I have been much interested in the remarks that have been made by
brother Jackman, for they have been according to my feelings, they
were right to the point, and many useful ideas have been thrown out
before us, and his words have been full of meaning. Although he has
considered himself bashful before the people, yet the Lord has put
into his heart those things that are calculated to interest the
Saints.
We see, from what has been portrayed before us, the trials and
difficulties that we, some of us, have had to endure in this Church;
we also see, from what he has explained, the patience of the people in
passing through those difficulties; no murmuring, no complaining, no
faultfinding, but all taking hold with one heart and one mind to do
the will of God, under the most straightened circumstances.
We can contrast this feeling with what we see manifested by some of
our new emigrants; some of them come in here feeling dissatisfied,
having become so in crossing the plains; they will differ with each
other, lose the good spirit, and allow themselves to be controlled by
an evil influence; I say we can see, from the discourse of
brother Jackman, a great contrast between those that first came here,
and those that now come. Now the question might arise in the minds of
some, "Were the pioneers who came here so much better than those
persons that now come?" I think not. "Then why was there no murmuring,
nor faultfinding, nor apostasy?" The reason is obvious; those who
first came here had more experience in such matters than the new
emigrants have, who come here almost without experience in those
things which they naturally come in contact with when crossing the
plains.
In fact there are very few in the world that would do any better than
the "Mormon" pioneers did the first year they came here. It requires
experience to enable people patiently to pass through the scenes of
trial that were endured by the pioneers, and those who first came into
these valleys. Take our late emigration that have crossed over the
plains, and let them be driven a few times from their comfortable
habitations, and let them wander for months in the cold winter, and
then send them off on an expedition, such as the pioneers took to this
country, and you would see them quite a different people: you would
see them altered and improved by the course of experience they had
passed through; they would be benefited by certain kinds of
experience which others have passed through before them; and, if
attentive, they would add many important items to their former stock
of wisdom and knowledge.
Consequently, it requires experience, not only for the old members,
but for the new; and should the new members be permitted to come from
the old countries, and meet with no poverty, no affliction, it would
not be known whether those persons would endure such trials; and hence
the necessity of such trials to give people experience.
It is true, they have had some things to pass through in the old
country of a trying nature, but they have not had a series of
different trials to encounter; therefore, there would be no telling
whether they would stand or not, if called to pass through similar
scenes of trials to those passed through by the earlier settlers of
this Territory.
Then, it is not surprising to me that the Lord takes certain measures
to bring those persons into difficult circumstances; in fact, we have
the Lord's own declaration for it, that He will try this people, not
in some things, but in all things, to see if they will abide in the
covenant, and He says, "If they will not, then they will not abide in
me."
Here, then, we perceive that each will have his share of trials,
either in the beginning or in the advanced state of the Church. We do
not know what they will be, only so far as God has revealed in His
word. He has told us that we should be visited with famine and sword,
with pestilence and distress; all these are predicted, and laid before
this people in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord says,
unless His servants should hearken to the words and counsels that He
gives unto them, famine, trouble, and distress would overtake them.
Now what benefit or what glory is there to an individual who is placed
in circumstances that he cannot help but do right? For instance,
suppose there were no intoxicating drinks in the world, what glory and
credit would it be to an individual to say that he had kept himself
from those things? If his father and his forefathers to the third or
fourth generation of them, had died from drunkenness, he would have
nothing to boast of; for he could not be a drunkard; therefore, I say,
if this temptation was set before us as the forbidden tree was
before mother Eve, and we withstood the temptation, then there would
be some merit in it, far more than there is for a person to keep
himself sober, because he is obliged to do so. So we may take other
things in the same light.
Why did the Lord suffer the Hittites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and
Jebusites, and various others, to live among Israel? He had two
purposes in view; one was to scourge Israel when they went astray from
His commandments; and the other was to see whether they would overcome
or not; He placed them where they would have temptations to test their
fidelity; then, if directly in the face of the Law of God, they would
falter or yield, and give way to the customs and vices of the heathen,
they were not worthy of the glory of God, nor of being called His
people.
But if the heathen had all been swept away, and those temptations had
not been presented, where would have been the merit? It would have
been very small indeed.
A commandment was given, forbidding the children of Israel to marry
with the heathen; it was commanded that the sons of Israel should not
take wives from among the heathen, neither should they give their
daughters to the heathen.
Now there was temptation in those days, set before the children of
Israel, and sometimes they would break through, and go beyond the
bounds, like old Solomon, who transgressed, after God had appeared to
him three times, and had given him many choice favors, and manifested
Himself to him in dreams, and also when he spread forth his hands to
pray God to bless the temple which he had built, then the Lord
manifested Himself in the presence of all Israel, to His servant.
He was lifted up in the midst of Israel, and a kingdom and govern ment
were given to him, far surpassing all the kingdoms and governments
upon the earth, and yet, after all these things, and after the Lord
had given him many wives, he took that which was forbidden; he took
the daughters of the heathen nations; and he, being their head and
their king; set this wicked—this evil example before all Israel, so
that if they had followed his foolish and wicked ways, they would have
been destroyed, but from the account we have, he was overcome by the
temptations laid before him, and consequently the wives that he had
taken led him away, so much so, that in his old age, he, in order to
please those wives whom he had taken from among the Gentiles, bowed
down to their gods. Here then were two evils, first, in taking heathen
wives, and the next, in tampering with, and bowing down to their gods;
and the Lord will judge him for all those things, just as He will
us—according to the works we perform while in this state of probation.
If Solomon, in all his glory, had been contented with all those
blessings given him, and had not yielded to the temptations laid to
ensnare him, he would have increased in his glory and in his
dominions; his glory would have increased in this world and in the
future; but the Lord desired to try him.
This shows us that, though a man may be set upon a throne and be
exalted high among men, yet he has his temptations, and blessed is he
if he endures them and is faithful to his trust; and if he be in
distress, bears it all with patience, for he will always have his
trials, and no person will escape, all men must be tried and proven.
These are reflections that occurred to my mind while brother Jackman
addressed us, showing the contrast between those who first came here,
and those who now come. I was led to enquire, why there was
such a vast difference; and the thought occurred to me that it was
because of experience, for those who have been here from the first,
have been pretty well buffeted, and before they came here they had
learned how to submit, when the Lord saw proper to put upon them a
chastisement.
Should all this people here in Utah be called to pass through such
scenes as some of us have been called upon to encounter, I believe
there would be many who would say, "Let us endure these things with
all submission and patience before God."
In order to do this, it is necessary for us, in our prosperity, to
remember the Lord our God, for if men and women will not remember the
Lord, when the heavens smile upon them, and when health is in their
habitations—if they will not acknowledge the hand of God then, and be
thankful for the blessings that they receive, you may be sure that
they will not be so well prepared to endure trials, and to pass
through adversities, as those who have, in the days of their
prosperity, humbled themselves before the Lord, and acknowledged His
hand in all things.
There are individuals in this Territory, of a careless disposition,
and you may mark them, and those that have waxed fat, and their hearts
are upon the things of this world, that when tribulations come, they
will be the ones to quake and fear, while those who have taken a
different course will be able to stand.
I heard brother Joseph, when speaking of those that were sick in
Nauvoo, make remarks similar to those that I have now made. He said,
that those who would not, when in good health, call upon the Lord, and
acknowledge His hand in all things, and remember him, would not have
faith when it was needed—he said that those individuals would have but
very little faith in the days of their calamities and affliction.
Then seek to get faith and spirit sufficient to assist us in the days
of our afflictions, that we may be prepared for all the vicissitudes
of life. We ought to know that we are well off at the present, but all
do not realize this fact.
How often I have thought of the remark made by the Prophet; nothing
can be more true than that remark; it carries its own evidence with
it, that those individuals who have wealth and riches in abundance,
but do not remember the Lord, when troubles come, they will be in the
greatest distress, generally speaking.
I do not know what the Lord will hereafter do with this people; I have
not myself a sufficiency of the spirit of prophecy to understand all
the events of the future; and I doubt very much, whether there is an
individual in this Church that does know; but we do know, as far as
the things of the future are revealed; and we may know many things by
dreams and visions, but when it comes to principles, and to what the
Lord will do with this people, I doubt very much whether there is an
individual in the world, that knows the changes and variety of scenes
through which this people will be called to pass.
There are, in many revelations, not only in modern but in ancient
prophecy, predictions touching the scenes of the last days, and the
trials of the Saints; and we ought to be prepared for whatever is to
come, troubles, distress, famine, war, or anything else.
The Lord has said that great prosperity awaits us; far beyond what we
now have, but I doubt very much whether this prosperity will come
before we have passed through some further tribulations.
There are revelations in relation to the nations of the earth and this
peo ple, that seem to indicate that we will have to pass
through some things that we never have had to encounter, and it seems
to me that we will have to stand forth and defend ourselves against
our enemies. And we have got to be tried as Israel was, and to see
whether our sons will marry Gentiles, or our daughters Gentile
husbands.
Now if there were no Gentiles among us, we could not see whether there
was any integrity among the people. Do you suppose that this people
will be kept away from the Gentiles? No verily, the Lord does not
intend that we should dwell separate from the world altogether. From
this time forth, it is our duty to warn our sons and daughters, day by
day, and night by night, and week by week, as has been told us from
this stand to warn our sons and daughters, as God did our first
parents, concerning the forbidden fruit. When He set the forbidden
fruit before them, He said, "If you eat, it will make you mortal,
whereas you are now immortal, but you may choose for yourselves."
Now how do we know, but when the gates of Zion shall be open to the
nations, that the Gentiles will come flocking in, like a flowing
stream? A flowing stream is one that runs continually; and the
Gentiles will, in that day, come to us as a flowing stream, and we
shall have to set our gates open continually, they will come as clouds
and as doves in large flocks. Do you suppose that the Gentiles are
going to be ignorant of what is taking place? Now this will not be
the case, they will perfectly understand what is taking place. The
people will see that the hand of God is over this people; they will
see that He is in our midst, and that He is our watchtower, that He is
our shield and our defense, and therefore, they will say, "Let us go
up and put our riches in Zion, for there is no safety in our own
nations."
Those nations are trembling and tottering and will eventually crumble
to ruin, and those men of wealth will come here, not to be baptized,
but many of them will come that have never heard the servants of God;
but they will hear that peace and health dwell among us, and that our
officers are all peace officers, and our tax-gatherers men of
righteousness.
They will come, not to be baptized, but they will come with their old
traditions and customs, and they will flee to Zion with their riches,
but they will come in favor of their old customs, and of their old
Gentile notions of religion; and if God is merciful unto them, so as
to cause them to leave their native land, that we may take them up,
and teach them, and nourish them, and bring them up to the standard of
truth, all will be right; but if they neglect to observe and obey the
instructions given, and to follow the good examples set before them,
so much the greater their curse and condemnation.
If our sons and daughters will marry among them, they are much worse
than the Gentiles are; for we have been instructed, and ought to know
better.
But notwithstanding all that I have said, there may be a time to come,
I do not know how long it will be, but the time will come when
righteousness will be laid to the line and justice to the plummet.
There will be a certain degree of freedom used with those persons who
may come unto Zion, but not so far as to partake of their deeds; but
on the contrary, you are strictly prohibited from joining in their
evil practices.
But if the Saints act wisely they may set an example before them that
will do them good, and if there is any good or righteousness in them, an upright, holy example will bring it out. All this will take
place, and there are many here that will live to see those things, and
I rejoice that there is but a comparatively little time for those
things to be accomplished.
I look at matters perhaps a little different from some that get away
off this way and then the other, and when they get disappointed will
apostatize.
In order to explain my feelings I will bring up one little example;
for instance, it was expected that when the Saints gathered to Jackson
County, there would be a perfect paradise, and that there would be an
end to trouble and to opposition. And when the Saints were driven out
from Jackson County, almost all in the Church expected that they would
speedily be restored; and a person was considered almost an apostate
that would say, they would not come back in five years, or ten at the
furthest; but the prevailing opinion seemed to be that it would take
place immediately.
When Zion's Camp went up, and found the Saints all scattered abroad,
what did we hear? Why, all in camp were on the tiptoe to have Zion
redeemed immediately; perhaps some would stretch their faith and put
it off for five years; but those were considered weak in the faith.
This was their extreme enthusiasm.
I was appointed to visit all the Saints in Clay County, to strengthen
them, and I proved to them from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants
that it would be very many years before Zion should be redeemed; and
some would believe it, and some others would think that brother Pratt
was rather weak in the faith; but I endeavored to show them that such
and such things had got to be fulfilled before the redemption of Zion;
and time has proved the truth of what I advanced.
Now let us see if they have not got to the other extreme; twenty-two
years have passed since that time, and if we look around now, is it
not the other way, the very opposite? The people think of almost
everything else but the redemption of Zion, and speak to individuals
about it, and they put it off a great distance ahead. But I do not
feel to go to this extreme. I will give you my opinion; so far as the
revelations go, in speaking of this subject, I think that this event
is nearer than this people are aware of.
Again, take the subject of the coming of Christ, and as far back as
1831, I remember that I came on from New York to Kirtland, Ohio, and I
found many Saints thinking that Christ would come immediately. Though
I had but little experience, yet I had applied myself to the written
revelations, for they were not then printed, but I frequently got the
privilege of reading them, and copying some of them, and therefore, I
had an opportunity of judging more correctly, perhaps, than those who
had not the same privilege.
No doubt they felt exceedingly anxious to have him come, as we all do,
and this anxiety overcame them, and hence they were mistaken. I have
no doubt that there are others in the Church that think it is a far
off event, an event that will probably take place in the days of their
youngest children; but from what is written, I look upon it as an
event that is much nearer than is generally supposed.
It is true, there is a great work to be performed, but the Lord has a
great many to perform it. If He had them all concentrated in one vast
body from England, Scotland, the nations of Europe, and the Islands of
the sea, he could soon accomplish the work, notwithstanding its
vastness.
A great work has to be brought about; how many years, or scores of years, it will be, I know not, but from the scenes we behold
among the people, the breaking up of the nations, and the signs of the
times, and the present aspects of the European war, and from the
shutting up and closing up of the proclamation of the Gospel in many
lands, the coming of Christ seems to be near at hand, yet Zion must be
redeemed before that day; the temple must be built upon the
consecrated spot, the cloud and glory of the Lord rest upon it, and
the Lamanites, many of them, brought in, and they must build up the
NEW JERUSALEM! It is true, so says the Book of Mormon, that inasmuch
as the Gentiles receive the Gospel, they shall assist my people the
remnant of Jacob, saith the Lord, to build the New Jerusalem. And when
they have got it built, then we are told that they shall assist my
people who are of Jacob to be gathered in unto the New Jerusalem.
Only a few thousands or hundreds of thousands, then, are to be engaged
in this work, and then, after it is done, we are to assist the
Lamanites to gather in; and then shall the powers of heaven be in your
midst; and then is the coming of Christ.
It will not be before the Lamanites come in, nor before the temple is
constructed in Jackson County; but there is a great people to do the
work.
I look upon these events as something that will take place sooner than
many expect, and it will find many putting it away at a distance. This
is evident, from the fact, that he will find them eating and drinking
with the drunkard, and marrying, and giving in marriage, to the very
hour of his coming.
This shows the state of the world as it is to be at his coming, and if
they are to perceive one event after another, why do they indulge
themselves in these things? It shows that they do not perceive that it
is so near.
It will not be those who have oil in their lamps, for they are ready,
and when the sound goes forth, the oil is there; but it will be the
others; their lamps will have gone out, and they will have no light;
and hence he comes, and men are not aware of it; he enters in and the
door is shut, and five out of the ten virgins that have actually
gathered, as it appears, are numbered among hypocrites and
unbelievers.
How often do I think of this, and the condition of the Saints? Will
the Saints be ready? With all the evidence and testimony that they
have portrayed before them from Sabbath to Sabbath, is it not strange
that so many will be so unprepared for that terrible day of the Lord?
It will be a pleasing day to the righteous, but terrible to the
wicked.
This ought to brace us up, it ought to keep up our spirits, and cause
us to prepare for that time. If I should not do this, I neglect my
duty. Should I do wrong because some person in the Priesthood, high in
authority, does wrong? No, it should have no influence whatever over
me.
We should have the Spirit of light that lighteth every man that cometh
into the world, and especially those that obey the truth. And if we
will yield to this influence we will not be led away from the right
path; we are not to give way, no, not even to angels who may pretend
to come from heaven.
The spirit upon us should enable us to do that which is right, and
that which is our duty. For instance, take the Word of Wisdom, which
is given for our benefit and temporal salvation. It is true,
disobedience to that is not so gross a sin as some others; but still,
it is given for our temporal salvation, and should be observed. Now,
it would require the servants of God to preach it every two
weeks, or at least every month, to persuade this people to hearken to
it; and yet they know it is the word of the Lord. If I were to call a
vote, I presume that there would not be one that has come to the years
of understanding but what would say, it is the word of the Lord.
They go away, after hearing a most glorious discourse upon this and
other revelations, and perhaps they will keep the Word of Wisdom two
or three days; but it makes their head ache, and then they take a
little tea, and it does them good for the moment, and they think the
Lord don't know what they need as well as they do. I do not say that
you do say this, but your actions bespeak this. But it is such a
trial! It must be a terrible trial, which the Lord said the weakest of
all that are or can be called Saints could obey. A thing like tea to
have influence over us, so that we can only obey the Word of Wisdom
two days, and then break it, until we hear another discourse, and thus
breaking our covenants, it shows the folly and weakness of man. It
shows how the influence of one man prevails over another.
Why cannot you be independent beings, and say, "I will do this, and
that, and the other, let my neighbor do as he may; let my neighbor do
as he will, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?" This
is what ought to be.
In making these remarks I take them to myself, although I have, as an
individual, been very strict in relation to the Word of Wisdom since I
have been in the Valley, and years before. Do not I like the good old
tea? Yes I do, and when it is sweet ened up, and a little cream turned
in, it is very pleasant, as no doubt also was the forbidden fruit; but
it is for me to use my endeavors to have it observed, by setting a
good example, that I may have influence over my neighbor and over my
family; and I do use that influence as far as is consistent, but it is
difficult to persuade persons from their old habits.
I wonder what those persons would do, if called to be martyred for
their religion, who cannot do without violating the Word of Wisdom! I
am aware that it is not by constraint, and a man should not constrain
his family to obey it, but every man will have to give an account of
his doings, and abide the consequence, whatever it may be, if it be
the destroying angel going through the land to slay the disobedient.
A man may keep the Word of Wisdom so far as tea, coffee, and tobacco
are concerned, and still come very short. If he wishes and intends to
be right, he must obey this, together with all the commandments and
Words of Wisdom. We must regulate our thoughts, our comings in, our
goings out, and all our doings and our minds by the Spirit of the
Lord, and by the counsels of His servants. Can the destroyer have
influence over such a man?
Let such a man stand up and say, "Lord, I have done as you told me, I
have kept your words." Could such a man be destroyed before he had
accomplished his work on the earth? I question it. Well, we shall
undoubtedly see a time when we shall need such confidence as this.
May the Lord bless us all for Christ's sake. Amen.