I have been very much interested with the discourse we heard this
forenoon. It is what I call practical religion; and you will
understand my feelings when I tell you that I consider there is no
religion of any kind that is of any use, except that which is
practical.
I read in the Book of Mormon, Bible, and in the revelations that are
given and written for our instruction and benefit, and for the benefit
of the people who lived in past ages, that the Lord says, in speaking
of those that have favor with him—the meek, the humble, and those
that have a contrite spirit—that manifest their faith by their works
and call upon him continually, I will administer to them and impart
unto them my will. The Lord our God lives, and it is because he lives
that we live; for if the Lord had been dead, we should have been dead.
He certainly does exist and dwell in the heavens, and I am aware of
it.
During my experience in the Church, I have been placed in many
situations, and thousands of items have been presented to my mind that
would be of great service to the people. I have called upon the Lord
and asked him for a great many things, and he has heard and answered
me; and I have endeavored to take a course that would give me favor
with him, with his Son, and with the Holy Ghost, that I might have
things brought to my remembrance—that I might have a knowledge of
things present and things to come.
This is our privilege, brethren, and it is the privilege of all the
men that live upon the earth. We are Saints, and we should all live in
that manner that would insure us all the blessings that are promised
to the faithful Saints. Every man that has received the Priesthood,
whether an Apostle, Prophet, High Priest, Elder, Bishop, Priest, or
Teacher—all should live as one man—be of one heart and one mind. In
regard to those things we have heard with regard to living and
practicing our religion, that we may be able to build up Zion and
establish the New Jerusalem. Unless we are very diligent, we shall be
very far behind the times when the New Jerusalem comes down from
heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband. Now, I believe that Enoch
went away from here on a piece of earth, but I do not believe that he
remained idle all the time: they have been improving and cultivating
the earth—they have been multiplying and increasing the inhabitants
where they live. So it is with the lost tribes of Israel: they are not
asleep. God speaks to them through their Prophets, and they are
learning to be obedient and to be subject to the law of God.
It is the privilege of the Elders of Israel to rise by the
power of God, by living the religion of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, go to work and adorn the earth, adorn your habitations, and
improve in everything that is good, that you may be qualified
hereafter to do a good work. I have worked in my day, and learned two
mechanical trades—the potter's and blacksmithing, and worked
considerable as a carpenter; but I never saw a blacksmith yet that was
perfect, or one that could not improve more and more in making
edge tools and other things. In fact, I never saw a mechanic perfect
in his business; for there is always an advancement, an improvement in
blacksmithing, in machinery, and in every branch of business. I
learned the potter's art, as I have said, and have carried on the
business. I always found that I could improve, and I never saw a
journeyman but I could learn from. It is so in England and everywhere
else. I saw new styles in Staffordshire, England, when I was there. I
saw something there that was very beautiful, and superior to anything
I had ever seen before. So it is in building, in manufacturing. This,
you know, will apply to our sisters as well as to our Elders. In
short, we should all try to improve in everything that is good. I
never saw a better time than it is today to improve in everything
that is good, and then continue the work tomorrow, the next day, and
so on.
[Blessed the sacramental cup.]
I wish to talk about things that are present with us, that pertain to
us. We are continually talking about being the saviors of men. Now,
how is it possible for one of us—I will take myself for an example,
and I will repeat—If I do not take a course to preserve myself and my
family, my wives and children, to provide for, and feed and clothe a
small family, I want to know what I can do for a large one. We have to
learn this, and that if we cannot take a course to lay up wheat, corn,
meat, and the comforts of life, make cloth for our families, we cannot
make cloth nor provide for others. If we do not take a course to
provide for those around us, can we provide for our friends? We
cannot. Then here is the place for us to begin—right here in the
mountains.
We are out of bread: we have none in the Tithing Office only what we
have drawn from Iron, San Pete, and Box Elder counties. Are we not in
a fine condition? Suppose the Lord should deal with us as he is
dealing with the people in California and those in Missouri, what
should we do? I saw it in the papers that they have got as beautiful
straw as ever grew, but there is not a kernel of wheat in it. If this
should be the case with us, or if the Lord should send a hailstorm to
destroy our grain, would we not be in a bad situation, as a people?
I can tell you it is time for us to be humble, prayerful, to live our
religion—not only those men who hold office—not merely those who are
selected to lead prayer circles and to pray according to the holy
order, but it is for all; and we should ask our Father to bless these
mountains and valleys—to bless our crops, our herds, and flocks; for
every soul of you knows that by them our natural lives exist. Then,
supposing your wheat is preserved, and mine is cut off, and that there
are three-fourths of this people without bread, gentlemen, you have
got to divide with us until we are all out. Now don't you see that it
depends upon one man as much as another? Do you think I would like to
lock up my drawers and bins, and tie up my sacks? No. And if any of
you want to do it, we should not let you: we would talk to our
Bishops, and let them open the bins and take out a little, and then
pay you for it. We do not want it of you for nothing at such times; we
want to pay you the gold and silver for your grain, or
whatever we receive from you. Suppose that each of you had your hats
full of gold and silver, it would not make bread; and if you put yeast
in it, it would not rise.
I have seen the time when my hat full of gold would not buy a barrel
of flour, and then again I have seen the time when it could be got for
almost nothing. I contend that every man that holds the Priesthood
ought to be a savior temporally as well as spiritually, for we are in
duty bound to try to save our natural lives. I would not give much for
a spirit without a body, because it takes the spirit and body to make
the soul of man: the temporal and the spiritual must be united to make
the man.
The Lord is beginning to pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon his
people, and he is also pouring out his wrath upon the wicked,
especially the Missourians and others in the States. Their cattle are
dying with disease, their crops are being cut off; and while these
things are taking place, you and I ought to be humble and faithful: we
ought to be good stewards, and lay up stores for that time which is to
come, and thereby prepare for a day of scarcity.
Brethren, do you believe that there will be thousands and hundreds of
thousands that will flock to this people for bread, for meat, for
clothing, and for the comforts of life? Such will be the case, and I
do not know but it will come before we are ready for it. There has
never been a greater prospect of grain than there is at the present
time; but we cannot tell how it will be next year at this time. There
are hundreds of men in this Church that would not have believed that
this people would have been brought down to the scarcity of wheat they
are now.
Where is the wheat we boasted about having? The army down at Camp
Floyd have got three years' provisions on hand; and in case of famine,
they would have to feed us. But don't you see they have got the power
in their own hands? And we have placed that power in their possession.
What do we find in the Bible upon this subject? "The children of this
world are wiser in their generation than the children of light." They
make preparation for that which is to come, more so than many of this
people do.
Now, you know that you have tried to make it appear that brother
Brigham has sold his grain to the army: but he says he has not, and I
know he has not; neither have I. I have hauled wheat to the camp that
the merchants have bought of this people, and I have got my pay for
it. When I was on my last trip, it was reported that I was sending my
wheat to Fort Hall; but I never sent any there. I do not suppose there
is a man here that believes that President Young and myself have sold
our wheat and flour, or provisions of any kind: but they seem to have
a mind to make a scapegoat of us; but in this they have done wrong. If
we had done as many of you have, you would not have had a mouthful;
for there are many of you who do not raise any, and who have none but
what you get from the Tithing Office and from private individuals. I
have talked with brother Brigham, and he says that if this army were
to go away, and another come in two years, this people would do just
as they have done; but we must stick to them. It makes me feel, and it
ought to make you feel. We put our grain into the hands of those men
that should execute the law and see that we are protected. But they
have come here to take your lives and mine; and if you would destroy
all that kind of wickedness that has been introduced, live your
religion, ye Elders of Israel, and honor your high callings.
I have done just as I have said: I have let my wheat out to my
brethren. I could have had two dollars per bushel, but I would not
have taken three dollars; and I still have some wheat in my bin.
I want to see the brethren and sisters engaged in home manufactures.
My family are making cloth now, and it would be a good thing if all
the people in this Territory would go to making cloth to clothe
themselves with. What! says one, make cloth now, when there are plenty
of goods? Yes; I am going to make more cloth this year than ever I did
before. There are people in this congregation that I could point out
who have decided to please themselves about making cloths and
everything else; but I can tell you we have to learn to pursue that
course that will make us independent. We must learn to keep our grain,
take care of our stock, keep what we have got, and get what we can
honestly; and we should never slacken in the principles of industry,
in mechanism, or in the economy of life. Are you taking that course,
brethren? Are you, brother Heber? I am: I can prove it. I never saw a
time when it was more needed than it is now, and it will be more
needed yet. Some will turn round and say, If you are just, you will
teach us what God's will is pertaining to us. The Lord has said that
he will provide for his Saints, and nourish them, and send his angels
to protect them. Don't you see he is a jealous God? He is jealous of
the nations of the earth, and he is going to scourge them for their
iniquities.
These are my feelings, and these are things that I know, and I speak
in soberness, in sincerity, and in truth. Am I going to bow down and
let my enemies have power over me? No, sir; no person will prohibit or
attempt to prohibit anyone doing right, except those that do not wish
to keep the commandments of God—such, for instance, as the thief, the
robber, the whore and whoremonger, and those that try to make all the
lies they can.
Brethren, let us gird up our loins and be faithful in all things. Will
you go naked and hungry? No, not if you will do right: there will be
an abundance for all that do right. I have been as poor as the poorest
of you. I have been so poor that I have seen many times when I had not
a change of shirts. I have also been with brother Brigham when we were
both very poor; and when you talk about going through troubles and
trials, I think of what I have passed through for the Gospel's sake,
in connection with my brethren; but in the midst of those trials I
have always been the happiest. What have we sacrificed? Nothing at
all, when we consider that all belongs to our Father. Why do you want
to get up in the meetings of the Saints and tell how you have
sacrificed? Think of this in the future.
Have we not been among false brethren? Yes, we have suffered from that
source. When Joseph had to flee, and there was hardly a person that
you could trust, that was a trying time. You have left your homes, you
have left nations of tyranny and oppression, and have come to these
peaceful valleys, where the devils have been made subject to the
Priesthood of the Most High.
So far as I am concerned, I can say that I have sacrificed ignorance
to get light—I have sacrificed to overcome the Devil, and I will rise
with those that rise and come off victorious. I consider that I have
sacrificed nothing for God, but that the sacrifices I have made are
for my own individual benefit, and to benefit the Almighty.
This is my testimony, and you know it as well as I do. Then do not
talk about these sufferings. Do not go down to the grog shops and get
drunk, fall and break your noses, and then tell how much you
have suffered for the Gospel's sake. Do not go without clothes when
you might have plenty. Go to work and purchase a ewe sheep, and then
you will soon have plenty; yes, you will soon have a large flock. Our
chorister had but two sheep four years ago, and now he has a nice
little flock, and has sold some; and you can do as well, if you will
try—yes, every man and woman. How nice you look watching and taking
care of a ewe sheep! Far better than you do with those little bonnets,
for they are a cursed disgrace to the Saints; and all good men would
say Amen.
Why don't you raise sheep, and make your own dresses instead of
putting on those rotten rags? Brother Brigham, Am I scolding?
[President B. Young: "I don't know."] He says he don't know; and
if he
don't, how is it likely that you should?
O my Father and God, where is the honest man? I have lost confidence
in the world, and in those that lay schemes of iniquity.
- Heber C. Kimball