Brethren and sisters, after the congregation receiving so much
instruction, I feel that I shall make my remarks very brief. It is
truly good to sit and hear the word of the Lord, and it is truly a
good thing to believe in it; but it is still better to practice it.
I have reflected today, as I frequently do, with regard to the mercy
of God and his loving kindness to the children of men. The positions
that the children of men occupy with regard to the difference there is
in the minds of men on the subject of religion and the character of
God is an important one. I have considered the responsibility
that rests upon men in regard to these things. There seems to be very
few that really have faith in the Lord God of our fathers. If we judge
them by their works, we must certainly come to this conclusion. It is
certainly a great blessing to this people that they have faith in God
and in the promises of our Heavenly Father.
Truth is one of the attributes of the Almighty, and what he promises
he will fulfil. Now, if the children of men believed this, they could
save themselves a great deal of trouble. If those who embrace the
Gospel could have confidence to abide in the truth, they would escape
many trying scenes through which the wicked will have to pass. The
trouble that awaits this nation, and that other nations have had to
pass through in various ages that are past, has been because they have
had no confidence in the Lord. They have not obeyed him, but have
turned from him—rejected the counsel given to them. It will be
precisely so with this nation when their afflictions begin to come
upon them, for the Lord will be avenged. We can now see the words of
the Lord and his Prophets fulfilling before our eyes.
This is a peculiar generation—a singular time in which we live. There
seems to be a great deal of the word of the Lord fulfilling in our day
and age of the world. We profess to acknowledge the hand of the Lord
in what we see around us, and I trust we do it in our hearts. We have
read, many years ago, the promise contained in the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants concerning the nation in which we live. The Lord said,
in the early rise of this Church, in speaking of this land, that we
should hear of wars abroad; but at the same time we should not know
the hearts of the children of men in our own country. And the
commandment was to his people to prepare themselves to stand in holy
places when the indignation of the Almighty should be passing over the
earth. We now see these things coming to pass. They are plain and
clear before our eyes. We have a part fulfilled; and as truth is one
of the attributes of the Almighty, everything that he says he will
fulfil. The promise is to the whole world—"He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned."
This promise is sure; and if the Lord fulfills in one instance, he will
in another. He will save the people if they will obey him; and if they
do not he will not save them, but they will have to reap the reward
that is due them for their works.
I consider that it is a blessing that I have the opportunity of
believing in the Gospel and in the word of the Lord. I believe in
them, and rejoice to know that they are true, and that they will be
fulfilled. I bear my testimony to the truth of this Gospel. I also
testify that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Lord. I know this as
well as I do that I exist. I know by inspiration and by the
revelations of Jesus Christ and the manifestations of the Spirit of
God from year to year and from time to time. I likewise see around me
the fulfillment of prophecy, and this tends to strengthen me, and also
every Latter-day Saint. The Scriptures tell us that there is a spirit
in man, and that the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it
understanding. It is upon this principle that we become acquainted
with the truth, and the power of the Gospel which we have received.
The principles of eternal life are manifested unto us by the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost; for that Spirit rests upon us—it
influences our minds; and if we watch those teachings, having within
us the right feeling, we shall comprehend things clearly as
they are. We can see the Lord speaking to the nations and vexing them
in his hot displeasure, and still many eat, drink, and are satisfied,
and do not appear to be as energetic and active as they might be. It
is our duty to be alive and wide awake to the times, for the things
that are transpiring are joyful, because in them we see the
accomplishment and fulfillment of the predictions of the Prophets of
God that have lived in this generation. The things we are experiencing
now are attended with salvation, and are preparing us to magnify our
callings and fulfilling the object of our creation upon the earth.
I always rejoice in seeing my fellow men come to a knowledge of the
truth by obedience to the Gospel as taught by the servants of the
Lord. When men have gone forth in the waters of baptism, and received
the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, they receive
the same truth, the same light as we have received; and thus we become
of one heart and one mind, and follow out the inspiration of the Holy
Ghost which attend his Gospel. In preaching the Gospel and
administering the ordinances of the Lord's house, the Spirit of
inspiration of heaven accompanies those who officiate, that it will
remain ever with them, if faithful, in all the duties of life.
When I hear the brethren speak of the dealings of God with the present
generation, I perceive that their minds all run together. The record
which they bear is one; they all agree in their testimony; they are
one in stating that the work of the Lord our God will prevail over all
its enemies. But it is a calamity, as we look at it naturally, for the
generation in which we live, that the Gospel is preached and by them
rejected; in consequence of which the Spirit is taken from them,
because they follow the devices of their own hearts and their wicked
imaginations. They follow the devices of the Evil One, and they spread
it broadcast, as it were, the cross which brings death and
destruction, which brings sorrow and mourning; and this is the case
with many in the present day and age of the world. There is not a man
today that has the Spirit of the Lord, and that is faithful in his
calling, but what can see the state of things both in and out of the
Church. He can see them with his eyes, and hear them with his ears,
and they can see the hand of God thrown over this people today.
I rejoice in the blessings that the Lord gives, and I feel that we
ought to be faithful. If there is anybody who is blessed of the
Lord, it is the Latter-day Saints; and if there is anybody upon the
earth who is and should be willing to obey counsel, it is the Saints
of the living God. We have reaped the benefit of it for years, and we
know that it brings forth joy, peace, and consolation to the souls of
men; and we would certainly be very foolish to turn away from the only
source that will bring us joy, salvation, and eternal life. To do
this, we should have to turn our backs upon the only friends we have,
and shut up the only source from which we draw the blessings we have
in this life.
The world really do not know what they are doing; they don't
comprehend what lies before them; they judge after the hearing of the
ear, and while calamities will overtake the wicked, as the Lord has
spoken, we have something to hold onto and to rely upon. We have seen
the hand dealings of the Almighty with us; we have learned his
promises. Has he broken his promises to his people? He has not; he has
been faithful and true. I firmly believe that we shall partake of all the blessings of the kingdom of God by obeying the counsel of
those set over us, for I know that God has established a government to
control, to guide, and to dictate; and we shall not find so perfect a
government as this in any part of the earth, for it is the government
of heaven.
I desire that we may have power and a disposition to live faithful
today, to do right, to obey counsel, that whatever we are told to do
we may unite together and do with all our hearts. If there is strength
anywhere, it is here. If it does not exist here, it does not exist
anywhere. There is no spirit of friendship in the world; it has taken
the wings of the morning and flown away from many of the nations, and
the blessings of the Lord are being withdrawn in a great measure from
the nations of the earth. The people have no disposition to obey that
which is right, or give the servants of God an opportunity of
preaching the truth for the salvation of fallen man. Those who despise
those blessings and privileges will find that the consequences and
reward will follow.
I feel thankful that we are here in the valleys of the mountains; and
I rejoice that we are at peace, and not obliged to fortify Great Salt
Lake City, as the people are obliged to do in Washington; nor is our
President compelled to flee to Canada to save his life. We are safe
and in quietude. The enemies of this kingdom do not understand the
spirit and power of the Gospel. It is a spirit and a power that they
cannot cope with, and it is so with all the sectarian world. We have
the privilege of lying down and of rising up in peace; we have the
privilege of bowing in our families in peace, and getting up and
speaking our sentiments, and none to make us afraid.
These are great blessings that we as a people enjoy. I bear my
testimony that these things are true and faithful. You know these
things as well as I do, and every man who lives his religion knows it.
The Lord is with his people, and this kingdom will spread abroad. And
when the Lord has destroyed the wicked, there will be room for Zion to
spread herself abroad, and to rebuild the waste places thereof. Then
all things spoken of in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants will be
fulfilled. It is good to reflect upon these principles, for the
promises will be fulfilled, whether we believe them or not.
I pray God to guide us, that we may be prepared to partake of eternal
life and salvation, and share in all the benefits of the Gospel of
Christ, and of the Holy Priesthood which has been revealed to us in
our day and generation, which I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.