It will be remembered by the brethren that, about a year ago, there
was a Missionary fund started in this city, which was very liberally
subscribed to. This fund was commenced for the purpose of sustaining
the families of the Missionaries who have gone on Missions. The calls
upon the secretary of that fund are now very numerous. The
subscriptions are not all paid, but many of them have been partially
paid. It is now proposed to replenish this fund; and as this is a good
time for getting wood, it is a good time to bring some in for
this object. Those who feel to subscribe and donate, can report to
brother John T. Caine at the President's office. This invitation has
also been extended to others who have not contributed; and we now wish
to give an opportunity to those who live in the adjoining settlements.
We wish to give all an opportunity and a privilege of assisting the
families of those who are appointed to go on Missions. Brethren, let
us pay up and continue our subscriptions to the fund, that the poor
may be provided for, and the hearts of the Saints made glad.
The instructions given seem to turn upon political economy, and the
pecuniary and temporal circumstances of this community. It is the
burden of the instructions from time to time, and it seems not so much
by way of gaining political advancement or influence, but those who
have labored, and still are laboring to lay the foundation for a
great and mighty nation, are looking and striving for the improvement
of this people, to teach them how to be self-sustaining. It is the
wish and desire of those who stand at the head of this people, to
pursue that course which will be the most profitable to the kingdom of
God, for that will be for their benefit, and that is the burden of the
instructions day by day. We are counseled and taught by our brethren
to prepare ourselves for self-existence, to look after those things
which are calculated to make us free and independent. It appears by
the great commotion in the world that we are liable to be cut off at
any time from foreign trade, for we are so situated in these distant
valleys, that we may be cut off at any time from all distant markets;
and it seems to be in the economy of Heaven that this should be so in
order that we may become free, and also that we may develop the
resources of this our mountain home. By our united efforts we can
produce from the elements those things that will be for our best good,
and for the general interests of the kingdom of God. The burden of the
instructions given by the servants of God from day to day, is for us
to labor to draw from the elements for our support. Here are the
richest elements that are to be found upon the face of the globe.
There is no grain, no vegetables, neither anything that grows upon the
face of the earth, that contains that sweetness or nourishment in a
greater degree than it does here in this mountain country. The fruit,
the vegetables, and all we grow, are of the sweetest and richest kind,
and the most nourishing in quality. The fabrics made here will
likewise be of the most refined and durable kind. If we labor for it,
the finest flax, hemp, and wool, can be produced in this Territory. It
is our duty to strive to raise everything we need for our own
consumption. The tea, the coffee, the tobacco, and the whiskey (if we
must have such articles), can all be produced and manufactured here. I
am willing to make a bargain with this people to leave off all those
things that I have mentioned, if all the people will agree to do
likewise. These are things that we can do without; in fact, we are
better without them than with them; we are better in our bodies as
well as in our purses. The sugar that is needed, and other sweetening,
grow here in these valleys of the mountains, and it only needs a
little skill and labor to bring it into a more refined state than we
have yet been able to produce. Hundreds of wagons and teams would not
be able to bring the amount of sweetening from the States that will be
raised and manufactured here this season, and the quantity and quality can be increased and improved every year.
It is a measure of political economy for us to strive to promote the
general interest, and to study to do the most good for the community
we live in. If we cannot abide the appeal to our consciences, let us
abide the appeal to our pockets. (Voice: You have caught us now.) We
must not suit our ways to strangers, but we must look to the welfare
of Israel.
Brethren, there is a glorious work before us, and great and glorious
blessings will be poured out upon us. Peace and plenty surround us,
and we are far from the power and corruptions which are now disturbing
the enemies of God's people. The Almighty has wisely placed barriers
in the way of his enemies, and by them they are now kept back,
otherwise they would endeavor to swallow us up in their anger and
rage.
We are now in a position that we can do those things of which I have
been speaking. We can provide for our future necessities. We can raise
up a great and mighty people, who will be led and governed by the
principles of righteousness, and we have now an opportunity of doing
it in these valleys. The nucleus is formed, the people are here, and
we can do everything that is required if we have the disposition to
labor for its accomplishment. Let us take hold like men and women of
God, like those who are filled with his Holy Spirit, in order that we
may accomplish the important work required at our hands. It is a work
that should engage our most earnest attention. It is not a thing of a
moment, and then to pass away; but it is the kingdom of God that shall
remain forever and forever. This is what we are striving to build up;
and let us take hold of it in such a manner as we can carry it on, and
at the same time sustain ourselves. To do this, we must produce those
things that are necessary for our temporal existence; and let us be
careful not to destroy what the Lord has given us before we produce
another supply from the elements around us. It is our business, and
duty, too, to take care of all that the Lord has put into our hands,
and not because a word has been said about tea, to go and burn it up
or throw it away; but we should put all we are made stewards over to
the best possible use.
Now, I have no objection to our keeping things in our possession that
are necessary for sickness, but let the whiskey and the tobacco be put
to their legitimate uses, then all will be right. Where coffee is
produced, the people do not use it, but they raise it for the
barbarians. In the East Indies and wherever coffee is grown, the
inhabitants consider it poison and wonder that it does not poison the
outside barbarians, as they term all those whom we consider the
civilized and enlightened nations. Some of our physicians will,
however, say and contend that it is perfectly harmless, when the facts
before us show the effect of coffee, tea, opium, tobacco and other
stimulants, and various other foolish and expensive indulgences to be
the cause of reducing the average of human life, so that not one half
of those born into the world live to attain the age of seventeen
years. Apart from this, it would be a great saving to this people, for
they have to bring these things from abroad. Everything that we
cannot produce within ourselves, it would be best for us to do
generally without, then we would have means to aid us in producing
those things that are necessary to more fully develop the resources of
the mountains and valleys of Utah. I mean that we could then use our
means to bring the machinery here that we cannot so well manu facture, but which, by bringing in a little, we will be able to
manufacture after a while.
While we are professing to be righteous, let us take a course to prove
to God, angels, and men that we are in earnest, and will live and
produce those things that are needed for our own sustenance, and build
up cities and make Zion the joy of the whole earth. It is not a mere
theory that we have to do with, but it is the building up of the
kingdom of God, and it is for those who have the principles of the
kingdom in their hearts to seek to permanently establish the Zion of
God upon the earth, whether they will be able to maintain the kingdom
or not is the Lord's business. We know that the Devil seeks to thwart
and overthrow the kingdom, and in all the enterprises that this people
engage in, they may expect his opposition.
We often see that people are frustrated and afflicted; and we
frequently suffer in our health, and in things which we seek to
accomplish, we meet with such opposition that we have to give them up,
but still we should try again and strive to bring stronger influences
to bear and thus succeed in the accomplishment of the object we have
in view. There is a contention here among the influences we have
around us which is—whether the Latter-day Saints will maintain
themselves independent of the Devil and his co-adjutors, or whether
they will forever be dependent upon their enemies.
I firmly believe that, with the blessings of the Almighty, we can
produce in a short time everything we need, if we will use the proper
exertions. The thing now is to commence and go ahead with an
earnestness, and not allow ourselves to be easily thwarted or
frustrated. If we fail at one time, let us try again, and bring
greater influences and more union, strength, and power to bear, that we
may succeed the next time. We have the Devil, as well as every natural
obstacle to contend with, but we will finally triumph, which is my
prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
- Daniel H. Wells