It would be very gratifying to me this afternoon if I could speak
freely of those things that I have been meditating upon for the last
few days. It would be a great satisfaction to me, and doubtless
instructive to this congregation, if I could lay before them those
things that are revolving in my mind. But instructions to the Saints
only appear to be given a word or two at a time, here a little and
there a little; and I do not understand that the Lord will ever
manifest his will in any other way. This is because of the weakness of
humanity and the great variety in the minds of the Saints.
I can say as I have said for years, the religion of Jesus Christ
professed by the Church of Latter-day Saints, which Church I have
entered into, and of which I have been a member twenty-nine years—I
can truly say that it is a hundredfold more precious to me than it was
when I first embraced it. My mind was contracted at that time, and I
knew but little of the things of God. I will here remark that I do not
profess to know much now; still I understand them more perfectly, and
I take a more comprehensive view of God and godliness than I did, or
was capable of doing when I first received the light of truth. Instead
of becoming dark in my mind and growing stereotyped in my ways, I have
expanded with the increase of my experience. I feel more acutely, I
see more clearly, and I comprehend more perfectly the principles that
pertain to life. The older I grow in the Church, the riper I become in
my mind, and the more I discover of the beauty and excellency of the
plan of salvation.
In regard to treating upon the mysteries of the kingdom, and what are
commonly called the great things, or, in other words, going into the
top of the tree, or doing as some do who take the tree and cram it
down the people's throats top foremost, I do not believe in anything
of the kind, neither have I been taught so to treat the people. I
consider that the Elders of Israel should understand well and
thoroughly digest the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, for
obedience to them will prove the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believes and practices them. You know it is written that the
Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.
I can tell you something in connection with this: you may believe what
you please—it will do you no good unless you practice it. We are
required to manifest our faith by our works, and to work out our
salvation with fear and trembling, for it is the Lord that worketh in
us to will and to do his good pleasure. If we seek with all our hearts
and observe those things that pertain to righteousness, working
diligently in his kingdom, he will feel after us and inspire our
hearts with his Holy Spirit; and the influence thereof will rest upon
us continually: it will enter into every muscle, sinew, and fiber of the body, in proportion to our fitness to receive it. If we
render ourselves susceptible of the nourishment that is imparted by
the Spirit of God to the spirits that dwell within these mortal
bodies, we shall have sufficient light and power to enable our spirits
to dictate our bodies, and lead them unto eternal life.
"And behold, he that is faithful shall be made ruler over many things.
And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may
not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth
deceiving the nations—Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is
contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey my ordinances. He
that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and
edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances. And again,
he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring
forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and
truths which I have given you." (Doc. and Cov., sec. 66, par. 4.)
In the great day of accounts all men will be judged according to the
works that are wrought in their natural bodies; and it is of the
highest importance that we should consider the final result of our
acts.
I am always for the consideration of these little minute things that
concern us today. We should always be engaged in doing the things
that belong to today. There is but one course that you and I can
pursue and be right, and that is, to be sufficiently humble to look at
the most minute fibers. The large roots of a tree receive their
nourishment through the little fibers, and they receive it from the
fountain; and then that nourishment is sent through the main trunk of
the tree into the limbs, branches, and twigs. It is just so with the
Church of Christ. A similar figure might be made use of in regard to
people studying languages. There is no man who has got a good
education in the English, French, or German languages, but who has got
that knowledge by going into the roots, or what they choose to term
the etymology of language.
It is just so with the man who becomes educated in the science of the
Gospel of Christ: he begins at the first principles; he learns them
thoroughly and practically; and by carrying them out in his daily walk
and conversation he becomes educated in the religion of Jesus Christ,
which is the only perfect science revealed to man.
When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, he taught the people, saying, "I
am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me
that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth
fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are
clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and
I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye
are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If
ye abide in me, and my words abide you, ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you." (John, chap. 15, verses 1-7.)
This is precisely the position we occupy in the Church of Christ. If
we do not abide in the vine, we shall be cast out; and all the
inhabitants of the earth that do not connect themselves to the true
vine, Jesus Christ, will become as stubble, and they will be burnt up
and become ashes under the soles of the feet of the Saints that will
come upon the earth to trim it, adorn it, and make it like the
garden of Eden, that they may dwell upon it forever.
If we are in the vine of Christ, we shall bring forth the fruits of
righteousness, and our works will be performed daily according to the
requirements of the law of God. Except we live daily in the line of
our duty, and keep the platter clean inside as well as out, we cannot
obtain the blessings promised. If we take this course, we shall live
and prosper, and bear off the kingdom independent of those that do
evil, for God will nourish and cherish those who do right.
Supposing we compare this Church to a tree, and suppose that
one-fourth of the limbs are dead, what use are they to the tree? They
are lifeless; and, consequently, the sooner they are taken away the
better for the health of the tree. Is there anything lost by lopping
off those lifeless limbs? No; for the power and strength that was
formerly in the whole tree will enter into that part which is left. Do
you not go and clip off the small sprouts, and sometimes some of the
bunches of grapes from your vines, in order to make the rest of the
vine and the fruit grow larger and stronger? Upon the same principle,
this Church has to be proven; for the work of God must and will roll
on, and all the opposition in the world cannot stop it. It is a
kingdom that is established to remain upon the earth until it subdues
every other kingdom and brings them into subjection to the law of God.
I know this just as well as I know that I stand here today, and my
desire is that you may know it also, and that you may become as the
heart of one man. Jesus says, If you are not one, you are not mine.
For instance, suppose I come into this stand and offer up a prayer, it
is the duty of all present to join with me not only in the sentiments,
but to actually allow the very words to pass silently through their
minds. In this way we become one; our faith is united, and we answer
the requirement of the law of God.
I have frequently said in your hearing that I would give a good deal
if I could unfold to you the secret feelings of my heart. I do not
know of any better way to get at this than by comparison. I have not
language to soar above and spread myself like an eagle, but I desire
to present my sentiments in such a way that all will understand. There
are none of you but what know right and wrong just as well as I do,
and you are obliged to carry out the principles of right.
Has there been any change in the first principles of the doctrine of
Christ as revealed by Jesus himself? No: that doctrine stands good,
and will forever remain so. Some suppose that the ten commandments
given through Moses have been done away; but I can inform you that
they are still in force. It will do no harm for me to read those
commandments as contained in the 20th chapter of Exodus. They are as
follows—
"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which
have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that
love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that
taketh his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor,
and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord
thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the
seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou
shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything
that is thy neighbor's.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the
noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people
saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses,
Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us,
lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come
to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin
not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick
darkness where God was.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of
Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ye shall
not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods
of gold.
An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon
thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen:
in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I
will bless thee. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou
shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon
it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine
altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon."
You will find in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants that these
commandments have been renewed unto us. The Lord says in one place,
All old covenants have I caused to be done away; and this is a new and
and everlasting covenant. It is even that which was in the beginning;
it is that covenant which was made in the days of Jesus. It is that
same covenant which the Almighty revealed to Father Adam in the garden
of Eden; but it has been renewed in these last days, and hence it is a
new and an everlasting covenant. If you would only think of it for a
little while, you would remember that we imitate many of those things
that were done in former dispensations.
Jesus told the people in his day to seek to enter in at the narrow
gate, or, as the New Testament calls it, the "strait gate." He also
told them to seek not to counsel God, but to walk in that path which
leads to life; for narrow is the gate that leads to life, and few
there be that enter in thereat. And he further says that the wicked
will come and say, We have prophesied in thy name, and in thy name
done many mighty works. And I will add to this that many of them will
have to say, "We have stolen hundreds of cattle from the Mormons, and
driven them from their homes, because they preached a new religion."
Still the Lord will say, "I know you not."
Those covenants that we have made with God were also made in the
beginning of the creation. They are now renewed to us; and revelations
of this kind are just as binding upon you and me as the words and
counsels that come from President Young and others. We are acting in
the same capacity that the Apostles and Prophets of former
dispensations have acted, and our word will have the same effect upon
this generation that theirs had upon the generations in which they
lived. We have the same God to worship; the same Jesus lives to save,
and he has spoken and renewed this covenant to us and for us, and to
remain with us forever and forever.
Brethren, reflect, look at yourselves and see what you are about,
consider the positions you occupy, and ascertain if you are acting
well your part—if you are speaking the truth and guarding against all
manner of evil.
The Book of Mormon informs us that the Devil will come along with all
manner of deceitfulness, and persuade the people to lie a little, to
steal a little, and to rob your neighbor of anything that lies within
your reach. Such a course leads to death and dissolution, and will
cause those to mourn hereafter that follow it.
These are mysteries that are worth finding out; and although you may
have read them from your childhood, and your mother may have taught
them to you from your infancy, yet still they apply to you, and it is
very important that you should not forget these small things. Some
people come to this country who have been taught these things and many
other good lessons; and when they get into these mountains they forget
all their claim to the blessings that flow through obedience to the
requirements of heaven and the requirements of their parents. Men who
hold the Priesthood, and dishonor their fathers and mothers and the
servants of God, will see sorrow. But some do this and still consider
themselves good men, and they claim that they honor their calling and
Priesthood. I will tell you how I feel: when my son turns away from
the truth and disregards my counsel, he turns away from God. Why is
this so? It is because I am a branch of the vine. I am a limb that is
attached to the great tree, and when my son disengages himself from
the tree he dishonors me, and by dishonoring me he dishonors the
God whom I serve. It is a most excellent thing to find children
listening to the admonition of their parents, and especially if they
are blest with good ones. Those whose parents are not in the Church
should strive to get within them the righteousness of Christ.
When the Adversary begins to tempt a person, he persuades him to do a
little thing here, and a little wrong yonder, and persuades him to
walk in that course that will cause the disposition to do wrong to
increase upon him. The best way to do is to let alone that which is
wrong.
These are some of the small things. I am down among the little roots
and little vines, entering minutely into the subject of keeping them
clean. I wish all to understand who believe on Jesus Christ, that they
should repent of all their evil deeds; and the only way that a man can
prove his penitence is by forsaking his evil practices and being
baptized for the remission of his sins. But what good does it do for a
man to come and be baptized—to be overwhelmed in water in the likeness
of the death of Jesus Christ, and then to go and partake of those
cursed old sins that they have just been washed clean from? I tell you
that baptism in such cases brings greater condemnation. When people
are baptized, they should then receive the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands: he will show them things to come, he will dwell
with them, and comfort their hearts, and cheer up their spirits.
There never should be a limb upon a fruit tree that is not bearing
fruit. But you will see a great many members in this Church who are
not bearing much fruit. Where is there an Elder, High Priest, Seventy,
Apostle, or Prophet that is not required to bring forth the fruits of
Christ, and those that will redound to his glory? Let us pursue that
course of life that will make us the friends of our Father and God,
friends of his servants Joseph, Hyrum, Peter, Paul, Jesus, and all the
Apostles of Christ, and let our friendship extend back to those who
are in the spirit world.
Don't you suppose that the Lord will send his angels to sustain this
people? Yes, he will; and if he has to knock these mountains, by which
we are surrounded, into ten thousand pieces, in order to accomplish
his purposes, he will do it.
It is very easy to be seen that the nation that has oppressed us is
going down. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith something about the
judgments that await the inhabitants of the earth, and he said in the
revelations that the judgments should commence at the house of God. I
will read to you parts of the revelations which speak of these things.
"But, behold, I say unto you that before this great day shall come
the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in
heaven above and in the earth beneath; And there shall be weeping and
wailing among the hosts of men; And there shall be a great hailstorm
sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth. And it shall come to
pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take
vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of
mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them
if they hear me not.
Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the
earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat
their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them; And their
tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me; and
their flesh shall fall from off their bones, and their eyes from their
sockets; And it shall come to pass that the beasts of the forest and
the fowls of the air shall devour them up. And that great and
abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall be cast
down by devouring fire, according as it is spoken by the mouth of
Ezekiel the prophet, who spoke of these things, which have not come
to pass but surely must, as I live, for abominations shall not reign."
(Doc. & Cov., sec. 10, par. 4, 5.)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any
of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go
with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and
cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder
them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that
work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their
offerings. And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and
commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my
work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not,
and hate me, saith the Lord God. Therefore, for this cause have I
accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city
and a house unto my name, in Jackson County, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God. And I will answer
judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing
of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation,
so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your God." (Doc.
& Cov., sec. 103, par. 15.)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and
gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become
corrupt before my face. Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the
inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of
desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a
whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth,
saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have
professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed
against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord." (Doc. & Cov.,
sec. 104, pars. 9, 10.)
"Let them importune at the feet of the judge; And if he heed them not,
let them importune at the feet of the governor; And if the governor
heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the president; And if
the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth
out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation; And in his
hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off
those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards, and appoint them their
portion among hypocrites, and unbelievers; Even in outer darkness,
where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Pray ye,
therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries, that I may
be merciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them. What
I have said unto you must needs be, that all men may be left without
excuse; That wise men and rulers may hear and know that which they
have never considered; That I may proceed to bring to pass my act, my
strange act, and perform my work, my strange work, that men may
discern between the righteous and the wicked, saith your God." (Doc. &
Cov., sec. 98, par. 12.)
And do you hear it, O Israel? and have you seen it, and felt the pangs
of war, when they have sent their army to this Territory, intending to
drive us from our homes? As they commenced it upon the house of God,
it must go forth upon themselves; for as they measured out to us, it
must be measured unto them fourfold.
The nations are already convulsed. Not only the United States, but
many of the European nations are feeling the effect of the judgments
of the Almighty; and they will continue to be afflicted more and more,
until the above revelations are fulfilled. There is no evading the
judgments of the Almighty: their only escape is in obedience to the
Gospel we have to preach. But do they believe what we have said? No,
they do not believe a word of it; and therefore there is but little
hope in their case.
Brethren and sisters, let your hearts be open to receive the word of
truth, that the Spirit of the Most High may be in you as a well of
water, springing up into everlasting life. God bless you forever, and
all those that hear these sayings and will render obedience unto the
law of God. Peace be upon the righteous, that they may multiply and
increase in wisdom and knowledge. I know, as well as I know that I am
here, that the Priesthood will be taken from those who dishonor it;
for they have no power to hold the oracles of God who do
wickedly. They may not all be cut off from the tree, but they
are dead, and the Spirit of God does not dwell with them, and
therefore there is no life in them.
May the blessings of the Lord our God attend you all, is my prayer.
Amen.
- Heber C. Kimball