If there is any one thing in this world above another that I prize it
is my liberty—liberty to speak, liberty to act, liberty to move among
my fellows, discharging the duties and obligations of life without
regard to the frowns or favors of anybody in the world. I rejoice in
the fact that, so far as I am individually concerned, my faith in God and in His promise to us, His people, was never better than it
is today. And although the dark cloud may hang over us, and the storm
of opposition beat against us, I am as confident as I am that I stand
before you that God will vindicate the righteousness of His Saints and
bring them off conquerors in the end. So far as I am concerned I see
but little cause for mourning. It is true that some of our brethren
are serving out terms of imprisonment, but it is also true that they
are thus afflicted not for wrongdoing but for conscience sake; and
they do not mourn, so why should we. If they or we should put on the
garb of mourning, it would not be because of any inflictions we may
have to endure in consequence of our religious convictions, for such
things we may expect, and have expected; our cause of mourning would
be and is in man's inhumanity to man, in the tearing away of the
barriers of civil and religious liberty, the results of which none may
be able to divine.
I have preached in many lands and to many peoples that the little
stone cut out of the mountain without hands would cause a commotion in
the earth, exciting the jealousy of the people, not only of our own
land, but eventually of all lands; but that while this would be the
case, we would be able at all times to give tangible reasons for the
peculiar position we occupy, and for the hope and faith we have in the
God of heaven, who has called us to it.
I did not design at all to refer to the persecutions of the Saints;
they are no cause of surprise or wonderment to me; I have expected
such things, having been taught in my youth that such a condition of
things would come. But while we may expect to be persecuted and hated
of all men, we have consolation in the promise of the Lord that He
would from time to time soften the hearts of our enemies, and that
nothing should intervene to destroy this work, or to frustrate the
purposes that it is designed to accomplish.
The doctrines which we believe in and practice should not, in my
opinion, create the feelings against us which now exist. When it is
borne in mind that we believe in faith as the primary and fundamental
principle of the Gospel: that we believe in working out our salvation
with fear and trembling before the Lord, through keeping His
commandments and observing the laws and ordinances which He has made
known to us for our guidance, and which when carried out, produce the
fruits of righteousness, it does seem singularly strange that men
professing Christianity should be found among our most bitter
opponents.
Brother Moyle, who has just addressed you, referred to some of the
famous characters of earth, among them our own Morse, and his
struggles to make men believe in the inspiration with which he was
possessed. Although he has since demonstrated to the whole world that
he was most wonderfully wrought upon in producing marvelous results
from the workings of electricity, yet when he appealed for assistance
he was regarded as and even called mad. He, however, was not daunted,
but persevered in his work, a work that has since brought blessings
and benefit to mankind generally. The experience of Morse has been the
common lot of men who have been the means of introducing new truths
into the world; and who is able to say, that history will not yet
record the fact that the sons and daughters of our most bitter
opponents have recognized the Latter-day Saints as benefactors to the
human family.
The principle of faith has been the great motive power by which all
reformers have been actuated; it was faith that impelled us to gather
to this land, and it is faith, in connection with the knowledge we now
possess, that inspires us to steadfastly and firmly move on in our
work of redeeming the land and building up towns and cities, and
bringing order out of chaos. Thus, so far as the principle of faith is
concerned, we do not differ from Christians generally, except in being
more practical, believing, as we do, that faith without works is dead.
There are no doubt many people who are as practical in their views as
the Latter-day Saints, and cling to their views as tenaciously as we,
and perhaps, so far as that goes are similarly treated, but their
faith is centered in other matters than religion or spiritual things,
as was the case with Morse.
We turn to the principle of repentance, that principle that prompts
men to cease doing wrong and to mend their ways. In this we are in
harmony with active Christians generally, although we may not place
this principle in the same relative position in the category of
tenets, as others do. We also accept and regard as essential, the
ordinance of baptism, and could furnish ample testimony to show that
this, as well as the other ordinances, principles and laws of the
Gospel, as believed in and practiced by us are Scriptural; that it is
ordained of the Lord; that He has declared that except a man is born
of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
One of the most striking points of difference between the religion of
the Latter-day Saints and that of other people is our belief in
revelation. We not only believe that the Lord did in ancient days
reveal Himself to man, but we accept the doctrine of revelation as
necessary for the guidance of the Church today; that the same Lord who
so signally blessed and sustained His people anciently can bestow
similar blessings in our day; and our faith is just as firmly fixed in
the goodness and power of the Almighty to move in our behalf as in
that of any other people. If it were not for the fact that our
heavenly Father has spoken and revealed to us certain fundamental
truths, and that He does, through His servant, to the Church as a
body, and through His spirit to the people individually, we would be
as others are—without any living distinctive faith. To do away with
revelation would be to refuse to recognize the Author of our faith as
our guide and teacher. Who can find out the things of God except he is
taught either of the Almighty Himself, or those who are taught of Him?
It is a matter of utter impossibility for man through his own wisdom
to either find out God, or to act in the things of God, without first
having been taught and authorized so to do.
Thus might we compare these principles and reason upon them. We have
done this abroad whenever opportunity has been afforded. But when we
have declared the fact that present revelation was and is essential
for the guidance of man, and that the Church of Christ never did or
could exist without it, and that the Lord had again revealed Himself
to man, our hearers would generally either turn aside or perhaps show some sign of pity for "the poor deluded Mormons," for this is
the light in which we are held for believing in such things. It is a
singular thing to me that men and women can take their Bible and sit
down with the Elders of our Church and compare the doctrines of the
scriptures with those taught by our Elders, and fail to sense their
truth. It does seem singular to me—and yet I should not regard it as
strange for this reason: whenever there has been a Gospel dispensation
a man having the Holy Spirit could bear witness of the correctness of
these things. When that spirit of testimony rests down upon a man it
begets conviction in his heart, whether he is willing to acknowledge
it or not. Nicodemus could find his way by night to Jesus, and
acknowledge that there was a power with him that other men were not
possessed of. Others received the witness of the Spirit, and were able
to abide by its dictates, renounce their former ways, and take up the
cross unpopular though it was. Others again treated the whole thing
with ridicule, not being able to see anything in it. Such doubtless
would be the case were the same persons to teach the same things now.
To me it has always appeared singular that there should be any
reflecting honest-hearted person unable to believe in the mission of
Joseph Smith. We may take such men as Luther, Calvin and Wesley, and
others equally learned, who are recognized by all Christians as beacon
lights, and yet notwithstanding their education and ability to act in
the roles they so nobly played, not one of them nor any other orthodox
Christian has been able to evolve a perfect system of Church
government. Their productions are as a rope of sand, void of strength
or spiritual force. The spiritual desires of men are not gratified to
satiety, their souls are not fed; it is the letter without the spirit,
the body without the soul. I do not say this by way of disparagement
to the names of these illustrious heroes; they did their work and did
it nobly, but it was not for them to reveal to man a perfect system of
church government. In later times, however, we find a boy without
experience or education, presenting to the world a system of
government pronounced by statesmen of eminence to be superior to
anything known among men. Our organization is admitted to be without a
parallel; and this through a mere boy. But the fact is, he was not the
author, neither did he ever claim its authorship; he was merely the
honored instrument under God to reveal it to and institute it among
men. And although the press and the pulpit unite in denouncing him as
a crazy fanatic and a vile impostor, his work challenges the admiration
of the best thinkers of the age. The principles that he unfolded are
in harmony with the scriptures and with reason; they are in harmony
with true science and with the laws of the universe; and he has
presented them clearly and distinctly so that none need misunderstand
them. It is most singular that the intelligence of the 19th century
can look upon this boy and mark him as being so infamous a being as
they say he was, when the fruits of his labors are before the world
and none can gainsay them. This is the work of the Divine Master, and
Joseph Smith was His servant. The Lord God stands at the helm. We need
not feel concerned about what is termed "Mormonism;" He decreed it,
and He is carrying it out. It is true, it may take us through
persecution and tribulation, but it is true all the same; this
I know as well as I know that I live. Having received the witness of
the Holy Spirit, neither you nor I need entertain any doubts or fears
as to the result. And I bear witness before you and before my Father
in heaven, whom I expect to meet at the latter day, that we possess
the fullness of the new and everlasting Gospel, and that God revealed
it unto us; and I further testify that it will remain firm as the rock
of ages, that its course will continue onward and upward, gathering
strength as it goes, until it shall at last fill the whole earth, as
Daniel foresaw that it would.
It seems that the people of the Lord in every age have had to pass
through certain ordeals in order to accomplish certain results; they
would become careless and negligent of duty and worldly-minded and, in
many instances, forgetful of their sacred covenants; and we, it would
seem, need to pass through the same purifying process as they before
us. And, in order to develop a better state of things for Zion, some
will pass through the prison house, and others may suffer death, as
some have already; but whatever the infliction, the wheat will yet
remain and the chaff will be blown away.
One may ask. Have you any feelings of hatred in your heart toward
those who delight in persecuting and oppressing you? If they were
hungry, and it was in my power, I would feed them; I desire not to
bear malice or hatred towards any of the children of my heavenly
Father. We must fight the battles of truth, with a desire for the
ascendancy of truth, and not personal gratification, remembering that
those who oppose us are of the same family, hereafter to be rewarded
for the good or evil which they may do while in the flesh. I hate the
misdeeds of men, especially when they are aimed at the liberty of
their fellows; but I hate none of the sons and daughters of God. I
would bless them and do anything in my power for their good; but I
would not yield my soul into their keeping, or turn traitor to the
principles of my faith for the satisfaction of any living being.
I have been reared among the Latter-day Saints. My father and mother
were as old in citizenship of the United States and as honorable in
their ancestry as any that call be found in the land. I love my
religion, I love my country, and I have no other desire than to honor
my God, and do good to my fellow man.
There is no necessity for us to be concerned or worried in the least.
It is true we may have difficulties to meet; but with patient
forbearance, pursuing an earnest determined course, time will prove to
the truly loyal citizens of this great nation, that we are the friends
of liberty; that to be free, free from the power of wicked men, and
free from the power of the destroyer of men's souls is the aim and
object of our lives. There is no necessity for overt acts of any kind,
or indulging the spirit of revenge; our course is one of peace and
good will to man, blessing all with whom we come in contact. And as
long as we observe strictly the principles of our religion, the way
will open up before us, for God is our Father and friend. He has been
our guide in the past; and He in His own way has cast down every man,
from the commencement of this work until the present time, who has
raised his hand against us, and their lives have ended in disgrace or
been clouded by some misdeed.
While in distant lands I have had joy in gazing upon the stars and
stripes as they have floated on the breeze from the mast heads of
American vessels, or wherever my eye has happened to see the flag of
our country. I have honored and revered my parents who, in harmony
with their convictions, taught me to obey the laws of the land; and I
trust ever to be found true to my country, and true to my religion and
my God. The laws of Heaven, as revealed through the Prophet Joseph
Smith, are grounded in my heart, and I can acknowledge the power of no
man, however great, to stand between me and my God.
Referring for one moment to the question of plural marriage, I will
here say that it is my candid opinion, freely expressed, that if fifty
million of the people of the United States believed in patriarchal
marriage and only twenty in monogamic marriage, that the judges placed
in power by the majority would decide in favor of the plural form of
marriage, being religion. That prejudice and political influence
affect to a great extent the judgment of men in deciding such
questions, no person can deny. Amen.
- John H. Smith