I feel to rejoice this day in what I have heard. The kingdom of God is
independent, and so are the servants of God. They should act so
always and not be afraid to tell the truth.
I rejoice particularly in the overturn of affairs suggested by our
President this morning in regard to assisting the Elders from this end
of the route.
This is a good day for Israel—the very best day they have ever seen.
They are prospered; they are becoming wealthy in the good things of
life; they are comfortable, and they have peace in all their borders.
They go forth upon the right hand and upon the left, and they are
building up the kingdom of God. They did more yesterday than the day
before, and they are continuing to do so every day, and thus the
kingdom is increasing.
How fully we should realize (and perhaps many of us do partially
realize) the greatness of the work in which we are engaged—the
magnitude of the work of this last dispensation. What else should
occupy our attention equal to it? There are scarcely any, be they rich
or poor, but what have these feelings, and they have come here in
consequence of them, and some few may have come for other motives. But
I take it for granted that those who come here do so because their
hearts have been touched with the light of truth.
This is the beauty of the revelations and principles that have been
re vealed in these last days. They that have embraced them desire to
build up and exalt righteousness upon the earth, and to walk
wickedness and every species of abomination under their feet; and for
this cause have they assembled themselves together in these valleys of
the mountains. There is less of wickedness and of those who desire
unrighteousness and to roll it as a sweet morsel under their tongues:
their desire is to exalt the principles of truth with which they have
fallen in love. They have crossed the great seas and plains, and many
of them have striven for years to come to these mountains to associate
with those that have pursued the same course, stimulated by the same
influence. We have great reason to rejoice that there is a nucleus
formed here that we can gather to. It should be the feeling of every
heart, not to build up ourselves, but to build up the kingdom of our
God. How is this to be accomplished? We are to be united as the heart
of one man. We have difficulties to contend with, as the people of God
always had. We need food and clothing, but we do not need the
wickedness which other people revel in, or the wastefulness with which
others trample under their feet the good things bestowed upon them by
our Heavenly Father; but we require that wisdom that will enable us to
live and accomplish the most good, in the best way, in the work in
which we are engaged. It is our business to provide for ourselves and our households those things that are necessary to make them
comfortable. It is our duty to teach them how to pray, and how to
practice economy, and do all things for the building up of the kingdom
of God. How shall we use the bounties of nature so as to build up this
kingdom? We must go to work with spirit and energy to do those things
that are necessary for our existence, and to give us greater ability
for the rolling forth of the work of the Lord. Let virtue and truth
control us in all things. Are we not living in an age of revelation?
Do we not have revelation day by day, week by week, and month by
month, pertaining to our salvation? Suppose that one of you were
living in some dark corner of the earth, and the light of revelation
and truth should reach and penetrate your understanding, and leave a
testimony in your bosom higher in value and more to be coveted than
gold; would it not be more appreciated than it is now?
If we cultivate the Spirit and influence that was spoken of today,
and if we notice and observe its operations, it will be like the voice
of the true shepherd speaking unto us. If we clothe ourselves with
that Spirit, we shall be blest with its guidance and inspirations from
time to time; we shall have line upon line and precept upon precept.
If this influence and Spirit were to control us continually, we should
see, feel, and appreciate it; we should know that it was from
heaven—the voice of the Almighty unto us. I have heard many say that
they required not "Thus saith the Lord," because they knew the words
of the servants of God to be true, by the Spirit and influence that
accompanied them. This satisfies anyone who has the light of truth
within him. And this is what we all can have: we can all attain to
it, if we have this Spirit. When this is our guide, we know what is
the true voice from heaven: we can then tell when anything emanates
from the right source, and we can see the beauty there is therein, and
the propriety of following out the dictates of wisdom and the
instructions which we receive from day to day. We should strive to
appreciate and understand the things we hear, and then go and practice
upon them. We should love the truth for the truth's sake, as we were
told this morning, and do all that lies in our power for the
advancement of the cause of truth. We should labor for the attainment
of this object with perseverance and energy, and work humbly and
diligently, that hundreds and thousands more may be brought to an
understanding of the same glorious principles that we now rejoice in.
We should also strive to learn more of everything that is necessary
for our benefit, and that we may be useful in the kingdom in which we
are engaged; and thereby we shall learn to be diligent in the work of
the Lord.
Have we any need to see any idle times in our experience in this
Church and kingdom? I have not found any peace in my experience where
I could be idle for one moment; and if I have not had my mind and
hands employed, I have always felt that I was idle and unprofitable.
And I will here remark that I think, if we are willing, we have plenty
to do; and I think it would be so with all, if they had the right
spirit.
Let us all strive to be in the way of our duty, and ready to jump into
any place and work. No matter what is to be accomplished, do it with
an eye single to the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom.
My soul delights in seeing any measure adopted, which has a tendency
to roll on the great work of the Lord. I rejoice that the means of
the Church are now going to be husbanded and kept for the
gathering of the Saints, instead of being expended for fine clothing
and other unnecessary articles, which is almost equal to squandering
the money away. I know the feelings of President Young upon this
subject, and have for years. He has been borne down under this for
some time, and all Israel ought to rejoice in this movement; for it is
lifting a great burden from the people abroad as well as from the
Presidency; and I consider that the Saints in these valleys ought to
be thankful for the opportunity of doing something for the spread of
the Gospel. Have you not seen many precious opportunities for doing
good, and neglected them, and afterward regretted that you have let
them pass? If you have, remember now, and consider that you will
regret more if you let the present redeeming chance pass without doing
something to aid in sending forth the Gospel to the nations of the
earth. I would likewise advise you to make your deposits towards
gathering the poor. Remember that it is one of the chief duties of the
Saints to gather Israel, in building up the kingdom of God; and
everything we do should conspire to this end.
It is for this purpose that we gather together, and that we may have
greater power and put our means together to accomplish it in a greater
degree, and that we may see how we can best operate to bring forth
more fully the kingdom of God and the gathering of Israel.
I am told that in the old country they have a saving fund, into which
they cast their spare pence for the gathering of the poor Saints. They
pray and watch; they also fast, believing that their deliverance will
come, if they are faithful in putting by a little every week for the
purpose of bringing the poor to Zion. You that have been there and
passed through the ordeal know about this better than I do. I
understand how anxious they feel to gather with the Saints to these
mountain fastnesses, and I will ask how you feel, who have left
brothers and sisters in those lands. Do you not think that they feel
to long for the hour to come when they can have the blessings which
you enjoy in these valleys of the mountains? Do they not long to
contribute to the building up of the kingdom of God?
It is a duty incumbent upon this generation of the Saints of God to
impart freely of their substance for the gathering of scattered
Israel, and also to aid in dispensing the words of life to all
nations, that those who sit in darkness may have an opportunity of
embracing the Gospel of salvation that has been revealed in this
dispensation. This Gospel must be proclaimed to every creature, that
they may receive it, if they see proper; and if they do not, they will
be under condemnation. This is an obligation resting upon the Saints
of God. Who are there that would not be glad to gather their friends
together and encircle them around them—I mean those whom they know to
be as honest as themselves? They would certainly like to have their
relatives participate in the same blessings that they themselves
enjoy. We all wish our friends to have the privilege of exercising
their own agency in regard to the Gospel, as well as in any other
matter. I suppose there are none but that have these feelings for
their friends and acquaintances.
We are here living in the midst of the Saints, participating in all
the blessings of the kingdom of God. And suppose we do not have all
the luxuries we desire, what of that? How often do the Saints abroad
go without a meal's victuals for the sake of saving something for the
Mission and for the spread of truth? I have heard the Elders
say when they were gathering money to assist the brethren to go to
India, that many of the poor would go to meeting without anything to
eat for the sake of contributing something to help forward the work of
the Lord. Who is there here that has done without a meal of victuals
for the sake of the Gospel? Let us think of these things, brethren and
sisters, and do all we can for this or any other enterprise that may
be suggested by our President. Let us see how ready we can be to man
the ship Zion, and to push on any enterprise that he has set on foot;
and in this way we can test ourselves and see if we are as ready as we
were in the first place to assist in the work of the Lord, and to
yield of the things of the world and everything else for the cause's
sake.
Economy and prudence in our deal and management is a thing touched
upon by brother Kimball this afternoon. Now, you all know that
speculation is rife in our midst. What do speculators care about our
principles? Nothing whatever. They run here to line their pockets with
the golden god in the mountains. Yes, they come one after another to
offer their worship at the shrine of the golden god. If this is not
idolatry, I would like to see it, and to know where it is. Where does
this idolatrous worship prevail so much as it does in the Christian
world? Among the nations it seems to be the object of both merchants
and ministers to get the people's money.
When I have heard that some of the Elders of this Church made it their
special object to get people's money, and that their preaching has
been MONEY, MONEY, money, every day of their ministry, I have been
grieved in my spirit; and then they would come upon this stand, when
they returned, and misrepresent their labors. I have been ashamed of
their conduct. Then, again, I have heard the Elders tell that they had
to gather money for such and such a fund, and that half their
preaching was about money. I have felt anxious to see some change.
This movement, then, I hail as a great blessing to the British
Saints. What a blessing it will be when they are relieved from this
great burden! I rejoice in it, and I trust we shall all feel united in
responding to the call.
I will also call your attention to something else in addition to the
Missionary Fund. Let us do something towards emigrating the poor
Saints at this end of the route. I feel interested in it. We have had
a great many come to us to know how they could manage to get their
friends from the old country. Many of them are out of employment, and
they do not know how to get out of bondage. The friends of such
persons come to us and want us to help them; but what have we to
assist them with? Who of you have paid your Tithing for the last two
years? (President Young: "They do not know what it means.") You have
almost forgotten the meaning of the word: this is through
carelessness. Let us rub up a little, and see if we cannot learn what
tithing means. Will you rob the Lord of tithes and of offerings?
These are not my words, but they are in the Bible. The Prophet said to
the Jews—"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say,
Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed
with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye
all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine
house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will
not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that
there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke
the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of
your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in
the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you
blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."
(Malachi, chap. 3, verses 8 and 12.)
Let us apply these things to ourselves, ponder over them, and seek to
do better, and live better every day, and strive to increase in our
ability to do good.
I have striven diligently to do what I could for this kingdom, and I
find that the more I do, the more ability the Almighty gives me. I hope
ever to be free with what means I have, and the Lord knows that I
cherish nothing in this world in comparison with the success and
prosperity of this kingdom. When I joined the Church, I joined with
all I could control, and I rejoice in the continuation of this feeling
within me. Let us all live and feel that it is a duty and privilege
for every one of us to be upon the altar, and to do all we can to
promote the interests of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In that
our interests are combined and circumscribed. If we wish to appeal to
a selfish motive, we shall find that motive fully satisfied in
pursuing that course in which I have endeavored to direct your minds.
The best investments and bargains that you can make and the best thing
you can do for yourselves here while in time and for eternity is to
let the kingdom absorb all your interests and all that pertains to
you. It is the best bargain that any son and daughter of Adam can
make, to consecrate their time, their talents, and all that they
possess to the advancement of the cause of our Redeemer; for by it we
shall obtain all that is good for us here and all we desire in the
future. Through that channel we shall attain eternal riches, and
through that channel we shall preserve our identity before our Father
and God, and insure our salvation in his kingdom.
Let us be obedient and humble, and listen to the whisperings of the
Spirit of God. There are not many people in the world but who hear the
whisperings of the Spirit at times, and you Latter-day Saints have a
claim upon it constantly, if faithful. I have remembered the
whisperings of the Spirit to me for years after they were given, and
they have come to my mind at times and seasons when they have been
very acceptable. I know that it came to me by the power of the Spirit
with regard to the truth of this work.
I can bear the same kind of testimony as brother Pratt, who addressed
you this morning, although he has been an Apostle for many years, and
was one before I was baptized. This causes me to rejoice, because we
have all the privilege of receiving a testimony for ourselves.
"This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: go and be baptized for the
remission of your sins," was the whispering of the Spirit to me. I
soon went forward and embraced it, and I have been thankful ever
since that I followed the dictates of the Holy Spirit. It is true I
did not think as much of it at that time as I have done since, but I
know it was the whispering of the Spirit of the Lord to me.
Many times when I heard President Joseph Smith teaching the people the
principles of the Gospel, I have had this same influence whispering to
me that what he said was true, and I often desired in my heart that
the time might come when I could go forth and be baptized and dwell
with this people; and the Lord has answered my prayer. I feel thankful to him, and I rejoice exceedingly in the work in which I am
engaged.
These are good days and glorious times in which we live, and I feel to
thank God and give praise to his holy name for the blessings poured
out upon me—blessings and honors unexpected and unsought for by me. I
can truly say, in this connection, that I feel grateful for the
blessings I enjoy and the position I occupy; and I know of no other
way to do the will of my Heavenly Father than to do as I am told by my
file leaders. I will throw myself before this people as an example. I
have been prospered in all things I have undertaken, and the Lord knows
that I have never sought these temporal blessings; but I have been
prospered, notwithstanding, in all things that I have put my hands to
in this kingdom. But I have sought his wisdom that I might be useful,
and I have tried to be so. This has been the predominating desire of
my heart all the day long, and these blessings have come through
having that desire, as a reward from the Almighty.
I rejoice as much as any man can rejoice, with the same degree of
knowledge, in the privilege of laying a good foundation for time and
for eternity. I know that my brethren have blessed me and prayed for
me, and so have the Saints generally, weak and unworthy as I feel. I
feel to bow down and weep before the Lord because of my poor ability.
I have often felt that I have been required to do things that I
thought I had no ability to perform; but my motto has been—"O Lord,
assist me to do this." And my desire has been to see and know and
carry out his good will and pleasure. I err a great many times, I
doubt not, and wound brother Brigham's feelings; but my desire is to
do whatever he desires me to do.
I do not think of talking upon this subject, but I felt led in this
peculiar strain, or I should not have pursued it. While I have been
standing before you, I have been led to advance these ideas; and
perhaps it is well for me to say a few words more, and express a few
sentiments in regard to how I came in possession of these blessings.
I never look for pay for anything I do, and I do not care anything
about it; but when I have heard the Elders preach about the future
reward and enjoyment, I have said that I did not know, neither did I
care anything about it; for I have always believed that the Lord would
give me all and more than I could desire or receive. I have no trouble
or doubt about the reward. I know that I shall not go short, neither
will you or any man who will strive to do the will of his Heavenly
Father. It is the duty of all of us to take the right course, to do
right in all things. It is the only principle by which any man can
stand in this Church. Let the people impugn a man's motives as much as
they please; if he pursues a righteous course, it will bring him out
right at last. People may try to injure others as they please, but
that son and that daughter that takes the right course, and do not do
anything to grieve the Spirit of the Almighty, will come out right in
the end, if they will be faithful. Although dark clouds may be louring
around at times, let the Saints look up, and let them get a character
with their God. Remember that you are citizens in the kingdom of God.
Citizenship in the United States is highly prized by some, and rightly
too; but what is it to be a citizen born in the world, to that of
being born in the kingdom of God?
Let me now call the attention of parents for a few moments; for there
are doubtless a great many here, and perhaps there are some who
are accountable for having put the intoxicating cup to their
neighbor's lips, and more especially for having put it to the lips of
their sons. It seems to me that there should be some restraining
influence thrown around the rising generation, as well as on this
practice of men introducing liquor to others. I suppose that a man is
responsible who takes liquor into his system; but I would rather it be
someone else than me who throws the first temptation in the way of
any man. It is my desire to throw around my family and friends a good
influence—to instill into their minds something better, higher, and
nobler. Parents can do this whose minds are steady, and who have the
light of truth in them like a well of water springing up unto eternal
life. Let us throw around those that have a wild disposition a
salutary influence, and endeavor to cause them to forsake the paths
of vice—throw something around them that will be calculated to exalt
them and bring them into the presence of their Father and God. How
joyful that family would be if they could save a soul! How joyful
would they be if they could see their sons taking a wise course, being
moral and sober—to see them growing up in this kingdom in
righteousness, and to have the assurance that they were raising up
families imbued with righteous and holy principles! What encouragement
it would be to press on in the paths of virtue, and to shun the path
of immorality! How pleasing would it be to see our sons and daughters
pursuing the path that leads to life, and avoiding the one that leads
to degradation and death! I hope that we shall see an improvement in
this respect in the future.
I will not occupy your time any longer. I feel well, and I rejoice in
the Gospel of salvation, and I feel to bear my testimony that this is
the Church and kingdom of God, and that the servants of God have borne
a faithful testimony all the day long. You have had so much of their
preaching that you do not appreciate it; you have had it like a
surfeit; the words seem to bound back; they are like the tinkling
cymbals, as the President remarked. And it will be so, unless you have
the spirit to appreciate the teachings of the servants of God. A
greater blessing could not be poured out upon you, and it comes in
such a way that you cannot appreciate it. For instance, it is a common
thing for people to say, "Oh, I have heard that before!" and hence the
people pay no attention, nor do they give heed to the teachings that
are given here. This is because they are blessed with them so
frequently. But is that the way to do? It is the way you do. But I
look for a reformation in many things. The work is not going to stop;
it is going to be propelled with immense force, and there are
sufficient people to make it roll with greater rapidity.
This people have been prospered and blessed, and have got the comforts
of life; and if they do not keep them in their possession, it is their
own fault. It is within the power of everyone to get them: they are
offered for labor on every hand. Those who can lay up for their
families should do so, and their is no necessity for anyone going
short of bread. It is offered in the streets for sale very cheap, and
the supposed surplus is going out of the Territory. The people can get
it for their labor, and they had better keep it and treasure it up
against a time of need.
May the Lord bless us all, and keep us faithful, and enable us to be
useful in his kingdom, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
- Daniel H. Wells