As there is an opportunity, I arise to make a few remarks. I suppose
the same privilege is granted to me that has been given to brother
Grant.
I feel that it is a privilege when a man can rise before a
congregation like this and say what he has a mind to. It is a law of
liberty. It is certainly like that Gospel which Paul preached in his
day. He said it was a Gospel of liberty unto all that embraced it; and
I am well persuaded, even to a certain knowledge, that this is the
Gospel that you have embraced, and that this is the people of the
Saints. When we talk about liberty, I consider it is liberty to do
just about right—to do that which shall be for the good of the
community we dwell with, for the society of the Saints, and the
kingdom of God on the earth.
I merely rise to bear testimony to what brother Grant has said; and I
think, if there is any man in the city who ought to have the privilege
of saying what he has a mind to, he ought, for he is the Mayor of the
city. He is a man, therefore, who ought to be backed up by the people;
and I am happy and rejoice to see such a spirit manifested in the
congregation today. From the experience I have had, I know it to be
right. The remarks are just in time and in season, and they
are worthy of the attention of every civil person in our community.
We have come into these valleys to do right; we have come to build up
the kingdom of God; we have come that the Saints may have a place of
rest, that the oppressed may go free, and that we may be enlightened
and strengthened in the principles of the Gospel. If we do not take
cognizance of the things that are before us, how can we expect that
this community can dwell here in peace? And if we have not faith and
spirit and power enough in ourselves to put down anything that is not
right in our midst, we cannot expect to live here long unmolested. It
is well that every Elder—that every good person who dwells in this
community should stamp these evil principles that brother Grant speaks
of with indignation. I have felt, since I have been gone on a mission
last year to Pottawatomie County and the States, the force, power, and
spirit of the men whom he has been speaking of here today; and so
will every Elder who goes abroad.
It is just as brother Grant has said—that while they could send forth
their wrath and indignation to the States—while they could stir up
mobs and contention in the midst of the people, it was first-rate with
them; but when the scale began to turn, and the God of heaven began to
rule and control things for the good of this people, it was then, "How
do you do? I feel first-rate. Come and see me, won't you? Come and eat
and drink with me at my table, and stay as long as you please." Why?
Because God is ruling things for our good, and softening the hearts of
the people, and gathering his Saints from the four corners of the
earth. Brethren, we are serving a God who is able to bring good out of
evil for the salvation of his chosen people.
Concerning dram shops, grog shops, whiskey shops, and all shops, we
heard of this before we arrived in the city. We could scarcely believe
it; and had we given way to our feelings, we could have sat down and
cried about it as well as not. When we got here, we found it to be
true. But I think the medicine which has been laid before you today
will prove effectual to some of them. I had not the least idea, when I
rose up here, that the spiritual knockings were so close at my heels;
and if I am not mistaken, if you do not reform before next Saturday
night, you will have some temporal knockings that are going to do the
business up at once.
I was called upon by the Prophet in Nauvoo to engage in temporal
knocking, and we knocked one grocery bottom side up, and away it went,
grog, glasses, tobacco, snuff, the Devil, and all. (Voice in the
stand: "And the Devil went with it.") Now, the same spirit is in the
City of Great Salt Lake. The same spirit that dwelt in the Prophet of
God dwells in the hearts of this people; and all we want is for the
word to be given, and the deed is performed. Let me tell you, if we
had the power to accomplish this thing in Nauvoo, the way we have got
it here is not weak. We have the power to knock temporally. We will
knock them into a cocked hat. All we want is for the Mayor to say the
word, and it shall be done. I know there are Elders here before me who
would do the job up clean tonight, if necessary, and cleanse the city
of these nuisances.
As far as merchants are concerned, I care but little about them. I
believe every word that brother Grant has said: they would flood this
valley with shinplasters, and carry away our gold. If there is a
banking institution to be given to this people, let it be done by the
President of the Church, and let us have the benefit of it, and not
men who would cut your throats to get your money from you. I
do not expect, however, that they will trouble me any, for I do not
seem to get hold of much money. I am a stranger to it. I do not want
any shinplasters. I am a Democrat, so far as that goes, and believe
in a hard currency, until God shall establish another; and if he goes
in for shinplasters, I am in for them too. I want the brethren who
have them to return the paper to the counters tomorrow morning, and
know if they possess a disposition to cash them. If they do, they will
redeem them. You would look well walking round here with fifty
thousand dollars of worthless paper in your pocket. Who is there in
this community, Jew or Gentile, who will do right, but what has been
blessed and prospered, and has the good feelings of this people?
I can go to St. Louis as poor as I am; and notwithstanding what has
been said to hurt the credit of this people, I can get as many goods
as I could wish, even if I have not a single dollar in my pocket. I
could get all I could get brought over the Plains. But I did not go
for gold and silver, nor did the Elders who went with me. We went to
do good to the kingdom of God. Have we done it to your satisfaction?
[" Yes."] May God bless you, then; and may you continue to be blessed
and prospered to your satisfaction, and put every evil thing away
from your sight. I know you can do it, and all will be right.
It is not temporal things we are after, nor temporal knockings; but
you, brethren, who keep dram shops, go and put them away, and put your
bottles away, and say you will spread no more poison among this people
until you are commanded. If a man cannot get a living here without
selling whiskey—without keeping a little dram shop, it is time he was
going somewhere else; for be assured you will never get rich here by
selling whiskey. It is a curse to this people, and it will rest upon
you that follow that business.
I have not been commanded to say what I have this afternoon, but it
rests upon my own shoulders. If I talk wrong to this people, I am
willing to be chastised by my brethren all the time. If men take the
liberty of going to St. Louis, and there using my name, we will say
what we please, and in any place we please. Neither are we afraid to
say it in St. Louis, or in any other place. We are ready to meet it
anywhere. Brethren, look out for temporal knockings, for we are on
hand. God bless you! Amen.
- Ezra T. Benson