welfare, in their prosperity, in their happiness,
and in all that pertains to their exaltation in time and throughout
the eternities that are to come. Being thus in terested, and so
little of the Gospel having been revealed in the different ages, and
so much of the power of darkness and iniquity having prevailed among
men, it was necessary that something should be done for the dead as
well as the living. God is interested in the dead as well as the
living. Adam, who is the Ancient of Days and the father of the human
family; Seth, Enos, Enoch, Mahalaleel, Methuselah, Noah, and all the
prominent leading men of God, as well as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses,
the Prophets, Jesus and His Apostles, together with the Prophets and
Apostles who lived on this continent, and who stood at the various
times or epochs as the representatives of the nations, and as
thousands of these peoples have passed away having held and now
holding the Priesthood; all these ancient fathers feel interested in
this great work, and their hearts are turned toward the children,
being interested in their welfare, happiness and exaltation; and their
children who now have received the Gospel have their hearts, through
this instrumentality, and the keys and principles which were
introduced by Elijah, turned towards the fathers through the
inspiration of the same Gospel, which Gospel as spoken of in the
Scriptures, is an everlasting Gospel, being associated with the
everlasting covenant, which principle wherever it has existed, brought
life and immortality to light.
When Jesus came, He came to do a work in many particulars similar to
that in which we are engaged, and when He got through with His work
here, He stood as the Savior of the world, and of the human family. He
came to preach the Gospel to the poor, to open the prison doors to
those that were imprisoned, to set at liberty, and to proclaim the
acceptable hour of the Lord, etc. This was a work connected with the
people who lived at the time of the flood, and were destroyed and kept
in prison until the Lord should see proper to extend manifestations of
His mercy to them. Hence, as we read, "Christ hath once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being
put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also
he went and preached to the spirits in prison; Which sometime were
disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah." He having finished His work upon earth for the living, went and
performed a work for the dead; as we are informed, "He went and
preached to spirits in prison; that had sometime been disobedient in
the days of Noah."
It is reserved for us to do a work for those who have passed away, who
have not obeyed or had the Gospel in their lifetime. We are here to do
a work connected with the redemption of the dead. When the Temple was
commanded to be built in Nauvoo, after the Temple had been built in
Kirtland, and after so many keys had been turned, and after so many
manifestations, visions and ministrations had been had, yet it was
said then that there was not a place upon the earth in which to
perform the ordinance of baptism for the dead, and Joseph was
commanded to build a house for that purpose. But who knew anything
about these things until God revealed them? Nobody. Men talk and boast
of their intelligence and their knowledge—why, there is not a man
breathing on the earth, outside of this Church, who has any knowledge
of those things to which I have referred, and nobody in this Church
either, only as God has revealed it. We are all of us indebted
to the revelations of God, through the medium of the Holy Priesthood,
for these things. Joseph Smith, before his death, was much exercised
about the completion of the Temple in Nauvoo, and the administering of
ordinances therein. In his anxiety and for fear he should not live to
see the Temple completed, he prepared a place over what was known as
the brick store—which many of you who lived in Nauvoo will
recollect—where to a chosen few he administered those ordinances that
we now have today associated with endowments, so that if anything
should happen to him—which he evidently contemplated—he would feel
that he had then fulfilled his mission, that he had conferred upon
others all the keys given to him by the manifestations of the power of
God.
At first these things were only partially made known to him, and as
they were partially developed he called upon the Twelve that were then
living—many of you greyheaded people will remember it—to commence and
be baptized for the dead, and they were baptized in the Mississippi
River. Immediately after these baptisms, the Prophet had a revelation
which more clearly developed the order in relation to such baptisms.
According to that revelation it appeared that, notwithstanding all the
visions, revelations, keys, etc., that had heretofore been given,
there was not a place, not even in the Kirtland Temple, wherein those
things could be carried out, and hence a font, such as we have in this
Temple, was built in the temple at Nauvoo, and it was there, under
proper circumstances and proper administration, and according to the
principles that he had laid down, that those ordinances were
admin istered then, and are administered now.
I now come to another subject that opens a wide and expansive field,
broad as the world in which we live, and expansive as the universe,
and which affects all the inhabitants of the earth living or dead. Why
is it that there is such a feeling, as I have said, concerning your
Temple and other Temples? It is because those keys have been turned,
and you have received, like the woman I spake of, a knowledge of the
gathering dispensation. You have laid out a great amount of means,
done a large amount of labor, and you have built a house that is
creditable to you, and which God will sanction and approve and does
sanction and approve. You have made it very nice, pleasant and
beautiful. We ought to build Temples to the Lord, for we are His
offspring and He is our Father, and He has revealed unto us those
things and implanted those principles in our bosoms. They are
developed within us, and this Temple is a proof of it, just the same
as we are a living proof of the gathering dispensation. We have
received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and a knowledge, so far as we
have progressed, of the things of God. You have been baptized, you
have had hands laid upon you for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and
you that have lived your religion have received this Holy Ghost, and I
want, as an evidence before God and this people—I want to see how many
of you can bear testimony to that. All who can, hold up their right
hands. [A perfect forest of hands was held up.] We know, by the power
of the Holy Ghost, and by obedience to His law, so far as we have
obeyed it, that God lives. But then, we have been poor, weak, erring
creatures, surrounded by infirmities. Yet God has conferred
upon us great, inestimable and eternal treasures, even the gift of
eternal lives, and upon many of us are conferred these promises of
thrones, principalities, powers and dominion in the eternal worlds.
God has conferred those rich and precious treasures upon us, but we
have them in earthen vessels. We have to wrestle against flesh and
blood, against the powers of darkness, the Adversary, who rules in the
hearts of the children of disobedience, and leads them captive at his
will, and against the power of wickedness in high places. We have not
all of us learned to obey those principles that God has revealed. We
have not all of us learned to say in our hearts, "Thy will be done on
earth as it is done in heaven." We have not all of us learned to
submit our will to the law and word of God, yet God is introducing
Temples and ordinances and blessings, and light, revelations and
intelligence, to lift us up, to exalt us, that we may be a city set
upon a hill that cannot be hid; that we may progress from intelligence
to intelligence, from knowledge to knowledge, until we shall see as we
are seen and know as we are known.
We are living, as I have said, in an important day and age of the
world. We have gathered to this land because God has decreed it. He
has reserved us for the latter days, that we may perform that work
which He decreed from before the foundation of the world. If there
have been any blessings enjoyed by men in former dispensations of the
world, they will also be given to you, ye Latter-day Saints, if you
will live your religion and be obedient to the laws of God. There is
nothing hidden but what shall be revealed, says the Lord. He is
prepared to unfold all things; all things pertain ing to the heavens
and the earth, all things pertaining to the peoples who have existed,
who now exist or will exist, that we may be instructed and taught in
every principle of intelligence associated with the world in which we
live, or with the Gods in the eternal worlds.
Having said so much on some of these subjects, let me now talk a
little upon some other things.
We have finished our Temple. What is it for? Not a building to look
at; not a house to brag about; for before we get through we shall have
built some Temples so much better, that you will not feel to boast
about this Temple. The Temple that the people built in Kirtland, was
only a small building compared with this one, and they were a very
small and poor people who built it, yet it was built in accordance
with the commands of God. In Nauvoo, also, the people were very poor.
They had just been driven from the land of Missouri, yet they were
commanded of God to build it. What was obtained in these Temples? In
the Kirtland Temple Jesus appeared, and Moses, Elias and Elijah
appeared also, and all these things that I have read to you and spoken
about, transpired on that occasion. Communication was opened between
the heavens and the earth, between the Priesthood in the heavens and
the Priesthood on the earth, and the Keys of that Priesthood imparted
to Joseph and others on the earth. It was left to those in this world
to keep open those communications, to see that the road was clear, and
that there was no barrier interposed between earth and the heavens,
and to lead forward and progress in other principles yet to be
developed; we operating, in our part here in their behalf, and in
behalf of their children who are our fathers; while they, in
their exalted position, are operating for them and us in the heavens;
thus forming a connecting link between the Priesthood on the earth and
the Priesthood in the heavens.
We have now finished this Temple, and some people inquire, what is it
for? For many things: that our sealings and ordinances may be
performed in a manner that will be acceptable before God and the holy
angels; that whatsoever is bound on the earth according to the laws of
the eternal Priesthood shall be bound in the heavens; that there may
be a connecting link between the living and the dead, between those
who have lived, all those ancient fathers of which I have spoken who
are interested in the welfare of their posterity; that there may be a
royal Priesthood, a holy people, a pure people, a virtuous people on
the earth to officiate and operate in the interests of the living and
the dead; not looking so much after themselves, but after God, after
the work of God, and after the accomplishment of those things which
God has designed to be carried out in "the dispensation of the
fulness of times" when all things are to be united in one, and that
they may be prepared to operate with the Priesthood in the heavens in
the redemption of the inhabitants of this world from the days of Adam
unto the present time. It is also intended to introduce the higher
branches of education—literary, scientific, linguistic, philosophical
and theological; for we are told to obtain a knowledge of laws,
languages, governments, justice, equity, rule, authority, dominion,
and all those great cosmopolitan principles exhibited in the laws of
nature and among the peoples, by the wisdom, prescience, power and
intelligence of "nature's God." That we may thus be acquainted with
earthly and heavenly things, in accordance with everlasting laws that
have existed in the heavens and on the earth from the beginning; and
that all those great and eternal principles by which the worlds are
governed may be comprehended by us.
This is a great work. Well might it be said to Joseph Smith, "You are
laying the foundation of a great work" —so vast that very few can begin
to comprehend it. We read sometimes about the millennium. But what do
we know about it? It is a time when this work will be going on, and
Temples, thousands of them, will be reared for the accomplishment of
the objects designed, in which communications from the heavens will be
received in regard to our labors, how we may perform them, and for
whom. This is the work devolving upon us. We have to build up here a
Zion unto God. Who are Zion? The pure in heart, and the pure in life.
And be it remembered that it is not every one that saith, "Lord,
Lord," that shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but it is he that doeth
the will of the Father who is in heaven. We must be faithful to our
calling, for there is a great work for all of us to perform. Some men
who have been ordained to the Priesthood have remarked that they have
nothing to do. I have heard some foolish remarks of that kind. They
will find plenty to do before they get through. They need not be
troubled on that score. There will be plenty for them to do if they
are only prepared to do it. There is a great work to perform in
preaching the Gospel to the nations of the earth. Then as we build our
Temples we shall want a great many people to administer in them, and I
have seen some people quite pleased at the idea. Some Elders,
Seventies, and High Priests have said—"What can I do? I am getting old
and greyheaded. Still I would like to do something." We shall require
quite a number to administer in the Temples as we get them built. I am
informed there are over forty persons employed in the Temple in St.
George, about the same number, I presume, will be required in the
Temple here, and then forty in the one at Manti, forty or more in the
one at Salt Lake, and then forty in each of the others we are going to
build. Hence, we shall find places for some of you folks after a
while. You need not be concerned about having nothing to do. We will
find plenty for the Seventies to do. You need not think there are any
too many of them. The nations of the earth have yet to be preached to.
The work is not all through. It is hardly begun. We are just getting
ready for the labor, and so you may prepare yourselves, you Seventies,
you High Priests, and you Elders, for missions to the nations of the
earth. [Here President Taylor inquired of Bishop Preston how they were
progressing with the missionary farms, and was answered that they were
progressing satisfactorily.] We don't want the aged and infirm to go
out to the world. For that labor it requires strong, able-bodied men,
men that are able to cope with the world, the flesh and the devil, as
they say. We want men who are full of vigor, life and vitality. We
want men to cleave unto God, and seek for more of His Spirit, that
they may go to the nations of the earth to proclaim the glad tidings
of salvation to a fallen world. That is what we are gathered together
for, that we may be instructed in the laws of life, and then go and
teach these laws to others. Our Elders go out to preach the Gospel
without purse or scrip, and when they return we help them back. But we
should see when they are gone that their families are taken care of,
and everything made pleasant and comfortable for them. This is quite a
little thing that some of you can turn your hands to. You can assist
on the missionary farms, and in this way help to take care of the
families of those who are absent on missions. This is a principle we
want to see extended all over the land of Zion. How are you going to
be paid for this? You will just get the same pay which I used to have
when I went out to preach; you will have just the same source to go
to, only you will have a little more time, I expect, than some of us
had. We used to go without purse or scrip. We went along trusting in
God. We are now in a different position, perhaps, and can put a few
dollars into the bag to help us along; but I will tell you when I was
away I would rather trust in the living God than in any other power on
earth, for I learned that I could go to God and He always relieved me.
He always supplied my wants. I always had plenty to eat, drink and
wear, and could ride on steam boats or railroads, or anywhere I
thought proper: God always opened my way, and so He will that of every
man who will put his trust in Him. I would rather have God for my
friend than all other influences and powers outside; for in God we
live, in God we move, and from God we derive our being and our
existence.
Then what about the payment of those men who are to be employed in
Temples? There are three or four men that will have to be provided
for, and others will have to take care of themselves, find their own
bread and dinner, and think it a privilege to work for God,
for the interests of His Kingdom, and to act as saviors upon Mount
Zion. Supposing there are forty required to labor in this Temple. Many
of you are pretty well off. You have got fat, and have almost kicked,
some of you (laughter). Some of you have got more means than you know
what to do with, and it is a bother to you. We will have to fix upon
the number of men and women—for the sisters will be required as well
as the brethren—that will be needed. These can go along, leaving
their farms and their merchandising, or whatever they may have in
hand, and go into the Temple of the Lord, on a mission for six months,
or twelve months, or two or three years as the case may be, the same
as others who go out into the world. If I today were not engaged as I
am I should say, "Won't you be kind enough to give me and one of my
wives, or more, as the case might be, an opportunity to officiate in
the Temple?" and I should feel it an honor to be privileged to work in
the house of God. Would you want pay for it? No, I would bring my own
bread and dinner, and I have no doubt there are many of you who would
like to do the same. I guess we could pick out the forty people thus
required right in this house today, without any trouble. All you who
are in favor of carrying out this idea hold up your right hands. (All
hands went up.) I knew there were more than forty right here
(laughter). As to the three or four whose whole time will be engaged
in this labor, these will have to be provided for. In this way we
shall become saviors upon Mount Zion. It is written in the Scriptures,
that "saviors shall come up on mount Zion * * and the kingdom
shall be the Lord's." Now, a man is not a savior, nor a woman either,
unless they save somebody. Well, we want men and women who are ready
to officiate in this place. And when you get there, surrounded by the
heavenly influence of the house of God, the gift of the Holy Ghost
will rest upon you, which will bring joy and consolation to your
hearts. When you have labored there for a while, you will desire to
labor there again. You will carry this heavenly influence among your
friends and throughout your neighborhood, and this we want to extend
throughout all the land of Zion. We shall have, I presume, regular
Temple organizations. Something of this kind may be organized among
the High Priests who will look after the Temple districts. In this way
we will find something for the High Priests to do. Some of them have
been very much afraid that there would be nothing for them to do.
And thus we will go on, and God will assist us in the work in which we
are engaged. He will yet make us the richest of all people. He will
pour wealth into our laps, inasmuch as we keep His commandments. And
what else is said? "Sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and
their kings shall minister unto thee." Men shall call you the
ministers of our God. And we want to minister for God in time and
throughout the eternities that are to come. We have started in, and we
will try by the help of God and the light of His Holy Spirit, and the
revelations that he will give to us from time to time—we will try and
operate and cooperate with the Priesthood in the eternal worlds,
either on this earth or in the heavens. We shall operate until the
work that God has designed pertaining to this earth shall be
accomplished, and the living and the dead saved so far as they
are capable of being saved according to eternal laws that exist in the
heavens, and according to the decrees of the Almighty. Don't you think
we have something to do? I remember when I was first called to the
Apostleship some 46 years ago. I looked at the calling square in the
face, and said, "Well, this is a life work: this is an operation that
will last a lifetime." I have got other ideas since then, namely,
that when I get through in this world I expect to officiate in the
other. Hence it is an eternal operation, and that is the difference
between what I then thought and what I now think. God has revealed
unto us great and glorious truths, and He is prepared to reveal more
if we will only place ourselves under His guidance and His direction.
Let us seek to follow the principle that Jesus inculcated—to do the
will of our Father who is in heaven, who said, "I seek not mine own
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." We are here as
much as He was here, and under obligations as He was to do the will of
our Heavenly Father. We should subject ourselves to the law of God,
the word of God, and the will of God. I say continually, "O God, lead
me in the right path: O God, preserve me from all error; O God, I am a
poor, feeble, weak, erring human creature, surrounded with
infirmities. I need Thy help all the day long. O God, help me." That
is my feeling, and the feeling of my brethren of the First Presidency,
and of the Twelve and others. We feel that we need the help of the
Almighty. We will try and be humble, and be faithful and true to our
covenants. And if we listen to counsel, and obey the laws of God, and
do the things that He requires at our hands, He will help us and bless
us, and He will bless Zion and preserve Israel, and woe to them that
fight against Zion, for God will fight against them. But He will
preserve us if we are faithful and true to our integrity. We will be
blessed in time, we will be brought nearer to the heavens. The light
of revelation will burst upon our heads, and the glories of the
eternal worlds will be made manifest. We will rejoice together in the
fullness of blessings of the Gospel of peace, and by and by we will be
crowned with glory, honor, immortality and eternal life in the
celestial kingdom of our God.
God bless you and lead you in the paths of life, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.