Friends and Brethren—I arise before you this morning to reiterate in
your hearing an interesting and an important truth, with which,
however, you are well acquainted. We are a branch of the tree of
liberty planted on the 4th of July, 1776; and as the first display of
oratory and burst of eloquence from this stand, on this interesting
occasion, was a flower that bloomed on our boughs, and was immediately
succeeded by the precious fruit, there remains but little for me to do
but to feast myself and you on the theme which has been so ably and
beautifully presented, illustrated, and enforced upon your hearts,
under the banner of our common country, on whose folds is inscribed,
"The downfall of tyranny, and the rising star of Israel's hope."
The great family of nations on this globe, among which ours occupies
the most enviable position, stands in the same relation to the Supreme
Ruler of all that servants do to their earthly master. There are some
designed to perform an honorable part, and shine with more brilliance
and splendor, and exert a controlling influence; while many others,
like "the vessels of dishonor," are equally necessary to cause action
and reaction, until the elements of nature, in all their various
ramifications, shall retire to their common level, "and the knowledge
and glory of God fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the great
deep." Not every member of this great family does the will of God by
choice; but the wisdom, providence, and power of Zion's king will
overrule the acts of every nation to the furtherance and execution of
HIS designs; and therefore the nations will be constrained to say—"Not
unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name belongs the glory." While,
therefore, we acknowledge the hand of Providence in all things, we
acknowledge not the designs, plans, and schemes of all nations,
anymore than we acknowledge the correctness of the plans and designs of
Joseph's brethren in selling him into Egypt.
Considering the earth a stage, and the nations and powers thereof so
many actors, what part has our nation chosen to act in the grand
scenes of the last days? The days of farces are gone by; realities now
claim our attention, and we should discipline our minds and accustom
them to sober thought, and prepare our hearts and nerves for the
substances that have so long cast only their shadows before them to
awaken our fancy and speculations, and pleasingly or painfully excite
our unstable souls.
Observe Christopher Columbus in his silent meditations; mark his
untiring and faithful observations! Behold him watching the western
breeze, and marking, with zealous eye and anxious heart, every
substance that floated on the ocean's eastward-bound current as,
probably, from the New World he sought. Listen to the philosophy of
his reasoning, that a Western Continent was necessary to preserve the
equilibrium of the earth, and to balance it correctly on its
own axis. Inspired of the Almighty God of heaven, he encountered the
ridicule and jeer of a faithless and unbelieving world. Bound and
hampered by the chains of poverty, he possessed not the ability to
prosecute the voyage of discovery so dear to his heart, and so
intimately connected with his hopes of future greatness and renown.
Brooking every difficulty—combating opposition, calumny, and reproach
from almost every quarter, he surmounted every obstacle, obtained an
outfit that was as little fitting and proper for the great enterprise
as was the manger for the birthplace of the Virgin's Son. The time had
arrived for the discovery to be made. Millions of spirits in the
spirit world, who had not yet taken bodies, nor passed the ordeal, in
earthly tenements, of a residence on this benighted globe, were
waiting with anxious eye for the area of heaven-born intelligences to
be extended or opened to the gaze of mortal eye, that there might be
room for them to come down and play their part, in their time and in
their season, on the stage of human life. The three old crazy vessels
were enough! The Spirit Angel was their guardian and their guide, and
was with them on the stormy deep. Another important reason why the
discovery should be made: The history and record of a fallen people,
containing light from the spirit land, and truth from heaven, were
buried in the soil of the Western Continent; and although engraven on
golden leaves in a strange and unknown tongue, still they must come
forth, being among the secret things that should be revealed.
With the view of raising up a Church pursuant to the doctrine contained
in these records of a fallen people, a government has to be
established on this chosen and promised land, whose provisions should
be liberal enough to allow and tolerate every principle, pre cept, and
doctrine of the new Church which then existed only in prophetic
vision. The Constitution of the United States forms the basis of that
government, extending protection to all, and showing especial favor
to none.
After this government became fully established, and had time to
command the respect of all nations, lo! the angel of God from the
courts on high descended to earth, and "Cumorah's lonely hill," in the
State of New York, was made to yield up the golden records to the
stripling ordained and chosen of God as the agent to enlighten the
world with the words of nations long since extinct, whose ruined
cities, towns, forts, and various other works of improvement are left
as a striking memento of fallen greatness.
Let it never be forgotten, but let the mind's eye always be directed
to it as the eye of the storm-beaten mariner is ever directed towards
the polar star or the beacon lights, that, while they ward off danger,
they inspire with joy. It is a prophetic saying, relating to the
destiny of this country, contained in the records found in Cumorah,
and translated by the stripling youth, whose blood has sealed the
truth of his translation—hear it, all ye ends of the earth! "THERE
SHALL NO KING BE RAISED UP ON THIS LAND; AND WHOSOEVER SEEKETH TO
RAISE UP A KING ON THIS LAND SHALL PERISH." "This land,"
means both
North and South America, and also the families of islands that
geographically and naturally belong and adhere to the same. There are
promises and decrees of God in relation to "this land" of an
extraordinary character. No other land can boast of the same. How
beautifully does the spirit of the above prophetic sentiment chime in
with the great American principle, "that no foreign prince, potentate,
or sovereign will be allowed to interfere in the affairs of this
Continent!" Spain must give up Cuba; England, Canada; and the
United States of America must hold, as her dependencies, every country
on the Western Continent, with the islands along its borders. Mexico
would not allow our agents to preach the Gospel within her borders.
The Catholic faith, sustained by political power, to the exclusion of
all others, is a cause sufficient for revolutions at home, and for a
conquest by a power whose policy it is to let religion stand upon its
own merits.
The great design of Providence in raising up our nation, and freeing
it from the yoke of a foreign power, and in arming it with energy,
strength, and skill, was to make it the honored agent to suppress
religious intolerance and usurpation, and to open effectual doors for
the free investigation of every subject that can enlist the interests
and attention of men, that every principle that will stand the test of
a close and scrupulous examination, whether moral, political, or
religious, may be drawn out and applied to practical use in that
department to which it belongs.
The United States should therefore be regarded by the Latter-day
Church as the men that fell the timber and clear the land, removing
every obstacle in the way of ploughing and the sowing of seed.
Remember, that whatever land or country falls under the Government of
the United States, there you may go and preach the Gospel, and not be
thrust into prison for it as you now are in many countries. The press
also—that mighty engine of power, is free and untrammeled wherever
the American eagle builds her nest. I think I hear a voice in low tone
from yonder corner reproaching thus—But, in the United States, your
Prophets have been killed, your houses burned, your fields laid waste,
your grain consumed by fire, your people driven and scat tered before
the bitter blasts of persecution, like clouds before the wind!
Ah, too true! But the Constitution and laws of the country were not
guilty of these cruel and bloody deeds. It was a lawless mob that did
the mischief—an outbreak to which every country is subject. But you
may ask, Why were the offenders not punished for their cruelty?
Because human legislation had failed to affix a penalty proportionate
to the offense: hence the Almighty has taken that matter into his own
hands, and will award to them a punishment that will be fully
adequate, by making them the eternal servants of the persecuted and
martyred ones. If the nation had done all she could to wipe out the
stain of these cruel and bloody deeds, herself would have been
spotless.
In the spring of 1834, a move was made from Kirtland, Ohio, to the
State of Missouri, by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and many of his
friends. During the journey, from time to time, some murmuring and
insubordination were manifest in the camp. This called out many
reproofs and admonitions from the Prophet, until at length, on one
beautiful day when the sun shone in all its beauty and splendor
(having failed to silence the murmurings in the camp), he uttered in
substance the following language—Brethren, by your murmurings and
complainings, you have grieved the Holy Spirit. I have reproved you
often—reasoned and remonstrated with you from time to time, and you
have not heeded the admonition; and now, therefore, so sure and
certain as you behold yonder sun shining in the heavens, without a
cloud to obstruct its rays, just so sure and certain will the
destroyer lay you waste, and your carcasses shall fall and perish like
rotten sheep. Only about two weeks after, the cholera broke out in
camp, and the awful pre diction was fully verified, to the
consternation of the stoutest heart. Some eight or ten died and were
buried in a night! But did the Prophet cease his anxiety for the
welfare of the camp? Did he become alienated in his feelings from his
friends in their hour of chastisement and tribulation? Did he turn to
be their enemy because he had spoken hard things against them? No! His
heart was melted with sympathy—his bosom glowed with love, compassion,
and kindness; and with a zeal and fidelity that became a devoted
friend in the hour of peril, he personally ministered to the sick and
dying, and aided in burying the dead. Every act of his, during that
severe trial, gave additional assurances to the camp that, with all
their faults, he loved them still.
If the United States have been guilty of a great dereliction of duty
in not making an effort to redress the sufferings and wrongs of the
"Mormons," and the "Mormons" have said that this inaction and
indifference on the part of the Government in relation to their
grievances will draw upon the nation a scourge and chastisement from
God, we have no more idea that the great purposes and designs of the
Creator will be changed in relation to this nation, in consequence of
this merited chastisement, than the purposes and designs of a father
to rear up his son in honor, integrity, and truth will become changed
by the infliction of chastise ment for some transgression or
misdemeanor.
The "Mormons" feel their wrongs: they know them; and while they live
they will not forget them: they cannot if they would. They will
remember them also in the spirit world and in the exalted courts of
the celestial kingdom. When they enter, it will be asked, "Who are
these? And from whence come they?" The answer will be—"These are they
who have come up through great tribulation," &c. They will not forget!
Still, like the Prophet, who stood by his brethren until death, so
will the "Mormons" stand by their country while any foe dares to set
his unhallowed foot upon our shores, or upon our borders.
Under the guardianship of high Heaven, all things are moving
gloriously onward. We have recently had a liberal slice off from
Mexico, but the whole loaf must come. The north must give up, and the
south keep not back, while the islands are waiting for thy law. The
voice of God, through American policy, with loud and thrilling notes,
cries, Come unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved from
the yokes of tyrants—from the chains and fetters of bigotry,
superstition, and priestcraft, and regale yourselves under the tree of
liberty, whose branches are rapidly extending, and whose fruit is rich
and desirable, and whose leaves are for the healing of the
nations.