The religion of Jesus Christ gives light for darkness. The Gospel we
have received is sent "to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them
that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy
for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that
they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
that he might be glorified." The life of a Christian is said to be
full of pain, tribulation, sorrow, and excruciating torments; of
fightings without and fears within, of anxieties, despair, gloominess,
and mourning. His path is supposed to be spread with gins, pitfalls,
and uncertainties, but this is a mistake, for "The path of the just is
as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect
day," while "The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but
the just shall come out of trouble."
The faith I have embraced has given me light for darkness, ease for
pain, joy and gladness for sorrow and mourning, certainty for
uncertainty, hope for despair. We talk about having grace to endure,
and pray, "O Lord, give me grace to endure the pains I receive in this
thorny path that leads to heaven, the scoffs and sneers of this
unfriendly world, that I may bear the name of Jesus honorably while I
live." It is right to pray for grace, but let me shape this prayer a
little differently, and ask God my heavenly Father, in the name of
Jesus Christ, to open the eyes of my understanding, and teach me the
truth as it is, then shall I see that I am walking in the light and
not in darkness. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the
light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life." The true people of God are far
removed from that pain which the sinner and the ungodly constantly
endure. They are removed from it as a people politically, and as
families, and as individuals. Compare, for instance, the colonial
history of the United States with the history of the settling of the
wild and desolate regions of Utah by the Latter-day Saints, and you
will learn that the sufferings of the first settlers here from Indian
outrages and other causes, will scarcely supply enough for a
comparison. And whole companies of emigrants to California and Oregon
have been massacred, their flesh given to wild animals, and their
bones left to bleach upon the plains. Almost fifteen years ago one
hundred and forty-six souls started from Winter Quarters (now
Florence) to settle in this Valley. We arrived here in safety, stayed
thirty days, returned the same season, and not a single
person was lost by the way. If any of our company was taken sick,
there were a hundred prayers ascending to God for the recovery of that
sick person. How is it with gold hunters? Do they pray for their sick,
and administer to them by the laying on of hands? No, they do not
believe in any such thing, but the sick suffer and die. When any among
us were taken sick we laid hands upon them and they were healed. I was
told, on one occasion, by one of the camp, that Br. Taft had the
mountain fever and could not live till morning; we dipped him seven
times in the river, and the next day he was comparatively well.
Oh! What a great sorrow it is to be a Saint. How mournful the thought,
when we contemplate the contrast between the Saint and the sinner? We
have ease for pain, comfortable health for sickness, joy for mourning
and light for darkness. "This is all very good," says one, "but your
religion is so unpopular in the world." There is not another religion
so popular as this in the courts of heaven. Without the garb of a
Saint you cannot be admitted to the presence of the Father, and to
Jesus, the Mediator between God and man. No religion is popular there
but the religion of the Bible. Episcopalianism, Methodism, Quakerism,
Catholicism, Presbyterianism, and all their collateral branches are
unpopular in the celestial kingdom of God, while the religion of Adam,
Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the patriarchs and prophets, Jesus
and his Apostles, is the only acknowledged and popular system of
religion with the sanctified ones in the presence of the Father and
the Son. "But," says a Presbyterian, "Abraham was a polygamist."
He
was. "And you say that his religion is popular in heaven." It is the
only religion acknowledged there. I have not time now to dwell upon
all the points of Abraham's faith, but he did believe in a plurality
of wives, and was a practical polygamist. And Paul says, "And if ye be
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise." Did Abraham believe in Presbyterianism? Not much. Did he
believe in Quakerism? Not much. Each of the different sects of
religion has some truth, and so far as they have the truth so far did
Abraham believe. But is the religion of any one of the sects, as a
whole, the religion of heaven? It is not. We all desire to join the
popular party. Light, truth, and intelligence are the side that is
popular with the heavens, and the side that will rule, govern, and
control the nations. If we join that society we then all become
popular with the popular party. Some people will render themselves
ridiculously conspicuous on purpose to become popular. Their desire
for popularity or notoriety is so great that they will not hesitate to
do a mean act to gain it. The great majority want to be on the
strongest, wealthiest, and most popular side, and to be connected with
that family which is possessed of immense wealth, influence, and
power. Many of my brethren of the Elders of Israel rise up here to
speak to the people, and they cannot give utterance to their ideas.
What is the matter? They are fearful of making a slight mistake in
their language, which they think would make them unpopular. I wish
they were as I am in this respect, and did not care what people may
think or say, but pour out what the Holy Ghost shall give them to say,
regardless of consequences. We all want to be on the side that will
produce the most safety, the most joy, and the most sterling
happiness. I can say, without fear of successful contradiction that the man or woman who believes that the religion of Jesus leads
into a thorny path, does not understand nor enjoy the true religion of
heaven.
We can say to all the world that the persecution which the Latter-day
Saints have received, and the misery they may have suffered in
consequence thereof, will not begin to compare with the misery and
real suffering they are now receiving in the United States in
consequence of war. In Missouri our bleeding feet stained the
prairies, but now they are shedding each other's blood to curdle and
bake in the sun, or to be licked up by dogs and wild animals, while
their flesh is given to vultures and wolves. We were invited to sign
away our property to pay the expenses of our persecutors, and we were
permitted, as a body, to take away as much of our moveable property as
we could; but now the Secessionists are robbed and pillaged without
mercy, their houses are burned over their heads, their barns are
destroyed, their food and clothing are taken, and the women and
children are left without anything to eat, drink, or wear, while their
husbands, fathers, and brothers are either killed or taken prisoners.
In the same manner the Secession party fall upon the Federals or
Union men, and whip them, rob them, and hang them up at their own
doors and in the presence of their families. Then comes a third party
who are called May-walkers or Jayhawkers, but more properly they are
buccaneers or land pirates, and they rob everybody that is left after
the Union and Secession parties have done their worst. Have we ever
suffered like that? I think not. When they come across a small
settlement of Secessionists they plunder and destroy it, and when they
come across a hamlet of Unionists they serve it in the same manner.
Did the Latter-day Saints ever see such times? They never did. They
never suffered anything in comparison to what the people in many of
the States are now suffering.
It is right the brethren and sisters should have grace to sustain them
in doing right, and it is right they should pray for it, but I would
rather they possessed good sound common sense to begin with, and know
what to do with the grace of God when they received it.
I never try any other way to please people only by pleasing myself and
my God. If I can please God I can please myself; then I care very
little whether anybody else is pleased or not, because if they are
pleased with God and godliness they will be pleased with me. When
Elders preach or lecture among the Saints or to the world, if they do
so to satisfy themselves they have done well. When you have pleased
yourselves it is very probable that you have pleased human beings like
yourselves.
When journeying the Saints organize as perfectly as they can for safe
and comfortable traveling. We appoint one man to this duty, another
to that, and every man attends to his duty. If a wagon is broken the
captain at once arranges to have it put into traveling order. If
there is a sick person in the camp, he either goes himself or details
somebody to administer to the sick by anointing with oil, laying on of
hands, and prayer. Perhaps a sister is fainting by the way; she is
worn out; the journey is too much for her. The captain procures for
her such nourishment as can be found in camp, to give her strength
and ability to endure the further fatigues of the journey; doing
everything he can to restore the sick to sound health, and giving them
all possible comfort and aid. Is there the same care and fellow
feeling manifested in the trains of emigrants who are passing over the country in search of gold? Each person is seeking to
better his condition, and they have no interest that extends further
than self. It is with them as with the man that prayed, "O Lord, bless
me, my wife, my son John and his wife, we four, no more. Amen." They
are for themselves, and not for the kingdom of God. They know that the
world is going to destruction. They see the whole world in
confusion—one party seeking to destroy another in the vain hope of
building themselves up. The present Government of the United States is
self-destroying, as they are now proving.
If there is one class of persons on earth who need comfort more than
another, it is both the poor and rich who will not serve God. Those
who serve him are comforted all the day long; they walk in the light
of his salvation, dwell under the smiles of his countenance, and the
works of their hands are abundantly prospered. Still some apostatize
from all this light—from this great salvation—to get gold. The reason
of this is not because they have to suffer so much for their religion,
but because they have not enough good common sense. What is the grace
of God? Who can define it? You say it is the favor of God. If you had
good common sense, you never would be out of his favor. He is the
Father of our spirits—the Great Ruler of the Universe. If we had
enough common sense to understand things as they are, we certainly
would choose to serve him, and be on the strongest side.
Do we intend to make our final abode in hell, or in heaven? If we
mean to be in heaven we must become faithful Latter-day Saints; if in
hell, we may be anything we please, no matter what. I profess to be a
Latter-day Saint. I believe that the Old and New Testaments were given
by the inspiration of God, and since much adulterated by uninspired
translators, which makes it necessary for one to have the Spirit of
revelation from God to read and understand them. I believe the
doctrine that the Lord taught to Adam in the garden, and that Adam
taught to his children, that Enoch taught to his city three hundred
and sixty-five years, preparing a people to go into the presence of
God the Father. I believe the doctrine taught by Noah, who was
instructed of God to build an ark to save himself and family from
destruction in the great flood. I believe the doctrine Abraham taught,
that Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs taught. I believe all the
doctrine Moses taught to be the word of the Lord. I believe in the law
of carnal commandments as he did; it was for them, and not for us. It
was a yoke placed upon their necks because of their disobedience to
the higher law of the Gospel. Jesus Christ removed that yoke, and told
them to follow the law of the Gospel. Some Christians throw away all
the Old Testament except some portions of the Prophets; but Moses had
the Gospel; Jethro had the Gospel, and the house of Jacob were urged
to receive it, but they would not; so the Lord told Moses to give them
a law of carnal commandments that would be grievous for them to bear.
The people generally would not have the revelations which the Lord
delivered to Joseph Smith, unless he would give them a law of carnal
commandments like that which he gave to the children of Israel, and
how long was it before they were in conversation with the spirit
world, being led to destruction by strong delusion which God sent
them, because they would not receive the truth? "And when they say
unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto
wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek
unto their God?" They would not receive revelations from God, but, as
they were told, God suffered them to have revelations that they would
believe, that they might believe lies and be damned. Moses tried to
give the children of Israel the law of the Gospel, but they would not
receive it. The Gospel was revealed in those days, as much so as in
the days of Christ and his Apostles. They had the Melchizedek
Priesthood, and were entitled to all the promises and blessings then
as in the days of the Apostles.
When Jesus came to preach the will of his Father, he came to his own,
but they would not receive him. He said to them, "I speak that which I
have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your
father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus
saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works
of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the
truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." The Jews
wanted to make laws to guide God and his children. They believed many
of the doctrines that Abraham believed and taught. They practiced
polygamy, as did Abraham, the Patriarchs, Moses, David, and the
Prophets down to the days of the Apostles.
Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the
economy of Heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the
founders of the Roman empire. That empire was founded on the banks of
the Tiber by wandering brigands. When these robbers founded the city
of Rome, it was evident to them that their success in attaining a
balance of power with their neighbors, depended upon introducing
females into their body politic, so they stole them from the Sabines,
who were near neighbors. The scarcity of women gave existence to laws
restricting one wife to one man. Rome became the mistress of the
world, and introduced this order of monogamy wherever her sway was
acknowledged. Thus this monogamic order of marriage, so esteemed by
modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is
nothing but a system established by a set of robbers.
The Congress of the United States have lately passed a law to punish
polygamy in the Territories of the United States and in other places
over which they have exclusive jurisdiction. In doing this, they have
undertaken to dictate the Almighty in his revelations to his people,
and those who handle edged tools, unless they are skillful, are apt to
cut their fingers; and those who hand out insult to the Great I Am, in
the end, are apt to get more than they have spoken for.
Why do we believe in and practice polygamy? Because the Lord
introduced it to his servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith,
and the Lord's servants have always practiced it. "And is that
religion popular in heaven?" It is the only popular religion there,
for this is the religion of Abraham, and, unless we do the works of
Abraham, we are not Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise. We
believe in Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant, who has
introduced the Gospel for the benefit of the human family, to happify,
exalt, and glorify them in the presence of the Father, not to make them
miserable, not to torture them, nor cause them to walk in the gloomy
path of grief all their days. We rejoice in this Gospel, it is all
glory, hallelujah, peace, and comfort. We believe in following the
admonitions and instructions of the ancient Prophets and Apostles, and of all good men in this our day.
I do not make these remarks to cast reflections upon any being, but we
should strive to know the mind and will of God and to be filled with
his Spirit. I wish the Saints to be filled with the Spirit of
understanding; and I never want to again hear a Saint say, "Oh, how
we suffer for the religion of Jesus! We suffer more than the wicked,"
while at the same time, we are better clad, better fed, and better
looking, and our hearts are filled with joy, while the hearts of the
wicked are filled with sorrow and mourning. All the cheerfulness,
gladness, comfort, exuberance of spirit, joy, bliss, peace, and
brightness of expression that can be bestowed upon individuals are
possessed and enjoyed by the sanctified in heaven, and if we are
prepared by the principles of eternal life, the same halo will shine
through our countenance and make our faces bright with glory.
Whatever leads to vanity, lightness, and worldly-mindedness is not the
joy of heavenly beings, but the nonsense of the wicked world. There
are men in this kingdom who cannot discriminate between that which is
of God and that which is not of him, and who are at a loss to know how
far to go and not sin. The very moment you have a doubt upon your mind
that what you do is not exactly right, then stop and pursue that
course which you know is right, and in which you can enjoy the clear,
warm, cheering, peaceful influence which cometh from God as an earnest
that you are doing right, then shall you be blessed in all your works
here below, and fill up your days in usefulness. I heard a man say,
the other day, who is in the evening of his days, that if he had never
done much good, he had never done any evil that he knew of. God will
receive all such in the heavens, when they put off this mortality.
I feel to bless and not curse. Had I the power I would rather avert an
evil that I saw coming upon any individual or people, and see them
led into the path of blessings, though it should cause my words to
fail.
May God bless you. Amen.