So far as I am concerned, with regard to the performance of duties by
the Elders of Israel—the duties which have been placed upon them and
required at their hands upon their missions—for the gratification of
the brethren just referred to by Elder Taylor, I will say, If there
has been nothing hitherto expressed here manifesting the feelings of
the First Presidency of the Church and the members in general on this
point, I can answer for the people, by asking and answering a
question.
Brother Taylor, brother George A. Smith, and brother Bernhisel, did you
do your duty in Congress in reference to presenting our petition for a
State? I think that I can answer for this Committee, as well as for
the people, and say that they discharged their duty manfully and
satisfactorily to their God and to their brethren. I can answer for
the people, and say that they are most perfectly satisfied with the
labors of our Committee. When a man can say of a truth, "I have done
the very best that I could in my mission," the heart of every Saint on
earth acquainted with the circumstances, the angels in heaven, and
our heavenly Father are all satisfied. There is no more required of us
than we are capable of performing. The First Presidency are satisfied,
and I can say that the people are satisfied.
With regard to the labors of brother Taylor in editing the paper
called The Mormon, published in the city of New York, I have heard
many remarks concerning the editorials in that paper, not only from
Saints, but from those who do not profess to believe the religion we
have embraced; and it is probably one of the strongest edited papers
that is now published. I can say, as to its editorials, that it is one
of the strongest papers ever published, so far as my information
extends; and I have never read one sentence in them but what my heart
could bid success to it and beat a happy response to every sentence
that I have read or heard read. Brother Taylor, that is for you; and I
believe that these are the feelings and the sentiments of all in this
community who have perused that paper.
We are satisfied with the labors of the Elders generally.
True, it is not every one that knows and understands all things; it is
also true that men are liable to falter and fail in their judgment;
but that is nothing against the real character of the man, if he is
doing the best he knows how. It is true that at times Elders need
correcting, and they receive correction in this place. It is also true
that, when you correct an individual in his errors and try to place
him in better circumstances pertaining to judgment and discretion, it
is annoying, it is grievous, it is painful to the sensation of that
individual. It is very true that chastisements are grievous when they
are received; but if they are received in patience, they will work out
salvation for those who cheerfully submit to them.
If the time was that the Elders of Israel could not be chastened and
corrected for their wrongs, and be set right, you may know that they
have proved recreant to the faith. And if those who are appointed to
lead this people dare not rise up and tell them of their iniquity and
chastise them therefore, and teach them the way of life and salvation,
you may know that your leaders have fallen from their station.
The Lord has bestowed the everlasting Priesthood upon the children of
men for their salvation. It is not believed for a moment, by any
person who believes in the Bible, that a man or woman can be saved in
their sins. They have to be separated from their sins and iniquity;
they have to put off the old man, with all his deeds, and put on the
new man Christ Jesus. If ever we see the time that we dare not tell
men of their evils, and correct them when in fault, you may despair of
salvation in this kingdom.
One grand cause of the enmity entertained towards us by officials sent
here by the General Government has simply been, that I take the
liberty of telling men where they do wrong and wherein they do
wrong—both those who are in the Church and those who are out of it;
and my brethren take the same liberty. If men do evil, we tell them of
their meanness; whereas, in the other portion of our Government, men
dare not speak their minds. They are tied up, bound up; they are in
fetters and chains in every particular—as much so as brother Taylor
has told you, and a great deal more. He said that if a man was found
in Congress who dare speak in favor of innocence, justice, truth, and
mercy, he dare not speak. If there were any there, when our petition
was expected to be presented, who felt in their hearts to favor it,
they dared not open their mouths in favor of its being granted; for
if they spoke at all, they must speak according to the popular notions
of the people; they must go with the tide of popularity.
This is the case with the whole world; but we are chosen out of the
world. And if we accept salvation on the terms it is offered to us, we
have got to be honest in every thought, in our reflections, in our
meditations, in our private circles, in our deal, in our declarations,
and in every act of our lives, fearless and regardless of every
principle of error, of every principle of falsehood that may be
presented. We have no difficulties with our Government: we never have
had any difficulties with any government under which we have lived.
But there has been a difficulty, and what is it? The "Mormons" have
got something that the rest, of course, have not, "and we will kill
them out of the way; we will not have them."
As brother Taylor has said, speaking of the wisdom and power exhibited
by the people of the world, there are men of talent, of thought, of
reflection, and knowledge in all cunning mechanism: they are expert
in that, though they do not know from whence they receive
their intelligence. The Spirit of the Lord has not yet entirely done
striving with the people, offering them knowledge and intelligence;
consequently it reveals unto them, instructs them, teaches them, and
guides them even in the way they like to travel. Men know how to
construct railroads and all manner of machinery; they understand
cunning workmanship, &c.; but that is all revealed to them by the
Spirit of the Lord, though they know it not.
You can find in the minds of the people most admirable intelligence in
things pertaining to the world; but when you touch the intelligence
that pertains to other worlds, to the kingdom of heaven and heavenly
things, they are dark as midnight darkness—so dark as this, that, let
ever so good a thing be revealed to them, no matter how good for a
nation, a people, a community, or an individual—let a man have it
revealed to him how he can benefit the whole nation, they turn around
and deny God in it. They are so dark as that, when they never received
a particle of intelligence but what came from God. They are filled
with darkness.
Instead of wishing injuries to come on them, my heart is pained for
them when I behold their situation. They are drunk, not with strong
drink, but with their own anger, and rage, and the spirit of the enemy
which they have received. They are as wild as California horses. When
a lasso is thrown on them, they will run madly against a knee, or a
stone wall, or over a person, or anything; they are frantic, and would
break their own necks. It is just so with the inhabitants of the
earth, and especially so with our Government; and they are hastening
with all possible speed, with the larriet around their necks, to jump
the precipice and destroy themselves.
I can tell you one thing that I know concerning the inhabitants of the
United States. It has come to this, that the honest among them—men,
women, and children, have dreams foreboding evil. The visions of their
minds are troubled; they are in sorrow; they feel melancholy, and have
a presentiment that something evil is going to befall the people. And
if you could discern the thoughts of their hearts this day, you would
probably find millions of such persons in our Government. When they
reflect upon the maddened zeal of the leaders, they know that they can
endure but a little while, and query, "What will come?" What will the
Lord bring on the people—upon this happy government? What evil
catastrophe is about to befall us? Will there be war? Will we fight
the "Mormons," and will the Lord give the "Mormons" power to
fight
against us? Will the North make war upon the South? Will they take
the sword one against the other? What will become of us? These
forebodings are upon the people. They have dreams in the night which
frighten them, and reflections in the daytime which give them sorrow;
and they are harassed from day to day. They are to be pitied; for
sorrow, woe, destruction, shame, and misery await them. I am sorry for
them: they are to be pitied—to be prayed for.
Almost every man that has come from the East of late is telling you
the political feelings and desires of the Government towards this
people. Brother Taylor has just related that a gentleman he met on the
road remarked, "What! Can you 'Mormons' fight the United States? Can
you contend with them? You had better take a more specific policy than
you have. Do not speak about the President, nor about any of the
officials." We shall talk as we please about them; for this is the
right and privilege granted to us by the Constitution of the United
States: and, as ministers of salvation, we shall take the
liberty of telling men of their sins.
I shall take the liberty of talking as I please about the President of
the United States, and I expect that I know his character better than
he knows it himself. I will tell you in a few words a little of it.
James Buchanan, who is now sitting in the chair of state, and
presiding over this great Republic, is naturally a passive, docile,
kind, benevolent, and good man—that is his natural disposition, I
will venture. Arouse him, and he has been a man who could make flaming
speeches. He is now bound up; they have the fetters upon his feet; he
is handcuffed; his elbows are pinioned; he is bound on every side, and
they make him do as they please. Is he obliged to do so? No.
Is a man fit to be President of the United States, who will bow and
succumb to the whims of the people? No. A President should learn the
true situation of his constituents, and deal out evenhanded justice
to all, utterly regardless of the clamor of party. Suppose the
President to be under the clamor and dictation of several parties, he
would order out a company today, and tomorrow call them back; he
would make a decree today, and next week revoke it and make another
to suit another party. He ought not to pay attention to any party, but
consider the nation as a family, and deal out justice and mercy to
them equally and independently.
I wish that Hickory Jackson was now our President; for he would kick
some of those rotten-hearted sneaks out, or rather order his negroes
to do it. If we had a man in the chair who really was a man, and
capable of magnifying his office, he would call upon his servants, and
order him to kick those mean, miserable sneaks out of the presidential
mansion, off from its grounds, and into the streets. But the President
hearkens to the clamor around him; and, as did Pontius Pilate, in the
case of Jesus Christ, has washed his hands, saying, "I am clear of the
blood of those Latter-day Saints. Gentlemen, you have dictated, and I
will order a soldiery and officials to Utah." It is said in the Bible,
that whosoever ye yield yourselves to obey, his servant ye are. The
President has yielded himself a servant to cliques and parties, and
their servant he shall be. And all that has been spoken of him by
brother Kimball, in the name of Jesus Christ, shall come upon him.
Do you think that we shall be called treasoners, for rebuking him in
his sinful course? Yes. Talk of loyalty to Government! Hardly a man
among them cares for the Government of the United States, any more
than he does for the useless card that lies on the table while he is
playing out his hand. They disregard the Constitution as they would
any old fable in any old school book. Scarcely a member on the floor
of Congress cares anything about it.
While brother Taylor was referring to the conduct of officers of the
Government, to the pistols, bowie knives, the oyster suppers, the
pleasant little knick-knacks, and this, that, and the other, I was
reminded of a circumstance that transpired in the region of the Salt
Works in the State of New York. In that section there was a place
called Salt Point, one of the roughest in the world for drunkenness,
gaming, fighting, and cursing; and within a few miles from Salt Point
was a place called Onadaga Hollow, and the people in those places used
to be in a constant strife to see which should act the worst. As a man
named Thaddeus Woods, who had become considerably wealthy by making
and selling salt, was going from Onadaga Hollow to Salt Point, he
stopped at a tavern, half-way between the two places; and when
he and his traveling companions had rested themselves and fed their
horses, Woods told one of his teamsters, who was one of the wickedest
men to be found in those two places, that he would treat him if he
would say three of the wickedest words that he could think of. The man
agreed that he would; and when he had the attention and eyes of the
company fixed upon him, he shouted out "Onadaga Hollow, Thad. Woods,
and Salt Point," remarking that those were three of the worst words
that he could think of.
Brother Taylor says that language cannot express the conduct, the
feelings, and the spirit that are upon the people in the States. Well,
suppose you take up a labor and swear about them, what are the worst
words that can be spoken? 'Nigger stealing,' Mobs or Vigilance
Committees, and Rotten-hearted Administrators of a Government are
three of the meanest and wickedest words that can be spoken. I expect
that somebody will write that back to the States, as being
treasonable, because spoken by a Latter-day Saint.
With regard to the present contention and strife, and to our position
and situation, there are few things to be considered, and there is
much labor to be performed. Let the Saints live their religion; let
them have faith in God, do all the good they can to the household of
faith and to everybody else, and trust in God for the result; for the
world will not believe one truth about us. I tell you that the
Government of the United States, and other governments that are
acquainted with us, will not believe a single truth about us. What
will they believe? Every lie that every poor, miserable,
rotten-hearted curse can tell. What are we to do, under these
circumstances? Live our religion. Are you going to contend against the
United States? No. But when they come here to take our lives solely
for our religion, be ye also ready.
Do I expect to stand still, sit still, or lie still, and tamely let
them take away my life? I have told you a great many times what I have
to say about that. I do not profess to be so good a man as Joseph
Smith was. I do not walk under their protection nor into their
prisons, as he did. And though officers should pledge me their
protection, as Governor Ford pledged protection to Joseph, I would not
trust them any sooner than I would a wolf with my dinner; neither do I
trust in a wicked judge, nor in any evil person. I trust in my God,
and in honest men and women who have the power of the Almighty upon
them. What will we do? Keep the wicked off as long as we can, preach
righteousness to them, and teach them the way of salvation.
Some speak of the nations now on the earth forgetting God, they have
not forgotten Him, for they have never remembered Him. They have not
departed from His ways, for they never found them; they have not lost
faith in Him, for they never had any. There are men sitting here who
were brought up Christians, who were trained to believe in the sacred
words of truth contained in the Old and New Testament. What were you
taught by your priests, your fathers, mothers, and associates, with
regard to God? How many anxious hours I have experienced in my youth,
to know, see, and understand things as they were and as they are. Did
I ever see a man who could instruct me in those matters, until I saw
Joseph Smith? I never did. And after I had made a profession of
religion, I would ask the most powerful preachers whether they knew
anything about God—where He is located, where Heaven is, and, where
Hell is, who is the Father, who is the Son, and what the distinction is
between them, who is Michael the archangel, who is Gabriel, and so on. Could they tell a thing about it ? No: and I am a witness that
no man in Christendom knew anything about it, unless it was revealed
by the Spirit to him.
I may say that many had revelations from God, but they had not the
keys, and rights, and knowledge, and system of the religion of God.
John Wesley was a good man, and so were thousands of others. Will they
be saved? They are saved. You know what my doctrine is with regard to
this matter. Every man will be judged according to the deeds done in
the body. Did they know anything about heaven, or God? No, they did
not. Could they even explain one of the first simple lessons in the
religion we believe, with regard to mortal man? Could any of them
explain what the soul of man is, when it is written in the Bible, and
they have read it thousands of times? No.
I have heard men preach hours upon the soul of man; and one of the
smartest men that I ever heard preach, wound up a long discourse by
saying, "Finally, brethren, I must come to the conclusion that the
soul of man is an immaterial substance." I have sat days and weeks,
and months, and years to hear men explain the things of God; and what
did they know about them? Nothing.
We have the keys of the priesthood and the words of eternal life, and
understand them, and what manner of persons ought we to be? We ought
to live our religion, believe in our God, love and serve Him, be
faithful to Him, to one another, to all our covenants, and keep the
devils from killing us as long as we can, and that is just as long as
we have a mind to.
I recollect saying to a certain official here—one who wanted a few
Indians for killing Gunnison, "If you want them, I will put them into
your hands." They were presented to him, but he dared not take them. I
told him at the time of the conversation, that there might be some
thirty of those Indians; but, if the United States should send 50,000
of their troops here they could not get one of them, if they had a
mind to keep out of the way; and he believed it. I suppose you would
like to know upon what principle? Like some of brother Taylor's honest
men that he thought he had found in the States, who, when he thought
that he had found them, and went to put his hand upon them, were like
the Paddy's flea—they were not there, they were somewhere else. That
is the reason why they could not get the Indians. There is the same
reason why they cannot get us, until we have a mind to go them.
Do you wonder that the world is angry at us? No; for the time must
come when your faith must be tried. Can the Lord take this kingdom and
separate it from the kingdom of darkness? Can He bring it forth to
establish His work upon the earth as extensively as the Prophets have
prophesied, without separating us from the kingdoms of this word? You
say, No. How is he going to do it? You have seen how, so far. In the
days of Joseph, a string of guards was set around him on every side,
lest he should have communion with the remnants of Israel who are
wandering on the plains and in the canyons of this country. Those
guards fought us, whipped us, killed our Prophets, and abused our
community, until we are now driven by them into the very midst of the
Lamanites. Oh, what a pity they could not foresee the evil they were
bringing upon themselves, by driving this people into the midst of the
savages of the plains. And here am I, yet, Governor of Utah.
Do you wonder that they are angry? Five years ago I told them that I
should be Governor as long as the Lord wanted me to be, and that all
hell could not remove me. They have tried during those five
years to remove me, and I have had to appoint a Secretary for this
Territory three times in that period; for the ones appointed by the
President absconded from the Territory. And the prospect now is, that
I shall still have to be the Governor—that I shall again have to
preside over the Legislature, and that Captain Hooper, whom I
appointed Secretary, will have to continue in that office.
God bless you. Amen.