Dear brethren and sisters—I arise to address you for a short time
this day. I shall be as brief as possible and detain you but a very
short time.
The last Eastern mail, I think, brought me a pamphlet or tract written
by Elder Orson Pratt, of Liverpool, England. Subject—"Gathering of the
Saints and building up the kingdom of God." The whole matter is
handled in a masterly way, free from blind obscurity, unchecked and
unrestrained by fear, and untrammaled by the religious or political
dogmas of the age. It is the product of a clear head, of a strong
heart, and of an unflinching hand. In short, it is Heaven's eternal
truth. I do exceedingly regret having mislaid it, for I would like to
send it to Senator Douglas, with a request that he read it faithfully
before he applies the knife to "cut out the loathsome ulcer." Having
read it, then, if he shall be disposed and able to cut, cut away and
carve up to suit his own peculiar appetite and that also of his
friends. Will some person having said tract or pamphlet be kind enough
to mail it to Honorable Stephen A. Douglas, Washington City, D.C.?
But, let all men, however, know, that if what the honorable
gentleman calls the "loathsome ulcer" be cut out according to his
views and suggestions, the United States will be cut off from being a
nation, and her star of empire set, and set in blood!
The "Mormons" can hardly be made to believe that the United States
intend to set in good faith towards them until they hang the murderers
of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and punish the murderous incendiaries that
killed our men and burned our grain and houses on Green Plains,
Illinois. Nor yet, until they punish Missouri and cause the wrongs of
the Saints in that State to be redressed. Whenever the United States
Government shall begin its work of justice, at that end of the
"Mormon" question it will find it not so vexed nor yet so knotty as
many complain of its being. And moreover, such a course pursued by the
Government would tend to convert the "Mormons" to the belief that
sincerity, good faith, and evenhanded justice towards them were the
paramount considerations and rules of action of the Federal
Government.
A few officials, so notoriously corrupt that they became frightened at
their own shadow, ran away, having greatly feared that what they
justly merited might come upon them. An army is raised at their
instigation to force them back upon us again, or some others, not the
men of our choice, and to aid them to punish us for alleged crimes
which they have trumped up. But it will be hard for the "Mormons" to
bring their feelings to accept any federal officers at the point of
the bayonet or at the cannon's mouth, nor yet while troops are about
them or on their borders. The contest appears very unequal, it is
true; yet a wasp may worry a bear; and God, by his providences, has
sometimes overthrown the strong by the agency of the weak. In that God
do we hope for succor and trust for strength and deliverance.
When we were driven from Missouri and Illinois, leaving all our
property, except what little we could take in the hurry, there was no
army sent to reinstate us, neither to punish our persecutors. Then
thousands of our men, women, and children were forced away from their
homes at the point of the bayonet, at midday and at midnight, in the
burning rays of a scorching sun, and in the gloomy shades of a wintry
night. Our judges, magistrates, and civil and military officers were
all forced to go, and no army was sent to reinstate them or to punish
the persecutor and the oppressor. Oh, ye rulers of the land, look at
your injustice! When the innocent cried to you for help—when the
persecuted for conscience sake implored your fatherly interference,
and, with tears of blood, said to you, "Help us, lest we perish," you
then said that our cause was just, but you had no power. But now that
the wicked and guilty profligate cries to you to protect him in his
corruption and force him upon us contrary to our wishes, you find
yourselves invested with all the power necessary to urge an unhallowed
warfare against the very people whom you refused to protect. O Lord
God Almighty, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, I ask thee to let
the arm and sword of thy justice interpose, and decide this matter
according to thy righteousness, and get to thyself honor and a name
that shall never be forgotten.
It may be said that sovereign, independent States are different from a
dependent Territory. This is a door through which many specious
technicalities are sought to be introduced in justification of the
present action and former neglect of the General Government. But
"Mormons" care nothing about such technicalities. They hold the
Government responsible, and so also does the God of nations and
of armies. Therefore, however strongly it may be urged that the
General Government's intentions are good towards us, this singular
people will not believe a word of it until said Government shall
redress their wrongs in Missouri and Illinois. Whatever explanation
may be given to the present movement of troops for Utah is immaterial.
It will stick to the present Administration, in its true light and
character, like the mark of Cain, Nero, and Herod—a religious
persecution against an innocent patriotic people who know their rights
and dare assert them! Though every "Mormon" in America should be
slain, it will only add to the enormity of the present Administration.
As well might we be made to believe that the student could solve every
problem of Euclid, who had never learned simple addition, as to
believe the Government our impartial friends while they decline to
redress our wrong. The conduct of the "unjust judge" towards the "poor
widow" might raise the blush of shame upon our national cheek, if the
nation possessed as fine sensibilities and as much discernment as that
"unjust judge." He saw that his own peace, ease, and happiness
depended upon his avenging the "poor widow." And if the peace, ease,
and happiness of these United States, in future, do not depend upon
their redressing "Mormon" wrongs (though they may not fear God,
neither regard man), then the Lord does not speak by me. The nation
will soon find out whether "wrath and indignation come upon the people
in the shape of earthquakes, thunderings, and lightnings,
tempests—the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds;
and all things being in commotion, while fear comes upon all people."
The nations may have occasion to consider the treasures of hail and
snow reserved for the last days—even the day of battle for the
contro versy of Zion. They may yet learn that the nation and kingdom
that will not serve Zion shall perish; yea, that such nations shall be
utterly wasted.
The prophetic glass before the eyes of the ancient Seers brings the
rays of Jehovah's power to a focus on this earth, in these our days.
For kings and rulers to manage their responsibilities in these
critical times is an affair which no servant of God, truly
enlightened, covets or desires. It will soon be known who are guilty
of treason and rebellion against the only true Sovereign of earth and
heaven. It may be necessary for the alien enemies to establish a
precedent in relation to treason. Then the judgment with which they
judge may be dealt out to them in equal measure, pressed down, &c. Woe
unto the world because of offenses! They must come to try the Saints
and to establish a rule by which the Saints, in turn, may judge the
ungodly.
The kingdom and government of God are the only legitimate jurisdiction
that ever did exist. And other kingdoms and jurisdictions stand before
God in the same light that many divorces stood in the days of Moses,
"For the hardness of your hearts, Moses wrote you this precept; but
from the beginning it was not so." For the hardness of men's hearts,
God has suffered them to exercise temporary jurisdiction. But does
this temporary jurisdiction authorize them to oppose him when he
begins to take to himself his great power and to reign? No. The little
stone cut out of the mountain without hands will roll and fill the
whole earth, while the great image will be broken and fall, and the
kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God. Now,
therefore, O ye kingdoms of this world, resist the decree of Jehovah,
if you can and if you will. Fall upon this little stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and be broken, if you wish. But
know ye that the way of the transgressor is hard, and his final cup is
bitter. God bless the meek and pure! Amen.