Elder John Q. Cannon said: My brethren and sisters and friends, it is
with feelings which I am utterly unable to express that I stand before
you this afternoon—feelings on the one hand of gratitude to my
Heavenly Father, that after an absence of nearly three years from this
city I am again permitted to meet with my brethren and sisters in this
place, and with feelings on the other hand of intense timidity in
standing before so large an audience. But I rely, my brethren and
sisters, upon your faith and prayers during the few moments that I may
stand before you, and I rely, furthermore, upon the promise which our
Lord gave, when He said, "Where two or three have gathered together in
my name, there I am in the midst of them." I am satisfied, on my own
part, that we, this afternoon have assembled ourselves in the name of
the Lord, and I am consequently satisfied that His Spirit will be with
us inasmuch as we seek for the same, inasmuch as we rid ourselves of
every feeling of worldliness and come together with pure hearts to
partake of the emblems of the death and suffering of our Lord, and to
become instructed in the plan which He has laid down for our
salvation.
It has been four days since I returned from a mission, and in six weeks it will
have been three years since I left this city, in obedience to a call
made upon me by the authorities of the Church. On the 9th of August,
1881, I left this city on a mission to Great Britain, in company with
eleven other missionaries, who were destined for Scandinavia. We reached Liverpool in due time, and I was assigned, shortly
after my arrival there, to the London Conference, where I labored with
great pleasure until the 17th of March, 1882. Early in the month the
then President of the European Mission—Apostle Albert
Carrington—notified me that I should proceed to the German Mission,
and within a few days after receiving this notice I joined my brother
in North Germany. Of course in going to Germany I had to learn the
language; I was utterly ignorant of it when I started and when I
landed there; but the Lord strengthened my memory, and in a short time
I was able to make myself understood, and pursue the real object of my
mission. I labored—it is not for me to say with how much success—until
relieved a short time ago to return home.
I can say, my brethren and sisters, that I have enjoyed my mission
greatly. The blessing of the Lord has been with me. The promises that
were sealed upon my head by the Presidency before I went have been
literally fulfilled, and, to my mind, in a most remarkable manner.
Above all things I prize my mission for the testimony it has given me
of the truth of this Gospel. It may seem strange to you that I make
this assertion; because one would naturally think that I had a
testimony before I went. I, however, confess this was not the case. I
had heard what the world calls Mormonism—from my childhood up I had
heard nothing else. I believed as much as it was possible that this,
the Gospel as preached by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, was the true religion, and was the path of
redemption as proclaimed by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. This was my
firm belief. But a direct and firm and steadfast testimony of the
truth of the Gospel I had not received, and it was to obtain this
testimony, more than for anything else, that I obeyed the call that
was made of me. I had heard, as you had, that every man who returned
from a mission and rose up in this stand or elsewhere to proclaim his
testimony and to report his labors—I had heard every man say: "I know
this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ." And I felt within myself, if I
can acquire a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel through going on a
mission, I am willing to go. I valued my salvation and a knowledge of
the truth of the Gospel just that much. Well, I went, and I labored
with great weakness, I have no doubt. But the Lord heard my prayers.
He granted unto me a testimony of the truth of the Gospel, and from
the time that I received the first one until this moment, one
testimony has followed another in rapid succession. I am therefore
able to proclaim before you, as I have done with much pleasure before
the world, that I do know that God has spoken in these our days, that
He has revealed Himself and restored his Priesthood by means of which
the human family—those of them who are willing to be saved and to obey
the requirements which He has given—may be saved.
It was told me before I started away—the remark was made to me by my
father: "My son, you will find in the world that the nations are about
in the same condition as the Athenians were when Paul went to preach
to them. They have temples and they have altars built, but these are
dedicated to the 'Unknown God.'" I found this to be the truth. I found
the word, the written word of God was read in every church in every
land, and that every family had it; but I was surprised to
find that but few of them were willing to receive the truths which are
therein contained. They were content with the dead letter of the law;
and when I undertook or attempted to explain the principles of life
and salvation, the principles which Jesus Christ taught His disciples,
and which they taught all those who would listen to their testimony, I
found there was a great coolness. People would not listen. They were
content with what they had received. This was my general experience.
On the other hand I found very many who acknowledged to me the truth
of that which I had said. When I said unto them, "faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ is insufficient to save you in His Kingdom;" when I said
that something more was necessary than a simple faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, and attempted to prove my position by Scripture, I found
many who said, "You are right; something more is necessary according
to the Scriptures; faith alone cannot save us." But when I went on to
explain the other principles of the Gospel—repentance, baptism for the
remission of sins by one who has authority to baptize, and the laying
on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, I discovered that they
said, "That may be all true, it is true, we believe, but we don't want
it." That has been my experience and the experience of others in a
great many instances. There are thousands in the world—I have spoken
with hundreds I believe—who have made a similar confession—that faith,
repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands for the reception of
the Holy Ghost, were Scriptural principles, that they could not be
denied, that the same Gospel was preached by Jesus Christ and His
Apostles—but I have found among those hun dreds very few who were
willing to obey those principles. I am happy to say, however, that
some few have obeyed them—that I have been the means, in the hands of
God, of bringing some to a knowledge of the truth, and I am very
thankful for this privilege.
It may, perhaps, interest you to know something of the present
prospects of the Swiss and German mission, where I have labored for
upwards of two years. We have some seventeen Elders in the field. Some
of these have been laboring in Austria, one is in Italy, all the
others are in Switzerland and Germany. In certain parts of Germany the
laws are very strict. Public meetings of any kind are forbidden. We
are, therefore, not allowed to preach. This has been brought about by
the action of the Socialists, with whom we are confounded. They have
held meetings, as you who read the papers know, and passed resolutions
to upset governments and kingdoms, and reduce everything to chaos, if
possible. In the kingdom of Prussia, however, we are at present in the
enjoyment of liberty to a great extent. We have the permission of the
authorities of the city of Berlin to hold our regular meetings, and we
can announce these meetings in the papers if we desire. Of course our
meetings are visited by detectives and policemen occasionally, to see
that nothing contrary to the laws of the land is promulgated, which
action, is, of course, quite agreeable to us. This is the case,
however, only as regards the kingdom of Prussia. In the kingdom of
Bavaria, which is strongly Catholic, we have been unable, up to the
present time, to obtain any rights whatever. We have been threatened
and in some cases expelled for having attempted to preach the Gospel.
We have been forbidden to hold meetings of any kind. It has
even been declared to us that where seven persons assemble together,
that number would be considered a meeting, and if the participants
were strangers they would be expelled, while natives would be heavily
fined. In the Grand Duchy of Baden the same rule holds. In the kingdom
of Wurtemberg, it has never been forbidden that we hold meetings, but
we have as yet no official permission to do so. Of course in
Switzerland we have full permission. We can hold our meetings in any
house. It is not yet allowed us, or in fact anyone, to hold open air
meetings. The prospects of the mission, as I look at it, are very
good, and I think the day is soon coming when these rigorous laws will
be broken, when all those who desire to serve God in the way that He
has commanded, although it may not be in accordance with the desires
of the rulers, may have the privilege. The laws of Bavaria pretend to
give full freedom of worship; but the actual fact is, every person is
prohibited, through pressure which is brought to bear upon him, from
attending anything but the established church, which is Catholic, or
the Lutheran. People are expected to attend or at least be members of
one of these churches; and they are compelled to make an official
acknowledgment of their belief in their work books, which are a sort
of credential, containing the name, age, business, and place of
residence, of every workman in the country. In this book each man must
announce his religion, and if this happens to be anything but Lutheran
or Catholic, he is put to great trouble and inconvenience, would
perhaps find difficulty in obtaining work at all; and in case he
called himself a "Mormon," would be punished according to the
regulations which some of the States have made. I do not believe that
the king of Bavaria, and the rulers of the kingdoms are as bitter as
some of the subordinate officials. The strongest persecution we have
met with has been in the city of Nurenburg, and that has been on the
part of the circuit judge, a man who in other respects is very
liberal, but whose mind became prejudiced through some false reports
which came into the country, and were scattered by the press just as
we made a beginning. I nevertheless hope—and I believe it is the
general feeling—that the day is not far distant when freedom of
worship will be allowed—when the Elders can go through the country and
proclaim the Gospel without fear or molestation. We pray for that day,
and have great hopes that there are many thousands in those countries
who will receive the Gospel.
The Elders are laboring energetically. They have spared themselves no
pains to discover those who are willing to receive their testimony.
They are laboring faithfully and with good results. The emigration has
been quite extensive, as you know; but the number of those baptized
exceeds by a considerable amount the number that have emigrated. Our
branches are therefore growing continually.
My brethren and sisters: I am thankful to be able to testify to the
truth of this Gospel, which is being preached in these days. I do know
that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and this is a testimony which
I have received for myself. It is not because my parents taught me
this, or because I have heard it from others; that has given me
courage to bear this testimony before others. But I have felt
free in saying to all men, "Repent and be baptized and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that will give you a testimony
as it has given it to me." That is the testimony, my brethren and
sisters, that I feel to bear before you this afternoon.
I am glad to be once more in these mountains, to breathe this air, to
see those with whom I have grown up, and to feel once more at home.
During the three years that I have been absent, many changes have
taken place, some of them very mournful to me; but I am thankful to be
back once more. And now that I am home, I hope to be able to work
steadfastly in the cause of God, and to do my part in helping to build
up His kingdom upon the earth. This is my desire, and I pray that the
Lord will help all of us to remain true to the end, in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Wilford Woodruff then addressed the congregation. He said:
We have been listening to the testimony of one of our Mormon mountain
boys, who has been called in his youth to go forth to the nations of
the earth to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants
thereof. This is an example of this whole Mormon work in the day and
generation in which we live. Joseph Smith himself was but a boy, an
unlettered youth, when God called him over half a century ago, to
listen to the voice of the Lord, and be an instrument in His hands to
lay the foundation of His Church and Kingdom on the earth in the last
dispensation of the fullness of times; and from that day to this, men
have been called—some from the plow, the plane, the hammer, and from
the various occupations of life—to go forth and lift up their voices
and bear record to the nations of the earth of the Gospel of the Son
of God. And the Lord has manifested His power, and His mercy to all
who have been called to go forth and bear record of His name; and
Brother Cannon (John Q.) who has addressed us, like tens of thousands
of others, can bear record before God, angels and men, before the
heavens and the earth, to the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
which have been revealed unto us in the day and generation in which we
live. It is a marvelous work and a wonder in the earth, and it is
attracting the attention of the whole human family. The inhabitants of
the earth marvel and wonder, and many times desire to know what the
end of these things will be. The Lord called upon Joseph Smith, as a
literal descendant of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, to lay the
foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The
Church had been in the wilderness for nearly 1,800 years. The Church
and Kingdom of God had fallen away. The Gentiles had followed the same
example of unbelief as did the Jews when they departed from the Gospel
of Christ and put to death almost every man who bore the Holy
Priesthood on the earth, or who preached the Gospel of the Son of God
to the world. The Jews rejected the Messiah; they put Him to death;
and they labored to overthrow the Church, although it went to them in
all the power and glory, and with all the keys, principles, ordinances
and priesthood, that it did to the patriarchs and prophets in former
generations. For this the Jews were overthrown. They had to pay the
bill for shedding the blood of the Lord's anointed; and the Lord rent
the Kingdom out of their hands, and gave it into the hands of the
Gentiles; and Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles, warned them
strongly and faithfully to take heed and be cautious lest they should
fall through the same example of unbelief. "For if God spare not the
natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." But all the
Prophets and Apostles understood by vision and revelation that there
was to be a falling away. There has been a falling away. I can say of
a truth—whether the world believe it or not—that from the day the
apostles and disciples and those holding the Priesthood of the Lord
Jesus Christ were put to death, there has not been a man on the face
of God's footstool who has had the power to administer the ordinances
of the Gospel so as to have power after death. I understand perfectly
well the world does not believe this, nevertheless it is true. There
never was a man breathed the breath of life in any age of the world,
who had power to go forth and administer the ordinances of the Gospel
of Christ, only by the power of that eternal and everlasting
Priesthood which Melchizedek held, which Adam, Abraham, Moses, and
Elias, and all the ancient Patriarchs and Prophets held. Jesus Christ
held it. He was a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and has
entered into the presence of God to plead for His brethren. The
Apostles held it. No man in any age of the world had power to
administer the ordinances of the Gospel without it. God himself, who
has created worlds upon worlds, has created all these worlds and all
those that have been saved have been redeemed by the power of that
eternal and everlasting Priesthood. But as I said before, when the
Prophets and Apostles and all men who held the Priesthood were put to
death, the ordinances of the Gospel became without effect, and in
consequence of this, the whole world has been filled with sects and
parties, with false religions, and principles, until it would almost
appear that there are the six hundred, three-score and six, which John
the Revelator saw in his vision. And this has been the condition of
the whole Christian world from the days of Jesus Christ and His
Apostles until the Lord raised up Joseph Smith, and commanded him to
organize this Church and Kingdom. Did he attempt to do this until he
received the Priesthood? He did not. He did not attempt to administer
any one of the ordinances until he received the Holy Priesthood from
under the hands of the holy men who were sent unto him from God out of
heaven. The first man that ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
to the Priesthood was John the Baptist, who was beheaded for the word
of God and testimony of Jesus. Thus they were ordained to the Aaronic
Priesthood. Joseph afterwards received the Apostleship under the hands
of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Apostleship. God
Almighty could not establish His Kingdom, His Church, His Zion—which
the Holy Bible declares from Genesis almost to Revelation should be
established in the latter days—without men bearing that Priesthood.
God had to raise up such a man as Joseph Smith, and establish His
Church, by which to prepare a people for the coming of the Son of Man.
To this end Joseph was brought forth. He received these oracles from
God. He laid the foundation of this Church and Kingdom in his boyhood,
and he, like the Savior, and many of God's other servants, spent but a
short time in the flesh after he commenced his ministry. The Savior lived but three and a half years after He entered upon His
ministry. Joseph Smith labored in the flesh some 14 years after the
organization of the Church before he sealed his testimony with his
blood, as did other Prophets and Patriarchs before him. I say, from
that day until this, the Lord has called men to go forth and declare
the Gospel of Christ. And Brother John Q. Cannon has testified, he
knows for himself. Yes, he knows. There is no doubt of that. There are
tens of thousands of this people who can bear the same testimony. It
is true there is a difference with men with regard to the amount of
testimony they have received to satisfy them of the truth of this
work. Many men believe, but many say they require a certain amount of
testimony before they know. I will say for myself: the greatest
testimony I have ever received in this Church (and I have spent over
50 years of my life in it), has been the testimony of the Holy Ghost,
has been the inspiration of Almighty God, has been the spirit of life
and salvation, that still small voice that has rested upon me and
rested upon my brethren from the time we were baptized into this
Church until the present day. We lay hands upon the sick and they are
healed by the power of God. We lay hands upon our brethren, and set
them apart for missions. The Spirit of God rests upon us and inspires
us in our words and thoughts what we should seal upon their heads.
These words are fulfilled, and thousands upon thousands can testify of
the truth thereof.
The Bible contains a vast amount of prophecy concerning the last
dispensation and the fullness of times; concerning the building up of
the Kingdom of God in the last days; concerning a kingdom which shall
become an everlasting kingdom, of whose dominion there shall be no
end. God showed this to Daniel and to Nebuchadnezzar, as also to
Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The Prophet Isaiah has portrayed the
whole history of the Latter-day Saints who occupy these mountains of
Israel. He described our travels here, and our labors since we came
here. These Prophets saw our day, and they spake as they were moved
upon by the Holy Ghost; and the prophecies are of no private
interpretation. Their words are words of truth. Their words have had
their fulfillment and will have to the end. The travels of this Church
have been through deep waters, and this should not be a strange thing
to the inhabitants of the earth. I will say here, without fear of
contradiction, that no man, no set of men, no people, no church, no
portion of the Kingdom of God can live godly in Christ Jesus without
suffering persecution. You show me a Patriarch or Prophet that ever
lived who taught the words of life and salvation without incurring the
hatred, the wrath and the indignation of the surrounding nations, and
you will show me something that I have not been able to find on the
earth. But without dwelling upon this point, allow me to say that this
is what ails the Mormons. This is the cause of the warfare made upon
us by our nation today. God Almighty has set His hand to establish
His Church and Kingdom on the earth. He has set His hand to gather His
people to the mountains of Israel to build up a Zion. That Zion is
here. We have made a beginning. We came here, on the 24th of July,
1847, a little handful of pioneers. We found a barren desert. It did
not look as if any white men could live here. We found a few
poor, miserable, degraded Indians. They would eat a pint of crickets
for breakfast and supper, and this, with a few roots, was all the food
they had. Today, here is a tabernacle. Today, you can travel one
thousand miles throughout these valleys, from north to south, and you
will find them filled with towns, villages and cities, and you will
see temples, tabernacles, etc. What does it mean? It means that the
God of Heaven is a God of truth. He decreed certain things, and these
things are now coming to pass in spite of all earth and hell. That is
what it means. Had it not been for this, Utah would have been a desert
today as it was when we found it.
The testimony of the Elders of Israel is true. This is the Gospel of
Christ. It is the only Gospel the Lord ever revealed to man. And Paul
the Apostle says: "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed." The children of men do not believe the Gospel. They will
have everything else on the face of the earth except the Gospel. The
Lord has set His hand to fulfill His words and promises, and we are
here to help Him in that business. We came here to these mountains by
revelation, by inspiration. We were led here by Prophets, Apostles and
inspired men; and this Church and Kingdom has continued to grow from
the day it was organized until the present time. It will continue to
grow. The Gospel of Christ is the truth. "Am I therefore become your
enemy, because I tell you the truth," said Paul to the Galatians, in
teaching them this principle. But the truth is unpopular. The world is
full of error and falsehood. It will not accept the plan of life and
salvation.
We are in the hands of God. God has called us to this labor. He has
commanded us to preach the Gospel to the nations of the earth. This
we have done so far as the doors have been opened to us. It seems
strange to reflect upon the fact that such nations as Germany, Austria
and Prussia, should put up bars as strong as iron, so to speak,
against the preaching of the Gospel of Christ in their midst. Still
the Lord, as we have heard from Brother John Q. Cannon, is opening up
the way. There are a great many of the house of Israel in Germany;
there are a great many of the honest in heart throughout the nations
of the earth, and they must hear the Gospel. We have been preaching it
for over fifty years. The world in a great measure has rejected it. I
heard Joseph Smith say a great deal in regard to the attitude this
generation would assume in regard to the Gospel. He saw the situation.
Said he: "The world will fight you. The world will war against you.
Towns will arise and mob you, counties will oppose you, cities will
oppose you, and the United States will combine against you. The world
is full of darkness. Sin and wickedness is overwhelming the world as
the waters cover the great deep. The devil rules over the world in a
great measure. The world will war against you; the devil will, earth
will, and hell will. But you must bear testimony of me. You must
preach the Gospel, do your duty, and the Lord will stand by you. Earth
and hell shall not prevail against you." "Fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is
able to destroy both body and soul in hell." And I would say to our
friends, that is the spirit that vibrates in the bosoms of tens of
thousands of Latter-day Saints in these mountains. We stand
upon this pedestal. This is our platform. What fear have we with
regard to our enemies? Why should we fear? We are in the hands of God.
We have come to this earth in this time upon a mission. We have been
born on purpose in this generation to take part in this work. The Lord
required an element to labor with. He will build up Zion. And I bear
my testimony here to all men, and would to all the world if I had the
power, that the work in which this people are engaged, small and
insignificant as it may appear, is the work of God. It will roll
forth. It will become a mountain. It will fill the whole earth. It
will break in pieces all other kingdoms, and it will stand forever;
for God Almighty has decreed it. Write it down. Watch the signs of the
times. See if these things are not true. We are living in an important
day. We are called to do a work for the Lord, and we are going to do
it as far as we have time and opportunity. It has cost many men their
lives; but men's lives are of little consequence compared with eternal
life. Give me eternal life. As for this life, what does it amount to.
Why should we fear death? Why, bless your souls, a few years ago this
nation sacrificed a million of lives in defense of the country. That
may be all right. I have no fault to find. But is it any worse to die
for the Kingdom of God than it is to die for the honor of the country?
Not much. Then let us be faithful. Let us trust in God. Leave all
things in His hands, and all will be right.
Now I would like to say a few words before I close, with regard to our
present condition. Of course our affairs have become a national
question. The eyes of all the world are looking towards us. But I will
say this: it is a pitiful sight—it is a thing sorrowful to contemplate
upon, that our wise Senators, yes, our wise Senators have to take
falsehood into the halls of Congress to work upon to overthrow this
Church and Kingdom: so with the pulpit, so with the press. Who tells
the truth about Utah? Not one man in a thousand that attempts to
represent this case. We have not a boy in Utah in our common schools,
over twelve years of age, but knows, when he reads the statements of
some of those Senators, that they are arguing on a false basis. They
understand that perfectly. I am at the defiance of the world to prove
that we use in our common schools anything but the textbooks of the
world. We don't even use the Bible in our common schools. To do so
would almost be treason in the eyes of our enemies. Yet these
venerable Senators represent us as doing this. Why do Senators argue
upon false premises to overthrow this people? If people would tell the
truth about us, we should be perfectly satisfied. We have to be
satisfied anyhow.
Well, this is the state of the world today. We are called to preach
the Gospel. We preach it. There is but one Gospel. What is it? Faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ; repentance of sin; baptism for the remission
of sins; and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of
hands. These are the doctrines Jesus taught, and that His Apostles
taught.
I feel to bear my testimony to these things. They are true. God is
with this people. And we say to our nation—maintain the Constitution
and we are satisfied. Give us the rights of that Constitution and we
are satisfied. It is an instrument inspired by the power of God. Our forefathers were inspired when they framed it. Yet it is
marvelous to reflect upon some principles that have been laid
down—perhaps I ought not to allude to these things, but I am only
expressing my own reflections—even by the Supreme Court of the United
States. In effect it has said that we may think as we please, but must
not act. I would ask, in the name of the Lord, was that all Thomas
Jefferson, and others had in their minds when they framed the clause
in reference to religious liberty? What about men acting? If it was
only intended that men should think and not act, why not say so in the
instrument? Why should it be stated that "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof," if men were not to be allowed to act? Why, in the
exercise of their religion, men must act: and it is straining points,
it is overstepping the bounds of the Constitution to pass laws taking
away the rights and privileges of any people because of their
religion—because they happen to differ from their neighbors. Where
will such a course land our government? I will tell you what it will
do. It will rend the government in twain like unto a potter's vessel.
It will lay the nation in the dust. It will overthrow the government.
When they get through with the Mormons there will be somebody else to
deal with. The Constitution is good enough for anybody. It is good
enough for the Latter-day Saints. We have no principles but what are
in accord with the Constitution of the United States and the laws of
God. We are perfectly willing to trust ourselves and our interests in
the hands of God, and to leave our nation in His hands also; for God
will judge our nation; He will judge us; He will judge all the
children of men and He will judge righteous judgment. What men sow
they will reap. What measure they mete, it shall be measured to them
again.
I pray God to bless this nation. I pray God to give our legislators
wisdom, that they may maintain the Constitutional principles of the
government, the only government on the face of God's earth where the
Lord could have established His Church and Kingdom. That we may be
prepared to inherit eternal life is my prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
President John Taylor next addressed the congregation. He said: It is
some time since I have taken the privilege to speak to the Latter-day
Saints in this place. I have been visiting our settlements in
different parts of our Territory. There I frequently talk to the
people. You have a great many here who are capable of teaching and
instructing you, hence it is very seldom that I intrude myself upon
you in this capacity. But I always feel pleasure in meeting with the
Saints, in hearing my brethren unfold the principles of eternal truth,
and in listening to the testimonies which they have to give concerning
the Gospel of the Son of God.
God has revealed unto us the principles of the Everlasting Gospel, and
that Gospel brings life and immortality to light. Life and immortality
can only be made known by the revelations of God, and people who do
not believe in revelation cannot have any knowledge of life and
immortality. It is through that principle alone that these things are
or have been developed. We ourselves could have known nothing of God,
from the world in which we live, nor from the teachers thereof, be cause they do not even profess to be placed in communion
with God, nor to have revelation from Him, and how could they speak of
that they did not know or comprehend, or that which had not been
communicated to them? It was impossible for them to do it. There have
been many, very many good men in the world in the different ages when
the Gospel has not existed, that have sought to do good to their
fellow men, and to promote their welfare and happiness in a social,
political and religious capacity, and have sought to introduce
principles that would be calculated to elevate and exalt mankind in
the scale of being. That is one thing, but the inspiration of the
Almighty is another thing. Let me here mention a principle associated
with these ideas that will explain somewhat the remarks and position
of our brother, John Q. Cannon, who has addressed us this afternoon.
He said he believed in the principles of the Gospel, but he did not
have a testimony thereof—did not comprehend the thing, until he had
obtained some further manifestation. That might be attributed to his
youth and inexperience in the things of God; when he was brought face
to face with the actualities of life, and came in conflict with the
world he was under the necessity of applying to His Heavenly Father,
who imparted unto him, through the Holy Ghost, that knowledge of which
he speaks. I will mention a principle here. Outside of the Gospel,
among all classes of men, among all nations, kindreds and peoples, of
every color and clime everywhere, they have had given unto them a
portion of the Spirit of God to profit withal. We are told this in the
Scriptures, that God has given to every man a portion of His Spirit;
but that is not the gift of the Holy Ghost. Where good men have
followed the influence of that Spirit, it has led them to do good
acts, to be charitable, to be kind, to be benevolent, to cultivate
good morals and correct principles, to be governed by the principles
of honor, truth, integrity and virtue, and these principles prevail to
a greater or less extent among the nations of the earth and in this
nation. This is the portion of the Spirit of God, as I said before,
which was given to every man to profit withal. Why, those people that
we talk about so much sometimes, the infidels, they have a portion of
this Spirit, and many of them do many good acts. This may sound
strange, I have no doubt, to many of you, but it is a fact
nevertheless. He that doeth righteousness anywhere is righteous, and
he that doeth evil is wicked.
Now, what is the difference between that and the other principle?
Jesus said when He was upon the earth: "It is expedient for you that I
go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you." What was the Comforter to
do? "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Now, the portion of the
Spirit of God which is given to all men does not do this thing. It
does not lead them unto all truth, for there is a great diversity of
opinion among them. One may be a Methodist, another a Presbyterian,
one a Quaker, another a Dunker, one a Catholic, another a Protestant,
one a Christian, another a Muhammadan, one a Pagan, and another an
infidel, and some one thing and some another. If men were in the
possession of the gift of the Holy Ghost, it would lead them into all
truth, and there would be one Lord, as the Scriptures say,
and one faith and one baptism. Hence one of the old Prophets, clothed
upon by the Spirit of the Living God, looked through the vista of
future ages and contemplated events that should transpire in the
latter days, and said: "When the Lord shall bring again Zion, her
watchmen shall see eye to eye." There will be no confusion there, no
difference of sentiment there. They will place themselves under the
guidance of the Great Eloheim, and under His inspiration they will be
enabled to speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and the
Spirit of God, as it did formerly, will take of the things of God and
shew them unto them. There is the distinction between the two
principles.
How can we expect that people will comprehend the things of God
without the gift of the Holy Ghost? The Elders when they are sent
forth to preach are instructed to preach nothing but the first
principles of the Gospel—to preach nothing but repentance to this
generation. Why? Because the people cannot comprehend further advanced
principles. I remember talking with an eminent clergyman some few
years ago. He was a very gentlemanly person, well disposed,
intelligent, learned, etc. I talked the Gospel a little to him, but I
found he could not comprehend it. Hence I commenced talking politics,
history, geography, and some little principles of science. He
understood these things perfectly, and we had no difficulty in
comprehending each other; but he could not comprehend the Gospel. Was
he a minister? Yes; but he had not the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it
was useless for me to attempt to teach him. This is the way that I
understand these things.
Speaking of education, we have singular notions of education, and some
people will say—and I have often said it myself—that Joseph Smith was
quite an uneducated man. He was uneducated when he was a boy. He was
brought up in the Green Mountains of Vermont, and he did not have any
of the advantages of what we call an education. The Lord took him into
His school, and He taught him things that I have seen puzzle many of
the wisest scientists, profoundest thinkers, and the most learned men
that I have met with in this world. Why? Because he was taught of God.
What did those principles refer to? To the earth on which we live; to
the elements of which it is composed; to the heavens above us; to the
Gods that exist in the eternal worlds; to the principles by which the
earth was organized, sustained, upheld and governed, and its
relationship to other planets and systems; and speaking of
governments, laws and principles, he possessed more intelligence than
ninety-nine hundredths of the people of today. And he sought to teach
others, and these things were introduced into the Temple of the Lord
in Kirtland.
I have heard the Prophet Joseph quote from the German Bible in support
of our method of baptism by immersion, showing that the German
Translation of the New Testament favored this idea, and that the word
"Taufen" in that language means "to dip;" the same as our term
immersion does; and that when John the Baptist was spoken of as John
the Baptist, it was "Johannes der Taufer," or John the Dipper, which is
correct.
I have heard him quote from the Hebrew Bible in support of a plurality
of Gods, showing that the suffix "mem" in the word Eloheim or God, ought to be rendered in the plural and to read if literally
translated, "and the Gods said let us, etc." Certain it is that in our
present translation the word "us" or "let us" indicates that idea;
for
"us" is certainly in the plural and means more than one; and while our
translation makes it say: "In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth," we are also told that "In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. * * And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among
us," and further, that "All things were made by him," visible and
invisible. We are further told that "There be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things."
If, as stated, Jesus was with the Father in the beginning, there
certainly was more than one God—God the Father, and God the Son.
Joseph Smith was reasoning upon this doctrine at the time that he made
this quotation from the Hebrew Bible.
We had a discussion in this Tabernacle some years ago between Apostle
Orson Pratt and Dr. Newman—the latter a very prominent religionist
from the east—a Methodist I think he was—what they call a doctor of
divinity. The subject of discussion was—"Does the Bible sanction
polygamy?" Mr. Newman was a well-educated man. So was Orson Pratt. Mr.
Newman received his education in the schools of the day—somewhere in
the United States, perhaps in the Methodist order; but I am not
sufficiently acquainted with his history to say anything about this; I
know very little about Mr. Newman. But I know where Orson Pratt got
his information. And during this discussion some Hebrew points were
debated, and the original Hebrew had to be referred to. Orson Pratt
was quite as well acquainted with Hebrew as Mr. Newman was. Where did
he get his knowledge? He received it in the Temple at Kirtland, Ohio.
In speaking of that principle, the principle of education, to several
leading men only yesterday, I think, I mentioned to them, in alluding
to languages, that I was a little astonished to find that an old
gentleman, about 80 years of age, whom I met a short time ago, was
thoroughly conversant with the Hebrew language. "Where did you learn
it?" said I. "Why," said he, "I learned it in the Temple at
Kirtland;"
and he informed me that he was now studying Arabic. I was rather
amused at the idea of an old man 80 years of age commencing to study
Arabic. But to return. I have seldom met with a man that was more
intelligent in the science of astronomy than Orson Pratt. Where did he
get his information? From the same source. He studied mathematics all
his days, and has written works that it is very difficult for some men
to comprehend. Yet his works are on record.
The religion of God is not a religion of ignorance. To whom are we
indebted for the first principles contained in this book [the Bible]?
To Moses. Who was he? A man of God. Who taught him those things? The
Lord. By what principle? The principle of revelation; for he could not
know them without. But had he not been taught in the schools of Egypt?
Yes. And had he not obtained a knowledge of astronomy in those
schools, too? Probably he had in part; but God taught him the
leading, prominent points pertaining thereto. And who taught the
Egyptians? Abraham taught them the science of astronomy, so we are
informed, by late Egyptologists, and revealed unto them the principle
concerning the motions of the heavenly bodies. Where did Abraham get
his information from? In reading the history pertaining to this matter
we are told that he says of himself that he was a follower of
righteousness; that he sought after more righteousness; that he
examined the history of his fathers and traced back his genealogy to
the commencement of the world, and from before the commencement.
Afterwards we are told in the same history that the Lord gave unto him
a Urim and Thummim by which he was able to comprehend many things
that others did not understand, and by which he obtained a knowledge
of the heavenly bodies and of their motions. Moses was one of the
first to illustrate this principle; but Abraham, who was before Moses,
as also Joseph, understood it more clearly than Moses. And in those
things wherein the world today are puzzled in regard to the
Scriptures, and the six days that are there spoken of, Abraham speaks
of those days as times, epochs, or ages, different and distinct from
the days spoken of by Moses, and his record agrees precisely with many
geological facts that have puzzled so many of this generation. Where
did he obtain his knowledge? From God. Who controls the heavens and
the earth? The Gods in the eternal worlds. Who has implanted certain
principles in matter and in all creation? God has done it. All things
are subject to these laws; and if men can place themselves under His
guidance and find the way to approach the great Eloheim, they will
know more in a very short time than all this world together know in
all their lives and more than all the combined intelligence of the
world, for God is the foundation of all wisdom, and the source of all
intelligence and knowledge. We are told that Solomon was a wise man.
Where did he get his wisdom? From God. He prayed to the Lord to give
him wisdom, and the Lord told him that because he had sought wisdom he
should have it, and He would also add unto him the rich treasures of
the earth.
I speak of these things for the information of the Latter-day Saints,
and to disabuse your minds in regard to some of those principles that
men sometimes talk about. The world possesses a certain amount of
knowledge and intelligence, and it has progressed very rapidly of late
years. We have had many discoveries in the arts and sciences and in
the researches pertaining to geology, chemistry, etc., but many of
their ideas and deductions are perfectly foolish and ridiculous. We
have had the introduction of railroads, gas, steamboats,
manifestations of the power and use of electricity, etc. Nevertheless,
these principles always existed; it needed a development of them only
to bring them into practical use; and there are thousands of other
things not yet made known, yet to be developed, similar to those that
have been discovered. In regard to these things, some of them are
important, some of them are not very important. The intelligence that
the world boasts so much of, is not very profound when you come to
test it by the principles of eternal truth.
In regard to the action of the Congress of the United States, which
has been referred to, I want to say to you Saints, you need not trou ble yourselves about it—you need not be the least
concerned about any of these affairs. But they are acting unlawfully.
That is the worse for them. When the Government begins to break down
the safeguards of society, tear in pieces the Constitution of the
United States, and trample under foot the liberties of man, they are
only preparing the nation for an utter overthrow. There are plenty of
elements of discord and disintegration all around. Congress should not
be the first to exhibit examples of lawlessness and the violation of
Constitutional rights. However, if they can stand it we can. We need
not trouble our heads about any of these matters; there is an
overruling Providence that controls the affairs of men and nations. So
you can rest perfectly easy, you Latter-day Saints. We shall continue
to do right. We will continue to sustain good principle. And what will
you do? Just what Jesus said. We will do good for evil. What else? We
will pray for them that despitefully use us and evilly treat us. Why?
That we may be the children of our Heavenly Father, and act on the
same principle that He does towards the human family. Does He act in
that way? Yes. For he maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth His rain on the just and on the unjust. He has
introduced certain laws into the system of His government that
regulates all things pertaining to these matters. He does not make
those little divisions that the United States are trying to make
today. He is more philanthropic. He treats all alike, and places all
on the same basis. Then, we will try and operate with Him and for Him,
and in the interests of humanity, and in the protection of human
rights, and we will try by every legal and constitutional method to
maintain and sustain the principles of human rights in behalf of
ourselves, in behalf of our children, and in behalf of thousands and
tens of thousands of honorable men that live in these United States.
We can very well afford to abide by the Constitution of the United
States, and to sustain it, and we can afford to believe in the Bible
and to obey its ordinances, and practice them, which they cannot do,
and do not do. As I have said, we can afford to treat all men well,
and to pray for those which despitefully use us and persecute us.
Those who are trying to despoil us are objects more of sympathy in my
feelings than anything else. I feel sorry when I see misrule abound
anywhere, let it be in this nation or other nations. God would like to
see peace, union and harmony. For that reason He has introduced the
Gospel, and the principles of intelligence associated with it. Man is
a dual being, he possesses a body and a spirit, and is connected with
time and will exist in eternity, and it is for him to understand the
nature of his organism, and his relation to the world in which he
lives, and to God our Heavenly Father. What, then, will we do? Why, we
will try and live for one another; we will try and be honest,
honorable and virtuous, no matter what people can say about us.
Concerning the lying about us, we need not trouble our heads. I do not
think we are much better than Jesus was. The people in His day said He
was possessed of devils, and worse than that, that He cast out devils
by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils, and they killed Him
saying He was an impostor and a deceiver, and because He said He was
the Son of God, when they knew He was not. And His theology was altogether at fault with the learned Rabbis of that day, as ours
is with the learned Rabbis of this. We cannot help that. What we know,
as Brother John Q. Cannon has said, we know for ourselves. We do not
ask any odds of man. I don't. I know that God lives; I know that He
has revealed the truth; I know this is the everlasting Gospel. I know
that you Saints, if you are faithful, will secure to yourselves an
inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God; but if you are not true
to God and your religion you will not. If you go after the things of
the world and depart from the principles of righteousness and trample
upon the principles of honor, virtue, truth, or integrity, you will
not enter that kingdom. It is not every one that saith, Lord, Lord,
that shall enter the kingdom of heaven. What shall we do then? We will
fear and love God and work righteousness, and send the Gospel to the
nations of the earth, despite the follies, the wickedness and
corruption of men; and we will pro claim the truth in these valleys and
mountains, and Zion will spread, grow and increase. God will be for
Israel, and we will sing, Hallelujah! the Lord God Omnipotent
reigneth, and He will reign until He has put all enemies under His
feet. Let this people fear God and work righteousness, and I ask no
odds of earth or hell. God is at the helm. He will manage things
according to the counsels of His will. He will say to this nation and
to other nations, as He did to the proud waves of the ocean, "Hitherto
shall thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be
stayed?" Our safety and our defense is in the Lord of Hosts. Let us
put our trust in Him and obey His laws, and He will bless and sustain
us in time and throughout the eternities that are to come; and we will
try and benefit this nation all that we can, and all that they will
let us, and if they will not let us, we cannot help it.
God bless you and lead you in the paths of life. Amen.
- John Q. Cannon