Brethren and sisters, I rejoice exceedingly for the manifestation of
the Spirit of God I have witnessed here today. We have heard good
testimonies and good counsel, and the Spirit of the Lord is upon the
people; and I trust that I shall see an increase of this Spirit, which
I have felt in a signal manner today, and which I also feel day by
day.
The world could not hire me to be a "Mormon," unless I enjoyed the
spirit of my religion. I need that spirit in my business, as well as
in my worship; and I surely would need it, if I had to go to the
canyons and drive cattle: I would need a double portion of it.
Whatever we do should be in accordance with the mind of the Holy
Spirit. We are not at all under the necessity of falling into the
mistake that the Christian world falls into. They think, when they are
handling or dealing in the things of this world, that those things
have nothing to do with their religion. Our religion takes within its
wide embrace not only things of heaven, but also things of earth. It
circumscribes all art, science, and literature pertaining to heaven,
earth, and hell. Is there any good? It belongs to you and me. Is there
virtue? It is ours. Is there truth? It is ours. Is there knowledge? It
is for us.
All eternity is before us. Let us deal with ourselves like men and
women of God. Let us deal with one another like intelligent beings.
Our religion drinks up all truth, and the Lord Almighty will gather
unto Zion all the intelligence and wisdom that has ever been exhibited
among men.
When I see men craving for and lusting after the things of this world,
it looks very childish to me. These things belong to the Lord, and we
are his. The gold and the silver, the fine flour, the wine and the
oil, and all the treasures of the earth are his, and he disposes of
them as he will. When we are prepared, we shall have gold sufficient
to pave the streets, and we will tread it under our feet. Shame on men
and women, professing to be Saints, who worship and love the perishing
things of earth. Love God and his work, and all is ours in time and in
eternity.
May the Lord help us so to do! Amen.