It is immaterial who the authorities invite to speak in this stand,
that man should be so pliable that God can dictate him to speak to
this people the very things that are necessary to correct our
judgments and understandings, to inform our minds, and to set in
order, organize and attach every quorum to the vine where it should
be. Also to teach this people that there should be order and
government in families; that they should be connected together by the
same spirit with which a man is connected to the Priesthood. When this
is done, then every man is connected to the Priesthood, and the wife
to the man, and the children to their parents, from generation to
generation. Were we all thus actually connected like the limbs and
branches of one tree, and there was no disturbance or obstruction by
any evil principle, would we not be in a far better condition than we
now are for accomplishing the work we have to perform.
While brother McAllister was speaking, I could not avoid the
reflection that there is time and opportunity for all to improve, if
they will. When persons cease to make improvement, they either go back
or have become stereotyped, that is, fixed, unchangeable in regard to
true progression, and then of what use are they towards promoting the
welfare of the cause in which we are engaged? While a tree is growing,
while it is thrifty and limber, it is passive and submissive to the
man that labors to give it form. But I will let that subject drop,
and pass to another which is on my mind.
Some may very naturally suppose that there is a host of subscribers to
The Deseret News, especially when the character of its matter is
fairly considered, as also the fact that it is entirely owned by the
Church, and controlled for the mutual benefit of all, who are
interested in building up the kingdom of God on the earth. I had
supposed that there were at least ten thousand subscribers, but I have
learned that there are not so many, and not near as many as it seems
to me there should be; and I was perfectly astonished that the
circulation was not much greater than I found it to be. Some may be
careless in this matter, under the supposition that brother Carrington
is part owner or proprietor of the News, when such is in nowise the
case, for, as I have already stated, the presses, type, and all that
pertains to the Printing Office and Bookbindery, are the property of
the Church.
I presume that there are from twelve to twenty thousand families in
this Territory, and I really know of no reason why every family should
not take, read, and pay for one copy of the News, for some large
families now take from two to six copies. And I am all the more
surprised at the slackness of the people in this matter, from the
fact that the manner of payment is so easy, every kind of article of any real value being received, even to "hemlock slabs after
harvest."
Again, I am considerably astonished at the apparent indifference
manifested by some of the Agents for the News, for they are allowed a
very liberal percentage for a very small amount of time and attention;
and instead of using a little skill and exertion to devise ways for
the poor to pay for the paper in labor, some make little or no
effort, either to increase the number of subscribers or to collect and
remit payments. And what is still worse, some receive cash from the
subscribers and retain it, paying the Office in something else, and
that, too, at their leisure.
The Agents should become acquainted with each family within their
agency, and wherever they find poor persons who would rejoice to take
the paper, read it, and be profited thereby, it will be easy for them
to lay plans for their being accommodated, especially since the modes
of payment are so numerous, and thereby confer a benefit upon their
neighbors and the great cause of truth, while at the same time
extending their own sphere of influence for good, and earning the sum
so liberally awarded to them. In this, so useful an operation, the
Bishops, where they are not also Agents, can lend most essential aid,
and soon the News will gladden and enlighten every family within our
borders.
To the people in Utah it is almost invaluable, for in it first appear
the History of Joseph Smith, the public counsels and teachings of the
First Presidency, the Twelve and others at headquarters, and all home
items and news of interest, besides such foreign news and matter as
may be deemed interesting, amusing, or instructive. And it often
happens that one sermon alone is of more real value than the
subscription price of many copies of the paper, to any person who
will read and properly appreciate it by the Spirit that should connect
us to the vine. You should properly appreciate everything you hear
from every man that speaks from this stand; but memories are often
treacherous, and comparatively but few can assemble here to hear for
themselves, but when those sayings are printed, you can read, ponder,
and reflect upon them at your leisure, and again and again, as your
memories may require; and your sons and your daughters will acquire a
taste for reading and treasuring up useful knowledge.
It has always been the case that the few have had to bear the burden
attendant upon opposing evil principles, but there is now quite a
number who are earnestly striving to establish righteousness upon the
earth, by listening to the dictates of the Spirit and the counsels of
the Living Oracles, and by striving to be active in every laudable
undertaking. For this reason our publications will be sustained,
whether subscribers are many or few, but will anyone professing to be
a Saint look idly on and see others reap the reward due to diligence?
What is the use in pursuing the indifferent course that some are doing
here? I will call a vote, and I want every man in this congregation,
who takes the News, to manifest it by raising his right hand, for I
wish to show you what proportion take the paper. [The subscribers
present raised their hands.] There is not more than one quarter of
this congregation that take The Deseret News, and that, too, the only
paper printed in the mountains, and one of the most useful and
interesting papers that ever was published. And if you had a lively
interest for the truth, and was living your religion, let me tell you
that you never would rest or cease your operations of taking every
course and every advantage to obtain every word that is uttered from
this stand.
At the prices of stock, wheat, lumber, labor, &c., all of
which command PRICES FULLY IN PROPORTION TO THE PRICE OF THE News, how
easy a matter it is to pay for a most valuable kind and variety of
reading matter admirably adapted to your wants, and furnished at
weekly intervals which afford opportunity for reading it. And with a
little care it can be preserved and handed down to your children, from
generation to generation, and they will prize it a hundred degrees
more than many of you now do.
How much would you give for even a cane that Father Abraham had used?
Or a coat or ring that the Savior had worn? The rough oak boxes in
which the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum were brought from Carthage, were
made into canes and other articles. I have a cane made from the plank
of one of those boxes, so has brother Brigham and a great many others,
and we prize them highly, and esteem them a great blessing. I want to
carefully preserve my cane, and when I am done with it here, I shall
hand it down to my heir, with instructions to him to do the same. And
the day will come when there will be multitudes who will be healed and
blessed through the instrumentality of those canes, and the devil
cannot overcome those who have them, in consequence of their faith and
confidence in the virtues connected with them.
Some do not appreciate these things nor the counsels of their leaders.
And then again many do appreciate brother Brigham; they love him and
his counsels, and his words are jewels to them. When persons do not
care anything about his words, what do they care about mine? And if
they do not care for his words, they will not care for those of any
righteous man.
If I had those relics of Abraham and the Savior which I have
mentioned, I would give a great deal for them. In England, when not in
a situation to go, I have blessed my handkerchief, and asked God to
sanctify it and fill it with life and power, and sent it to the sick,
and hundreds have been healed by it; in like manner I have sent my
cane. Dr. Richards used to lay his old black cane on a person's head,
and that person has been healed through its instrumentality, by the
power of God. I have known Joseph, hundreds of times, send his
handkerchief to the sick, and they have been healed. There are persons
in this congregation who have been healed by throwing my old cloak on
their beds.
To return to The Deseret News; I have alluded to a few items to show
you the advantages and blessings of that paper, aside from its great
present benefit, if you will take care of it and hand it down to your
children, and they to theirs, and so on, until you see it in the
resurrection. Such publications are not going to be burned up,
according to my faith they will go into the resurrection. And I trust
that Bishops, Agents, and the Saints in Utah, generally, will take a
lively interest in this matter, as in tithings, donations,
consecrations, and other important duties, and thereby magnify their
callings and professions, and gain honor to themselves by doing the
good within their power.
Having used the word resurrection, I will make a few remarks touching
it. After my body is laid in the grave, and after the Prophet Joseph
has received his resurrected body, he probably will not suffer my body
to remain long in the ground, but will be apt to say, "Come and let us
go and help brother Heber to again take his body." Do you suppose that
if brother Brigham were to die tomorrow, and if Joseph is
resurrected, which he will be so soon as his mission is filled in the spirit world, that Joseph will permit brother Brigham's
body to remain longer in the grave than may be requisite? No, for he
then will have need of the assistance of his faithful resurrected
brethren, as he now has of faithful spirits.
Why do you not all have confidence in God? I would not give a cent for
your confidence in God, unless you have confidence in those men He has
appointed to lead and counsel you. If you will have confidence in
brother Brigham, I care not so much whether you have confidence in me
and in brother Daniel or not, for if you have it in him, you are sure
to have it in us, because we are actuated by the same Spirit.
We should be like the branches of one tree, and except we become one
like unto that, we shall never be saved with that salvation which we
are striving for. Nobody can be saved in a celestial kingdom, except
those connected with the celestial tree. Then there is a terrestrial
tree pertaining to the terrestrial kingdom, and you will never go
there without being grafted in it. I make use of figures in order to
make my ideas plain, and to rivet your attention and assist your
memories.
Let us be active and diligent in the performance of all duties, that
the Lord our God may sustain us in living our holy religion. Amen.
- Heber C. Kimball