I love to speak to the Saints, when I am blessed with ability to speak
in a manner to please myself. I have proved that when I can become
fully satisfied with my own actions, and am well pleased with myself,
then I please and satisfy my neighbors. People ought always to be
pleased with themselves when they do the best they can.
It is fully proved in all the revelations that God has ever given to
mankind that they naturally love and admire righteousness, justice, and
truth more than they do evil. It is, however, universally received by
professors of religion as a Scriptural doctrine that man is naturally
opposed to God. This is not so. Paul says, in his Epistle to the
Corinthians, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of God,"
but I say it is the unnatural "man that receiveth not the things of
God." Paul, in another place, says, "if our Gospel be hid, it is hid
to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
That which was, is, and will continue to endure is more natural than
that which will pass away and be no more. The natural man is of God.
We are the natural sons and daughters of our natural parents, and
spiritually we are the natural children of the Father of light and
natural heirs to his kingdom; and when we do an evil, we do it in
opposition to the promptings of the Spirit of Truth that is within us.
Man, the noblest work of God, was in his creation designed for an
endless duration, for which the love of all good was incorporated in
his nature. It was never designed that he should naturally do and love
evil.
When our first parents fell from their paradisiacal state, they were
brought in contact with influences and powers of evil that are
unnatural and stand in opposition to an endless life. So far as
mankind yield to these influences, they are so far removed from a
natural to an unnatural state—from life to death. Adam and Eve did
not sin because it was in their nature to love sin, but, as Paul says
in his Epistle to Timothy, "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved
in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and
holiness with sobriety." The enemy of all righteousness deceived the
woman, and Adam went with her that man might be, and that she might be
saved in childbearing.
I hold that it is easier to do right than wrong, and that it gives
more real satisfaction, more sterling happiness, and more self-respect
to any person to do a good deed than to do an evil deed. "Man
is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," and that in
consequence of sin's being in the world.
Brother G. D. Watt has exhorted us to let truth be the standard to all
our sayings and actions. While he was so fervent for the truth I
thought of the harlot Rahab who, by faith, perished not with them that
believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. It appears
that this ancient harlot told the king of Jericho that the two spies
went out of the city when it was dark, about the time of the shutting
of the gate, while at the same time she had hid them on the roof of
her house under some stalks of flax. This is an instance where a
slight departure from the truth produced more real good than a strict
observance of the facts in the case would have done, for by screening
the two spies from the custody of the King of Jericho the harlot saved
herself and her father's house. We call simple facts, truth; but the
truth must be held in righteousness. "Who is wise, and he shall
understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways
of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the
transgressors shall fall therein." It is more natural for a person to
tell the truth than to lie. All the works of God are founded in truth,
and that truth must be held in righteousness.
You remember that a few weeks ago the Elders of Israel were advised to
practice what they preach, and not do a thousand things they are glad
the people do not know. There are many acts of some of the best of
mankind that they are thankful are not known in the streets and in
their families. I would not be willing to say that this is the case
with all men, or that it is so in the midst of this people, because
the best of this people do as well as they know how, and live lives
they need not be ashamed of before God and the hosts of heaven and
hell. A great many wrongs are committed more from mistake and
ignorance than design; and in judging of wrongs done it is more just
to judge according to design than according to the exterior appearance
or the sight of the eye.
It is much easier to live the life of a Saint than to live the life of
a sinner. There is more real good obtained and more real profit gained
in being honest and in telling the truth as it is, than in taking the
opposite course. If you are selling an animal and it is a little
faulty, deceive not the purchaser to get from him more than the animal
is worth, but reveal its faults and ailings, and deal upon upright
principles. I will explain this by relating a circumstance. When I was
quite young, a man by the name of Hezekiah Wales, a great
horse jockey, traded upon this principle. He had a horse that seemed
to be the embodiment of every wrong way. A traveler rode up on a
worn-out animal and must have that very horse, and would exchange in
the trade the one he was riding. Mr. Wales wanted five dollars and the
worn-out horse for his animal. The traveler thought this was rather
too much, and asked Mr. Wales what his horse was good for: "Will he
work in harness?" "No." "Is he a good riding horse?"
"No." "Can he do
anything at all?" "Yes; if he has a mind to." "Is he worth
anything?"
"No, not a cent." The traveler could not be beat off, and made the
exchange. This circumstance also illustrates a leading trait in the
character of man, he will not be turned aside from his purpose, if it
is within his power to accomplish it. Should he undertake to travel to
the south, east, west, or north, a recital of all the dangers that lie
in his path will not turn him from his purpose, he will
follow the bent of his own inclination, should he lose his life in so
doing. This is human.
I will take the liberty of differing with many of my brethren with
regard to how we should conduct ourselves towards our wives. I am a
great lover of good women. I understand their nature, the design of
their being, and their worth. I have been acquainted with hundreds of
men, before I came into this Church, who before that, if they did not
dictate every five dollars or fifty cents that they had in their
pockets, their wives were ruling over them. On this point I shall
differ with all who differ with me. If I have five dollars and I can
spare it, and my wife wants it, I tell her she is welcome to it. What
do you want to get with it, wife? "Oh, something that pleases me." I
do not believe in making my authority as a husband or a father known
by brute force; but by a superior intelligence—by showing them that I
am capable of teaching them. If I have a wife that wants to be
humored with five dollars, yes, take it; I would humor her. If I
commit wrong towards my family, it is because I let them use what they
should not, or that which I might bestow upon the poor. I may humor
them too much. I will humor a child with everything I consistently
can. Does not God, in his providences, bear and forbear with us in our
weaknesses and sins? How many times shall I forgive a brother, and
bear with weaknesses in him that are common to all men? So long as he
does not intend to commit willful sin.
When our little children handle things that are in their way, the
knives, forks, pins, needles, anything, and scatter, waste, and lose
them, and these little faults are committed every few minutes
throughout the day, shall we forgive the children or whip them? We
will always forgive them until they are taught better, and learn to
know good from evil, right from wrong. Our Father in heaven deals with
us his children upon this principle. Do I believe in humoring too
far? No. My Priesthood and calling as a minister of salvation must be
honored; and if the Lord has placed me to be the head of a family,
let me be so in all humility and patience, not as a tyrannical ruler,
but as a faithful companion, an indulgent and affectionate father, a
thoughtful and unassuming superior; let me be honored in my station
through faithful diligence, and be fully capable, by the aid of God's
Spirit, of filling my office in a way to effect the salvation of all
who are committed to my charge.
When I was first married I was told that my wife would rule over me,
because I was too indulgent; I do not think that she did. Wife, when
you spin you may set the wheel where you please; and when I come in to
sleep if you have moved the bed from the northeast corner of the room
to the southeast corner it is all right, if you are pleased. This
course is much more manly than to quarrel with her because she has
moved the bed without your permission, or has put the shovel and the
tongs on the left instead of on the right hand side of the fireplace,
at the same time giving her to understand that you are the master of
the house. But wife, I have made you a good water bench, and a sink,
and under the sink have made a place for the swill pail, and I would
like to have you to keep the pails in their respective places. If you
will put the swill pail where the water pail should be, I must go
somewhere else to drink water, and not run the risk of drinking out of
the swill pail in the night. I can show you wife, where to put
everything in your house. If she wants so many tucks in her dress,
yes, put in as many as you want, for you have to spin and
weave the cloth; make the dress as you please, that is your business;
and if I have five dollars that is not otherwise appropriated you are
welcome to it. But if I have five dollars in my pocket that I owe and
have promised to pay tomorrow morning, it must be paid.
If a woman can rule a man and he not know it, praise to that woman.
They are few who know well the office of a woman from that of a man.
Imbecility is marked upon the people of the present age. All who have
their eyes open to see and their minds enlightened to understand
things as they are, will subscribe readily to this declaration. When
the servants of God in any age have consented to follow a woman for a
leader, either in a public or a family capacity, they have sunk
beneath the standard their organization has fitted them for; when a
people of God submit to that, their Priesthood is taken from them, and
they become as any other people.
I shall humor the wife as far as I can consistently; and if you have
any crying to do, wife, you can do that along with the children, for
I have none of that kind of business to do. Let our wives be the
weaker vessels, and the men be men, and show the women by their
superior ability that God gives husbands wisdom and ability to lead
their wives into his presence. I want the brethren and sisters to
kindly manage their affairs indoors and out, taking good care of that
which belongs to them, and being contented in their lots and stations.
God bless the righteous, and I do not care how soon the wicked are
overthrown. Amen.