I have tried to treasure up what I have heard today, and pray God to
give me power to practice righteousness upon the earth. I am aware
that the people that are denominated Latter-day Saints occupy a very
conspicuous position before the nation in which we dwell, and also in
the eyes of the intelligent nations of the earth.
There is something connected with our holy religion that has called
forth the attention of the wise and learned of this generation. And
they have used their talents and their wisdom in trying to destroy the
vine that has been planted in the earth, or the Priesthood that has
been revealed in these latter days for the benefit of the children of
men, that they might be restored again into the presence of God their
Father.
It would be superfluous for me to say that the revealed truth of God
from heaven has not been received by the majority of the world in any
generation; so it is no new thing under the sun if Joseph Smith's
mission is rejected by them. The Lord's wisdom is not like the wisdom
of man, neither are his ways like the ways of man.
The priests of the day, who professed to teach the way of life and
salvation to the people, looked with contempt upon Joseph Smith the
Prophet, and sought by every means in their power to destroy him and
the truth which he brought forth, that the kingdom and power of
Babylon might, as it has done in days gone by, continue to prevail,
unchecked by the influence of the kingdom of God.
Beloved Saints, we are now here in the valleys of the mountains, far
separated from those who have sought and still seek our overthrow; and
here we have the privilege of coming to meeting to hear from the
servants of God, and there are none who dare molest or endeavor to
deprive us of this dearly bought privilege. This is a choice blessing,
and one which we all should strive more fully to appreciate.
The false learning and wisdom of the world, concentrated, cannot
compare with one principle of eternal truth revealed to this people
through those whom God has set to lead them. Are we worthy of the high
and holy calling whereunto we have been called? Do we order our lives
so before the Lord of Hosts that we are worthy of his confidence,
worthy to walk in the light of his countenance from day to day?
If we live in such a manner as to receive nourishment from the true
vine, into which we have been grafted, then we shall have power to
overcome those sins that so easily beset us. There are a great many
more things connected with our holy religion besides praying morning
and evening, fasting, and paying tithing, as did the Jews. Our
religion comprises the holy order of heaven revealed to man in the
last days for the final establish ment on earth of the kingdom
of God, which will never be overthrown; but it will roll on and
increase until the kingdoms of this world shall become subject to the
law, government, and authority which rule in Zion.
It will not be long before this congregation of adults will pass from
this stage of action, and their places will be filled by the rising
generation. I was charmed by a remark which fell from brother Kimball
this morning. He said, "There are little boys here that will live
until they have power to bring the dead to life." It brought to my
mind the great obligation which should prompt parents to bring up
their children in the way they should go. Solomon said, "Train up a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart
from it."
The words of the affectionate parent take deep root in the hearts of
the tender offspring; and the impressions received in childhood remain
with them during their lives. I well remember hearing the confession
of two men that were executed in an eastern country a number of years
ago. They gave a history of their early tuition. One of them regretted
that he had not adhered to the teachings of his mother; for, if he
had, he said, he would not have come to the gallows.
The children of the Latter-day Saints are different from the children
of the world. We have heard today that those that were begotten under
the order of the Priesthood were endowed with greater power, ability,
and knowledge than those children born among the Gentiles. The spirit
in our boys is uncontrollable but by the holy Priesthood. Why? Because
the master-spirit is in them, and it grows up with them; and when our
children become men and women, they will voluntarily adhere to the
principles of eternal truth. They have not been under the influence of
a sectarian education, and have not this to contend with as have their
fathers. They are brought up as the children of the Most High, and
they will walk in the path of their fathers and in the precepts of
their mothers, and will magnify their high calling to a greater
extent, and be far more exalted than them in the eyes of Heaven.
Will the daughters of Zion follow in the footsteps of their mothers?
In some things I hope they may; in other things I hope they will not.
When we attend to and fully live up to what the Lord has revealed unto
us through the Prophet Joseph, as also those instructions which we
continually receive from the servants of God, we shall be more like
angels or heavenly beings. Our houses will be governed according to
the order of God revealed to man. Just walk into President Young's
house, and tell him you desire to walk through his house to see the
order of it. Then walk through President Kimball's—I think neither of
them will deny you the privilege—and see if there is not an order of
things prevailing there that extends beyond your narrow comprehension.
I well recollect hearing the Prophet Joseph instruct the people, about
twenty years ago, to make their own clothing, and to let the
decoration of their bodies be the workmanship of their own hands. That
revelation has not been much thought of by many. I referred to it in
the old Bowery, and there was such a rebutting feeling in the spirit
of the people, that it was with the greatest difficulty I could say
anything.
It has been said, "Why does not President Young go to work and clothe
his family with homespun, and set the example? Why does not President
Kimball? Why did not Presidents Richards and Grant and others do it?"
People with common sense can see the reason why. There is not
a man in the Territory of Utah that can compete with them in this
thing. They have done it all the day long, as far as their calling
would admit. Are they still doing it? Yes.
I see men and women before me clothed in fine apparel. I am glad of
it; but I should feel far better to see them clad in cloth of domestic
manufacture—that is, in homespun.
The gold and silver that found its way here has gone. This community
were not sufficiently wise to buy those articles only which were
necessary to make them and their posterity comfortable, and lay a
foundation to make themselves independent; but they squandered their
means in purchasing fine goods to gratify the fancy of women, and
their money passed swiftly through their hands to the merchants, who
have taken it along with them to the States; and I am glad of it,
because this people are destined to learn a lesson by it that they
could not otherwise learn.
The gold is gone; the sheep and flax in sufficient numbers and
quantity are not here, and our enemies are between us and the States.
The prospect now is fair for our obeying the commandments of God that
he gave through brother Joseph with respect to manufacturing our own
clothing and the adorning of our own bodies. The people will profit by
the lesson.
If we, as a people, will follow out the teachings the Lord has
revealed to us through his servants, he will preserve us and be our
great Benefactor in days to come as in days gone by, and we shall not
be allowed to suffer more than we can bear.
Let me say to all of you, Just take care of what you have got and
preserve it. I see the sisters passing along the streets, even in
muddy weather, with their dresses of silk and satin dragging in the
mud. They could cut off from four to six inches from the skirt, and
make their chil dren a dress of what they wear out and waste on the
ground; and if they have no earthly use for it themselves, perhaps
some of their neighbors would be glad of it.
It does not become me, however, to correct the errors of the people
here. Brother Kimball says it is the Bishop's office. I thank him for
this information, for I did not know it before. If you have good
clothes, do not drag them in the mud, but save everything you have
against a stormy day. Let this people make their own clothes and take
care of what the Lord has put into our possession.
Instead of only eight thousand sheep, there ought to have been eight
millions. If all men had used the exertion that some few have, there
would have been sheep enough to have clothed this whole people from
year to year, asking no odds of Uncle Sam or anybody else. Flax can be
grown here. I have not raised any flax, but I expect to have some spun
and wove.
Were it not for home manufactures, I should expect to go without
clothing. President Kimball says there are now about three hundred
bushels of flaxseed in the Tithing Store.
Prepare yourselves also to raise sugar cane, and from that your
sweetening, or make up your minds to go without; and if you have got a
leaky roof, try to get it fixed.
If our enemies—I do not mean those few out yonder—a swarm of
long-billed mosquitoes could eat them up at a supper spell—I mean the
whole United States and the whole world—if they should come upon us,
they cannot prevail, for they are fighting against the kingdom of God
and warring against the Saints of the Most High. The combined nations
of the earth will try to destroy the man child and obliterate the
truth from the earth; but as the Lord of Hosts lives, they cannot do
it; and the reason is because the Almighty stands at the helm,
and he will guide the old ship Zion in a safe course, and all the
powers of earth and hell cannot stop her progress.
May God bless you all. Amen.
- Lorenzo D. Young