I rejoice this morning, brethren and sisters, in having the privilege
of assembling with you under such favorable circumstances. While I
have been sitting here listening to the singing, and looking around at
the attention of the congregation, the thought has arisen in my heart,
how is it possible for the Elders of Israel, who have partaken of the
spirit that emanates from and surrounds this people, to remain so long
absent from the society of the Latter-day Saints? I have never
returned without having similar feelings; and now, to
contemplate another mission, and the probability of being absent as
long as I was on that mission from which I have just returned, seems,
at the first view, terrible.
There is nothing but the Spirit of God—the comforting and sustaining
influences of that Spirit which is promised to be given unto the
Elders, that would enable a man to absent himself from society that is
so pleasing, to go out into the world and labor to proclaim the
Gospel unto the children of men.
I feel to rejoice that I am here; and when I look around me and see
the comfortable circumstances of my brethren and sisters that have
been gathered out from the nations to worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences and the revelations of Jesus Christ,
my soul is filled with joy and rejoicing. I feel this to be a glorious
privilege that we enjoy, and I do not think that the people generally
appreciate it although there may be some exceptions.
If an Elder should go forth after residing here, and have for years to
come to mingle among the inhabitants of the earth, if he be animated
and led by that Spirit which prevails here, he will realize that holy
influence to a very great extent. He will realize that God has
gathered out a people whom he has filled with union and love, such as
he does not witness or experience among other people or nations
abroad. This he will realize, if filled with the Spirit that prevails
here; for, wherever you go throughout the length and breadth of the
earth, you find that there is a spirit of hatred, envy, malice, and
everything that is in opposition to the Spirit of God. Spirits of this
kind and feelings of this character prevail throughout the length and
breadth of the land. There are ex ceptions to this: there are men and
women who are animated with a good spirit and influence; but it is not
so with the majority. There is a contrary feeling and influence that
will destroy and pull down and completely break up everything that is
pleasing in the sight of God. It is a spirit and influence that will
break down and destroy every gift that is calculated to bind man to
man, and that would enable them to live in union and peace.
This is not the worst feature in the case. The people themselves,
though filled with this spirit and surrounded by this influence, do
not seem to be aware of the dangers that threaten their peace and the
perpetuity of their institutions, or that threaten the blessings that
they have received from their fathers, and that they hope to hand down
to their children. This is the worst feature of them all, in my
estimation. If they could only be made aware of it and the power of
the Evil One, they would give heed to the words of those bearing the
everlasting Priesthood. By faith and diligence, those going forth
holding this authority may escape these threatening dangers.
I know this from my own observation; and so far as my own experience
has gone, these are the feelings that have animated my own bosom. If I
find people that are faithful to their own creeds, and who are
diligent in what they undertake to do, I have then hope in my bosom.
Under these circumstances, I have had faith to lay down the ancient
Gospel as taught in the Bible and Testament. This, however, is the
difficulty under which the inhabitants of the earth labor at the
present time: they are not true to that which they profess, and this
causes the hearts of the Elders to mourn. I have been able many times
to account for the saying in the revelations, that the heavens weep over the children of men, and the bosom of the Almighty is
filled with sorrow because of the condition of the human family.
I believe that an Elder who goes forth can to some extent realize the
deplorable condition of fallen men, and it fills him with compassion;
and instead of killing them off and destroying them, he feels willing
to lay down his own life, if, by so doing, he could bring them to the
knowledge of the truth.
I have sometimes heard the brethren indulge in harsh expressions when
they have been tried; but when we consider the condition of the
inhabitants of the earth as it really is—view them from the
standing point which we occupy, instead of having these feelings of
vengeance towards them, we should feel that their punishment has
already commenced, and that that which they suffer while they
tabernacle in the flesh would be sufficient for many things that they
have done.
During my absence on my recent mission to the Eastern States, I found
but few willing to listen to the truths I had to proclaim to them.
There were, however, a few who were anxious to learn what we believed
in—what our views were; but the great majority of the people were so
completely filled with newspaper stories which go forth week after
week and day after day, that they were not disposed to listen to what
a "Mormon" had to say; and if there were any who were willing to
converse, all their talk would be about brother Brigham's wives, or
some miracle of which they had heard; but they would not be willing to
say anything about our faith.
This originates through a vitiated appetite which has taken possession
of the people throughout the United States. There were some few who
were disposed to investigate and in quire into our principles—to reason
and reflect.
There is something connected with this system, and with the power that
is exercised by the Presidency of this Church, that the world cannot
understand. I found many men who were anxious to investigate, and, if
possible, ascertain what produced this oneness of feeling, and what
enabled President Young to sway such influence over the people during
our times of difficulty.
The reflecting men over the whole land, however much they may be led
to believe that we are a corrupted people, consider this one of the
great mysteries. If there is anything in newspapers about the
"Mormons," it is very apt to be read with avidity. There is something
which I do not suppose they can account for. We have gone forth from
the time of the inception of this Gospel, and so signally triumphed
over our enemies, that in the minds of many men who are posted in
regard to the events of the age, there is an anxiety to form some idea
of the features of the system: they are anxious to know whether it is
going to be a permanent power in the United States, or whether it is
going to crumble to pieces as has been talked of by our enemies.
There is one thing they will give us credit for—namely, that we are
united, that we will give heed to authority, and that we are in
possession of some of the best modes of getting along that are known
in the world. But there is a difference of opinion about the origin of
this union. What is the cause of it? Some attribute it to a wonderful
power which the President exercises over the whole people, and which
the Elders exercise when they go forth into the world to preach the
Gospel: others say there are inducements held out by which the people
are completely blinded, and this grows so strong that the people become willing to be led by the Elders; and then, when they
get here, they are so surrounded by the Danites that they cannot go
away, if they want to. Others entertain a different idea, and have a
better opinion than to suppose that illiterate, unlearned men, like
many of our Elders, can go forth and exercise such power.
I have had men admit to me that the advance of the age demanded a new
revelation—that the old fogyism of the past age was not suited to the
wants of this generation—that the people required a new revelation, a
new influence—that there was nothing to bind the people together or
cause them to believe in their leaders. And some are willing to
believe that "Mormonism" is the religion that is best calculated to
take the place required to be filled, and become the dominant
religion. But, like other religions, it has to fight its way. All
systems of religion had to do this in early days; but to acknowledge
there is anything revealed from heaven that is inspiring the hearts of
the people would be the first step towards associating religion with
fanaticism!
It is singular to go out into the world and converse with people with
regard to the opinions of men of influence respecting the Latter-day
Saints. Some suppose that the power that is exercised by the leaders
of this people will be short-lived; and many of them supposed, when
the army came in here, that that would be the time when the system of
fanaticism would be crushed. They hoped that the long-expected period
had arrived when we should be obliged to succumb, and no longer have
an existence as a distinct people upon the earth. The failure of that
expedition, and of every other expedition to bring upon us the trouble
designed, has changed the opinion of many, and they are now to some
extent in doubt. The Adversary who influences them has been foiled. He
is willing now to let them have a resting spell, and they are resting,
not knowing what course to pursue. This is the feeling that is
possessed by many. How long this feeling may last, I cannot tell; but
that the fire of persecution that is now smoldering will again arise,
there can be no doubt.
If we suppose that the future is peaceful, it is a delusion: the
efforts of our enemies will be continued. They are encouraging their
hatred and increasing their determination to bring destruction upon
us, and they do know themselves that they are wicked in this respect;
but they have an idea that we are a blotch upon the civilization of
the nineteenth century; but they do not know the influence that guides
them and that directs their determination.
A man who goes forth at the present time, if he be filled with the
spirit of Zion, will find continually evidences upon the right hand
and upon the left to strengthen him in the work in which he is
engaged. This is not confined to the religions abroad, but it is to be
found among the Saints here, and we see it every day. A man whose
heart is open, and who is clear to behold the evidences that are to be
gleaned during our experience, will have abundant cause of
thanksgiving for having extended unto us the helping hand in time of
need.
A man who goes among the people of the world is soon made to realize
the confusion that exists, the spirit that controls them, and the
doubt and uncertainty that they are in. Experience of this kind gives
strength to the Latter-day Saints—to the Elder who may be laboring
among the people. During the difficulties that arose here some years
ago, I frequently heard the Saints express themselves thankful that
God had given them a knowledge of the future. They knew, through that
knowledge, how it would be with those who sought to oppress
them. The whole of the United States are now in trouble. They have
been excited about the Latter-day Saints; but lately they have had
difficulties enough at home to occupy their thoughts. The attempt of
John Brown, last fall, to overthrow slavery, engendered feelings of
hatred between the North and the South which never will be allayed.
For a long time after Congress met, it seemed as though they never
would be able to elect a Speaker or do any business, and that a split
between the North and South was inevitable. Editors were troubled, and
all men who made any pretence whatever to a knowledge of the signs of
the times, were at a loss to comprehend what the future of the United
States would be, if these difficulties continued. They looked upon it
superficially, and supposed that the panic of those times was only
temporary. They view things in the same light now; they believe that
the obstacles will be removed, that the Government will go on and
press forward to that position which they believe it will attain to.
But there were many, previous to that time of difficulty to which I
allude, maintained that there was no such thing as dissolution to the
United States. But now, after all their hopes in relation to the
greatness of this Government, they are willing to admit that possibly
it may be dissolved, and that the difficulties at present in the
nation between the two extreme sections will produce the dissolution.
There has been an attempt during the last session to remove this
feeling, and to some extent it has been done. Men are so ready and
willing to be deceived in regard to that which will produce their
destruction, that they put far off the day of dread.
Although Joseph Smith and the Elders of this Church have proclaimed,
both by their own voice and by publications, the downfall of this
Government, and set forth things so plainly to those that would look
at them, yet the people have closed their eyes and have pressed
forward in their own way; and they will so continue until every word
shall be fulfilled.
Brethren and sisters, if there were no other cause of thankfulness and
of gratitude within us to God our Heavenly Father for the blessings
that he has bestowed upon us, we should be thankful for this
blessing—the blessing of foreknowledge—that he has revealed unto us,
by his own voice and that of the holy angels, those things that are
coming upon the nations of the earth; and that while uncertainty,
doubt, and gloom prevail from one end of the land to the other, we are
in the possession of a feeling and of knowledge which enables us to
bear up. While the hearts of others are filled with fear and dread,
ours are filled with hope and bright anticipations that we are
privileged to live in a day and age like this.
If there were no other cause of thankfulness, this furnishes us
abundant reasons. We can read in the newspapers, if we cannot
ascertain it any other way, that they are filled with these
influences, and that these feelings of fear pervade the mind. You know
the feelings that now prevail, and that instead of dread and sorrow
controlling the minds of the Saints, there is on the contrary a
feeling of thanksgiving and joy that our lot has been cast in this day
and age of the world. Where calamity and sorrow were, there are
thanksgiving and joy; and when we bow our knees before our Father in
heaven, we thank him for these blessings.
If the nations of the earth could realize that there were such
feelings prevailing here, there would be hundreds and thousands that
would associate themselves with us, especially, if they could
believe it possible for them to attain to the same privileges. But
lies have prevailed to such an extent, and have been so industriously
circulated, that thousands of men and women now believe us to be the
worst people upon the face of the earth. If they come here, although
they may not profess our faith, but will submit to the regulations
that are established here, they can be comfortable and enjoy
themselves.
Our enemies, by the course they are taking, are bound to remove the
stigmas they have tried heretofore to place upon us; for they have
slandered us, told lie after lie about us, and predicted what would
become of us; and many who believe in the stories published in
newspapers will ere long be convinced that we are an injured people.
Many of their stories have already been proven to be false. This
result will produce its own fruits, and the reaction produced will be
the overthrow of God's enemies. And when the time of difficulty and
sorrow overtakes them because of their iniquities, and they will be to
a certain extent fearful of the consequences, the way will be prepared
for the fulfillment of the words of the Prophet, that those who will
not take up their sword against their neighbors will have need to
flee to Zion. This will be the result of the actions of those who are
now our enemies—those who should be our neighbors, and who are now
operating to bring about our downfall.
But let me say unto you, my brethren and sisters, that all their
efforts and all the moves that they have made have produced a contrary
effect to what they intended, and all they do in future will be far
more striking in its effects than anything that has previously
transpired. They began in the first organization of this Church to
tell so many falsehoods, and they have told them so long and
circulated them so widely and so very rapidly, with a design to
destroy our character, and with a design to make the world believe
that we were a bloodthirsty people—a people guilty of every species of
crime, that they think credence must still be given to all they do and
say. Those who have circulated these unfounded stories are filled with
the very spirit which they accuse us of possessing; and they do this
for the purpose of creating difficulty and bringing trouble upon us.
I have seen this myself. I have seen men who knew when they were
writing that they were writing statements that were not true. Some of
these were men that have been associated with us in the bonds of
fellowship, and the spirit which they sought to infuse into others
they had received by transgression. This spirit has caused editors and
other men who have labored in this manner to bring about our
destruction, to lay the foundation for their own damnation.
Fear is taking hold of the hearts of men, and it will doubtless
increase until that will be fulfilled which was spoken by the
Prophet—"Let us not go up against Zion, for the people thereof are
terrible." Men do not realize that they are fulfilling the words of
the Prophet of God. No: they labor diligently and assiduously, as
they think, to prevent that. Therefore not only are the good brethren
and sisters and the pure and holy laboring for the fulfillment of the
word of God and the spreading abroad of the truths of heaven, but the
wicked who are laboring for the overthrow of the kingdom of God have
all their efforts turned to good account, and the fruits thereof are
beginning to be apparent. This, as I before observed, will increase and
be more apparent, every year that we live upon the earth. This is not
a dead letter which I am speaking to you, but it is a truth which has been uttered by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost many years
ago. Remember the saying—"We cannot do anything against the kingdom of
God, but for it;" for God himself will control the result. It is not
only true so far as we are concerned, but the nations that undertake
to send their armies to fight against Zion will find everything
trained in favor of the Saints, give them success, and enable them to
overcome the difficulties with which they are surrounded; and they
will continue to overcome until they attain that position which our
Heavenly Father intends all his faithful people shall occupy.
The warning of the nations of the earth and the labors of all the
faithful Elders among the nations all contribute to the accomplishment
of this work and the preparing of the Saints for a high and exalted
position in the kingdom of God, to reign as Kings and Priests of the
Most High, according to the promises of the Father.
I have felt during my absence this time, as well as upon other
missions, that it did not matter much where I labored; but I felt to
mourn that I could not do more than I did for the kingdom of God. I
was ambitious and felt a desire to hasten forward the purposes of our
Father in heaven; but when I looked upon it in another light, I
considered that whether the fruits of my labor were much or little,
if I and all my brethren and sisters would only labor where we were
wanted, we should be sure to accomplish that which our Father wished
us to do.
It does not matter what we are doing or where we are laboring—in the
adobie yard, in the canyons, preaching the Gospel, or doing anything
else that God through his servants directs us to perform—if we labor
faithfully, we are contributing to the accomplishment of a great and
good work, and are really doing much more than we think, and laboring
to bring to pass all those predictions that have been delivered
respecting the generation in which we live.
I know, however, that this is a difficult lesson for us to learn—that
it is difficult to get the idea into our hearts. It is so natural for
a man to be desirous to do something—to have the name, to have the
credit of having done something upon the earth. And it is the desire
of an Elder to do something in preaching the Gospel, and it is very
difficult to curb the inclination that many have for preaching; but if
we labor in the way and in the position in which the authorities have
put us and directed us, we may rest assured that we are laboring for
the accomplishment of all that which is required to be done by our
Heavenly Father, and we are laying up treasures in heaven; and
although we may not do as much here as we suppose we ought, there is
an eternity before us in which we can labor. There is no end to our
opportunities for doing good, and we are not going to labor here for
the last time; and although we are making adobies, laboring in the
canyons, or sawing lumber, yet if we labor as our Father in heaven
wants us, we have before us a destiny far greater than we can at
present imagine: we have before us a field of usefulness much more
extended than it has ever yet entered into our hearts to conceive of.
There is yet a vast eternity in the future in which we can labor, and
we are to press forward until we attain the fulness of our desire.
It is so with the wicked in one sense—with the enemies of truth. All
that they do contributes to the rolling forth of this great and mighty
work. In our expulsion from Illinois, our journeyings across the
Plains, our settlement in this Valley, all has contributed to make us
what we now are. Our enemies see this, and they regret that
they did not leave us to be mixed up with the world, so that
civilization might have surrounded us, and its surges eventually have
destroyed our organization. But we are here, and it is now too late.
We are now established, and we have become a fixed power; we are
growing here in the mountains, and are beginning to be acknowledged
and called a nation in the midst of the earth, and everything that the
wicked have done and will do will be a source of regret to them,
because they will see, as they have already seen, that they have
worked into our hands. Then, to use a familiar expression we will say,
Let it blow hot or cold—let them do just as they please, persecute us,
send armies here or keep them at home, it will make no difference as
to the final result. It may enable us to progress the faster in the
good work in which we are engaged; but all that our enemies do, with a
design to thwart the operations of the people of God, will be
unsuccessful. I have felt grateful many times for the possession of
this knowledge; and when I have walked among the people and seen how
determined they were to take steps to overcome us, and then have
considered that to our God and Father in heaven they were mere
toys—playthings to accomplish that which is intended—and that they
might labor and toil and concoct schemes for the injury of God's
chosen people, that all would be unavailing, I have then realized the
goodness of our Father.
In my reflections upon these things, I have ever realized that God has
spoken from the heavens, and said that this kingdom should fill the
whole earth, and that the kingdom and greatness of the kingdom under
the whole heavens will eventually be given to the Saints of the Most
High. I have realized that the work will spread, though the wicked do
all they can to stop it. Then let us rejoice in this knowledge which
God has given unto his people.
I feel, in relation to the United States, that there is now an opening
for the Elders to labor. While in the city of New York, there was a
disposition to come and hear our people preach. I had the pleasure of
baptizing a number. I was not often there; but when I was, our hall
was crowded, not by Saints only, but by those who had been, and by
others who were inquiring after truth. There was a disposition
manifested to learn our doctrines, and I have no doubt but great good
can be done in the future. I have no doubt but there are hundreds in
the United States that are honest, but their eyes are now blinded by
the influences that are around them. Among editors and public men
generally there is not this feeling that you find among the poor and
middle classes. They have said that we are wicked, and they are
determined to wipe us out.
During my last mission I have had many opportunities of conversing
with the leading editors of the most popular journals in the States,
and I have frequently had the evidence in my hands to disprove the
lying stories in circulation about us. They would acknowledge it—say
our views appeared to be correct, and that the evidence we presented
was of such a character as to give them reason to doubt the stories
that were in circulation about us. But would they take that evidence
we presented as an offset for the lies they had published? No: they
would tell you that their readers expected something different from
them. You could not hire their columns only for advertising purposes.
There were some who would express a willingness to write something
about us of a political nature, but they would not like to have
anything said in favor of our religion. For instance, they were quite
in favor of the Territories electing their offi cers; but of
Utah, they could not think of it. They would be willing to write
something for the benefit of the people of Utah, they would say; but
when it came to be written, you could easily see that they were very
willing that the other Territories should have this privilege, but
they could not think of giving it to Utah! It was a determined
hostility to us, and they were resolved that we should not have the
privilege which they designed to give to other people. You go to them
and talk about crime—tell them what was in our nation, they would
color about it; but they had not the manhood to rebut our statements
or to expose the guilty. This is the feeling that prevails in the
United States; and while this prevails, it cannot be wondered at that
the people should partake, to a certain extent, of the influences that
prevail.
Men and women would acknowledge unto me that this work was true, and
that they had been blinded by the lies and wicked stories that had
been in circulation about us. How long this will continue I cannot
say, but I presume until judgment and calamity will overtake the
people, as a punishment for their driving and persecuting the Saints
of the Most High.
There are some of the people, however, with whom the Spirit of God is
pleading. I received a letter by the last mail from the States. The
person has had a misfortune in his family, and writes to me to know
what consolation there is in "Mormonism" —what consolation there is in
the doctrines of the Saints. He acknowledges that the systems of
religion by which they are surrounded in the States are entirely
inadequate for the purposes for which they are established.
Of course we understand that they are not blest with the same light
that we are: in fact, they confess themselves that there is a power
and a degree of light in the principles of the Latter-day Saints, so
far as known, that is not among the religions of the day. What are the
religions of this generation, under many trying circumstances? Why,
there is no consolation; all is dread before them; there is an
eternity of apparent darkness and woe, whence there is no deliverance,
and from which they recoil with horror.
On the other hand, there is not a case comes under our observation of
trouble, of suffering, or misfortune, but in the doctrine of Christ
there is something to stimulate us, and to encourage our further
exertions. This truth is plainly set forth in the doctrines of Christ,
that every man shall reap the reward of his works, whether they be
good or evil. If a man has not merited an eternity of punishment,
there will not be such a punishment awarded to him. This is the hope,
this is the consolation of the Saint, in the midst of sadness and
despair, that he will eventually be rewarded for all his labors. This
is not to be found in the religions of the world, and the consequence
is that infidelity is getting a strong hold upon the minds of men.
This is being felt at the present time by many of the more
enlightened.
I have many times thought that the labors of the Elders were not so
productive of good as they might be. We ought to labor more earnestly
to prepare the people for the day of calamity that is coming. I
believe that we, so far as our relatives are concerned, have no cause
of sorrow, if they are honest, though they may not have received the
influence of truth; yet the day may come when they will receive the
Spirit of God; and if they do not come to these valleys to obey the
Gospel, they may come here as to a place of refuge!
My prayer is that we may be faithful, humble, and obedient to that Priesthood and those living oracles which God has placed in
our midst, and ever labor for the upbuilding of that kingdom which he
has set up, never more to be thrown down.
This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
- George Q. Cannon