It is rather a strange anomaly, particularly in the estimation of the
world, that a people so numerous as the Latter-day Saints should be
gathered together in one place, having the one faith, and believing in
the same doctrines. It is the more strange because there have been
various social and political movements, aided by philosophy,
established among men in various ages of the world; and almost, if not
all of these have signally failed.
Among the number of social movements in our day, there is that of
Robert Dale Owen, who thought he could ameliorate the condition of
mankind by a sort of communism, having a fellowship of goods among
them—a sort of common stock principle. Everything pertaining to this
speculation, however, has flatted out; and in all his schemes and
movements, whether in England or in this country, they have signally
failed.
It is so also with Fourierism—a species of French philosophy,
established by one Fourier, a Frenchman, and advocated by Greeley of
the New York Tribune. They had tried it in France, and then came over
to this country; and not far from New York a society of this kind was
established. They had a good deal of property, and I am informed they
established something of the nature of what is called the free love
principle; but within twelve months back, while I was residing in New
York, everything they had was sold under the hammer.
Mr. Cabet commenced lecturing in France, and had very extensive
societies there. About the time we left Nauvoo to come to this land,
Mr. Cabet, with a company of his men, came there. This is a species of
communism; they are called "Communists," believing, with Mr. Owen, in
a community of goods. They published a newspaper in Nauvoo, and one or
more in France. I baptized one of their editors while in Paris on my
mission—a man who is now in this valley, by the name of Bertrand.
Mr. Krolokoski, who was also an editor of the same paper with Mr.
Bertrand, came to me to have a conversation about the first principles
of the Gospel. After a long conversation, he said, "Mr. Taylor, do you
propose no other plan to ameliorate the condition of mankind than that
of baptism for the remission of sins?"
I replied—"This is all I propose about the matter."
"Well," he said, "I wish you every success; but I am afraid you will
not succeed."
Said I, "Mr. Krolokoski, you sent, some time ago, Mr. Cabet to Nauvoo.
He was considered your leader—the most talented man you had. He went
to Nauvoo when it was deserted—when houses and lands were at a mere
nominal value: he went there with his community at the time we left.
Rich farms were deserted, and thousands of us had left our houses and
furniture in them, and there was everything that was calculated to
promote the happiness of human beings there. Never could a
person go to a place under more happy circumstances. Mr. Cabet, to try
his experiment, had also the selection in France of whom he pleased.
He and his company went to Nauvoo, and what is the result? You have
seen the published account in the papers. We were banished from
civilized society into the valleys of the Rocky Mountains to seek for
that protection among savages which Christian civilization denied
us—among the peau rouges, or red skins, as they call them. There our
people have built houses, enclosed lands, cultivated gardens, built
schoolhouses, opened farms, and have organized a government and are
prospering in all the blessings and immunities of civilized life. Not
only this, but they have sent thousands and thousands of dollars over
to Europe to assist the suffering poor to go to America, where they
might find an asylum. You, on the other hand, that went to our empty
houses and farms—you, I say, went there under most favorable
circumstances. Now, what is the result? I read in all of your reports
from there, published in your own paper in Paris, a continued cry for
help. The cry is to you for money, money: 'We want money to help us to
carry out our designs.' The society that I represent comes with the
fear of God—the worship of the great Eloheim: they offer the simple
plan ordained of God—viz., repentance, baptism for the remission of
sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Our
people have not been seeking the influence of the world, nor the power
of government, but they have obtained both; whilst you, with your
philosophy independent of God, have been seeking to build up a system
of communism and a government which is, according to your own
accounts, the way to introduce the millennial reign. Now, which is the
best—our religion, or your philosophy?"
"Well," said he, "I cannot say anything."
He could not, because these were facts that he was familiar with.
What has become of that society? There are very few of them left. They
have had dissensions, bickerings, trouble, and desertions, until they
are nearly dwindled to nothing.
I might enumerate many societies of a similar nature, commenced in
different parts of the world and at various times. The results,
however, would be proved to be the same: they commenced in the wisdom
of man, and ended as speculative bubbles. Truth, based on eternal
principles, alone can stand the test.
If Owen, Fourier, Cabot, and other philosophers have failed—if all
the varied schemes of communism have failed—if human philosophy is
found to be at fault, and all its plans incompetent, and we have not
failed, it shows there is something associated with this people and
with "Mormonism" that there is not with them.
Now the question is, What is this principle? Why is there a
difference?
The first account I ever heard of this Gospel was simply preaching
what are termed the first principles of the Gospel of Christ. There
was nothing very ostentatious about it—nothing very grand—no great
pomp or parade. The Elders were in many instances uneducated: they had
no particular advantages among men; but they had received certain
principles, certain doctrines, that were plain and easy to
comprehend—things that were childlike and simple, and that recommended
themselves to every intelligent, unblessed mind.
What was it we first learned in relation to this Gospel? Was it
something very profound and philosophical, that some sage either in
this or some other country had dis covered—the plan of some
politician or statesman?
Verily no; it was no such thing. What was it? It was a proclamation
made, declaring that a holy angel from heaven had appeared—that he had
revealed himself unto a young man that was born in the backwoods of
America—a farmer's son, without any particular educational advantages;
that this angel, having appeared unto him, had revealed unto him an
ancient record that gave an account of the aboriginal inhabitants of
this country; that in this record there was an account of Prophets
having existed on this continent in former days, of Jesus having
appeared, and of angels having administered unto them—an account of
their having been in possession of the Gospel, having the same
doctrines, the same blessings, the same privileges and powers that
were associated with the Gospel on the Asiatic continent; and that
this record agreed with the Bible in doctrines, ordinances, teachings,
and blessings.
And furthermore, these men referred us to the Bible, and showed us
that this book was spoken of—that it was to come forth—that it was the
"stick of Joseph," and that it was to be one with the "stick of
Judah," —one in prophecy, one in revelation, one in unfolding the
purposes of God, and one in bringing to pass the great events that
were to transpire in the last days.
We heard of these things, and to many of us they seemed foolish. We
heard the cry of "False prophet and deceiver!" The first thing that I
heard from a priest, after hearing this Gospel preached by Parley P.
Pratt, some twenty years ago, was the cry of "Delusion!" I was
immediately informed that "Joe Smith was a money-digger," that he
tried to deceive people by walking on planks laid under the water, and
that he was a wicked and corrupt man, a deceiver, and one of the
biggest fools in creation, and so forth. I heard every kind of story;
and the priests have kept up the same things, pretty much, to the
present day.
I remember, when I first had an Elder introduced to me, I said to him,
"I do not know what to think about you 'Mormons.' I do not believe any
kind of fanaticism: I profess to be acquainted with the Bible; and,
sir," said I, "in any conversation we may have, I wish you to confine
yourself to the Bible; for I tell you I shall not listen to anything
in opposition to that word."
From the report which I had heard of "Mormonism," I thought it was
anything but a religious system. I was told about the French
prophets—I was told about Matthias, Johanna Southcote, and of all the
follies that had existed for centuries; and then they put "Mormonism"
at the end of them all.
In my researches, I examined things very carefully and critically. I
wrote down six of the first sermons I heard preached by Parley P.
Pratt, in order that I might compare them with the Bible, and I could
not find any difference. I could easily controvert any other doctrine,
but I could not overturn one principle of "Mormonism."
I have traveled to preach these doctrines in most of the United
States and in the Canadas; I have preached them in England, in
Scotland, in Wales, in the Isles of Man and the Jerseys, in France,
Germany, in the principal cities of America and Europe, and to many
prominent men in the world; and I have not yet found a man that could
controvert one principle of "Mormonism" upon scriptural grounds. If
there is a man, I have yet to find him.
The first proclamation by the Elders was, that the ancient Gospel had
been restored. We had had Methodism, Presbyterianism,
Dunkerism, Shakerism, Catholicism, Quakerism, and every other ism that
you could think of; but there was none that had the ancient
Gospel—no, not one.
I was, however, well acquainted with theology. I consider that if ever
I lost any time in my life, it was while studying the Christian
theology. Sectarian theology is the greatest tomfoolery in the world.
There are certain principles in reason which are unalterable. Two and
two made four 1,800 years ago, and they still make the same. Two
parallel lines never would meet: they will not now. A Gospel that was
true 1,800 years ago could not be false now. If they, then, have the
same Bible, and profess to have the same Spirit, and to be educated
men, why do they not see alike? If there are any of whom we have
spoken possessed of good common sense, it would lead them to union,
and not to discord; for the scriptures tell us, there is "One Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and one God, who is above all, in you all, and
through you all."
We used to quarrel with one another, when we were among the
sectarians, about our peculiar doctrines. One was a brother Methodist,
and another was a brother Presbyterian; and we used to fall out about
which was right—whether the doctrine of free will or of fate was right;
for we did not know which was right—though both were right, if we had
understood them. There was also much wrangling as to whether infants
that died went to hell or not. Some sent them to heaven, and some to
hell, where they were to be pitched up with pitchforks, and stung with
scorpions, and wasted there everlastingly.
This is the doctrine of the Catholic Church. I have got a book at home
that I obtained in France, which represents sinners falling into a
tremen dous fire; and there are dragons, scorpions, serpents, and every
kind of reptile searching like fiends for their prey. Naked sinners
are depicted falling into devouring flames, and a great dragon with
open mouth, forked tongue, and horrid teeth, ready to receive them. If
they should miss it, there are scorpions, and serpents, and devils,
with three-pronged pitchforks, waiting a little below, that they may
get the sinners and give them a good roasting.
You are here, a conglomeration from all the different churches. The
day when you came into this Church was the time when you showed your
honesty. What! Are there honest-hearted Methodists and Presbyterians?
Yes. And honest Baptists? Yes. Persons have been brought into this
Church of all those different kinds of faith, and you are actually all
one.
[President B. Young: "That scares the world."]
Yes, as President Young says, that scares the world. Why are they not
one? Because they have not the Gospel as it existed in its purity.
Peter preached it, Jesus, and James, John, and Paul preached it, and
the Apostles and Elders preached it on this continent; for the Gospel
in the Book of Mormon and the Gospel in the Bible both agree: the
doctrines in both books are one. The historical part differs only: the
one gives the history of an Asiatic, the other of an American people.
Stephens and Catherwood, after examining the ruins that were found at
Guatemala, in Central America, and gazing upon magnificent ruins,
moldering temples, stately edifices, rich sculpture, elegant
statuary, and all the traces of a highly cultivated and civilized
people, said—"Here are the works of a great and mighty people that
have inhabited these ruins; but now they are no more: history is
silent on the subject, and no man can unravel this profound
mystery. Nations have planted, and reaped, and built, and lived, and
died, that are now no more; and no one can tell anything about them or
reveal their history."
Why, there was a young man in Ontario County, New York, to whom the
angel of God appeared and gave an account of the whole. These majestic
ruins bespeak the existence of a mighty people. The Book of Mormon
unfolds their history. O yes; but his was of too humble an origin,
like Jesus of Nazareth. It was not some great professor, who had got
an education in a European or an American college, but one who
professed to have a revelation from God—and the world don't believe
in revelation; but nevertheless it is true, and we know it.
Those men who profess so much intelligence that they cannot listen to
the word of the Lord, and have so much egotism and philosophy that
they cannot listen to sound reason and common sense, cannot be edified
by these things, while we, who have not such lofty pretensions, enjoy
them.
Now, what did Jesus teach? He said, "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark xvi.
15—18.)
This is what Jesus taught: this is the Gospel that he and his
disciples taught. Who teaches this Gospel now? Do the Methodists, the
Presbyterians, the Dunkers, the Baptists, or the Catholics? Could you
find anybody that taught the doctrines that Jesus taught his disciples
to teach? I have not found them any where; and yet the thing is so
plain that he that runs may read.
Go and preach the Gospel to every creature; and he that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.
"O yes, we believe that." Well, then, read on. "O no," they will
say;
"stop there if you please." But it reads: "And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover."
"But," say they, "you must not read that." But it is in the Bible.
"True," say they; "but it is a spiritual thing: it means those that
are sick spiritually—they shall be healed." "It means," say they, "the
sin-sick soul."
It is like the school-ma'm who came to a difficult word, and not
understanding it herself, told the child to say "hard word," and pass
on. You must not say that which is contrary to their belief.
Now, if we look a little further, we shall find that the disciples
were instructed to "tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with
power from on high." It was necessary that they should be qualified.
Did they tarry? They did.
Why was it necessary for them to tarry? Had they not been with Jesus?
And had they not ate and drank with him? Yes. Had they not seen his
miracles? They had; and they were called to go and preach the Gospel.
And were they not prepared? No, not until they had received the
necessary qualification. It was not every upstart that could go and
preach the Gospel.
There are some, nowadays that go to college; and by their learning
they think they will preach a Gospel without God. There are
others who go because they are fools. Now, when the Lord qualified the
Apostles to go forth and preach the Gospel, he endowed them with
wisdom and inspired them from on high, and they spake as the Holy
Ghost gave them utterance; and the word that they spake was not the
word of man, but the word of God, dictated by the Spirit of God,
pointing out to the people the way of life.
Why was it necessary for those Apostles to tarry at Jerusalem? They
had an important mission to perform; their testimony was going to seal
the doom of nations. Their message was, "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned."
Could the Methodists, Baptists, or Presbyterians say this? No. No one
professes to say that their word will seal the doom of nations, among
modern Christians.
Those men, however, who stayed at Jerusalem till they were endowed
with power from on high, made this profession. They assembled in an
upper room, and the Spirit of the Lord God rested upon them, and they
spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. There were no Methodists, or
Presbyterians, or Baptists there.
As soon as it was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and some
said, "Why, these men are drunk: we have got a lot of drunken scamps
here—the followers of Jesus of Nazareth." But Peter said, "O no, this
is not the case; it is but the third hour of the day." The Jews never
got drunk before nine o'clock in the morning; so that was a sufficient
argument.
Peter said, "These men are not drunk as ye suppose; but this is what
was spoken by the Prophet Joel—"And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants
and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and
they shall prophesy." (Acts ii.) This is not drunkenness, but it is
the power of God beginning to be made manifest: these are the servants
of the living God, the Apostles of the Lord, set apart to preach the
principles of eternal truth to the nations of the earth; and they are
speaking as the Spirit gives them utterance."
The Apostles began to tell them about Jesus, that he was the Son of
God, that they had rejected him, crucified, and slain him. They
testified that he was not an impostor, as the people had supposed, but
that he was the Messiah.
When they heard these things, they were pricked to the heart, and
cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
You have heard this kind of cry in those revival meetings among the
sectarians: people would get convinced and under a sort of contraction
of mind, and they would want to know what they should do to be saved.
Now, here was a lot of people gathered from all parts of the
surrounding country, speaking different languages; and Peter was
preaching to them to believe, repent, and be baptized: and while
reasoning upon the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, they cried out, "What
shall we do?" Did he tell them to go to the anxious seat to be prayed
for? No, he did not know anything about such a seat: the Devil had not
yet invented it. Did he tell them to go and put their names into a
classbook, and that they would receive them on probation, and then,
if they were worthy, they would be received as members? No: this is
something in advance of Peter's time; it is something of Christian
civilization.
It was necessary that we should have the enlightenment of the
19th century to reveal these things. Did he tell them to pray? No, he
did not. Prayer is well enough in the season thereof; but they had
something else to do.
Is it not right to go into your closet and pray? Yes. But when you
have ordinances to attend to, then that is your business. What did
Peter say to them? He said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
You perceive that he told the people the same that Jesus told him to
teach.
"In the first place, you tell us to repent, and then to be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and what then?"
To have hands laid upon you for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"What will the Holy Ghost do for us, Peter?"
You have seen its effects upon us. It shall bring things past to your
remembrance; it shall show you things to come; it shall make prophets
of you; your sons and daughters shall see visions; the heavens shall
be opened unto you; you shall know of your origin, comprehend who you
are, what you are, where you are going to, the relationship which
exists between you and your God; and there shall be a channel opened
between the eternal worlds and you; and the purposes of God shall be
made known unto you.
What did the Elders of this Church preach to you? The very same things
which Peter taught. And have not the same effects, or signs, followed
them that believe? They have, as you all know this day. (See 1st Cor.
chap. xii.)
I will tell you how I felt when I was investigating the doctrines of
"Mormonism." I compared them to try if they agreed with the
Scriptures; but when I tried to pick "Mormonism" to pieces, I could
not do it. And now, said I to the Elders, you promise me that if I
embrace the doctrines you teach, I shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost: what will this produce? They told me it would produce the same
as it did anciently. If I had not experienced those things and seen
them manifested around me, I would have got up and called those men
impostors. I would have said, "Sirs, you promised me and others
blessings which we have not experienced, and this people and you,
sirs, are impostors."
I do not call the priests of the day impostors, because they do not
profess anything of the kind that I have spoken of: they are simply
false teachers, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," as
the Scriptures say.
We read the Book of Mormon, and found it contained the same doctrines
the Apostles taught on the Asiatic continent.
And what has this Gospel done? It has caused you to leave your
families, your connections, your homes, and your associations in life.
Many of you have left thousands and thousands of dollars' worth of
property; you have wandered over oceans, deserts, plains, and
mountains; you have been mobbed and scourged from city to city, and
from State to State, and you have endured all this. Why? Because of
that hope which is within your bosoms, which blooms with immortality
and eternal lives. You have asked this question to yourselves, "Who am
I, and what is the design of my existence?" and the Gospel has
unfolded these things to your understandings. You feel that you are
eternal beings: you feel that you are living for eternity and not for
time only.
I have heard it recommended, by some poor fools in the shape
of editors in the United States, to send missionaries here to convert
the people. I told them to send them, and promised they should have a
hearing. They thought if they came here and introduced some of their
good Christian ideas and practices and some of their pure morals, that
you would see such a striking difference that you must be enamored
with them, and that you would be broken up.
Why, said I, poor fools! Do you think that this people have left their
friends, associations, and everything that would render life precious
among men, and wandered off among those who are called fanatics and
fools—those who are everywhere spoken against?—and do you think that
they are going to be led astray by your poor-pussy priests?
Are you to be like the Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and
Catholics? No; you are to have one faith, one baptism, one Lord, one
Holy Spirit.
You are terribly tyrannized over, according to what I hear; and many
of you want to leave.
I engaged, when I was back in the States, that if they would send all
to Utah that wanted to come, we would send all back that wanted to go.
That would be a fair bargain, you know; but I think they would have
the heaviest job on hand.
[Voices: We know they would.]
What was your object in coming here? Was it to rebel against the
General Government?
[President B. Young: To get away from Christians.]
Brother Young says it was to get away from Christians—from that
unbounded charity which you had experienced amongst them. In
consequence of their treatment, you had to come away to seek a home in
the desert wilds, and to obtain that protection among savages which
Christian philanthropy denied you.
We came here because we could not help it, and now we have got an idea
to stay here because we can help it: this is about the feeling.
What was it that implanted the idea of gathering and union in our
bosoms? It was the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and that principle is
implanted in our breasts by the power of the Holy Ghost, which earth
and hell cannot eradicate.
There are certain ideas of God, and futurity, and the nature and
fitness of things implanted in the human bosom, even while in the
world; for there are many things which lead to reflection.
Why do this people feel so comfortable when an army is approaching?
Are you not afraid of being killed? No, not a great deal. Why are you
not mourning and sorrowing, and why are you not distressed and
troubled? Because you have got a principle within you that cannot be
conquered in time nor in eternity: you possess the principles of
eternal life in your bosoms, that cannot be subdued. You know what
your relationship is with the Eternal God, and his Spirit gives joy
and consolation to your bosoms.
I have heard men and women rejoice in France and in Germany as much as
in any parts of the world, and in their own tongue blessing and
thanking God that ever he permitted the light of truth to beam upon
their minds. You feel the same: you have got the treasure in earthen
vessels; you have got that within you of which Jesus spake—a well of
water "springing up unto eternal life." You are looking forward to the
time when thrones, principalities, powers, and eternal lives will be
given unto you in the kingdoms of our God.
Again: You know that you are in the kingdom of God; for God, among
other things, has revealed this to you. And while the Communists, Fourier ites, and others have sought to bring about a reign of
righteousness without revelation, God has revealed unto you a kingdom
that shall abide forever, by the principles of eternal truth and by
the revelations of God. You know that you are associated with this
kingdom: you feel it; and no man can deprive you of this feeling, nor
rob you of that Spirit.
Satan has had the dominion over the world for centuries, and no nation
or people has acknowledged God or bowed to his scepter. They have
anointed their kings, they have hewn down and trampled upon the rights
of man, and their hands reek with blood. In this condition they have
had priests to come and anoint them kings! But they are wholesale
murderers and robbers.
Who has reigned by the grace of God in the nations? And who has had
authority from heaven? Who has acknowledged God in all their ways? Has
any kingdom or dominion under heaven? Not one! You go into any
kingdom, or let a Prophet of God go into any cabinet, to any governor,
or potentate, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord! and they would
kick him out. [Voice: "They would kill him." ] Would they do it in the
United States? They would anywhere.
To behold man, whose breath is in his nostrils, who flourishes, and is
cut down like the grass that exists, and withers and dies, that
expands and bursts like a bubble—poor, pusillanimous man—assume
government, authority, and power, without any authority from God, to
regulate the kingdoms of the earth, shows his littleness, weakness,
egotism, and pusillanimity, and reminds one of boys playing marbles or
building cob houses.
Why was this earth made? And who made it? We are told in the
Scriptures that "all things were created by him and for him; whether
they be principalities, powers, or dominions, all things were created
by him, and for him." Has he had the dominion? If so, when and where
has he had it? He did partially rule for a short time among the
ancient Patriarchs, and also among the Jews; but all the rest of the
nations have ruled without him and taken to themselves the glory. They
have assumed to themselves certain positions and powers, and, aided by
their peers, lords, governors, and immediate associates, they have
oppressed the human family, and brought them into bondage.
The nations have forgotten God. They have forsaken God, the fountain
of living waters, and hewn out to themselves broken cisterns, that can
hold no water; and like dogs, wolves, panthers, and beasts of prey,
they have done nothing but tear each other to pieces.
Read the history of nations, and examine the paintings they have in
their National Galleries, and you will find they represent, almost
exclusively, scenes of blood, deadly struggles, triumphant victories,
or sanguinary battles, and the groanings, troubles, sighs, sufferings,
and death of the human family.
This has been the way that things have been carried on by kings and
governors; but where and when has there been a person to save, and
bless, and act as a father and benefactor to the world? And where has
there been a servant of God listened to? Jesus came among his friends;
but they would not listen to him. He sent his servants—his Apostles,
but they put them to death. He has sent again in the last days; he has
anointed his servant Joseph Smith, and afterwards Brigham Young, to
speak as his mouthpiece to the people, for the government of his
Saints not only here, but to all that will hear and obey the Gospel
throughout the world.
God has determined to have a people that will serve him. What
have you heard taught here? Nothing but the law of God and obedience
to the laws of the land. Nobody but the most blackhearted villains
that ever lived would have gone among our enemies and represented
things otherwise.
You comprehend liberty, and you will have this boon. Many of your
fathers have fought for this, and you are resolved to enjoy it. Will
you endeavor to disannul the Government? No; but we will rally round
the Constitution that was purchased by the blood of our fathers, and
will support it.
These are our views; and while we do not trample under foot the
Constitution, we will take care that others do not do it.
[The congregation responded, "Amen." ]
What has been the difficulty with you for some time past? You have had
doctrines of purity revealed unto you; you have been taught principles
of righteousness, to repent of all your evils, to purify yourselves,
that, as Saints of the living God, you might come and receive
blessings at the hands of the Almighty.
While you have been doing this, the spirit of psychology has been
operating in the hearts of men, even the spirits and powers of
darkness; devils have been railing, and men thundering out their
anathemas; all hell has been to pay, and "no pitch hot," and why?
Because you have been adhering to the principles of truth, and been
doing better than you have before.
What was the reason that they crucified Jesus Christ? Because he
adhered to the truth; and those very men that persecute us would
crucify him, if he was here today.
[Voices: "Yes, they would." ]
Well, what is the matter? The Lord has given to us a Prophet who
receives the word of the Lord for us. These revelations have led us
from principle to principle, from doctrine to doctrine, and from
ordinance to ordinance, until we are found as we are at the present
time.
We feel well, our spirits are light and buoyant, and our hopes strong
in the God of Israel. If we could not trust in God, we should indeed
be without hope. How many have gone from here to teach the principles
that God has revealed? Thousands of the Elders of Israel. They were
sent to do the people good, and have been more disinterested in it
than any other people.
Have you, Elders, gone because you were sent by missionary societies?
No, you have not. Have you gone because you had drafts and acceptances
on banks and merchants? No: you have gone without purse or scrip.
President Young, brother Woodruff, brother Hyde, brother Franklin,
myself, and others, have traveled thousands and thousands of miles
without purse or scrip, trusting in the living God.
Did we have to beg? No. I do not believe in begging: God will take
care of us. It is not so with other ministers. You tell them to trust
in God for the support of their bodies, and they are not willing to do
it. They will be quite willing to trust in God for their spirits; but
they dare not trust him for their bodies.
Go to the United States, and I will engage to give $50,000, if you
will find a thousand men in all the United States that will go without
purse or scrip to the nations of the earth to preach the Gospel. Come,
now, I will banter the world with this offer.
On the other hand, if President Young wants a thousand men, they will
be ready in one day, if it is necessary. Is it not so, brethren?
[Thousands of voices responded, "Yes." ]
This state of things exists in the world because they are governed by
filthy lucre.
We have embraced the Gospel because we knew it was true. I have
traveled with brother Young thousands of miles, preaching the Gospel,
and with brother Woodruff, brother Hyde, brother Smith, brother
Franklin, and many others around me. What did we do? We went trusting
in Israel's God; and we are doing the same now. What did we go for?
Because we loved the human family, and knowing that God had revealed
principles that would exalt men and women in the kingdom of God. We
wandered forth to preach those principles voluntarily. We did it
because we loved mankind.
Why have this people confidence in President Young and others? Because
they have seen them leave their homes and go forth and endure every
privation to promote their welfare in time and in eternity. They could
not have confidence in a priest that would not go to preach except he
had $10,000.
Furthermore, this people have confidence in their leaders, because in
times of trouble and trial they have stemmed the torrents and been
foremost in the battle. It is not a kind of soft, smooth eloquence to
tickle the ears of men, but it is stern matters of fact that the
people know.
As Paul said, "Can anything separate us from the love of God?" No,
brethren; we are cemented together by eternal ties that the world does
not know, nor can it comprehend. Talk to us of bowing to the Gentile
yoke! Nonsense. What would be your feeling if the United States wanted
to have the honor of driving us from our homes and bringing us
subject to their depraved standard of moral and religious truth? Would
you, if necessary, brethren, put the torch to your buildings, and lay
them in ashes, and wander houseless into the mountains? I know what
you would say and what you would do.
[President Brigham Young: Try the vote.]
All you that are willing to set fire to your property and lay it in
ashes, rather than submit to their military rule and oppression,
manifest it by raising your hands.
[The congregation unanimously raised their hands.]
I know what your feelings are. We have been persecuted and robbed long
enough; and, in the name of Israel's God, we will be free! [The whole
congregation responded, "Amen." And President B. Young said, "I say
amen all the time to that." ]
I feel to thank God that I am associated with such men, with such a
people, where honesty and truth dwell in the heart—where men have got
a religion that they are not afraid to live by, and that they are not
afraid to die by; and I would not give a straw for anything short of
that.
The great God has set his hand to roll forth his purposes; and the
hand that opposes it shall be palsied. The power of God shall be felt
among the nations that reject the truth. All is right in Israel, and
we do not want to hurt anybody; but we feel to bless everybody, and
our hearts are full of blessings for all who will work righteousness.
Shall we still bless the human family? Yes. Shall we rally around the
Constitution of the United States, and protect it in its purity? Yes;
we will save it when others forsake it.
In the day of our sorrow and affliction, when hunted by our enemies,
was there anybody to pour in comfort to the wounded bosom? Have there been any of the priests and editors to take our part? Where
are they?
Brethren, I feel thankful that God has revealed unto us the keys of
the kingdom of God and given us a knowledge of the things that shall
transpire in these last days.
I ask my heavenly Father that I may be counted worthy and faithful to
endure to the end, that I may obtain the crown that is in reversion
for me.
I do not care anything about shooting: I have been shot. Neither do I
care anything about dying; for I could have died many a time if I had
desired to; but I had not got ready. But I do care about those
principles of truth which I have received; and I would not exchange my
position for that of any emperor, king, or potentate in any nation
under heaven.
God will put a hook in the jaws of our enemies and turn them aside;
and the day is not far distant when empires will crumble to pieces and
the hand of God be against the nations; and they will know that there
is a God in heaven, and a hand that is stronger than theirs.
Brethren, all we have to do is to live our religion, to obey the
counsel of our President, be humble and faithful, and not exalted in
our own strength; but ask wisdom of God, and see that we have peace
with God, with our families, with one another, that peace may reign in
our bosoms and in our community.
I pray God to preserve you in peace unto the day of redemption, in the
name of Jesus. Amen.