In seeking to address the audience this afternoon I feel a degree of
weakness and of dependence upon the Holy Spirit, known to the Elders
of Israel; and that I may secure the guidance and inspiration of the
Holy Ghost to direct me what to say, I desire an interest in your
faith and prayers. Nothing to my mind can be greater sacrilege in the
sight of the Almighty than to undertake to speak in His name
without the inspiration of His spirit. We may talk upon the branches
of human learning and knowledge, speaking after the manner of men with
but little of this feeling of timidity, but not when we undertake to
speak of the principles of life and salvation, of the plan of human
redemption as it has always existed—as it existed before the
foundations of the world were laid, as it will continue to exist until
every child of God except the sons of perdition shall be brought back
and exalted in a degree of glory far beyond the comprehension of the
finite mind. It has sometimes been said that Mormonism, so called, is
narrow, proscriptive and selfish; yet those who comprehend it, even in
part, have never made such an assertion.
God so loved the human family that He gave His only Begotten Son to
die for the sins of the world, and in all the dealings of God with the
human family, the careful student will find that the deepest, the
strongest, the chord that gives forth the sweetest music, is that
which vibrates under the touch of this infinite, almost
incomprehensible, love of the Almighty. The chief corner stone, the
foundation of our faith is built upon the doctrine of vicarious
salvation, founded in the deepest philosophy of love. The doing by
others the things that we are not able to do for ourselves, is a
divine principle the practice of which saps the very foundations of
human selfishness, and it exalts, glorifies, and so far as understood
and practiced, brings those who obey it into a nearness with God. The
Gospel of Jesus Christ is in no sense narrow. It is broader than
eternity, deeper than earth, higher than the heavens. Note the
affection of earthly parents. Their child may stumble and fall, his
feet may traverse bye and forbidden paths, he may do ten thousand
wrong things, but in the midst of all, the love of father and mother
reaches out and yearns for the reclamation and redemption of the
wayward one. This love, implanted in the human heart, is of divine
origin. It is the mainspring that prompts saving efforts. The plan of
salvation being permeated with it, strikes unerringly at human
selfishness, and bidding us do unto others as we would have others do
unto us, cannot possibly be narrow.
Whatever may have been the efforts of Satan and the hosts that follow,
whatever they may do in the future to destroy, a merciful and loving
heavenly Father's plan is broad enough to save and will save, in some
degree of glory, every human being that has or ever will breathe the
breath of mortal life except the sons of perdition who, sinning
against light, put Jesus to an open shame by denying the efficacy of
His atoning blood after knowing of its power. Thank God these will be
few in number. Whatever may be the views of uninspired sectarians as
to the utter condemnation of the heathen, and of the unsprinkled
infant who dies before the dawning of reason upon its intellect, none
but those mentioned will be consigned to eternal condemnation and to
the misery and torments of what is called hell. Men will be judged by
the deeds done in the body. If, therefore, a man, in full possession
of intellectual faculties sins against light as the son of the
morning, Satan, sinned against light, no power on earth or in heaven
can save him. For he has deliberately, while freely exercising his own
agency, elected to be damned. To such the sealing powers, the
keys of which were restored to the Prophet Joseph by Elijah, are of no
more avail than were they when Satan, followed by a third part of the
hosts of heaven, sought to enforce against the decree of God and His
Son Jesus, his coercive scheme of human redemption, which scheme in
its very nature was calculated utterly to destroy the agency of man,
thus denying him the means of growth and final intelligent exaltation.
Satan knew of the existence of God and of His Christ, His firstborn,
and he knew of their power, honor, glory and dominion. But being
envious and full of ambitious pride was anxious to supplant all for
his own advancement. He fell, and was cast down as those will be who
follow him and do the works of their master, sinning against knowledge
and the light of heaven.
The coercive, agency destroying plan of Satan, having been rejected
by the councils of heaven, a better, more noble plan, one founded in
unselfish love that distills the mercies of God in the human heart, as
the dews of heaven moisten and gladden the parched earth, was adopted.
This plan, while holding the keys of the Godhead in the authority of
His priesthood, is yet simple and easily understood—so plain is it
that a wayfaring man need not err. There is a spirit in man and the
inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding; the sinful who
listen and obey are led to repentance, and, through the doors of
baptism of the water and spirit are brought out of wickedness to the
enlightenment of pure knowledge, until in obedience to heavenly law
they secure the keys of power authorizing them to pass by the angels,
inherit glory, become heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ; and,
having abiding in them eternal lives shall beget, throughout the
endless ages of eternity, the souls of the children of men to the
honor and glory of God, and create and have dominion over worlds.
Such is the high destiny of obedient man. But Satan was an accuser of
his brethren from the beginning, hence the rejoicing of angels when he
and his kind were cast down to earth bodiless, estateless and
powerless, except for evil. Wandering spirits in the realms of
darkness, seeking everywhere and under all circumstances to enter,
defile and destroy the souls and bodies of men. Where God is he can
never abide, nor can those having received the testimony of Jesus who
deny it. Such can never, if they reject the truth, sin against the
light and put Jesus again to an open shame, abide the presence of God.
When through the atoning blood of Christ their spirits and bodies are
brought together in the resurrection of the wicked and are judged
according to the deeds done in the body, the second death will pass
upon them. The first death resulted in a temporary separation of body
and spirit, but the second will result in eternal separation. As the
rebellious in heaven lost their first, so these will lose their second
estate and become like the first.
How many people in this world today are capable of becoming the sons
of perdition? And those are the only ones of the human family who will
not be saved in some degree of glory. Are there two hundred thousand
mature, intelligent human beings throughout the Christian world today
who have knowledge enough to enable them to become the sons of
perdition? How many in the Christian world have that testimony
of Jesus which the Apostle declared was the spirit of prophecy? Such a
testimony is stronger than can be the testimony of the existence of
any earthly thing as evidenced by the five senses. As the heavens are
higher than the earth, so is the testimony of Jesus above earthly
information for it penetrates every fiber of the human organism. A
slight degree of inspiration, without such a testimony enabled the
Waldenses about whom Brother Leishman has been speaking, to endure,
while singing songs of joy and rejoicing, the horrors of fagot, wheel
and rack. A comprehension of the testimony that rewards, in time and
eternity, enabled the Apostle Peter to meet undismayed the death of
crucifixion. It caused the disciples of Jesus to take gladly the
spoiling of their goods and bear patiently the contumely heaped upon
them. How few can comprehend it! Physical courage is common enough
even in this degenerate age. Exhibitions of brute force can be
witnessed on every hand. The crawling worm as it drags its slimy term,
will turn and fight for existence, and the lowest of God's creatures
struggle for life. A sensitive, refined human being, made in the image
of God, may face physical danger in every form, meeting without fear
the wild savage, while the dark messengers of death whistle by his
heedless ears. Without a tremor, he may listen to the whir of grape
and canister, and the shriek of shell, as they scatter desolation and
ruin all around; but a sneer of contempt from the lips of the
scornful, or envious hate expressed in fierce sarcasm, may dull the
very marrow of his bones, causing him to quake like an aspen leaf.
Thus the physically brave may quail, falter and fall under the attack
of the scornful egotist, whose sneer to many is like the poison of
asps. But he who has the testimony of Jesus springing up in his heart
like a well of living water hath that higher courage which tends
upwards, step by step, to a comprehension of the inspiration that
enabled the Savior while suffering the agonies of death to utter the
heaven-born sentiment of divine love expressed in the words, "O, God
forgive them for they know not what they do."
No man without the Holy Ghost can testify that Jesus is the Christ;
neither could any men under similar circumstances utter from the heart
such sentiments of forgiveness without the direct inspiration of the
Almighty. Christians may assimilate, preach about, and praise a love
that passeth the comprehension of the finite mind, but no mortal can
love his enemies and pray for the forgiveness of those who
despitefully use and would kill him, without the testimony of Jesus,
and the knowledge accompanying it.
God will forgive whom He will forgive, but for us it is required that
we forgive all men. Whether they ask forgiveness or not? Yes, whether
they ask it or not! This doctrine is founded in the deepest philosophy
and leads up to final victory for all who through obedience to the
commandments, have gained for the spirit ascendancy over the passions
of the body and are thus enabled to love even their enemies. Scribes,
Pharisees and hypocrites love each other. The distinguishing
characteristic of a Saint is that he can do more. And his ability to
do more comes of the knowledge that the love of God abides not in the
heart that harbors hatred of a single human being. He who preaches and
practices the doctrine of hate knows not God. As we judge of
the quality of a tree by the fruit it bears, so also may we judge of
the quality of a religion by the fruit it bears and not by the
professions of its adherents.
I say to the Latter-day Saints, if the religion you have received
fails to prevent you from bearing false witness, it is either untrue
and not the religion of Christ, or it is not grounded in your hearts.
True religion is bound to be practical religion, teaching the merchant
to give sixteen ounces to the pound, thirty-six inches to the yard,
and in every way to be honest and truthful. It will teach the laborer
to do honest work and the employer to give honest and fair wages for
the work. It will unveil hypocrisy and place a premium on the
execution of equity and justice; it will supplant malice with charity,
hatred with love, distrust with confidence. It will silence the voice
of envy and remove the foot of oppression from the neck of the poor.
Its church steeples will cast no shadows over the homeless, starving,
shivering child of God, left miserably to perish under the very
droppings of the sanctuary. True religion will do these and ten
thousand kindred deeds of charity, whenever and wherever practiced.
The fearful wrongs everywhere seen in the Christian world were not
foreordained, nor are they any part of heaven's economy, but are the
fruits of the acts of sinful man, the results of God's laws broken and
trodden under feet of men whose wicked injustice blotch and mar the
harmony and peace of the universe.
True religion refreshes the heart as gentle rains the parched and
thirsting soil. The law and prophets hang upon perfection—the doing
unto others as we would that others should do to us, under the
practice of which the grinding monopolies, cruel wrongs and awful
sacrifices known throughout the Christian world would melt away as
snow before the rays of the sun. Millions may profess to follow the
meek and lowly Jesus, but if the misery and sorrow of Christians is
the fruit they produce, their religion is lifeless, untrue, or has
failed to act upon their hearts. Strait is the gate and narrow is the
way, and few there be that find it. Simple, unmistakable, yet how few,
how few indeed, seem to understand that unchangeable declaration of
Christ.
Ministers claiming to speak in His name daily contradict and seek to
nullify its force. Some years since I remember to have read a sermon
preached by the Brooklyn divine, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in which
his mighty intellect—he is conceded to be one of the foremost
thinkers of the age—seemed to grasp material with which to bridge the
gulf separating the various Christian denominations, by comparing the
kingdom of heaven to the City of Philadelphia, leading into which were
many railways, over each of which many trains, with many cars
containing many people, passed daily. All starting from different
points, traversing different roads, but all going to Philadelphia—that
is, heaven. How generous, how charitable, how humane! But however
pleasing the doctrine it lacks one important ingredient, it is not
true. Beecher says there are many ways. Christ said, straight is the
gate, not gates, and narrow is the way, not ways, etc. As they
separate, and disagree, let us leave Beecher and follow Christ. One is
an authority, the other is not. Jesus, the Mediator of the Covenant,
the Captain of our salvation, through whose atoning blood our
sins are washed away, and by whose merits and our faithfulness we
shall be brought again into the presence of God the Father, has
declared that a man cannot enter the Kingdom of God except he be born
of the water and of the Spirit; and yet think of the audacity, the
blasphemy of those claiming to act in His name and for Him, while
denying His statements and rendering His laws, in the estimation of
those whom they teach, nugatory. And yet these same people are quick
to brand as nullifiers all who seek to test in a peaceful way the
special, proscriptive laws of man. These things indicate that which is
genuine and detect that which is spurious. Let us obey the laws of
God, the laws of no Christian nation should conflict therewith.
As the value of a coin is largely determined by its purchasing power,
so the value of a religion may be partly determined by its cost and
largely by the blessings it will bring. Becoming familiar with the
coin issues of our country the careful, prudent man is able in many
ways to detect counterfeits. Note for instance the authorized issue of
gold twenties. Above the eagle, the nation's emblematic coat of arms,
and surrounded by stars and rays of light are the words, "In God we
trust;" around the face margin "United States of America" and
"Twenty
Dollars." On right and left scroll connecting at top of shield we find
the words, "E pluribus Unum;" in its left talon the eagle grasps a
bundle of three arrows. On the reverse side we find the impress of the
head of the "Goddess of Liberty" surrounded by thirteen stars
representing the thirteen original States. Across the diadem on her
head, is the word "Liberty," (on certain silver coins of more modern
issue "Liberty" is printed on the shield upon which the Goddess sits).
These, with date of issue and a small letter indicating the mint that
coined the issue are the distinctive features of the coin alluded to.
Now supposing any person, high or low, ignorant or wise, should offer
you a coin in exchange for twenty dollars value lacking any of these
distinctive features, would not your suspicions be aroused? If so,
what would you think of a person offering you a coin as genuine
bearing none of the distinctive features named except the words, "In
God we trust?" And what would you think of anyone who would receive
it, as an authorized coin? Do you think our Government would
acknowledge such as genuine? What would be the penalty for issuing and
attempting to circulate such an authorized and genuine coin? Let the
thoughtful reflect upon these questions.
Now examine the genuine plan of human redemption impressed by the die
of inspiration, issued by the Almighty and endorsed by His Son; Faith,
a principle of power; Repentance, turning away from sin; Baptism,
being buried in the water; and the Gift of the Holy Ghost conferred
under the hands of those having the authority of the Holy Priesthood
to officiate in the ordinances of the Gospel, are distinctive features
of that plan, obedience to which shows its value in signs following,
casting out devils, healing the sick, speaking in tongues, testimony
of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy, the sealing powers, keys and tokens
of endless lives, thrones, dominions, all heights, all depths, heir
with God, joint heir with Christ.
Think now of an offer as genuine of a plan having none of these ex cept, "Believe in Christ and you shall be saved." Accept it,
try it, and see if it will purchase those gifts and blessings
mentioned, or any of them. Failing in this it would not be genuine
though the form, in every particular, corresponded with the
authoritative plan. Hence none need be deceived.
Brother Leishman indicated by his remarks that salvation predicated
alone on belief was nowhere taught in the Scriptures. This needs
qualification for it is written:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."
This being in the same chapter and in connection with the same
subject, it is clearly seen that the belief spoken of contemplated
works. Now what is faith or belief? It is a principle of power by the
exercise of which worlds were made. Christ Himself declared that he
that said he believed in Him and kept not His commandments had not the
truth in him. True faith, then, merges into, and is inseparably
connected with works. The Apostle James testifies that faith without
works is dead. In the sense that true faith leads to true works, we
understand the sayings above quoted. And that, I presume, is what
Brother Leishman meant. Now I believed that I would come to this
Tabernacle today. In this respect I had a living faith and it
prompted to the work necessary to bring me here, hence I am in your
presence. Had my faith been dead, how long do you suppose I would have
remained absent?
If you believe in Jesus you will keep His commandments, and the
assertions of man or any number of men can never change this divine
decree. Again He said: "Verily, verily I say unto you (speaking to
Nicodemus) except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of
heaven." How forcibly can thousands realize this truth among this
people. How true, how potent, and yet how little comprehended is that
saying Christ further declared to Nicodemus that, except a man be born
of the water and of the Spirit he could not enter the kingdom of
heaven.
It would seem that not only man, but other creations of God respond to
this law. The earth upon which we dwell had its birth out of the
waters. And, when the debasing, corrupting sins of man defiled the
face thereof, they were remitted—swept away by immersion. The windows
of heaven being opened and the fountains of the deep broken up, the
earth was literally baptized in water, as hereafter, abiding the law
of its creation it will be literally baptized in fire and the Holy
Ghost. Thus, though men may lightly consider the foundation upon which
rests the plan of human redemption, heaven and earth testify of it.
God dwells in eternal fire, and no human being who has not been
baptized in water and Spirit can abide that which will come, when the
earth is immersed in flames, mountains melt with fervent heat and run
down like wax. To prepare humanity for the great day of the Lord
Almighty, He placed in his Church Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,
Teachers; that they might do the work of the ministry and bring us to
a oneness of faith in Christ Jesus. Any church with less than these
should show the command authorizing the change. If the Savior has made
such change, or any change, it is important for us to know it. But if
He has made no change, He will surely hold us responsible for
accepting any that men have made. Can a church not even bearing the
name of the Redeemer, and having neither Apostles nor Prophets, bear
the fruits enjoyed by the disciples of our Lord in the days of and
subsequent to His ministry? Do any of them ever claim to have such
fruits? Who among them have the endowments of the Comforter, whose
mission it was and is to bring the teachings of Jesus to the memory,
show things to come and lead into all truth? God neither changes nor
is he a respecter of persons; the causes, therefore, which lie
ordained to produce certain results in one age will produce them in
another. What would we think of an earthly father who, having bestowed
every care in the education, advancement and exaltation of his
firstborn; giving instruction, encouragement, sympathy and love, but to
children born later only the history of his doings with their older
brother? Quick to hear and answer the prayers of the first, deaf to
the supplications of others. A living testimony to one, doubt and
despair to the rest. The fruits of knowledge to one, dead forms to the
others. Could such a father be considered impartial, generous or just?
No. And yet men would have us believe that God deals with His children
in just this way. I bear my testimony that it is not true. The Apostle
James declared that "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be
given him." Men tell us that He has ceased to communicate with His
children. Thus Joseph, the unlettered boy, was confused, perplexed and
made most miserable. The Methodist, with good intentions no doubt,
said to him, "Lo, here is Christ." The Presbyterian, with equal
sincerity, bade him follow them, while the Baptist called on him to
seek Jesus, in their way. In the midst of all this confusion and
conflict, obeying the injunction of James, he sought wisdom direct
from God, and got it; receiving in time authority to organize the
Church of Jesus Christ, perfect in all its parts, as it existed
anciently. By the knowledge of the things of God revealed to him, and
by the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood received from John the
Baptist, and of the Melchizedek Priesthood received from Peter, James
and John, and not by the learning of man, he did this great work which
is genuine—the Gospel of Christ with all its gifts and blessings. And,
as Jesus testified, so we testify, if any will do the works of the
Father he shall know whether the doctrine be of man or of God.
In the things of this world men are on the testimony of their
fellow men, adjudged innocent or guilty; and if the inducements of
wealth are offered as a reward for testing the statements of men few
refuse, but when eternal life through a knowledge of the plan of human
redemption is promised on simple conditions, how few are willing to
test it. Thus are the words of the Savior verified, "many are called
but few are chosen."
When less than fifteen years of age an humble, unlearned (in the
knowledge of the world) Elder promised me in the name of the Lord that
if I would obey the first principles of the Gospel as taught and
administered in the days of Jesus, I should know whether the doctrine
was of God. I obeyed and proved his words true. I received a testimony
and the spirit of prophecy. Not from Joseph Smith or Brigham
Young or John Taylor, but from God. Unhappy is the condition of the
Saint who has not received it, for in the midst of scorn, hatred,
ostracism and persecutions of the world, it is the lamp that shines
along the narrow way that leads to the presence of the Creator. It is
the well of living water springing up unto eternal life, the
inspiration that testifies of a love stronger than death; willing to
endure all things while pleading with humanity to receive the message
of a merciful, long-suffering and loving Father. For this reason the
Elders of Israel gladly take the spoiling of their goods, and, as it
were, their lives in their hands and go to the ends of the earth
delivering their message while patiently enduring the whips and
scorns, derision and insults of those whom to save they would perish.
With such love as this in their hearts, how many have wandered without
sympathy, friendless and alone save the companionship of the Holy
Ghost, in the streets of London, Liverpool, Paris, New York, and other
large cities and densely populated regions of the world! And how truly
have they verified the words: "If they hated the Master so also will
they hate you."
Read the fierce resolutions and burning expressions of hate issuing
from religious and other societies and organizations. Do they inspire
you with feelings of bitterness in return, or with profound feelings
of sorrow? Can you mourn for those who do these things ignorantly? Can
you think of Paul as he persecuted the early Saints in the belief that
he was doing God's service, and pray for these too? Thousands who
have been deceived by those who love and make lies, honestly believe
that it would be God's ser vice to drive the "Mormons" from the land.
Let us remember that all these, and those also who judge us
wrongfully, harshly, cruelly and with malice aforethought, having
knowledge of their injustice, were true to God in heaven when Satan
and a third of the hosts there fought against Christ and Michael. They
kept their first estate, and whatever in their blind wickedness they
may be led by the power of darkness to do here, let us pray for them,
and, as far as possible returning good for evil, treat them with
kindness, for they are the children of our God. Deceived now and
inspired by the Prince of Darkness, but they will be saved hereafter
if they sin not against the Holy Ghost in shedding innocent blood.
Ignorant, low and wicked, they may be drunken, blasphemous, bearers of
false witness whose testimony may lead to the imprisonment of the
innocent; defilers of men and women and the workers of all manner of
iniquity; if they shed not innocent blood God will save them, though
in the fitness of things, many will be outside the walls of the
beautiful city among that class in whose society alone they are
prepared to go.
When persecuted, driven, and many killed, the Saints implored the
President of this great nation for redress: He answered: "Your cause
is just, but I can do nothing for you." Another President ordered, on
misrepresentations, an army to Utah. How will the Almighty deal with
these? They will be judged as you and I will be judged, according to
the deeds done in the body. According to the light they had, will they
be held responsible.
To an extent our history as a people is but a repetition of the
history of the early Christians. Paulines, Waldenses and
Huguenots knew the cost of being true to their convictions. We speak
of them now as reformers, brave, valiant, Godfearing men and women.
They were not so regarded by those who delighted in killing them.
God has prepared a place for all. Outside the gates will be sorcerers,
adulterers, the lover and maker of lies, and those that lay in the
gate making men offenders for a word will be there among dogs, but
the means of increased knowledge and a power will be within their
reach. Thousands of honest men are anxiously watching the issues of
our day, and while they have not moral courage to express interest in
our sympathy for the Saints in their hearts, they feel both. The Lord
will reward such according to their merit, for He is just. But those
alone who have obeyed or will hereafter obey the Gospel in its
fullness, can pass into the presence of God, and dwell forever in the
celestial kingdom.
The doctrine of salvation by faith so extensively taught and believed
is founded on a misunderstanding of the sayings of the Savior to the
thief who requested Christ to remember him when He came into His
kingdom and was answered, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou
be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
The expression of the thief brought no promise that he should be
saved. Where and what is paradise are important questions. It is not
heaven, nor is it where God dwells, for on the third day after the
crucifixion, Christ declared to Mary that He had not yet ascended to
His God and her God. Where then did He go on that day in which He
promised to meet the thief in paradise? The Apostle Peter says that
being put to death in the flesh He was quickened in the spirit by
which He went and preached to the spirits in prison that were
disobedient in the days of Noah. Thus it would seem that paradise is a
place where the spirits of the disobedient are imprisoned, and as
Christ preached His Gospel to them, it is not unreasonable to suppose
that the thief also heard there, the conditions upon which he could be
saved, for, says Peter 4:6, "for this cause was the Gospel preached
also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Now in
connection with this clear and comprehensive doctrine, which plainly
shows that there is salvation beyond the grave, how easily understood
is the saying of Paul on the same subject—"If the dead rise not at
all, then why are they baptized for the dead." Thus verifying and
testifying to the unmistakable declaration of the Master that no man,
whether alive or dead, can enter the kingdom of God without the
baptism of water and of the spirit. Baptism of the living for and in
behalf of the dead is founded in the doctrine of vicarious
salvation—the doing for us that which we cannot, under certain
conditions, do for ourselves. So also is the blood of the Lamb,
without effort of ours, the vicarious means by which our bodies and
spirits shall be reunited after death.
The opinions of men as to where and what paradise is, are of but
little value. It is at least the abode of spirits, good and bad. A
place of peace and rest for the good, of imprisonment and punishment
for the bad. Referring to the Territory we might say we are in Utah,
yet those who are here in Logan are not in Salt Lake City, nor are any of you in prison though you are in Utah.
If every human being who has, or ever will live is to be judged by the
law of redemption as Christians believe, and there be no repentance
beyond the grave, how then shall infants and heathens who never heard
of Christ or his law be redeemed? To say nothing about the dead what
is to become of the four hundred millions of Chinese now inhabiting
the empire of China, who do not, and in all probability will not in
this life, know anything about the Gospel? What about the two hundred
and eighty million followers of Muhammad, who, like the Chinese, have
never heard of water and spirit baptism! Then think of the billions
who have died equally or more ignorant of these vital questions, and
tell me that God intends to mix them up with infants a span long, who
died without being sprinkled by some poor, narrow-minded priest
without authority from heaven, and I will tell you that I don't
worship that kind of a God. Christians may do so, and speak of him as
bodiless and passionless; he certainly would have no passion either of
justice or affection. The God we worship is full of compassion,
justice and love. Hence the broad scope of His plan of human
redemption, reaching the living and the dead, in time and in eternity.
I can comprehend how a demon might want to consign to eternal
punishment without a hearing, without law, His creatures, but how men
can pretend to worship a God possessed of such attributes is a
mystery.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—He who created the heaven and
earth and is the father of all spirits, will not thus condemn. He will
judge men by the light they have had and by the deeds done in their
bodies; and His judgments will be full of mercy for those who have
ignorantly erred. As for innocent children Christ has fixed their
status: they are of the kingdom of Heaven. Wicked and foolish men may
teach to the contrary, but they cannot effect the result. Mortals
entrusted with a little brief authority, as they suppose, may exercise
unrighteous dominion over the bodies and souls of men, imprisoning
many, killing some. Many a saint may hereafter be commanded to worship
the golden image or perish in the fiery furnace, deny his faith or be
cast down into the lion's den. You have among you Latter-day Saints
some who would, if necessary, give their lives for you and the cause
which they have espoused. They are willing to die for the testimony of
Jesus. It would seem from prophecy that such an event is foreshadowed.
For when the souls of those whom the Revelator John saw under the
altar of God, and who had been slain for the testimony which they
held, cried: "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and
avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" they were answered,
"until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be
killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
If violent death comes to some—and it will—can they meet it as others
have, rejoicing in the truth. Can those in whose hands the scales of
judgment balance unevenly, change the color of your hair, add one
cubit to your height, slow or quicken your pulse? Can they remove
pain, rebuke death and increase your years? No. What can you do for
them? You can't change the decrees of God who has written on the
archives of heaven that with what judgment we judge others so
shall we be judged, and that we shall, receive the measure that we
have measured to others, but we may pray Him to defer the day when
this shall be, in hopes that men may repent and make restitution here.
How little did those who caused the enactment of the special decree
that entrapped the Prophet Daniel, think of the consequences! How
little did they think of the fasting, sleepless king whom they had
deceived and made the instrument of betrayal. How gladly did that
king, who dreaded the weight of innocent blood, hear the voice of the
Prophet testifying of the temporal salvation which God had wrought in
subduing and rendering harmless the lions. How sorrowful, how pitiable
on the other hand, the condition of Daniel's accusers when the decree,
the passage of which they had caused, was turned on them. They, their
wives and children being cast into the den, the touch of God removed
from the fierce beasts, the bones of the hapless victims of their own
works, were crushed and broken even before their bodies reached the
bottom of the den. So shall it be with all such. God hath decreed it,
man cannot change it.
Well, says one, "these doctrines are scriptural and all right, but the
Mormon church is nothing but a Polygamic Theocracy, alien to the
Government that permits its existence." Under certain conditions, and
regulated by revelation, we believe it is true, in plural marriage,
and so far as the word theocracy conveys the idea of the government of
God in the affairs of men, we are willing to be called theocratic, and
we confess that we prefer the motto, "Vox Dei vox Populi" to "Vox
Populi vox Dei," for we think that the voice of God should be the
voice of the people, but we very well know that the voice of the
people is very often far from being the voice of God.
As to patriarchal marriage its results are said to be bad and that
there are, in consequence, many breaking hearts in Utah. In reply to
these assertions I have to say, in reference to results it is not
true, for its fruits are good. The mental and physical condition of
the issue of such marriages bear this out unmistakably. "If, however,
the cry of a single "Mormon" wife in Utah or elsewhere, whether in the
monogamic or polygamic relation, falls upon deaf ears and unresponsive
hearts, God will hold the responsible parties answerable. Should the
day ever come when the cries of the daughters of Zion pass their
husbands unheeded and reach the ears of the God of Abraham, it will be
a sorrowful day for the elders of Israel. And further let me say, I
know of no Mormon husband whose wife's body or soul is subject to him
except in love, as he, in like manner, is bound to be subject to
Christ and His laws. Nowhere in the world are women freer than in
Utah. As God hates putting away, husbands among this people can put
their wives away only for causes mentioned in the holy writ; but
wives, on the other hand may claim freedom and support on other and
more numerous grounds. Here, man regards his wife as a helpmeet,
companion and part of himself, with whose assistance alone he can pass
by the angels and inherit eternal, celestial glory. She is not to rule
over him nor be trampled upon, or abused by him, but, having been
taken out of his side her place is near his heart, to be loved,
cherished, protected. Husbands, be ye therefore kind to your wives.
When they ask for bread give not a stone, for love give not
hate, for as God lives, if you are harsh and cruel to them so shall
you, in return, receive harsh and cruel treatment until the utmost
farthing be paid.
We were not sent here to manifest the fruits of the flesh but those of
the spirit; and if the hearts of any of the wives of the elders of
Israel are breaking, by reason of their husbands' conduct, may God have
mercy on such husbands, for knowing better, they sin against light in
transgressing their covenants. The allegiance of a wife in this Church
is not due to an unfaithful, deceiving or cruel husband. And he who
regards his wife as the creature of his sinful pleasure, made and
given to gratify his fallen nature is unworthy of a wife or to be the
father of children. Were I to seek to find happiness in the marriage
relation, I should expect to find it most abundant, perfect and pure
in Utah, notwithstanding all that is said to the contrary. And this
conclusion is reached after years of observation here and abroad.
Nowhere exists so great confidence between husbands and wives as in
Utah. Nowhere is sexual impurity regarded with greater disgust, or
chastity esteemed more highly. Philosophers, preachers and moralists
may insist on the enforcement of Roman instituted monogamy, but its
practice throughout the Christian world is fraught with all manner of
deceivableness, of iniquity and sexual abomina tions. Better practice
what we preach and preach what we practice, leaving no room for
distrust; for, as between man and wife, where confidence dies, there
you may dig the grave of love. Destroy one and the other cannot exist.
In conclusion, let us be considerate of others, kind and courteous to
all. By your fruits shall ye be known. A number belonging to different
Christian organizations have, I understand, been and are holding
conference meetings in Logan. Every facility for their peaceful
enjoyment while here, should be extended, and those having an
inclination to hear should hear them, conforming, in a respectful
manner to the rules that govern their gatherings. Whatever truth they
have is of God, and belongs to the Gospel, which is a perfect law of
liberty.
Note carefully the predictions of the Prophets, watch the signs of the
times, remembering that the end will not come until the Gospel is
preached as a witness to every nation and people. Without
apprehensions as to the final result, let us not forget that while God
will forgive whom He will forgive of us, He has required that we shall
forgive all men. In the knowledge of the use of this key, there is
happiness here, and exaltation hereafter. May a full comprehension of
its meaning be granted to every honest heart, is my prayer.
Amen.