I delight to meet with my brethren; it is my chief joy—it affords me
great consolation and comfort. But whether I am alone or in the midst
of the Saints, the spirit of my religion is continually a sacred
consolation to me; I hardly ever see the time when I do not have a
flow of it.
One of the greatest blessings I enjoy is the privilege of meeting with
the assembled Saints. Do you realize that there is not another
denomination, professing Christianity, that enjoys this privilege in
so great a degree as do the Latter-day Saints? There is not another
society or community professing to believe the Bible, embracing it in
their faith, would consent, for one moment, to sell or give away all
they have and travel half-way over the earth for the sake of
assembling together. The position of all other professing Christians
causes them to mingle more or less with the ungodly—with those who
take the name of God in vain—with those who delight in
unrighteousness. Were they called to make the sacrifices required of
this people, they would refuse and abandon their religion rather than
comply.
The Latter-day Saints are called to separate themselves from the
wicked—to assemble together and associate with each other; and this is
one of the greatest blessings bestowed upon me—that I may not be
obliged to mingle with the ungodly. My business, my course of life,
does not call me where I am under the necessity of hearing the name of
that Deity whom I worship blasphemed—where his character, name, place,
and attributes are held in the deepest derision, as they are in the
world. I am not under the necessity of mingling with such characters.
Is not this a blessing? It is. True, in traveling and preaching, I
have mingled either more or less with the ungodly since I have been in
this Church; though, when I have fallen into such society, I have
passed along as speedily as possible.
In Kirtland, in 1833, the Prophet Joseph told the Elders that if they
would do right—would promote the kingdom of God upon the earth, as
they professed they desired to do, they would take his counsel to
never put forth their hands to do another day's work to build up a
Gentile city. From that day to this, I do not know that I have done
one hour's work contrary to that counsel. You have frequently heard me
refer to my poverty when I moved to Kirtland in the fall of 1833. Not
a man ever gathered with the Saints, so far as I have known, but had
more property than I had. When I came into the Church I distributed my
substance and went to preaching, and when I gathered with the Saints I
had nothing. I then said I would not work to build up a Gentile city.
Other mechanics went from Kirtland to different cities to get
employment. I said to them, I will work here, if I do not receive one
farthing for my labor and have to beg my bread, and I will assist in
building up this place, and will make many dollars to your one
by so doing. I did; for when I started to the West, on the 5th of the
following May, I could have bought what almost the whole of them had
made during the winter. They told me that it often cost them more to
get twenty dollars they had earned than it did to earn it. I went to
work for brother Cahoon, one of the Kirtland Temple Committee. He had
little or no means, and only a shell of a house. I helped him, and the
Lord threw things in his path, and he paid me for my labor. I worked
day by day, and when spring came I had more in my possession for my
labor than any who had gone out in search of work during the past
winter.
If they had waited for me to have lifted up my hands to build a city
at Fairfield and its neighborhood, they would have waited until the
judgment day. I said, when they came here, and I now say, if they had
loaded every one of their wagons with gold and offered it to me, they
could not have bought me, and I would not have worked for them. You
may ask, "Have you not helped them?" I have sold them a considerable
amount of lumber. But in that operation, which received the most
help—they or me? They paid my price, and I do good with it, and intend
to continue doing good.
Were I residing in a gathering place where I knew I could remain for
two years, and had fifty thousand dollars to spare, I would expend it
in the best improvements I could, and labor to improve until the last
day of my remaining. The Lord is gathering his people, and this is a
city for the Saints. A great many here are satisfied with a log hut.
Some act as though they expected to be driven, and others say—"We will
soon go back to the Center Stake of Zion, and this house will answer
my purpose till then." Let every mechanic and every scientific man of
all classes and occupations, and every woman, improve to the best of
their ability, faithfully living their religion, and we shall be none
too well qualified to build up Zion when that time arrives. I never
saw a stonemason who thoroughly understood his trade. We have not a
quarryman who fully understands getting out rock for the Temple walls.
Then how, amid such ignorance, are you going to properly lay the
foundation of the New Jerusalem—the Zion of our God? What do you know
about building the great Temple that is yet to be built, upon which
the glory of God will rest by day and by night? Where is the man that
knows how to lay the first rock in that Temple, or to get out the
first stick of timber for it? Where is the woman that knows how to
make a single part of its interior decorations? That knowledge is not
now here; and unless you wisely improve upon your privileges day by
day, you will not be prepared, when called upon, to engage to the best
advantage in building up Zion.
No nation possesses any wisdom but what it has received from the same
God that we worship. He is the best mechanic and the most scientific
personage that we have any knowledge of. There is not a principle in
astronomy, known by men of science, but what has been revealed from
heaven. All true knowledge among men, in relation to agriculture, the
arts, science, commerce, and every avocation in life, has been given
from our Father in heaven to his children, whether they acknowledge
and obey him or not.
Brother Wells was just speaking about the Lord's having a foothold on
this earth. He holds dominion over the winged tribes of heaven: they
obey his law. He holds dominion in the depths of the sea, where man cannot pollute it. But there is not a mountain, valley,
continent, island, or other portion of earth where mankind dwell, but
what thereon they more or less pervert the ways of the Lord, and have
done so nearly all the time, though his providences are over them all,
and he will cause the wrath of man to praise him. Enoch was the only
man that could build a city to God; and as soon as he had it
completed, he and his city, with its walls, houses, land, rivers, and
everything pertaining to it, were taken away.
God does not violate the agency he has given to man; wherefore let
this be in the mouth of every Saint, "The Lord shall have perfect
dominion in my heart and affections;" then he will begin to reign in
the midst of the people; but he cannot do so now. When we have faith
to understand that he must dictate, and that we must be perfectly
submissive to him, then we shall begin to rapidly collect the
intelligence that is bestowed upon the nations, for all this
intelligence belongs to Zion. All the knowledge, wisdom, power, and
glory that have been bestowed upon the nations of the earth, from the
days of Adam till now, must be gathered home to Zion.
The wicked will become more and more weak and ignorant as they
increase in wickedness. See the trifling, childish foolishness now
among the nations of the earth. Brother George Halliday said this
morning—"Mormonism has made me what I am." That is true.
"Mormonism"
embraces all truth in heaven, earth, and hell; consequently, all we
have received that is calculated to make us of any worth is from the
principles taught by it. Look at the world! Where is the wisdom of the
emperors, kings, and rulers of the nations? Imbecility and weakness
are fast creeping into high places and spread ing among the people.
They love lies, and choose darkness rather than light, and the Lord
will grant them their desires until they dwindle into degradation and
utter destruction, when the government will rest upon those who are
faithful to God and their country.
This is my country. I am a native-born American citizen. My father
fought for the liberty we ought to have enjoyed in the States, and we
shall yet see the day when we shall enjoy it. Had we the power, would
we hold the wicked down and whip them? No; for, except in
self-defense, it is our duty to plead with them and offer them the
terms of life and salvation—to give them all the opportunity God has
designed them to have. But what would they do, if they could get the
advantage of this people? According to brother Kimball's comparison,
they would hug us close and tight—they would oppress, corrupt,
afflict, and destroy us. If they could but realize the generosity
there is in the Gospel of salvation, they would not hate us as they do
now. But in their ignorance they would destroy a Saint, because they
imagine that a Saint would do the same to them. A Saint would take no
unjust advantage, but the Devil will. That is what he tried to do in
heaven.
Brother Kimball asked whether there were liars and thieves in heaven.
It is recorded that the Devil is somewhere there, accusing the
brethren and finding fault with them. Men in the flesh are clothed
with the Priesthood with its blessings, the apostatizing from which
and turning away from the Lord prepares them to become sons of
perdition. There was a Devil in heaven, and he strove to possess the
birthright of the Savior. He was a liar from the beginning, and loves
those who love and make lies, as do his imps and followers here on the
earth. How many devils there are in heaven, or where it is, is
not for me to say. Does the Accuser of the brethren dwell with the
Father and the Son? No: but he is somewhere; and when we go through
the veil we shall know much more about these matters than we now do,
for we shall possess all the sensibilities we now possess, brightened
and increased in intensity by the visions and power of the
spirit world, to an extent of which you now have no idea.
I will now say a few words upon matters that immediately concern us. I
believe it to be the duty of all sisters who profess to be Saints to
make apparel, and, if they want ornaments, make them. It is the duty
of the brethren to know how to build a house, how to make a garden, and
how to do everything that can be accomplished by the ingenuity given
to man. Why? That we may know how to build and beautify Zion. Let us
improve and gather all the knowledge and faith we possibly can, both
from heaven and earth, being diligent and fervent in all our duties,
private and public, and striving to gather the wisdom of God, as
bestowed on the nations, home to Zion.
I feel much encouraged with regard to our academy: it is well
attended, and the scholars are interested and energetic in their
studies. Schools are becoming numerous and well attended, and the
spirit of improvement is among the people.
Let all, in the coming harvest, which promises abundance, strive to
secure their breadstuff; and especially do not part with it to feed
your enemies.
Much depends upon mothers in regard to improving the rising
generation. Let us all try to improve from the many and rich blessings
we enjoy. The Priesthood is here. God is beginning to reign on the
earth. Open your hearts and let him reign therein predominant. God
bless you, every one! Amen.