It is about thirteen months since I had the privilege of rising and
speaking in your midst. It is therefore with a heart filled with
thankfulness to our Heavenly Father that I now enjoy the privilege of
bearing my testimony on the present occasion of the things which
pertain to the kingdom of the Most High. In his kind providence we are
enjoying a great multitude of blessings.
The testimony which has been given to us this morning of the power and
manifestations of the Spirit of God in the midst of Israel is
calculated to make us rejoice. The Lord speaks unto us in his own way,
and after his own manner, and in our language, and after our
understanding, and the light of his Spirit which shineth in our minds,
inasmuch as we will suffer it to do so; but if our hearts are clogged
with the things of this world—if our souls are suffered to become
enamored of the earth and the objects that are sought after by the
wicked world, we lose the Spirit of the Lord, and by that means do not
understand when we are taught and instructed in the way of life.
The object of obtaining wealth and the desire to handle or control a
considerable portion of this world's goods have blinded the eyes of
many Elders, and caused them to go astray in the ways of extravagance
and folly. It has decoyed them from the path of virtue, and by
that means they have become totally estrayed from the path of truth.
If we can keep in view the one great principle, to build up the
kingdom of God, proclaim the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, to
labor for the sustenance of Zion, make that our first, our great, our
only object, and fear not for the earthly things we may need, we shall
have the Spirit of the Almighty to enlighten our minds and guide our
feet in the true path.
When the Presidency bear their testimony to us, our spirits will then
meet with theirs, and we shall feel and enjoy the truth of the
principles they proclaim to us. But while our minds become
concentrated upon earthly objects, we are dark, and we begin to think
we know better than other people; we begin to feel that we can do
something independently of God or his servants.
I will relate an instance that occurred in 1849. I was talking with
one of the brethren who had been many years in the Church. He told me
he wanted to situate himself so that he could leave his family and be
prepared to go preaching. I said, "Are you not pretty well situated
now you have a large farm, plenty of cattle, and other property, and
your family are able to take care of themselves?" He said he did not
feel as though he had ready means enough to go. "I want to get myself
in condition so that I can leave home; and in order to do it, I have
determined to go to California; and I think in the course of five or
six months I can there raise ten thousand dollars, and on that means I
can go to the southern part of California, buy 1,000 head of horses,
and bring them to Salt Lake, and next year sell them for one or two
hundred dollars each. With that means in my hands I shall be able to
leave my family and go preaching." That was the design he laid out. I
may say the plan was very tempting: he went to California, but the
tremendous results anticipated were never realized. There are a great
many men in the midst of Zion that have lost their power and ability
to perform those works they seem to wish to perform by endeavoring to
take a wild goose chase to place themselves in possession of wealth on
their own responsibility. The circumstances which have transpired in
our midst for the last few years have been calculated to try many men.
In reviewing the history of ourselves as a people, we have encountered
many things which have been calculated to try some men. They have been
compelled many times to submit to the most cruel exactions—seeing
their friends murdered, their families driven from their possessions,
and yet bearing up under it splendidly. They have had to pioneer into
the midst of a barren and hitherto unknown desert, make settlements,
rear their families in the midst of want, and toil, and bear it
patiently. Yet, after a few years of prosperity, you will see those
very men, when they become better situated, surrounded with the
blessings and comforts of life—they begin to feel as though they were
not doing quite well enough, and their thoughts begin to wander like
the fool's eye to the ends of the earth. In some instances the scenes
of the last few years have caused them to turn again, as President
Kimball expressed it, like the hog to the mire after he had been
cleanly washed.
It puts me in mind of a compliment paid to Queen Elizabeth by an
English farmer. Her Majesty was out on a ride, and was caught in a
storm. The farmer was very much rejoiced that the Queen had called
upon him, and she was pleased with his rough hospitality. Being just
after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, he complimented her on
the success of her arms by saying—"The King of Spain got the wrong sow
by the ear when he made war with your Majesty." The Queen was much
amused at this vulgar comparison.
Though, really, the dream related by brother Kimball, describing the
multitude of hogs that were in the city, was so perfectly illustrated
at the time the town was so tremendously full of soldiers, teamsters,
gamblers, and camp followers, and they floated off so suddenly, that
it could almost be said it was dreamed awake. That is the best way to
dream: a man can many times dream wide awake straighter than when
asleep.
I remember once (when in Zion's camp), I was very thirsty, hungry, and
tired, that I dreamed when I was walking on the road I could see a
loaf of bread, a bottle of milk, and a spring of water. It was one of
the pleasantest dreams in the world, and I dreamed it while walking
along the road. At the same time a great many dreams, as men consider,
are no more nor less than open vision, and a great many dreams are the
result, perhaps, of fatigue—of overexercise—of overeating before
retiring to rest, or some other cause.
When a man's mind is illuminated by a dream, it leaves a vivid and
pleasant impression: when it may be guided by the Spirit of God, it
leaves the mind happy and comfortable, and the understanding clear.
I have regretted, for the past year, that I have not been permitted to
speak to you, that my testimony to the truth might be heard in the
midst of Israel, and in this city particularly. It was owing simply to
an accident which lamed me in such a manner that I could not walk
about—could not stand up, though after a while I got so much better
that I could ride. I have rode about the Territory, and talked to the
brethren in the settlements, generally sitting down; and many of them
heard my testimony, which is the same as it has been for the last
twenty-eight years—a testimony to the truth of the revelation of the
fulness of the Gospel to the Saints in these last days. It is the work
of the Lord, and the hand of God is visible in everything that is
passing before us; his hand and power have been over us. He has
shielded us from the political machinations of evil-designing men, and
preserved us from the wrath of our enemies. He has given wisdom to our
President to guide, to counsel, to direct us; and if ever revelation
guided a people on the face of this earth, this people has been guided
by special revelation ever since we came into these valleys. The power
of the Almighty has been with us, his hand has been over us here, his
wisdom has directed us, his inspiring Spirit has been on our
Presidency, his revealed will has been given from the lips of him God
has given to lead us. Fear not to do right ourselves, and let us be
fully aware of our own follies and weaknesses and corruptions, and
listen to the watchmen of Zion, and we shall overcome and inherit the
blessings of glory. We shall rise above our enemies, light and truth
will shine upon us, peace will be on our path and the lamp of life
will guide us to eternal glory.
This is my testimony. You have it as I feel and realize it and know
it, for these things are of God. And may his blessings attend us, is
my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
- George A. Smith