Dear Brethren and Sisters—I am highly pleased with the privilege I
now enjoy of speaking to you. I wish to call your attention to a
subject which, to me, is of vast importance, and no less so to you.
The commencement of what has been termed our reformation was more than
a year ago; and first attended with the desire only of correcting some
irregularities among us and of awakening the Saints to righteousness,
to purity of life, to sanctification, and holiness before the Lord.
Our efforts were attended with results highly satisfactory to the
upright and the good. We were led on by this spirit of reformation to
expose and rebuke the evils of those among us who did not belong to
the Latter-day Saints. This kind of preaching made them angry; yet
their anger did not cause us to soften our speech or to modify the
tone of high moral sentiment which we wished and were determined
should be enforced. "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you; but
rebuke a wicked man, and he will hate you." This truth we saw
abundantly exemplified. Their pens were then set in operation against
us, and many false accusations were sent to the States by them,
over fictitious names, no names at all, and also over their own real
names. But the latter class, not being fortified with truth and
honesty, felt unable to endure the just frowns of a community so
belied. They had recourse to flight; and then told the awful and
pitiful tale in the States, that they barely escaped with their
lives—a fine cover for their unrighteous deeds. They hoped by this
feint and hypocritical pretension to excite public sympathy in their
favor, and to arouse indignation against the Saints. Jesus spoke
plainly of just such persons, saying: "Ye are they who justify
yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
For this very plain preaching, which they were compelled to hear or
hear of, they threatened us with troops of the United States; and they
left no stone unturned to excite the Government to send troops. This
idea was a momentary damper upon some spirits; but sober second
thought asked the question—"Shall I, through fear of an army being
sent here, be guilty of collusion with sin and of failure to expose
and rebuke it?" The noble-minded and fearless servants of God said,
"No! No!! No!!!" The work of reformation and purification went
gloriously on; and by-and-by the word of assurance and comfort came to
us through our Prophet and Seer—the fearless Brigham, who dares to do
right—"Sanctify yourselves before me; put iniquity far from you;
assert your rights, and stand up to them; and behold, and lo! I will
fight your battles, and the children of Zion shall be victorious; and
the name of your God shall be magnified in the eyes of your enemies.
Trust in me; be valiant and fear not, and the kingdom is yours." I may
not repeat the word of the Lord through his servant verbatim, but give
it according to memory. I am not, however, far wrong.
On the 24th day of July last, rumor came to us that United States'
troops were actually being fitted out to come here to chastise us.
Just ten years ago that very day, when the pioneers first entered the
valley, brother Brigham said, in view of the injustice and cruelty
inflicted upon us by our enemies, "If the United States will now let
this people alone for ten years to come, we will ask no odds of them
or anyone else but God." The saying passed out of his mind and out of
the minds of the pioneers who heard it, until ten years from the very
time, when he and some thousands of others were in Big Cottonwood
Canyon, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Saints' entrance into
this valley.
This announcement of troops by the express brought the saying vividly
to many of the minds of the old pioneers. No heart appeared sad—no
countenance gloomy; but the lamp of joy was evidently lit in every
heart and blazed in every countenance. We regarded it as an omen of
deliverance by the arm of the Almighty. From that very hour the
prayers of this entire people, old and young, male and female, by day
and by night, have been and still are offered up unto the God of
heaven, in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, that the army sent here
by the United States may never be able to accomplish their design; for
the design of the Government in sending them, and that, too, upon
evidence known to be incorrect, proved to us that iniquity was to be
sustained and righteousness suppressed. Will our prayers be heard and
answered? I believe they will. I do believe that God is about to come
out of his hiding place and to vex the nation according to his word
through the martyred Joseph. (See Book of Covenants, second European edition, page 282.) Do I believe that the United States will be
divided? Yes, I do; and the prayers of all the Saints throughout the
world should be to that effect; for they wage war against the kingdom
of God, and have fallen upon that stone with an army; and let them be
broken, even according to the words of Jesus.
"If the army now invading Utah should be overthrown," says an
unbeliever, "are you not fearful that a much larger one will be sent
to chastise you?" No, sir; I am not. If we honor our God by keeping
his law, no army of this world can ever prevail against us; and the
greater its numbers, the greater and more complete its overthrow. If
the Red Sea be not the trap in which the enemy will be caught, there
will be a snow or hailstorm, a whirlwind, an earthquake, fire from
above or from beneath, or the sword of the Lord and of Brigham. I only
fear that we may not live so that God will hear and answer our
prayers. If we get any important petition granted by any legislative
body, we must have some influence enlisted in its favor; and if we
expect God to grant our petitions, we must so live before him as to
have influence with him. To have influence with the king is next to
being king ourselves.
We do not desire to shed the blood of our enemies. We have never
desired it. But our prayers should be, that the power and strength
arrayed against us may be broken by the providence of God, or by the
arm of his power; that they may be smitten with confusion and
darkness; that the means they may adopt for their success may be
providentially overruled for their overthrow; that they may be wasted
away like the early frosts, and be scattered about like chaff before
the wind, until, as the martyred Joseph said, just before he was
murdered by Governor Ford's mob, there shall not be a potsherd of them
left. This prayer should not be confined to our enemies on our
immediate borders; for they are only the blind tools of a power that
has decreed our overthrow; but should extend, with increased faith and
zeal, to that very power that handles these tools.
Brethren, the army sent to operate against us has been stopped in the
vicinity of the ruins of Forts Bridger and Supply. By what power or
agency were they stopped? Col. Alexander assured Governor Young that
he had abundant means or power at his command to come into Salt Lake
Valley. Add to this the fact that one Mormon was taken prisoner by the
Colonel's order, and it is said that orders were found on his person
to annoy the enemy in every way he could, but not to kill any or fire
a gun. I know nothing of any such orders. Still the enemy claim that
they found such orders upon the person of their "Mormon" prisoner.
Now, if Colonel Alexander really believed his own statement to
Governor Young, that he had abundant means at his command to force his
way into the city, and if he believed the pretended orders said to be
found with his "Mormon" prisoner to be genuine—that nobody was to be
killed nor a gun fired, why did he not march in with his army? He had
plenty of force to do it, and the assurance, according to his showing,
that the "Mormons" were not to kill any nor fire a gun. What kind of
reason or apology can he make to the Department for not marching
directly into the city? That is his business, however, not ours.
It was not "Mormon" numbers, according to his views, neither
"Mormon"
bullets that arrested the progress of the army; but it really was the
united faith and prayers of the Saints of God that set bounds to their
progress. Having, therefore, this evidence that God hears and answers
our prayers, it should inspire us with redoubled zeal, union,
faith, and energy, to continue to call upon the Lord until every power
that lifts an arm against his kingdom crumbles and fails like the
mighty image that the Babylonish monarch beheld in the visions of the
night.
Our enemies have eyes, but they cannot see. They may say that the
tardy movements of the forces in concentrating, together with an
unexpected snowstorm, in which many of their animals perished, were
the causes of their hindrance on Ham's Fork; but who caused the tardy
movements of the collecting forces? And who sent the snowstorm? The
same invisible hand that forced off the wheels from Pharaoh's chariots
that caused them to drag heavily. The prayers of the Saints by day and
by night are more potent than the multitude of soldiers, armed with
Sharp's and the Minie rifle. Yet the Saints should be liberally
endowed with both.
If we continue in all humility before the Lord, full of faith and
diligent in prayer, with hearts full of integrity, and honor the
words of our Prophets and leaders, and the United States continue
their hostile movements against the Saints, it shall be with them as
it was with the man upon the scaffold lifting at the granite rock,
when the scaffolding gave way and fell, and with it the man; and the
stone, falling on the top of him, ground him to atoms.
The United States' army is sent by the President. He is the highest
power which they know or recognize. Did they know any higher, they
would never have come here. Has that army a chaplain Prophet that can
obtain the word of the Lord for them, or one whose prayers the Lord
hears? We say no, and they cannot say yes; neither dare they. The
policy of the Government will not allow of a chaplain Prophet to lead
its armies; and a man inspired of the Lord—one who can say, "Thus
saith the Lord" —would not lead them under their present policy.
The whole army and nation are blind enough to be led by mere men who
lay no claim to the inspiration of the Almighty, and not one among
them that can receive the word of the Lord. The man whose prayers the Lord
hears can obtain his word touching the duties of the sphere in which
he is legitimately called to act. Yet the nation despise the "Mormons"
because they are led by a man who can receive the word of the Lord for
them, and whose prayers the Lord hears and answers. The evidence of
this is before us, day by day, and year by year. A fashionable
chaplain, who is master of much flowery language, may formally tell
the Almighty how great and glorious he is—how high is his throne, and
how vast are his dominions; and yet the God of Israel will never thank
him for the information, neither praise him for his sweet rhetorical
sentences. But the man that is chosen of God, and armed with the power
of revelation and the visions of heaven, is the man to lead the
Latter-day Saints. No less will satisfy them. To the rule of no other
will they willingly submit. Govern Utah who will, Brigham Young or his
duly chosen successor can alone govern the "Mormons." Freemen have the
right to choose their own rulers. The world often kill the men whom
God appoints; but the Saints choose them. Here is the difference. The
Saints may be killed—that is, their bodies; but their spirits can
never yield to the powers of this world. And our God says that, if we
will be valiant, pure, and faithful, we never shall, worlds without
end.
What is the real design of the Government in sending troops to Utah?
This winter, or during this session of Congress, special legislation is contemplated; a stringent law against polygamy to be
enacted; and the troops are sent here in advance of the passage of
such an act to make themselves comfortable and strongly establish
themselves in these valleys and hold themselves in readiness to
enforce that law when enacted. Then they would say, "Now, Mr. Mormon,
we have got you!" Anything for a lawful pretence to raise a fuss with
the "Mormons," to destroy them from the earth! But everlasting thanks
to Zion's God! He has said, "Sanctify yourselves before me, assert
your rights, and I will back you up and fight your battles. You have
long pleaded with the Government and people of this nation, and they
would not hear you; and now, verily, saith the Lord, I will plead with
the nation for you."
According to our faith in God is our boldness to meet whatever may
come. Brethren, let us be valiant. A mighty host may gather against
us; but if God be with us, we may have a seven months' job in burying
their dead; and their weapons of war may furnish us fuel for years, so
that we shall not have to go to the canyons for this indispensable
auxiliary to our domestic comfort and happiness. A mighty slaughter is
to occur in the armies of the Saints' enemies in some country where
firewood is scarce, and a high value placed upon their weapons of war
for that purpose.
It is said that a new Governor has been appointed for Utah, judges,
secretary, &c. I do not pretend to know much about governmental usages
or etiquette; but, to my coarse understanding, it would seem no more
than proper for some department at Washington to have notified
Governor Young of such appointments direct, and also of the object in
sending an armed force with them, if, indeed, such force be really
sent by the order of Government. The fact of our mail being
unanimously taken away from us, in connection with the silence on the
matters before spoken of, left us to conclude that death and
destruction were determined on as the lot and portion of the "Mormons"
in Utah. The public papers that happened to reach us seemed also to
breathe this kind of spirit, which were our main index to the real
intentions of the Government. If, therefore, persecution and death
must come, we concluded that we might better make the job cost our
enemies all in our power, by selling our lives and liberties as dearly
as possible. These were and are the feelings of the masses. Our
leaders speak for themselves. In this position we have been greatly
encouraged from a source that we deem infallible, provided we live in
obedience to the commands of Him who holds all power both on earth and
in heaven. I deem it unnecessary, however, to argue the merits of the
case, but patiently await its issue—at the same time to be active in
the vigorous discharge of every known duty to God and man.
Our Elders and missionaries have labored throughout the nations of
the earth incessantly for the last twenty-seven years. We have endured
and suffered shame. The great ones of the earth have generally spurned
us from their presence. The holy and sanctified clergy have been most
bitter against us. We have been very often like our Master, without a
place to lay our head. We have slept by the wayside, under the trees
of the forest, in sheds, and in barns, without money, and often
without food; yet we have been cheerful, and in reality have lacked
nothing. Our feet have bled with walking, and our hearts with sorrow
over the blindness of the people: yet we have been joyful in our God.
The four quarters of the globe and the islands of the sea have heard
our voice and testimony. We have labored and have not fainted. Though weak, combating the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and
though our enemies have reproached us with being a set of ignoramuses,
dupes, villains, impostors, and fools, we have cried aloud and spared not.
In the midst of all this, our Prophets have been murdered, our
brethren and sisters, friends, and families mobbed and driven from
place to place, and from time to time living in tents, wagons, and in
the open air. They have been maimed, crippled, and slain without
mercy; and none have laid it to heart. "Your cause is just, but we can
do nothing for you," is the heartless sentiment of an unbelieving and
persecuting world. These are some of the circumstances under which the
"Mormons" and "Mormon" missionaries have carried the Gospel
to the
nations of the earth. But those few that have ministered to the wants
and necessities of these laborers and of these persecuted people
shall in nowise lose their reward.
These missionaries and laborers are now called home. The Lord says,
"It is enough." "Come out of her, my people," is now the voice
of God
to his servants in every land and nation. The vials of his wrath
cannot be poured out until you, like Lot, flee from the countries
doomed to feel the vengeance of God. To you, my faithful brethren
abroad, the Spirit of Christ has often whispered, during the last six
months, "Go home—go home." Your guardian angels have said it to you
in dreams and in visions, and we expect to see you come. Scores have
already arrived. God bless them and you too, if you listen to the
whisperings of that voice that speaks truth to the heart.
What now remains to be done? Your testimony is borne—your words have
gone into all the earth. Read in the Book of Covenants, page 102, and
you will find the answer in part—"After your testimony cometh wrath and
indignation upon the people. For after your testimony cometh the
testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of
her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to
stand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and
the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of
the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all
things shall be in commotion; and surely men's hearts shall fail them;
for fear shall come upon all people," &c.
Again, the sign given in the Book of Mormon, showing when the times of
the Gentiles shall be fulfilled and they abandoned to the judgments
and wrath of Almighty God, and showing also when the covenants of the
Father with the house of Israel shall be fulfilled, is this important
declaration—"I will take the fulness of my Gospel from among the
Gentiles," &c. It might be considered treason to quote further. With
our Elders and missionaries comes the fulness of the Gospel from among
the Gentiles, who, like the leaky ship, are abandoned to the mercy of
the winds and the waves.
I, for one, care but little about the stoppage of the mails; yet it
would afford me some satisfaction to have the current news of the day.
There is, however, an upper telegraph which the powers of this world
cannot cut, neither suspend in any way. By that we can know all the
news that are really essential to us as a people, if we strive to be
in communication with it. This upper telegraph is the revelation of
God. All things that are really essential for us to know will be made
manifest unto us by the Lord; "for he doeth nothing, but he revealeth
his secrets to his servants and Prophets." This is the sort of mail
that we should patronize. It is conveyed with dispatch and with
safety. It goes at all times of day and of night, and is sure
to bring an answer to our communications. The Government would think
it strange to read from our records, made and penned more than twenty
years ago, the very things which it is now doing in relation to us.
But to read the issue, it would think stranger still. I read both more
than twenty years since; and when I see things fulfilling every day
and every year, it inspires me with assurance and joy. Have light in
yourselves, says Jesus; and if our eye be single, our whole bodies
will be full of light. God knows all things that are going on in the
universe; and if we possess his mind, his Spirit, and his will, we may
know at least some things that are going on in the world, even without
a mail.
Brethren, the Lord is hearing and answering our prayers. The time to
favor Zion is come. And now, I beseech you, let there be no
contentions or disputations in your midst; for Jesus says, "Blessed
are ye, if there be no disputations among you." Dishonesty,
covetousness, nonsense, and folly should all be purged from our hearts
and purged from our wards; and if the guilty will not cast away such
principles, let him go to the army, to the States or wherever he
likes, so that he does not abide in our midst. "He shall gather out of
his kingdom all things that offend and that do iniquity." Cleanse the
inside of the platter or territory, so that God and angels may dwell
with us for our defense. Bishops, High Priests, and Seventies, arise
in the majesty of Jehovah's strength, and cause the moral atmosphere
that surrounds you to be pure and healthful, if you have to raise a
storm of thunder and lightning to effect it. Fear not! Only hurt not
the oil or the wine. Be wise, and yet be strong. Remember that a good
man does not steal, neither lie. He is not an idler, suffering his
family to want. He does not take the advantage of his neighbor. He
does not absent himself from your ward meetings, neither decline
bearing his part of the burdens that are laid upon you. You will
generally find a good man right where you want him, in person, in
spirit, and in the means that he controls. He never has many excuses
to make, but is on hand. He is always ready. A good man pays his
Tithing, pays his devotions to God in all sincerity and faith, pays
his just debts so far as he is able, is careful about contracting
debts, lives well, yet prudently, and generally has something to
bestow for charitable purposes. He never has much difficulty with his
neighbors, readily yields to the counsel of his Bishop or other
superior officer, worships no horse, ox, mule, ass, farm, or house,
but worships the true God of heaven. Remember that all victory and
glory that God is well pleased with are obtained by our diligence and
prayers of faith.
Remember your fasts, your solemn assemblies, sacraments, and
charities. Mark those in your wards that do not attend your meetings.
Thieves and iniquitous persons do not, as a general thing, like to
attend the house of worship. Slothful, prayerless, and worldly-minded
persons often calculate to go to or return from the canyons on the
Sabbath, or go visiting on that day, or manage to hunt cattle on the
range, or transact some business by which they can have a plausible
excuse for not attending the house of worship. The flaming truths
which they would be compelled to hear—the rebukes and chastisements
there dealt out to such characters are not agreeable to their ears.
The persons that cannot profit by merited rebukes and chastisements
cannot profit by blessings and communion with the Saints. Priests,
Teachers, and Deacons, be active in the discharge of your duties. You are watchmen in your wards, and stand in a similar relation to
your Bishops that the Apostles do to the Presidency. Great
responsibility rests upon you. Every person in your wards should be
known to you, and his business or occupation also. You should not only
know the man or the woman and his business, but should likewise know
his spirit and be able to weigh it in the balance of truth.
Shepherds of Israel, watch well your flocks. Keep them healthy and
vigorous. Encourage good with kind and generous words, and fear not to
deal with offenders or rebuke sin in a manner that corresponds with
the nature thereof and also with the dignity of your high and holy
calling. The great object is to be alive and awake to every duty, and
to be "armed with righteousness and the power of God in great glory."
Our enemies are trying to come here to teach this people civilization
and pure Christianity by killing our men and sleeping with our women.
It seems that we have been prejudged and condemned to death. The
halters are prepared by the wagonload, and knots already tied (so
says report). If they had the chance, they would probably go through
the forms of law trials with us, with great kindness and moderation
affectedly; but death is in the pot, and we must eat it. As we have
been foreordained in Washington to be hung or shot, we must suffer it,
guilty or not guilty. If we repent, we must be damned; and if we do
not repent, we must be damned. The ropes are all prepared! But if we
do our duty, that proud Haman will yet see the despised Jew in a
position which he will have cause to envy. Though the course of our
enemies stands in their power and not in their justice, yet they shall
come to an inglorious end, and none shall help them; and let all
Israel say, Amen.
May the blessings of the Highest be and abide with the upright in
heart, now and forever! Amen.