I do not know, but the people are getting weary, though I rather think
not, for your eyes look pretty bright; when people become weary, their
eyes look dim.
I assure you, brethren, that I feel well, that is, I feel very well in
my mind, and it is a great pleasure to me to see brother Brigham here
in this stand once more. I am satisfied that he will be with us a
great many years, if this people will do right.
All, who have the Spirit of the Gospel and live their religion, will
admit that brother Brigham is our head, to use the figure which I did
three Sundays ago; and our head has two Counselors, and together they
are an independent Quorum. Still they are attached to the vine that
runs through the veil. The veil is let down, and that throws brother
Joseph on the other side of it, while we stand on this side, that is
all the difference. The nearer you approach that organization, the
nearer you approach the throne of God. I am talking to you who
understand, there is no clip of that vine and Priesthood.
If this
people are the members of that body of which brother Brigham is head this
side of the veil, the more you rise up, the more active and useful
those members become, the higher the head can rise, can it not? Being
elevated by each member acting firmly in its office. If that be the
fact, he is out of the reach of his enemies, is he not? They cannot
approach him, he is out of their reach.
If you will take this course, you will live, and he will live and will
dwell with us a great many years; but if you do not, you have no
assurance that he will be permitted to tarry with you for many years,
nor that I will, nor that several other good men, whom I could name,
will. The period of their sojourn with you for your guidance, comfort,
and edification in righteousness, will depend more or less upon your
faithfulness, inasmuch as you profess to be attached to the body. The
more useless the members of my body are, the more they oppress the
head and the members that are nearly connected to the head, do they
not? They tend to destroy its fruitfulness. We are members of Christ,
and if everyone of those men, those members pertaining to the body of
Christ, or to the Church, will do their duty, do you not see what a
beautiful people we will be?
I know that this is the place of gathering, and I know that thousands,
and tens of thousands, and millions will flock to this land, for
wherever the carcass is, they will come with their budgets under their
arms, I know that.
I want to know if persons who have nothing but a budget of clothing
under their arms, nothing but one frock, one shirt, one pair
of stockings, and one bonnet, are called to lay down their bodies and
leave this earth, whether they are not just as well off as I would be,
though I had millions of millions of gold, and thousands of
wagonloads of the things of this world? At such a time, those persons would
be just as well off as I would be, so far as taking any earthly
possessions with them is concerned.
Suppose that tomorrow my body falls, that I die, these clothes will
be taken from me, and a shirt and a shroud, and a pair of stockings
will be put on this body, and a napkin about my head to keep my chin
up, and that is all of this earth's goods I shall then need, with the
exception of the narrow house you would make and deposit me in. And
should you go to my grave in five years from this time, you would find
everything there that you put there, even to the ring now on my
finger, in case you had left it at the time of my burial.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre,
and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen
clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
What do I take from this earth? Nothing but my spirit and those
eternal principles connected therewith as it leaves this body, and the
dross remains to turn to its native elements, which restores back to
the earth that which had been organized from it. When I die, I die to
everything that is of an earthly nature, and leave all that surrounds
me here by way of property in earthly possessions. Nothing leaves
here, but heavenly matters and those things that pertain to heaven and
happiness.
Then what good does it do to hoard up earthly treasures? None,
whatever. What should you do with them? Put them to a good use. In
what way? Go and buy, for instance, one sheep, and when you have got
one sheep you have got one root, if you cultivate it, it will add to
itself, and by and by you will have a large flock of sheep, whereas
if you had the money in your pocket it would not have increased. If
you will turn your means to raising sheep, horses, and cattle, to
cultivating peach and apple trees, or to anything else that is
useful, they will increase, just as we increase. We want to gather,
and regather, and increase.
Many men are desirous to gather to themselves wives, and this, that,
and the other thing. When I go into the world of spirits I throw off
the old clothing and the old body, with all that pertains to it. And
when I go there I shall be clothed anew, with the elements that are
made in the country that I go to. Why? Because it is immortal and
eternal duration. That is the difference between this world and that
world; and then at the same time that world is this world, and this
world is that world.
These are my feelings; and as for hurting my feelings to see my
brethren and sisters come from the old countries without anything
except a little food, and a budget under their arms, it did not worry
me. Neither will it worry me to see the Elders, this season, take
their handcarts and go through to the States, on their way to foreign
lands. I feel now that if I was in the old countries I would not hear
a word an Elder from here said, unless he had crossed the Plains with
a handcart, or with a bundle or knapsack, but I would listen to the
man that came with the handcart, or budget. You would say, "This is
the boy for me;" you would hear his words, or, if you did not, his
example has preached louder than earthquakes, and is the power of God
unto salvation to those that believe and practice.
That day has come, and the other day has past. I have known
men from Nauvoo, men who were there worth $150 or $200,000, come here
with nothing but a handkerchief, containing a change of shirts, under
their arms. They left their property there; and what we did not leave
in hell's kitchen we left at Devil's Gate. The devil has a gate where
he may catch everything that is not to do us good, but that is
calculated to create a craving appetite for that which is not here.
There are some of this people who have been kept as long as they have,
only upon the principle of their being fondled and pampered. If they
could not have the privilege of nursing at the breast and have a full
supply, or the use of a sugar teat to keep them alive, they would
dwindle and die; they must have something to suck, in order to keep
them alive and in existence, for they are nothing but pets; pets they
are, and pets they will go to hell, but will find no sugar teats
there.
Probably a few will leave next spring; they are all fair weather while
they are in our midst, but when it comes spring they will leave. Thank
the Lord for that; and while I feel as I do now, I shall be thankful
for everything that transpires from this time henceforth, that is, if
I live my religion.
Supposing that I have a wife or a dozen of them, and she should say,
"You cannot be exalted without me," and suppose they all should say
so, what of that? They never will affect my salvation one particle.
Whose salvation will they affect? Their own. They have got to live
their religion, serve their God, and do right, as well as myself.
Suppose that I lose the whole of them before I go into the spirit
world, but that I have been a good, faithful man all the days of my
life, and lived my religion, and had favor with God, and was kind to
them, do you think I will be destitute there? No, the Lord says there
are more there than there are here. They have been increasing there;
they increase there a great deal faster than we do here, because there
is no obstruction. They do not call upon the doctors to kill their
offspring; there are no doctors there, that is, if they are there,
their occupation is changed, which proves that they are not there,
because they have ceased to be doctors. In this world very many of the
doctors are studying to diminish the human family.
In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there
are millions of them, and if I am faithful all the time, and continue
right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and
say, "Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not,
with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not
even the rings on our fingers?" He will say to us, "Come along, my
boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes. Where are your wives?"
"They are back yonder; they would not follow us." "Never mind,"
says
Joseph, "here are thousands, have all you want." Perhaps some do not
believe that, but I am just simple enough to believe it.
Help brother Brigham along, help brother Heber, brother Daniel, the
Twelve, and every other good person. I am looking for the day, and it
is close at hand, when we will have a most heavenly time, one that
will be romantic, one with all kinds of ups and downs, which is what I
call romantic, for it will occupy in full all the time, so that we may
never become idle, nor sleepy, nor cease being active in the things of
God, which will prevent dotage.
Am I thankful now? I never was more thankful in my life than I am
today, to see this people. I know that the majority of them
are rising, and that there are enough of them who will rise, and we
shall see good days, and God will protect us and make a way for our
escape, for this is the natural branch of the House of Israel, and it
sprang from that root that was planted in the nethermost part of the
garden. When it began to spread, the Lord said, "Cut away those bitter
branches, but do not cut them away any faster than the vine grows."
Let us grow together and be one vine, but many branches, and we shall
prosper from this time henceforth and forever.
"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the
servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast
them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my
vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my
vineyard? But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard:
Spare it a little longer. And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a
little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my
vineyard. Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these which I have
planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them
into the tree from whence they came; and let us pluck from the tree
those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in the natural
branches of the tree in the stead thereof. And this will I do that
the tree may not perish, that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the
roots thereof for mine own purpose. And, behold, the roots of the
natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are
yet alive; wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own
purpose, I will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft
them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of
their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own
self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong, perhaps they may
bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit
of my vineyard.
"And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had
become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees, which also had
become wild. And they also took of the natural trees which had become
wild, and grafted into their mother tree. And the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Pluck not the wild branches from the trees,
save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft
according to that which I have said. And we will nourish again the
trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the branches thereof; and
we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened, that
must perish, and cast them into the fire. And this I do that, perhaps,
the root thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and
because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the
evil. And because that I have preserved the natural branches and the
roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the natural branches again
into their mother tree, and have preserved the roots of their mother
tree, that, perhaps, the trees of my vineyard may bring forth again
good fruit; and that I may have joy again in the fruit of my vineyard,
and, perhaps, that I may rejoice exceedingly that I have preserved the
roots and the branches of the first fruit—Wherefore, go to, and call
servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the
vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again
the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious
above all other fruit. Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our
might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is
for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard. Graft in the
branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first
may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first
and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished
once again for the last time. Wherefore, dig about them, and prune
them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth
nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring
forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that
they may grow. And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the
branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of
the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad
thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for
the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of
my vineyard. For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my
vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good
shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until
the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast
into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and
thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard. And the branches of
the natural tree will I graft in again into the natural tree; And the
branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural branches of
the tree; and thus will I bring them together again, that they shall
bring forth the natural fruit, and they shall be one. And the bad
shall be cast away, yea, even out of all the land of my vineyard; for
behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.
"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant;
and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and
brought other servants; and they were few. And the Lord of the
vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your
might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my
vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh;
and if you labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the
fruit which I shall lay up unto myself, against the time which will
soon come.
"And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their
mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they
did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the
natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild
branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did
keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength
thereof. And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been
cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto
himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they
became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of
the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was
most precious unto him from the beginning.
"And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his
fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called
up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time, have
we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done
according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it
is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou;
for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me
again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and
the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the
fruit of my vineyard. For behold, for a long time will I lay up of
the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which
speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard,
and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay
up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that
which I have spoken. And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall
again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to
be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad
will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and
the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire." —Book of
Mormon.
I know that this is the work of God, and that we shall triumph. I am
going to prophesy good pertaining to Israel, that is, to those that
are Israel, for there are a great many who call themselves Israel that
are not, and those that are not shall have the opposite. I will
prophesy evil upon our enemies, upon those who hate God and kill His
servants; may the curse of God be on them.
[The congregation responded with a loud voice, AMEN.]
God bless the good; God bless the oil and the wine, and all good men
and good women, and good children; bless them from the crowns of their
heads to the soles of their feet, that they may be sanctified in body
and spirit, in root and branches, and in the seed that is in the root,
that it may come forth pure.
These are my feelings, and they are good, are they not? You would feel
just so, if you would get the same Spirit, which is the Spirit of God,
and there is no bondage in the Spirit of God; it is freedom, it is
glory, it is happiness, it is heaven when you go out and when you come
in, and there is nothing impure or oppressive about it.
How does my heart feel towards brother Brigham? I have felt, time and
again, as though I was a good mind to lay my hands upon him, and say,
brother Brigham, God bless you with health, with the power of God,
with the Holy Ghost, with angels and revelations, and every good
thing, that you may be lifted up and get out of the way of the nasty
little dogs and whelps, and bitches. Those are my feelings, and they
are the feelings of every good man and woman in heaven and on earth.
Let us live our religion, serve our God, listen to the counsel we have
received this day, and we will prosper always, for evermore, and we
never will go down, but we will always be on the travel and going
ahead, and on the increase from this time henceforth and forever, and
I know it. Still I do not know how to make a spear of grass grow, nor
how to make two loaves of bread from one, without I take and cut it in
two.
Jesus had that power, so had Moses. When the Lord commanded Moses to
tell Aaron to smite the waters of Egypt with his rod, he did so, and
the waters were turned into blood; and when by the order of Moses,
Aaron smote the dust with his rod, "the dust of the land became lice
throughout all the land of Egypt;" and many mighty miracles did Moses
and Aaron perform in the sight of Pharaoh, by smiting with the rod.
Are we in a day more mighty than that? Yes, and we will see more
mighty works in the latter days, than were the wonders performed in
Egypt. The power and manifestation that was in every dis pensation will be manifested in this kingdom. It is the last time
that God will set to His hand to gather His people. Then, brethren,
let us be of this faith, all of us who are de sirous, in this last
time, to lay up fruit for our Father and our God, that we may have joy
with Him. Amen.
- Heber C. Kimball